Marriott Aruba

Hi Tuggers,
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! My friend deposited her week with II at the Marriott Surfwatch (Hilton Head, SC) for a week at either of the Marriott Aruba resorts for October, 2011. It was a 2b/2b unit, and we usually share timeshares, so were trying to go in October. She did this about 4 months ago, and we haven't heard anything yet. Has anyone had any problems with exchanges? The last time she did this, she heard within a few months. We'd like to start looking at airline prices, but cannot since we do not have confirmation. Any ideas as to chances for an exchange?
Mish

I did an II "Request First" for Aruba Marriott Ocean Club in late January, 2010. Eight months later ( late Sept, 2010), still no Confirmation so I cancelled. Contrast this to January, 2008 when I made the same request & was confirmed in 3 months. I used the same week for each "Request First"...a prime Platinum week @ Marriott Ocean Pointe.

Prior to the DC I would have said that it would have been almost a sure thing at least as far as the Surf Club went. Sept/Oct is the slowest time for Aruba and there was always a fair amount of availability both for exchanges and getaways for Aruba at that time. Post DC may very well be different.
Its worth noting that Marriott placed the lowest point value on that time frame for someone who is a DC member so one may have more DC members utilizing points to go to Aruba at a time when their points may go further. We always go down same time every year(late Nov/early Dec.) to the Ocean Club as do a number of friends we've met over the years. None of us had ever had difficulty getting the weeks we wanted and the check in date we wanted. The OC has been relatively sold out(Marriott has bought back/repossessed a number of units in the past few years) for a number of years. Interestingly , for this coming year a couple of our friends(who didnt have the 13 mth window) were unable to get the exact dates they wanted and had to juggle for the first time(keep in mind they have all owned since inception so this definitely is an anomaly). Im not sure why at this early stage in a fairly sold out resort that the DC seems to be having an effect but there does seem to be one. Im not aware of many owners who have bought into the DC club from the OC(obviously I didnt speak to all but out of 20 or 30 that we spoke with on our last trip none did). I suppose its possible that quite a number did and they're all trading in for points but quite frankly I'd be pretty skeptical that this is the answer. Time will tell I guess. Perhaps there is another reason but we've analyzed this repeatedly and cant find another logical explanation yet.(Keep in mind that prior to this year that a number of people had been able to make changes to checkin dates for that time frame up to 6 months prior with no issues on many occasions) So the short answer is all bets are off as to what the new "normal" might be.

Since we're guessing- I'll throw out that the Aruba resorts (and the Caribbean resorts in general) received a smaller allocation of points than many owners expected, and rather paltry in comparison to the much higher rental rates that Marriott charges and gets to rent out these weeks on Marriott.com. Rental/hotel travelers were deemed different than timeshare users, who put a higher premium on drive to locations and other things. At any extent, Aruba properties were awarded fewer points than properties which Marriott itself rents for less than half the price. While that's a beef that I have with the program (and others I know share), what makes it material to this discussion is the flip side- although the point cost is greater than the point allocation, the point cost for trading in is relatively low, esp. during the lower demand months.

Keep in mind that Aruba's weather is fairly consistent all year, so Sept.-early Dec. are great times to visit. Demand is lower because it isn't school vacation time and people in the Northeast aren't trying to escape the cold. So whereas trades have been easier in the past, it MAY be that weeks that Marriott may have put in II before (bulk deposits) are getting gobbled up by point users because of the good value there.

The other possibility is that usage is up this year, although I don't know whether that's true or not. I have been told that island wide for the holiday weeks everything was booked solid in contrast to prior years (timeshares, hotels, etc.) because people who had gone elsewhere last year were disappointed with the weather in Cabo, etc., so they've been flocking to Aruba. Whether that has impacted other weeks I don't know.

I am surprised that availability has been so different. Smopthair's experience really preceded the new program for the most part, so it may be related to increased demand for Aruba for other reasons, which is why I threw out what I was told about the demand for the holiday period. From what I was told it was quite a remarkable change, with travel agents reporting here at least that people were clamoring for Aruba in droves in contrast to prior years because of travel disappointment elsewhere.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

I have had a request pending since August seeking to exchange a 2 bedroom platinum week at Canyon Villas for a one bedroom unit at either Ocean Club or Surf Club for any week in Feb. 2011. Nothing has come through.

I've made many exchange requests over the years using my Canyon Villa weeks, and this is the first time I've been unsuccessful. I realize February is the height of the season, but given the amount of time the request has been pending, and the fact that I'm willing to trade a 2 bedroom for a 1 bedroom, I had been confident something would come through. So, I'm pretty disappointed.

I've not tracked this property, so I don't know the historical availability of 2BR's, which is what I believe you're looking for.

I was confirmed into a 1BR at Aruba Surf Club in early October 2011, using my Worldmark as the trader.

So 1BR availability was there, and this trade confirmed in late September (after the 13 month window, less 24 days for Marriott preference).

I didn't keep the exchange, because I'm just running loads of searches to see what Worldmark hits -- but this suggests the trade difficulty is because of the larger room size??

Good luck with the trade request!

Greg

I am currently at the Aruba Ocean Club. As an owner I know that the majority of people here weeks 51 and 52 are owners and we all use our weeks. Many owners own in excess of 3 weeks and they rent out the weeks they are not using themselves. Therefore less inventory for II. I had no trouble booking my 3 weeks for next Christmas/New Years. Of all the people I have spoken to the last 2 weeks I could only find 2 owners who joined DP. Also, there are far fewer 2 bedroom units at the AOC than 1 bedroom units. (82 to 126)
Happy New Year to all.

I'm surprised that you were able to find 2 people who joined the DC...(or that were willing to admit it )
Hey Ilene....enjoy your holiday Has the weather finally improved?

Luckybee said:

I'm surprised that you were able to find 2 people who joined the DC...(or that were willing to admit it )
Hey Ilene....enjoy your holiday Has the weather finally improved?

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While I'm not sure the DC program is the root cause of this particular non-availability of desired inventory in Aruba, there is a possibility it could cause more issues than just from the small numbers of enrolled members there electing points. Any inventory that Marriott controls that previously was dumped into II is now probably being dumped into its own exchange program.

Luckybee said:

I'm surprised that you were able to find 2 people who joined the DC...(or that were willing to admit it )
Hey Ilene....enjoy your holiday Has the weather finally improved?

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It did finally improve although for the first time ever in 27 years we had 1 day that was a total wash out (dec. 25th) and 2 half days of rain. It poured New Years Eve from about 4-8PM, but it cleared for the fireworks.
HAPPY NEW YEAR

Just an aside, since this thread is discussing Marriott Aruba- my friends just returned from what they said was the best week ever at the SC. They said the new serenity pool was fabulous, and ameliorated the chair issue. They had no trouble getting 4 lounges together under an umbrella at 10 in the morning, and never bothered getting a palapa as they normally do. They said the new adult only pool was great and, in general, it seemed to them that poolside lounges weren't an issue. They have gone there annually for many years, preceding the SC being built, and told me it was the best week they've ever had there. Nice to hear!

Thanks Tuggers for your comments about why we probably haven't heard anything. It is sort of disappointing reading all of the exchange issues (for Aruba and elsewhere) that I've been reading.

just curious, is there still a Marriott to Marriott exchange preference period in II, or has Marriott done away with that

i used my aruba week for an external trade.. going forward, this is something i will probably continue to do UNLESS i rent it.

I just grabbed an Aruba Surf Club 1 br for 1/30/11 this past tues or wed. Found ff tickets on United same day and we're psyched!

Good for you, Tom! We love the Marriott Aruba properties & Palm Beach....gorgeous white sand, turquoise waters.....aaahhhh. We are going back in February for the 3rd time & can't wait.

Make sure you have dinner @ Marriott's "Simply Fish" on the beach at least once!

Have fun!

Smooth Air

Hi Smooth

Have you enjoyed the food at Simply Fish or just the setting ? Although the setting is lovely we were extremely unhappy with our food when we tried it a few years back. I know its subjective but we found it not to our taste at all.

Lucky, sending you a PM w/ details.

We had dinner @ Simply Fish 3 times the last time we were @ Ocean Club: 1 excellent, 2 not excellent but still good.

Smooth Air

mish said:

Has anyone had any problems with exchanges? The last time she did this, she heard within a few months. We'd like to start looking at airline prices, but cannot since we do not have confirmation. Any ideas as to chances for an exchange?
Mish

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I just put in a request yesterday for either of the Aruba resorts for the second week of December 2011 (since I had just matched on Ocean Point for the first week of December). This morning I awoke to a match for a 2 BR at the Aruba Ocean Club for the week I needed. I used a Newport Coast 2 BR deposit. Hang in there.....I think your friend will get her exchange.

Jan

Tom- have a great trip!

If you want an outstanding restaurant experience on the beach, and if you are renting a car, try the Flying Fishbone. It is a distance away, but worth the trip. Reminds me- I need to e-mail them for reservations.

Don't forget your water tubes/floats for the Lazy River.

I agree with m61376 on Flying Fishbone(it is lovely ....but we only went once) .If you're lazy like us(drive time) the next best thing is Screaming Eagle(low rise section) which is the same management as FF. The setting wasnt as lovely(hard to beat FF's setting) but we actually thought the food and service was better(better being relative in that they're both great )

Actually for dinner on the beach in the sand we keep hearing wonderful things(from others on the beach) about Passions on the Beach(Amsterdam Manor on Eagle Beach). We were going to try it this year but when we were there in Nov/Dec there had been a fair amount of rain with the related bugs...Im a magnet and prefer to have dinner rather than be dinner There are quite a few positive reviews on the Aruba BB re: Passions as well.

I dont know if you guys have been to the Flying Fish bone recently. They have really increased the number of tables in the sand. Its much more crowded now and IMHO detracted from the more secluded experience from our first visit.

I think they have about 1/3 more tables now than their website pics show.

http://flyingfishbone.com/index.php

BUT the food is wonderful and the view is fabulous.

I only started going there a few years ago so I think it was after the tables were added. Not as secluded, but gorgeous and a wonderful evening nevertheless.

I first reserved the week of April 15-22 at the Marriott Ocean Pointe then I put in a "request first" last April for Aruba or St. Thomas for April, 2011, I have done this in the past and have always been confirmed almost immediately. Last week I saw the airfares rising and realized I better cancel my request and just use my home resort in Singer Island. When I checked the airfares for Florida and they were also outrageous at this point I decided to rent. I placed an add in Red Week and had many bites. I finally found a renter and when I called Marriott to get a guest certificate they told me that I did not have a reservation that it had been cancelled. After a full day going back and forth between Interval saying that I still had the week and Marriott saying that I didn't it has finally been resolved that I can still use the week. Are they trying to kill us from the stress they impose?

m61376 said:

I only started going there a few years ago so I think it was after the tables were added. Not as secluded, but gorgeous and a wonderful evening nevertheless.

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Oh, it is wonderful. Dont get me wrong. But, with more space, the additional privacy was nice. Romantic, quieter and less traffic.