Starwood Vs. Marriott

[Password is taco]

As I'm learning about the two systems (Starwood and Marriott), the two I'm most familiar with thru direct experience, I thought of something that doesn't make sense to me. Starwood has the mandatory and voluntary resorts that determine whether the resale retains the associated star options. Marriott doesn't have the "points" associated with the weeks like Starwood has, so Marriotts are essentially like the voluntary Starwood resorts in that sense. The way to trade for something else is thru an exchange. With a Marriott week in the exchange you have priority for other Marriott properties and vice versa for Starwood. So why then do Marriott weeks tend to have actual resale value and weeks from voluntary Starwood resorts can't even be given away in some cases or have much less value in the least. I'm sure I'm missing something, so set me straight.

 

[SMHarman]

Well Marriott will buy those cheap weeks to put in the points trust. Starwood can't. Least not through ROFR

 

[Ron98GT]

Well Marriott will buy those cheap weeks to put in the points trust. Starwood can't. Least not through ROFR

That's not "the" reason. Look at the number of Marriott TS's and locations, compared to Westin. The locations where people buy to stay-at retain a higher resale value. The Plat seasons hold a higher resale value, because of the seasons, just take a look at all the silver weeks that people can't give away. The good/strong traders hold a higher resale value. But, Marriott still has their share of TS's with a low resale value an/or are unsellable, which is why Marriott started their points program, because of the unsellable dogs with high MF's.

What good is it to purchase a low price Westin, if it won't get me into St. John or Hawaii (Cancun is an easy exchange). My Palm Desert, Shadow Ridge, 2 BDRM L/O, will get me into Hawaii, St. Thomas, Aruba, Spain, Paris, Thailand, and other great locations. Plus that L/O gets me 2 weeks every year in a Marriott or Westin 2 BDRM for the price of one yearly MF, which are less than Westin MF's.

I really like the Westin TS's, but I think the Marriott's have been a great bargain that we have really enjoyed.

 

[lizap]

With a mandatory Starwood(resale), you can use Starwood's internal system as well as II, should you desire (although usually not a good idea to use II, because of the cost of a mandatory). With a Marriott resale, you cannot use Marriott's internal system, but rather must use II when you want to go somewhere other than your home resort. It is relatively easy (although some resorts require a little flexibility) for a mandatory Starwood owner to use SO's to stay anywhere else in the Starwood TS group (and yes, St. John is getting easier). My question would be: how easy is it for Marriott owners using II to get any other Marriott (with Marriott preference)?

That's not "the" reason. Look at the number of Marriott TS's and locations, compared to Westin. The locations where people buy to stay-at retain a higher resale value. The Plat seasons hold a higher resale value, because of the seasons, just take a look at all the silver weeks that people can't give away. The good/strong traders hold a higher resale value. But, Marriott still has their share of TS's with a low resale value an/or are unsellable, which is why Marriott started their points program, because of the unsellable dogs with high MF's.

What good is it to purchase a low price Westin, if it won't get me into St. John or Hawaii (Cancun is an easy exchange). My Palm Desert, Shadow Ridge, 2 BDRM L/O, will get me into Hawaii, St. Thomas, Aruba, Spain, Paris, Thailand, and other great locations. Plus that L/O gets me 2 weeks every year in a Marriott or Westin 2 BDRM for the price of one yearly MF, which are less than Westin MF's.

I really like the Westin TS's, but I think the Marriott's have been a great bargain that we have really enjoyed.

 

[bastroum]

That's not "the" reason. Look at the number of Marriott TS's and locations, compared to Westin. The locations where people buy to stay-at retain a higher resale value. The Plat seasons hold a higher resale value, because of the seasons, just take a look at all the silver weeks that people can't give away. The good/strong traders hold a higher resale value. But, Marriott still has their share of TS's with a low resale value an/or are unsellable, which is why Marriott started their points program, because of the unsellable dogs with high MF's.

What good is it to purchase a low price Westin, if it won't get me into St. John or Hawaii (Cancun is an easy exchange). My Palm Desert, Shadow Ridge, 2 BDRM L/O, will get me into Hawaii, St. Thomas, Aruba, Spain, Paris, Thailand, and other great locations. Plus that L/O gets me 2 weeks every year in a Marriott or Westin 2 BDRM for the price of one yearly MF, which are less than Westin MF's.

I really like the Westin TS's, but I think the Marriott's have been a great bargain that we have really enjoyed.

My SDO Timeshares get me into Hawaii and Aruba all the time. Now, the problem is Starwood depositing inventory. It is both non-existent and sporadic. For example, even though we know there is tons of Orlando inventory, there is currently nothing available at the Sheraton properties in 2016. How is that possible? If you look at the Marriott inventory, they have tons of availability.

 

[GregT]

My question would be: how easy is it for Marriott owners using II to get any other Marriott (with Marriott preference)?

It still happens with good frequency. I have a dedicated Marriott trader (a Willow Ridge) and it has traded well into Maui Ocean Club during summer time. I use the full 2BR to request a 1BR, but have gotten exactly what I need three years running.

Best,

Greg

 

[lizap]

Greg, very glad to hear this as our next purchase will be a Marriott, probably Ocean Pointe. How far in advance do you usually put in your request? Do you think the fact that you give up a 2 br for a 1 br gives you an edge? I assume you could use the large side and exchange the studio for a 1br?

It still happens with good frequency. I have a dedicated Marriott trader (a Willow Ridge) and it has traded well into Maui Ocean Club during summer time. I use the full 2BR to request a 1BR, but have gotten exactly what I need three years running.

Best,

Greg

 

[Ron98GT]

You ask how often?

We go to Hawaii for at least 2 weeks every year and when I use by Marriott 2 BDRM L/O trader, I always get 2 weeks in a 2-BDRM, either in a Marriott or at a Westin.

 

[GregT]

Greg, very glad to hear this as our next purchase will be a Marriott, probably Ocean Pointe. How far in advance do you usually put in your request? Do you think the fact that you give up a 2 br for a 1 br gives you an edge? I assume you could use the large side and exchange the studio for a 1br?

Hi Liza,

I typically reserve the Willow Ridge 12 months before check-in and deposit it almost right away in II. I actually wait a week or two from reservation date because there is an urban myth in TUG that if you deposit it the same day as reservation, because there are reservations being deposited the same day into II, it modestly weakens your trade power.

I don't know if that's true, but depositing it 11.5 months before check-in still gives it great trade power. I do deposit the intact 2BR because I want to maximize the trade power. Although I believe I could do a 1BR for 1BR trade into MOC, I typically have exact check-in days I need because I am trying to match my fixed week there (the II trade is for friends or family).

If I could accomodate a wider group of check-in dates, I would try the 1BR for 1BR. I did a modest trade power test when I had both a 1BR MOC and a 2BR WR trying to trade into MOC, and the 2BR WR matched before the 1BR MOC. This was noteworthy to me because MOC has a home resort trade preference.

Long answer to simple question....I hope it helps!

Best,

Greg