Considering my first Marriott. Can anyone help?

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

Just like with most businesses, it's the time between the deals which makes the difference. Not being a salesperson, I'm more focused on servicing the customer than how much money there is in the deal. We're not all wired the same. Long-term, it's been something I truly enjoy and was born to do. I could never get the same satisfaction out of flipping timeshares (or even selling widgets) as it's just not the right fit for me. Hence, I'm happy to leave such pursuits to those who truly enjoy them.
For us, timesharing was/is a way to travel and to escape the realities of caring for a demented parent. No more, no less. To that end, it has served us well. I won't miss it when we move on to other things. Marriott was a great company when I first started using them for business travel a decade ago, but I'm not so sure anymore. Their philosophy of business has changed and it's no longer compatible with my own. YMMV. I have to feel good about a vendor to do business with them; again a personal preference.

I do like your idea of timesharing as a business. For the right person, it can be a quite intriguing and profitable one. Myself, I'm now looking into care management and owning/investing in a RCFE (residential care facility for the elderly). With the population aging and dementia becoming more prevalent with such, it's an industry in need of compassionate and bright minds and quality care. Perhaps a RCFE timeshare?
Pat

Of course, you are correct. We are not all wired the same, and each of us needs to find what we can be successful doing, as well as what makes us feel fulfilled.

I like your idea of a residential care facility for the elderly.....I also agree with your assessment. We are all living longer, and will need more of these facilities as times goes by. Kindness, and proper care will be essentail.....I am sure you will be able to provide these things. You appear to be a very kind, and well intentioned person. I wish you the best of luck, and success in your venture.

BTW.....I was kidding with my former remarks, or, maybe I was only being half serious..........

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

Work a smidge.....play most of the day.....spend a few minutes finding deals.....go on great vacations......

For me, my work is my play, so I support this philosophy wholeheartedly, as well as appreciate all the work (play?) which goes into the voluminous sightings you publish

Now if I could just work on the mindset to make those fairway deals that Boca does...... me, I'd be offering my golf buddy the second bedroom at NCV for free...

Pat

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

Now if I could just work on the mindset to make those fairway deals that Boca does...... me, I'd be offering my golf buddy the second bedroom at NCV for free...

Pat

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

Maybe but don't count on it always.....
It would have the 'quality' level.....if you purchased a 'purpose built' Marriott.....but I think I really would avoid bronze....for 5K you can pick up a Gold at many resorts that would be a better trader - and remember the coming change to points.

That's what I was thinking too but I am no expert at playing the exchanging game. If you are interested in buying a cheap Marriott, the time to do it is now because once they go to the internal exchange system, they may have completely different rules but I assume that they will keep the status quo for all the people who have bought re-sale before. There would be a revolt if they would take these privileges away from their current customers. No way will that happen as they need satisfied customers to continue with their success.

I also believe that re-sales prices will start rising the closer they come to implementing the internal exchange system. Don't you think so too?

I also believe that the points product will come to all Marriott resorts eventually and they may have to offer incentives to go that way. Nothing is constant but change!

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

Can a bronze Marriott studio at any resort grab a 2 bedroom Flexchange anywhere within Marriott?

Oh, excellant question! I don't know how the Marriott priority would work in Flexchange, when most other restrictions are lifted. Marriott studios didn't trade well in the past II trade test, but then, that wasn't searching Flexchange.

I have noticed that there have been few trade tests on TUG lately -- the last II trade test was in 2002. I suspect one factor is the work involved in compiling the results, but another problem is that many people don't want to publicize their best traders, for fear that too many others will buy there and the trade power will go down. Perhaps we should have some sort of trade test here, with maybe access to the results restricted to those who participate?

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

I would also be mindful of the coming changes in the Marriott exchange and reservation programs, as they move to a private exchange system and points. That will change the landscape for non-Marriott tiger traders, IMO, as well as for up-traders. Upon reflection, when putting a monetary value on my brain time, I find it (getting the deals) to achieve parity only when I have nothing else profitable to do (since I still work and own a business); otherwise, it's far more profitable to work and just pay for things, at least for me...

That's a good point -- if Marriott changes things and stops giving much inventory to II, there would be a lot less that I'd see with my II "tiger trader." Still, it seems that Marriott has a lot more inventory in certain locations and seasons than Marriott owners can use. Regardless of whether Marriott moves to a point-based system, I'm not sure what Marriott could do with all that inventory, other than offer it to II. (Marriott could rent it out, but too many rentals would cause competition with their hotel products.) Any thoughts on this?

As for the value of my time, I work as an instructor in a small private college. I feel that it's an important job, but it pays next to nothing. So, without using timeshares to trade up, I couldn't afford to take the great vacations that I do. If I ever finish the book that I'm writing, maybe I'll make some real money, but it's far from a sure thing.

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

Just a PS to my last post -- I was just looking at Orlando and I'm not seeing anything for Christmas week 2006. I do recall having seen Marriotts for that week earlier on, but I think we are getting too close to check-in for Christmas in Orlando to just be sitting online.

I do see some nice Orlando weeks for Christmas 2007, but Marriott only deposits about one year (I forget the exact time period) in advance, so no Marriotts yet. So, I should have clarified my earlier statement by saying that I tend to see lots of Marriott units online in Orlando for all weeks of the year, but they do disapear as we approach check-in date. That is true for many of the other locations for lots of Marriotts -- for example, I recall that Park City Marriotts for summer had mostly just studios left by about 50 days out.