Which Orlando Marriott?

[dryden]

Which Marriott would you recommend for a family of 5 (3 kids under 9), 2 or 3 bdrm resale unit, summer months? We've stayed at Harbour Lakes and liked that, but haven't been to any others. We'd use this unit, but also like to get to Hilton Head and Park City (Xmas or spring break) with it. Thanks in advance.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Which Marriott would you recommend for a family of 5 (3 kids under 9), 2 or 3 bdrm resale unit, summer months? We've stayed at Harbour Lakes and liked that, but haven't been to any others. We'd use this unit, but also like to get to Hilton Head and Park City (Xmas or spring break) with it. Thanks in advance.

3 Bedroom Grande Vista, or 3 Bedroom Imperial Palms.

The Grande Vista could be a lock off, so you would get 2 trades if you wanted to lock off and trade.

The Imperial Palms is not a lock off, but I hear the Villas there are quite spacious.



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[Big Matt]

I'd take a 2BR Grande Vista lock off. 3BR units are real nice, but I don't think you really need that unless you want it.

FWIW, you can always get a 3BR Grande Vista if your summer travel plans are fairly flexible. You never need to give up more than a 1BR. So a strategy may be to get a 2BR lock off and then trade back into a 2 or 3 BR with the 1BR.

Platinum GV trades very well in II.

 

[disneymom1]

For us newbies...could you please explain your strategy to trade to a larger unit with a lock-off in your own resort? Would you do an ongoing search/request thru II or just keep looking at II inventory and do an instant exchange? How far out do you usually have to wait until you can get an upgrade? THANKS!!

 

[yumdrey]

also like to get to Hilton Head and Park City (Xmas or spring break) with it. Thanks in advance.

If you expect to trade to Hilton Head in summer or park city for x-mas and spring break, you will be disappointed.
Those weeks are very, very hard to get, and if they are ever available, it will be during flexchange, that means, very last minute).

 

[yumdrey]

For us newbies...could you please explain your strategy to trade to a larger unit with a lock-off in your own resort? Would you do an ongoing search/request thru II or just keep looking at II inventory and do an instant exchange? How far out do you usually have to wait until you can get an upgrade? THANKS!!

If you put an ongoing search, you cannot request larger unit than you deposited unless the resort has only larger units.
You can upgrade unit size through instant online booking.

 

[BocaBoy]

For the trades you want to Hilton Head or Park City, I would definitely get a 3BR, which means either Grande Vista or Imperial Palms. If you want to have the flexibility to lock off and trade less than the full unit, get Grande Vista. If you don't, I would prefer Imperial Palms. To have the best chance to get high demand weeks, you may want to trade the full 3 BR. I do not agree with the advice to get a 2BR Grande Vista when a 3BR resale would cost only a little more. And only buy the highest season.

 

[dioxide45]

Which Marriott would you recommend for a family of 5 (3 kids under 9), 2 or 3 bdrm resale unit, summer months? We've stayed at Harbour Lakes and liked that, but haven't been to any others. We'd use this unit, but also like to get to Hilton Head and Park City (Xmas or spring break) with it. Thanks in advance.

Hilton Head Spring Break is a pretty easy trade. We got an April week using a 1BR. March and April are not really prime time in HHI. The golfers are usually there though. Christmas in Park City is all but impossible. I wouldn't get your hopes up with even the best trading week.