Marriott's New 'timeshare' Program

As a multiple timeshare week owner I own both what are known as points and fixed weeks. I have always felt that the points based timeshares that I own gave me far greater flexibility then my fixed weeks.

You will understand my excitement therefore when Marriott announced the introduction of a points option for their owners. They have called it the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations exchange program!

For a fee as low as $595 I can choose either to exchange my existing week as I have done previously or exchange it for vacation club points. By using my vacation club points I am able to check in any day of the week any season of the year and for as long as I want, providing of course I have enough points. I can even Bank my vacation club points or borrow from the next year's points balance if I like. The 'points' option also allows me to exchange to other Marriott vacation club resorts or to Interval International's resorts with no additional fees. For any of you who are unfamiliar with the timeshare concept - there are a number of 'exchange companies' that allow timeshare owners to exchange their own resort for up to 3000 other resorts around the world. The two major players are Interval International and Resort Condominiums International. There is however an additional fee associated with each exchange, and under Marriott's old system an exchange fee would have been required if I had wanted to visit a resort in the Interval International's portfolio.

A number of my fellow timeshare owing friends have called to ask me if the new Marriott program is as good as it sounds. There really is only one way to find out - try it and see. As biased as I am I fully recommend it.

Timeshare continues to receive negative and in my opinion unjustified criticism from all corners of the world. Are their unscrupulous players out there - yes unfortunately there are! Does that mean all timeshares are bad - absolutely not. I've owned timeshares for over 25 years and I wouldn't be without mine! My ownership has taken me to places I would never have dreamed possible and at a cost I couldn't have achieved in any other way.

Do your due diligence and stick with the name brands and you are unlikely to go wrong. If you really are interested in the facts - read my book "Timeshare.....you bought What".

Enjoy

Dr. Peter J. Shield PhD (http://pjshield.com)

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