Marriott Vacation Club: A World of Diverse Travel Experiences Awaits
Marriott Vacation Club (MVC), a flagship brand of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, offers a flexible vacation ownership program. With a rich history dating back to 1984, MVC provides access to a vast portfolio of resorts and curated travel experiences globally, appealing to discerning travelers who appreciate variety and quality.
Who is Marriott Vacation Club For?
Marriott Vacation Club is ideal for both travelers who tend to take extended vacations to one destination, as well as travelers seeking flexibility and a wide array of vacation experiences, from traditional resort stays to cruises, adventure travel, and urban explorations. It should appeal to those who value larger resort style accommodations and grounds. The diverse portfolio makes it suitable for families, couples, and individuals seeking varied travel styles across multiple continents.
Understanding the MVC System
MVC operates on both a weeks-based system and a points-based system through its “Abound by Marriott Vacations” program. The weeks-based system gives owners annual or biennial access to a specific sized unit at a specific resort typically within a specific season for 7 consecutive nights. Weeks can be split into two shorter stays, and two-bedroom units can be ‘locked off’ into one week in one-bedroom unit and on week in a studio unit, either at the same time or as separate weeks throughout the season. The points-based system, similar to all of the other timeshare networks, give owners an annual allotment of Vacation Club Points, which serve as the currency for booking. The quantity of points held directly correlates with your membership tier (Owner, Select, Executive, Presidential, Chairman’s Club), each unlocking enhanced perks and privileges.
The Home Resort (weeks-based system)
A key consideration for MVC owners is their ‘Home Resort’ as this will be dictate your annual maintenance fees (as fees vary by resort and unit size), as well as your trading power when going into Interval Exchange, if you choose not to stay at your home resort each year.
Annual Dues on a weeks-based contract
When you buy a weeks-based contract with MVC, you are buying a guaranteed week during the season of the contract. The contract is typically for a specific unit size and type, at a specific resort, during a specific season, and is either annual usage or biennial. This contract gets you one full week of usage (typically with check-in days Friday, Saturday or Sunday (though there are resorts that differ from this). The upfront cost of the contract will vary based on the resort and season (some resorts are more popular in certain seasons (example: Marriott Mountainside in Park City, UT during Ski season is very different demand than Marriott Mountainside during the Summer season). Maintenance fees, however, are specific to the resort and the size of the unit.
Weeks Usage and Booking Dynamics
Starting exactly 12 months out, owners can book units in their contracted season at their resort. While some week/check-in day will always be available for you, high demand weeks for a particular area can book up, so sometimes planning ahead can be beneficial. Other resorts, rarely run into inventory availability challenges.
As mentioned before, two-bedroom units can be booked either as a two-bedroom unit, or broken up (locked off in MVC terms) into a one-bedroom week and studio week, either booked at the same time, or as completely separate weeks. While booking at your home resort doesn’t carry any fees, MVC does charge a $95 lock off fee.
Points Usage and Booking Dynamics
Similar to other points based programs, the number of Vacation Club Points required for a stay is dynamic, influenced by:
- Length of Stay: Longer vacations require more points.
- Resort Location and Seasonality: High-demand resorts and peak travel seasons (e.g., Platinum) will require more points.
- Villa Size: Larger villas and premium views command more points.
Marriott Vacation Club defines several benefit levels based on the number of annual Vacation Club Points held, which directly impacts booking power and access to premium inventory:
| Membership Tier | Annual Vacation Club Points Range |
| Owner | Up to 3,999 Club Points |
| Select | 4,000 to 6,999 Club Points |
| Executive | 7,000 to 9,999 Club Points |
| Presidential | 10,000 to 14,999 Club Points |
| Chairman’s Club | 15,000+ Club Points |
Booking Windows:
MVC employs a tiered booking window system, with higher membership tiers gaining earlier access to inventory.
- Home Resort: 12 months in advance for a single week, or 13 months for owners of multiple weeks booking consecutively.
- Abound Club Points: Booking windows vary by tier, with Executive, Presidential, and Chairman’s Club members enjoying the most flexibility, able to book any number of nights 13 months in advance.
Early booking is highly recommended, especially for popular dates and resorts, as reservations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Traveling during off-peak times can significantly reduce point requirements.
Destinations and Resort Portfolio
Marriott Vacation Club boasts a truly global presence, with properties strategically located across the United States, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, and Asia, spanning 9 countries. The broader Marriott Vacation Clubs™ portfolio also includes Sheraton Vacation Club and Westin Vacation Club.
Key U.S. Locations: Arizona, California, Florida (Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami), Hawaii, New York City, South Carolina, Utah.
International Presence: Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Spain, Thailand, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Notable Resorts (Selected Examples):
- Marriott’s Cypress Harbour (Orlando, Florida): A popular choice for family vacations near theme parks.
- Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club (Maui, Hawaii): Offers stunning beachfront access and amenities.
- Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort (Marbella, Spain): A top-rated European destination.
- Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, New York City (New York City, New York): Ideal for urban getaways.
- The Westin Kā’anapali Ocean Resort Villas (Maui, Hawaii): Part of the broader Marriott Vacation Clubs portfolio, offering wellness-focused experiences.
Exchange Network Affiliation
Marriott Vacation Club is primarily affiliated with Interval International (II), a leading global vacation exchange network, and weeks-based owners can benefit greatly from utilizing exchanges to access other Marriott properties, extend weeks, upgrade unit sizes or explore multiple destinations. Exchanging can be complicated, and while possible on a points-based program, weeks-based units simplify the process considerably.
Resale Nuance: Purchasing MVC on the resale market offers substantial upfront savings (often leading to 75% depreciation from direct prices). However, the transferability of benefits like Abound program access (especially for legacy weeks) and Marriott Bonvoy point conversion can be nuanced and requires careful verification. Marriott maintains a Right of First Refusal (ROFR), which can delay transactions as they may repurchase contracts deemed too low.
