Using points- Very Confused

[Mpyankees]

Dear Group:

We just finished a three week stay at MBP and really enjoyed it. We'd like to do 4 weeks next year. I'm trying to understand the best way to extend my time at the resort (without changing rooms-we did that this year and it was kind of annoying). Right now, I have my 2025 and 2026 weeks I can exchange to get back into MBP next year for two weeks. I'm wondering if I should explore renting points for the next two weeks? I'm not currently in Abound, but was told by MVC that I could enroll and was also told that I can use points with my timeshare (I bought in 2005-a Marriott Vacation Club resale based in Grande Vista).

Anyway, if renting points is the way to go, where do most people rent? Redweek? Any other websites where fraud is at a minimum and the Sellers are verified?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

 

[Hindsite]

You can only rent club points if you have an enrolled MVC account.
Can you lock-off your GV week and get 2 x exchanges per year so get 4 to use for next year? If you have a decent GV week, you should be able to get the exchanges for the same size units. With II you aren't guaranteed the same unit even if you have the same unit type, but resorts do try to accommodate you if they can.

 

[Mpyankees]

You can only rent club points if you have an enrolled MVC account.
Can you lock-off your GV week and get 2 x exchanges per year so get 4 to use for next year? If you have a decent GV week, you should be able to get the exchanges for the same size units. With II you aren't guaranteed the same unit even if you have the same unit type, but resorts do try to accommodate you if they can.

Thanks-Do you know if it should cost me anything to enroll my MVC account? Right now, my unit is not enrolled in Abound.....

 

[Fasttr]

Thanks-Do you know if it should cost me anything to enroll my MVC account? Right now, my unit is not enrolled in Abound.....

Give this a try…

Offer to enroll weeks

So we went to a presentation today. They were short of sales ppl and asked if we had any questions …I replied no but what is the current cost of points. I was told $17.4 . We asked if they had any special as they were going to let us go due to staffing. I was told that if we bought 2000...

tugbbs.com

 

[Hindsite]

Thanks-Do you know if it should cost me anything to enroll my MVC account? Right now, my unit is not enrolled in Abound.....

For resale pre 2010, there has been a enrollment fee, this is what is in my MVC account under resources>vacation options then follow the menu on the left about Abound and follow up on links to procing and options.

Sometimes you can see if there is an offer, the free offer usually only applies to people who bought direct, but you could give it a go and see what happens.

 

[Mpyankees]

Thanks! This was very helpful!

 

[Dean]

Dear Group:

We just finished a three week stay at MBP and really enjoyed it. We'd like to do 4 weeks next year. I'm trying to understand the best way to extend my time at the resort (without changing rooms-we did that this year and it was kind of annoying). Right now, I have my 2025 and 2026 weeks I can exchange to get back into MBP next year for two weeks. I'm wondering if I should explore renting points for the next two weeks? I'm not currently in Abound, but was told by MVC that I could enroll and was also told that I can use points with my timeshare (I bought in 2005-a Marriott Vacation Club resale based in Grande Vista).

Anyway, if renting points is the way to go, where do most people rent? Redweek? Any other websites where fraud is at a minimum and the Sellers are verified?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

How did you get the 3 weeks? Did you need a 1 BR or 2 BR. Do you also own at MBP? I agree that exchanging is the way to you and in this situation it'd seem that enrolling is going to be very helpful as you'll get free M to M exchanges (Only in the new corporate account you'll get) and free lock off. There is a yearly fee though. There are some nuances to exchanging in this situation since you don't want to change rooms. We can help you with that later as needed to maximuze your chances of success.

 

[Mpyankees]

How did you get the 3 weeks? Did you need a 1 BR or 2 BR. Do you also own at MBP? I agree that exchanging is the way to you and in this situation it'd seem that enrolling is going to be very helpful as you'll get free M to M exchanges (Only in the new corporate account you'll get) and free lock off. There is a yearly fee though. There are some nuances to exchanging in this situation since you don't want to change rooms. We can help you with that later as needed to maximuze your chances of success.

Thanks so much for the response:

I own one unit in Grande Vista (since 2005) and exchanged into MBP;

I have a 2 bedroom (one bedrooms won't work for us);

As an experiment, I split the 2 into a 1 bedroom and a studio (the studio was too small for us). The split got us two weeks. I had a left over week from one year which I used to get the third week.

I have two weeks I can use for January 2026 to exchange into either MBP or Ocean Pointe. I'm hoping renting points can get me the two weeks I still need. I'm not sure if I have to convert my existing weeks to points to do that (I'm not crazy about paying for conversion fees and would like to avoid that). However, it sounds like I have to pay a fee or fees to join Abound or the some other points program.

Any advice navigating this process is greatly appreciated (btw, let me know what "free lock off" means).

Thanks again for the great advice...

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Dear Group:

We just finished a three week stay at MBP and really enjoyed it. We'd like to do 4 weeks next year. I'm trying to understand the best way to extend my time at the resort (without changing rooms-we did that this year and it was kind of annoying). Right now, I have my 2025 and 2026 weeks I can exchange to get back into MBP next year for two weeks. I'm wondering if I should explore renting points for the next two weeks? I'm not currently in Abound, but was told by MVC that I could enroll and was also told that I can use points with my timeshare (I bought in 2005-a Marriott Vacation Club resale based in Grande Vista).

Anyway, if renting points is the way to go, where do most people rent? Redweek? Any other websites where fraud is at a minimum and the Sellers are verified?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

Do keep in mind that many (actually maybe most) of the Marriott Grande Vista Villas are part of The Florida Club. You should check with Marriott to see if your ownership is part of The Florida Club.



The Florida Club allows a direct reservation of FIVE Florida Resorts at the six month mark and you won't need to use Interval International to exchange into. You can reserve directly at the six month mark (subject to availability and the rules in the next paragraph).


1) Marriott Beach Place

2) Marriott Ocean Pointe

3) Marriott Doral

4) Marriott Grande Vista (just some units)

5) Marriott Legends Edge



Keep in mind that the Florida Club rules are like for like -- i.e. Gold for Gold, Platinum for Platinum, and Villa size identical to what is being relinquished (studio for studio, one bedroom for one bedroom, two bedroom for two bedroom, three bedroom for three bedroom).


This doesn't work well for everyone (i.e. reserving at the six month mark) but it does work well for many. You won't need to use points and it may be well worthwhile to see if you find you can utilize The Florida Club for your own needs.


Best of luck!











.

 

[Dean]

Thanks so much for the response:

I own one unit in Grande Vista (since 2005) and exchanged into MBP;

I have a 2 bedroom (one bedrooms won't work for us);

As an experiment, I split the 2 into a 1 bedroom and a studio (the studio was too small for us). The split got us two weeks. I had a left over week from one year which I used to get the third week.

I have two weeks I can use for January 2026 to exchange into either MBP or Ocean Pointe. I'm hoping renting points can get me the two weeks I still need. I'm not sure if I have to convert my existing weeks to points to do that (I'm not crazy about paying for conversion fees and would like to avoid that). However, it sounds like I have to pay a fee or fees to join Abound or the some other points program.

Any advice navigating this process is greatly appreciated (btw, let me know what "free lock off" means).

Thanks again for the great advice...

I think you can likely join for free if you do the video posted above. Historically they've also offered enrollment in your situation free as a tour incentive but it's been a couple of years since I'd seen that referenced. This will take time which you may not have at present so this is more of planning for later 2026 and beyond.

You're already behind for 2026 since we're past the 12 month reservation window for many of the January weeks. I think exchanging in and paying the unit upgrade fees is still your best option but remember you can't control the check in day of the week. Once you get one week you may want two call II and see if they can limit your check in day to match (week before or after possibly) for other exchange request. Historically they've done that but you do have to call them, online won't work for this. Needing 2 BR does make this more challenging, if 1 BR would work, your chances of success would be better.

For 2026 renting the additional time or renting points and reserving might be your best option. You can rent the time from another owners OR you can get enrolled then pay for the points to be transferred then reserve yourself if available. Having some points to work with might be best as you could potentially reserve a night or 2 if you have gaps such as a Friday check in week followed by a Saturday or Sunday check in week.

If this is going to be a recurrent plan you may want to buy another week for exchanging. Possibilities might be Willow Ridge, Grand Chateau or another GV week. Possibly a 3 BR for the latter 2.

 

[Dean]

Do keep in mind that many (actually maybe most) of the Marriott Grande Vista Villas are part of The Florida Club. You should check with Marriott to see if your ownership is part of The Florida Club.



The Florida Club allows a direct reservation of FIVE Florida Resorts at the six month mark and you won't need to use Interval International to exchange into. You can reserve directly at the six month mark (subject to availability and the rules in the next paragraph).


1) Marriott Beach Place

2) Marriott Ocean Pointe

3) Marriott Doral

4) Marriott Grande Vista (just some units)

5) Marriott Legends Edge



Keep in mind that the Florida Club rules are like for like -- i.e. Gold for Gold, Platinum for Platinum, and Villa size identical to what is being relinquished (studio for studio, one bedroom for one bedroom, two bedroom for two bedroom, three bedroom for three bedroom).


This doesn't work well for everyone (i.e. reserving at the six month mark) but it does work well for many. You won't need to use points and it may be well worthwhile to see if you find you can utilize The Florida Club for your own needs.


Best of luck!











.

I read his note as saying he needed 2 BR units. If that was his plan he may as well buy weeks at BeachPlace.

 

[Hindsite]

I'm not sure if I have to convert my existing weeks to points to do that (I'm not crazy about paying for conversion fees and would like to avoid that). However, it sounds like I have to pay a fee or fees to join Abound or the some other points program.

Give doing the webinar a go, and see if that works. I think I recall a TUG post that someone tried it and got away with it! Let us know how it goes.

You don't need to elect (convert) any of your existing weeks to be able to rent points from another owner, you just need an enrolled MVC account, as that is what will receive the points.

 

[Mpyankees]

Do keep in mind that many (actually maybe most) of the Marriott Grande Vista Villas are part of The Florida Club. You should check with Marriott to see if your ownership is part of The Florida Club.



The Florida Club allows a direct reservation of FIVE Florida Resorts at the six month mark and you won't need to use Interval International to exchange into. You can reserve directly at the six month mark (subject to availability and the rules in the next paragraph).


1) Marriott Beach Place

2) Marriott Ocean Pointe

3) Marriott Doral

4) Marriott Grande Vista (just some units)

5) Marriott Legends Edge



Keep in mind that the Florida Club rules are like for like -- i.e. Gold for Gold, Platinum for Platinum, and Villa size identical to what is being relinquished (studio for studio, one bedroom for one bedroom, two bedroom for two bedroom, three bedroom for three bedroom).


This doesn't work well for everyone (i.e. reserving at the six month mark) but it does work well for many. You won't need to use points and it may be well worthwhile to see if you find you can utilize The Florida Club for your own needs.


Best of luck!











.

Thankyou! Yes, I'm in the Florida Club-when you say the "six month mark" are you saying I would have to wait until six months before departure to do a direct exchange? I appreciate the advice....

 

[Mpyankees]

Give doing the webinar a go, and see if that works. I think I recall a TUG post that someone tried it and got away with it! Let us know how it goes.

You don't need to elect (convert) any of your existing weeks to be able to rent points from another owner, you just need an enrolled MVC account, as that is what will receive the points.

Awesome thank-you!

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Thankyou! Yes, I'm in the Florida Club-when you say the "six month mark" are you saying I would have to wait until six months before departure to do a direct exchange? I appreciate the advice....

You won't be making a direct exchange. You will be making an actual reservation instead of exchanging.

Alternatively, I would have a GV reservation already in place @ the 12 month mark, and then @ the six month mark call to see if you can make a reservation at one of the other four member resorts "instead". This way you do have a reservation on the books in case you are unable to make a Florida Club reservation (due to lack of availability).







.

 

[Mpyankees]

You won't be making a direct exchange. You will be making an actual reservation instead of exchanging.

Alternatively, I would have a GV reservation already in place @ the 12 month mark, and then @ the six month mark call to see if you can make a reservation at one of the other four member resorts "instead". This way you do have a reservation on the books in case you are unable to make a Florida Club reservation (due to lack of availability).







.

Understood, thanks!

 

[davidvel]

For resale pre 2010, there has been a enrollment fee, this is what is in my MVC account under resources>vacation options then follow the menu on the left about Abound and follow up on links to procing and options.

View attachment 105106

Sometimes you can see if there is an offer, the free offer usually only applies to people who bought direct, but you could give it a go and see what happens.

Anyone who owned before 6/2010 can enroll for free. Here is a Marriott link to the webinar (last one at bottom.)