Trade into Marriott Marbella

[Chase]

Quick question....have others had any success trading into the Marriott in Marbella in the past. I put a platinum double at Marriott Mountainside up for trade about three months ago looking for the summer of 2009.

Am I shooting for the impossible....or should I wait until a few more people have traded their summer weeks? Any ideas?

 

[Tellmanny]

We were able to get in March 2007. At the time of our exchange, we wanted a 3 bdrm; and eventually got one. My guess is that you'll be okay...

 

[jerseyfinn]

. . . have others had any success trading into the Marriott in Marbella in the past. I put a platinum double at Marriott Mountainside up for trade about three months ago looking for the summer of 2009...

Spain resort owners do not behave the same way as those of us on this side of the pond in terms of owners making their trade decisions 12 months or more in advance. Some inventory will indeed trickle out now, but in general, folks out there tend to wait until years end before making their decisions for the next year. We ourselves never got confirmed any earlier than January with our platinum Ocean Pointe weeks ( we take care of that problem by purchasing 2 platinum weeks at Playa Andaluza ). What we've learned from our ownership in Spain is that with time, more and more of the European owners will slowly get attuned to trade dynamics and they too will begin to deposit their weeks earlier. Marriott remains a new concept amongst lots of folks in Europe.

Be aware that at least 90% of platinum season owners in Spain occupy their weeks, so trades, while not impossible, will indeed take some time to come by. Additionally, August is the really big month when Spanish owners flock down for their holidays. Both Playa and Marbella will be full during this period. I'm not sayinig that August trade inventory may not be availible, but I am suggesting that you try to come down in July to improve your chances of a successful trade. Likewise, I would also place Playa Andaluza on your list to further enhance your opportunity to get out to Costa del Sol.

We recently complete two weeks at Playa. The resort was virtually full. We met one American lady who manages to trade her 2BR unit for a studio lock-off week at Playa ( Playa has a small number of 3 BR units in which the 3rd BR is a lock-off ). She was glad to be here. Paradoxically, we also observe that we do not see as many Brits on-resort this year ( Brits make up over 45% of owners at Playa ). The poor Euro to £ exchange rate is keeping Brits at home this summer. Yet Playa is full, so it looks like there were lots of takers for trade weeks. Hard to say what the trade environment will be like next year, but if the UK economy remains in the doldrums, 2009 could be a decent year for snagging a trade if you're patient. Of course I'm speaking to the Playa resort and not Marbella. Perhaps there are some Marbella owners out there who can speak to how many Brits made it to Marbella this platinum season.

Good luck with your trade.

Barry

 

[cwtkm3]

I think you'll definitely get a trade into Marbella.

I was just there the last gold week 28 June to 5 July. The UK schools don't break up for summer until mid-July (unless independent and then they break up sooner) but the Irish ones break up at the end of June. I have to say the resort was full of Irish, a few Brits with pre-school kids and lots of Americans. Some were Tuggers - 10 of us met up and had a great evening! Two of the Tuggers were there on direct exchanges.

We exchanged back into Marbella platinum last Aug for two consecutive weeks. This time (as Barry says) there were lots of Spanish, Arabs and Europeans. It's a great resort for the mix of cultures.

On Sun we're off to Club son Antem for two consecutive weeks. My trades came in a whole year apart. Week one took a month but week two took a year! I didn't think we'd get it.

Barry is correct in that most Europeans don't plan a full twelve months out. I think Playa is currently a more difficult trade although I nearly always trade my week there.

Good luck. Keep us posted as to how you get on.

 

[indyhorizons]

We secured a wk last June @ Marbella w/ an AC during flexchange. I saw many more wks come available than I would have expected. Great resort! Would love to return if $ ever rights itself.

 

[Chase]

Thanks all....Marbella vs Playa

I've picked Marbella because it seems to be in a better location than the Marriott Playa. Any thoughts? Should I expand my search?

Incidentally I think I'll be clear from the August rush -- I've picked June thru July as this aligns a little more closely with our tenth anniversary!

 

[jerseyfinn]

Chase,

Marriott Marbella is 3 miles east of the city of Marbella, Playa is 3 miles to the west. It's more a matter of individual choice as either resort can equally satisfy. MMB is favored by many because of the beach and the more formalized feeling there. I suggest listing both resorts simply as trade insurance ( especially if you're going for platinum season ).

If June is your target month, then I think that your prospects for MMB are pretty good since you're talking gold season. A platinum season trade for July also has a decent prospect of being filled ( is your request in with II? The 2009 trade clock for an extremely popular resort is already running! ). I'd still list for both resorts as you can always turn down the Playa week if you really want MMB ( we did the same the last time we traded in 2004 . . . Playa came up lots of times, but we finally got confirmed at MMB 6 months out ). It's simply an insurance policy if you really want to get to Spain in 2009.

You're wise to avoid August as that is indeed the tightest month and would likely cause you the most agida waiting for a confirmed trade. Trade agida ( and a then lower price ) is what finally convinced us to buy at Playa.

regards,

Barry

 

[ukellie]

Hi i have been watching II since April for an exchange into Andalizia We live in the Uk i am exchanging aruba surf club the onlt thing that has been avaiable is a lock off. I have rung them many times in the uk and got no joy we are also looking may-july
just keep looking the avaiability in europe is very limited!!!!

 

[jancurious]

We received a trade into Marbella (2BR) using our 1 BR gold Summit Watch unit during May 2008. I had put in for that trade more than a year in advance asking only for the first week of May.

We already had our airfare booked on ff miles about a year ahead of time and a tour planned for Northern & Central Spain to precede that timeshare week. Every time II would call me to see if I wanted to add a resort or more time, I would say no. Finally in December they called & offered me a 2 BR. My friend who had a request in a bit after me for the same week got a call that same week (a few days earlier). It almost seemed liked they didn't even start filling the spring/summer until a certain point in time and then they called us (instead of e-mailing) and we were all offered larger units than expected.

We toured Playa while there and really liked that resort. It's newer and more units would seem to have sea views than at Marbella. If I was to do it again, I would put in for either resort.

For Spain, I really think they do it differently. I would just be patient - I think you will get it.

Jan

 

[Chase]

We're In!

Interval contacted us on Friday to tell us we are in -- with check in starting the day of our 10th anniversary. Couldn't have gone better if we had wanted to.

Put the Mountainside trade request in in late May. Had multiple calls suggesting we should add another resort (we didn't). Got a two bedroom on the week we wanted in beginning of September.

Very pleased with this whole interval thing -- as well as our Mountainside trade power. Just got back from a 1BR in Marriott Customhouse in Boston that I was able to get by trading a lockoff in Mountainside.

Also have successfully traded Mountainside 1BR for a 1BR at Marriott Breckinridge.

So far no complaints.

Now I have to worry about airfare to Marbella....

Thanks to all of those who offered their help.

 

[jancurious]

Congratulations Chase! Enjoy Spain!

Jan

 

[jerseyfinn]

Congrats on the confirmation. Even when you know you're gonna get something sooner or later, there is something to be said for confirmation agida until that day arrives.

Just a thought about air travel. There exists one direct flight to Malaga airport (AGP ) via JFK on Delta airlines. I don't know the specifics other than it is not an every day flight and that it is on a 757. You might want to check that flight out. Otherwise, I would suggest flying directly into MAD for the simple reason that if your TA flight is delayed arriving for any reason, you have multiple direct flight choices from MAD to AGP to repair a broken itinerary. This would not be the case flying into other European cities.

We're about to make our 10th Spain visit in a couple of weeks. Except for one year that we fly PHL to London, overnight it and fly to AGP, we've always flown PHL-MAD and then MAD-AGP. This came in handy a couple of times that we arrive late & are able to be rebooked on a direct flight leaving 60 to 90 minutes later.

Have fun finding a good air fare. But the anxiety part is now over.

Barry

 

[GrayFal]

I posted this on August 30th....

A friend put in a request with a 2BR Gold Aruba Surf Club Marriott the first week of July 08 for a check-in July 3-August 1, 2009 ....

She received her confirmation yesterday for a 2BR sleep 6 July 3, 2009 check-in.

It pays to request early....

 

[stevens397]

Put in a trade for Marbella or Playa in September 2006 using our Fairway Villas (NJ). Heard nothing until February 08 when I got a call from our salesman to say hi. I complained that we were having so little luck with trades. Gave him the detail and he called back in ten minutes that he snagged Marbella for us mid-July 07. We had a wonderful time.

FWIW, FV was our first timeshare purchase a a major mistake. Don't really ever care to go there and not a very strong trader. Then again, this year we got Newport Beach for June 26th so maybe our luck is changing!