Which Marriott Resorts Have the Most Weeks Inventory and Which Have the Most Points Inventory?

[heathpack]

In this case locking off and exchanging is by far the best option. You'll only get 2475 points I believe. I'd pick a good week, lock off and deposit with II. Then place the requests you want as early as possible. Be willing to pay the unit upgrade fee where applicable. Realize you don't have to use the entire week, you'll still come out ahead over using points. You can always rent points or rent a reservation to fill in the gaps.

Yes that was really the point of this thread: where is the best weeks inventory? Which helps me understand what to seek with my exchange requests.

The max TDI of my Mountainside weeks is fairly middling. I understand I can offset that somewhat by booking early (in this case July 2025 for a July 2026 week), locking off, depositing both sides and then setting up exchange requests far into the future- like July 2027-July 2028.

So soon I need to start that process and I’m trying to develop my understanding of what is likely. It’s a process to understand: ok I could exchange into France. Then to also research what time of year I practically want to go to France, considering weather, crowds, flight availability/cost. Times several candidate exchanges for each deposit. It’s more efficient to know “Crystal Shores is less likely than Aruba” right from the get-go.

 

[Dean]

Yes that was really the point of this thread: where is the best weeks inventory? Which helps me understand what to seek with my exchange requests.

The max TDI of my Mountainside weeks is fairly middling. I understand I can offset that somewhat by booking early (in this case July 2025 for a July 2026 week), locking off, depositing both sides and then setting up exchange requests far into the future- like July 2027-July 2028.

So soon I need to start that process and I’m trying to develop my understanding of what is likely. It’s a process to understand: ok I could exchange into France. Then to also research what time of year I practically want to go to France, considering weather, crowds, flight availability/cost. Times several candidate exchanges for each deposit. It’s more efficient to know “Crystal Shores is less likely than Aruba” right from the get-go.

Just get the best week you can. Realize though that you're likely to be relegated to weeks that are easy to get like short notice and low/shoulder season. But it doesn't hurt to try for higher demand resorts & seasons, especially using the 1 BR side. Things to think about would be HHI/MB during the late fall and winter, Orlando, Ocean Pointe late spring through mid Dec, Aruba/St. Kitt's Summer and PCB much of the time. With flexibility you should be able to get HI as well. Just get the best week you can, deposit early, request at least 12-13 months out and look online routinely as sometimes things pop up that you aren't searching for or your search didn't catch even if you were searching for that option. And don't forget about getaways.

If you want more/better options you might want to think about adding to your portfolio in some way either with MVC or otherwise.

 

[claraj]

Costa Rica tends to pop up more during its rainy season (fall). Also, it's not impossible to book with points though you might have to collect nights to piece together a stay.

 

[heathpack]

Just get the best week you can. Realize though that you're likely to be relegated to weeks that are easy to get like short notice and low/shoulder season. But it doesn't hurt to try for higher demand resorts & seasons, especially using the 1 BR side. Things to think about would be HHI/MB during the late fall and winter, Orlando, Ocean Pointe late spring through mid Dec, Aruba/St. Kitt's Summer and PCB much of the time. With flexibility you should be able to get HI as well. Just get the best week you can, deposit early, request at least 12-13 months out and look online routinely as sometimes things pop up that you aren't searching for or your search didn't catch even if you were searching for that option. And don't forget about getaways.

If you want more/better options you might want to think about adding to your portfolio in some way either with MVC or otherwise.

Thanks

We fortunately do not want to travel at super popular times and often prefer shoulder season travel. Would I love to be in Hilton Head in July? Yes. But I find that early Sept is 95% as good from a weather perspective and probably 300% easier to get.

The interest in traveling shoulder season is part of why I want to ID the good, realistic inventory. For example I already know that low season in Aruba is all about what people are escaping in North America, not what the weather is like in Aruba (which is the same year round). So I want to escape Alabama summer not winter, making Aruba a good choice. However St Thomas I want to request late Spring to avoid high demand but not summer into fall to avoid hurricane risk, rain, and excessive humidity.

I just added 2 small DVC contracts and my general theme is to try to decrease my TS ownerships. I am tempted to try to own the best of the best for trading but realistically I’m probably better off maximizing the use of what I own and then traveling by a different method than TS ownership/exchange for the rest of my travel needs- whether that is hotel rewards points, renting timeshares, staying in AirBnBs, visiting my cousin who moved to Vero Beach, or-gasp-paying $ to stay in a hotel!

 

[heathpack]

Costa Rica tends to pop up more during its rainy season (fall). Also, it's not impossible to book with points though you might have to collect nights to piece together a stay.

We’ll probably just request a studio or 1Br far in advance for a wide range of non rainy season dates (Dec-Apr) with an II studio week deposit and take our chances. I’m really looking to trade Marriott weeks rather than using points for the most part, because that’s my most cost effective use of my ownership.

 

[Dean]

Thanks

We fortunately do not want to travel at super popular times and often prefer shoulder season travel. Would I love to be in Hilton Head in July? Yes. But I find that early Sept is 95% as good from a weather perspective and probably 300% easier to get.

The interest in traveling shoulder season is part of why I want to ID the good, realistic inventory. For example I already know that low season in Aruba is all about what people are escaping in North America, not what the weather is like in Aruba (which is the same year round). So I want to escape Alabama summer not winter, making Aruba a good choice. However St Thomas I want to request late Spring to avoid high demand but not summer into fall to avoid hurricane risk, rain, and excessive humidity.

I just added 2 small DVC contracts and my general theme is to try to decrease my TS ownerships. I am tempted to try to own the best of the best for trading but realistically I’m probably better off maximizing the use of what I own and then traveling by a different method than TS ownership/exchange for the rest of my travel needs- whether that is hotel rewards points, renting timeshares, staying in AirBnBs, visiting my cousin who moved to Vero Beach, or-gasp-paying $ to stay in a hotel!

You might want to consider non MVC options like Bluegreen or Wyndham given your location. Both cheap to buy and have good/flexible points programs. Bluegreen would open up Savannah, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, North GA and NC mountsins, Charleston, etc. Wyndham would also cover some of those areas plus others.

 

[claraj]

We’ll probably just request a studio or 1Br far in advance for a wide range of non rainy season dates (Dec-Apr) with an II studio week deposit and take our chances. I’m really looking to trade Marriott weeks rather than using points for the most part, because that’s my most cost effective use of my ownership.

Good luck and report back! It's one of my favorite resorts and I am always looking for ways to get there during peak season!

 

[Eric B]

We’ll probably just request a studio or 1Br far in advance for a wide range of non rainy season dates (Dec-Apr) with an II studio week deposit and take our chances. I’m really looking to trade Marriott weeks rather than using points for the most part, because that’s my most cost effective use of my ownership.

If you’d be happy with a studio in May, let me know and I can book it. We own a week in Costa Rica in the gold season and only use the 1 BR side; we’ve locked off and deposited the studio in II in the past, but would be happy to reserve and trade for the point value instead.

 

[heathpack]

If you’d be happy with a studio in May, let me know and I can book it. We own a week in Costa Rica in the gold season and only use the 1 BR side; we’ve locked off and deposited the studio in II in the past, but would be happy to reserve and trade for the point value instead.

Duly noted. We will try for a drier season first and see how it goes. It sound like you travel there in May and enjoy it? What is your thought on the weather?

 

[Eric B]

Weather isn’t bad even in the rainy season. May isn’t too rainy yet - November was rainy about 1/3 of the time.

 

[tomvc]

If you're interested in Thailand, check the accommodation certificates as well. I often see availability.

 

[heathpack]

If you're interested in Thailand, check the accommodation certificates as well. I often see availability.

Thanks, I am decently interested in Thailand. But having just moved from West Coast to East Coast, our initial intent is to explore Atlantic coast beaches and cities, the Caribbean, and to some extent Europe. And Costa Rica of course.

 

[tomvc]

Westin Lagunamar in Cancun is great. We would go more often if closer.

 

[davidvel]

This all started with Grayfal suggesting you would be better off renting points and using your week as a lockoff to trade. They were talking about renting points vs. electing your week for points:

You might want to keep your mountainside for II trades and just rent the points for those other Resies

I assume if I rent points that I do not have the booking preference of the original points?

Do people rent points reservations to others, rather than the points themesleves?

You then said the problem with renting is you don't get some mystery booking advantage if you rent:

From the point renter’s perspective, this is a problem with renting points. I might not be able to obtain a reservation I want, due to my booking disadvantage. Then I’ve wasted my $.

The booking disadvantage is that I am OWNER level and others can book stays <7 days before I can, right? If the inventory is gone before I can book, then I am out of luck.

Admittedly I am not experienced using points (because I bought Mountainside to use, and mostly did until recently). Do I have an incorrect understanding of how it works? My understanding was that many people have a lot of points, and they can book a 5 day reservation such as I might want at DC at 13 months but I cannot book that for another 4 months, at which time many/most/all of the consecutive 5 day blocks of time might be gone.

If you don’t have the points, you can’t noodle around looking at inventory on the MVCI website, so I can’t explore and educate myself as to what inventory looks like. But that has been my impression when I have explored around previously.

But this doesn't mean you are at a disadvantage by renting vs. electing. First, there is only an "advantage" held by the person renting you points if they are a higher benefit level than you. Regardless, if you rent points you will have exactly the same benefits as if you elected points. No disadvantage at all.

So I agree with Greyfal. You are better off renting points than wasting your week by electing. Almost always, locking off and trading (for free in your case) is far better value than what you'll get for the elected points. Renting points is just a bonus for being enrolled, and you can rent just about as many as you want, for no upfront cost.

 

[daviator]

The booking disadvantage is that I am OWNER level and others can book stays <7 days before I can, right? If the inventory is gone before I can book, then I am out of luck.

Admittedly I am not experienced using points (because I bought Mountainside to use, and mostly did until recently). Do I have an incorrect understanding of how it works? My understanding was that many people have a lot of points, and they can book a 5 day reservation such as I might want at DC at 13 months but I cannot book that for another 4 months, at which time many/most/all of the consecutive 5 day blocks of time might be gone.

If you don’t have the points, you can’t noodle around looking at inventory on the MVCI website, so I can’t explore and educate myself as to what inventory looks like. But that has been my impression when I have explored around previously.

It's more of a theoretical disadvantage than an actual one.

Here's the thing: what you are saying might be accurate if all the inventory was released 13 months prior to check in, but it's not. A little inventory is released at that point, more is released at 12 months, and then more is released in dribs and drabs as the year goes on. I have had little trouble finding availability ~6 months in advance, especially using the waitlist, but also just by doing a quick check every morning. The inventory is very dynamic and I've pretty much never not found what I was looking for if I was persistent about it.

 

[heathpack]

This all started with Grayfal suggesting you would be better off renting points and using your week as a lockoff to trade. They were talking about renting points vs. electing your week for points:



You then said the problem with renting is you don't get some mystery booking advantage if you rent:


But this doesn't mean you are at a disadvantage by renting vs. electing. First, there is only an "advantage" held by the person renting you points if they are a higher benefit level than you. Regardless, if you rent points you will have exactly the same benefits as if you elected points. No disadvantage at all.

So I agree with Greyfal. You are better off renting points than wasting your week by electing. Almost always, locking off and trading (for free in your case) is far better value than what you'll get for the elected points. Renting points is just a bonus for being enrolled, and you can rent just about as many as you want, for no upfront cost.

Actually I started by saying "I understand my most cost effective use is locking off and trading in II, although at times I have a flexible work schedule and can maybe use points cost effectively by booking stays Sun-Thurs" which seemed to me to imply I was most interested in discussing weeks trades in II.

However, of course I am open to input from tuggers I respect like @GrayFal. And I am open to discussing the use of points. So I discussed that. In, oh gosh, this thing we're in- um, what's if called again? Oh yeah: a discussion forum!

There is not a "mystery" advantage to points bookings for people with higher status than I have- which I assume is almost everyone who is renting points out (because folks with few points like me can't really make much of a go of renting, we don't even have enough points for many full week reservations). They can book reservations less than 7 days 3 months before I can. They can book full week reservations a month before I can. No "mystery" there.

But thanks for your input. As I said upthread, I bought my week to use so have little practical experience using points. Now I have moved and my paradigm has changed and I'm interested in learning how to use it differently. As others pointed out upthread, the booking disadvantage isn't that onerous. Nonetheless, I'd still prefer renting a reservation if the day ever comes that I decide to rent points. From some private communications that have taken place subsequent to my posts of earlier today, finding someone who will rent your a reservation instead of points isn't really that hard.

Still though my primary interest is in figuring out how to best use my Mountainside ownership.

 

[GrayFal]

@heathpack
"As others pointed out upthread, the booking disadvantage isn't that onerous. Nonetheless, I'd still prefer renting a reservation if the day ever comes that I decide to rent points. From some private communications that have taken place subsequent to my posts of earlier today, finding someone who will rent your a reservation instead of points isn't really that hard."

This is good to know for me as well.
I have never converted my Marriott enrolled weeks and now my Vistana weeks to points, but like you, I would prefer/choose for someone else to make the Resie.
I guess a big advantage of having the points in my account instead of just renting a Resie is if my plans change, the points are in my account to do what I like with them.

Lots to ponder.