Week 53 Questions

[gblotter]

Some resort calendars have extra weeks labeled "week 53". For example, December 31 2011-January 7 2012 is considered week 53 at some resorts.

In the old days, I remember that Marriott would make those extra weeks available to owners - all you had to do was pay the equivalent of the annual maintenance fee. These weeks were a hot commodity and getting a reservation was difficult.

Question 1: With the introduction of the Destinations Club, has Marriott changed the process/methods for reserving week 53?

Question 2: When does Marriott typically open up the reservation window for week 53? Do they send out letters/emails to notify owners?

Question 3: Are owners of an EOY week eligible to reserve week 53? Or do you have to be an annual week owner to take advantage of this?

 

[SueDonJ]

In past years Marriott sent out emails to owners that had links to special "Week 53" cash offers for discounted rates. This year the "Gift of Time" offers never materialized.

 

[gblotter]

In past years Marriott sent out emails to owners that had links to special "Week 53" cash offers for discounted rates. This year the "Gift of Time" offers never materialized.

Is the "Gift of Time" the same thing as Week 53?

 

[SueDonJ]

Is the "Gift of Time" the same thing as Week 53?

Yes.

Here's the thread from May, 2010, about 2010 offers. All resorts didn't designate the same week as a Week 53 - they stipulated whether the offer at a specific resort was for 12/17/10, 12/24/10 or 12/31/10 check-ins.

It seems this year the only option would be a cash stay through marriott.com. I just checked using Barony's calendar, 7 nights with a 12/31/11 check-in and it's available with the MOD-with-VISA 35% discount for $970.00, which is about what the GOT offer was last year. And if you're a DC Premier or Premier Plus member, the with-VISA discount can be 40% or 45%.

 

[MOXJO7282]

It was a real disappointment when it was realized no more gift of time offers. There were excellent deals through that program.

I thought it was very weak on Marriott's part not even to make an announcement as to why there would be no more GOT offers.

Of course they now rent them at a premium for their own profits.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Yes.

Here's the thread from May, 2010, about 2010 offers. All resorts didn't designate the same week as a Week 53 - they stipulated whether the offer at a specific resort was for 12/17/10, 12/24/10 or 12/31/10 check-ins.

It seems this year the only option would be a cash stay through marriott.com. I just checked using Barony's calendar, 7 nights with a 12/31/11 check-in and it's available with the MOD-with-VISA 35% discount for $970.00, which is about what the GOT offer was last year. And if you're a DC Premier or Premier Plus member, the with-VISA discount can be 40% or 45%.

That may be for Barony Beach during the winter but I bet you don't find that deal in Maui or Aruba during what is really prime time.

 

[SueDonJ]

That may be for Barony Beach during the winter but I bet you don't find that deal in Maui or Aruba during what is really prime time.

No disagreement here. There's a reason those Hawaii and Aruba Week 53's sell out so quickly when they're offered - they're really the only ones that are substantially discounted from the least expensive marriott.com rates. I just used Barony as a test case because it's a quick click for me to that calendar to confirm that it's a resort with a Week 53 this year.

 

[gblotter]

I just called MVCI customer service and they confirmed that Gift of Time offers are not being sent out anymore.

 

[IngridN]

Yes.

Here's the thread from May, 2010, about 2010 offers. All resorts didn't designate the same week as a Week 53 - they stipulated whether the offer at a specific resort was for 12/17/10, 12/24/10 or 12/31/10 check-ins.

It seems this year the only option would be a cash stay through marriott.com. I just checked using Barony's calendar, 7 nights with a 12/31/11 check-in and it's available with the MOD-with-VISA 35% discount for $970.00, which is about what the GOT offer was last year. And if you're a DC Premier or Premier Plus member, the with-VISA discount can be 40% or 45%.

The reason all resorts don't offer week 53 is because some are fixed weeks. I own New Years week 52 at Grand Chateau. I do not lose that when a year has 53 weeks, instead, week 53 is still mine (New Years) and the resort offers another week as the week 53. Aruba's Surf Club works the same way. Weeks 51 and 52 are fixed weeks, therefore, when the Gift of Time was offered, it will not be Christmas or New Years week, but another one.

Ingrid

 

[suzannesimon]

The reason all resorts don't offer week 53 is because some are fixed weeks. I own New Years week 52 at Grand Chateau. I do not lose that when a year has 53 weeks, instead, week 53 is still mine (New Years) and the resort offers another week as the week 53. Aruba's Surf Club works the same way. Weeks 51 and 52 are fixed weeks, therefore, when the Gift of Time was offered, it will not be Christmas or New Years week, but another one.

Ingrid

Frenchman's Cove does the same thing. I have the fixed Holiday week which is usually Week 51, but when there are 53 weeks, my week becomes 52, New Years 53, and 51 becomes the "extra" week - though my documents say that Marriott has the option to update the units during Week 51 if there are 53 weeks.