Although the timeshare industry in the US dates back to the 1970s, Marriott has played a key role in introducing the concept of vacation ownership to the broader travel market. In 1984, Marriott became the first hospitality brand to offer timeshares, establishing the Marriott Vacation Club – originally called Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc. – with a resort on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

From Fixed Weeks to Points

Throughout the next couple decades, MVC expanded its operations globally. Flash forward to 2010, when MVC launched its points-based Destinations Program in the US and Caribbean. Since then, it has phased out its sales of traditional fixed and floating weeks (though interested owners can still buy them on the resale market), and solely offers points to its owner community. 

Marriott’s transition to points was not without controversy. Some owners expressed frustration that this new ownership type was now deeded on a “land trust” that did not reflect a desirable real estate ownership. This ownership model stands in contrast with fixed week ownership, for which the ownership asset (a specific week at a specific resort) is easy and intuitive to understand.

One of the major advantages of points is that, from a usage standpoint, they can offer more booking flexibility. From resales to booking priorities to rentals, however, deeded ownership of a high-demand Marriott resort, in a peak week, will typically perform better. A 2-bedroom ocean view unit at Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club during Christmas, for example, offers considerable value that isn’t going anywhere, which significantly improves your chances of a successful exit (or successive years of great vacations).

Resorts and Experiences

Marriott Vacation Club’s portfolio includes over 60 resorts and thousands of additional accommodations around the world. Through various programs integrated within the club, owners can use their points towards bookings, resort exchanges with Interval International, or an array of excursions and tours.

Many owners, however, would argue that some of the aforementioned add-ons don’t necessarily provide the best possible value for their points: in many cases the points required, plus associated fees, are generally higher than what the trip is worth (particularly when contrasted against simply using points to book a vacation at an MVC resort).

While points, if leveraged properly, can turn these add-ons into a great benefit, the process can be time consuming — and who wants vacation planning to turn into a side gig?

What We Like (and Don’t Like) About Marriott Points

Marriott timeshare points are basically vacation currency, and the allotment of points you buy determines your booking opportunities. The amount of points needed for accommodations varies depending on location, season, unit, etc. You can use all your points each year, bank (or save them) for the following year, or borrow them from the upcoming year towards your current vacation. Below you can find a quick summary of the key advantages and disadvantages of MVC points ownership:

What We Like: 

1. Marriott Vacation Club owners can book any amount of nights, giving them more flexibility than a traditional fixed-week owner.
2. Marriott’s cancellation policies are somewhat flexible. 
3. Last-minute discounts are available for higher ownership levels.
4. MVC resorts are among the highest-rated timeshare properties, offering prime locations and accommodations that excel.
5. Marriott owners have the ability to exchange on Interval International (which is owned by Marriott). This allows owners to access properties beyond the Marriott network, although Interval has come under criticism for restricting optionality and de-valuing prime weeks.

What We Don’t Like:

1. First and foremost one never buys a timeshare as an investment. Hard stop. That said, owning a deed in a very high demand resort and season offered perks that points don’t.
2. MVC’s retail price is very high—entry-level points ownership packages start at roughly $22,000. Savvy shoppers can find deals on the secondary market for Marriott timeshares. And although these may come with some usage restrictions, points on the resale market are substantially less expensive.
3. Points redemption values can also be very high. Skilled owners know how to stretch their points and find the deals, but the maintenance fees can often cut deeply into the value proposition if not used wisely. Take Marriott’s Mountainside in Park City, for example, where a 2-bedroom week during ski season will run you anywhere from 4,450 points for a normal week to 8,675 for Christmas week. 
4. Found an incredible resale deal? Buyer beware – Marriott can step in and exercise their ROFR (Right of first refusal). In a ROFR, the developer can decide to purchase the ownership interest at the price set by the seller. This means that if the points are favorably priced (or if the developer wants to increase inventory at a particular resort), it can simply choose to buy the points itself. Essentially, your resale purchase isn’t final until MVC decides it is.

Understanding Your Marriott Maintenance Fees

Beyond your points purchase, you’ve still got two payments to keep up with each year: maintenance fees and club dues. Your fees and dues cover operational expenses, plus upkeep of amenities and site repairs. (For more info, check out our full overview of maintenance fees.)

These payments are an integral part of your MVC membership, and essential to keeping your ownership – and credit – in good standing. You’ll owe them every year, regardless of how much you travel in that particular year. And you’ll need to be caught up with your payments in order to receive maximum support if and when you decide to exit your timeshare ownership.

Exiting Your Marriott Vacation Club

Whether you’re a legacy owner with a fixed or floating arrangement, or you vacation with MVC’s points program, you should contact Marriott first regarding your timeshare exit. Marriott’s exit specialists can possibly offer an internal solution (in some cases, the resort may buy your timeshare back), or at least point you in the direction of validated support.

You can also work with a timeshare attorney, a resale marketplace, or try and sell yourself. Just make sure you’ve got all your info in order before creating your listing. For instance, travelers who purchase MVC points on the resale market may still have to pay additional fees in order to actually activate and use them. Knowing these details upfront will help you, and your buyer, avoid complications.

To Be (or Not To Be) A Marriott Owner

With any timeshare purchase, while you may be ready to dive into your dream trip, keep yourself grounded on the financial front. Annual maintenance bills and club dues are a serious commitment, while purchasing points on the resale market may come with unexpected, and significant, fees.

As a timeshare owner, you are essentially paying for your vacations in advance. This lifestyle purchase, along with its rewards programs, can indeed bring savings over the years. But take time to crunch the numbers first. And remember, you can also discover Marriott Vacation Club destinations by renting from MVC owners through KOALA! Check out our current Marriott listings here.

The pros and cons of Marriott ownership can be (and are) endlessly debated, but at the end of the day the value of any timeshare product (including Marriott’s) is in the eye of the beholder. On a given day we hear everything from serious problems to unparalleled vacation memories as a result of these programs. As always, we strongly recommend that you do your research before entering into any sort of ownership agreement or sales presentation. For those that choose to move forward, our team is standing by.