If you’re like me, the thought of going on a vacation helps during life’s most stressful moments. But the planning? Not so much.

There are so many decisions — budgeting, picking the destination, choosing where to stay and for how long, getting there, choosing activities — and the list goes on. For me and my family, becoming a Marriott Vacation Club owner offered a way to make the process a whole lot easier.

My husband and I purchased our timeshare in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown and can’t wait to fully explore the possibilities it offers. Here’s why we decided to go with Marriott Vacation Club for our family.

 

Experiencing Timeshare Firsthand

I didn’t experience the timeshare concept until I was an adult when I was lucky enough to marry into a family with a Marriott Vacation Club timeshare in Hawai’i. Over the past decade, I’ve visited Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club in O’ahu a half dozen times, and the experience has always been nothing short of incredible.

We have more than enough space in a two-bedroom villa with a full kitchen and a breathtaking oceanfront view, and the resort grounds offer everything we want in a getaway: two pools, a private beach and quality restaurants and bars.

When we started looking into becoming timeshare owners, the most important criteria for our family — we have a toddler and one on the way — were reliability and safety. We also debated whether to invest in a timeshare vs. saving for each vacation on a year-by-year basis.

Separating Fact from Myth

Since we had such good experiences with Marriott, we started by getting more information about becoming Vacation Club owners. We had some preconceived ideas about timeshare ownership that we wanted to clarify, like whether we would have to commit to a specific week or destination upon purchase.

What helped sell us on Marriott Vacation Club was the points-based model that allows owners the option to travel to different destinations within the network. And the choices are seemingly endless. We live in Southern California, but used to live in Boston and also have family in New York City. So near term we’ll surely be spending time at Marriott Vacation Club properties on the East Coast. In the future, we plan to see the world with our kids, and share the cultures of various countries in Europe, Central America and Asia.

We also liked that owners aren’t limited to a specific time of year or frequency of travel. This approach gave us exactly the flexibility we needed as a family.

 

Confidence in Marriott

Our confidence in the Marriott brand is ultimately what sealed the deal for us. We know the properties we visit will be in prime locations, well maintained, and have the amenities we rely on as a traveling family — like a fully equipped kitchen, clean pools and activities for kids.

For us, becoming MVC owners was a no-brainer. While we haven’t had the opportunity to travel much yet, we know we’re accruing points to put towards unforgettable vacations in the future.

We’ve already begun to plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip with our extended family — a two-week cruise across the South Pacific — using our points.

I can hardly wait!