About a month ago there were some posts about receiving a great offer from the Maui Marriott which included sitting through a timeshare presentation. We had already planned a trip to Maui, so we booked to take advantage of the offer. We stayed at the Marriott last year and loved it, so it seemed almost too good to be true. Has anyone taken advantage of this deal? Is the timeshare presentation brutal? Do they pressure you the whole time you're there? We're going next week and can't wait!

This has been addressed a couple times during the past few months, including comments about the Maui Marriott as I recall.
Check the archives.
Bottom line: the Marriott people apparently tend not to be as borderline abusive as many other timeshare scoundrels, but go in with a firm plan to be there "x" amount of time, walk out when time's up, and pre-prepare your lines of defense for how you'll keep them at bay if they pressure you.

I have done them you have 90 minutes of somewhat pressured sales. I only hate when they press you for info like how much do you make, spend on vacations annually blah blah blah. I was only offered a coupon for $75 at Kauai activities when I did my presentaion. This was not Marriot though. In Florida some years ago as College Students a bunch of my friends and I were plucked from the beach and offered Seafood dinners for our presence at a presentation. Don't think that sales reps was a spotter of potential business?... we were all down there on pennies a day at a p's condo.

My sister got a good weekend offer at a Marriot golf resort and said she would do the presentation again for this promo. I am not convinced that time shares are good investments just make sure you are not a the type to purchase on a whim hard to refrain from when you are looking at a beautiful view on site in the islands.

We just got back from taking advantage of the Maui Marriott's great deal -- and it was just that. We had NO pressure to buy; indeed, did not even have to attend a presentation. Once at the hotel, there are other "promotions" which require a presentation, and we simply chose not to take advantage of those further deals.

I just got an offer in the mail today for what looks like the same Maui Marriott special some of you are talking about. Hotel, complimentary car, resort certificate. No timeshare presentation attendance. It looks like a fabulous deal but i'm worried about there being a catch to the whole thing (hidden costs, blackout dates, room in a wing being renovated, limitations on your stay, etc). Anyone have any comments about whether this is, in fact, a good vacation deal when all is said and done? Thanks.

message to Stephanie:

Aloha! We rec'd our invitation for the deal 5 nights & car rental included and called to book it. We had no problem with the dates we requested and they didn't mention sitting thru a presentation. We did have to pay for the entire package when we booked. The deal is for a garden view room, but you can request an ocean view upgrade upon arrival. Not a bad deal at all when the room rates for this room including a AAA discount is $303 per night (not including car rental). I'm sure you've heard that the entire hotel renovation is complete as of 12/31/01.

So how do you get these offers??? We have been to Maui 4 times in the last three years and have never been approached. We are both professionals and travel extensively. Not that we really want to buy a time share, lol.

Yeah, I would like to know how you get those deals as well...can anyone tell me how much you save per night and what other perks you get?

I received this invitation yesterday in the mail. $399 per person on Maui with convertible. Called and after a really long time on hold was able to ask about taking kids. Kids are free on Maui but not allowed on Kauai. Didn't ask about the two other places on Oahu. This is 5 nights/6 days and $50 hotel gift certificate. No mention of timeshare presentation. It's just prepaid vacation. I assume I got the offer because of other Marriott properties I've stayed at.

Suzie - we also got the invitation but it is for Maui. We want to go to Kauai instead. Is the invitation transferrable to other islands?

We got a booklet of 4 choices. 1 Maui, 1 Kauai and 2 on Oahu. All include 5 nights, 6 day convertible and $50 hotel credit. Kauai $499 pp, Maui $399 pp, Waikiki $299 pp and Ko Olina, Oahu $599. Do not have to do a timeshare presentation. I have until Feb 15 to py and then can choose available dates for 1 year.

I would like to do this deal. How do I get more information?

I'm wondering the same thing!! Can we find this on a site somewhere?? My friend works for Mariott in Canada....maybe I'll ask her!! Those are some crazy prices!!

Wow...seems unbelievable...were these offers mailed to you directly or to 'resident'...in other words, could someone else use these offers??

Just asking, cause if so, I'm willing to pay you guys to get these offers if you don't use them!! Any idea how else I can get this booklet?? My FI has stayed in Marriott's before for work, but never got anything from them...

Just to update you all. We're back. The timeshare presentation was COMPLETELY LOW PRESSURE!!! It only took about 1 hour, and they let us schedule it when it worked best for us. We received the offer (addressed only to me - non transferrable) from American Airlines, with which I have a frequent flier account. I think this is how we got the offer, because it also included frequent flier miles for attending the presentation. We stayed at the Marriott in Jan. 01 too, so I don't know if that put us on the mailing list as well.

I received both the Maui and Oahu offer through American Airlines as well. I did read the restrictions, and the offer is non-transferrable. The recipient only has 15 days to accept the offer, a time frame which they do adhere to. The ones I received do not require a timeshare presentation. I assume that I was sent the offer because I have traveled to Maui quite a few times this year on American. They're probably trying to target individuals who visit often and are therefore most likely to purchase a timeshare in the islands. I do wish, however, that they would send the Kauai offer to me since i've never been! For those of you who have the J.W. Marriott Ihilani offer at Ko Olina, I stayed there a month ago on my own. It's a beautiful resort, although about 45 minutes away from downtown Honolulu and Waikiki. But at $499, it's a great deal - we paid quite a bit more for our room!

My FI has an American Airlines airmiles account as well!! But he hasn't gotten that offer!! Darn it, I will call the company tomorrow and find out if there's anyway we can get this offer!! Man, I am desperate for this offer!!!!!!!