Marriot vacation club

[MilkMonster]

Just read shri's post and agree, if you decide to buy, be informed and prepared to read all the fine print. i think when my in laws bought 7 years ago, the terms were much much better back then. just wanted to give feedback that we have enjoyed marriot timeshare but we ourselves don't own one so can't offer too much detail.

[crystal88]

We attended as my husband wants to listen to their offer, i got $500 sogo voucher. We end up buying as my husband really wanted to have that. We regularly travel for vacation so it's worth it and we're happy with it. Once you signed up, they give you another $500 dining voucher as thank you. If you give referral names, they give you another $1,000 dining voucher. Of course, this amount is so small compared to what you have paid. But for us, it's also an investment.

[solidstars]

we just told them we weren't interested. and that actually they told us we can try a one year 'deal' and see if we liked it, but i'm hugely pregnant (due march) so we're like 'we won't be doing any travelling at ALL in that one year. they weren't THAT pushy and was like, 'oh well if you want to just contact us'.

and that was 2 weeks ago and i haven't received any follow up calls or pestering calls or emails since then...

to be quite honest, had we the extra money i would have been interested too, the packages sound quite good (agree with milkmonster)

[aussiegal]

I think they work out who to be 'pushy' with and who is not in the market at all for their deals and is only interested in the free gifts.

I actually like Marriott but am just not interested in being tied to staying with them when we holiday so it's not something for us right now.

Their Phuket property is really lovely (probably one of their best worldwide) and as Shri pointed out, they would be trying to get you to stay there as once you are on holiday you are more relaxed and more likely to say yes.

[fee]

we went to a sales seminar and the offer sounded good IF you do actually take regular holidays in 4+ star hotels/resorts. As I am lucky if I can convince hubby to take a week off for holiday each year we decided it was not for us. The were very convincing in their presentation but they respected our 'no' and we have not heard from them since. We got a free night at the Mariott HK.

[Ai li]

Thank you very much for everyone input :-D

We went to the seminar yesterday. 'Unfortunately' we signed the package from them ;P

Just like to share how is our package like.

1) HK$180 for 20,000 club points. Points are issue to us yearly. This year we will get 20,000 points, and next year another 20,000 points...until year 2056. Oh yes, installment is available.

2)with the club points, we are able to trade the stay with Marriot or Marriot chains at a very decent deal. eg:

Marriot's Phuket Beach Club (2 bedrooms) can be trade with 2300 points (Mon- Thu) or 4100 points (Fri - Sat) 3000 Sunday during non-peak season. Their super peak seasons can be triple the points. (Jan 1-8, Jan 23-39, Dec25-31)

In addition, we have to pay USD2412 for yearly maintainance fee. They called it club dues.

Oh yes, we obtained the gifted that promised. (HK$500 voucher + HK500 mini octopus card).

I found that they are not ' as pushy as' I thought it would be. Maybe the Sale person that sold to us is rather new, he has just joines Marriot for 2 weeks

:Butbut, in order to enjoy so called a 'special deal' we must sign the contract on the same day in order to have free Rewards points (not club points that I mentioned above).

They gave us 20,000.00 Rewards points which is enough for 5 days stay with Ritz Carlton Singapore (according to Sales manager, Marriot has bought over Ritz Carlton Singapore), as I was disappointed Singapore hotels were not listed on the list (booklet). That means, we cant use club point to trade Marriot or Ritz Carlton while we are in Singapore, but we can use Reward points to trade the stay with Ritz Singapore.

I think I am confusing the readers here. The Marriot vacation club gives out 2 type of points.

a) Club points (this is what we paid for, HK$180K for 20,000.00 points)
b) Rewards Points (given free when buying the club points).

What is the different?
Club points only can be used on their listed hotels from the booklet that they gave us. They are mostly Marriot hotels or resorts and Renaissance hotels.

Rewards points can be used any hotel that affiliated with Marriot. (have to go to the website to see what are the hotels available for Rewards points).

Club points can be converted into Reward points. 1 club point = 5 reward points. Convertion fee applies. (I think under USD200 dollar for convertion fee)

If anyone likes to know more about it, Pls feel free to ask me.

[kashismum]

Just want to add that we have not been hassled at all. We sat through the 2 hour sales pitch and walked away - have never heard from them since.
the dealbreaker for us was that we had to sign on that day, or the offer was withdrawn.

[MilkMonster]

Thanks for the details Ai Li!