Marriott Vacation Club Pulse - Urban extension to MVC brand
#16
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: S Cal
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, United Silver, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,142
Marriott and Marriott Vacation Club are two separate companies.
Vacation club on has two brand regular and the rebranded urban locations. They adding Pulse locations since they are simple conversions of hotel properties. They created Pulse so folks would not expect Vacation club type amenities. Basically Pulse means No Pool, No Kitchen.
For Vacation Club owners it is nice addition, but I can not think of any reason for not Vacation Club folks to want to pay the premium to stay there.
Vacation club on has two brand regular and the rebranded urban locations. They adding Pulse locations since they are simple conversions of hotel properties. They created Pulse so folks would not expect Vacation club type amenities. Basically Pulse means No Pool, No Kitchen.
For Vacation Club owners it is nice addition, but I can not think of any reason for not Vacation Club folks to want to pay the premium to stay there.
The reason we bought the timeshare (way back in 2004) is that it offered a very different vacation experience than a hotel. The timeshare units are spacious, more like an apartment than a hotel room. We have a kitchen, so if my wife wants to have a leisurely morning and drink her coffee slowly, we don't have to dress and go out in search of breakfast. The properties are nicely landscaped, and we can go for a long, relaxing walk. Yes we do take vacations where we run around to see all the tourist sights, but our timeshare weeks are different.
I have not stayed at a Pulse location yet. But to me, these look like warmed over hotels. They just don't tempt me. And if I want to go to these cities, there are plenty of other hotels to choose from. Personally, I am disappointed that MVC has not built any new traditional timeshare properties.
Here is my spin on what is happening with MVC: the company wants to keep selling Destination Club points. But in order to sell points, they need enough room inventory to cover those sales. It must be cheaper for them to buy an existing hotel and rebrand it as a Pulse property than to build a new traditional timeshare property from the ground up. I have also noticed that some of the traditional timeshare properties have room for expansion, but again I suspect that new construction would be more costly than purchasing an existing hotel.
I know that timeshares get criticized, but for those of us who do make use of them and enjoy them, I think this Pulse program is a disappointing development.
#18
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: SoCal; DO-RAGS: Old Gold tagged, PIP, LatPass 1/2, AA 4MM, HH LT Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, Omni
Posts: 9,180
I thought that it was a great property, well within walking distance of Petco Stadium to see a game, and while the $40 parking was a bit harsh, the room rate was under anything else on offer that day. The room was plenty nice and could have easily accommodated two kids if I was on family time, not business. The staff could not have been friendlier or more accommodating, and I'd consider the property in the future, all things equal.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,198
Yes in general I am not thrilled by the Pulse brand either... they are basically refurbished hotels, so are missing a lot of the amenities that the traditional vacationclub resorts have.
If you can get a good cash deal on them, then it is worth it, but as far as the MVC program I would not spend points or trade a week to go to one.
If you can get a good cash deal on them, then it is worth it, but as far as the MVC program I would not spend points or trade a week to go to one.
#20
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 805
Has anyone stayed at the Miami Beach Pulse?
I'm looking at options for a 1/1-1/2/2018 stay, and the Pulse is incredibly cheap, so much so that I'm wondering "what's the catch"?
Essentially trying to decide between this, the Marriott Biscayne, or the Marriott Stanton for a pre-cruise stay.
I'm looking at options for a 1/1-1/2/2018 stay, and the Pulse is incredibly cheap, so much so that I'm wondering "what's the catch"?
Essentially trying to decide between this, the Marriott Biscayne, or the Marriott Stanton for a pre-cruise stay.
It's right next to the beach, cross the street, walk across the park, and you're there. The rooms come with a little beach cart that comes with chairs, umbrella, and towels which was a great touch.
The room is decent, not cramped but not huge. There's a small little kitchen area and a great bathroom. Bed was comfy!
The breakfast was pretty disappointing aside from the coffee. You fill out a card the day before with what you want and they bring it to your room which sounded great. They brought the box and it was all individually wrapped food items that you would typically get at a podunk gas station in the middle of no where. They should go to Publix and buy some fresh bagels and muffins.
Wifi was non-existent in my room. It appears to only cover the lower floors.
They have a happy hour from 5-6pm with free beer, sangria, and snacks. This was a nice touch considering a beer will cost you $6 at any place nearby.
The service level was pretty low, check in is a hard 4pm. The friendliest person in the lobby is the lady trying to sell timeshares. They never asked if I wanted suggestions on things to do or places to eat. Also a top tip, if you tell the timeshare sales team you don't own your place of residence they will leave you alone. All of the presentation deals are contingent upon you having a household income of >$100k and owning your residence.
Overall I'd give it a 3.5/5. It's not great but it's not bad. I'd stay there again as long as the price was right. The area is pretty nuts, great if you like clubbing and the beach but not the best if you just want to relax.
#21
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MDW/ORD and the late lamented Meigs Field...
Programs: UA 1MM Premier 1K, Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium/ LT
Posts: 1,229
Security does seem to be an issue - the cramped lobby was over-filled with uniformed types. All friendly but tiresomely so. More important, our in-room safe had been compromised - it was not attached in the closet and could have been slipped into a suitcase and removed from the room. I didn't discover this until I went to open the safe and the faceplate (with the press buttons, LED display, and an AA-battery holder) came off in my hand! Looking more closely, I saw that there were deep gouges where someone had apparently pried off the faceplate at some point, rendering the safe completely insecure. Called front desk and they replaced the faceplate, gouges still visible, but at least they bolted the safe into the closet. Can't imagine why that wasn't done during original installation, but I'll never again use an in-room safe without a more thorough inspection.
Not a recommended Marriott or MVC property.
#22
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton LT Diamond, AA LT Platinum
Posts: 426
#23
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,074
South Beach isn't all a party scene. It really depends time of year and time of day. It really also depends on where you are staying. You can't make a blanket statement about SoBe. We are going this weekend with the kids and do frequently. Lots of very nice parks on the beach, golf course, museums, etc. The boardwalk is one of the nicest walks you find. Stay at the Stanton if you can. Very good Lounge and in a quieter part of the beach (south of 5th).
#24
Join Date: May 2002
Location: DTW
Programs: DL FF, Marriott LT Plat., National EA
Posts: 100
Marriott Vacation Club Pulse NYC
I concur... with all the Marriott property choices in the city, I would NOT stay here again! Just completed a 4 night stay (Wednesday - Sunday) on Vacation Club Points that would have otherwise expired at the end of the year (so I at least have that going for me). First of all, the rooms are tiny compared to what I remember of the Marriott Marquis (although it has been a couple years since I stayed there).
On Friday, our room wasn't cleaned until sometime after 6:00 pm (while we were out for the evening). Upon returning from dinner, we DID find a cleaned room, but I also found that some loose change was taken from the dresser! The night before, as I always do, I had dumped all the pocket change accumulated during the day onto the dresser. I didn't count it, but do know that there were a number of quarters along with a few nickels and a bunch of pennies. Friday night, though... the quarters were gone. Really!?!
That's annoying enough, but what bugged us even more was that when we attempted to go up to the "famous" rooftop bar at around 12 pm on Friday night, we were immediately asked to leave as they were "closing early that night". ON A FRIDAY NIGHT? Anyway, we still had one more chance on Saturday to check it out... right?... WRONG! Mid-day on Saturday a sign appeared in the lobby stating that the rooftop lounge would be closed Saturday night. (Later, the front desk clerk mumbled something about them not having the staff to open it.) Anyway... major fail!
I won't be back at this property and will probably have to think twice about staying at any "urban" MVC Pulse property.
On Friday, our room wasn't cleaned until sometime after 6:00 pm (while we were out for the evening). Upon returning from dinner, we DID find a cleaned room, but I also found that some loose change was taken from the dresser! The night before, as I always do, I had dumped all the pocket change accumulated during the day onto the dresser. I didn't count it, but do know that there were a number of quarters along with a few nickels and a bunch of pennies. Friday night, though... the quarters were gone. Really!?!
That's annoying enough, but what bugged us even more was that when we attempted to go up to the "famous" rooftop bar at around 12 pm on Friday night, we were immediately asked to leave as they were "closing early that night". ON A FRIDAY NIGHT? Anyway, we still had one more chance on Saturday to check it out... right?... WRONG! Mid-day on Saturday a sign appeared in the lobby stating that the rooftop lounge would be closed Saturday night. (Later, the front desk clerk mumbled something about them not having the staff to open it.) Anyway... major fail!
I won't be back at this property and will probably have to think twice about staying at any "urban" MVC Pulse property.
#25
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DTW
Programs: AMEX, Ritz LT-Plat Prem, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Delta Plat, United Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 866
I concur... with all the Marriott property choices in the city, I would NOT stay here again! Just completed a 4 night stay (Wednesday - Sunday) on Vacation Club Points that would have otherwise expired at the end of the year (so I at least have that going for me). First of all, the rooms are tiny compared to what I remember of the Marriott Marquis (although it has been a couple years since I stayed there).
On Friday, our room wasn't cleaned until sometime after 6:00 pm (while we were out for the evening). Upon returning from dinner, we DID find a cleaned room, but I also found that some loose change was taken from the dresser! The night before, as I always do, I had dumped all the pocket change accumulated during the day onto the dresser. I didn't count it, but do know that there were a number of quarters along with a few nickels and a bunch of pennies. Friday night, though... the quarters were gone. Really!?!
That's annoying enough, but what bugged us even more was that when we attempted to go up to the "famous" rooftop bar at around 12 pm on Friday night, we were immediately asked to leave as they were "closing early that night". ON A FRIDAY NIGHT? Anyway, we still had one more chance on Saturday to check it out... right?... WRONG! Mid-day on Saturday a sign appeared in the lobby stating that the rooftop lounge would be closed Saturday night. (Later, the front desk clerk mumbled something about them not having the staff to open it.) Anyway... major fail!
I won't be back at this property and will probably have to think twice about staying at any "urban" MVC Pulse property.
On Friday, our room wasn't cleaned until sometime after 6:00 pm (while we were out for the evening). Upon returning from dinner, we DID find a cleaned room, but I also found that some loose change was taken from the dresser! The night before, as I always do, I had dumped all the pocket change accumulated during the day onto the dresser. I didn't count it, but do know that there were a number of quarters along with a few nickels and a bunch of pennies. Friday night, though... the quarters were gone. Really!?!
That's annoying enough, but what bugged us even more was that when we attempted to go up to the "famous" rooftop bar at around 12 pm on Friday night, we were immediately asked to leave as they were "closing early that night". ON A FRIDAY NIGHT? Anyway, we still had one more chance on Saturday to check it out... right?... WRONG! Mid-day on Saturday a sign appeared in the lobby stating that the rooftop lounge would be closed Saturday night. (Later, the front desk clerk mumbled something about them not having the staff to open it.) Anyway... major fail!
I won't be back at this property and will probably have to think twice about staying at any "urban" MVC Pulse property.