Owning Multiple Systems

So we own EOY odd at Morritt's Grand Cayman and are looking to buy into one of the hotel systems to use on even years. DH loves Grand Cayman and would go there every year if he had his way, but I want to try new places so we came up with the system of Grand Cayman odd, new place even, for the kids' spring breaks. We do a trip with my parents and siblings every year using my parents' Starwood TS. So we don't want to own there.

We are looking at Marriott and Hilton. I see many people own at Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt. I'm trying to figure out why. Is it because you travel a lot or for the points to use at hotels or what? In my mind, we really only need the 2 systems, the one we have and the new one we are planning to get, so I feel pressure to find the BEST hotel system. If I found a good reason to buy a third, I wouldn't feel so much pressure to find the best. (Can we say Type A Personality?!) We typically do the spring break trip, the trip with my parents, and DH and I do several weekend trips just the two of us. I don't know if having the Morritts, Marriott, and Hilton would be overkill.

This is such a great message board and I am learning so much already. Thanks!

There's a sticky (FAQ like posting) on this someplace on Tug that will get your started. I have Hilton (HGVC) and am happy with them...but also own 3 other non-HGVC weeks which provides us some other places HGVC doesn't access.

HGVC is built in 3 primary locations (Las Vegas, Orlando & Hawaii) and has several affiliates to help fill out a total of roughly 30 resorts in the US, Mexico and Great Britian. It also provides an HHonors account which is Hilton's frequent stay program for the hotel system, and there are features where you can use HGVC points to get HHonors points. HGVC exchanges into other timeshare properities through RCI. It's an easy to use, friendly system which treats resale buyers well.

Marriott has more resorts in more locations, has their own frequent stay hotel program (Rewards) which I'm unsure of the tie-in to the timeshare side. They exchange through Interval International, and doesn't have as nice as an internal exchange program as HGVC, reportedly. Some feel the quality of the resorts are compariable, some feel the Mariotts are slightly better.

Most people decide on these two chains based on where they like to go and which has more resorts at those places.

There are boards on both systems here and you can read up on the different issues and features of the systems.

This is the chart (download) that UWSurfer mentioned - for future reference, it's on the TUG Advice page - Comparing the 4 main Hotel Systems

I've been reading tons of threads and stickies and learning so much! I guess my question really is, why own at more than one brand? Do I want to buy both Marriott and Hilton? Is there a reason for buying at different systems, besides the locations offered? I think I am overthinking this from the information overload!

Every system has it's good points and bad points. I think you need to look at the chart to see what suits you best. I also think that location is VERY important - you need to look at where each system has their resorts.

However, just because a system has a resort that you would like to exchange into, doesn't mean that you will be able to. For instance, Westin St. John is a nearly impossible exchange in the Starwood System, although we frequently have newbies who buy at a much less expensive Starwood resort, thinking then can easily exchange in to the WSJ. So buying where you want to go most of the time is still important in some systems, and the perks of ownership can be substantial, for instance, you can often make a reservation sooner, and get a better view, at your home resort.

BTW - converting your TS to hotel points is usually not a good value.

As far as weekend trips, timesharing doesn't lend itself to short trips, as well as it does 7 day trips. Every system is a little different, but in general, they are all designed to work best for a 7 day trip booked 12 mos. in advance.

Besides the more obvious questions, another important thing to know is what your options are if you can't use your week one year. I would say that question is one that many people don't even consider, until they are facing it. If it's me, I want to be sure I can get maximum value out of my week if I can't use it one year.

It's a lot to absorb - take your time and do your homework. Don't be in a rush to jump into something.

Good luck!

My parents own 2 or 3 Starwoods and we've tried to get into Harborside and St Johns for the past few years and had no luck. This past Thanksgiving they did the conversion to hotel points and my mom said never again. Even though it is their timeshare and it isn't a brand I'll buy, I do feel like I've learned a lot thru their experiences. And since we won't be buying anytime soon--unless of course we find some awesome deal that we can't pass by--I am definitely taking my time to research all this. I've even got DH reading some of these threads. He said the same thing as me though, why are people buying different brands. So at least I'm not the only one scratching my head at that!

He also brought up the point that if we go with Hilton instead of buying an EOY, we should buy an annual one and bank our points on the odd years to use on the even years.

karland said:

He said the same thing as me though, why are people buying different brands.

Click to expand...

Why not?

-Because it gives you more options
-Because you find a great deal in another system
-Because you originally bought in one system, but then learn about another system
-Because you want to go to a location that your first system doesn't have
-Because you want a cheap, but good trader

I own 7 weeks bought over a period of about 6 years in this order. I listed where we got them and how we currently use them:

I own 2 Starwoods:

Maui - first purchase (developer - paid too much!) - now a rental

Scottsdale - (cheap on ebay) exchange with II & rent

2 independents:

Tahoe - (cheap on ebay) use or rent

Branson - (given to me for free) exchange with Redweek/rent exchanges

3 out-of-network Wyndham weeks
Kauai - Ocean front (cheap on ebay) - use every year!

Why buy at different locations or systems ? We here on TUG sometimes refer to our Timeshares as being our "portfolio". You buy at different places for dfferent reasons and everyone is different. For example:

I own two weeks in Australia that are part of RCI Points. I made these purchases due to the low purchase price and MFs attributable to the conversion rate between US and AUS dollars at the time of purchase. I use these points to trade and visit a lot of different places, primarily in the Caribbean or the gulf coast of Florida.

I own a week at a resort in Sarasota in order to have day priveleges at the resort. We plan on retiring in the area in 4-5 years and it will be my little "counrty club" where I can go to the beach any time I want and have usage of all of the faciltites every day.

I also own two weeks in Royal Holiday Club. Picked it up at a steal on resale and use one week to go to NYC every year and watch Yankee games. Right now I am depositing the second week, but after we retire and have more time to travel we may well go to NYC twice a year.

And last, but not least, I am in process of "buying" 2 weeks on the beach in ST Thomas. It is one of my favorite islands and I had the opportunity fall into my lap to take over possession of two weeks, back to back in the same unit, during May, which is exactly when we normally travel to the Caribbean. Most TS on ST Thomas are not directly on the beach like this one and the owner was giving it away. I am having some problems getting the title recorded in ST Thomas, but it will eventually work out and I couldn't beat the price, $0.

I used to own Morritt's grand but dumped that one at just the right timeing. But that is another story.

So as you see, I bought each of then for a specfic reason, to fullfill a need. I imagine most others that own at multiple places would have their own similar reasons.

As another poster advised, compare where you would like to travel to the list of resorts for each of the systems as a good place to start. If one of the shoes fits, you may want to wear "own" it. Good luck.

I think we all go the timeshare route because we love to travel and we like the space you get with timeshares vs hotel rooms. Once you have been into timesharing for a while you realize that it can be very difficult to exchange into the locations and resorts you want.

To minimize this problem you try to purchase (resale of course) a group of timeshares which maximizes your ability to get where you want to go. I may have gone overbroad but my purchases were:

3 Bed Cypress Pointe resort in Orlando - First purchase, purchased for exchange purchases, luckly I have gotten good exchanges even though Orlanodo is over-built.

2 Bed Royal Mayan in Cancun - Great resort and I love Cancun. Since it is a fixed May unit I have not been able to go since my son started school 2 years ago. Now I rent it or exchange it.

Newport Onshore in Newport, RI - I love Newport and this resort is in a great location for exploring Newport on foot.

Starwood
Westin St John - Love St John, great resort and I would not be able to get into it if I did not own it.
Harborside - Same reason as St. John above
Sheraton Broadway Plantation - Purchased to exchange in II to get the Starwood 3 day advantage.

Wyndham Points - Since I live on the East Coast these points allow me to easily get into a number of very good Wyndham resorts on the East Coast

WorldMark Points - Gives me access to the places on the West Coast I want to get to.

RCI Points (Ocean City Maryland home resort) - Only way to get to Ocean city in the summer for a close drive-to vacation. Also gets me into the RCI Points system.

Marriott in Hilton Head - Again makes an excellent drive-to vacation. Also gives me the Marriott preference when exchanging for other Marriott in II.

I have gotten to the above position by buying and selling timeshares over the last 10 years to get my ideal ownership. I still have a few more changes to make before I am happy.

Since I only take 4 full week vacations a year, I rent out the units which I am not using in a given year. This is my part-time job!