SVN - how easy will it be for me to get trades?

I am contemplating signing up for the SVN and getting 76,000 pts (from my ownership with Sheraton Vistana, FountainsII). There are several resorts I would really use this for:

- Harbourside Atlantis, Nassau
- The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas North, Kaui
- The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Maui
- The Westin St. John Resort & Villas (Virgin Grand), St. John


How likely that I will be able to use my points towards these locations? What should I do to make sure I get a reservation? Did anyone actually book these places easily?

We're probably joining also and I asked pretty much the same questions previously. We've owned in fountains for about 17 years

Most of the replies I got were that if you try right at 8 months in advance, and are flexible, you can probably get in. I sort of wonder though, that if a lot of people join, if it could become more & more difficult?

Right now, we're considering Harborside next Oct in a 1br, then a cruise, then up to orlando hopefully to a 1br at Vistana or at Villages. Problem for us will be the Flexibility bit since we'll want to schedule the cruise as well. (both 37k option weeks)

Hopefully Ken555 will reply to you..he's been a great source of info for me and has experience in at least some of these locations. (Not to say others haven't helped me as well this is a great group)

lprstn said:

I am contemplating signing up for the SVN and getting 76,000 pts (from my ownership with Sheraton Vistana, FountainsII). There are several resorts I would really use this for:

- Harbourside Atlantis, Nassau
- The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas North, Kaui
- The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Maui
- The Westin St. John Resort & Villas (Virgin Grand), St. John

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You have enough points to get a studio in Maui (Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas/North) or Kauai (you meant Westin Princeville Ocean Resort) and should be successful trading in if you're diligent about calling at exactly 8 months out, especially during low season (e.g. April/May/early June or Sep/Oct/Nov). You may or may not get in during the summer or over holiday weeks so don't count on it.

You have enough points, in theory, to trade into Harbourside into a studio or 1 bdrm. You may be lucky and get into Harbourside during low season (e.g. fall during hurricane season) if you call at exactly 8 months out and are willing to be waitlisted. Studio would probably be easier to snag than a 1 bdrm. This is the 2nd most difficult trade within SVN.

You probably won't get into Westin St. John as it's, by far, the most difficult to trade into. Even WSJ owners sometimes can't trade their fixed weeks to other weeks. Those that do get a trade go in low season and are persistent about calling. You should also be willing to be put on the waitlist, which means you can't make any other reservations while you are on that waitlist.

lprstn said:

I am contemplating signing up for the SVN and getting 76,000 pts (from my ownership with Sheraton Vistana, FountainsII). There are several resorts I would really use this for:

- Harbourside Atlantis, Nassau
- The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas North, Kaui
- The Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Maui
- The Westin St. John Resort & Villas (Virgin Grand), St. John


How likely that I will be able to use my points towards these locations? What should I do to make sure I get a reservation? Did anyone actually book these places easily?

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I think you mean 76,000 Staroptions, correct? Points are an entirely different thing. Exchanges during high season/school holidays can be very difficult. WSJ is by far the most difficult. If you are very flexible about when you can go, and can travel off-season, you will have more luck.

See the FAQ at the top of the board for best practice when trying to make a Staroption exchange.

LisaRex said:

You have enough points to get a studio in Maui (Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas/North) or Kauai (you meant Westin Princeville Ocean Resort) and should be successful trading in if you're diligent about calling at exactly 8 months out, especially during low season (e.g. April/May/early June or Sept/Oct/Nov). You may or may not get in during the summer or over holiday weeks so don't count on it.

You have enough points, in theory, to trade into Harborside into a studio or 1 bdrm. You may be lucky and get into Harborside during low season (e.g. fall during hurricane season) if you call at exactly 8 months out and are willing to be wait listed. Studio would probably be easier to snag than a 1 bdrm. This is the 2nd most difficult trade within SVN.

You probably won't get into Westin St. John as it's, by far, the most difficult to trade into. Even WSJ owners sometimes can't trade their fixed weeks to other weeks. Those that do get a trade go in low season and are persistent about calling. You should also be willing to be put on the wait list, which means you can't make any other reservations while you are on that wait list.

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You can trade into a 2BR at Harborside thru II from Sept-November, January, May

Hawaii has also been available during non-school holidays thru II - 1 and 2BR units during the Starwood preference period.

St John - only the truly blessed :whoopie: get to go there thru II.

LisaRex said:

You have enough points to get a studio in Maui (Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas/North) or Kauai (you meant Westin Princeville Ocean Resort) and should be successful trading in if you're diligent about calling at exactly 8 months out, especially during low season (e.g. April/May/early June or Sep/Oct/Nov). You may or may not get in during the summer or over holiday weeks so don't count on it.

You have enough points, in theory, to trade into Harbourside into a studio or 1 bdrm. You may be lucky and get into Harbourside during low season (e.g. fall during hurricane season) if you call at exactly 8 months out and are willing to be waitlisted. Studio would probably be easier to snag than a 1 bdrm. This is the 2nd most difficult trade within SVN.

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I just noticed from your picture that you have 4 (darling) kids. If they will be traveling with you, then your Staroptions are not going to be much help, because I am sure they won't let a group of 6 stay in a studio or 1 bdm. and you don't have enough Staroptions for a larger unit. Also - don't you have to travel during school holidays?

Have you had a chance to look at the Staroption chart in the Owner Resources to see what 76,000 Staroptions will get you?

Starwood StarOPTION Chart (download)
updated 4/08

I think that staying out of the SVN and doing II exchanges might be a better deal for your family.

I'll add my 2 cents.

I have not heard many SVN "success" stories for Westin St. John, and I've heard just handful for Harborside. Maui will be okay if you call at 8 months out for the high demand weeks. Studios, in my opinion, should be really easy.

Starwood will get the SVN fee out of you every year, and you will get a "chance" to stay in a studio or 1 bedroom elsewhere. I think you might do better off trading through II or renting from an owner, but I don't have any trading experience, so I can't be sure.

Does it cost you anything besides the annual fee?

I'll just limit myself and say I agree with everyone else.

In my experiance of calling every single week at 8 months out for a summer 2008 reservation at WSJ there was never a opening .I was placed on so many waitlists I lost track.I was called from waitlist for a 1 bedroom at WSJ. I did inquire about other resorts during my weekly call. Harborside was never available as a summer week it didn't even come through as a waitlist but fall was an easy grab. Maui studios and 1 bedrooms were always available during the summer.

I will say it again - II and RCI are a better option for you - RCI especially because you can use it to your advantage along with your Wyndham/FSP ownership.....

i think with the new staroption reval for wsj i think it will open up the resort considerably. the owners will finally feel they are going to get equal value for their units. i am sure they ate very eager to see the harborside, maui, kuaii, and everywhere else starwood has to offer.

i have called at the 8 month out and have been able to get 3 units at harborside for week 21 without a problem.

my girlfriend got maui for february break with no trouble. it trick is really planning ahead and being flexible.

GrayFal said:

You can trade into a 2BR at Harborside thru II from Sept-November, January, May

Hawaii has also been available during non-school holidays thru II - 1 and 2BR units during the Starwood preference period.

St John - only the truly blessed :whoopie: get to go there thru II.

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Does it matter whether he/she a 1 or 2 bdrm at Fountains in order to get a 2 bdrm Harbourside?

In other words, if I deposited my 2 bdrm WKORV, would there be any chance that I'd get 2 2-bdrms at Harbourside? What if I deposited each side separately?

This whole II thing is a mystery to me.

Also keep in mind that the more people who join SVN outside of the non-big 5 resorts (WSJ, Harbourside, WKORV/N, WPORV, WKR), the less chance all exchangers have to get into them. Eventually SVN will be at a gridlock unless it continues to build new resorts in desirable locations so that the owners in the Big 5 will be enticed to use SVN vs. renting on their own. Unfortunately the development has stalled and that's bad news for everyone.

LisaRex said:

Does it matter whether he/she a 1 or 2 bdrm at Fountains in order to get a 2 bdrm Harborside?

In other words, if I deposited my 2 bdrm WKORV, would there be any chance that I'd get 2 2-bdrms at Harborside? What if I deposited each side separately?

This whole II thing is a mystery to me.

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I got a 2BR at Harborside using the smaller 1BR of PGA. There are never any guarantees - just like when u call Starwood at 12(13?) months before check-in to reserve at your home resort....if EVERY Starwood owner wants the week you want, someone is not going to get it!

If you were going to deposit with II, lock-off/separate your 2BR unit and deposit as 2 halves - that is how u get 2 'trades' in return, using 2 separate units - pay two separate exchange fees and get 2 units in return.

During the Starwood 3 day Preference period, size restrictions seemed to be dropped - other Starwood owners can see 2BRs even with a 1BR unit....I do not know because it has not been reported here - whether Starwood studios (as in Hawaii and Cancun) will 'see' 2BRs in II, someone will have to be the guinea pig and deposit a studio in II.

There is also a way to retain use of your 'week'/StarOptions called "Request First" where u make a reservation with Starwood and then ask them to request a specific trade - u keep the use of your week (and u can cancel it at any time) until they match the request - then it is automatically deposited.

Or, use your reserved week to 'shop' online with II and if u see something - u 'confirm' the exchange online and II checks with Starwood that u actually have that week reserved.

I have to say, the 'easiest' way for a 'newbie' is to have Starwood deposit a 'good' week for you in your II account (not August in the dessert ) and search with it - ask Denise M

LisaRex said:

Also keep in mind that the more people who join SVN outside of the non-big 5 resorts (WSJ, Harbourside, WKORV/N, WPORV, WKR), the less chance all exchangers have to get into them. Eventually SVN will be at a gridlock unless it continues to build new resorts in desirable locations so that the owners in the Big 5 will be enticed to use SVN vs. renting on their own. Unfortunately the development has stalled and that's bad news for everyone.

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Isn't there always new SVN members - because ANYONE who buys from the developer is a SVN member, at ALL the resorts - not just the mandatory?

And an an east coaster, Cancun /Aruba is more enticing to me then Hawaii and WKR

Small one bedrooms, from weaker Starwood Resorts, when trading in II won't see all deposited Starwood weeks, especially some two bedrooms.

GrayFal said:

Isn't there always new SVN members - because ANYONE who buys from the developer is a SVN member, at ALL the resorts - not just the mandatory?

And an an east coaster, Cancun /Aruba is more enticing to me then Hawaii and WKR

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St John and Harborside are expanding, which will help offset the demand.

tomandrobin said:

Small one bedrooms, from weaker Starwood Resorts, when trading in II won't see all deposited Starwood weeks, especially some two bedrooms.

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True, which is why it is important to get a 'good' check-in date.

I couldn't 'see' the 2BRs at Harborside - so I called II - apparently there was a 'glitch' that it wasn't showing as a Starwood week - and they allowed me to do the exchange over the phone - a 1BR for a 2BR unit.

There aren't any studios at Harborside==there are two size one bedrooms--
I understand that the expansion of Harborside is going to be where the shopping center where Zio Gigo's and Green Parrot is located but the rumor is due to economy it is being postponed or at least not as aggressively pursued.
When it does happen it will be interesting to see how it does as it will be even further from everything.
As to trades--when I have gone during week 48 which my brother owns there are always folks who have traded it but as everyone says you need to be flexible--we own platinum and go in January and the last few years it has been more crowded than in past years.

Just in case you missed it, the OP has a family of six - studios and one bedrooms are not going to work for her.

Thanks all!

You have saved me much frustration. Although I have 4 kids, I usually kidnapp my DH (he prefers for all of us to travel together, but I like my 1 on 1 attention and don't like to compete with 4 kids to get it sometimes) for 3 mini 5 day getaway vacations a year. So I could use the studio, however I am getting that its still a lot of work within SVN to get what I want. Sooooo

- I will join SVN cause its free now, and I may want to use it later
- I will just bank my week with II to trade into these places (for a larger unit preferably) or book with SVN if I want a couple of 3-4 day trips (during weekdays).

lprstn said:

Thanks all!

You have saved me much frustration. Although I have 4 kids, I usually kidnapp my DH (he prefers for all of us to travel together, but I like my 1 on 1 attention and don't like to compete with 4 kids to get it sometimes) for 3 mini 5 day getaway vacations a year. So I could use the studio, however I am getting that its still a lot of work within SVN to get what I want. Sooooo

- I will join SVN cause its free now, and I may want to use it later
- I will just bank my week with II to trade into these places (for a larger unit preferably) or book with SVN if I want a couple of 3-4 day trips (during weekdays).

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I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is very hard to reserve short trips with Starwood. You can't do it until 90 days out from check-in date, which makes it very difficult to plan, get airfare, or exchange into high demand resorts.

lprstn said:

Thanks all!

You have saved me much frustration. Although I have 4 kids, I usually kidnapp my DH (he prefers for all of us to travel together, but I like my 1 on 1 attention and don't like to compete with 4 kids to get it sometimes) for 3 mini 5 day getaway vacations a year. So I could use the studio, however I am getting that its still a lot of work within SVN to get what I want. Sooooo

- I will join SVN cause its free now, and I may want to use it later
- I will just bank my week with II to trade into these places (for a larger unit preferably) or book with SVN if I want a couple of 3-4 day trips (during weekdays).

Click to expand...

We prefer to use StarPoints (hotel points) for those types of trips, since in the nicer Starwood properties it's 5 nights for the price of 4 with Starpoints. As Denise M said, StarOptions for those don't really work well....

GrayFal said:

Isn't there always new SVN members - because ANYONE who buys from the developer is a SVN member, at ALL the resorts - not just the mandatory?

And an an east coaster, Cancun /Aruba is more enticing to me then Hawaii and WKR

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Yes, but I imagine it is balanced out by the number of people who are selling. From a sheer numbers perspective, there will be less inventory available to exhangers at WMH, WPORV, etc. as time goes by unless Starwood decides to buy back the villas that go on the market.

I agree that Aruba is much more enticing to me than another Hawaiian or Arizonian resort. Actually, I'd also go for a resort that is within driving distance and is directly on the ocean. Broadway Plantation looks really pretty but if I'm driving all that way, I want to be right on the ocean. I'm thinking one of the islands off SC or GA might be nice....

Ok, now I am really a little sad. That means the only way to use it is to book one whole week. Sooooooooo

- I will either bank with RCI so Wyndam can take it and I get points within Wyndam to use how I need (and can convert that 1 week into 2-5 weeks of travel using RCI and Wyndam)
- I will bank with II to get into the Royals (which I really like) or to Aruba Marriott
- I will use SVN only for 1 week trips with DH

Although in truth I will more than likely keep doing option 1, cause I get more bang for my buck.

So, do you think I should still joing SVN? Cause its free now?