Tech issue or me issue on 13 month search

[garypage58]

Curious if others are seeing terrible availability over the last few years? We've been owners for 30 years and I've gotten decent use out of our ownership but I'm feeling like it may be time to do a deedback.
If I search on Breckenridge, Steamboat (ski obviously) , St. John, Los Suenos, and Aruba there is literally zero inventory for March or April 2026. In the case of Los Suenos I have actually never seen a week come up since it was posted to inventory. I realize this is a limited search but they are properties we have not been to and would like to go.
Do I need to be on everyday at 9:00 searching even at 13 months out?
Maybe I'm just tired of "the game".
With other options like VRBO available now that weren't there when we bought in I'm just seeing less and less value in $2800 of maintenance on 4050 points a year.
Are others having similar thoughts and seeing very declining utility?
For history, bought Eoy week at Harbor lakes 1998 direct sales ($8500). Bought eoy Harbor lakes secondary market ($3000). Bought 1500 club points for approximately ($6000) which allowed prior weeks to be converted to points. I realize the purchase price is gone and would likely be a "free" deedback to MVC

 

[ljmiii]

I’ve never tried booking ski weeks, but none of the other three destinations have any inventory in the Abound Trust because they are outside the US. Inventory only appears if/when someone elects their enrolled week into Anound Points.

You basically just need to keep trying and hope for the best. And if you have excess Abound Points you can commit to a Waitlist you can make a request at 12 months.

 

[davidvel]

The Club has never been a good value since it's inception in 2010, except for niche bookings. Not sure why you expect it to be now. You can almost always book cheaper through redweek.

We traded our gold studio for a 2 br at (now) Mountainside in Park City to board this spring break. That is where the value is, not in points.

 

[garypage58]

The Club has never been a good value since it's inception in 2010, except for niche bookings. Not sure why you expect it to be now. You can almost always book cheaper through redweek.

We traded our gold studio for a 2 br at (now) Mountainside in Park City to board this spring break. That is where the value is, not in points.

Thanks for the reply. Just so I'm clear when you say "The Club" you are referring to vacationclub points vs trading actual weeks? I've actually had good trades in the past depositing my weeks for points (never Bonvoy points) and never looked back once I had the ability to convert. I may need to go back to trying weeks?

 

[garypage58]

I’ve never tried booking ski weeks, but none of the other three destinations have any inventory in the Abound Trust because they are outside the US. Inventory only appears if/when someone elects their enrolled week into Anound Points.

You basically just need to keep trying and hope for the best. And if you have excess Abound Points you can commit to a Waitlist you can make a request at 12 months.

Thanks. 1st time I've heard the outside US not being in the points system. Explains a lot. I also wasn't aware of the wait list feature. I will give that a try. Much appreciated.

 

[claraj]

@garypage58 I agree with what everyone has said. You might have a better chance trading into the non-US properties through Interval International.

 

[dioxide45]

13 month point inventory has always been spotty. Especially for peak seasons at prime resorts. March in Aruba is prime time and Aruba doesn't have any weeks in the trust. The same is true of Los Suenos. Those are sold as deeded weeks and none are in the trust. They all rely on owners electing points for their week. This isn't really anything new from a points perspective.

I see you own Harbour Lake. That can't be your only Marriott ownership, is it? It hasn't been around for 30 years. Do you or did you own something else? As you note, you have received good exchanges. using Harbour Lake for Club Points is a bad value proposition. You can get far more value out of it by exchanging through II with $0 exchange and retrade fees. That said, the same issues you have searching in points for prime season at premier resorts exists in II. These have always been hard reservations to secure.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Owners of multiple weeks that aren't enrolled in Abound should always have first crack at their deeded weeks, so I am glad inventory is spotty at 13 months. Believe me, 4th of July week at Marriott's Willow Ridge is always completely gone by the time the first hour of that 13 month window.