second hand timeshare. Uh oh...

[loserdavies Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close loserdavies]

I bought a time share from Marriott in the second hand market. (from a family member) didn't do my homework and found out that now Marriott will not take it for a trade in for points...So I know I can use it with II but I have tried in the past with other family members Timeshares and had very little success. I saw advertisements for books or fliers on how to get the best trades with II. Anyone use those? What I have is a one bedroom with a Lockoff unit in Kauai (Lihue) any week. Does the week I book before I deposit it make a big difference? Marriott told me they only work with II but I have seen other companies listed on this site, is it possible to work with other companies than II?
Thanks in advance.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Save your money on those fliers and just ask questions here. The week you book is critical to trade power. HTSE, DAE, Trading Places and Platinum Interchange will be happy to take your deposit. I would guess that SFX would take it, too, but you have to verify with them.

Who you should use for exchanging your week depends somewhat on where you want to go. If you need to be in a Marriott, II and SFX are your best bets. If the destination is more important than the amenities, where do you want to go most of the time?

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

I bought a time share from Marriott in the second hand market. (from a family member) didn't do my homework and found out that now Marriott will not take it for a trade in for points...So I know I can use it with II but I have tried in the past with other family members Timeshares and had very little success. I saw advertisements for books or fliers on how to get the best trades with II. Anyone use those? What I have is a one bedroom with a Lockoff unit in Kauai (Lihue) any week. Does the week I book before I deposit it make a big difference? Marriott told me they only work with II but I have seen other companies listed on this site, is it possible to work with other companies than II?
Thanks in advance.

The week you book is very important as to your trading power for your vacation exchange. The higher the demand for the season of your deposited week, the higher your trading power will be for the exchange that you want to take.

Although the Hawaiian Islands have year round demand, the demand for weeks between Christmas through Easter, and June 15 through September 7 (and all major Holiday weeks) are in higher demand than the rest of the year. Point being... if you deposited a week from your home base during these mentioned seasons, you would have higher trading power than if you deposited your week at other times.

We have many Marriott Owners who use us for their vacation exchanges. Although Marriott has their "official" affiliation with I.I., you as an individual have the right to request the service of any exchange company you want. You own your time and can assign it as you please.

SFX has some New Member incentives available at this time you may wish to peruse, and our Gold Membership is Free! (You only pay an exchange fee when you are booked. No annual membership fees. Saves you around $80 a year).

Here is a link to our website: www.sfx-resorts.com.

If you have any further questions, I will be happy to respond. Or if you wish, you can call Member Services at 800.739.9969.

Hope this helps...

Thanks,
Mark @sfx
Member Communications

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

I bought a time share from Marriott in the second hand market. (from a family member) didn't do my homework and found out that now Marriott will not take it for a trade in for points..
Thanks in advance.

Trading your TS for hotel points is generally not a good idea. Marriott will likely be wishing to give you about 100K pts for the unit. BUT to get those pts you'll have to pay the MFs (likely about $1200) and a other fee of about $100 to get the points. But currently anyone off the street can for the same $1250, just buy the pts direct from Marriott. So if you need Marriott pts, keep your TS out of the deal and just buy the points direct from Marriott.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

I'm also not a fan of any of the hotel points programs. To me, it simply doesn't make any sense.. You are paying for a resort villa each year, to trade that for a week (or even less considering how reward points have been devalued) in a motel room seems silly.

Put it this way- if you purchase a Cadillac- would you trade it to for your neighbor's old Chevy? Chances are you wouldn't..

If you simply want hotel stays- keep your $20,000 purchase price plus your annual $1,000+ in m. fees and pay rack rates for your motel rooms as you use them.. It'll probably take you quite a while before you spend that much money!

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

The great thing you heard about Marriott points was probably based on how good they were around the turn of the century. Since then Marriott wised up and their value went down.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I bought a time share from Marriott in the second hand market. (from a family member) didn't do my homework and found out that now Marriott will not take it for a trade in for points...So I know I can use it with II but I have tried in the past with other family members Timeshares and had very little success. I saw advertisements for books or fliers on how to get the best trades with II. Anyone use those? What I have is a one bedroom with a Lock off unit in Kauai (Lihue) any week. Does the week I book before I deposit it make a big difference? Marriott told me they only work with II THEY DO NOT HAVE RCI WITH YOUR OWNERSHIP - no big deal! but I have seen other companies listed on this site, is it possible to work with other companies than II?
Thanks in advance.

The week you book is very important as to your trading power for your vacation exchange. The higher the demand for the season of your deposited week, the higher your trading power will be for the exchange that you want to take.

Although the Hawaiian Islands have year round demand, the demand for weeks between Christmas through Easter, and June 15 through September 7 (and all major Holiday weeks) are in higher demand than the rest of the year. Point being... if you deposited a week from your home base during these mentioned seasons, you would have higher trading power than if you deposited your week at other times.

I own several Marriott Platinum weeks purchased from the developer and resale.
For most people, there is no significant value in turning in your TS for Marriott Reward Points.
My 2BR Mar Aruba Surf Club unit - which I lock off and use to stay in Aruba for 14 nights - would give me 90,000 MRP or 3 nights in a Category 6 (Cat 8 is the highest) hotel. I would have to pay $104 to do this plus my Maint fee of $1250 = $1350. $1350 for 3 nights in a hotel versus 14 nights in a condo with kitchen for $1250.

Are you seeing why trading in for points is no longer a good value for most people?

You have been given good advice by many on this thread - the most important stated above - it REALLY matters WHEN you make your reservations in terms of your trading power, regardless of what company you deposit with. Although many will tell you Hawaii (and Orlando ) are "red" all year round there are definitely much better weeks to reserve.
Mark gave you an excellent guide.

Also, be sure to call at 9 am eastern, or go on the owner website, 12 months before your desired check-in date to reserve. High demand reservations go fast.

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

Hi, Davies

I can't see how you have any problem here. This is a very nice property on the Island of Kauai located on Kalapaki Beach just outside of the largest town Lihue.

Your dues if it is an annual unit are in the $16-1700 range, splitting your week into 2 deposits and taking advantage if the Marr to Marr trades, so trading with II is going to yield the best result getting you 2 weeks of vacation for your one annual fee.

Greg

I bought a time share from Marriott in the second hand market. (from a family member) didn't do my homework and found out that now Marriott will not take it for a trade in for points...So I know I can use it with II but I have tried in the past with other family members Timeshares and had very little success. I saw advertisements for books or fliers on how to get the best trades with II. Anyone use those? What I have is a one bedroom with a Lockoff unit in Kauai (Lihue) any week. Does the week I book before I deposit it make a big difference? Marriott told me they only work with II but I have seen other companies listed on this site, is it possible to work with other companies than II?
Thanks in advance.

[loserdavies Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close loserdavies]

Thanks for everyone's help. Great info. Sounds like Booking the two spots then depositing them is the best way to go. I will check out the different companies and work it out. I have read a number of threads on the different companies to deposit to. Lots of great information here. Thanks again.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Thanks for everyone's help. Great info. Sounds like Booking the two spots then depositing them is the best way to go. I will check out the different companies and work it out. I have read a number of threads on the different companies to deposit to. Lots of great information here. Thanks again.

Marriott cannot stop you from exchanging with any exchange company that you like to use and all exchange companies will take your Marriott week as far as I know but the date you reserve is important. Be sure to reserve on time as that is critical. Hawaii was very hard to exchange to in the past but not lately because of the economy and expensive flights.

One thing is true and that is that you own a very desirable Marriott oceanfront unit on Kauai so you should be able to make nice exchanges or enjoy your stay there too.

[BuyRentSellTimeshare.com Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BuyRentSellTimeshare.com]

I'm also not a fan of any of the hotel points programs. To me, it simply doesn't make any sense.. You are paying for a resort villa each year, to trade that for a week (or even less considering how reward points have been devalued) in a motel room seems silly.

Put it this way- if you purchase a Cadillac- would you trade it to for your neighbor's old Chevy? Chances are you wouldn't..

If you simply want hotel stays- keep your $20,000 purchase price plus your annual $1,000+ in m. fees and pay rack rates for your motel rooms as you use them.. It'll probably take you quite a while before you spend that much money!

Great point... a great example of TS economics 101 know your conversion value