Maxing Marriott
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Did You Get the Email? The Deadline to Bank Club Points Has Been Extended for Chairman Owners
Marriott's Ko'Olina Beach Club, Oahu, Hawaii Recently I received an email from Marriott Vacation Club announcing that the Banking points deadline had been extended 2 more months for Chairman level owners. That is great news, as I have 1900 Club Points for 2023...
Finally – Westin Frenchman’s Reef In St. Thomas, USVI Has a Firm Opening Date! What Does It Mean for Marriott Owners?
Westin's Frenchman's Reef, St. Thomas, USVI Nine months ago I posted about being able to reserve the new Westin Frenchman’s Reef starting in mid-February 2023. It didn’t happen. Then Marriott said it would be early May. It didn’t happen. Then Marriott said...
Marriott Destination Escapes for July — Not Many Options, But Deep Discounts Are Available!!
Marriott's Grand Chateau, Las Vegas, NV Destination Escapes for July 2023 have been posted. Not many options, but the discounts are sweet!!! As for the options -- only Desert Springs Villas I in Palm Desert, CA and Grand Chateau in Las Vegas are currently available...
Adding Guests To Your Abound Reservation Has Changed – Here’s What You Need to Know
Marriott's Ko' Olina Beach Resort, Oahu, HI When you make your reservation for your timeshare, if you’re like me, you just enter in "1 Guest" on your search screen to get all potential availabilities of villa types at the resort you are looking at going to. Then you,...
HOT TIP!! How To Stay At Westin St. John When There Is No Availability!!
Westin St. John, USVI Anyone who follows me knows that the Westin St. John has been on my short list for a few years. It is extremely hard to trade points and stay there because the Owners are all Deeded Owners. Unless they deposit their weeks into Abound, there...
Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove in St. Thomas – You’ve Arrived! What to Expect!
Marriott's Frenchman's Cover, St. Thomas, USVI If you are staying in St. Thomas, you are most likely arriving at the airport. For me, that means I’ve just spent 8-10 hours on flights – not counting layovers – and I’m tired. This resort doesn’t have a large lobby...
All Things St. Thomas – You’ve Got Your Marriott Reservation, What to do BEFORE You Arrive!!!
Marriott's Frenchman's Cove, St. Thomas, USVI So you’ve got your reservation! There are some things you can do BEFORE you arrive to help ensure you have a fantastic experience. About 2 weeks before you arrive, I recommend you call the resort and request the...
New Marriott Destination Escapes Are Out – How Does a 72% Discount Sound???
Marriott's Canyon Villas, Phoenix, Arizona It’s the end of the month, and there are new Destination Escape locations announced. Lots of options – some REALLY good, some not so good. Let me spell it out for you. BEST DEAL is Marriott’s Canyon Villas in Phoenix,...
Marriott Owner Events Update — The Three Top BEST Value of NEW Events are ALL in Hilton Head!!
Marriott's Barony Beach, Hilton Head, SC There are lots of new Owner Events available, and just like every update, there are some GREAT deals, and there are some not-so-good. For this post, I'm going to focus on the best value NEW Owner Events that are now available....
Destination Escapes For April Are Posted – Vegas is a Great Deal, But Mountainside Skiing Has My Vote!!!
Marriott's Mountainside, Park City, Utah Only three resorts are listed on Destination Escapes for April, Fairway Villas in New Jersey, Grand Chateau in Vegas, and Mountainside in Park City, UT. Some are AMAZING and some options DO NOT DO, as you would use more...
Most Popular Time Share Resorts to Rent — And No Surprise — Marriott Is At the Top of the List!!
Marriott's Aruba Surf Club, Aruba It’s that time of year again! RedWeek’s Top 25 Timeshare Rental Resorts List is here. This always-anticipated list is based on the volume of rental bookings and inquiries sent to owners renting their units through RedWeek --...
A New Marriott Chairman’s Only Tour and It’s Incredible In EVERY Way!!!
Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent It’s been just over a year since I posted about Chairman Only Tours. If you aren’t familiar with them, let me remind you of what they are. These tours are designed only for Chairman level owners, including Vistana...
Destination Escapes for March Have Posted — Tahoe Anyone?
Marriott's Timber Lodge, South Tahoe, CA This year, Tahoe has received record snow fall. Great for outdoor enthusiasts. Great for water levels. And what that means is that if you travel there in March, you possibly might still have snow on the ground -- or not. In any...
Abound Owner Events — February 2, 2023
Grand Chateau, Las Vegas, NV Concerts are the major types of events added for Owner Events during January 2023. Five of the eight NEW Owner Events added were concerts -- Jimmy Buffett in Vegas, (more about this is following), Carrie Underwood in Vegas, Keith Urban in...
Back to the Basics — Abound, By Marriott – What IS Abound?
Westin Kierland Resort and Spa -- Scottsdale, AZ Abound, by Marriott became available in November 2022, and 2 months later, there are still questions about how it affects our timeshare ownerships – both for MVC Owners and Vistana Owners. Part of the...
Just When You Didn’t Think It Could Get Worse!!
Both MVC and Vistana Websites are giving owners BIG problems!! I get it! You try and combine two complicated systems and you're going to run into problems. Launching Abound, by Marriott "hit a climax of problems" the first week of August when Marriott tried to rollout...
Marriott Vacation Club Owner Events — January 2, 2023
Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, South Beach, FL New Owner Events have been added to the growing list of options -- including concerts, wine & dine functions, Broadway plays, dophin swims, museum tours -- you get the idea. There are lots of various options for Owners...
Differences in Sheraton/Westin Resort Reservation Windows You Might Not Be Aware Of!
Sheraton Desert Oasis, Scottsdale, AZ If you're like me, these recent snow, cold, wet, winter storms has me thinking about warmer weather and sunshine. My trips for 2023 have all been arranged (I'm one of THOSE owners that plans a year or more in advance). If you are...
Marriott Vacation Club Destination Escapes for January and February — FINALLY!!! How Does 80% Discount Sound??
Marriott's Grand Chateau, Las Vegas, NV Destination Escapes were posted this week, and there are some KILLER deals!!! Before I get to the details, let me remind you that these typically go fast. Having said that, I recommend only using HOLDING points to reserve...
Don’t You Wish Marriott Could Tell Owners Where There Is Availability, Instead of Owners Spending Time Trying to Find Them???
Westin St. John, USVI It's been 2 weeks since Abound by Marriott became available to Marriott and Vistana Owners. There was a flurry of reservations going on that first day grabbing up the prestine resorts that were initially available. Even the above resort Westin...
And We Have a New #1 Marriott Owner Event For BEST Value — Steak Out! Las Vegas!!!
Marriott's Grand Chateau, Las Vegas, NV Each month I review all the Owner Events for Abound/Marriott Owners and create a list showing them in order of VALUE for your Club Points. For many months, the BEST value for Owner Events has been "Culinary Weekend Tour" in...
An Early Christmas Present!! Abound by Marriott Is Finally HERE!!!!
Abound By Marriott It's finally here! You can now reserve Vistana Resorts using Club Points. And it's Easy Smeazy!! Here's what I know so far! First, there are quite a few availabilities for Westin and Sheraton resorts, but they are going very fast. And yes, even the...
The Marriott Vacation Website Problems Continue!!
And It Continues . . . . . I consider myself a patient person. Driving behind someone who is well under the speed limit doesn't get my heart pumping. Standing in line to purchase something is no big deal. Even the MONTHS of the MVC website "working, now it's not, now...
Top RedWeek Time Share Resorts for 2022 — How Many Are Marriott??
Marriott's Aruba Surf Club RedWeek is the world's largest marketplace for timeshare owners to rent or sell their properties -- ALL timeshares -- not just Marriott Vacation Club. So when Redweek provides the list for "Top Resorts for 2022", which lists the resorts that...
The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya — Conflicting Announcements of When It Opens!
St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya It was about a year ago that I first posted about this resort opening in December 2022. On the Marriott website, it states the opening will be in February 2023. But no reservations can be made until April 30, 2023 -- and these...
Marriott’s Destination Escapes For December Are Out! TWO Resorts — One is a GREAT Deal, the Other is NOT!
Marriott's Monarch at Sea Pines, Hilton Head, SC December Destination Escapes are now available, and is a great way to use expiring points -- including Holding Points. You have two resorts for options: Grand Chateau in Las Vegas and Monarch at Sea Pines in Hilton...
Marriott Vacation Club Owner Events – as of Nov 2, 2022
Cherry Blossoms, Washington DC This year, the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC was a popular Owner Event -- and Marriott brought it back again for next year! And let me tell you, this is a GREAT DEAL!!! It takes only 1500 Club Points, and is held during peak season of...
Partnership Discounts You Have As Marriott Owners! And One You Think You Have — NOT!
Marriott's Ko 'Olina Beach Resort, Oahu, Hawaii Did you know that there are a number of discounts you qualify for, just by being owners of Marriott Vacation Club? Currently, when dealing with Partner Offers, there are four options. TravelCar SAVE ON AIRPORT PARKING...
Using HALF Your Marriott Club Points to Go on a Cruise! I’ll Show You How!!
Celebrity Cruise on Solstice Ship -- 9 Night Ultimate Alaska Cruise I’ve been talking a lot about Cruise Escapes lately. The VALUE for your Club Points isn’t the best, but oh, do they look AMAZING! Let’s talk more about Cruising – and let me show you how...
A Major Benefit of Bonvoy Points Is Going Away! And I’m Not a Fan!!!
Marriott titles the latest change to Bonvoy Points as "Change Is in the Air", and I'm not happy about it! Today the email went out to Marriott Bonvoy Members. Here is what Marriott is saying. That's a big hit to the value of Bonvoy Points when converting to airline...
There’s a “Glitch” in the Cruise Escapes Website – How to Find the Correct Information!
Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas Cruise Ship I’ve been talking a lot about Cruise Escapes this week. For some of you who want to check out the options, you can go directly to the website: Marriott Cruise Escapes But be aware of a current glitch in the...
Cruise Escapes – What Are the Best Deals Available As of October 2022?
Mazatlan A few days ago I posted about the Cruise Escapes – today you get the BEST options in terms of VALUE for your Club Points. Related: Let's Talk About Cruise Escapes As I mentioned before, the average value for Cruise Escapes is 54 cents per Club Point. But...
Let’s Talk About Cruise Escapes – Marriott Explorer Collection
Cabo San Lucas Marriott Owners know they can use Club Points for cruises. But did you know one of your options in using Club Points on cruises is Cruise Escapes? When you go to the Explorer Collection on the MVC website, you can see 3 options – Owner Cruises, Ocean...
MVC OceanWatch Villas at Grand Dunes, Myrtle Beach — No Worries About Hurricane Ian Damage!!!
MVC OceanWatch Villas at Grand Dunes, Myrtle Beach, CA When we saw that hurricane Ian was hitting Myrtle Beach as a Category I exactly a week before we were to arrive, we were somewhat concerned of what damage it would cause. Nothing like the damage Ian caused in...
Just Arrived — Marriott’s Ocean Watch Villas at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!
Marriott's Ocean Watch Villas at Myrtle Beach I just arrived at Myrtle Beach, and as with lots of Marriott Owners are curious as to how this resort handled hurricane Ian. The city is claiming $2.7 million dollars in damage, and does NOT include the damage to the...
Destination Escapes for November Have Posted — I Give You All the Best Options!!
Marriott's Timber Lodge, South Tahoe, CA Anyone who follows me knows that Destinations Escapes is my FAVORITE Owner program -- you can usually truly MAX your points. Unfortunately, with the increase in travel with owners trying to use up the extra Club Points held...
‘Tis the Season of Getting Some Hard-to-Get Reservations!!
Marriott's Maui Ocean Club Marriott's Ocean Club in Maui is one of the harder properties to reserve because of it's popularity. Yes, you can reserve this 12 and 13 months out, but reserving it within 8-10 months is not likely -- unless it is the "season" of hard to...
Marriott Vacation Club Owner Events – as of Sept. 30, 2022
Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance, Marriott Owner Event -- Feb 25, 2023 It’s another month and time to give you the ins and outs of current Marriott Vacation Club Owner Events. Last month (August 2022) there were tons of new Owner Events. This month, not so many. In...
Marriott Vacation Club’s Culinary Tours — Which Tours Have the Best Value???
Villa Shiatti Hotel, Castiglion, Florentino, Tuscany A few days ago I explained all about Culinary Tours – something a lot of Marriott Owners don’t know much about. They are luxury, private experiences that cost a pretty “point”, but typically have a higher...
Have You Heard of Culinary Tours for Marriott Vacation Club Owners?
A Christmas Markets Holiday in Venice, Northern Italy & Austria Tour by Edible Destinations You have probably heard of Vacation Tours, sometimes referred to as Collette Tours, that you can reserve using Club Points through the Explorer Collection. I’ve...
Major Changes to the Marriott Brilliant American Express Credit Card!!
St. Regis Bora Bora Resort With the new Elite Night Award awarded with the Marriott Brilliant American Express credit card, you could stay at the St. Regix Bora Bora Resort resort for one night for “free” – something you couldn’t have done before! This week, Marriott...
Another Marriott Vacation Club Website Enhancement — Get Your “Ducks In a Row” Before Saturday!
When logging onto the MVC website, you will be met with this new notice: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________...
Let’s Talk Collette Tours – Marriott Vacation Club Explorer Collection!
Zermatt, Switzerland -- Exploring the Alpine Countries – Austria, Germany, and Switzerland Collette Tour How about hiking the valleys surrounding the Matterhorn, pictured above, in the summer? So many adventures are available through Collette Tours using Club Points....
Disney Resorts Are Available Through Interval International!
Disney's Old Key West Resort, Orlando, FL It's been 9 months since Disney moved to the Interval International program. Availabilities have been a hit and miss -- never have I seen the most popular Disney properties available on II. However, the last few months there...
Maxing Marriott Ownership 101 – Should You Enroll Your Week so You Can Participate in Abound?
Westin Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico With Abound on the horizon, I’ve been getting questions from Marriott Weeks Owners on whether they will be included in the Abound program. The basics aren’t difficult to understand, and I’ll help you out on that. But the...
More Marriott Destination Escapes for October, and These Are Something to Celebrate!!!
Marriott's Grande Vista, Orlando, FL More Marriott Vacation Club resorts have been added to Destination Escapes for October and EVERY SINGLE ONE gives you at least a 20% discount and many are around 50%!!! This is my FAVORITE way to use Holding Points or points that...
Marriott Has a New Promotion for Bonus Bonvoy Points!!!
Coronado Island Marriott Beach Resort and Spa, California Starting now, you can register for the latest promotion announced by Marriott to earn bonus Bonvoy points when staying at various hotels throughout the world. Registration began September 7, 2022, and...
Marriott’s Destination Escapes for October — Not Much To Choose From!
Shadow Ridge -- Enclaves Destination Escapes for October are "slim pickings" with only ONE resort listed, and it really isn't that great of deal. Shadow Ridge -- Enclaves in Palm Desert, CA was listed for September Destination Escapes, and is also available in October...
Marriott’s Travel Insurance – Is This Something Abound Owners Should Get?
Traveler's Nightmare Before I get into my analysis of Travel Insurance, I want to explain my reference to Abound Owners from here on out. Regarding the email Marriott Owners received which stated The Marriott Vacation Club Destinations® Exchange Program is now...
Marriott Vacation Club Owner Events – as of August 31, 2022
Holiday Culinary and Show Experience -- Myrtle Beach, SC Marriott has been very busy – there are 15 new Owner Events!!! Yippee!!! – get ready to have some fun! Some of the events are repeats from last year – Honda Classic Tournament, Radio City Rockettes, and...
The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef in St. Thomas, USVI is Now Taking Reservations!!!
Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman's Reef, St. Thomas, USVI We’ve known the Westin Resort at Frenchman’s Reef in St. Thomas, USVI was supposed to be opening soon. Since the hurricane of 2017, this property has been closed, gone through a name change –...
Should You Wait for Abound, by Marriott Vacations to Make Your Reservations for 2023?
Sheraton Kauai Resort Villas I’ve heard from many Marriott Owners and some Vistana Owners this week about the Abound program -- both excitement and anticipation, confusion and many questions. I’ll admit, I was excited to finally see the Club Points required for the...
Abound, by Marriott Vacations – What Happens Now?
Westin Kaanapali Ocean Villas Maui There’s a lot of chatter on social media amongst owners – both Marriott and Vistana – about Abound, by Marriott Vacations, and rightly so. This transition affects lots of owners who have spent lots of money towards building memories...
Abound, by Marriott Vacations — You Can’t Reserve Vistana Resorts Yet, But You Can See How Many Points It Will Take!!
Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort As I explained yesterday, the MVC website has been updated -- more user friendly for sure. What appears to be the same, but actually isn't are the Points Charts. The new Vistana properties that will be available to reserve using Club...
Abound, by Marriott Vacations — We’re Getting Closer to What Marriott Has Been Promising!!!
Westin St. John We’ve been told for months now that things are progressing towards the new Abound by Marriott Vacations without any visible signs of changes being made to Marriott Owners. Today, we can SEE a difference on the MVC Website. Though we as owners still...
Marriott Vacations Explorer Collection – Vacation Tours!
Discover Iceland's Magical Northern Lights, Vacation Tours, Explorer Collection I’ve been pleasantly surprised as I’ve begun my research on Vacation Tours with the value of this option. No, you won’t get $1.50 per point value that many of the owner reservations...
Marriott Vacation Club Owners — Important Dates Are Coming Up – Get Them In Your Calendar!
Marriott's Maui Ocean Club, Hawaii If you’re like me “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” is my life motto. If it isn’t in my calendar (or in the front of the refrigerator) I will miss it or not use it. So all Owners, GET THESE DATES IN YOUR CALENDAR!! I heard from some...
Making Your Marriott Vacation With the Kids EPIC!!
Marriott's Newport Coast Villas Each year we take our entire family to Newport Coast Villas and have an AMAZING time together. It truly is the kids' favorite week of the year! This year we packed so many fun activities into each day. Here are some ideas for you to...
Have You Used the Nifty Google Travel Tool When Planning Your Marriott Vacation?
Marriott's San Francisco Pulse Many questions asked by Marriott Owners on social media are things like “What restaurants do you recommend when staying at Grande Vista?” Or “I’m headed to Barony Beach. What is nearby – can I walk to the grocery store,...
Maxing Marriott Ownership 101 – More Ways to Save Club Points When Planning your Marriott Vacation!
Marriott's OceanWatch at Grand Dunes, Myrtle Beach, SC, Ocean Front View About a week ago, I walked you through the process of how to save over 1000 Club Points by selecting your week strategically. Dates to Reserve to Get MAX Value Another TIP to help you save Club...
Traveling With Small Children –Tips That Will Ensure They LOVE the Trip!
What You Don't Want to Happen! We just returned from a trip to Newport Coast Villas with our extended family – all 25 of them. There were LOTS of children. We needed four high chairs, and four pack-n-plays, and 10 children were 6 years old and under! Preparation was...
Abound Update — “Most of the Significant Work Is Complete”?
Friday the MVC website came online after being down since 12:30 am EST Monday morning. Owners are able to make reservations and access their information as before on the website. And there-in lies the problem -- AS BEFORE. The website has the same layout, same...
Maxing Marriott Ownership 101 – Points Owners – Dates to Reserve and Get MAX Value!
Marriott's OceanWatch, Myrtle Beach, SC When reserving your vacation using Club Points, your strategy is very different than when reserving your week. When using your week, you want to reserve when the points required are the HIGHEST to get max value. Related:...
Marriott Vacation Club Explorer Collection — Help Me Help You!!!
Marriott's Explorer Collection -- Ocean Cruises Maxing Marriott wants to know what your experiences and impressions are regarding the Marriott Vacation Club Explorer Collection. There are tons of options in the collection -- everything from Resort Credit to Chairman...
Abound Launch Update!! — Updated 7:13 am PST on 8/3/2022
Latest update: Another day, another day with the website being down. This is latest message I received from Marriott. I'll keep you updated as I receive info. Owners are still unable to log on to the Owner website because of an issue we are running in to with one of...
Marriott Vacation Club Destination Escapes for September 2022!!
Marriott's Shadow Ridge -- Enclaves, Palm Desert, CA Destination Escapes posted for September reservations. Although Destination Escapes CAN be the very best value for your Club Points, don’t be fooled that EVERY Destination Escapes option is a great deal....
Marriott Owners, Be Prepared Before Monday!
Marriott Vacation Club Owner Events – As of July 27, 2022
Marriott's Grand Chateau, Las Vegas, NV Before I get into the FIVE new Owner Events that have been added, I wanted to give a shout-out to Marriott for “upping” the Owner Event website. Now you can sort the events by date, or my favorite – by Club Points required. ...
Maxing Marriott Ownership 101 – Weeks Owners – Lock-Off Options and Split Weeks
Marriott's Grande Vista, Orlando, FL Now that you know WHEN to go when reserving your week at your home resort to MAX your ownership value, there’s really only one more concept for Deeded Week Owners to be aware of – I refer to this process as your “villa options”....
Maxing Marriott Ownership 101 – Weeks Owners – What Dates to Reserve at Your Home Resort to Get MAX Value!
Marriott's Shadow Ridge -- The Villages When reserving their home resort, many owners check the Seasonal Calendar for the resort to ensure they make plans within the dates allowed for their season. They also check their personal schedule for conflicts, and then make...
Be Aware of This Marriott Glitch When Checking for Availability on the Marriott.com Website
A New Marriott Hotel -- Courtyard/Springhill Suites Myrtle Beach Oceanfront I usually focus on Marriott Owner issues, but when something dealing with Marriott hotels or Bonvoy Points that could pertain to Marriott Owners comes up, I’m here to notify you. And...
Mistakes Marriott Vacation Owners Often Make When Reserving Their Deeded Week!
Marriott's Newport Coast Villas, Newport Coast, CA Recently I was trying to reserve our home resort at Newport Coast Villas for July 2023. That is the busiest and most popular month to travel to that resort, so getting the reservation during that month isn't "easy...
Maxing Marriott Ownership 101 — Back to the Basics!
Marriott's St. Kitt's Beach Resort A common question I get from Marriott owners is “What’s the most important thing I need to do to get the Maximum value and enjoyment out of my ownership?” You’d think it would depend on individual questions – where do you like...
Ritz-Carlton Wins Again — Top Luxury Brand Hotel!! A Run-Down on Which Ritz-Carlton Club Resorts You Can Use Club Points On!!
Ritz-Carlton Club, St. Thomas Sometimes I think we take for granted the AMAZING resorts we have access to as Marriott Vacation Club Owners! And having access to Ritz-Carlton Club resorts to reserve with Club Points -- well it doesn't get any better than that. And I'm...
Long Wait Times on the Phone With Marriott Vacation Club? Here’s Two Tips to Help You!
Marriott's Grand Chateau, Las Vegas, NV With Abound looming only a couple of weeks away, the MVC website has been frustrating for some Owners as they try and make reservations or manage their account online. Tasks that owners used to do online with no problem, now...
Marriott Homes and Villas — Marriott Owners Can Reserve These, But You Can’t Use Club Points!
La Jolla Mesa, Homes & Villas by Marriott International Homes & Villas is NOT part of the MVC Explorer Collection. You CANNOT use Club Points to reserve these properties. So why am I including this option to make reservations for Marriott Owners? Simple -- if...
Marriott Vacation Club Explorer Collection — Vacation Homes
Water Villa With Pool at Joali, Maldives -- Villas of Distinction (Vacation Homes) How about staying here using Club Points? It's private. It's luxurious. And it's an option with Vacation Homes. Check out the inside below. Vacation Homes and Villas of Distinction are...
Marriott Vacation Club Explorer Collection — Hotels & Luxury Residences
St. Regis Bermuda, St. George, Bermuda -- A hotel you can use Club Points to stay at! Marriott Owners have so many options when it comes to using your Club Points -- some of them are great options, some of them not-so-good. And when looking at Hotels & Luxury...
More Marriott Vacation Club Destination Escapes Options for August!
Marriott Vacation Club at Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, Australia It's really unusual to have resorts added to Destination Escapes more than once a month -- at least it has been since COVID. Marriott usually posts resorts you can use the Destination...
Another Resort Was Added to Destination Escapes for August, and It’s INTERNATIONAL!!!
Marriott's Mai Khao Beach -- Phuket, Thailand Since before COVID, Marriott has never had an international resort as an option for Destination Escapes. And that makes sense, considering the added expense and planning needed to get to an international destination in a...
Changes Coming to the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and This First Year Could Be Sweet!!
Le Meridian Maldives Resort & Spa My go-to credit card for everything is usually the American Express Bonvoy Brilliant card. It has a hefty fee of $450 a year, but you get up to $300 credited on your statement for Marriott purchases -- room charges and even...
Everything You Need to Know About Marriott Vacation Club Bands!
Marriott Vacation Club Bands I'm here in Newport Coast Villas this week, and I'm seeing more of these bands on owners than ever before. And I understand why. I LOVE these things! We only have 4 bands ourselves (I'm thinking of getting more). We are here with my...
Abound By Marriott! What To Look Forward To!
Westin Lagunamar Cancun There's lots of anticipation and buzz going on among owners of Marriott Vacation Club, Sheraton Vacation Club and Westin Vacation Club about the new Abound by Marriott announcement. Some are nervous that resorts they have always been able to...
Destination Escapes for August Have Posted!
Marriott's Grand Chateau, Las Vegas, NV BEST value for your Destination Points is usually Destination Escapes, which are posted at the beginning of each month. It is more than halfway through June, and Destination Escapes for August have just posted. What that tells...
Introducing “Abound” by Marriott — The Transition of Marriott Vacation Club is Getting Closer!!
Abound by Marriott Vacations The public announcement of Abound by Marriott Vacations (“Abound”) came out yesterday. Nothing specific about when -- "this summer" is what we are told. According to the article, “We are incredibly excited to debut Abound by Marriott...
Marriott’s Frenchman’s Reef on Track for Fall Reopening, With Some Changes
Marriott's Frenchman's Reef, St. Thomas, USVI It's official -- the above pictured resort has been renamed to “The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef”. And the next-door Morningstar Resort is now named “The Seaborn at Frenchman’s Reef, Autograph...
If Your Marriott Vacation Club Ownership is in a Trust, You Need to Read This!!
Marriott's Canyon Villas at Canyon Ridge, Phoenix, AZ I've heard from a number of MVC Owners that they're still having issues with the MVC website. We know that it is from updates preparing for the additional resorts that will soon be added. Personally, I haven't had...
A Marriott Vacation Club in Puerto Vallarta?? How About London? I’ll Tell You Why I Think They’re On the Horizon!
Westin Puerto Vallarta I've already told you in a recent post the new resorts that Marriott Owners will be able to use reserve using Destination Points within the next month: Additional 23 Resorts Added to MVC . If that isn't exciting enough, I have discovered even...
Marriott’s Streamside — Helpful Tips and Information to Help You LOVE Your Trip There!
Marriott's Streamside at Vail, CO I'm going to be honest, I had somewhat low expectations of Marriott Streamside when I arrived. I saw a 2-bedroom villa available for 5 nights for 375 Destination Points in early June -- I couldn't NOT try it out. I have read lots of...
Soon MVC Owners Will Have Access to 96 Resorts – Adding 23 Sheraton & Westin Resorts to MVC Resorts!!!
The Westin St. John Resort Villas The time is soon approaching when Marriott Owners will see more resort options when making their travel plans. Depending on who you talk to, it will happen sometime between June 20th and July 1st -- and that might not be correct....
Getting Settled in at Marriott’s Streamside in Vail — What to Expect When You Arrive!!
Marriott's Streamside, Vail, CO Checking in is calm and quiet. I never saw anyone waiting to be helped when I was in the lobby on various days -- one of the advantages of staying in a smaller resort. I arrived at 4:00, and my villa was ready. Only took a few minutes...
Marriott’s Streamside in Vail – Best Time to Go, Best Villa Location, Before Arrival Tasks, and Grocery Options
Streamside Front Desk Building Streamside is a MVC Property with three buildings for guests to stay in Vail, CO -- Birch, Douglas, and Evergreen buildings. This is NOT a ski-in/ski-out property, but a shuttle to Vail Village to catch your ski lifts is provided...
MVC Owners Are Trading to More Disney Vacation Club Properties — Is This the Beginning of Better Things to Come?
Disney's Old Key West Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL It's been almost 5 months since trading to Disney Vacation Club resorts through Interval International as MVC Owners became an option. Since then, there have some availabilities for Saratoga Springs Resort, but no...
The Marriott Vacation Club Website — The Good and the Bad!
MVC Crystal Shores, Marco Island, FL When making a reservation at Marco Island today, I noticed a number of subtle changes to the website. Fortunately, it was a good experience, but I still had to call Owner Services to get some things done. Lots of owners are...
A New Marriott All-Inclusive Resort in Cancun — Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun — Opening Later This Year!!
Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun Last year Marriott announced the addition of TWENTY new all-inclusive resorts for their guests to enjoy. Today they announced the addition of another all-inclusive resort, Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, that will be opening later this...
MVC Owners Have Spoken — Where to Eat When Staying at South Lake Tahoe
Marriott's Timber Lodge, South Lake Tahoe, CA According to other MVC Owners input, I have created a list of recommended restaurants to eat at while staying in South Lake Tahoe -- either at Marriott's Grand Residences or Timber Lodge. I've got my own favorites, but...
RUMOR CONFIRMED — You Will No Longer Be Able to Use JW Marriott Pools While Staying At MVC Lakeshore Reserve
JW Marriott Orlando, Grand Lakes Current Pool Area Starting August 1, 2022, guests staying at Marriott's Lakeshore Reserve will no longer be able to use the pools at next door JW Marriott Orlando, Grand Lakes. One of the biggest perks of staying at this resort was not...
Getting Settled in at Marriott’s Timber Lodge, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Marriott Vacation Club Timber Lodge, South Lake Tahoe, CA Checking In I LOVE this resort -- I mean I REALLY LOVE this resort. Not just the property, but Tahoe in general. So we come here 2-3-4 times a year. And over the years, the biggest drawback of the whole...
MVC Timber Lodge, South Lake Tahoe – Best Villa Location, Before Arrival Tasks, Grocery Tips, and Resort Map!!!
Marriott's Timber Lodge, South Lake Tahoe, CA So you’ve got your reservation! There are some things you can do BEFORE you arrive to help ensure you have a fantastic experience. Check to see if any renovations or property closures are in effect. I hear...
Which Marriott Vacation Club Resort in Lake Tahoe Is Best For You?
Ritz-Carlton Club, Lake Tahoe, Truckee Lake Tahoe is one our favorite destinations! And there are 3 MVC properties available to use your Destination Points and make your reservations in the Tahoe area. A question I often get from MVC Owners is, "Which Tahoe resort is...
“Topping Off” Marriott Free Night Awards Can Now Be Done!!
Marriott's Residence Inn Maui Wailea As of today, you can "top off" your free night awards as much as 15,000 Bonvoy points!! There has been lots of chatter about this, and it is finally available!! Let me explain exactly what this new benefit means. If you have a...
MVC Owners Have Spoken — Where To Eat While Staying at Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas!!!
The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove From MVC Owners recommendations, I have compiled a list of favorite restaurants when staying at Newport Coast Villas. The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove was the restaurant with the highest recommendation -- and I totally agree. They serve...
Marriott Newport Coast Villas — La Vista Grill Menu, Shuttle Schedules, and Activities Calendars
Newport Coast Villas, La Vista Grill It's so nice to see more amenities opening up. Everything at this resort is pretty well open and the resort is at full capacity -- when we were there, it was 99% capacity. But with so many activities, and the villas being spread...
Getting Settled In at Marriott Newport Coast Villas
Outside the Lobby at Marriott's Newport Coast Villa Checking in at such a large resort can get chaotic around the 4:00 check-in time -- no matter what day of the week it is. Even with six agents standing behind plexiglass windows all working to check in guests as...
A “Quirky” Trick to Get That Hard-to-Get Reservation When Using Marriott Vacation Club Points!
MVC Frenchman's Cove, St. Thomas Have you ever tried to get a weekend getaway 12 or even 13 months out at a popular destination and there was NO availability?? Or what about trying to reserve a few days during the busy summer months -- the MVC website shows NO...
Avis & Budget Rental Cars for Marriott Vacation Club Owners — Your Options, and What You Shouldn’t Do!
As a Marriott Vacation Club Owner, you get discounts for airport parking, Avis and Budget car rentals, and Hawaiian Airlines. I'm here to help you understand the Avis and Budget car rental options you have as an owner and how to find the BEST deal. There's a good...
Newport Coast Villas – Best Villa Location, Before Arrival Tasks, and Links to Discounts For Grocery Deliveries!
Newport Coast Villas, Newport Coast, CA So you've got your reservation! There are some things you can do BEFORE you arrive to help ensure you have a fantastic experience. Check to see if any renovations or property closures are in effect. I hear frequently from...
I See Availability on Marriott.com! Why Can’t I Reserve That Villa from Marriott Vacation Club??
Marriott's Crystal Shores, Marco Island, Florida Nothing is more frustrating than having your heart set on traveling to an amazing location like Crystal Shores, and finding no availability for when you want to go! And it's especially frustrating when you go to...
Marriott Vacation Club CRUISE ESCAPES!! — A New Way to Use Your Destination Points!
If you are a Marriott Vacation Club owner, you know about Destination Escapes! It's the very BEST way to maximize your Destination Points when going to a MVC Resort or Pulse property. Now Marriott has begun another Escapes program -- Cruise Escapes. It's based on the...
Dynamic Pricing is Here — Check Your Reservations!!
Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Beach, CA Dynamic Pricing for Marriott properties is here. If you have a reservation using Bonvoy Points or paying cash, you need to check your reservations. Hopefully, you made the reservation BEFORE the points and/or cash increased. Or you have...
Staying at MVC Frenchman’s Cove in St. Thomas Is Going to Get Even Better!!
Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort and Spa, St. Thomas, USVI in 2016 This is Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort in 2016. In 2017, hurricane Irma reeked havoc on the entire island, and Frenchman's Reef Resort has been closed ever since. But pictures and...
Have You Heard Of Digital ID’s? It’s Way Cool, And Hopefully Headed Your Way!!
Marriott's Canyon Village -- Phoenix, Arizona, a MVC Property Flying to and from Arizona just got easier. According to "The Points Guy", you can now go through the Pre-Check TSA security line without ever pulling out your wallet to show ID!! It's just the beginning of...
Next Year You Could Go On Safari — And Stay at This New Marriott!!
JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, Kenya (Junior Suite Tent Bedroom) Marriott recently announced the upcoming opening of the JW Marriott Masai Masa Lodge -- upcoming as in 2023. It will be the FIRST luxury safari segment for Marriott International. Just take a look at your...
The Marriott Insider Newsletter — You Should Check It Out And Here’s Why!
Santa Marta Marriott® Resort Playa Dormida The Marriott Insider Newsletter comes out every month. If you're like me, I get a lot of emails with "valuable information" from sources claiming that it is important and warrants my full attention -- NOT! But the Insider...
Inside an Owner Event — Everything You Need to Know!
Marriott Pulse San Diego About every month or so I post about the current Owner Events available to MVC Owners. They range in points from only 600 Destination Points to 4200 Destination Points to attend at various destinations located throughout the United States. The...
Bonvoy Dynamic Pricing Begins March 29th — What You Should Do Before That Date!
Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, California On March 29th, Marriott will move to a Dynamic Pricing model to determine the number of Bonvoy points required for stays at Marriott properties. No longer will the hotel category determine the range of Bonvoy points required, but...
All Things Pulse San Diego — Where To Eat
Donut Bar (631 B Street, San Diego) Something a lot of people don't know about me -- I'm a donut junkee. I have been known to go to great lengths to visit "the best donut place" whenever we visit a new place. Most of the time, I am disappointed. Nothing special -- and...
All Things Pulse San Diego — You’ve Finally Arrived!!
Marriott Pulse San Diego Entrance You've finally arrived, and if you're like me, you're excited to begin your adventures. Here's a few things for you to know that will help your check-in go smoothly. Lobby As I explained in my previous blog post...
All Things Pulse San Diego — What You Need to Know Before You Go!
MVC Pulse San Diego (image courtesy of Marriott) MVC Pulse San Diego opened less than 6 years ago. It is one of six MVC Pulse properties, and has some distinct differences from some of the other Pulse properties. First you need to understand what a MVC Pulse property...
The Good and the Bad News About the Upcoming Dynamic Pricing for Marriott Redemption Rates
Wailea Beach Resort, Maui, Hawaii Marriott has announced more details about the dynamic pricing redemption rates that will be coming in March. Bonvoy point requirements will no longer be based on the Category of the hotel, but rather on the supply and demand of...
SCAM ALERT!! Don’t Be Fooled!! If “Interval International” Calls You, Be On Alert!
If It Sounds Too Good, It Probably Is! I posted this information last year, but I am hearing from a number of MVC Owners who are being contacted. The concept is the same, so I thought I should remind all of you to not fall for their tactics!! There isn't a week that...
WOW! Words Don’t Describe! St. Regis Kanai — Maya Riviera, Mexico Opening in December!!!
St. Regis Kanai -- Opening 2022 If that picture is amazing, how about this? St. Regis Kanai -- Opening 2022 Or this? St. Regis, Kanai -- Opening 2022 Can't reserve this one yet, but keep on the lookout for it showing up for reservations soon. Usually when they first...
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