Marriott Vacation Club Reviews

We deeply regret our decision to purchase a Sheraton/Vistana timeshare. What began as a basic one-week package in 2018 spiraled into a web of hidden costs and unfulfilled promises. In 2021, we were pressured into upgrading to their 'highest level' package, with sales representatives promising better flexibility and Marriott Bonvoy access. The reality has been disappointing. Maintenance fees increase annually, and booking desired locations is nearly impossible. We specifically wanted Myrtle Beach but constantly get redirected to Orlando. Despite year-round payments, we face substantial additional costs that make these vacations more expensive than using VRBO or Airbnb. The sales team failed to disclose crucial information, like our children inheriting maintenance fee obligations. They provided contract documents on a Fire Tablet we couldn't access later. Despite reaching their 'highest level,' we're still required to attend sales presentations. Even basic accommodations are problematic. When traveling with family, they repeatedly failed to place our rooms near each other despite specific requests. The promised investment value and vacation flexibility never materialized. Save your money and avoid this timeshare. You'll end up spending more than booking regular vacations while being trapped in an increasingly expensive contract with diminishing returns.

We’ve been owners with Marriott for years, but it’s been a nightmare. High-pressure sales tactics misrepresented costs, benefits, and long-term fees. Points expire quickly, availability is poor without planning far in advance, and we’ve lost points due to cancellations and the pandemic. They even reported a missed payment caused by their system error, damaging our credit and nearly costing us our home. Constant upselling and zero flexibility have made this experience unbearable. We’ve been requesting assistance to cancel our timeshare for nearly 3 years with no resolution. We do not recommend anyone buying a Marriott timeshare.

Marriott vacation club is horrible. Do not join. I repeat do not join.

Promised the accomodation of choice has plenty of vacancy on the type of rooms I wanted for my family. After paid deposit the very next day reservation team sent wrong type of confirmation and after 2 weeks even with 12 days provided my choice were "full".. they kept asking you to take another type with "promise" to swop asap.. when I finally ask for refund it's been almost a month and still not hearing back from anyone except the sales person. write in to mariotte vacation and they don't even respond. Do NOT book

We’ve been Marriott time share owners for 10 years. In the beginning we had no problem getting a week. Fast forward, we cannot get a week anywhere and are on a waiting list. The last timeshare sales pitch we went to the rep told us he and his coworkers buy multiple weeks so they can rent the weeks on Redweek, trying to get us to buy more. This removes inventory from the system. Going on redweek I can see multiple weeks up for rent. Not sure how you can fix it but you need to. My recommendation to anyone considering buying a timeshare is don’t. It’s no longer worth it.

Innert 9 Jahren ca. verdreifachung der Unterhaltskosten. Keiner weiss wohin das Geld fliesst. Wird absolut vom Kauf abgeraten

The absolute worst investment ever made, don't make the same mistake. I used my inheritance to pay cash to be a Vacation Club Member and for the last 6 years I have never been able to get anything that I've requested and typically nothing is ever available so for the 3K fees annually, it is a major rip off. I'm going to cut my losses and walk away. When I contacted Marriott to see if they would buy back the points, I was told that they would at my sales presentation, but that was a lie. Marriott told me it's not worth anything and they will not buy back. They are absolutely right, it's worthless. I'm so disappointed in the company as I worked for them for 13 years in a management role and thought they would be reputable. Just money hungry and greedy, and they claim to be religious, Ha. What a joke, squeeze and squeeze and oversell a commodity you can't deliver.

We have been longtime owners of deeded fixed weeks at Vistana and Westin Mission Hills. We have been content with the program. At a recent timeshare presentation, we were encouraged to purchase Marriott Club Points so we can reach the Chairman's level. (We were grandfathered into the Presidential level with no purchase of club points). At the Chairman's level, we were told that we will not lose our deeded rights, and in fact, our options would be worth double their value. By way of example, we can book a deeded 2 bedroom for the usual 81000 options for 1 week, but be charged only half that amount of options. So for approximately $20000 for the addtional 1400 club point needed to reach Chairman's level, we would virtually the number of options we own to trade within the system. We cannot find that right or program anywhere. Any comments or experiences with such a benefit

So, I've got to warn everyone about this horrible experience with Sheraton Vacation Club. We thought we were getting this amazing vacation ownership deal, but it's been nothing but trouble from day one. We got sucked in by their slick sales pitch - you know, those presentations where they make everything sound amazing. They promised us the world: easy cruises, flexible points, great properties. Spoiler alert: NONE of that was true. The worst part? We planned this trip to Maine, got all excited, and when we showed up, they told us our reservation was canceled. Just like that. No warning, no real explanation. We ended up paying out of pocket and staying in this total dump with no working air conditioning. Who does that? We did the math on their easy cruises and get this - it would take us 42 YEARS to break even on this horrid investment. 42 YEARS! The properties are garbage, the points are basically worthless, and their customer service is a joke with everyone pointing fingers at everyone else. If you're thinking about buying into a timeshare, run. Just run. Save your money and your sanity. We're trying to get out of this contract, and I'm sharing this so no one else makes the same mistake we did. Seriously - stay away from Sheraton Vacation Club. Worst. Decision. Ever.

My experience with this company has been extremely disappointing due to deceptive sales practices. During a visit to the Westin lobby in Manhattan, a salesperson approached us, claiming to offer a promotional package with a discounted rate that needed to be locked in immediately. Under pressure and reassured by their words, we signed up, only to be told that the paperwork would arrive by mail due to high demand. To our surprise, when the paperwork finally arrived, we discovered it was for a vacation package we had no intention of purchasing. I called immediately to cancel, and was reassured that the cancellation was being processed. However, months later, I was informed that the deposit is non-refundable. This experience feels like a scam, with unethical tactics used to secure our money under false pretenses. I urge others to be extremely cautious and think twice before engaging with this company. Timeshares can be fraught with risk, and unfortunately, this company has lost my trust entirely.

Never was a member of them or Vistana, never once went to a presentation or sales event... yet I am getting 5-10 calls a month (typically first thing in the morning) from people who are calling on "Behalf of Vistana" and inform me that they received my name from a Vistana / Marriot Vacation Club list that they purchased. So it seems they will get anyone's info, sell it, and profit off of harassment.

Absolutely devastating experience with Marriott Vacation Club. After investing over $75,000 since 2009, I've been met with nothing but disappointment: * Deceptive sales practices that violate Nevada rescission laws. * Constant pressure to upgrade with zero real benefits. * Promised perks like Disney Cruise exchanges which are completely fictional. * Maintenance fees keep rising with no return on investment. * Terrible customer service that ignores reasonable accommodation requests. Platinum status means nothing. Their sales representatives are more interested in pushing upgrades than providing actual value. Save your money and avoid this predatory timeshare company at all costs. Worst investment I've ever made. Completely misleading from start to finish. Do not make the same mistake as I did and save your money. This company is full of liars.

Our experience with Marriott Vacation Club has been nothing short of devastating. What started as an exciting investment in 2018 turned into a spiral of mounting financial obligations. At each "owner update" meeting, we were pressured to upgrade our points, being told our current level wasn't enough to fully enjoy the benefits. We fell for this three times, accumulating multiple loans with high interest rates. The salespeople conveniently omitted crucial information about loan terms and interest rates. We're now paying a staggering $13,000 annually for what amounts to a single vacation - if we can even book one. The maintenance fees have skyrocketed from around $1,100 to over $4,300, making ownership completely unsustainable. The promised "exclusive" resorts turned out to be available to anyone at much lower nightly rates than what we pay as owners. The booking system is frustrating to navigate, and the few properties within driving distance are either outdated or perpetually unavailable. When we tried to consolidate our loans, Marriott lost our paperwork and kept our $2,730 consolidation payment, claiming it was "forfeited" due to our "lack of action." Multiple attempts to resolve this through customer service were met with unreturned calls and endless runarounds. Recently we spoke with Diane in Member Services, which turned out to be a waste of time. She told us that if we paid off the loan ($57,000), they MIGHT take it back, then proceeded to tell us to contact ARDA or a 3rd party reseller. These people take ZERO accountability for their greedy salespeople’s unethical behavior. Save yourself from this expensive mistake. You're better off booking directly through travel sites than getting locked into this deceptive timeshare scheme

Can't make presentation. They are not flexible. Quick to charge 500 to make sure you attend. When you want to book those days are not available when you want it. They charge a premium for holidays. Not worth the money considering you're not saving much

I purchased the Encore package with Marriott Vacation Club during a presentation a while back because I was promised I could use it anytime, anywhere as long as booked in advance. There is no online tool to look at the properties, and you must choose every detail while on the phone with a rep. I was originally booked at a hotel that was not even the hotel I expected, and the presentation was at an alternate location. I then changed this as it would not work, which I had to pay $100 for. Fast forward, and I we have a reservation coming up for Dec 12-16. We had a death in the family this week, and I wanted to simply push the dates or have the credit to use later, but I was told I would have to pay another $100. When I asked if the fact that a family member passed away was considered at all to not have to pay AGAIN, I was told it was too soon and I still would be charged to cancel. I am sorry I cannot control when someone passes away, but this is absolutely bad business practice. In addition, I am lifetime platinum elite with Marriott, and have used the brand for many years of work travel. I will take this as a sign to switch brands.

Our agreement with Sheraton Flex began during our stay at Sheraton Vistana Villages in Orlando on December 1, 2023. Using points from our Harborside Marriott Bonvoy account, we booked two suites, one for my wife and me, and the other for my son, his family, and the grandkids—as we planned to spend three days at Disney. Upon checking in, we were invited to attend a session under the premise that we would learn better how to leverage our ownership. In exchanged, we were offered bonus points to be added to our Marriott Bonvoy card for our time. During the “review”, they told us that by purchasing the timeshare, our Marriott Bonvoy status would be upgraded from Presidential to Titanium. They also offered additional bonus points if we joined the system, mentioning that we could access the newly launched Abound program through Vistana. From what we understood, this program would provide the same flexibility for using Marriott properties as our Harborside timeshare. However, we later discovered that Sheraton Flex differs from the Harborside timeshare program and does not offer the same structure or access to Marriott properties, despite being told otherwise. Later, we discovered that the loan couldn’t be paid off using our Marriott Bonvoy card. Our financial situation and health have changed significantly this year, and we hoped to either cancel the contract or sell the timeshare. However, we learned they don’t offer services to help us sell it, contrary to what we believed when we purchased it. This year has been especially difficult for us, we’re both retired and the Sheraton employees misrepresenting the product led us to make a decision that has landed us squarely in a position that could lead to financial ruin.

This company is orchestrating a complex scam. Our recent dealings with them have left me feeling deeply disappointed, frustrated, and exploited. The problem originates from the deception during the purchase process. My family and I discussed our disabled daughter's needs with the female representative at Marriott Fairfield and made it clear that we couldn't afford the timeshare. We haven't used the timeshare due to the ever-increasing fees. When we finally thought we could use it, there were no available options. This timeshare has become a heavy financial burden on our family, severely affecting our finances, especially as our priority is our disabled daughter and her medical expenses. In the last few months, we've contacted other representatives, only to be told they're "sorry for our frustration," advised to "stop paying on our ownership," and informed to "expect no further response." We demand the cancellation of the timeshare and a full refund. This situation is completely unacceptable.

I’m writing this review to warn others about the misleading and high-pressure sales tactics used by Marriott Vacation Ownership. My wife and I were sold a dream that quickly turned into a nightmare. After spending thousands of dollars, dealing with constant frustration, and realizing we were misled at every step, I want to share our experience so others can avoid making the same mistake. After two years of frustration, we’ve come to the painful conclusion that Marriott Vacation Ownership is a scam. The resorts are overbooked, the booking process is a nightmare, and the costs are far higher than we were led to believe. We’ve spent thousands of dollars, and our “vacation ownership” has become a financial burden with nothing to show for it. The deceptive sales tactics, lack of transparency, and false promises have caused significant emotional distress and financial hardship. Marriott Vacation Ownership is nothing like what was promised, and we feel trapped in a contract we never should have entered. If you’re considering Marriott Vacation Ownership, I strongly advise you to look elsewhere. The reality of this program is far from the dream they sell you in the presentation. Avoid it at all costs—this is a scam designed to trap you into paying for something you’ll never be able to fully enjoy.

I have been an MVC member for several years. In the past, I have sold weeks on Redweek, and I have not had any problem changing the guest name on the reservation. There is a glitch in the MVC system, so for 3 days, I have been trying to change the guest information for Redweek. My deadline is in 2 days. I will lose $1500 if MVC cannot get its act together.

I have been a Marriott Vacation Club Owner since 2013. I had 5500 MVC Destination points which had me at Select Level. I recently purchased 1500 MVC Destination points which now has me at Executive Level. I did not purchase through Marriott but at closing Marriott was paid $4500 Transfer fee ($750 per Beneficial Interest x 6 Interest) and $95 Right of First Refusal Fee.   If you are select Level, your Club Dues per year are $250 and $290 per year for Executive Level. I received a billing that added the additional Maintenance fees due for that 1500 MVC points which which is $1214.16 calculated at about .81 per point. I was also billed for the additional taxes due which is $8.04. Since I was already billed for Club Dues for Select of $250, the additional amount due is $40 but I was charged $55.45. When I called to inquire about this, the Advisor did not know the reason for the extra $15.45 so they contacted billing. Billing falsely claim that my broker should have informed me about the additional closing cost. I disputed this and informed them that all the closing cost to be paid were paid at closing. They then came back and stated that this was an additional transfer fee which they have already gotten $4500 for.   I requested documentations to support this and to show how this amount was calculated and why if it was a transfer fee, it was hidden with the Club Dues. They claim that they didn´t have another way to add this cost so they just added it to the club dues. No one has even heard of this fee and my broker has sold many MVC Destination points and has never heard from any other clients about this surprised additional cost. If this was a legitimate fee, then there should have been a line item for this and documentation to show how they came up with this fee but they dont have such. I am stilll waiting on the documenation but after about 2 hours on hold on the phone with the Advisior trying to get this information from Billing, he took my information and was supposed to get back to me. My Maintenance fees are due December, 2, 2024. If they are not paid, Marriott will not allow me access to my 7000 MVC Desitination Points. The extra $15.45 is not a legitimate line item so I have asked them to remove this from my bill but billing is not cooperating. I am also disappointed that they are falsely accusing my broker of not informing me that this fee would be added. I am.also going to contact the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General Office in Florida and North Carolina. I am probably not the only person they have done this to.