Maui Marriott: Timeshare hell?
 

Yoshi and I got a tempting offer in the mail yesterday to stay at the Maui Marriott Resort and Ocean Club for just $374/person (6 days, 5 nights).

It sounded too good to be true, so I assumed it was a TimeShare scam. After calling the number, though, I was told that there was no tour of the facilities required, though if we wanted to, there was an optional one.

Since we love Hawaii - and it's damn hard to beat 6 nights for $800 plus airfare, we're tempted, but my BS alarm is still going off. Anyone ever received a similar offer from these folks and gone? Got any follow-up questions you can of that I should ask them?

pretty good deal, are there black out dates?

Marriott will probably try to get you to attend a sales seminar (but they'll call it something else).

Do it and if its any good see if you can sign us up for it. :)

nope but I own a timeshare in Key West and that sounds about right pricing for Maui.

It's a nice resort. I visited Maui in 98. If they give you a tour and a free dinner coupon or voucher, take the tour and decline. They aren't high pressure sales as they used to be, as the trend now is to do low pressure. good luck

here's the interval directory listing:
http://www.intervalworld.com/iw/cs?a...resortCode=MMO

I have owned my timeshare for 2 years and have never nor plan on ever returning to my unit. I trade it every year. The wife and I just toured Helsinki Finland, Salzburg Austria, Malaga Spain, all with our timeshare.

$374 <b>each</b> for 5 nights? Without airfare?

That comes out to $150 per night per room. I think you can find better deals.

We went to Kauai and stayed for around $70 per night (granted - it was 9 years ago).

Buy one of those thick, bronze-colored Entertainment books that every organization sells to raise money. One section of it is "hotels" and there are coupons for 1/2 off - lots of them in Hawaii. Best $25 I ever spent - saved us over $700 over 10 days.

I agree with Cynthetiq. I own a time share in Williamsburg VA. Bought it three years ago and have since used it to go to three different places: New Orleans, NYC, and Ocean City MD.

Timeshares are not the high pressure, locked room they used to be. I've found it to be a pretty good deal. They are on the more expensive side of travel but the places I've traded for have always been nice. The best part of it is that it forces me to take the time or else I will lose it. I know it sounds crazy to have to force yourself to take a vacation but in my life that is unfortunately the way it is.

you also have to remember these are FULL apartments usually. With all the trappings of home, living room, TV/VCR, washer/dryer, full kitchen with all the things you need to cook save spices and food. $150/night quad occupancy for a family isn't such a bad deal.

It might be worth it for an hour of your time. It really depends on what the place is like and where it is. I have been twice and stayed in a small condo on the water between Kaanapali and Kapalua. I don't think I would want to stay down on the windy coast because I am not much of a beach person and there is not the same kind of snorkeling there.