Sheraton Desert Oasis - Master Thread [Merged]

Glad to be of service!

grgs said:

What's your purpose for buying this unit?

I think SDO is still a great resort (I'll be there for Spring Break next year). I think it will still trade well in II, but this is a big uncertainty. Even now, I don't think $350 is overpriced. You could probably find one for $1 on e-bay, but as Stefa says, that "savings" may be eaten up by closing costs.

Glorian

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I go to Phx at least once a yr to practice my horrible golf swing, visit family and go to the spa. I was looking for a Kierland property but haven't found one at a price point I was looking for. I have stayed at SDO and enjoy the property and was also looking for a trader I could use in RCI or SFX

Thanks for all of your input

I decided to go with the seller vs EBAY to use a low end trader since escrow is not necessary for such a sml amt

If an SDO seller states "I am granted week 1* every year unless I call and specifically request a different week.", does that indicate a "true" platinum unit.

thinze3 said:

If an SDO seller states "I am granted week 1* every year unless I call and specifically request a different week.", does that indicate a "true" platinum unit.

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Not necessarily. I'd ask them what weeks they can reserve. If they say 1-52 then it is not plat. If they say 1-20(?) & 50-52, it is plat.

thinze3 said:

If an SDO seller states "I am granted week 1* every year unless I call and specifically request a different week.", does that indicate a "true" platinum unit.

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As described, this would be a "fixed" week, which would be unusual at SDO, unless the owner paid a substantial fee to fix week 1. You will have to ask him if this is a fixed week #1 and how it became a fixed week. If it's not, then his description is not accurate.

Maybe he is just stating that he has been successful in reserving week 1 every year, except for the years he has requested other weeks.

Here is the sellers quote. I just sent him another email to be very specific on the weeks which can be reserved, as stated on his deed.

It is a true platinum. My week assigned is week 1*. I have owned this property since ***** and am granted week 1* every year unless I call and specifically request a different week.

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That sounds like a fixed week, but SDO was not sold as fixed weeks, so you will have to ask him if he paid a fee to fix week 1.

Get the unit number. You can access a document from the Maricopa County website that will tell you if that unit is a true plat or a 1-52 float unit.

Glorian

It appears to be true platinum. Here is the seller's response.

OK – I think I have all the info you are needing now. Owner Services has confirmed that I am indeed Platinum with the choice of weeks 1-21 and weeks 50-52. I still have the (2009) week available to use before Dec 31st.

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It will be difficult to get the week transferred to your name by the end of the year, and you can't deposit it in II, until the deed has been recorded in your name with the county and the transfer has been completed at the resort. Once Jan. 1 hits, the 2009 week expires, if it has not been deposited. So I would not agree to pay the 2009 maintenance fee, since you probably won't get to use the week. If you really want the 2009 week, you might agree to pay the 2009 MF, but only if you are able to deposit the week by the end of the year - a long shot.

The current owner can still deposit the 2009 usage into II and use it himself, and then your ownership will start with 2010. You will have to work this out with him in advance.

Our deed for SDO recorded last week and I emailed a copy of it to Jose. Does anyone know how long it will take for the resort transfer process? I'm impatient!

According to this post by our resident SW expert, they are behind right now.

Did you get a response from SW?

No, I haven't gotten a response from SW. Is there a way for me to check if the transfer has taken place?

Starwood will notify you.

You can also call Owner Services and ask if you are in the system - (888) 986-9637, but they will only be able to tell your yes or no - not about progress.

Trading Sheraton Desert Oasis

I am contemplating the purchase of a two-bedroom floating platinum (1-52), primarily for exchange purposes for other resorts around the world (as I live on the East coast). The owner is offering it to me for $1000. Is this a good strategy? Does Sheraton Desert Oasis trade decently (I'm primarily interested in summer Caribbean or Central American properties).

Hi Archie - welcome to TUG!

I recommend that you go back and read this whole thread, and then tell us what questions you still have. I think that's an OK price, but you might do better.

Do I understand this?

I've read this forum and this is what I am gathering:

1. I can buy a 2 bedroom lockoff at SDO for a bargain basement price of probably $1000 or less. Have been watching ebay....
2. Closing costs will be another $500+
3. I'll pay maintenance dues which have NOT been rising out of control at this resort of around $850/year.
4. Maintenance dues will rise and there's a possibility of a special assessment.

For that investment I can get 2 weeks per year in a one bedroom unit at the vast majority of Starwood properties with the possible exception of St John and Atlantis if I am flexible in dates? I realize I have play the "trading" game which has some modest costs... but is the bottom line what I describe above?

One question. Let's say I buy a SDO 2 bedroom. I realize for trading purposes I want to reserve my week at SDO as far in advance as possible, but once that is done, is it possible to use my traded weeks faster?

For example... I buy SDO with 2010 still available. I immediately reserve week 50. Week 50 gets traded. Is it possible for me to then possibly reserve WKORV for October subject to availability?

Thanks for your help!!!!

Hi and welcome to TUG!

Your points 1-4 are correct.

However, you can no longer reserve and deposit a specific week. II and Starwood changed the rules for Starwood owners in August. Now, instead of reserving and depositing a specific week, your week is assigned a predetermined trading value that is the Avg. of all the weeks in your season. This is how the seasons are ranked:

#1 - Plat
#2 - 1-52 Floating week
#3 - Gold
#4 - Silver

You have a maximum of 30 months to use your exchange - Starting Jan. 1, 12 mos. before the use year, and expiring June 30th, 2 years after the use year.

Right now you can deposit and exchange a 2010 or 2011 week, but you can't deposit and exchange a 2012 week until Jan. 1, 2011. The earliest you can deposit a week at SDO, is 12 mos. out from the first day of the use year.

For good trading power, you want to buy at least a 1-52 floating week.

Trading cost -
II Membership - $89 a year (2-for-1 offer available.)
Each trade - $114 for Starwood trades and $149 for nonStarwood trades

For example... I buy SDO with 2010 still available. I immediately reserve week 50. Week 50 gets traded. Is it possible for me to then possibly reserve WKORV for October subject to availability?

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Yes, as soon as the deed has been recorded with the county and the resort in your name, you can immediately request that your unit be assigned for trading, and you can immediately make a trade, if something is available. Except, as I explained above, you would not reserve a specific week to deposit.

I just checked and right at this moment, there is no availability for WKORV or WKORVN for Oct., but that could change - or it might not. Deposits get snapped up immediately when they appear. The best way to "catch" one is to put in an ongoing request with II, since they are filled before anything shows up online.

Wow Denise thanks for the prompt reply!!!!!

So is this change (last August) by Starwood and II a significant devaluation of what existed prior to?

We are very flexible travelers. But what I really don't want is to lock myself into something where I have to make arrangements for my own travel a year in advance. Is it feasible to use this as a vehicle for making reservations 60-90 days in advance when we want to travel?

Again - VERY flexible in terms of locations desired and weeks (no kids, flexible jobs, etc.)

DeniseM said:

Hi and welcome to TUG!

Your points 1-4 are correct.

However, you can no longer reserve and deposit a specific week. II and Starwood changed the rules for Starwood owners in August. Now, instead of reserving and depositing a specific week, your week is assigned a predetermined trading value that is the Avg. of all the weeks in your season. This is how the seasons are ranked:

#1 - Plat
#2 - 1-52 Floating week
#3 - Gold
#4 - Silver

You have a maximum of 30 months to use your exchange - Starting Jan. 1, 12 mos. before the use year, and expiring June 30th, 2 years after the use year.

Right now you can deposit and exchange a 2010 or 2011 week, but you can't deposit and exchange a 2012 week until Jan. 1, 2011. The earliest you can deposit a week at SDO, is 12 mos. out from the first day of the use year.

For good trading power, you want to buy at least a 1-52 floating week.

Trading cost -
II Membership - $89 a year (2-for-1 offer available.)
Each trade - $114 for Starwood trades and $149 for nonStarwood trades



Yes, as soon as the deed has been recorded with the county and the resort in your name, you can immediately request that your unit be assigned for trading, and you can immediately make a trade, if something is available. Except, as I explained above, you would not reserve a specific week to deposit.

I just checked and right at this moment, there is no availability for WKORV or WKORVN for Oct., but that could change - or it might not. Deposits get snapped up immediately when they appear.

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lighthouse206 said:

Wow Denise thanks for the prompt reply!!!!!

So is this change (last August) by Starwood and II a significant devaluation of what existed prior to?

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I think it is... In addition to the fact that we can no longer reserve and deposit a prime week, we can no longer hold onto a home resort reservation while waiting to see if the exchange comes through, so we aren't happy about it at all. See this FAQ for the details - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109418

We are very flexible travelers. But what I really don't want is to lock myself into something where I have to make arrangements for my own travel a year in advance. Is it feasible to use this as a vehicle for making reservations 60-90 days in advance when we want to travel?

Again - VERY flexible in terms of locations desired and weeks (no kids, flexible jobs, etc.)

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It will be difficult to get into the most popular resorts at the last minute, because of availability. Like I said, deposits at the popular resorts are snapped up immediately. If you want to go to Hawaii, you need to have an ongoing request in place, in advance. Some of the resorts are available almost all the time, but not the Hawaii resorts, or the other new resorts.

Here is what is currently available for October:

Sheraton Desert Oasis
Sheraton Mountain Vista
Sheraton PGA Vacation Resort
Sheraton Vistana Resort
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Vistana's Beach Club
Westin Kierland Villas
Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas
Sheraton Broadway Plantation
Villas of Cave Creek
Lakeside Terrace in the Vail Valley
Sheraton Vistana Resort

Do different properties "pop open" - meaning does inventory change fairly constantly as owners throw theirs into the exchange? Could you check next week and see several new properties on the list?

lighthouse206 said:

Do different properties "pop open" - meaning does inventory change fairly constantly as owners throw theirs into the exchange? Could you check next week and see several new properties on the list?

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You will see a few additions, but Starwood controls and makes the deposits, so it's not like if I deposit my Maui TS this week, it will show up on II next week. Starwood tends to do bulk space banking, meaning they deposit a lot of weeks all at once, and usually several months or even a year in advance. We see single weeks show up here and there, but that's not the norm. Also, Starwood owners who have ongoing requests in place before the deposits are made will get them first, and many/most deposits never show up online at all.

So basically I could trade mine - and "request" several properties for several weeks.... if one of my requests comes open its mine? Thanks again for all your help!

lighthouse206 said:

So basically I could trade mine - and "request" several properties for several weeks.... if one of my requests comes open its mine? Thanks again for all your help!

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It depends on how many Starwood owners put a request in before you did - that's why requesting early is so important. Let's say you want to go to WKORV or WKORVN in Oct. and you put in a request today - 4.5 mos. out. But 200 other owners with the same trading power as you, have already put in their requests first - they will get their requests filled first.

If you put in a request for all 3 Hawaii timeshares for all of Sept. through mid-Nov. I would say you have a great chance of getting it, as long as you request early enough, because Sept. - mid-Nov. is the low season in Hawaii.

Timesharing works best with advanced planning. I already have my 2011 summer reservations made and my 2012 requests in.

Thanks again. Sounds like it's really the opposite of how we like to travel (more last minute or with 2-3 months planning tops...) Still an amazing, incredible bargain.