Spain With Points

[Katfan]

Here is the history of my attempts to book Marbella for Sept. 2016 using points (enrolled owner who bought just as points system was introduced and has no idea how to trade with II). Exactly 13 months out called to book Marbella for a week. Nothing available. Kept checking but nothing showed up but Mallorca did for a week in August. Grabbed it just to have something. At 12 months Mallorca was available for Sept.so booked a second reservation. Was still able to do a search for one night to see availability and still nothing for Marbella through this past Friday. Went out to dinner with friends last night and invited them on our trip. This AM went on vacation club website to forward Mallorca info to friends and searched Marbella just for fun. The exact week we wanted in the 1st place was available. So now we have back to back reservations for a week in Mallorca and a week in Marbella.

What do we do? Our initial thought when we 1st started was 5 days in Madrid and then drive to Marbella with a stop in Granada along the way. When Mallorca came to the forefront we thought a week in Barcelona beforehand. Now we are not sure. Cut a few days off each timeshare for Madrid and Barcelona? Save the cities for another trip? We have quite a few rewards points for hotels (should be lifetime gold by the trip) but since we have already paid MFs for the points perhaps we should stick to the vacation clubs. We have never been to Spain but have been to other European destinations using rewards points. And really cannot do more than 2 weeks given our work schedules. We are fortunate that we can do a big trip every year or so and know we will return at some point (Hawaii has captured our hearts though!). Would appreciate any thoughts or insights.

 

[youppi]

1- If you can get another Marbella or Playa Andaluza in place of Mallorca. It would be better. 2 weeks on the costa del sol. It has a lot to see. After that, Costa del Sol = done. Next year you could try the Balearic island (Mallorca) and or Madrid, Barcelona.

2-Cancel Mallorca and do your first idea of 5 days in Madrid and a stop at Granada before going to Marbella.

3-Marbella and Mallorca but you will waste your valuable vacation time travelling between both.

 

[ilene13]

We went to Spain in September 2014. We flew into Barcelona and stayed there for 5 nights. We then flew to Grenada and stayed at the Parador in the Alhambra--it was incredible and worth the price. When we arrived at the Grenada airport we picked up a car. We stayed in Grenada 1 night and then drove to the Marriott in Marbella for a week. We did day trips from there. From there we drove to Madrid and stayed 5 nights. The only thing I would change is that I would turn the car in after Marbella and take the train to Madrid--although the roads were fine it was a long boring ride.

 

[newportbeach]

Madrid by Train

We did Madrid by train and for a few dollars more got into 1st class. Very
pleasant and less hassle then a car or airports

 

[Katfan]

Thanks for the replies - I did read your great trip report Ilene13. I guess we are torn because we were first so set on Madrid/Marbella and when it looked like that was not going to happen we started to get excited about Barcelona/Mallorca. Realistically I think we will make 2 trips to Spain. We are thinking that since Marbella seemed the tougher resort to book we should follow our original plan this year. We will talk it over with our friends and let you know what we decide.

 

[MALC9990]

Don't ignore the Playa Andaluza Resort just along the coast from Marbella Beach Club. It is just as nice, if not better. We are there now and used DC points to get a two week vacation here.

 

[SunandFun83]

Here is the history of my attempts to book Marbella for Sept. 2016 using points (enrolled owner who bought just as points system was introduced and has no idea how to trade with II). QUOTE]



The key here is you need to figure out how to trade in II. Marbella and Playa Andaluza are easy trades in September. The point system is good for flexibility, for partial weeks, for smaller unit size. That is no excuse for you to say " I don't know II so I will give up on a vacation I want". Go to the posts on TUG about exchanging and start to learn. Call II and ask for a little help, Marriott has II specialists.

I bet you can get into Marbella or Playa Andaluza with II. It might be harder now that you elected points, but, it can be done by asking someone else to get the week you want and paying for it with points transferred to the other owners account.

Playa does not have one bedroom units, so, a TUGGER I met there exchanged a 1BR into a 2BR. Available unit sizes are listed in the points chart at My-vacation club and on the resort directory on II.

 

[mjm1]

Congratulations on the OP getting the resorts they wanted.

We are planning a trip to Marbella or Andaluzza in late October 2016. We really only need a studio or 1BR but would be OK with a 2BR. Nothing available using DC yet. Curious how much availability with DC or II we may see in the later half of October or even early November. I recall someone mentioned a UK school break during late October may affect availability.

Thanks

Mike

 

[bazzap]

Congratulations on the OP getting the resorts they wanted.

We are planning a trip to Marbella or Andaluzza in late October 2016. We really only need a studio or 1BR but would be OK with a 2BR. Nothing available using DC yet. Curious how much availability with DC or II we may see in the later half of October or even early November. I recall someone mentioned a UK school break during late October may affect availability.

Thanks

Mike

There is often availability with II for Playa or Marbella in late October.
Currently there is even II Getaway availability for this October.
I appreciate this does not directly help with your planning for next October, but it is a good indicator that there should be a fair chance of getting inventory then.

 

[mjm1]

There is often availability with II for Playa or Marbella in late October.
Currently there is even II Getaway availability for this October.
I appreciate this does not directly help with your planning for next October, but it is a good indicator that there should be a fair chance of getting inventory then.

Thanks bazzap. That is good information to be aware of. I have an extra regular week that I can deposit and cover the II option in case DC points don't come through.

Mike