What's the best way to buy MOC Villas for a specific week?

[dctruenorth]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this whole timeshare experience but have been inhaling this incredible forum since last Friday.

We stayed at Napili last week and decided that it would be the perfect place to spend spring break week with our kids and future grand kids. We rented an OF room on the 4th floor and it was awesome. We went to the sales office to buy a week and the confusion began.

We would love a week 14 three bedroom OF villa. We'd buy a 2 bedroom OF if we could get it week 14 every year.

So my questions are:
Floating vs. Fixed, what's the likelyhood that we could find one to buy or, if floating, get the week we want?

Points vs. Resale, Is 13 month reservation the only advantage to buying new points? If we bought a floating resale week, could someone with points reserve before us? If we bought 12500 points could we get a 3 bedroom OF when we wanted it or at all? What's the chance that we could request and get Napili over Lahaina?


I know the cost differences between new/resale including huge MF difference; but the biggest issue for us seems to be a very small inventory of available OF units.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Scott

 

[Toppermom]

Marriott does not publicize this much, but they do still sell resale weeks if you are so inclined. If you are interested, this is the website:

https://www.marriottvacationclub.com/resales/index.shtml

It appears they do have some OF inventory available, although I don't know if it is fixed week.

Good luck and welcome to TUG. You will learn a lot here.

 

[dctruenorth]

Toppermom, thanks for the reply.
I talked to Marriott resales yesterday and they have OF floating weeks available. Those weeks allow for a 12month reservation. That's what made me wonder if I could get the week I wanted with a floating contract.

They told me that with a points contract, I wouldn't be able to get a 3 bedroom at all because all MMI 3bedroom units are fixed weeks so unavailable. That made me wonder if I would be able to get a 2bedroom OF with the point system on the week we want.

 

[GregT]

Toppermom, thanks for the reply.
I talked to Marriott resales yesterday and they have OF floating weeks available. Those weeks allow for a 12month reservation. That's what made me wonder if I could get the week I wanted with a floating contract.

They told me that with a points contract, I wouldn't be able to get a 3 bedroom at all because all MMI 3bedroom units are fixed weeks so unavailable. That made me wonder if I would be able to get a 2bedroom OF with the point system on the week we want.

Other TUGgers (like MoxJo) will give you advice on how probable it would be for your to get your specific week 12 months out. I've heard of people getting frustrated with their ability to reserve their week at their own property.

If you were a Trust Point owner, you would be highly confident of your ability to get the reservation 12 months out. The Trust is fairly deep in inventory for the new property and reservations appear to be matching.

You could always buy a small number of Trust Points (like 1,500 or 2,000) and then rent the balance of what you need for your reservation?

Other options are to look at the resale market (redweek.com) and see if your fixed week 2BR OF is available for sale. I bought one of my fixed weeks direct from Marriott and the other fixed week resale from an owner who listed on redweek.com.

Good luck!

Greg

 

[dctruenorth]

Great info Greg,
Do you know if there are any 3bedroom units in the trust?
Floating resale weeks appear to require more flexibility than I had origianally hoped.

Scott

 

[KathyPet]

Are you absolutely, positively sure that you will always want week 14? 8 years 10 years down the road?
I know that our local school system here changed the week of spring break last year.

 

[Twinkstarr]

Are you absolutely, positively sure that you will always want week 14? 8 years 10 years down the road?
I know that our local school system here changed the week of spring break last year.

Our school district is changing our spring break, so our once useful plat ski week is now just a trader.

I have a week 32 in Northern Michigan, only used it for partial weeks the last 2 yrs when the district decided to move up 1st day a week.

With kids in school it pays to have a little more flexibility, we almost had 2 different schedules(including different spring breaks) for K-8 and 9-12.

 

[KathyPet]

The OP mentioned needing week 14 for vacationing with FUTURE grandchildren. Not so sure how he can be so sure that he will want week 14 for ever and ever and ever.

 

[dctruenorth]

Wow! You all bring up great points.
I know we want week 14 for at least the next 8 years. If the week doesn't fall exactly right for our youngest (a highschooler) than we would take him out of school for tha week. It is Hawaii after all
As for the others, we don't expect everyone to make it every year.

The biggest deal for us, is having a week gauranteed every year for the forseeable future. If we could buy a floating week and be assured of getting the 14th week every year for eight years, that would be ideal, but I don't see that happening.

Thanks for all the input.
Scott

 

[jpc763]

Wow! You all bring up great points.
I know we want week 14 for at least the next 8 years. If the week doesn't fall exactly right for our youngest (a highschooler) than we would take him out of school for tha week. It is Hawaii after all
As for the others, we don't expect everyone to make it every year.

The biggest deal for us, is having a week gauranteed every year for the forseeable future. If we could buy a floating week and be assured of getting the 14th week every year for eight years, that would be ideal, but I don't see that happening.

Thanks for all the input.
Scott

If you could be guaranteed to get week 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 every year would that be acceptable? That is where floating weeks have their value.

My Ko Olina week is weeks 1-50 but we always use it between 10 and 14. I have had no trouble in the past getting one of those weeks. I am not sure how quick those weeks are gobbled up for MOC.

 

[GaryDouglas]

If you truly only what week 14, finding one on Redweek, Tug, MyResortNetwork, etc. will be a matter of luck. My guess is that even using a 'want to buy' add, it will be tough. If you want to increase your chances, next year go there again, and this time place a business card with a newly created email address for this purpose, under the door of all fixed week units in both Napili and Lahaina buildings after check in day, stating that you are interested in buying a fixed week 14 OF unit at competitive eBay prices. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky with the add...

 

[GregT]

Great info Greg,
Do you know if there are any 3bedroom units in the trust?
Floating resale weeks appear to require more flexibility than I had origianally hoped.

Scott

I don't believe there are any 3BRs in the Trust for Week 14, but will confirm when I have computer access - I've been keeping a file of the 3BRs in the Trust in case the adjacent weeks to mine get deposited.

Thx

Greg

 

[puckmanfl]

good morning....

Greg is the expect here...but I suspect that Koolina and MOC (new towers), especially the 3 bedrooms are completely different animals...

3 bedrooms at the new towers appear to be the big Kahona in the MVCD system....

 

[slum808]

I think you ment Kahuna

 

[taffy19]

All 3 BR units at the Marriott Lahaina and Napili towers are fixed week/units only. Some floors of the 2 BR units are fixed week/units too and some floors are floating. Here is a picture of what is floating and what are fixed week/units. There are a few other pictures too on that same web page that will give you more detail for each tower.

We own week 12 on the 8th floor in the Lahaina tower but it is a 2 BR unit. The 3 BR units have windows on a second wall so are very light and have even a better view.

We really like the idea of not having to make a reservation and plan our vacation around it but locking off the unit is very difficult the last few years so I wouldn't count on it if you buy floating nor would I count on making an exchange either for another week around Easter or spring break as it is whale season too so the resort is packed. Your fixed week would then become a floating week so just as hard as locking off, imho. February and March seem to be the two most popular months on Maui.

It seems to be working great if you are using points but it will cost you dearly buying that many points and also in maintenance fees in comparison to the same legacy weeks.

I would keep looking for a re-sale week on Redweek or similar web pages or use a re-sale broker that is recommended here. They may contact owners for you as they did that for us when we were looking for a particular week and unit at another resort but no owners were willing to sell at that moment. This wasn't at the Marriott but it was for week 13.

Personally, I wouldn't buy timeshare weeks anymore today but it may be a different story for a 3 BR unit because the rents seem to be much higher than for a 2 BR unit from what I have seen on Redweek. 3 BR units are scarce in comparison.

Good luck with what you decide.

 

[GregT]

Scott,

There aren't any 3BR Week 14's in the Trust, but that is not surprising because there are only a small number of 3BR weeks in the Trust (19). However, I've found good Fall availablility for 3BRs online, suggesting that owners do redeem these for legacy points on a semi-regular basis. I've not looked for Spring and Summer was barren for 3BRs.

If you have any flexibility on timing, there are two week 15's and one week 16 in the Trust -- and a nice (but expensive) option is the Week 16 is the same unit as one of the week 15s. And its 11th floor, so that would be a great unit.

Good luck with your decision and your search!

Best,

Greg

 

[readyalready]

There was a post a in the last month or two about the difficulty a floating week owner had reserving an OF two bedroom during the Feb-Mar timeframe, you might do a search. I'm not sure I believe that if you buy multiple weeks it is necessarily any easier.

I'm one of the other rare people who could also be happy in an OF unit for spring break every year. After a relocation that was 'never going to happen', our same week every year spring break moved and having a fixed week for the wrong week, at those prices, would beyond stink.

We loved the Napili tower most until we were in the two bedroom part of the three bedroom in Lahaina tower. There is almost no comparison. Every few years, there is something that seems better to us.

I also wouldn't buy. With some time and effort I think you could rent ocean front units each year, have flexibility if life throws a curve, and be ahead $$$.

 

[mstoyanov]

dctruenorth,

I know this is not the answer to your original question but have you looked at Westin Kaanapali? In my opinion it is comparable resort and there are plenty of weeks on resale market. All weeks there float 1-50 but reservation is easy in Starwood system if you call exactly 1 year ahead of desired week since Starwood does not give multi-week owners special advantage like in Marriott and point owners from other Starwood resorts can not book until 8 months before check-in.

 

[slum808]

dctruenorth,

I know this is not the answer to your original question but have you looked at Westin Kaanapali? In my opinion it is comparable resort and there are plenty of weeks on resale market. All weeks there float 1-50 but reservation is easy in Starwood system if you call exactly 1 year ahead of desired week since Starwood does not give multi-week owners special advantage like in Marriott and point owners from other Starwood resorts can not book until 8 months before check-in.

I disagree with this statement. If you reasearch the starwood threads, Westin owners face the same booking problems as MOC owners. There are just way to many platinum owners trying to book Feb and March. While it is true that Westin does not give multiweek owners a head start, it doesn't mean that it will be easier. There were many reports this year of Westin owners not getting their rooms, because all the OF rooms were booked in the first 5 mins of call in.

In my opinion if you're willing to invest a little extra time and money in a booking strategy, it will be easier to book at MOC then Westin.

 

[dioxide45]

I disagree with this statement. If you reasearch the starwood threads, Westin owners face the same booking problems as MOC owners. There are just way to many platinum owners trying to book Feb and March. While it is true that Westin does not give multiweek owners a head start, it doesn't mean that it will be easier. There were many reports this year of Westin owners not getting their rooms, because all the OF rooms were booked in the first 5 mins of call in.

In my opinion if you're willing to invest a little extra time and money in a booking strategy, it will be easier to book at MOC then Westin.

Not sure if there is a difference or not since we don't own anything other than Marriott. But it would seem that the load on call in day 12 months out would be less with Marriott since multiple week owners have already called in, though there is also 50% less inventory available. I think booking any prime week in any system is going to be difficult.

 

[mstoyanov]

I am sorry but as an owner of BOTH MOC(original section) and WKORV I will have to strongly disagree on how easy it is to book in Marriott and Starwood chains.

Booking ANYTHING in floating Starwood resort as a owner is a piece of cake compared to Marriott if you call at 9am EST 12 months before check-in (even if you get dropped sometime you can call back and still get that reservation). I do own OV so I don't have direct experience with OF but I have heard of only one report (here on TUG) about someone not getting OF center unit in February and this is due to the fact that OF center units in original section are very small number of units and February is peak month. In fact March rooms in WKORV/WKORVN are sometimes even available for Staroptions (Starwood exchange system points equivalent to DC points) at 8 months but at that time you can not get a guaranteed view.


WKORV/WKORVN are mandatory resorts which means ability to have and use Staroptions is transferred on resale and since points allocation for this resort is quite good many owners use points to exchange to other resorts.

I personally use my WKORV ownership most of the times for the Staroptions instead of staying in the resort since I live on the east coast but I still sometime make peak weak reservation there as a backup.

I disagree with this statement. If you reasearch the starwood threads, Westin owners face the same booking problems as MOC owners. There are just way to many platinum owners trying to book Feb and March. While it is true that Westin does not give multiweek owners a head start, it doesn't mean that it will be easier. There were many reports this year of Westin owners not getting their rooms, because all the OF rooms were booked in the first 5 mins of call in.

In my opinion if you're willing to invest a little extra time and money in a booking strategy, it will be easier to book at MOC then Westin.

 

[KathyPet]

You could consider buying a platinum week cheap at any other resort in the system. By owning two weeks in the same season you can book your two weeks 13 months in advance if you book consecutive weeks at each resort.

 

[mstoyanov]

dioxide45,
with Marriott there is a single inventory release day for all check-in days (Fri/Sat/Sun) while with Starwood you have to call 3 separate days for Fri/Sat/Sun check-in so call volume is split in 3 and even if you do not succeed in getting Sat check-in you still have a chance calling on the next day for Sun reservation or getting cancellation from someone who made Fri reservation previous day as a backup.
Also there are several other reasons why booking in Starwood system is easier.
While Starwood allow automatic booking of the multiple weeks this is a perk only for owners of specific resorts while in Marriott you can string many weeks from different (and cheaper resorts) before peak/holiday week.
In Marriott system II trade power depend on what week owner reserves so many exchangers are booking peak reservations to give to II while Starwood control all deposits in II and trade power does not depend on week reserved (and any week reserved is canceled if you want to deposit in II)
Also in Marriott system owners of week not enrolled in DC system have no other usage of that week so he is better to make a peak reservation whether to rent or to deposit in II while many Starwood owners can use Staroptions to use internal exchange system. This is especially true for resorts with good allotment of Staroptions.

Not sure if there is a difference or not since we don't own anything other than Marriott. But it would seem that the load on call in day 12 months out would be less with Marriott since multiple week owners have already called in, though there is also 50% less inventory available. I think booking any prime week in any system is going to be difficult.

 

[dctruenorth]

Thanks everyone for the great info!

Does this sound right?

If we bought a resale floating 2bedroom OF at Lahaina&Napili and a platinum week at someplace like Palm Desert, we could book both at the same time, 13months out.

If this is accurate, what are the odds that we could get the OF the 2nd week of April every year?

Also, does anyone know where I can find MFs for the various Marriot resorts?


Thanks again.

 

[slum808]

You don't need to buy another platinum. All you need to do is buy a week that can be booked the week or better yet two weeks ahead of your MOC week. I think its gold season in Willow Ridge that week. You could get a gold season for free and split the lock-off. That will allow you to book 3 consecutive weeks. This will actually put you at an advantage over MOC multiweek owners, because unlike MOC it should be very easy to book Willowridge in March/April. You could then deposit the Willow ridge units into II or rent them to recover MF.

2012 MF Thread
http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157415&highlight=2012+mf