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

[taffy19]

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 $$$.

I looked for the thread because I remember reading it too and it was and still is true for us. Here is the thread. Have a good look at post #53 by Idodd too.

We deposited our 2 BR fixed week 12 in II in January and put in a request for a 2 BR unit next March for week #13. We only have done request first in the past two years but that doesn't seem to work anymore except for the last week or so. It may have been because we requested late, to be fair.

The lady told me that I would be on the top of the list since I deposited early this time (14 months out) so should be filled when people start depositing a year in advance. It is now past this time period already but I have no exchange yet. When I call II, they keep telling me that they have no deposits. Is Marriott holding back desirable weeks until the last minute or are most Maui owners depositing their week for points so there are no deposits?

If I were the OP, I would rent or do what GregT mentioned in post #4. Buy a small amount of points and then get the rest you need from other owners or get fixed week #14 but be prepared for difficulties later if you want to exchange your week to a different one at your own resort as we are going through this now. Buying a floating 2 BR oceanfront unit may be a safer bet but they are not as nice and owners may still use points when they exchange to other Marriott resorts. We would consider that too.

PS. I see now from that thread (post #37) that week 26 to 31 have a much higher demand index than the weeks in February or March. Summer vacation weeks should be even harder yet to get. Scary!

 

[taffy19]

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.

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

Another option is to do what GaryDouglas recommended in post #11. We had this arranged one year and the person was an attorney so would set up the contract between us once he got home.

Guess what, he went to a timeshare presentation the next day and bought the fixed week/unit that he wanted because Marriott had just reduced the price by 25% (Can you imagine having bought at the old price two weeks before, how you would feel? :annoyed: ) so he called me back to tell me that this was no longer necessary. You can try this too but don't count on it.

It is really sad that owners have a lower priority at their own resort because other owners from other resorts can work the system that they get priority. I am not saying that I blame them because I would do it too but the system stinks. JMHO. A fixed week is great but not if you have to change your date later for any reason. It is a hassle!

 

[readyalready]

We deposited our 2 BR fixed week 12 in II in January and put in a request for a 2 BR unit next March for week #13. We only have done request first in the past two years but that doesn't seem to work anymore except for the last week or so. It may have been because we requested late, to be fair.

How many points does Marriott skim from your week? Why don't you enroll in DC and rent the skim points so you can get back in? It would really fry me to have to do it, but at some point the certainty of getting the trade has value.

OP: Unless Easter falls around your week, which only happens some years, I do think there is probably less demand for the second week in April vs most of Feb and March. Maybe you wouldn't have so much trouble booking as the earlier in winter folks do.

 

[taffy19]

How many points does Marriott skim from your week? Why don't you enroll in DC and rent the skim points so you can get back in? It would really fry me to have to do it, but at some point the certainty of getting the trade has value.

OP: Unless Easter falls around your week, which only happens some years, I do think there is probably less demand for the second week in April vs most of Feb and March. Maybe you wouldn't have so much trouble booking as the earlier in winter folks do.

We are enrolled but if we use points, we'll have to give up the whole 2 BR unit. We will lose our view that we paid so dearly for. We are not willing to do that unless we go to a resort in a different area.

Marriott told me today that we may not get an equal view if we use our points as we are considered a Marriott owner but not a Lahaina Villa owner. I believe that he meant that the Legacy week owner, who uses his own week in his season, will always get the best view.

The skim is 1175 points. We always seem to be on Maui during Easter week because our three fixed weeks fall in that time period and spring break too.

Are you a Marriott owner? I thought that you were a Starwood owner. I know that you rent at our resort as we see you every year.

 

[taffy19]

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.

Here is a thread for the Marriott 2012 Maintenance fees.

GregT has a PDF file under his signature file that gives maintenance fees of many resorts but they are gathered from eBay so may not be completely up to date. It gives a lot of other information too.