Curious to know what people think who own a Marriott time share property? How long have you owned, where do you own, and do you feel you get value for the money? I know they have moved towards a points system. What do you feel is the minimum buy in if you'd want to get a week a year and be able to travel to different spots each year. I don't want to always go to the same spot. Any feedback is welcome.
Marriott Time Share
- Thread starter 4INSBU
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I (and siblings)inherited 2 Marriott timeshares from parents. "Deeded in perpetuity " as my Mom used to say. First, parents used and loved their timeshares for prob 20 years, before passing. At that point, none of siblings were real interested in continuing, but difficult/impossible to sell. In the end, we did a "deed in lieu of" back to Marriott for one property, spending lawyer money in that state to do it. Second prop we kept between myself and one sibling. We split annual maintenance fee, and each uses every other year. We also pay for International Interval so we can "deposit" and trade locations. We were new owners when Marriottmoved to point system. For us it looked like another money grab, so we didn't sign up. Since then maintenance fees continue to grow, so it's an ok deal for a week but not great versus just renting something. We also continue the II subscription for trading purposes.
Bottom line, would never buy one on my own.
Flip side, we have friends who have been successful at maximizing their time shares, using lockout strategy to double their time. They also bought cheap location then trade for other locations. Don't know how the point system has affected them, as points are now different by location.
Bottom line, would never buy one on my own.
Flip side, we have friends who have been successful at maximizing their time shares, using lockout strategy to double their time. They also bought cheap location then trade for other locations. Don't know how the point system has affected them, as points are now different by location.
We have owned for decades and enjoyed them. Why not buy a week and exchange to points? Buy in price would be much lower. Still have annual maintenance fees. If you would like to discuss further let me know here and then we can exchange contact information.
After spending 30 years saying "timeshares are horrible" we bought one now own two. Park City Utah and Hilton Head We love it.
Unlike you we purchased where we want to go. Skiing in Utah and spring/fall break in HH. We have owned Utah for 6 years and HH for 4.
We continually get the pitch for the points program but since we like where we go we haven't switched. The points is more expensive than what we currently own but i haven't really investigated their value.
FWIW we purchased both of our properties from Marriott but on their resale website. This gives us all of the benefits from Marriott [exchanges, points in lieu of trip etc.] but the price was about 50% of normal new price.
Points may be easier to navigate but my overall feeling is it takes a little bit of effort to get just what you want in terms of dates times extra vacations etc. It took us a couple cycles but now we have it dialed in pretty well.
One other general comment, once you are "in the system" they are always looking for opportunities to upsell you so if you are at a stage of your life to do extra travel you can get some extra benefits
Summary [ not directly related to points but probably applies]
. The properties - always well maintained and very nice.
Annual maintenence fees - probably around $1,250 per year per week [varies by location]
. always offering specials . Ex 4 days 3 nights plus $100 gift card, to other Marriott locations for $299
. Very hard to get out of. -expect 20-25% of new price if you deed it back to marriott. I think marriott resells at about 50% [that is what we did] and then keeps about another 50% as a commission.
. If you go for a "pitch" they will NEGOTIATE. With each of our purchases we received an additional "free week" through Interval International [went to Hawaii] and extra Marriott points.
I would say it isn't for everyone but with a little effort can be a good deal.
Unlike you we purchased where we want to go. Skiing in Utah and spring/fall break in HH. We have owned Utah for 6 years and HH for 4.
We continually get the pitch for the points program but since we like where we go we haven't switched. The points is more expensive than what we currently own but i haven't really investigated their value.
FWIW we purchased both of our properties from Marriott but on their resale website. This gives us all of the benefits from Marriott [exchanges, points in lieu of trip etc.] but the price was about 50% of normal new price.
Points may be easier to navigate but my overall feeling is it takes a little bit of effort to get just what you want in terms of dates times extra vacations etc. It took us a couple cycles but now we have it dialed in pretty well.
One other general comment, once you are "in the system" they are always looking for opportunities to upsell you so if you are at a stage of your life to do extra travel you can get some extra benefits
Summary [ not directly related to points but probably applies]
. The properties - always well maintained and very nice.
Annual maintenence fees - probably around $1,250 per year per week [varies by location]
. always offering specials . Ex 4 days 3 nights plus $100 gift card, to other Marriott locations for $299
. Very hard to get out of. -expect 20-25% of new price if you deed it back to marriott. I think marriott resells at about 50% [that is what we did] and then keeps about another 50% as a commission.
. If you go for a "pitch" they will NEGOTIATE. With each of our purchases we received an additional "free week" through Interval International [went to Hawaii] and extra Marriott points.
I would say it isn't for everyone but with a little effort can be a good deal.
I have a Marriott time share with lock off at Ocean Pointe in Palm Beach Shores, Florida. We have used it a number of times but have also exchanged for other resorts all over the USA. I'm at the point in life of lessening my items owned and very interested in selling. If you are interested, let me know and we can discuss options. If you are not familiar with lock-offs, do some research or let me know and we'll discuss. Thanks
We own a time share at Marriott's Ocean Pointe. Enjoy our annual vacation with our kids and their spouses (3) and grandchildren (7). Can be a little expensive, but we have owned for many years and now only pay annual maintenance fees. Good luck on your decision.
Ocean pt is a beautiful resort, plus it is a lockoff. That means the 2br can be converted into a 1br and an efficiancy. So, you can get two weeks. Flexibility is key with a lockoff. But, if you can get 2 weeks in 2brms out of a 1200 maint fee that is only 600 bucks a wk (plus minimal exchance fees etc,) Marriott often charges 400-600 bucks a night for those types of rooms. Buying the OP wk from fayette will mean that it is not allowed in the point system currently, but you may not need it. Down the road, you may be able to bring it into the system with a points purchase ( Marriott has done this in the past) but it is not guaranteed. Either way, OP is an awesome resort no matter the season and it will trade very well. If it is a good price...... snag it : )
Btw, Marriott does have a first right of refusal on all marriott weeks. So, the possibility exists that they may exercise that.
Enjoy.
Btw, Marriott does have a first right of refusal on all marriott weeks. So, the possibility exists that they may exercise that.
Enjoy.
I'm in at Surf Watch HHI,I would love to 1031x my deed in Grand Vista in Orlando.Sure the fees suck but My 14 year old daughter and I love it and she'll have a free place to go on Spring break.
Big news is that they are now owned by Starwood which opens up a larger opportunity and benefits in the long run... we are Starwood Members... nad have shares in St. John's and Hawaii... love both destinations.
Hope this helps.
Continuing on with discussion with more detail, we own in Hilton Head and have a lock off in Williamsburg. As we now also own a home in Hilton Head we would like to sell one of the above. Just putting that out there in case someone is interested.
FWIW, Marriott bought Starwood, not the other way around. Loyalty programs are combined so you can transfer points between accounts.
For time shares, we own a week in St John at the Westin, but Starwood sold off the time-share business and it's now Vistana. It's still affiliated with Starwood, and as an owner, it keeps you at Starwood/Marriott Gold levels, but it is not owned by Starwood anymore.
I don't think being an owner with Vistana provides any privileges with Marriott's timeshare properties.
It does not. Also, you are correct. Marriott bought starwood. But, that benefit is mainly in the hotels. Though, what is interesting, is that Marriott is starting to go into a lot of hotels and convert part of them to timeshare. It is called the Pulse product. (New York, Washington DC, San diego, South Beach, Miami, etc)
We bought in St. John's as well...what week do you have? And yes...I was wrong...Marriott bought Starwood.
The St.John's property is hard to buy into...we own a three bedroom with pool and jacuzzi villa...
Forget the week # but this year it's Oct 14-21. We're up on the Hill in a 1BR. Didn't feel like pooching the $$ for the bigger units. Would love to get one of the newer converted hotel rooms on the beach side of the road. If they would have let us Trade in our current place, we probably would have done it, but i have no interest in 2 weeks and didn't feel like trying to sell my unit.
I've been fortunate to travel a lot in the Caribbean. St John is my favorite and the Westin is a great property.
We bought into April 29-May 6 ( believe week 17?) and have been going for 10 + years.
Actually Honeymooned at Caneel Bay...great restaurants no doubt...ended up buying a second week in one of the new rooms beach side LY...
Not sure we will always use it but its there in any event.
Love St.John's...
My brother and his wife bought a very primitive fixer-upper on St. John about three years ago and I made my first visit this past December. He's up in the mountains about 15 minutes from the ferry. A beautiful island, great outdoor restaurants, spectacular beaches. Just wish the roads were a little better!
We own a 2 bedroom one of which is a lockoff in Aruba. We have owned it for 8 years. We have been there twice. Other years we have traded it for points or other locations. This year we are taking our son, daughter-in-law and two grand kids to Williamsburg on a trade. We took the Alaskan cruise on a trade. We also use a Marriott credit card for points. We did 10 days in Germany and only paid for lodging one night.
The maintenance fees are high but we think we get our money's worth.
The maintenance fees are high but we think we get our money's worth.
Sounds like you do philly! Maint fees much lower than renting units like that!
Bought a week at Grande Vista back in 2002. Added 1000 vacation club points in 2012 then some more in 2015 and 2016. Now up to Executive Level in the Marriott Vacation Club program. Obviously, we LOVE it! Has worked very well for us as we are planners. That is one thing I would advise anybody, if you can plan out your vacation 13 months out you can get almost anything you want!
We have been to a total of 13 Marriott Vacation Clubs in the US, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. We just came back from a week in St Kitts at the end of February, going to Marco Island with the whole family in June, and then off for 4 nights in Las Vegas in November. Oh yes, have 5 nights reserved in Oahu and 5 nights in Kauai in February 2018 already. Like I said, if you are a planner it can work for you!
PS - I do NOT work for MVCI just a big fan!
We have been to a total of 13 Marriott Vacation Clubs in the US, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. We just came back from a week in St Kitts at the end of February, going to Marco Island with the whole family in June, and then off for 4 nights in Las Vegas in November. Oh yes, have 5 nights reserved in Oahu and 5 nights in Kauai in February 2018 already. Like I said, if you are a planner it can work for you!
PS - I do NOT work for MVCI just a big fan!
Thanks for all the great info. I'm curious what people think on Marriott Beach Place Towers in Ft. Lauderdale? Is this a good trade property? I'm looking at a platinum week unit. Also, thoughts on trading out of Hilton Head properties? Are some stronger than others?
Grande ocean platnum is the macdaddy. Bpt plat is good too caus it is a lockoff. But, you are prob better off with ocean pt plat. Ocean watch plat (myrtle beach) is also the macdaddy. However, no lockoffs in sc. if you are looking in hhi, i can put you on touch with a good resale guy
What a complete pain in the A.
There are about a zillion articles out there about why buying a time share is generally a poor idea.
www.airbnb.com
www.homeaway.com
www.vrbo.com
Go where, when, and for whatever cost you want. No lost opportunity costs, no increasing maintenance fees, no points system designed to confuse, and no purchase of pretend real estate which normally decreases in value.
Sorry to be that guy, but somebody had to do it.
There are about a zillion articles out there about why buying a time share is generally a poor idea.
www.airbnb.com
www.homeaway.com
www.vrbo.com
Go where, when, and for whatever cost you want. No lost opportunity costs, no increasing maintenance fees, no points system designed to confuse, and no purchase of pretend real estate which normally decreases in value.
Sorry to be that guy, but somebody had to do it.
We own Heritage in Sea Pines. That is the number one plantation on Hilton Head Island for tourists. Heritage has a fantastic golf package that keeps that property in high demand. Don't buy directly from Marriott. Buy resale or direct from a owner ie me. We did use every year but now, as we own there, trade every year including Maui, Kaui, and California's New Port Coast.
Own weeks in Palm Desert, CA and New Jersey (mainly for points and trade) For us, it has been mostly a very good experience. I do Palm Desert/Shadow Ridge each early Spring for golf and usually Hilton Head in early September. Facilities well maintained. Some super locations worldwide using Interval and Starwoods. I am not fan of the points they now offer. Preferred deeded property. Once you learn how to work the system, it can be a valuable purchase for vacationing and travel.
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