Have you considered buying a Marriott Vacation Club timeshare resale but want to know how it compares to purchasing directly from the developer? Understanding the nuances of Marriott resale vs retail when buying a Marriott timeshare is an important step in practicing your due diligence. This guide explores the key differences, helping you decide if Marriott Vacation Club resales are the right fit for you. We’ll also highlight updated terminology, noting that Destinations Club Points are now called Abound Club Points.
In order to walk you through the difference between retail and resale Marriott Vacation Club timeshares, we will need to break this into two sections that correspond to the two main timeshare products Marriott offers: Deeded Weeks, and Abound Club Points.
To get started, click the icon below to scroll to the Marriott Vacation Club product that interests you most.
Marriott Deeded Weeks (Also Known as Legacy Weeks)
A Marriott Deeded Week means you own a floating week at one specific Marriott resort, and you can use this week annually during your assigned season (Silver, Gold, or Platinum and sometimes Blue, Red & White seasons). The season your ownership is deeded to will determine a range of weeks in which you can book your deeded unit size each year. Whether you buy a Marriott timeshare resale or purchase retail, your home resort usage stays unchanged.
For example, if you purchased a deeded week at Marriott’s Grande Vista, you could choose between a Gold or Platinum week. For a Platinum week, you can book weeks; 1-17, 22-24 or 51-52. You can see below the exact check-in and check-out dates for the current year:
Grande Vista Check-in Dates
- Platinum: Week 1 (01/02/2025 – 01/09/2025) through Week 17 (04/28/2025 – 05/05/2025)
- Gold: Week 18 (05/01/2025 – 05/08/2025) through Week 21 (05/26/2025 – 06/02/2025)
- Platinum: Week 22 (05/29/2025 – 06/05/2025) through Week 34 (08/25/2025 – 09/01/2025)
- Gold: Week 35 (08/28/2025 – 09/04/2025) through Week 50 (12/15/2025 – 12/22/2025)
- Platinum: Week 51 (12/18/2025 – 12/25/2025) through Week 52 (12/29/2025 – 01/05/2026)
Check-in Days of the Week
When reserving your deeded week, different Marriott Vacation Club resorts offer differing days of the week the owner can check-in. Sticking with Grande Vista as our example, owners can choose between Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday as their check-in day of the week.
This is another feature of deeded weeks that remains the same regardless of whether Marriott owners buy on the secondary market or not.
Booking Windows
In most cases, owners of a deeded week at a Marriott timeshare resort can book up to 12 months in advance of their desired check-in date. For owners of more than one deeded week, there are opportunities to book up to 13 months in advance as well. This remains unchanged whether you purchase your ownership on the secondary market or directly from Marriott.
If you’d like to learn more about booking windows, how far in advance you can book your next Marriott Vacation Club reservation, and get charts for both Abound points & legacy week owners, check out our dedicated article here: Marriott Vacation Club Reservation Booking Windows.
Interval International Exchanges
If you’d like to use your week to travel to alternative timeshare resorts, you can always explore how trading Marriott Vacation Club legacy weeks with Interval International works.
Maintenance Fees
Annual maintenance fees are required to stay in good standing with Marriott, and to continue to use your timeshare for vacations. Whether you buy your deeded week on the secondary market or not, maintenance fees are identical.
Differences In Marriott Deeded Week Ownership Benefits On The Resale Market
When buying a Marriott property such as a deeded week, you’ll enjoy nearly all the same owner benefits as those who buy retail. There are a few subtle differences, let’s explore them in depth.
Enrollment in the Abound Program
The main difference between retail and resale Marriott legacy weeks, is that owners purchasing deeded weeks recorded after June 20th, 2010 can not enroll their deeded weeks into the Abound program. Likewise, when selling your deeded week, you can not offer Abound enrollment to a buyer on the secondary market.
If you’re going by what is listed on the Marriott Vacation Club website, you may have found the following statement:
You may enroll Marriott Vacation Club Week(s) purchased from Marriott Vacation Club® or its affiliates in the Abound exchange program for only $595 for enrollment of one week and $695 for enrollment of more than one week. Weeks purchased from third parties (i.e., not from Marriott Vacation Club International or its affiliates) with a deed recording date prior to June 20, 2010 (or prior to April 21, 2016, for Marriott’s Phuket Beach Club Weeks) are eligible for this offer, with pricing of $1495 for enrollment of one week and $1995 for enrollment of more than one week.
Marriott WebsiteIn order to make better sense of this statement, we’ve created a chart to let you know Marriott’s fees for enrolling your week:
| Purchase Date | Purchase Method | Enrollment Fee (1 Week) | Enrollment Fee (2+ Weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| before June 20th, 2010 | From Marriott | $0 | $0 |
| before June 20th, 2010 | From 3rd Party | $1495 | $1995 |
| after June 20th, 2010 | From Marriott | $595 | $695 |
| after June 20th, 2010 | From 3rd Party | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Bonvoy Points (Formerly Marriott Rewards Points) Conversion
Also, resale owners cannot convert their week into Marriott Bonvoy Points for hotel stays across Marriott’s network.
If you are not able to travel in a particular year, banking your Marriott week / renting your timeshare out are generally better options than trying to use marriott rewards points. The conversion rate between timeshare usage and Bonvoy points often represents an incredibly poor value proposition. Generally, direct cash bookings or renting your timeshare out and then booking with the cash is a better value for non-resort stays.
Difference In Price of Marriott Legacy Weeks On The Secondary Market
A major advantage of Marriott Vacation Club resales is the savings. You can buy Marriott timeshare resales for as much as 80% less than retail prices. Many buyers secure desirable weeks at a fraction of the developer cost, making resale an attractive option for budget-conscious travelers.
Marriott Abound Club Points (Formerly Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Club Points)
Marriott Abound Club Points (Formerly Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Club Points) are designed for those who look to travel the world, want incredible booking flexibility, and never get tired of visiting new places. With this ownership program, you can purchase your timeshare that affords you an allotment of points each year that can be used to book over 90 Marriott, Westin, and Sheraton resorts.
Abound Club Points can be used to reserve any available Marriott Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, or Sheraton Vacation Club resort throughout the vast Abound network at any time during the year. This point-based timeshare offers incredible flexibility, but generally costs more to initially purchase on the secondary market.
Differences In Marriott Abound Club Points Ownership Benefits On The Resale Market
There’s no difference between buying Abound Club Points (formerly Destinations Club Points) through the secondary market or directly from Marriott. All ownership rights and benefits are retained, offering full flexibility and club access regardless of purchase method.
Difference In Purchase Price of Marriott Abound Club Points On The Resale Market
When purchasing on the secondary market, you can save up to 70% of your purchase price when compared with buying them direct from Marriott. If you’re looking to purchase Marriott points directly from the developer, current costs are approximately $22,000 for 1,500 Vacation Club Points. If you want that same ownership on the resale market, you can buy Marriott Abound Club Points starting at $6,000 to $8,000.
There are generally higher initial costs associated with buying Abound Points when compared to Marriott’s legacy weeks, in both initial purchase price and closing costs.
Closing Costs
When purchasing Marriott Vacation Club points on the resale market, there are a handful of fees that are required to be paid by the buyer in order to transfer a points-based Marriott Vacation Club timeshare into their name. There are three main fees to be aware of:
- Transfer Fee: $750 per beneficial interest (per 250 Vacation Points) with a minimum of $3,000
- Owner Education Fee: $300 (not charged if buyer has existing points ownership)
- Right of First Refusal (ROFR) Waiver Fee: $95 (per contract purchased)
As with any real estate transaction, there are going to be additional costs that are associated with the transfer of your new Abound membership, so it’s important to know what to expect early in your research process.
Even with the closing costs that Marriott requires to buy Abound on the secondary market, clients can save upwards of 50% when compared to retail prices.
If you’d like to take a deep-dive in the total cost analysis, and see how it stacks up against Marriott’s direct pricing, check our our guide here: Breaking Down Marriott Vacation Club Cost: What You Need to Know.
Right of First Refusal
When Marriott owners have purchased resale ownerships, their purchase will most likely be subject to Marriott’s right of first refusal. This simply means that, before being able to purchase the timeshare, Marriott will be sent your purchase agreement, and can choose to purchase the timeshare for the price listed in the contract.
It’s an important consideration to work with an experienced broker who can guide you through this process to ensure you can successfully transfer the ownership.
You can get more in-depth information about this topic by reading our informative article here: Marriott Right Of First Refusal: Resale Buyers & Sellers.
Want More Information?
We hope that this article has helped you understand the differences between a resale vs retail purchase of Marriott’s timeshare properties. If you’re considering becoming a Marriott owner by purchasing a Marriott timeshare on the secondary market, we recommend filling out a contact form to speak with one of our licensed agents.
We offer expert guidance on whether a deeded week or Abound Club Points best match your travel style and budget, and we’ll assist you every step of the way when you buy Marriott timeshare resales.
