We bought a Marriott vacation club through Marriott's re-sale department, which still provided the points when we don't use it and all the other benefits. Doing the math, I found it comes out about even over the years..keeping it, that is, for about ten years or more. We stay in our villa one year and take the points to go to some other Marriott the next year.

Where I have found this to be a real advantage is that it enables us to stay in facilities we would not normally rent as a family.... a two bedroom, full kitchen, dining area and living room, in a beautiful setting. The annual fee.. which does come to about $100 per day... would not begin to rent this kind of facility in any location.

I have never had difficulty booking a week, or going just about anywhere in the world on the Marriott points when we don't use our week. Marriott facilities are always well kept, in excellent condition, and with helpful staff.