Considering my first Marriott. Can anyone help?

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Well, after seeing all of the great sightings for Ko'olina from Angela, I want to buy a cheap Marriott at a place without ROFR. A lot of stuff she posts, I can't see due to the internal Marriott exchange privileges.

I think what I want is a cheap Marriott 2 bedroom lockoff unit that qualifies for an AC. All I want to use it for is depositing into II for exchanging back into Marriotts during the Flexchange period.

Which ones should I consider?

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

Jim,

I am very happy to hear that you are considering purchasing a Marriott. I think they are great. As you have seen, it is very possible to get the very best resorts during the flexchange period.

Unfortunately, the cheapest Marriott's may not qualify for an AC. Usually, only Platinum seasons qualifies. There may be some exceptions for holidays.

Very few Orlando timeshares qualify. I think only Grand Vista, and only certain dates in Platinum. Pat would know best.

I am not sure, maybe Williamsburg Platinum would qualify, and be a reasonable price. Or the Palm Desert resorts. It's even possible that certain dates in Aruba Gold and other Gold resorts would qualify. II's red weeks are slightly different than Marriott's. I have to give this more thought.

If you were willing to give up the AC, you would have more choices, pay less, and still be able to get those great flexchanges.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Jim,

I am very happy to hear that you are considering purchasing a Marriott. I think they are great. As you have seen, it is very possible to get the very best resorts during the flexchange period.

Unfortunately, the cheapest Marriott's may not qualify for an AC. Usually, only Platinum seasons qualifies. There may be some exceptions for holidays.

Very few Orlando timeshares qualify. I think only Grand Vista, and only certain dates in Platinum. Pat would know best.

I am not sure, maybe Williamsburg Platinum would qualify, and be a reasonable price. Or the Palm Desert resorts. It's even possible that certain dates in Aruba Gold and other Gold resorts would qualify. II's red weeks are slightly different than Marriott's. I have to give this more thought.

If you were willing to give up the AC, you would have more choices, pay less, and still be able to get those great flexchanges.

Okay, how about just cheap, any season, just for Flexchanges?

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

Jim,

I would think that off-season in Hilton Head, Colorado, and Palm Desert would be your best buys. Also, Horizons in Orlando, and Branson.

[Hostelling Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hostelling]

Buying Marriott

Okay, how about just cheap, any season, just for Flexchanges?

I have a two bedroom, Fairway Villas at Sea View, gold, annual, Marriott not exercising ROFR.

I am considering letting it go. What price range are you looking in?

Daniel

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

I have a two bedroom, Fairway Villas as Sea View, gold, annual, Marriott not exercising ROFR.

I am considering letting it go. What price range are you looking in?

Daniel

Daniel,

I own a Platinum Fairway Villas, and love it. For New Yorkers, it is very close, and we love to golf and spa.....Atlantic City, and the other Jersey Shore, and Philly side trips are also a nice perk.

The only bad thing about Fairway Villas is that it is not a Lock-off.

[Hostelling Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hostelling]

Daniel,

For New Yorkers, it is very close, and we love to golf and spa.....Atlantic City, and the other Jersey Shore.

It was one of my first time share purchases, I also chose it because it was within driving distance (Dover, DE) plus I enjoy picking through the shops down the road in Cape May.

Daniel

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

BB,

I'm also looking for a Marriott, with similar requirements.

I keep coming back to Desert Springs. The white season (spring-fall) has many high demand weeks. It is a lock-off, no ROFR. It is RED 1-52 with II (knowing that there are many shades of red) and it can be had for <$8000.

My problem is my DW doesn't want to buy for trading but wants somewhere to vacation and we already own 2 TS companies which have a resort in the area. I tell her that I think we can buy there and trade for the places she wants to vacation but so far no deal.

Good Luck in your quest.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Thanks everyone. This gives me enough options to start my search.

Someone mentioned creating a portfolio of Marriott resorts. That sounds like fun. Now I have a new system that I can take a deep dive into.

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

Boca,

Our good friends own a white week here and they have made some wonderful exchanges. They had never used their unit until we invited them to stay with us this March and they liked it so much that they have used their own week in June and will use the second half in November. MDSV-I has a lock-off unit so it can give you two weeks for one maintenance fee. Villas II is not but Shadow Ridge is too, as far as I know and they have RPFR too.

We were offered ACs for our weeks (winter week) when we gave them to II but since my DH was working, we threw them in the trash. This was long before I found TUG and I wonder how many other people may do the same thing with the AC certificate even today?

I would buy a winter week as they are still around for a good price. One member here bought one for less than $8,000 not too long ago. It will give you an exchange to Hawaii and to the NCVs because we have done it but not in the season when the schools are out, I am sure.

PS. Boca, owning a timeshare in CA may be better than back east if you are moving to Hawaii.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Boca,

Our good friends own a white week here and they have made some wonderful exchanges. They had never used their unit until we invited them to stay with us this March and they liked it so much that they have used their own week in June and will use the second half in November. MDSV-I has a lock-off unit so it can give you two weeks for one maintenance fee. Villas II is not but Shadow Ridge is too, as far as I know and they have RPFR too.

We were offered ACs for our weeks (winter week) when we gave them to II but since my DH was working, we threw them in the trash. This was long before I found TUG and I wonder how many other people may do the same thing with the AC certificate even today?

I would buy a winter week as they are still around for a good price. One member here bought one for less than $8,000 not too long ago. It will give you an exchange to Hawaii and to the NCVs because we have done it but not in the season when the schools are out, I am sure.

PS. Boca, owning a timeshare in CA may be better than back east if you are moving to Hawaii.

Thanks Emmy,

I just want a cheap Marriott for grabbing Flexchanges to Ko'Olina

[shopgirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shopgirl]

What are the maintenance fees for Desert Springs, Emmy?

It seems like a good way to go.

I cannot believe the last-minute Hawaii weeks for this time of year. I am talking both RCI and II, though it is rare to see Marriotts. I saw Kauai Beach Villas yesterday. Two weeks ago, maybe less, I saw a two bedroom at HGVC Oahu for September 2nd. It was there for about five minutes. I was so tempted, and we just got back July 21st.

If only I was not such a planner! Planning is so much fun! I keep telling Rick that he is going to come home from the firehouse one morning and our bags will be by the back door, ready to fly to Hawaii or Orlando. He is very skeptical that I would do such a thing, but I sure am thinking about it. I couldn't do it in our company's busy season, which is fall. We already have next year's trip planned for April. I guess I will have to wait a while.

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

Cindy, you can find the answers here and some more very good general information here too. You will get educated in a hurry about a Marriott timeshare.

PS.

Property taxes are billed separately for timeshare units in CA. My DH looked it up for you and they were $163.40. They go up a little bit each year but not much. Hawaii is a different story but you know that already and you know too that we are not appreciated! They consider us "cheap" so they don't want more timeshare developments.

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

Boca,
I would buy a winter week as they are still around for a good price. One member here bought one for less than $8,000 not too long ago. It will give you an exchange to Hawaii and to the NCVs because we have done it but not in the season when the schools are out, I am sure.

PS. Boca, owning a timeshare in CA may be better than back east if you are moving to Hawaii.

Em, why do you think Platinum/Red Winter DSI wouldn't trade into Hawaii and NCV's in summer season? I tried to get a one or 2BRunit there this past winter/March and could not....I think there is high demand because of the spa use.

I have been shopping for a Platinum Manor Club sequel lock-off but these seem to be creeping up in price between 10 and 11K. Non-lock-offs seem to be in the 7-8.5K range. The upside is the MFs are under $650.

A winter DSI for 8K is a great price....and I would actually like to use it, too, in the winter besides trading (I have no interest in going to Williamsburg in the summer )....I LOVE that JW Marriott Hotel and property and the FREE use of the spa...wonderful.

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

Pat, I didn't mean to say that you can trade a MDSV-I for a summer week in NCVs or in Hawaii when the schools are out. I meant that you cannot expect that.

We were at these resorts but not in the prime time that most people are wishing for. These are times that we do not travel.