Against my better judgment we bought a Time Share Week w/ Marriott a few years ago (I know, I know...)
When we bought it the sales rep showed us several ways to 'maximize' the 1 week with a lock off as well as several options to get very discounted hotel/time share space other than our week. He was really nice and not 'slick' so I believe what he was showing us is real. I have lost his contact info though... so I can't find him.
Fast forward... we've used it and it's been OK, we knew that we'd never use it at the place we bought it (more for travel and then when the children are older use it as a cheap way to vacation in Europe). So we've been happy so far. BUT I would be much happier if we were able to use it in the manner that the rep showed us.
I've written Marriott twice, responded to Mkt. e-mails from them asking for assistance re: this and actually talked to someone in Mkt... who of course couldn't help me nor knew who could (at least it was nice to speak to a live person!).
My question is this - have any of you other time share owners been able to 'maximize' your units? Have you had a one bedroom w/ a lock off that you've been able to separate and use for TWO weeks at a place that ONLY has one bedroom units? What other creative things have you done?? (we do belong to Interval International (sp?)... and choose different resorts via that).
Any insight is VERY appreciated.
I'd talk to someone in reservations, who actually handles the transactions. Ask for a manager or someone who's been there awhile and knows the ropes. Another person who may be able to help is an on-site property manager. They deal with alot of the day to day issues plus they talk to the owners and may have some knowledge of how clients are maximizing their timeshares.
Do you trade with Interval International or through Marriott itself?
Call whoever you trade with (interval or marriott) and ask them about splitting your week. You'll have to decide to split it when you DEPOSIT, and can't really change your mind after, but I'm pretty sure Marriott owners get to "request first" so there's even less risk of deciding to split and then changing your mind or whatever.
I own a two bedroom lock-off one week every other year (not with Marriott but we trade through Interval and almost always stay at Marriotts because I like them). We've been able to vacation every year (sometimes twice in a year) by splitting the unit and/or using "short stays" instead of full weeks for vacation. For example, I split my 2010 unit and deposited it(pretty early) as a 1 bedroom full kitchen and 1 bedroom limited kitchen. We were able to trade for a 2 bedroom Unit in Orlando for spring break last year, and we're going back this summer again in a 2 bedroom. With my 2008 week, I used the studio lock off for 1 week in 2009, then the 1 bedroom as two separate "short stays" in 2010 for weekend trips with girlfriends.
For 2012 unit, I deposited as the full 2 bedroom because we want to go to the Caribean and there are fewer options and we want more space, so we wanted to have more trading power.
HTH
T.
We have a lockout with Interval that we have used. If we don't use the lockout we get it for one week every other year. If we use the lockout we can use it for one week every year. It has been frustrating at times, mostly because our unit is in a very popular location so we have to request a week far in advance. But, my husbands employer only lets you request vacation a short time in advance. We have never used it for any other location.
Have you talked directly to interval? My husband always goes through them. They might be a little more helpful than Marriott.
I had a time share and gained this information by calling a number labeled Customer Service. I think it might've been a reservation clerk who talked with me. It's been some time and I don't remember how to do it. I turned the time share in because I wasn't using it.
