Over the past few months, your Owner Services team has answered questions about Owner resources, enrolling your Week(s) in the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations^® Exchange Program, and reserving your Week(s). This month, Cindy C. will dive into the mailbag to answer questions submitted by fellow Owners.

What’s the best way to figure out how many Vacation Club Points I need for different vacations?
The number of Vacation Club Points required for different stays varies based on factors such as the seasonality, the size of accommodations, and the preferred check-in day. Typically, mid-week stays (Sunday through Thursday) require fewer Vacation Club Points than weekend stays — unless a holiday falls in the middle of the week. When that happens, the mid-week stay may require more points, and the points required for the rest of the week would be reduced. You can also watch this video about the number of Vacation Club Points required for vacations.

There are individual Vacation Club Points charts for each resort and year in the Helpful Tools section of your Owner website, but I prefer to use the Vacation Club Points Calculator tool (also available in the Helpful Tools section). Just enter the dates and size of accommodations, and the calculator does the math for you. Of course, when you use your Vacation Club Points to make a reservation, the website will also display the number of Vacation Club Points required to confirm the vacation.

Are there any properties that offer guest-ranch activities in the U.S., such as horseback riding, hiking, rafting, and swimming?
While none of the Marriott Vacation Club^® resorts or properties currently offer guest-ranch experiences, there are several mountain destinations (Park City, Utah; Lake Tahoe, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Colorado) where you can add activities like horseback riding, hiking, and rafting via Activities Powered by PlacePass, or by using your Vacation Club Points.

I am sending my granddaughter to Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club on O‘ahu for her honeymoon. Can you recommend special places or restaurants she and her soon-to-be-husband should go to while they are there?
If you’re looking for expert recommendations, you can read articles about things to do on O‘ahu in a recent Insider newsletter, or contact the on-site Concierge team to make activity and dinner reservations. You may also want to take a look at what’s available on O‘ahu through Marriott Vacation Club Activities Powered by PlacePass. And now, you can opt to exchange your Vacation Club Points for PlacePass Credit.

Can I use Vacation Club Points for a guest stay?
Yes. Once you’ve used your Vacation Club Points to secure a reservation, you may contact Owner Services to add your guests’ names to the reservation.

Get to Know Cindy C.

Cindy C. has worked in Owner Services in Salt Lake City since 2009. She is a Senior Vacation Advisor, helping Owners confirm vacations and get the most out of their ownership. She enjoys hearing about Owners’ past experiences and memories and loves knowing that she’s helping them create new memories.

Cindy has a hard time naming her favorite vacation destination because so many places come to mind. She says, “One of my favorite trips was going to Paris with five of my cousins. We stayed at Marriott’s Village d’Ile-de-France in a 3-bedroom town house, so it really felt like our own home-away-from-home. We would walk to the little village down the road from the resort and get fabulous croissants, baguettes, and delicious pastries, then take the train into the city to enjoy the many beautiful sights of Paris.” The cousins also enjoyed renting a car and driving to visit a few countryside chateaus.

Cindy continues, “Another favorite family tradition is spending the Christmas holiday in Hawai‘i. We especially love Kaua‘i and Maui.” Cindy’s family loves the laid-back feel of the islands, the lush beauty of the tropical foliage, and the friendly locals. She says, “From the moment you check in to your villa, you feel relaxed. And the wonderful staff makes you feel like you have known them for years. We love snorkeling, kayaking, and just digging our feet into the sand.”

When she’s not working, Cindy enjoys traveling, biking and hiking, decorating, and playing board games and hosting big parties with her family.

Have a question about your ownership? Submit it here.