We own three weeks of Marriott time shares, two in Hawaii and one in Boston. The use has been satisfactory. However, this time I decided to exchange one week of Hawaii for points. I received 110,000 points but did not realize that this point value was identical for all properties regardless of value or maintenance fees. Marriott encourages their owners to buy "point farms" i.E. Cheap properties, low purchase price, high point value.
Last week I decided to use my points for a hotel stay since they had advertised five nights for four. I reserved a Courtyard and was told that it cost me l00,000points plus an exchange fee. I then Googled the hotel and found that I could rent a room for $145.00.in other words, I received $725.00 worth of value for a cost of over $3000.00. I figure the cost as one week in a resort which Marriott rents for $425.00 per night and up, my maintenance fee of ca. $1400.00. Five single rooms for the price of a one week luxury resort plus high maintenance fee.
When I called to point out this inequity I was told "you should have known that trading a resort for points is a bad deal." Why wasn't I made aware of this if this is such a bad deal? And why does Marriott punish their customers with a phony "reward'? This has been the worst scam we have encountered and we are ashamed of Marriott.
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