Marriott Vacation Club Reviews 

Positive: they offered a discounted night in exchange for us attending the presentation in Hilton Head.
Negative: we thought it would be a group presentation with q&a after. It was one rep per couple and felt like a people/sales factory. The presentation was fine until we said we weren’t interested at which time their mood changed and they insisted on the manager coming in who dropped the price from $80k up front (with 17.99 interest rate for 10 years just to join the club and get 4k or so points per year) down something like $60k. We again said this is not for us and they sent another manager (quality manager) to do a survey. We told manager 1 we’d been there 90min already and our kids were waiting on us for pick up at a nearby beach property and it started to rain. Manager 2 knew this as well and we again said this is not for us and she asked us to rate our rep which we did and started to walk out. The quality manager stood up and stood in front of the door so we couldn’t leave and said we have to wait for a 3rd manager so we couldn’t leave tell them why we didn’t let her finish. We said our kids are waiting in the rain, we said we aren’t interested, we rated our rep favorably and we are leaving. That was the breaking point for us as it felt harassing at that point. Not only will we never buy into MVC, we have now been turned off from staying at Marriott properties. **we own a sales company and have been in business over 30 years and this sales model is disastrously flawed and uncomfortable. Our rep also left their phone in our secluded sales room and intentionally left us for 5 minutes and we immediately got the impression our conversation was being recorded. If we’d read these reviews first, we never would’ve attended. They also tell you the deal is only good for that day while you’re still in the office. No time to review or discuss.

I just returned from Ocean Watch in Myrtle Beach for the last time ever. I bought a “deeded property” Gold week about 20+ years ago. My home base was Myrtle Beach. I paid $20k that was supposed to include guaranteed beach front.
The condos, facilities and locations range from good to great. None I’ve been to are in poor shape. That’s the good news.
The REALITY : Once Marriott went to a points system it became more difficult to make reservations and the beach front guarantee was gone. Unless you plan exactly one year in advance going where you want - even your home base, is a pain in the ass and unlikely. My fees have increased 4X over time, are now $2,000 & will continue increasing. I looked into selling but the average price is about $3,000 with no guarantee of a sale. Marriott will take it back but you have to pay the dues + $400 closing costs. If fees were reasonable ($1,200) and reservations didn’t suck you could view it like joining a golf club. But the value proposition stinks and I view it as the worst financial decision of my life. I’m shocked people still buy into this.

My husband and I had a terrible experience with Sheraton Flex. We accepted a "free" three-night stay in Orlando, only to discover the promised $250 credit was tied to a mandatory, high-pressure sales presentation. The salesperson used exaggerated savings claims (like “save $60,000 in 10 years”), guaranteed buyback or resale help if we couldn’t make loan payments and convinced us to put down $1,000.
The reality was disappointing and stressful. We were pressured to sign a contract quickly while I was in severe back pain, unable to properly review the terms. No one assessed whether the program was even financially suitable for us. Once home, issues continued: our account showed zero points for months due to an email error, Bonvoy Elite status (which we were promised) was never provided, and customer service failed to resolve any problems. Loan payoff information was inconsistent, and the “buyback” promise was missing from the contract.
When we tried to exit, we were simply told to sell the membership ourselves—directly contradicting what the salesperson assured us. We've lost $1,600 and have nothing to show for it except frustration and worry about our credit score. We were subjected to incomplete disclosures, aggressive tactics, and false promises. If you value honesty and transparency, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere.

It's a scam. Run away screaming. You pay a lot of money up front and then in maintenance fees every year. If you put all that money in a savings account you would be 100% better off.
The money you pay in maintenance fees alone (for me that is $6000/yr, which goes up if you buy more points) would cover the trips/hotels so the money you pay to buy the points every year is money you throw away. For me that was $70,000 because I’m stupid and they have very good sales people
Also, I saved points for 2 years to be able to use them on a trip. By the time I had enough points to go on the trip they increased the number of points needed.😑
Like I said it’s a scam, learn from my very expensive mistake.

Family members invited us to stay at Marriott Aruba Surf Club. A Marriott vacation Club property. two bedroom ocean view suite in April 2026. Never again. Every night we came back to our suite to change for dinner and the suite reeked of marijuana. Complained to hotel staff and nothing was done. Apparently this is a frequent issue. Our clothes and belongings began to smell. The odor is circulated throughout the property through the bathroom ventilation system. Not the experience we were looking for. Referred to Marriott Customer Advocacy team in Orlando, Florida when we complained. Spoke to Raphael Garcia who promptly informed me that Marriott is not responsible for their guests behavior. Apparently they have no control over their property even though the premises are smoke free and marijuana is illegal on the island. What more would I expect from a luxury guest hotel.

If I could give a zero I would. I’ve been a timeshare owner for 12 years. Paid $40,000 for my timeshare in Aruba. Each year my maintenance fees go up. I am now paying over $3,200 a year.
I decided to switch my timeshare points 2975 points to the Harborside at Atlantis. I brought my daughter & my best friend. My daughter has asthma & my friend was just recuperating from 4 pin ankle surgery and was barely walking with a cane.
I arrived at Harborside at approximately 12:30. I asked for a pool view and they said my room was not ready. I went to lunch and returned at 3:30 and I was told my room was not ready. Finally at approximately 5:00 I started to complain to the front desk and was told “Oh well you made a special request and room will not be ready til 7:00 pm.” After arguing, the manager Kim came out and said don’t worry I’ll get you a room with a view. We all walked to the room 17 something on the lst floor, I don’t remember in building #6. When we walked into the room the smell of mildew and mold in the bathroom was overwhelming. We could not breath from the smell. My daughter had to use her inhaler. I immediately called Kim at the front desk and he said he doesn’t have another room. We all immediately got out of the room and went back to the front desk. After complaining and arguing, about the mold & mildew in the room, I was switched to building No 5. In that room 28 something that room again smelled of mildew and mold. Again there was mold in that room. So again I contacted Kim and asked to be put in building 1, 2 or 7 only because housekeeping told me that those rooms are not as old and have been updated. I begged Kim to put us in building 1 but was told the 2 bedroom I booked was not in those buildings. I could not sleep, we all had the covers over our noses because of the smell. After complaining and arguing I was finally after 3 days put into a room on the 4th floor of building 1. I was told I was upgraded only to find in that room the smell of mildew, chemicals & saw mold in the bathroom and mold on the blackout curtains hidden behind the sheers. I immediately called the front desk and housekeeping came up to clean the mold. The bellman Delano, when he walked into our room recognized the smell of mold and mildew. I didn’t have the strength to go to another room. I could not check into another hotel for the price that I had 2 other people with me, and an extra $150 in plane fare to get home.
The front desk, Kim and his associates did nothing but apologize for the conditions. I contacted Marriott to complain and asked for the 2975 points back for the Harborside but customer service refused and said they would give me a consolation of only 1 night of points.
The manager and whatever staff lied to Marriott customer service & told them I kept moving my room because I didn’t like the view! In fact, the view was fine of the bay. I contacted Kim and said why did you lie to Marriott about the room changes and he said well you did ask for a particular view. I said you know as well as I that what you said is a lie. I said why don’t you do the right thing and tell Marriott the truth about the mildew and mold? I have plenty of pictures of the mold!
After all of the money I have invested into Marriott I received only rude and condescending treatment stating that One night of points was non negotiable or give me my points back in a holding account, which every Marriott timeshare owner knows and Marriott knows, that it is impossible to get a vacation within 60 days, especially my own timeshare in Aruba. My vacation if you want to call it that was ruined. In addition I am experiencing medical issues from the mold and will have to be seen by a doctor.
Do yourself a favor, because I can go on and on, more than I have about the issues I have had with owning a timeshare with Marriott, don’t buy a Marriott timeshare, you will not only lose money but you will never be able to book the vacation you want because it is always “unavailable “ even trying to book one year in advance.
In addition don’t stay ever, at the Harborside at Atlantis!!!!

My husband and I attended what was described as a short 90-minute presentation at the Westin Kierland Villas in Scottsdale, AZ, which ended up lasting 3-4 hours. During that time, we were told we would own real estate that could be rented out or sold as a profitable investment, that we would have access to 4 and 5-star resorts worldwide, and that we could use our points at any Marriott hotel globally. None of this has proven to be true. Availability is virtually non-existent outside of Orlando, and we have been unable to book a single vacation since purchasing. When we attempted to book a hotel in San Antonio for a funeral, we were told that wasn't possible either.
We were never shown the full financial breakdown of our purchase. Had we known we would pay over $37,000 by the time the loan was satisfied — more than double the financed amount — we would never have signed. We were also told the loan could easily be refinanced through our own bank, which is false since timeshares have no real property collateral. Additionally, a high-interest credit card was opened on our behalf to cover the down payment, and a $255 charge from a company called Vistana appeared after closing — something never mentioned during the presentation or signing.
The page clearly outlining our lifetime financial obligations was deliberately skipped during the contract review. Between the down payment, maintenance fees, the Vistana charge, and monthly payments, we have paid over $4,300 without taking a single trip. This experience has been deeply disappointing and financially harmful.

We recently attended an Encore experience and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the program. The presentation was well organized, and the product itself was clearly explained. We are taking time to carefully consider our options before making any decisions.
The presenter was knowledgeable and made an effort to connect. However, a few comments during the session felt off-topic and somewhat distracting, which made parts of the experience less comfortable than expected. While we understand the intent may have been to build rapport, a more focused and neutral approach would have been more effective.
We believe the visit could have been more productive if more time had been spent understanding our prior interactions, specifically, why we did not move forward previously and what prompted our return. That insight could have helped tailor the discussion and better demonstrate how the program aligns with our needs. Instead, a significant portion of the time was spent reviewing our general vacation spending rather than focusing on how the program could meaningfully enhance our travel experience. Additionally, when we shared what mattered most to us, we did not feel those points were fully explored. A more balanced approach, with greater emphasis on listening, would have made the discussion more valuable.
One suggestion for improvement would be to present the bottom-line pricing earlier in the session, as this would help manage time more effectively. The meeting extended well beyond the originally stated timeframe, which was not ideal.
Overall, we appreciate the opportunity and the professionalism of the coordination team to vist Hilton Head. SC.

I was an owner with Starwood, before Marriott took over and immediately forced us to “upgrade to the new”. I feel as though I was targeted due to my age of trust in the company. That trust was manipulated and cost me thousands up front and put me on the hook for tens of thousands. The lies were intentional ranging from the cost of fees, the availability, and the “value” of points to name a few. I have continuously reached out to resolve this matter, but the company continues to show a lack of accountability or responsibility. They have put the burden on proof solely on me, yet recording or notes are not permitted. In hindsight, everything was very intentional from the right now high pressure to the selective recordings. This was not a sales opportunity for them, this was a game. I will continue to reach out to the company for a resolution and can further share more details to my specific situation if necessary. Thank you for your continued support and any assistance is greatly appreciated.

DO NOT BUY. THIS IS A SCAM. They do not even offer a buy back offer. Trust me it is not worth it. I do not usually leave reviews but I wanted to try and help save others.

We purchased a time share , only to find out we couldn’t book any of the desired destinations in any of desired timeframes. Yes,we could book St Thomas in June. St Thomas in June?

Misleading presentation. Rick Webb, in Scottsdale, was wonderful when we were buying, then inaccessible.

I’ve been a Marriott loyal customer for over 25 years. This is the most deceitful experience I’ve ever experienced.

Marriott Vacation Club – Ko Olina, Oahu
We were existing MVC members when we received a notice to attend a "mandatory" meeting at the Ko Olina location regarding our current membership. We were told the presentation would last no more than 1 hour. Instead, our driver's licenses were collected upon arrival — effectively trapping us — and we endured a 3½-hour high-pressure sales presentation.
The sales tactics were aggressive and deliberately confusing. When we raised concerns, the salespeople talked in circles and repeatedly pressured to sign. We were told to hold all questions until after signing, at which point the original salespeople disappeared.
We were never informed of our state-mandated rescission period. The contract was not available to print that day and arrived by mail 12 days later — after the cancellation window had already closed.
Key facts were misrepresented or omitted entirely: annual maintenance fee increases, the financial burden passed to our children upon gifting the membership, misleading tax benefit claims, and the Truth in Lending disclosures were never reviewed with us.
We have paid approximately $10,000 and have been unable to book a single vacation through the program. We have formally requested contract cancellation and a full refund. This matter remains unresolved.
We are sharing this experience to ensure other consumers can make a fully informed decision before attending any MVC presentation.

DO NOT BUY A TIMESHARE! We were fooled into attending a 90 min. presentation. I scheduled it for my birthday weekend in March 2025. Marriott uses pressure sales tactics, gets off on tangents, and lies during their presentations. They make you stew for hours, where a 90-minute presentation turned into 6 hours with the sales rep Margie Camacho leaving us alone for long periods, then returning with "her manager" to sweeten the deal. At the end of the day, they then send you to someone who goes over the contract, makes you wait even longer to make you anxious, then glosses over the supposed cancellation period, squeezing it in between a bunch of jargon.
IN LESS THAN A YEAR, I WAS BILLED 3 TIMES FOR THE YEARLY HOA FEES!!!! The first bill came a few weeks after closing for $1,200.00; a few months later, $1,500+; and before the year is over, another HOA bill for over $1,900+. We told her our main goal was to book a trip to tour Japan, but when she looked it up at the presentation, only an option showed up. When I expressed concern about it, she said that once my full account was up and running, I would be able to see all the other options available. When I tried to find hotels in Japan, there were only 2 in Tokyo, very near to each other, and the points wouldn't even cover a single night. When I attempted to book at some of the other locations, there were barely any availabilities.
IN LESS THAN A YEAR MY CREDIT IS NOW DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THIS TIMESHARE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VACATION, I WROTE TO THE SALES REP TO QUESTION THE LEGITIMACY OF THE TIMESHARE, AND SHE REASSURED ME TO STICK IT THROUGH... I DIDN'T REALIZE SHE WAS PUSHING ME PAST THE CANCELLATION PERIOD. THEY ARE THEIVES, AND THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL. MARRIOT RUINS LIVES.

I spent $30,000 on a Marriott Vacation Club timeshare and have never been able to use it once. NOT A SINGLE TRIP. The sales presentation was manipulative from the start — they pushed ROI talking points that had zero relevance to my situation, emotionally leveraged my children and future grandchildren, and promised I could travel anywhere I wanted, including internationally. That was a lie. When I tried to book Dubai, the Philippines, and other destinations I actually travel to, I was simply told the program "couldn't be used there." No solutions. No alternatives. Just a shrug.

They never told me I had a 10-day right to cancel. I didn't receive my contract until 30 days after signing — by then, that window had long passed. Whether that was intentional or negligent, I lost a legal right I never knew I had.

About six months in, I started getting near-daily phone calls pressuring me to write a $4,000 check to "rent out" my timeshare with no guaranteed return. I had to block dozens of numbers.

Then my auto-debit broke. I submitted the required form THREE times. It was never processed. I now have late payments and damaged credit — my score has never dipped below 800 with any other company in my life. Marriott managed to accomplish what no one else ever has.

This program has cost me $30,000, my credit, my time, and my peace of mind. I feel deceived at every turn. Avoid Marriott Vacation Club.

I was lured into purchasing a timeshare in August 2018 through a high-pressure, 4-hour sales presentation after receiving what was marketed as a "free" vacation. During that presentation, I was explicitly and repeatedly promised I could cancel the contract at any time if it no longer worked for me. That promise was a deciding factor in my signing.

Within months, I discovered the cancellation promise was completely false. When I contacted the company to exit the agreement, I was told the contract was fully binding and my options were extremely limited. I was also never informed of my right of rescission under Florida law, never provided a Truth in Lending Disclosure, and never told that maintenance fees are perpetual, inheritable by my heirs, and subject to unlimited increases.

Since attempting to cancel, I have faced aggressive collection efforts and a troubling pattern of harassing hang-up calls from Vistana representatives. When I reported this, I was told I was "the first person to ever report this" — a claim I find very hard to believe.

I have formally demanded contract cancellation, cessation of all contact, and written confirmation that no further financial obligations remain. I am prepared to escalate to regulatory authorities if needed.

I strongly caution anyone considering a Marriott Vacation Club purchase to get every promise in writing — because verbal assurances appear to mean nothing.

We came to Marriott Vacation Club in Ko’Olina, Hawaii, for an encore package. They told us they would freeze the package price including the discounts but at our second encore presentation they denied the fact even though we had picture proof, and tried to get us to sign up for a worse deal and wasted 2.45h of our time. Would not recommend

I am writing this review to warn others about the predatory sales tactics I experienced with Marriott Vacation Club in Park City, Utah, in October 2019.
I had recently lost my father, who was the original owner of a Marriott timeshare. Still deep in grief, we were persistently pressured into attending an owner's presentation during our stay. Our salesperson learned of my father's passing and used our pain against us, framing the purchase as a way to honor his memory and keep our family connected. After nearly three hours of intense pressure, we were pushed into signing a contract and paying $3,708 before leaving the property that weekend.
We were promised that the timeshare would appreciate in value, potentially creating generational wealth for our children. We were told that our "elite" status would give us easy access to exclusive properties such as Boston, Costa Rica, Ritz Carlton locations. None of this has been true. We have never once successfully booked these destinations, despite an 18-month early booking window. Maintenance fees have climbed far beyond what was ever implied during the sale.
What hurts most is the loan structure. After years of payments and real financial sacrifice, our principal balance has barely decreased. This was never disclosed to us.
We were grieving, we were vulnerable, and we were taken advantage of during the worst time of our lives. I have formally requested cancellation and received no resolution. Please be cautious before even thinking of signing anything with Marriott Vacation Club.

The true price of a Marriott Vacation Club Timeshare. You are buying a timeshare that's in the price range of an automobile. You're supposed to get the best of everything because "you are an owner". Having said that, I appreciated my Sheraton Flex program, but here's the catch when exiting: Not only do you have to be current with your account ($$$ - and your properties have no value), BUT you now have to pay more $$$ to get released from your agreement.

We never really wanted to be Marriott Vacation Club Members. We were owners in Starwood Resorts (Westin and Sheraton). We absolutely loved Starwood. We are owners in the Westin Kaanapali North in Maui and Westin Lagunamar in Cancun. Soon after Marriott took over Starwood, we noticed changes. It was difficult getting reservation in our home resort! We figured it would be easier to book if we were MVC members, so we bought enough points to become Presidential Level. We were told that we would get preferential treatment and never have issues getting reservations. Boy, that was a bad decision. It is very difficult getting reservations even 13 months out. If I try too many searches, my browser crashes and I have to totally reboot. When I call, even though I have a priority phone number, I usually get placed on hold, then hung up on after 15 minutes. When I have gotten through, the customer reps tell me that I'm just picking popular spots in bust seasons. No solutions at all. Marriott has certainly tarnished their image, if not destroyed it!!! There has to be lawsuits initiated by members. Anyone have knowledge of any?

If I could give zero stars, I would
Please, please, PLEASE - NEVER buy a timeshare from Vistana/Marriott unless you enjoy setting your money on fire and watching it burn slowly year after year.
I paid tens of thousands of dollars (yes, around $30,000!) just for the privilege of booking ONE week of vacation a year. And guess what? That was only the beginning of the financial nightmare. Add in the $2,000+ in annual maintenance and club fees, and suddenly that “dream vacation investment” starts looking more like a lifetime financial trap.
And the worst part? When you eventually realize it’s not worth it - like I did - you’ll find out you’re basically stuck forever.
Trying to sell it? Good luck. I’ve tried multiple times, through multiple channels, and all I’ve gotten is silence, scams, and frustration. There’s practically no resale market, no easy exit, and no sympathy from anyone who sold it to you in the first place.
I honestly wish someone had shaken me by the shoulders and warned me before I signed anything:
Do NOT do this!! Not even if it seems like a great deal at the presentation. Not even if the salesperson promises the moon.
Once you’re in, you're in, and your bank account is doomed.
Believe me… I tried to get out. I really did. 😞😞