This is why I love my Marriott timeshare!

[icul8rg8r]

I've acknowledged that in fact you can acheive "similiar" doing off season while travelling short notice, but you just can't do what Greg T and I do for our families with a no name resort. You just can't. You suggest you can but don't offer comparable examples.

When were you able to rent inexpensively or trade into a prime Marriott during prime time without getting lucky with the 60 day window. It can't be done unless your trading something of somewhat similar value.

Hi! I just had to chime in here, because I do have plenty of examples! We owned a red week 2-bed/2-bath lock-out unit at a non-affiliated property in Branson (that just recently earned an RCI Silver Crown) that I inherited from my parents/grandparents and kept for 10+ years because of the low MF's. We have never visited/stayed at our home resort (we live in Seattle area). However, we consistently exchanged that week within RCI or II or traded with a private owner for 5-star, Gold Crown resorts (far superior than our Branson resort), such as:

1. Club Intrawest, Whistler, B.C.
2. Marriott K'Oloni, Oahu, Hawaii
3. HGVC Waikaloa Village, Big Island, Hawaii
4. Several Disney Vacation Club resorts in Orlando
5. Grand Pacific, Carlsbad, CA

....and others in Sedona, Breckenridge, Vail, Aspen, Las Vegas, Sandestin, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Pigeon Forge, Oregon Coast. We were almost always able to "trade up" to a Gold Crown resort within RCI.

Now that we have kids and can't afford to fly to all the various destinations, we sold (gave away) the Branson unit and bought a Hilton HGVC (at the Flamingo, in Las Vegas) since they are affiliated with our favorite place, The Club Intrawest in Whistler, and they have resorts in the places we enjoy most and can get affordable flights (Vegas, Hawaii, Orlando).

So even though we now have a name-brand timeshare, I just had to share that great trades CAN be made with non-affiliated timeshares! I'm sure there are others that can attest to the same!

 

[MOXJO7282]

Hi! I just had to chime in here, because I do have plenty of examples! We owned a red week 2-bed/2-bath lock-out unit at a non-affiliated property in Branson (that just recently earned an RCI Silver Crown) that I inherited from my parents/grandparents and kept for 10+ years because of the low MF's. We have never visited/stayed at our home resort (we live in Seattle area). However, we consistently exchanged that week within RCI or II or traded with a private owner for 5-star, Gold Crown resorts (far superior than our Branson resort), such as:

1. Club Intrawest, Whistler, B.C.
2. Marriott K'Oloni, Oahu, Hawaii
3. HGVC Waikaloa Village, Big Island, Hawaii
4. Several Disney Vacation Club resorts in Orlando
5. Grand Pacific, Carlsbad, CA

....and others in Sedona, Breckenridge, Vail, Aspen, Las Vegas, Sandestin, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Pigeon Forge, Oregon Coast. We were almost always able to "trade up" to a Gold Crown resort within RCI.

Now that we have kids and can't afford to fly to all the various destinations, we sold (gave away) the Branson unit and bought a Hilton HGVC (at the Flamingo, in Las Vegas) since they are affiliated with our favorite place, The Club Intrawest in Whistler, and they have resorts in the places we enjoy most and can get affordable flights (Vegas, Hawaii, Orlando).

So even though we now have a name-brand timeshare, I just had to share that great trades CAN be made with non-affiliated timeshares! I'm sure there are others that can attest to the same!

We're any of these prime season weeks? 2BDRM units that you received?

I'm not trying to be a snob but I'm going to Maui on Presidents week in a 2BDRM OF Maui Marriott(although I did rent the studio I did have a 2BDRM), flying 1st class on AA miles because I could book at the earliest opportunity.

You can't compare Oahu or the Big Island with the Marriott Maui Ocean Club or anything in Vegas or Orlando with any of the top Marriott locations like Aruba or Hilton Head Island or Newport Coast because they don't compare in demand or in quality for that matter.

 

[timeos2]

One quick pop in just to say that mere facts that it doesn't take a Marriott to stay at Marriotts or other top quality locations/times is not what these posters want to hear. They want to justify the high buy in & ongoing fees by assuring each other "that's the only way". Not true but they will never know.

Those who haven't swallowed the Marriott (and DVC/Hilton and a few others) Koolaid know that isn't the case, but we're better off simply smiling when you hear these types of statements as trying to explain the reality is not wanted.

Some will eventually figure it out & convert but the vast majority want to believe and, as long as newbies don't get sold that line & actually believe it thus overpaying, we can't save them from themselves - so let it go. They are only costing themselves and those that mistakenly pay too much based on this type of thread. Hopefully we manage to educate most as to how to get far better value (as well as the top resorts if that's what they want).

Now watch out for more flying bricks!

 

[andex]

Interesting thread! Enjoyed reading it.
Thanks.

 

[MOXJO7282]

One quick pop in just to say that mere facts that it doesn't take a Marriott to stay at Marriotts or other top quality locations/times is not what these posters want to hear.

You're right its doesn't ...... in the off season, in less than a 2 BDRM in the less demand locations.

I'm still waiting for an example where it can be done during prime season in a 2BDRM. Those that refute never offer an example that shows a no name trade into a prime winter/summer week 2 BDRM Marriott at a high demand location like Aruba, Maui, Newport Coast, Myrtle Beach, Grande Ocean Hilton Head, and I'm sure the its the same with prime Marriott ski weeks.

I'll wait now for a few examples but I'm sure I'll be waiting for some time because it can't happen. I know this because when I realized I wanted to experience 2BDRM Marriott quality during prime weeks I tried to figure out how to get there without spending Marriott money and realized it wasn't possible.

Can it be done during the off season? Yes you can easily rent at a reasonable price.

Can you get a studio during prime season? Sure but even those will be $1500.

So please, please examples of a no name getting a trade into a prime winter/summer week 2 BDRM Marriott at a high demand location like Aruba, Maui, Newport Coast, Myrtle Beach, Grande Ocean Hilton Head, or Marriott ski weeks.

And please qualify if you did get the trade when did it come through, flex time?

I give specific examples and others just give generalizations. Again to be clear on my point, if you need a 2 BDRM during prime season at many of the prime Marriott locations I mention above you need to own something equivalent.

Please give examples to refute my point.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Some will eventually figure it out & convert but the vast majority want to believe and, as long as newbies don't get sold that line & actually believe it thus overpaying, we can't save them from themselves - so let it go. They are only costing themselves and those that mistakenly pay too much based on this type of thread. Hopefully we manage to educate most as to how to get far better value (as well as the top resorts if that's what they want).

Now watch out for more flying bricks!

And I'm trying to educate those like myself who want a certain Marriott quality, a certain size room and a certain time of year that you can't buy low and sell high like so many do only to fail and then be stuck with a no name they can't even give away. You get what you pay for in my book.

 

[csalter2]

They Can't See What we see

MOXJO7282,

A non-Marriott owner cannot see what we see so they don't understand. It is possible for them to get prime weeks, but it will be by only a few ways. First, they can get into one if an owner deciddes to rent it. This is possible because a summer week in July in Hawaii can go anywhere from $2,000 to $4000 in July depending on which resort for a 2 bedroom. Secondly, if a Marriott owner exchanges with II and trades their week to get a summer week somewhere else. Thirdly, if Marriott is taking their weeks and using it for a sales pitch to prospective owners or renting the units at their crazy prices.

What they non-Marriott owners don't see is the calendar that we see. We open up the calendar a year in advance and can see all of the late June and all of July and early August weeks get snatched up by owners.

As Marriott pushes the points program and takes their inventory and not turn much over to II, non Marriott owners will not see the opportunities as they once did. I know that for sure because I don't pull up as many Marriott's as I once did with my Diamond Resorts International points. Things are changing because the points system will leave limited opportunities for weeks owners from Marriotts and Marriott owners who don't have DC points will have priority over non Marriott owners looking to exchange.

That's going to be the new reality.

 

[GregT]

One quick pop in just to say that mere facts that it doesn't take a Marriott to stay at Marriotts or other top quality locations/times is not what these posters want to hear. They want to justify the high buy in & ongoing fees by assuring each other "that's the only way". Not true but they will never know.

Those who haven't swallowed the Marriott (and DVC/Hilton and a few others) Koolaid know that isn't the case, but we're better off simply smiling when you hear these types of statements as trying to explain the reality is not wanted.

Some will eventually figure it out & convert but the vast majority want to believe and, as long as newbies don't get sold that line & actually believe it thus overpaying, we can't save them from themselves - so let it go. They are only costing themselves and those that mistakenly pay too much based on this type of thread. Hopefully we manage to educate most as to how to get far better value (as well as the top resorts if that's what they want).

Now watch out for more flying bricks!

Timeos,

Welcome back! and yes, bricks will fly.

I agree with you -- yes, you can trade into Marriotts with non-Marriotts, and I've posted multiple times in this very same forum about the incredible power of Worldmark.

Worldmark is awesome. I've traded into the following with my humble Worldmark:

St. Kitts 2BR (October)
Frenchmen's Cove 2BR (Sept/Oct)
Ko Olina 1BR (February) -- that one stunned me -- never repeated though
Ko Olina Studio (Feb/June/Oct/anytime)
Waiohai 2BR (November)
Kauai Beach Villas 1BR/2BR (Sept/Oct/Nov)
Aruba Ocean Club 1BR/2BR (Oct/Nov)
Aruba Ocean Club Studio (Feb)

Really, Worldmark rocks. I think it is the most powerful trader in the system, and once the Marriott preference is cleared, WM is top of the heap, in my opinion.

However, these are mostly shoulder trades (non-Flex -- in Flex, all bets are off). With the exception of the 1BR Ko Olina, these were not high demand weeks.

So.....I think we should declare a peace treaty here -- I'll concede that Marriotts in great locations can be accessed by non-Marriotts, and I'll ask you to concede that getting a prime Marriott week (summer Hawaii/winter Ski) is highly unlikely via trade. We can debate renting in a whole different thread.

But....I'm still loving my Marriott timeshare!

Best,

Greg

 

[MOXJO7282]

Timeos,

Welcome back! and yes, bricks will fly.

I agree with you -- yes, you can trade into Marriotts with non-Marriotts, and I've posted multiple times in this very same forum about the incredible power of Worldmark.

Worldmark is awesome. I've traded into the following with my humble Worldmark:

St. Kitts 2BR (October)
Frenchmen's Cove 2BR (Sept/Oct)
Ko Olina 1BR (February) -- that one stunned me -- never repeated though
Ko Olina Studio (Feb/June/Oct/anytime)
Waiohai 2BR (November)
Kauai Beach Villas 1BR/2BR (Sept/Oct/Nov)
Aruba Ocean Club 1BR/2BR (Oct/Nov)
Aruba Ocean Club Studio (Feb)

Really, Worldmark rocks. I think it is the most powerful trader in the system, and once the Marriott preference is cleared, WM is top of the heap, in my opinion.

However, these are mostly shoulder trades (non-Flex -- in Flex, all bets are off). With the exception of the 1BR Ko Olina, these were not high demand weeks.

So.....I think we should declare a peace treaty here -- I'll concede that Marriotts in great locations can be accessed by non-Marriotts, and I'll ask you to concede that getting a prime Marriott week (summer Hawaii/winter Ski) is highly unlikely via trade. We can debate renting in a whole different thread.

But....I'm still loving my Marriott timeshare!

Best,

Greg

This is what I like examples, instead of unsubstantiated claims. This is also great info. If you like Marriotts and are OK with shoulder season and smaller units but don't want to spend the extra to own Marriott there is definitely a way to do it, and it looks like WM is a viable option.

If you want a 2BDRM Maui in the winter, not so much.

 

[josh1231]

And we have enjoyed the same things with numerous trades (we've never had to rent yet for a Marriott we wanted) using our much less expensive resorts/points for trade. That's even BETTER than paying big $$ to own & the exact same result!

Thank you for paying for those beautiful resorts. We've enjoyed them very much. And we're very glad we don't have to pay for them.

I am always on the lookout for a new TS strategy, however adopting your strategy would concern me.

One of my primary concerns in the current timeshare market is resale. I never want to be locked into a timeshare that nobody wants. With a few exceptions, Marriott's are rather easy to sell without paying anything out of pocked to do so. The resorts you listed do not seem to be this way. Looking at current and past ebay sales, it does not seem as if either has had any sales in spite of free closings and maintenance fee's for 2012 being offered.

I would be very scared of becoming one of those people you hear about, unable to utilize their timeshare and unable to sell it.

I'm not saying this is the case with yours, but again this would be my fear. Any suggestions on how this would be avoided would be appreciated, because as I stated I am always looking for a new strategy.

 

[m61376]

I agree with Greg and Joe- who I think are both basically on the same page. But I think what csalter2 posted needs to be underscored; while in the past we have seen lots of non-Marriott to Marriott Flexchange trades and trades to shoulder weeks, off season and smaller units, the advent of the DC is likely to diminish those historically great trades that Greg and others have enjoyed.

Of course, I expect posts about the idiosyncratic trades that people occasionally luck out on (II goofs all the time, so sometimes weeks fail to get assigned a Marriott preference, sometimes weird trades just happen) but this will be far from the norm and likely more and more a rarity as time goes on given the current patterns we've been seeing on II. Purchasing a timeshare is not only the initial outlay today, but the annual MF's, and I'd hate for anybody reading this thread to take John's words at face value and feel that with a little maneuvering they too can easily get the Marriott prime trades they want with an outside unit.

Now if you can travel last minute and/or don't care when or what size unit, you can do well with off brand ownership, but it is important to be realistic in one's expectations; I think that's why there are so many disgruntled timeshare owners, because they're not getting the trades they expected. I think the purpose of Tug is to educate people as to what is realistic.

 

[timeos2]

You're right its doesn't ...... in the off season, in less than a 2 BDRM in the less demand locations.
Please give examples to refute my point.

OK, one time.

We have now stayed at every Marriott we had wanted - some multiple times - and every one in prime/Holiday periods, as we too were limited by school schedules until the past year. Now we can use the slightly to completely off demand periods which really cuts the costs & increases availability.

We have stayed at Manor House in July, Grand Chateau for Easter, Custom House in early August and Hilton Head also early August. While there are other locations we didn't want them for various reasons (but we could have had them). We had no desire to pay for the long trip to Hawaii (much as we loved our trip there years ago - too expensive and WAY too much air time to be appealing today - a growing issue with all non-drivable locations) although I saw weeks available there when searching.

The simple fact is that once time goes into the trade system it can be reserved by anyone - not just Marriott owners. As others noted what you see as a Marriott owner is different and may give you a false sense of what a non-owner is able to get - quite easily. The other fact is that Marriott's - as beautiful as they are - aren't everywhere people want to go. While they do have two or three relatively unique locations overall they are concentrated in the same old spots that also feature other brand names as well as non-branded ones. So if you want to visit Washington, DC you can't stay in a Marriott - the beautiful Wyndham Alexandria is the best choice & equal to most Marriott's. Coast in CA? Better have a Worldmark or independent as there aren't Marriott's. In Orlando there are a couple Marriott's but they don't have the excellent location that some non-branded resorts offer while the Marriott fees are a full 1/3 higher.

I know that as owners you like your resorts/system and want to stand up for it. But those who are careful can enjoy it too and ownership is most definitely not required.

If the source for non-branded trades dries up it also goes away for owners as it is the same pool of inventory (mostly II). Rentals are always out there and, again with care, can be found - yes even in high demand times - at or just slightly above the annual fees without the obligations. It may offer comfort for those paying those fees to think they HAD to to get these times but it just isn't true. In fact as the rental world is evolving it is easier to get the exact time/unit/view you desire renting than it is or ever was by exchange. That is likely to become even more true as the exchange pool shifts toward Marriott's seriously flawed and costly points system.

 

[MOXJO7282]

I'd hate for anybody reading this thread to take John's words at face value and feel that with a little maneuvering they too can easily get the Marriott prime trades they want with an outside unit.

Now if you can travel last minute and/or don't care when or what size unit, you can do well with off brand ownership, but it is important to be realistic in one's expectations; I think that's why there are so many disgruntled timeshare owners, because they're not getting the trades they expected. I think the purpose of Tug is to educate people as to what is realistic.

This hits the nail on the head as to why I continue to state my case, not to bragg or justify what I own but to educate those with similar wants to my family on how do it.

I can't tell you how happy we are with our ownership that it will enable us to go on a 5th Pres week Maui trip in 17 days since we've owned in 2002, all with 1st class FF seats received largely from my ownership.

If you want similiar you need to own Marriott or another high-end TS to enjoy such.

Its funny because I've been making this argument since day one and its always a cast of characters that say "you can do the same for pennies" and when it came done to a good fair "argument" to state both sides I'd quote examples and the opposition would just give vague references and offer examples that weren't truly apples to apples. So now it just new guys with the same argument.

Bottom line: You can most certainly enjoy wonderful shoulder season Marriott exchanges wiith some low cost traders but to get a prime week Marriott 2BDRM in a prime location you need to own equal value or you ain't getting in unless you get lucky in flex.

 

[timeos2]

I am always on the lookout for a new TS strategy, however adopting your strategy would concern me.

One of my primary concerns in the current timeshare market is resale. I never want to be locked into a timeshare that nobody wants. With a few exceptions, Marriott's are rather easy to sell without paying anything out of pocked to do so. The resorts you listed do not seem to be this way. Looking at current and past ebay sales, it does not seem as if either has had any sales in spite of free closings and maintenance fee's for 2012 being offered.

I would be very scared of becoming one of those people you hear about, unable to utilize their timeshare and unable to sell it.

I'm not saying this is the case with yours, but again this would be my fear. Any suggestions on how this would be avoided would be appreciated, because as I stated I am always looking for a new strategy.

It is a mixture of careful selection & more than a bit of luck. Our criteria has been if we LOVE it then chances are others will want it too. That can be a location or system. Add in owner control (I've always believed in that but now it is apparent it is more important & growing more unique all the time) and buying as low as possible so your only costs are the annual fees (which translate directly to use value) and your exposure is minimal.

The risk is actually far greater with names as you tend to pay far more upfront - which only goes down over time so it's unlikely to be recouped - and the real cost, the ongoing fees, tend to be 30-50% higher. Both have a chance of special assessments but those for names tend to be higher than non-branded as, like every other fee, overhead for the name is tacked on.

No timeshare guarantees low risk but with care you can pay very little for quality & location and have reasonable fees as you enjoy whatever you buy in the non-branded world. Paying big money for purchase of a name also guarantees you nothing but more fees and the need to try to recover that initial purchase price someday. It is easier to find a taker for a low cost/free week you enjoy & has reasonable fees vs trying to get thousands for a week with far higher fees. And you worry about it less too. You don't have to justify the purchase to yourself as the fees are low, the use value great and you have no big upfront money in it to have to try to recover. Feels great.

 

[thinze3]

I traded a 3BR week 9 ski unit (no name silver crown) into Marriott's Legends Edge in late June years ago. The trade took about 3-4 months to come through with about 4-6 months to spare.

I later learned that Marriott bulk deposited a ton of summer weeks into the system each year and that it is one of the easier resorts to trade into. MLE is just like Manor Club, Orlando or Branson in that sense. There are tons of good summer weeks available to trade into until the early spring. After that most premium weeks are snapped up. Any no name resort can get in with an ongoing search.

Outsiders trying to trade into a prime Marriott during prime season is no different than one of us Marriott owners trying to trade into a Westin Ka'anapali 2BR mid summer unit. It's just not going to happen. The unit will not make it through the preference period.

 

[dioxide45]

I traded a 3BR week 9 ski unit (no name silver crown) into Marriott's Legends Edge in late June years ago. The trade took about 3-4 months to come through with about 4-6 months to spare.

I later learned that Marriott bulk deposited a ton of summer weeks into the system each year and that it is one of the easier resorts to trade into. MLE is just like Manor Club, Orlando or Branson in that sense. There are tons of good summer weeks available to trade into until the early spring. After that most premium weeks are snapped up. Any no name resort can get in with an ongoing search.

Outsiders trying to trade into a prime Marriott during prime season is no different than one of us Marriott owners trying to trade into a Westin Ka'anapali 2BR mid summer unit. It's just not going to happen. The unit will not make it through the preference period.

I would agree, while they are all great resorts, I wouldn't consider Branson, Orlando or Manor club to be prime resort locations. Curious about John's Hilton Head Island trade, was it in to a beach resort or one of the resorts not on the beach? I would group Harbour Club, Harbour Pointe and Sunset Pointe in to a similar category. While they are in HHI, the demand for these resorts is far less than those resorts located directly on the beach.

I would never say that any specific trade is impossible; however, the chances for specific trades are very close to 0%. That doesn't mean that someone won't get lucky and score a great trade though as the chance is always there. It should also be said that it is prettr rare that Marriott bulk banks super prime weeks and they get through the II preference.

 

[heathpack]

Now if you can travel last minute and/or don't care when or what size unit, you can do well with off brand ownership, but it is important to be realistic in one's expectations; I think that's why there are so many disgruntled timeshare owners, because they're not getting the trades they expected. I think the purpose of Tug is to educate people as to what is realistic.

I think this really hits the nail on the head. Around the same time a few years ago, we bought our Hyatt resale & one of my work colleagues brought a summer Marriott Palm Springs week direct from developer.

We have no kids, WANT to travel shoulder season (better FF availability, less crowds, more discounts), and prefer 1BR units but are fine with studios. We could not be happier.

Work colleague has 2 kids, needs 2BR unit during summer or school holidays. He could not get anything he wanted in the old weeks system, finally went to Orlando. Then he paid up for DC and now does not have enough points for where he really wants to go, he just had to "settle" for a partial week in Park City (that was a decent compromise, I think). He feels like the TS was a big mistake and that he's been scammed.

I think it is completely true that the cheapest solution is not always the best. We own DVC because that is the most practical way for us to book long weekends at Disneyland, which is what we want 80% of the time. It is not the cheapest solution but it is the most efficient. Others always want full weeks in Orlando DVCs in 2BR units, an RCI trader might be a better solution for them.

The over-riding concept is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to timeshare ownership. There are vast differences in taste, travel constraints (if I limited myself to drive-to destinations I would be very sad), the meaning/value of vacation, etc. ANYBODY on TUG that suggests there is one best answer is doing the newbies a disservice.

This is a great, thought provoking thread. I love Gregs initial post & concept. There are times when we are on a TS stay that we just look around & marvel at the amazing quality of our stay relative to cost- tremendous value for us in owning branded TS.

H

 

[Twinkstarr]

You really need patience to trade for summer and if you need the 2br you need to put the full 2br up for exchange. And put that request in early!

I have been pretty successful with my *wood 2br ski week in getting what I want and 2br units to boot. My ongoing for summer 2012 was just filled last week and it was one of the areas I only had 2 weeks requested.

Glad I didn't bail, as the week before I seriously looked at a few Hyatt 2brs that popped up. DH was starting to panic, since we've usually gotten the trades 12-8 months out.

 

[SueDonJ]

... The over-riding concept is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to timeshare ownership. There are vast differences in taste, travel constraints (if I limited myself to drive-to destinations I would be very sad), the meaning/value of vacation, etc. ANYBODY on TUG that suggests there is one best answer is doing the newbies a disservice. ...

Bingo! "There is no one-size-fits-all!" The name-brands offer related travel benefits in addition to whatever usage you can get from your particular ownership; the stand-alones don't. Exchanging is always a crap shoot - sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't. We're doing a disservice to newbies if we're so blinded by our loyalties that we don't at least acknowledge anyone else's ownership experience.

... Some will eventually figure it out & convert but the vast majority want to believe and, as long as newbies don't get sold that line & actually believe it thus overpaying, we can't save them from themselves - so let it go. They are only costing themselves and those that mistakenly pay too much based on this type of thread. Hopefully we manage to educate most as to how to get far better value (as well as the top resorts if that's what they want).

Now watch out for more flying bricks!

John, when you say things like this you deserve the flying bricks! What you wrote here is insulting, IMO, full of insinuations that only uneducated and ignorant Marriott owners can be happy owners. And it's a theory that you expound every chance you get. The Marriott owners in this thread who are happy with their ownerships don't need to be "saved from themselves." Read what they're writing - they have a complete understanding of what they've purchased. This is the type of thing that kills your argument dead every time - if you have to misrepresent the other guy in order to bolster your argument, then your entire argument fails. Knock it off. Stop insulting us. We don't insult you over your preferred choice of timeshare ownership.

(Geeeze, I know that every post made by a TUG moderator is not made in that capacity, but when the same criticism is made over and over, at what point does a TUG moderator realize that it's time to self-moderate himself? This shtick is getting very old.)

 

[Beefnot]

Let us acknowledge that SueDonJ is a Marriott apologist who will never let herself be confused with facts, and Timeos2 is a stubborn buzz kill who refuses to let others enjoy their purchases. Auhentic perspective can be gleaned from others who have posted here, and is somewhere in between the two diehards. Eiher way, let the Marriott owners enjoy their Marriotts!

 

[MOXJO7282]

We have stayed at Manor House in July, Grand Chateau for Easter, Custom House in early August and Hilton Head also early August. While there are other locations we didn't want them for various reasons (but we could have had them). We had no desire to pay for the long trip to Hawaii (much as we loved our trip there years ago - too expensive and WAY too much air time to be appealing today - a growing issue with all non-drivable locations) although I saw weeks available there when searching.

The simple fact is that once time goes into the trade system it can be reserved by anyone - not just Marriott owners. As others noted what you see as a Marriott owner is different and may give you a false sense of what a non-owner is able to get - quite easily. The other fact is that Marriott's - as beautiful as they are - aren't everywhere people want to go. While they do have two or three relatively unique locations overall they are concentrated in the same old spots that also feature other brand names as well as non-branded ones. So if you want to visit Washington, DC you can't stay in a Marriott - the beautiful Wyndham Alexandria is the best choice & equal to most Marriott's. Coast in CA? Better have a Worldmark or independent as there aren't Marriott's. In Orlando there are a couple Marriott's but they don't have the excellent location that some non-branded resorts offer while the Marriott fees are a full 1/3 higher.

I know that as owners you like your resorts/system and want to stand up for it. But those who are careful can enjoy it too and ownership is most definitely not required.

If the source for non-branded trades dries up it also goes away for owners as it is the same pool of inventory (mostly II). Rentals are always out there and, again with care, can be found - yes even in high demand times - at or just slightly above the annual fees without the obligations. It may offer comfort for those paying those fees to think they HAD to to get these times but it just isn't true. In fact as the rental world is evolving it is easier to get the exact time/unit/view you desire renting than it is or ever was by exchange. That is likely to become even more true as the exchange pool shifts toward Marriott's seriously flawed and costly points system.

Where to start? This is a perfect example of what I mean, comparing apples and oranges. The demand for a Manor House in July, Vegas Grand Chateau for Easter, Custom House in early August and non-specific Hilton Head also early August isn't in the same universe as the demand there is for a Maui Marriott or Aruba in the winter, so your argument is without merit from the start.

As for the renting of prime weeks your position on that is also way off base. I know because I follow those markets extreme close so if any one would be considered knowledgeable on the subject it would be me for high end Marriott rentals. Can a blind squirrel find a nut? Sure but usually they die because they only find one every few years.

Finally Orlando Marriotts are part of my position because those are in an overdevelop area and even so most would say Marriotts in Orlando or as good or better than everything else there so I think most would disagree with you there as well.

 

[SueDonJ]

Let us acknowledge that SueDonJ is a Marriott apologist who will never let herself be confused with facts, and Timeos2 is a stubborn buzz kill who refuses to let others enjoy their purchases. Auhentic perspective can be gleaned from others who have posted here, and is somewhere in between the two diehards. Eiher way, let the Marriott owners enjoy their Marriotts!

Wow. I think for the first time ever on TUG, I'm shocked speechless.

 

[GregT]

Let us acknowledge that SueDonJ is a Marriott apologist who will never let herself be confused with facts

Beefnot, seriously? 167 Posts is a bit early to roll with this --- and I don't agree at all.

You have to love the internet. I think love is the word.

Where'd the positive Karma go? Did we really let Timeos highjack a well-intended thread?

Let's contact a moderator!!

Let's talk politics or religion!! Maybe we can get a consensus there.

Today I am still loving my Marriott timeshare.

Best,

Greg

 

[amycurl]

I once got a top floor, 2BR, oceanview unit over spring break at OceanWatch in Myrtle. I think we got it at about 9 months out. I thought that was a pretty good trade. That was about three or four years ago, before the DC.

I think the Marriott game is changing for everyone in ways that aren't yet entirely clear. What will happen if Spinco can't sell enough points and fails? If Spinco decides that the license fee is too high? If Legacy owners can't get what they want and start to dump weeks? From reading the threads over the past few months, I think we're all trying to figure out what is happening, why, and how it will affect different ownership groups going forward.

I used to say that if we ever purchased a second timeshare, it would be Marriott, but after the introduction of the DC, that's definitely changed. GregT has sold me on WorldMark (esp. as a way of getting into DVC.)

Interesting thread. I think we all have good points to make, and we certainly don't need to insult each other (Marriott and non-Marriott owners alike.)

 

[ilene13]

We bought our first timeshare in 1980- before Marriott was in the TS business. At one point we were at a high of 10 weeks, we now only own 7 weeks. We own where we want to go. Many on this site think Marriott TS are the end all be all. They are wonderful. I love my 4 platinum weeks--bought from Marriott. I get to go to Aruba Christmas and New Years annually and HH every July 4th. But they are not perfect. When we bought our first Marriott TS in 1989 at the Grande Ocean ( we were founding owners), there was daily maid service--but alas it was taken away. Most Marriott TS, unless attached to a Marriott Hotel, do not have restaurants on the premises. I do not cook on vacation!
When DC came into play we did not join. It does not work for us. Many people who rave about the wonderful reservations they are getting are traveling off season. We happen to travel to our TS high season.

Now my other 3 weeks of TS would be considered by some of you as off brand--- they are at the Royal Sands and the Royal Haciendas in Mexico. At these off brand TS I have full maid service, a grocery store and restaurants on property. The spa/ fitness facilities are far nicer than at any of my Marriott TS and of those I have visited-- I work out on a daily basis. The properties are maintained as well as or better than my Marriott properties. I have also gotten some fantastic exchanges using my lockoffs.

So as we all respond this thread we need to put everything into perspective. Yes the Marriott properties are fantastic but they are not the only ones.