SDO

dioxide45 said:

I think this is what is scaring us away from mandatory. Sure, making single night reservations at 8 months out appeals to some. My issue is that we prefer to travel for 7 or more nights. My fear is that single night reservations will make is harder to book 7 or more nights. Those single night reservations will break full weeks. These changes tend to hurt the small time single week owners while making things better for people with lots of SOs.

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For WLR, I definitely seeing you being able to get what you want via SVN. The challenge is that it is much more costly than what II can provide you with an SDO trade (if the trade is available). If you understand the system and cost, I wouldn't hesitate to buy mandatory -- that being said the rules can change at any time (as you well know, since I see you around the Marriott board).

dioxide45 said:

II see lots of sightings for WLR. Though perhaps that will go down over time as the resort sells out. I could still always buy at WLR, though the MFs are close to $1500 it looks like, not sure we would want to pay that much for a week there since I think we could rent directly from Starwood for close to that price.

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I actually don't think you will see a ton of change for WLR. I think there will be little impact for WLR, SVV, SVR and SDO since I don't see many people trading into prime season via SVN. I do see larger impact for areas like Hawaii.

Honestly, I hang out more in the Marriott forum now since there just seems to be a ton more activity there. I am hoping that the renegotiation of the II contract may roll out some rules in II's favor, but I am likely in the minority that any change would go in their favor. Marriott renegotiated theirs as well this year and I worry that they could head down the same road as SVO as far as rule changes go.

-ryan

grgs said:

I think the ability to book short stays is going to impact some resorts more than others. For resorts that involve flights, I think it will be less of an issue. So I'm not sure it will be a major problem for WLR, WSJ, or HRA. It might be more of an issue at WMH, WDW, SVV, SVR, & SBP. I could see people just making weekend reservations at those resorts. Not sure about the Colorado resorts.

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I can see this impacting the Ski destinations. Book a 4-5 day Ski trip and use the other points for an extra trip every couple of years.

Curios about the difference in value between say an SDO week (that everybody says is a good trader on II) and buying at a mandatory resort like Harborside or Vistana where you would have the Staroptions? Either way it seems pretty cheap but it seems like the Staroptions might be better, no?

larryallen said:

Curios about the difference in value between say an SDO week (that everybody says is a good trader on II) and buying at a mandatory resort like Harborside or Vistana where you would have the Staroptions? Either way it seems pretty cheap but it seems like the Staroptions might be better, no?

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Lots in the stickies at the top.

SDO.
1) Book at resort in ownership season
2) Trade in II with Starwood Preference
Low(ish) MF $1100.

Buy-in cost, 0-2k

Compare to WKV
1) Book in ownership season at WKV
2) Book with SO at 8 months (148k SO so allows a booking of a peak week in all 2Brs in the system (x WSJ)
3) Trade in II
Low(ish) MF $1400.

Buy-in $16-$20k (likely nearer the $20 now).

Or Orlando SVV - Key West
1) Book in ownership season at SVV
2) Book with SO at 8 months (81k SO so allows a booking of a peak 1Br week from your 2 BR
3) Trade in II
Low(ish) MF. $1200?

Buy-in under $4k (likely a lot lower).

or your HRA
1) Book in ownership season at HRA
2) Book with SO at 8 months (148k SO so allows a booking of a peak week in all 2Brs in the system (x WSJ)
3) Trade in II
High MF - $2400+, High Closing Costs and good rentability - You are better off booking and renting for cash and using that cash to go elsewhere renting from another owner etc rather than exchanging.

Due to High MF and Closing the buyin for HRA is generally quite low. The SO benefit is limited due to the rent HRA, Rent where you are going math being so strong. It really only has value to trade for HI or WSJ if you are looking like for like costs.