Marriott is one of the most trusted names in hotels, so it’s logical that they’d offer one of the premier vacation ownership options. However, timeshare ownership can be somewhat opaque at first glance. So if you’re desperately googling “how does Marriott timeshare work?”, relax. In this article, we’ll explore how the Marriott Vacation Club works and the surprising number of options a Marriott timeshare can afford you.
How Does a Marriott Timeshare Work? – The Basics
If you’re unfamiliar with how timeshares work, we recommend reading our complete guide. It covers the basics and provides a solid foundation for diving into the timeshare industry. The tips there apply to most vacation ownership programs, so keep them in mind while hunting for a timeshare.
In this blog, we will focus on how Marriott timeshares work. Membership in the Marriott Vacation Club means you’re buying a deeded real estate interest. Think of it like you’re splitting the cost of a vacation home. Your interest entitles you to use that property for a certain amount of time (typically a week) per year. However, depending on your specific timeshare, the method for determining when (and even where) you can stay will vary.
Deeded Weeks vs Club Points
Timeshares traditionally use a deeded week model. Buying a deeded week means you’re purchasing a stake in a specific property, known as your home resort. Your stake entitles you to a week-long stay at your home resort, though the specifics of that stay vary.
- Fixed Week Timeshares are the easiest to understand. You’re entitled to stay at your home resort during a specific week of the year. This can be annually or on alternating years, depending on the timeshare.
- Floating Week Timeshares are more flexible, but require more planning. Floating weeks entitle you to stay during a specific season, as outlined in your deed. These seasons correspond to the estimated demand at a hotel at a certain time of year. For instance, Platinum season is busier than Gold, which is busier than Silver. Hotels that are consistently busy may not have Silver or Gold seasons, whereas others may have special seasons for holidays or specific events.
If you’re buying a Marriott Vacation Club timeshare off the resale market, you’re likely buying a deeded week or a points-based ownership.
Vacation club points are a type of vacation currency. Rather than owning a specific week at a particular resort, you use your annual allotment of points to book vacations at any Marriott Vacation Club property. The amount of club points a vacation costs depends on the season, the particular resort, and the size of your room. The busier the season and the fancier the accommodations, the more points you’ll need.
So, Which Is Better?
Many Marriott Vacation Club owners prefer deeded weeks, particularly fixed weeks, because they’re easy to plan around. If you have a fixed week, your vacation is automatically booked. You’re guaranteed a stay at that resort, and can focus your energies on planning travel and activities. However, they all have their benefits and lend themselves to different styles of vacation.
- Choose a Fixed Week Timeshare if you plan to visit the same property on the same week each year. These are perfect for family reunions and recurring events.
- Choose a Floating Week Timeshare if you plan to visit the same destination multiple times but need flexibility in your stay dates.
- Choose a Points-Based Timeshare if you want to stay at different Marriott Vacation Club destinations each year and want more flexibility in when you travel.
Flexible Booking
Every type of Marriott Vacation Club timeshare offers flexible booking options, though some are more flexible than others. The most flexible options, by far, involve buying points. But that doesn’t mean deeded weeks don’t have their own tricks.
Abound by Marriott Vacations – Unparalleled Point Flexibility
The Marriott Vacation Club works with several other timeshare programs, including the Sheraton Vacation Club and Westin Vacation Club. These partner clubs are linked through Abound by Marriott Vacations: Marriott’s internal vacation exchange program.
You’re automatically enrolled in Abound if you have a points-based Marriott timeshare. Certain deeded weeks are also eligible for Abound enrollment. However, Marriott will not convert weeks purchased on the resale market and no longer sells weeks directly. As a result, Abound is largely a perk for points-based timeshare owners.
With Abound, you can book stays at 90+ resorts across the Marriott, Westin, Sheraton, and Ritz-Carlton brands. You can also exchange points for hotel stays at Marriott network properties and other experiences, such as cruises and tours, through the owner’s portal. The ability to use points at various properties worldwide offers unparalleled vacation flexibility, so definitely take advantage of this!
Banking and Borrowing Points
A common feature of vacation clubs is the ability to bank points from one year to the next or borrow points from future years. This allows you to take longer, more memorable vacations by skipping some usage years. The Marriott Vacation Club is no exception. However, your ability to do so is based on your membership level.
Your membership level is determined by your points balance, and resale points count toward it. Most Marriott Vacation Club owners can bank unused points for up to six months before the end of the use year, when your points refresh. Members with more than 7,000 points may bank their unused points four months before the end of the use year, while members with over 15,000 points may do so up to two months before the end of the use year.
Most members must use their banked points by the following year. Timeshare owners with 10,000 or more Marriott Vacation Club points receive an additional half-year to use their banked points. Owners with 15,000 points may do so get a total of two years.
Split-Weeks
If you own a deeded week, you can split your timeshare into multiple shorter trips: one for three nights, and another for four. This provides a bit more flexibility in selecting dates, though not as many as you’d get via points.
Vacation Exchange
Both deeded weeks and points-based timeshares are eligible for exchange through Interval International. This allows you to exchange your timeshare for points redeemable for stays at countless other resorts or for experiences like cruises and guided tours. This makes even fixed-week timeshare ownership flexible, as you aren’t limited to Marriott-affiliated properties.
Deeded weeks have a hidden advantage when it comes to vacation exchange programs, though how strong that advantage is depends on the specifics of your timeshare. If you have a timeshare in a popular location during a valuable week (like a stay at Marriott’s Mountainside Resort in December), that timeshare will have a better trading value than an equivalent amount of Marriott Vacation Club points.
Booking Windows
To make the most of vacation ownership, you should book as early as possible. If you own a fixed week timeshare, you don’t need to worry. Your annual vacation is automatically booked. Floating week owners can book up to a year in advance. Members with points-based ownership can book up to ten months in advance in most situations, but can book earlier if they’re planning a longer stay or have a higher membership tier.
How Does a Marriott Timeshare Work? – Fees and Prices
Timeshares are a type of real estate, with all the associated benefits and drawbacks. If you’ve ever purchased a house, you know that real estate transactions involve a lot of fees, including taxes and closing costs. Here’s what to expect when buying that Marriott timeshare.
Buying Retail vs Buying Resale
If you’re purchasing Marriott Vacation Club points directly, you can expect to pay about $24,000 for 1,500 club points. The exact price varies by package. This is the retail value of the timeshare, before any taxes and additional fees.
Purchasing Marriott timeshare points on the resale marketplace is usually much cheaper and offers additional options. For instance, our marketplace has ads offering 1,500 points for as little as $3,000. These prices are set by the seller and may vary. However, you’ll occasionally see timeshares priced as low as $1. However, you are expected to pay certain transaction fees:
- Transfer Fees: Marriott charges a fee for transferring timeshare ownership, approximately $750 per 250 points. There’s a minimum transfer fee of $3,000.
- Owner Education Fee: If this is your first time purchasing MVC points, you must complete an orientation on how the system works. This costs $300. If you already own MVC points, this fee is waived.
- Right of First Refusal (ROTF) Waiver Fee: Timeshare developers may, if they choose, interrupt a resale transaction by invoking the right of first refusal. This allows them to purchase the timeshare at the agreed-upon price set by a third party. By paying this $95 fee, you’re asking Marriott to waive that option.
There are also standard real estate fees, such as closing costs (typically a percentage of the timeshare’s sticker price) and title fees. Remember to account for these fees when making a purchase!
Annual Fees
Once you own the timeshare, you’re responsible for paying real estate taxes and upkeep. The Marriott Vacation Club bundles these into an annual maintenance fee that covers taxes, resort operations, property management, and program costs. Club dues also cover housekeeping and access to Interval International. Developers typically increase these annual fees each year as part of property upgrades. You’re required to pay annual maintenance fees for Marriott timeshare ownership, regardless of how much you travel in a given year.
Before purchasing a timeshare, it’s important to feel confident about the ongoing annual maintenance fees. These fees help maintain the quality of the resorts, amenities, and overall experience owners enjoy year after year. Marriott ownership is designed for long-term vacation planners, so taking a moment to evaluate how this fits into your current and future financial plans can help ensure it’s right for you. If the long-term commitment aligns with your lifestyle and goals, a Marriott timeshare can be a great way to enjoy consistent, high-quality vacations.
How Does a Marriott Timeshare Work? – Destinations and Accommodations
There are Marriott Vacation Club resorts worldwide, including in Australia, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe. These resorts are in prime locations, offer beautiful views, and provide easy access to local attractions. If there’s somewhere you want to go, chances are there’s a Marriott Vacation Club property nearby. The vacation possibilities are endless!
However, there is some variation in the types of hotels Marriott offers, so it’s important to understand your vacation options. Remember: all Marriott Vacation Club memberships include enrollment in Interval International, allowing you to exchange your timeshare for stays at other properties. If you’re purchasing points, your Marriott timeshare can also be used to book stays at non-timeshare properties. So if you decide that annual trip to Myrtle Beach isn’t the dream vacation it once was, you’ve got plenty of options.
Villa Resorts
Villa Resorts are the bread and butter of every timeshare program, and the Marriott Vacation Club is no exception. The vast majority of properties Marriott Vacation Club offers are villa resorts, a key advantage of timeshares over traditional hotels.
A villa is a large hotel suite, often featuring multiple bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, full baths, and a washer and dryer. Developers design villas to feel like luxury apartments, rather than the liminal spaces many hotel rooms resemble. While you’re not required to use your valuable vacation time lounging in your room, timeshares make that a valid option. They’re also ideal for large groups, with many villas accommodating up to six people.
The City Collection
Urban destinations operate differently from villa resorts. While there are many villa resorts in and near major cities, some urban properties lack the space for a sprawling villa. These properties are similar to traditional hotels, providing elevated accommodations in a smaller footprint. However, we’d be doing these hotels a disservice if we focused just on the room size.
Hotels in Marriott Vacation Club Pulse is the brand’s city collection. As the name implies, these hotels are located in the heart of major cities, like New York and Boston. Some, like the Custom House in Boston, are even located in historic buildings.
The main draw of these city properties is their location. They let you use your Marriott Vacation Club ownership to stay within steps of the city center, and are often more affordable than other nearby accommodations.
Find the Right Marriott Timeshare with Timeshares Only
Interested in Marriott Vacation Club ownership? Let us help! Timeshares Only is one of the most trusted names in the vacation ownership industry and is a proud member of ARDA. Our marketplace offers vacation points and deeded weeks from a variety of clubs, including Marriott, making it easy to find a vacation option that works for you.
Not ready to buy? No problem. Our marketplace offers timeshare rentals so you can experience the luxury of vacation ownership without the commitment.
Curious to learn more? Browse our resale marketplace and find your dream vacation today!
Sell Your Timeshare With Us!
Timeshare not working out? Don’t let a foreclosure ruin your credit. Let us help you sell or rent out your timeshare. We’ve got decades of experience helping timeshare owners like you responsibly exit their contracts. Call us at 1-800-610-2734, or email us at [email protected] to learn more!
