Use Marriott Rewards Points for a Villa Stay?

[bobpark56]

Has anyone had luck in using Marriott rewards points for a villa stay? It seems that every time I give this a try, they tell me such use is not available.

 

[LAX Mom]

Has anyone had luck in using Marriott rewards points for a villa stay? It seems that every time I give this a try, they tell me such use is not available.

I've made reservations for a stay in Hawaii, but ended up canceling when I got the exchange I wanted. Inventory can be very limited at the Marriott Vacation Club properties. Your best option is to travel off season or to places with lot of inventory (Orlando).

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

Peak season will be tough. But, I got a few days for my parents on Hilton Head at one of the MVCI's in mid-May. It takes a lot of points though.

 

[CapriciousC]

I've never had any difficulty using MR points for villa stays, but I tend to book fairly well in advance (at least 6 months or more). I've currently got a week at Shadow Ridge in Palm Springs booked for Easter week on points - I booked that one a month or so ago.

The one restriction is that if you roll your week(s) to points, you can't use those points to book a stay at a Marriott timeshare. They keep track of that information somehow, although whenever I look at my balance, it just gives the total number of points and doesn't distinguish the source of those points. Perhaps if you call them they can give you the breakdown.

Another thing to consider is to use the Marriott Owner's Discount code (MOD) and see what turns up. We use this all the time at the various Orlando timeshares. The rates we get with this code are so good that it's not worth it to us to burn our points - we'd rather pay cash.

 

[BocaBoy]

I've never had any difficulty using MR points for villa stays, but I tend to book fairly well in advance (at least 6 months or more). I've currently got a week at Shadow Ridge in Palm Springs booked for Easter week on points - I booked that one a month or so ago.

The one restriction is that if you roll your week(s) to points, you can't use those points to book a stay at a Marriott timeshare. They keep track of that information somehow, although whenever I look at my balance, it just gives the total number of points and doesn't distinguish the source of those points. Perhaps if you call them they can give you the breakdown.

They say they keep track, but they don't (unless perhaps your only points are from trading your timeshare week for MR points). I know this because I have twice called to see how many of my points were restricted in this way. (We used to trade two Sabal Palms weeks for a total of 220,000 points every year.) I was told both times that they had no way of tracking that breakdown.

 

[CapriciousC]

They say they keep track, but they don't (unless perhaps your only points are from trading your timeshare week for MR points). I know this because I have twice called to see how many of my points were restricted in this way. (We used to trade two Sabal Palms weeks for a total of 220,000 points every year.) I was told both times that they had no way of tracking that breakdown.

BocaBoy - thanks, that's good to know! Due to copious business travel, at any given point in time we're usually sitting on at least 500K MR points, so rollover points would never be the only ones in our account.

Just out of curiosity, in response to the OP's question, I looked to see what I could book with points at the Newport Coast Villas (as I've heard that demand is high for that resort). Nothing was available in August, and when I picked a random week mid-September, I also came up blank. However, mid-October was available, as were random weeks in January and February. Christmas week was unavailable. So perhaps the key is to avoid holiday weeks at resorts where inventory is low and to book in advance? I think the reason I didn't have trouble booking Easter week in Palm Springs is that I booked 9 months in advance and there's a lot of inventory in Palm Springs due to the number of resorts. (I just checked Easter week at Newport Coast and it's unavailable for points, even this far in advance).

 

[channimal]

DW and I booked a week at MSU this past May 12-19 online using MRP .. fairly easy process

 

[larryallen]

I hate using points for rooms. I prefer using my points to get the Marriott gift cheques and using those to pay for incidentals. That way you still get your elite night credits for the stay by paying cash. Of course the gift cheques are going away at year end so that option won't exist much longer.

 

[NboroGirl]

Can I use MRP to book a hotel stay for friends? How do I go about putting their name on the reservation?

Can I use the MOD discount to book a stay for friends?

 

[CapriciousC]

Can I use MRP to book a hotel stay for friends? How do I go about putting their name on the reservation?

Can I use the MOD discount to book a stay for friends?

I would call and ask if you can use your points to book a stay for friends - I'm not sure if they treat it like the airlines, where you can use your own FF miles to buy someone else a ticket, or if you have to actually stay in the room. I've booked more than one room at a time using points and had family stay in the "extra" rooms, but I was also along for the trip, so I checked everyone in.

As for the MOD discount, the answer is no. I asked this once and they said that whoever checks in would have to present proof that they were a Marriott owner (or else it has to be in your MR profile). So unless you could go along and check in on their behalf, it wouldn't work.

 

[jme]

I've never had any difficulty using MR points for villa stays, but I tend to book fairly well in advance (at least 6 months or more). I've currently got a week at Shadow Ridge in Palm Springs booked for Easter week on points - I booked that one a month or so ago.

The one restriction is that if you roll your week(s) to points, you can't use those points to book a stay at a Marriott timeshare. They keep track of that information somehow, although whenever I look at my balance, it just gives the total number of points and doesn't distinguish the source of those points. Perhaps if you call them they can give you the breakdown.

Another thing to consider is to use the Marriott Owner's Discount code (MOD) and see what turns up. We use this all the time at the various Orlando timeshares. The rates we get with this code are so good that it's not worth it to us to burn our points - we'd rather pay cash.

So, they have two different buckets of "Rewards Points".....that's a good one! :hysterical:

 

[FractionalTraveler]

Has anyone had luck in using Marriott rewards points for a villa stay? It seems that every time I give this a try, they tell me such use is not available.

Never had a problem as I always request the marriott cheques that are treated the same as cash.

 

[Davey54321]

We booked a Friday night at Crystal Shores in late August 2011 using reward points

We added this to a Sunday through Thursday reservation using bonus DC points.

We have since been told we wouldnt be able to do this anymore since we arent DC Premier, even though we are Platinum in terms of our rewards points...Have tried to add a night here or there since w/o success but still arent convinced it isnt sales talking vs truth....
For what its worth, our experience.

Vicki

 

[CapriciousC]

We added this to a Sunday through Thursday reservation using bonus DC points.

We have since been told we wouldnt be able to do this anymore since we arent DC Premier, even though we are Platinum in terms of our rewards points...Have tried to add a night here or there since w/o success but still arent convinced it isnt sales talking vs truth....
For what its worth, our experience.

Vicki

That's interesting, Vicki. I've never tried adding a day onto an existing reservation - whenever I book using points, it's a stand-alone trip. We still haven't signed up for the DC program (and have no plans to unless our hand is forced), and other than being harassed to sit in on a "information session" whenever we stay at one of the Marriott timeshares, there have been no apparent limitations to our use of MR points.

 

[tiel]

They say they keep track, but they don't (unless perhaps your only points are from trading your timeshare week for MR points). I know this because I have twice called to see how many of my points were restricted in this way. (We used to trade two Sabal Palms weeks for a total of 220,000 points every year.) I was told both times that they had no way of tracking that breakdown.

It's been many moons since I did this, but twice in the past I called MR to ask about the total number of points in our account obtained from TS week redemption. On both occasions, we were given the subtotals for the two "buckets". So, at least at one time, they actually did keep track of these points. Can't say if they do that now. We no longer care, since the number of points required to get a week is so much higher than it used to be, and we no longer look at this option.

 

[dioxide45]

We added this to a Sunday through Thursday reservation using bonus DC points.

We have since been told we wouldnt be able to do this anymore since we arent DC Premier, even though we are Platinum in terms of our rewards points...Have tried to add a night here or there since w/o success but still arent convinced it isnt sales talking vs truth....
For what its worth, our experience.

Vicki

Not sure what you mean by this? The only limitation I am aware of is for making DC reservations for less than 7 nights if you are a standard or premier owner. Premier Plus owners can make single night reservations at the 13 month mark, where standard and premier owners have to wait until the 10 month mark.

Your Marriott Reward status and DC owner status are not ties together in any way and your status with MRs doesn't change anything with how you can make reservations using DC points.

 

[Mr. Vker]

Can I use MRP to book a hotel stay for friends? How do I go about putting their name on the reservation?

Can I use the MOD discount to book a stay for friends?

You can absolutely use MRP to book a stay for friends. Totally transferrable. You do need to make the reservation on the phone so that its in their name. Very easy. Done it many times.

 

[PHLarry]

So, they have two different buckets of "Rewards Points".....that's a good one! :hysterical:

Yes....that's exactly what they have. Points earned via the deposit of a week cannot be redeemed for a MVC villa.