If you’re looking into purchasing Marriott Destinations Club Points, you’ve probably asked the questions, “What is this Use Year Thing?”, “How does it work? And which Use Year is best for me?”. These are some of the questions that will be answered in this article. We’ll explain everything you need to know about Marriott’s use year, including how it affects your membership and which Use Year is best for you. So, whether you’re a current member or just thinking about joining, read on for all the details!
What Is Use Year?
Use Year defines a specific 12 month period of time in which a timeshare owner can use their allotted vacation time. Use Year is also used to determine banking deadlines, and when an owner’s account is credited with their allotment of points. Once a Use Year has been assigned to a Marriott Destinations Club contract, it can not be changed and will be carried with the ownership even after being transferred to a new owner on the resale market.
Use Year vs. Calendar Year
It’s important to note, Use Year does not necessarily correlate with the calendar year. For example, say that your Use Year is April. Your Use Year would being on the 1st of April each year, and end on March 31st, the following year. In this example, your Use Year actually spans across two different calendar years, which is a very common scenario for most timeshare owners.
In the graph below, you can see calendar years are color coded to help show how use years span across two different calendar years, more often than not.
Booking Window vs. Use Year
Another common misconception is that your booking window (how far in advance you can book your vacations) and use year are not identical concepts. Many vacation ownerships allow owners / members to book up to 12 months in advance (generally when booking your home resort) prior to their desired check-in dates. A common mistake of newer timeshare owners is to wait to book their vacation until the usage (or points) has been deposited into their account. In order to get the best chance to book your desired vacation, plan ahead as much as possible by booking as far as advance as possible, regardless of your Use Year.
For example, if your Use Year is in April, and you would like to book a reservation in November, don’t wait until April comes around to book your vacation. Start your search and planning in November of the previous year to take advantage of the booking window that is afforded to you. Many vacation clubs will draw the usage (points) from the Use Year in which the reservation is taking place, and will not draw the usage from what you have currently inside your account. Even if your particular club doesn’t work this way, almost all vacation clubs allow owners to borrow points or usage from the following year at no cost. Make sure to utilize whatever tools to have at your disposal to book as far in advance as is possible for you.
We have added a chart below to help you determine the booking windows for Marriott Vacation Club Resorts, and The Ritz-Carlton Club, Vail; based on your membership level:
| Benefit Level | Annual Vacation Club Points | 13 Months Prior to Check-In | 12 Months Prior to Check-In | 10 Months Prior to Check-In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Up to 3,999 | 7 or more consecutive nights with a 20% Point Premium | 7 or more consecutive nights | Any number of nights |
| Select | 4,000 to 6,999 | 7 or more consecutive nights | Any number of nights | |
| Executive,
Presidential, Chairman’s Club |
7,000 and higher | Any number of nights | ||
You can learn more about Marriott Destination club booking windows by reading our article here: Marriott Vacation Club Reservation Booking Windows.
Marriott Vacation Club Banking Deadlines
For Marriott Vacation Club owners that own Destinations Club points, banking deadlines and the period that points can be used for after being banked, depends on your membership level.
Membership level is determined by the number of Vacation Points you own, you can learn more at the subject with the following link: Marriott Destinations Club Benefits by Membership Level.
| Benefit Level | Annual Vacation Club Points | Banking Deadline* | Use Banked Vacation Club Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Up to 3,999 | 6 months | Within the immediately following Use Year |
| Select | 4,000 to 6,999 | 6 months | |
| Executive | 7,000 to 9,999 | 4 months | |
| Presidential | 10,000 to 14,999 | 4 months | Within the following 1.5 Use Years |
| Chairman’s Club | 15,000 or more | 4 months | Within the following 2 Use Years |
| *Prior to the end of current use year | |||
What Is The Best Use Year For Me?
As with many concepts relating to using your timeshare, the best Use Year for you would greatly depend on your personal style of travel and your membership level.
If You Are Traveling At The Same Time Each Year
If your banking deadline is 6 months prior to the end of the current Use Year, and you know when you’ll most likely be traveling in each year, it would be ideal to have your use year begin directly before your anticipated window of travel each year. For example, if you find yourself traveling during the summer months each year due to having children in school, it may be advantageous to have a Use Year that begins slightly before summer starts. This would allow you ample time to get your vacation booked, and if plans change and you are unable to book your trip during the summer, you’ll have enough time to bank your unused points prior to your banking deadline.
If Your Travel Is Unpredictable
Alternatively, you may find that obtaining a specific Use Year to be of little consequence if your travel patterns are unpredictable. Many travelers find themselves in this category, and do not travel during a specific time during the year. In this case, worrying about which Use Year is assigned to the contract you purchase may prove to be a waste of time.
Use Banking & Exchanging For Added Flexibility
In any case, you can always bank your points, or exchange them to get the most use out of them and avoid expiring points. Thankfully Destination Points offer an incredible amount of flexibility so in many cases you won’t have to fret about what Use Year your contract carries. If you do find yourself traveling during the same months each year, obtaining a Use Year that begins slightly before your anticipated travel dates could help you, but again, this may change as children grow and life changes.
Learn More About Destinations Club Points
If you have any remaining questions regarding how Marriott Destinations Club Use Year works, which Use Year might serve you best, or other questions regarding how Marriott’s flexible point system works, feel free to contact us for more information. Our dedicated staff of Marriott experts are happy to answer any questions you have.
