Good afternoon everyone, I hope your weekend is going well.  Today, I received a targeted timeshare vacation package offer via mail for the Marriott Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert, CA (near Palm Springs).  The cost is $249 for a 4 night / 5 day stay, plus you have your choice of 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points or a $75 Marriott gift card.  If you value 15,000 Marriott points at $150, that brings the cost down to $100 for 4 nights or $25 / night.  You need to attend a 90 minute timeshare sales presentation, but that seems like a pretty good deal.  I have experience with timeshare sales presentations and they are not too bad.  I will go through the booking process to show you what it is like, what is included, and how much it costs.

Here is the letter I received, but unfortunately, this offer is only available if you received a targeted letter with a preferred invitation number.  You might be able to call in and see if you are eligible at 888-402-2145.

Here is the back side of the letter with the complete terms and conditions:

I went to the dedicated link in the letter and this is the offer I see.

Here are the complete terms and conditions from the Details of Participation link:

SPONSOR: This special invitation is presented to you by Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Marriott Vacation Club International to promote the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations program.

ELIGIBILITY:  Must be a U.S. resident with an annual household income of $100,000 or more. One offer per household. The following are not eligible for this offer: Participants in a Marriott Vacation Club®, Sheraton® Vacation Club, or Westin® Vacation Club promotion within the past year or with an active vacation package; employees and immediate family of Sponsor or its affiliated companies; and residents of HI, ME and WV.

PRESENTATION: Attendance at the sales presentation, lasting approximately 90 minutes, is required. If you do not attend the sales presentation, the full retail value of the accommodations will be charged to the credit card provided at check-in. If married, cohabitating, or in a life partnership, both parties must attend together to receive this special offer. Individuals may purchase separately. Transportation to and from the presentation is not provided.

OFFER: All currency mentions are U.S. dollars. A $199 deposit is required at time of purchase with any remaining balance due when the reservation is made. Package must be purchased with a major credit card, which is also required at check-in. Stay must be consecutive nights. Not valid for stays consecutive with Owner usage. Travel must be completed within 12 months of package purchase. Any airfare, transportation, parking, housekeeping, tips, taxes, and additional expenses are not included. Offer cannot be modified or combined with any other promotion, is not transferable, and is subject to change without notice. Due to the special pricing of this offer, we are unable to offer Marriott Bonvoy® program member benefits.

RESCHEDULING AND CANCELLATIONS: Once your reservation is confirmed, you have 1 complimentary reschedule within 3 days of booking your travel dates. You may request changes up to 30 days prior to check-in date with a $75 nonrefundable change fee. Rescheduling is not allowed within 30 days of check-in date. For residents of MI, MN, ND, NM, and TX, cancellations must be made in writing within 15 calendar days of purchase, or package is nonrefundable. Refunds will be issued within 10 business days of receipt of cancellation notice. Please send to Vacation Cancellations, 7812 Palm Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32836. For residents of all other states, this promotional package is nonrefundable.

MARRIOTT BONVOY POINTS: If selected, Marriott Bonvoy Points will be issued following the sales presentation. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for posting of Points. Points are subject to the Marriott Bonvoy program, which is operated by Marriott International, Inc. and subject to change without notice. Terms and conditions can be found at marriottbonvoy.com. Approximate retail value is $187.

MARRIOTT GIFT CARD: If selected, gift card will be issued following the sales presentation. Retail value of gift card is its face value. Gift card is not redeemable for cash and is not transferable. Can only be used at participating Marriott properties for stays, dining, spa, golf, and more. Please refer to gifts.marriott.com for details.

ACCOMMODATIONS:  Your guestroom at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge sleeps up to 4 guests. Package is $299 ($1,530 average retail value). Your 1 bedroom villa at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge sleeps up to 4 guests. Package is $348 ($2,112 average retail value) for stays 4/1–1/31 or $648 ($3,252 average retail value) for all other dates. Average retail value is based on the average of current and projected room rates at the time of publication, which are subject to change without notice. Actual retail value is the rack rate during occupancy. An upgrade to a larger room may be available for an additional fee. Stays that occur during any portion of a holiday or special event period are extremely limited and include a $149 surcharge. This includes but is not limited to days associated with: Presidents Day, Easter, Spring Break, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Inquire for details. Reservations are subject to availability and must be made within 10 months of desired stay and at least 30 days in advance. Do not purchase airfare until your arrival dates are confirmed. Certain view types will not be available. Amenities and room furnishings may vary. Alternate accommodations of comparable value may be used if necessary.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: See important alerts, resort updates, and amenity status at hub.vacationclub.com.

CA – Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc. CA-BRE #1008481. James Miller, Responsible Broker. NJ – NREC #10-99-0007.

©2024 Marriott Vacation Club International. All Rights Reserved. Marriott Vacation Club International and the programs and products provided under the Marriott Vacation Club, Sheraton Vacation Club, and Westin Vacation Club brands are not owned, developed, or sold by Marriott International, Inc. Marriott Vacation Club International uses the Marriott marks under license from Marriott International, Inc. and its affiliates.

This advertising material is being used for the purpose of soliciting sales of timeshare interests.

Any names and addresses acquired will be used for soliciting sales of timeshare interests. The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from sponsor. 

Equal Housing Opportunity

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Once you click the Select Resort button from above, you will see 2 different accommodations: Guestroom ($249 per stay) or One Bedroom Villa ($348 per stay). Both require a $199 non-refundable deposit.  Remember, Marriott elite status doesn’t get you anything at timeshare properties or on timeshare vacation packages, so don’t expect any upgrades or freebies during your stay.

You cannot select the dates online, but you can call 888-402-2145 to select the dates after you pay the $199 non-refundable deposit.  Here is the details of participation screen that you need to agree to.

My contact information was automatically filled in and cannot be changed, therefore, this offer is not transferrable.  Fill in your credit card information and then you can review the details.  I don’t believe you will earn bonus points if you pay with a Marriott credit card.

I am going to pass on this timeshare vacation package since I do not have any plans to go to the Palm Desert / Palm Springs area.  My parents are Marriott Vacation Club owners, so I did stay at this property a few years ago.  It is very spread out and the pool was nice, but you need to drive 10-15 minutes to get to restaurants or grocery stores.

Just remember to stick to your guns and say no at the timeshare sales presentation.  I find them to be mostly interesting, with a scattering of white lies and half truths sprinkled in.  If you are familiar with the Marriott Bonvoy program, you will probably be able to spot them from a mile away and don’t be surprised if you know more about the programs than the timeshare sales people.  One of my favorite things to do is call out their exaggerated points prices when the sales people say Marriott points are worth 2 cents or more (ya right!).   If you have any questions about the timeshare vacation packages or attending a timeshare sales presentation, please leave a comment below.  Have a great weekend everyone!