west palm beach - Pitstops for Kids

I remember my first encounter with vacation timeshare rentals like it was yesterday: I was thirteen, and bored stiff sitting in a stuffy hotel ballroom on a beautiful Hawaiian beach day. I was waiting for my parents to exit a time share sales pitch so we could embark on the promised snorkeling excursion at its conclusion. We never bought that time share, but certainly enjoyed snorkeling at Molokai.

This image of time shares, with limited, inflexible week-long vacation condo rentals is a thing of the past…provided you’re looking in the right place. To better understand how vacation time share experiences work in today’s travel industry, I visited a Florida Marriott Vacation Club property for the weekend and sat down with vacation club sales members, PR, and real vacation owners in order to give you the skinny on how renting a timeshare can now work. Marriott’s Oceana Palms on Singer Island, Florida provided a good backdrop for our discussion. (I know, I have a terrible job.) If you’re looking for a Florida timeshare, Orlando is another good option.

How Marriott Vacation Club works:

Say goodbye to the concept of ‘buying’ a week of time at a single resort. Marriott Vacation Club destinations abound. So instead, you can find the timeshare that works for you and your vacation style. Marriott Vacation Club members buy points, not hotel rooms or condos, which can be used as currency at literally hundreds of properties. The system is comprised of three main collections:

Marriott Vacation Club (over 50 Marriot Vacation Club resorts)
Marriott Hotels (access to over 3,700 hotels using Marriott Rewards points)
Explorer Collection (which connects to adventure, cruise, and speciality vacations)
World Traveler Collection (use Interval International to use points for international hotels)

Members can use their points in more combinations than I’d realized: maybe they want to take one traditional vacation at a single Marriott Vacation Club property per year (there are over 100, by the way). Or maybe they want to take a few overnight stays at a traditional Marriott hotel for a sports tournament, and then use their remaining points on a shorter beach getaway. Maybe, they’d rather ‘bank’ their points for several years, going all out for a family reunion. Honestly, the possibilities are limited only by the number and locations of Marriott destinations (which, as we all know, are numerous).

When families buy into the club, they choose how many points they’d like to buy. Points are essentially vacation currency. To give parents a general idea of the investment, one Marriott Vacation Club point is roughly equivalent to $10. Families can start by buying a smaller number of points, then buy more should they find they need them, or vice versa: it is possible to sell points. When ready to book a vacation, owners can use the Marriott Vacation Club call center (based in Salt Lake City for US owners) or opt to use the integrated website.

What it costs:

I like that unlike in the past, Marriott Vacation Club is very transparent about price. Here are a few examples of what the lowest point buy-ins can get you. As noted above, one point is roughly $10, so 1,500 points would be $15,000. Most owners finance, paying monthly. Remember, every owner also pays an annual maintenance fee and club dues.

1,500 points = 3 nights in Las Vegas in a 2-bedroom villa or 7 nights in Vail in a 1-bedroom villa
2,500 points = 7 nights at Palm Beach in a studio villa or 10 nights in Miami in a 2-bedroom villa
3,500 points = 7 nights on Oahu in a 1-bedroom villa or 7 nights in Orlando in a 3-bedroom villa

All these examples (and more) are available on the marriottvacationclub.com website.

What Marriott Vacation Club actually looks like:

I had the pleasure of sitting down with two Marriott Vacation Club owners, both local to the Palm Beach, Florida area. Both owners I spoke with were mothers who love traveling with their kids, make most of the travel decisions for their families, and enjoy planning trips. One owner had owned with Marriott Vacation Club for 10 years, and the other had owned for five years.

Both women testified to the ease of using the Marriott Vacation Club booking system. One loved using the call center agents, while the other preferred to figure out her reservations online. Either way, both women agreed that planning trips in advance is crucial to getting the most out of the program. This fact doesn’t have to be a negative; after all, haven’t we been preaching the importance of trip planning at Pit Stops for Kids for years? Vacation planning can be nearly as fun as the trip itself! One of the owners put it this way: Our vacation starts when we start planning it.

And remember all those combinations of trips owners can book, ranging from club stays to cruises? The two owners I talked to actually have used their points for a wide variety of vacations. One had traveled internationally with hers more than once, and the other likes to convert points to Marriott Rewards to book hotel stays before air travel days.

I asked about ease of use: both owners used the call center staff and the forums on the owner website to figure out which properties to book for which days to stretch their points the furthest, and to ask for reviews of each property and get advice about which would be best based on their family’s needs. The owner with young kids frequently asks call center staff for resort information: which property is best for kids who want a beach without waves? Which has the best kids’ program? These women have taken their families on trips ranging from city hotel stays to week-long ski vacations to beach getaways to college-touring overnights. Flexibility is crucial to the new face of time sharing.

Common questions:

I went straight to the source, and talked to the folks at Marriott and the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

Q: How much does it cost to buy into Marriott Vacation Club?

A: At the time of this posting, Marriott says points start at 1,500, which equates to $15,000. Financing is available. My first impression: $35,000 (which would buy 3, 500 points) is a lot of money. Our cars don’t cost that much, in our family. But we take multiple vacations per year, as family travel is one of our most cherished activities. Points renew every single year, and yet families pay for these points only once. Conclusion: it’s worth crunching the numbers for your family before dismissing the time share option based solely on price.

Q: Can I sell my points? Can I sell my entire membership?

A: Yes. It’s as simple as that. But we’ve all heard horror stories from former time share owners who didn’t get ‘back their investment’ when they sold. I posed this question to ARDA president and CEO Howard Nusbaum. His answer: vacations are not a financial investment. They’re a lifestyle investment. Just as you’d never expect to get a return on the sale price of a car, you won’t ‘make’ money off your time share. Unlike time shares of 20 years ago, families today aren’t exactly buying real estate. They’re buying time. Much like the ZipCar or bike share model of business, Marriott Vacation Club is all about trading, using, and sharing.

Q: Won’t I have a hard time getting the rooms or availability I want, much like when I try to use airline miles?

A: Not if you plan ahead. The Marriott Vacation Club sales team pointed out that while last minute deals can be found (just as they can be found using any hotel reservation site), the primary reason families cannot get into the properties they want to book is due to poor planning. They suggest families plan their major vacations up to one year in advance. If this recommendation warms your heart, you’re a planner like me, and this won’t be a problem. If it worries you, a Marriott Vacation Club ownership might not be for you.

Q: Are Marriott Vacation Club properties all condos?

A: No. They are resorts, with villas ranging from studios to three-bedroom units. I was pleasantly surprised by Marriott Oceana Palms, which to all extents and purposes is a full-scale beachfront resort. Families certainly don’t have to be vacation club owners to stay there, so there’s much more of a resort feel than a condo feel.

Q: Won’t I be limited if I like to plan my own travel?

A: This is a worry I have, too. Those who love to plan travel don’t want to feel restricted. I felt better when one owner explained how she used her Marriott Vacation Club points as only one tool in her vacation planning. She still went where she wanted to go and booked what she liked best. She cross-referenced her destination picks with the thousands of Marriott and partner properties available to her, but didn’t limit herself to them. Only you can decide whether this approach would work for you.

Other time share programs worth a look:

Disney Vacation Club: a Disney timeshare is a great investment.
Hilton Grand Vacations
Westgate Timeshare Vacation Packages: experience a relaxing accommodation near the most popular theme parks.

Interested in a West Palm Beach vacation? I was curious about the Florida coastline, so for my first trip to Florida outside of Orlando, I checked out the Palm Beaches area north of Miami. Um, it’s kind of ok here. Maybe I should venture beyond Disney more often!

I stayed at Marriott Oceana Palms, which is a Marriott Vacation Club property. I knew I’d be happy with the resort, as I’d absolutely loved my stay at the Marriott Vacation Club in Boston, and recommend it every chance I get. However, when many parents see the words ‘vacation club’, they think it must not be for them…they either assume they can’t book if they’re not a member, or worry they’ll be pitched to once on site. I can assure you: Marriott Vacation Club isn’t your grandparents’ time share. This points-based vacation ownership program is completely different, with tons of flexibility. However— and this is the kicker —you don’t need to be a Marriott Vacation Club owner to book Marriott Vacation Club villas, anyway.

Quite honestly, this is one of the best ‘think outside the box’ alternatives to booking standard hotel rooms. For the cost of one beachfront hotel room (usually with a square footage of under 400), families can reserve an entire two-bedroom villa with over 1000 square feet of living space, including a kitchen and washer-dryer.

The Oceana Palms is a small, intimate resort right on the beach of Singer Island in West Palm Beach. It looks and feels like any other high-end Marriott resort: you get kids’ clubs, activities and programming, dining, pools and exercise rooms, and beach access. There are two towers in Oceana Palms: the Sunrise Tower and the Sunset Tower. At first glance, it appears that the Sunrise Tower, which is closest to the beach, is the obvious choice. However, thanks to great architectural design, both towers have ocean views. And some villas in the Sunset Tower have larger balconies.

What’s in your villa:

All villas at Oceana Palms are the same: two-bedroom units with everything you need, right down to the whisk in the kitchen. You’ll find laundry soap next to the washer, dish towels and plastic garbage bags, and hair dryers and shampoo. Sometimes, when families rent vacation homes or units, they don’t know what will be waiting for them. We had one unfortunate trip to a vacation home in which we discovered the ‘full kitchen’ lacked an oven! At Oceana Palms, everything is here. You also get two full bathrooms, one on which has a walk-in shower and the other of which has a large tub. Free wifi is available in the rooms and across the resort. The photo below shows a view from a Sunset Tower villa. Get up-to-date room rate information here.

What to do on site:

Oceana Palms boosts ideal beach access…the surf and sand is just steps away past the pool area. At the beach equipment stand, check in with Tony, who can hook you up with snorkel gear, boogie boards, and cabanas. Otherwise, lounge chairs are free for guest use. I split my time happily from beach to pool (which older kids could do on their own quite safely).

In the pool area, you’ll find a zero-depth entry area for young kids, plus a splash zone. On the other end, a lap pool is situated in a quiet corner, and additional pool space occupies the area in-between. Oceana Palms schedules quite a bit of daily activity, with DJs, movie nights, and lessons in everything from crocheting to guitar (a staff member actually learned guitar in order to teach it). If you’re an activities person, you’ll find as much here as you would in an all-inclusive resort. However, if you want a quieter environment, it is possible to escape it.

For additional entertainment, the resort has small details that go a long way. Throughout Oceana Palms, you’ll find ping pong tables, pool tables, lawn games, BBQs for guest use, and a large, fenced play area for young kids. My children spend hours at simple entertainment venues like this!

Oceana Palms has a drop-in dedicated kids’ club space and a teen space, both of which are fun and inviting…and casual, which is nice for families on vacation. There is a casual dining Marketplace, plus poolside Reflections, both good for burgers, sandwiches, and drinks. You won’t find upscale dining on site, but that’s what your full kitchen is for: I recommend shopping before arrival and making many meals in your villa.

What to do in Palm Beaches:

You’ll want to venture off-site while at Oceana Palms. We took a short drive off Singer Island to Jupiter Beach, where to toured the historic Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. The guided tour includes a walk up the many spiral steps to the top of the lighthouse, where amazing views await, and a stop in the small but well-done museum. Pair your excursion to the lighthouse with lunch at Guanabanas, a waterfront bar and grill located adjacent. Guanabanas is more than a restaurant; it’s a full dining experience with the best ambiance I’ve seen for a classic Florida feel. The whole place is outdoors, with vegetation, overhangs, and straw roof shelter.

For another night out, consider heading to the Sailfish Marina on Palm Beach Shores. Part fish market, part marina, and part upscale seafood restaurant, Sailfish has something for everyone. The large building is fairly loud, which means kids will fit right in, and when they get squirrelly, take them outside to the marina, where they can purchase fish food to throw into the water. Wait for the feeding frenzy to begin!

How to get here:

Marriott’s Oceana Palms is located at 3200 North Ocean Drive, Riviera Beach, Florida. It’s just over the bridge on Singer Island, 15 minutes from the West Palm Beach airport.

Where do you stay in West Palm Beach? Would you consider trying a Marriott Vacation Club villa?

As I disclose whenever applicable, my stay with Oceana Palms was hosted, for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

Timeshare Rentals De-Mystified: What you need to know about Marriott Vacation Club