The Annual Aruba Ocean Club Reservation Nightmare

[ilene13]

Today was the 13 month mark to call Marriott to reserve my weeks 50,51 and 52. I wanted the Monday check-in. I got in instantly and the rep of course asked me questions as I told him the dates I wanted. He got me the week 50 for Monday, but he said he had the week 51 for Monday but then it disappeared. He booked 2 Friday check-ins for me for week 51. They do not even encompass the Christmas holiday. He said there were no week 52's ever available. He thought that the week 52's had not been released, but his supervisor said that the first release of 50% had been booked well before today. I guess I am getting sick of the constant stress because now I will continue to call on a regular basis until through the 12 month release dates. I looked on redneck 2 men each have 8 units for rent for weeks 51 and 52. I wish Marriott would do something about the people who continue to use them strictly as businesses!!

 

[DCBoy]

I wonder who the two guys on "redneck" might be?

 

[GregT]

Today was the 13 month mark to call Marriott to reserve my weeks 50,51 and 52. I wanted the Monday check-in. I got in instantly and the rep of course asked me questions as I told him the dates I wanted. He got me the week 50 for Monday, but he said he had the week 51 for Monday but then it disappeared. He booked 2 Friday check-ins for me for week 51. They do not even encompass the Christmas holiday. He said there were no week 52's ever available. He thought that the week 52's had not been released, but his supervisor said that the first release of 50% had been booked well before today. I guess I am getting sick of the constant stress because now I will continue to call on a regular basis until through the 12 month release dates. I looked on redneck 2 men each have 8 units for rent for weeks 51 and 52. I wish Marriott would do something about the people who continue to use them strictly as businesses!!

Ilene,

I'm really sorry to hear this -- I hope you get the reservations you are looking for, but it is really a pain in the ass having to go through all these gymnastics to get the reservation that you want.

Good luck with this....

Best,

Greg

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Today was the 13 month mark to call Marriott to reserve my weeks 50,51 and 52. I wanted the Monday check-in. I got in instantly and the rep of course asked me questions as I told him the dates I wanted. He got me the week 50 for Monday, but he said he had the week 51 for Monday but then it disappeared. He booked 2 Friday check-ins for me for week 51. They do not even encompass the Christmas holiday. He said there were no week 52's ever available. He thought that the week 52's had not been released, but his supervisor said that the first release of 50% had been booked well before today. I guess I am getting sick of the constant stress because now I will continue to call on a regular basis until through the 12 month release dates. I looked on redneck 2 men each have 8 units for rent for weeks 51 and 52. I wish Marriott would do something about the people who continue to use them strictly as businesses!!

If they own more than one week then they can book 13 months out and string any number of weeks together in order to reach the week 51 & 52.

Not a lot can be done about it other than to buy additional weeks (which isn't financially feasible).




.

 

[SOS8260456]

But he owns 3 weeks in Aruba. Not familiar with Mariot but does the ownership at the other Mariots help at all in booking consequtive weeks?

 

[jimf41]

But he owns 3 weeks in Aruba. Not familiar with Mariot but does the ownership at the other Mariots help at all in booking consequtive weeks?

As long as the weeks are booked consecutively or concurrently it doesn't make a difference at what resort they are owned. Neither does season if the seasons line up. Points, trust or legacy, or weeks booked with points, cannot be combined with weeks to get to the 13 month rule.

 

[ilene13]

Yesterday was the 1st day you could call to string platinum weeks 50-52 together as week 49 is gold. The two men I referenced own multiple gold units also- all used for rental purposes. If they were used for personal pleasure no one would have a problem.

 

[Old Hickory]

I wonder who the two guys on "redneck" might be?

One "might be" Jeff Foxworthy.

 

[LisaH]

I wonder who the two guys on "redneck" might be?

One "might be" Jeff Foxworthy.

LOL...
Seriously though, Ilene, I feel your pain!

 

[BocaBoy]

Yesterday was the 1st day you could call to string platinum weeks 50-52 together as week 49 is gold. The two men I referenced own multiple gold units also- all used for rental purposes. If they were used for personal pleasure no one would have a problem.

I don't have a problem with this. They own the weeks, after all. I know when I bought my weeks one of the sales pitches was you could rent out your week if you want.

 

[dioxide45]

I don't have a problem with this. They own the weeks, after all. I know when I bought my weeks one of the sales pitches was you could rent out your week if you want.

I think the issue is that commercial activity is prohibited in most if not all of the reservation procedures documents. Though it certainly isn't enforced. Renting eight weeks may meet the definition of commercial activity, especially if done every year.

 

[bazzap]

I think the issue is that commercial activity is prohibited in most if not all of the reservation procedures documents. Though it certainly isn't enforced. Renting eight weeks may meet the definition of commercial activity, especially if done every year.

This is an in interesting one.
I can empathise with both sides sides of this.
It is clearly very frustrating for owners to find it difficult or impossible to reserve the week(s) they want as there is no inventory available.
Equally, I too know when I bought my weeks one of the sales pitches was you could rent out your week if you want.
(although I never have, as I am too busy using them)
At one of our home resorts, we met owners who own 26 weeks at the one resort.
They rent out many of those weeks to cover their extremely high total MF bill and effectively allow them to have free vacations.
Is this commercial activity or just sound financial planning?

 

[ilene13]

I think the issue is that commercial activity is prohibited in most if not all of the reservation procedures documents. Though it certainly isn't enforced. Renting eight weeks may meet the definition of commercial activity, especially if done every year.

Especially when one of them has a company which takes out full double page ads in a magazine advertising the properties for rent.

 

[SueDonJ]

Especially when one of them has a company which takes out full double page ads in a magazine advertising the properties for rent.

Like you that would send me right over the edge! But I'm resigned to the fact that if the folks who run the show for the infamous Marriott Aruba week in January aren't prevented from doing their thing by enforcement of a vague "commercial activity" prohibition, then I'm not sure any entity ever would be. As long as "commercial activity" remains undefined, MVW can pick and choose when to selectively prohibit it (which appears, again, to be never.)

 

[Sunbum]

This is an in interesting one.
I can empathise with both sides sides of this.
It is clearly very frustrating for owners to find it difficult or impossible to reserve the week(s) they want as there is no inventory available.
Equally, I too know when I bought my weeks one of the sales pitches was you could rent out your week if you want.
(although I never have, as I am too busy using them)
At one of our home resorts, we met owners who own 26 weeks at the one resort.
They rent out many of those weeks to cover their extremely high total MF bill and effectively allow them to have free vacations.
Is this commercial activity or just sound financial planning?

Excellent point bazzap, MVCI encourage the purchase of additional weeks to allow you to book out sooner and suggest you rent the extra weeks that you don't want to use yourself. So it will be impossible for them to back track on this. There would be lots of law suits if they did.

I would say that some people have acted on what Marriott suggested and have done very well by it. as you say, maybe some sound financial planning.

It is extremely frustrating, I guess you can't keep everyone happy.

 

[Southerngirl528]

Ilene13, I absolutely feel your pain. So sorry you didn't get what you wanted. I hope you can secure it at the 12 month window.

I had the same thing happen to me the 2nd time I tried to use my pricey new Napili tower purchase for Maui. I can book at 13 months also, and called the very first moment inventory opened only to be told there was nothing available. To say I was flabbergasted is an understatement since I own at DVC and know that if you want what you want you had better be dialing in at the precise moment to snag what you want. A friend on TA sent me here to learn more about traditional TS. I didn't like everything I learned, but at least I now understand that those folks that own way more weeks than I do can be booking deep into unreleased inventory. If I owned more, I would be doing the same thing, no doubt.

Again, good luck with getting that rez! Can't recall if it was Greg T or whom, but someone here on the forums was in your similar position but kept checking availability and was able to get what they needed, though it took more effort.

 

[ilene13]

Ilene13, I absolutely feel your pain. So sorry you didn't get what you wanted. I hope you can secure it at the 12 month window.

I had the same thing happen to me the 2nd time I tried to use my pricey new Napili tower purchase for Maui. I can book at 13 months also, and called the very first moment inventory opened only to be told there was nothing available. To say I was flabbergasted is an understatement since I own at DVC and know that if you want what you want you had better be dialing in at the precise moment to snag what you want. A friend on TA sent me here to learn more about traditional TS. I didn't like everything I learned, but at least I now understand that those folks that own way more weeks than I do can be booking deep into unreleased inventory. If I owned more, I would be doing the same thing, no doubt.

Again, good luck with getting that rez! Can't recall if it was Greg T or whom, but someone here on the forums was in your similar position but kept checking availability and was able to get what they needed, though it took more effort.

Thank you. Up until 3 years ago I always got my weeks at the 13 month mark. Last year and the year before I got it at the 12 month release. Hopefully I will this year too.

 

[suzannesimon]

When I bought 2 Holiday weeks at Frenchman's Cove, the salesman sold me on what great rentals they would be and how investors love to buy them. The first year we went there, I did the sales presentation and that salesman even gave me names of rental services where I could list them. They have no problem with rentals and sell the idea.

This time of year when I'm having to pay hefty maintenance fees on 8 weeks, I'm glad I have that rental income put away to cover the fees. It's too bad when you can't get the week you want, however. It's one reason I like fixed weeks. It eliminates a lot of the drama. I don't see any reason to change the reservation policy though. If someone bought 8 weeks and can string them together, what difference does it make if they are snowbirds escaping winter or investors? They paid the big bucks to get them and should be able to use them as they see fit.

 

[ilene13]

When I bought 2 Holiday weeks at Frenchman's Cove, the salesman sold me on what great rentals they would be and how investors love to buy them. The first year we went there, I did the sales presentation and that salesman even gave me names of rental services where I could list them. They have no problem with rentals and sell the idea.

This time of year when I'm having to pay hefty maintenance fees on 8 weeks, I'm glad I have that rental income put away to cover the fees. It's too bad when you can't get the week you want, however. It's one reason I like fixed weeks. It eliminates a lot of the drama. I don't see any reason to change the reservation policy though. If someone bought 8 weeks and can string them together, what difference does it make if they are snowbirds escaping winter or investors? They paid the big bucks to get them and should be able to use them as they see fit.

8 weeks is one thing, I know some that own 20+ weeks. At one point we owned 10 weeks. We are now down to 7. 3 of them are fixed weeks. So I too paid big bucks.

 

[GrayFal]

When I bought 2 Holiday weeks at Frenchman's Cove, the salesman sold me on what great rentals they would be and how investors love to buy them. The first year we went there, I did the sales presentation and that salesman even gave me names of rental services where I could list them. They have no problem with rentals and sell the idea.

This time of year when I'm having to pay hefty maintenance fees on 8 weeks, I'm glad I have that rental income put away to cover the fees. It's too bad when you can't get the week you want, however. It's one reason I like fixed weeks. It eliminates a lot of the drama. I don't see any reason to change the reservation policy though. If someone bought 8 weeks and can string them together, what difference does it make if they are snowbirds escaping winter or investors? They paid the big bucks to get them and should be able to use them as they see fit.

Yup

 

[GrayFal]

8 weeks is one thing, I know some that own 20+ weeks. At one point we owned 10 weeks. We are now down to 7. 3 of them are fixed weeks. So I too paid big bucks.

Yes, but you missed the part about buying a throw away week to lead into your 50,51 52.

I had two gold Fairway Villa Gold units. Sold both of them 7 years ago to people who wanted to book week 7 at ski resorts. They needed my week to book their 7,8,9,10 at Mountainside.
Not being unkind, just stating the facts.

 

[m61376]

And at the Ocean Club, it's easy to buy Gold 1 BR weeks cheaply and book several weeks earlier, to string into the week 51 and 52 rentals. The Gold 1 BR's can easily be rented to cover the annual MF's, and the Aruba holiday weeks are a rental gold mine; not sure if any other weeks rent for more than they do, but they're certainly at or near the very top of the list. So there's a huge incentive for investors to do exactly what they're doing. But it's very frustrating. Limited inventory dwindles further when competing not only with people making reservations for their own use, but those stacking the system for rentals, not to say what effect the DC fractioning of inventory has on availability (if any).

Hopefully 12 months will be a charm, since you're likely no longer competing with renters.

 

[Larry]

When I bought 2 Holiday weeks at Frenchman's Cove, the salesman sold me on what great rentals they would be and how investors love to buy them. The first year we went there, I did the sales presentation and that salesman even gave me names of rental services where I could list them. They have no problem with rentals and sell the idea.

This time of year when I'm having to pay hefty maintenance fees on 8 weeks, I'm glad I have that rental income put away to cover the fees. It's too bad when you can't get the week you want, however. It's one reason I like fixed weeks. It eliminates a lot of the drama. I don't see any reason to change the reservation policy though. If someone bought 8 weeks and can string them together, what difference does it make if they are snowbirds escaping winter or investors? They paid the big bucks to get them and should be able to use them as they see fit.

Absolutely agree!!!! No matter what they paid they can do what they want with there weeks. Use them, rent them out give them to a friend whatever. That's what they were sold and you can't change the rules if someone bought for investment.

 

[dioxide45]

Absolutely agree!!!! No matter what they paid they can do what they want with there weeks. Use them, rent them out give them to a friend whatever. That's what they were sold and you can't change the rules if someone bought for investment.

They can, because renting them for commercial use is forbidden in the reservation procedures. Marriott can choose to enforce the rule if they wish. They just don't. Remember, what you are told in a sale presentation means little. The written contract and underlying documents mean everything.

 

[Quilter]

They can, because renting them for commercial use is forbidden in the reservation procedures. Marriott can choose to enforce the rule if they wish. They just don't. Remember, what you are told in a sale presentation means little. The written contract and underlying documents mean everything.

I don't know where my documents are at the moment. I think they're in the safe deposit box. So I'd appreciate some help dissecting the phrase renting for commercial use. Is that the exact wording in the documents?

Renting for commercial use seems more like renting to a business to operate from the unit.