Where to buy in CA?

[SteelerGal]

Own in Vistana but like to add one of the Marriott Deserts or Newport to help facilitate trades into other locations. We live in CA so prefer to have a TS to drive to since a family of 7 w/ young children. Which CA Marriott would you suggest?

 

[VacationForever]

If you want to trade in II, the Marriott desert properties lock off and you get 2 trades out of 1 week. The maintenance fees are much higher than Newport Coast. If you want to rent out the week, buy Newport Coast as it fetches good rental value but they do not lock off. Essentially you only get one trade in II out of 1 week at Newport Coast. Both locations (Desert and Newport Coast) have very high trading power.

We own 2 weeks at Desert Springs Villas I and love the 1700 sq ft space. However the studio is a separate unit, sharing a locked foyer. With young children you should look at Desert Springs Villas II. We don't like Villas II because it is much smaller, but comparable to other Marriott 2BRs, but it is also $200 cheaper in MF. We prefer Desert Springs over Shadow Ridge due to having the JW Marriott property next door where there are great dining options. Folks with young children may also prefer Shadow Ridge. We don't like Shadow Ridge and will leave others to comment.

 

[mjm1]

I would also recommend looking at DSV. However, since you have a family of 7 you might prefer the set up at DSV1. The studio room has 2 beds. The studio in DSVII has one bed and a hide a bed. DSV1 also includes use of the facilities at the JW Marriott right next door Mondaythrough Friday. That includes their pool, tennis courts, Bocci ball, basketball, etc. That is one reason the MFs are higher than DSVII.

Best regards.

Mike

 

[Steve Fatula]

I'm with VacationForever. With young kids, I doubt you'd want a separate entrance for the studio, but that's up to you to decide. There are many differences between dsv1 and dsv2, but I think that is the most relevant for your case. If you do not, then, dsv2 is definitely the better choice. I also dislike Shadow Ridge. You will definitely get great trades if red season.

Since your question is which to own.... I would say dsv2 for sure. Why? Even if you want to stay at dsv1, you can easily trade in virtually any season. This year, I initially had traded my dsv2 lockoff for a dsv1 2BR, but then decided against it as I wanted to extend the stay and a 1BR was cheaper points wise and there's only 2 of us. Why would I want to pay more MF when I can stay at either for less MF. This only applies if you are going to buy II membership (not enrolled) anyway, as if you intend to always occupy, then, decide based upon the separate entrances as mentioned.

 

[mjm1]

While the studio has a separate door that locks inside the foyer, we just prop it open with a chair or door stopper we bring, so it wasn’t ever a problem for us or our kids. The outside door to the foyer is locked. We like the larger sized units and access to the JW facilities.

If the OP has the opportunity I would recommend visiting the resort and ask to see a unit in each resort, so they can judge for themselves. Go after 10am, so there may be some rooms being vacated and cleaned.

Best regards.

Mike

 

[SteelerGal]

Thank you everyone. We are actually older parents so the hustle and bustle of a family resort isn’t truly appealing. Love Newport but I wish it was a LO. Well, I will begin my search.

Thanks again.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Thank you everyone. We are actually older parents so the hustle and bustle of a family resort isn’t truly appealing. Love Newport but I wish it was a LO. Well, I will begin my search.

Thanks again.

The good thing about either dsv is in late winter, when it's quite warm there every year (except this year), we see very few kids. There is no hustle and bustle, even when DSV is full, you'd never really know it. Sometimes I like resorts with the noise, but not my Feb trips out to the desert. Yes, love Newport too.

 

[VacationForever]

Thank you everyone. We are actually older parents so the hustle and bustle of a family resort isn’t truly appealing. Love Newport but I wish it was a LO. Well, I will begin my search.

Thanks again.

If you don't like the hustle and bustle of a family resort, then Desert Springs is the right choice for you. Shadow Ridge is "family" oriented, which means lots of young children.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

I like to go to Palm Desert in Oct to December. It is a great time of year - - weather wise.

So, I bought a couple of "white weeks". They trade pretty well. I annually exchange into Newport Coast (this year I used an efficiency to snag a 2 BR, but usually use a 1 BR to exchange). I also exchange into Timberlodge (M - Tahoe). But in retrospect, I may have been smarter spending a couple thousand more and bought a red week.

I typically use my efficiencies to trade up into a 1 or 2 BR in DSV1, DSV2 or Shadow Ridge. I haven't had much luck in exchanging into them in Feb or March. That is where a Red week might help.

 

[Dean]

Own in Vistana but like to add one of the Marriott Deserts or Newport to help facilitate trades into other locations. We live in CA so prefer to have a TS to drive to since a family of 7 w/ young children. Which CA Marriott would you suggest?

If you'll use it part of the time then I'd suggest the Desert resorts Gold or Platinum unless you'd mostly want to stay at NC. Match the timing of the season to when you'd use it and if that doesn't matter much, base it on price and buy Gold unless you can get a great deal on Platinum. If you won't hardly use it and want to go to other places mostly (then you might consider LV or a different trading property). My thoughts are based on trading part of the time, for usage all else equal it sounds like DS is your best option but all are good options.

 

[SteelerGal]

If you'll use it part of the time then I'd suggest the Desert resorts Gold or Platinum unless you'd mostly want to stay at NC. Match the timing of the season to when you'd use it and if that doesn't matter much, base it on price and buy Gold unless you can get a great deal on Platinum. If you won't hardly use it and want to go to other places mostly (then you might consider LV or a different trading property). My thoughts are based on trading part of the time, for usage all else equal it sounds like DS is your best option but all are good options.

I’m thinking the same. I prefer to go part time and have trading power. One day, we do want to go to Maui

 

[cp73]

As far as the desert seasons go I would recommend that you go with the Red/Platinum seasons. This will get you in the desert at the prime time of year and also allow you to go during school easter breaks. Those are also the season that have the greatest trading power and rentals. In addition in the desert summer and out of season rentals are very cheap, way less than the maintenance fees. Through II you can rent them for your own use for around $600-$800 a week in off season.

 

[SteelerGal]

If you'll use it part of the time then I'd suggest the Desert resorts Gold or Platinum unless you'd mostly want to stay at NC. Match the timing of the season to when you'd use it and if that doesn't matter much, base it on price and buy Gold unless you can get a great deal on Platinum. If you won't hardly use it and want to go to other places mostly (then you might consider LV or a different trading property). My thoughts are based on trading part of the time, for usage all else equal it sounds like DS is your best option but all are good options.

Thanks.

 

[Beachspace]

I was watching a no reserve Shadow Ridge 2-BR Platinum L/O on eBay and it just closed for $3300 with free closing costs...

Was that a pretty good deal? I was trying to keep it under $2k and use it as a trader for now as I heard Shadow Ridge locks off into 2 separate 1 bedrooms? (or is that the Enclaves only property? )

 

[Steve Fatula]

I was watching a no reserve Shadow Ridge 2-BR Platinum L/O on eBay and it just closed for $3300 with free closing costs...

Was that a pretty good deal? I was trying to keep it under $2k and use it as a trader for now as I heard Shadow Ridge locks off into 2 separate 1 bedrooms? (or is that the Enclaves only property? )

You can see some of the recent sales (attempts) on rofr.net, it appears Marriott exercised ROFR on a $4,000 sale last year. Sales on Redweek have gone from $800 to $6,500.

I believe the Deluxe rooms can lockoff for trading purposes into 2 1BR units. Those are in the Enclaves and there is a mixture of ones that do not count as 2 1BR and those that do. There are not a lot of the deluxe units.

 

[jpa2825]

1 minor clarification, I think DSVI has access to JW Marriott during weekday but there may be a small charge if using facilities at JW on the weekends. We've only been there during FEB and never been charged for using facilities, but it is in the written material.

 

[SteelerGal]

I was watching a no reserve Shadow Ridge 2-BR Platinum L/O on eBay and it just closed for $3300 with free closing costs...

Was that a pretty good deal? I was trying to keep it under $2k and use it as a trader for now as I heard Shadow Ridge locks off into 2 separate 1 bedrooms? (or is that the Enclaves only property? )

I was in the bidding war for that but whomever was top bid was going to push to 4K and we already own multiple TS.