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Interval/Starwood Request First Advice

grgs

grgs

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,267
Reaction score
177
Location
Oceanside, CA
Resorts Owned
WKV, SDO, WLR, So Cal Beach Club
I'm hoping some of you saavy Interval Starwood experts can help me out here with some information/advice.

Next summer (mid-June 2009), we're planning to take the kids to Florida. We're going to reserve one week in our Cascades unit. We'd like to follow that up with a week at a beach resort. Since we'll be flying out of Orlando, I don't want the beach resort to be more than a few hours away. My first plan is to use the StarOptions on my SDO week to try and get a week at Vistana Beach Club at mos. out. However, I can't do that until 8 mos. out. If there are no VBC units available, I will have lost valuable time to try an Interval exchange. I don't think VBC is very big, and I'm not sure if this will be a reasonable StarOption exchange.

I thought maybe I could put in a request first with my SDO unit now. If an exchange comes through, that would be great. If not, would I still be able to try the StarOptions exchange at 8 mos. out? Assuming I can get a decent SDO week to trade with, how likely would I be to get a late June week in a Florida beach resort?

Also, if I try request first, which resorts would you recommend? Since we're trying to get back to back weeks, I don't have date flexibility. I do want a resort on the beach, but I'd be willing to sacrifice some amenities.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

Glorian
 
do you want the gulf coast beach or the atlantic ocean? captiva, sanibel island, there are some nice resorts in the panhandle that are on the beach. look through your II directory and you will see quite a few resorts on the beach.
 
pointsjunkie said:
do you want the gulf coast beach or the atlantic ocean? captiva, sanibel island, there are some nice resorts in the panhandle that are on the beach. look through your II directory and you will see quite a few resorts on the beach.
Click to expand...

Either coast is fine--we're most interested in a nice beach. I'll look through the TUG reviews, but there are so many listed, I was hoping to narrow the list with recommendations.

Thanks!

Glorian
 
I have always loved the Tampa / St. Pete beach area. I do not have a specific hotel to recommend but I will just recommend something OF. I believe this area is about 100 miles or so from Orlando / Disney.
 
Glorian, that 8 month Options window puts a kink in your planning, for sure.

Your request first strategy with the SDO week is a good one, assuming you are assigned a peak winter week. Try for weeks 5 or 9-13, then week 7.
Problem is they may already be taken, but Options have not kicked in for weeks 9-13 yet.

Marriott's Ocean Pointe in Palm Beach Shores is down the beach from Vistana Beach Resort. Nice. You could even drive from Orlando.

Good luck!

Fred
 
Fredm said:
Glorian, that 8 month Options window puts a kink in your planning, for sure.

Your request first strategy with the SDO week is a good one, assuming you are assigned a peak winter week. Try for weeks 5 or 9-13, then week 7.
Problem is they may already be taken, but Options have not kicked in for weeks 9-13 yet.

Marriott's Ocean Pointe in Palm Beach Shores is down the beach from Vistana Beach Resort. Nice. You could even drive from Orlando.

Good luck!

Fred
Click to expand...

Thanks to all for your advice so far. I do have a good Spring break week reserved currently for SDO, but I don't know if I get Starwood to deposit something similar.

I could deposit my 2008 Cascades week instead, although I wish I thought of doing that earlier! It is reserved for New Years week. Since that unit is not in SVN, I should be able to get Starwood to deposit that specific week, right? I realize since we're already in May, I've lost some trade power, but at least it is a peak week in Orlando. Do you think I'd have a good shot at a late June Florida beach week with that week? I assume I can do request first with that one as well?

Glorian
 
grgs said:
Thanks to all for your advice so far. I do have a good Spring break week reserved currently for SDO, but I don't know if I get Starwood to deposit something similar.

I could deposit my 2008 Cascades week instead, although I wish I thought of doing that earlier! It is reserved for New Years week. Since that unit is not in SVN, I should be able to get Starwood to deposit that specific week, right? I realize since we're already in May, I've lost some trade power, but at least it is a peak week in Orlando. Do you think I'd have a good shot at a late June Florida beach week with that week? I assume I can do request first with that one as well?

Glorian
Click to expand...

Starwood should allow the Cascades deposit as confirmed, although you may have to push it. Depends on who you speak with.
The potential problem with Cascades as the RF chip is that it is an Orlando week. Peak season or not, Orlando continues to be overbuilt, so demand in I.I. may not be great.

The way I see it you have a couple of moves you can make from here.
Try trade testing the Cascades new year week, and see what it pulls.
Do the same thing with the hypothetical SDO week.

The trade test will better reflect results as they would be from a pending request, not a request first. And, the inventory may change later anyway. Nonetheless, it will tell you how I. I. would generally value the Cascades week seven months to occupancy, vs a 9 -10 month SDO week.

At that point I would not waste any more time. Pick a horse for the race. My gut tells me that an SDO week 9-13 will do better (if Starwood will allow the deposit). If SDO performs better, try to get the reservation assigned for a RF trade. Tell Starwood what you are trying to accomplish. They may be cooperative. If Cascades week 52 pulls better, you are good to go.

The June beach week may be ok. A bit early for some families to travel.

Marriott tends to be harder for a non-Marriott to pull because of Marriott's 24 day internal exclusive. But, you are not trying to pull it with the trade test. Just deciding what would be a better chip. The actual inventory on a RF will be what it will be down the line.

Fred
 
Fredm said:
Starwood should allow the Cascades deposit as confirmed, although you may have to push it. Depends on who you speak with.
The potential problem with Cascades as the RF chip is that it is an Orlando week. Peak season or not, Orlando continues to be overbuilt, so demand in I.I. may not be great.

The way I see it you have a couple of moves you can make from here.
Try trade testing the Cascades new year week, and see what it pulls.
Do the same thing with the hypothetical SDO week.

The trade test will better reflect results as they would be from a pending request, not a request first. And, the inventory may change later anyway. Nonetheless, it will tell you how I. I. would generally value the Cascades week seven months to occupancy, vs a 9 -10 month SDO week.

At that point I would not waste any more time. Pick a horse for the race. My gut tells me that an SDO week 9-13 will do better (if Starwood will allow the deposit). If SDO performs better, try to get the reservation assigned for a RF trade. Tell Starwood what you are trying to accomplish. They may be cooperative. If Cascades week 52 pulls better, you are good to go.

The June beach week may be ok. A bit early for some families to travel.

Marriott tends to be harder for a non-Marriott to pull because of Marriott's 24 day internal exclusive. But, you are not trying to pull it with the trade test. Just deciding what would be a better chip. The actual inventory on a RF will be what it will be down the line.

Fred
Click to expand...

Fred,

Thank you very much for this advice. I did play around with the Cascades week in II, and I did see some possible results for an acceptable trade. I do think the SDO week would do better, but I may also have an easier time renting that unit out if I don't use it. I do realize that time is critical now. I think I'm going to go with the Cascades week, assuming I can get Starwood to let me keep the New Years week (based on reports, seems like I may have to call more than once and/or talk with a supervisor).

In fact, I may just roll the die and deposit the Cascades unit rather than RF. Based on what you said above, a deposited unit will have a little more power than a RF?

Thanks again for helping me clarify my thought process.

Glorian
 
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grgs said:
In fact, I may just roll the die and deposit the Cascades unit rather than RF. Based on what you said above, a deposited unit will have a little more power than a RF?
Click to expand...

Well, I called SVO twice this morning to try and get my New Years week deposited. Both times, I was told I could not have this specific week deposited on my behalf even though it is not in SVN. I then asked if I could have a few weeks to select from, and was told that was not possible, as the request had to go the banking team. The person on the line does not complete the transaction. I called both the regular number, as well as the elite number.

To those of you who did get to pick weeks, who did you talk with?

Glorian
 
grgs said:
Thanks to all for your advice so far. I do have a good Spring break week reserved currently for SDO, but I don't know if I get Starwood to deposit something similar.

I could deposit my 2008 Cascades week instead, although I wish I thought of doing that earlier! It is reserved for New Years week. Since that unit is not in SVN, I should be able to get Starwood to deposit that specific week, right? I realize since we're already in May, I've lost some trade power, but at least it is a peak week in Orlando. Do you think I'd have a good shot at a late June Florida beach week with that week? I assume I can do request first with that one as well?

Glorian
Click to expand...
Yes, u would have a shot at Disney Vero Beach, Vistanna Beach Club, Plantation Beach Club at Indian River Plantation , ...maybe Marriott Ocean Point if u request it NOW - and I would also try for the Captiva/Sanabel resorts. All driveabe from Orlando
grgs said:
Well, I called SVO twice this morning to try and get my New Years week deposited. Both times, I was told I could not have this specific week deposited on my behalf even though it is not in SVN. Not true.....I have deposited both Christmas week and July 4th week - and yes, You explain that u r not part of SVN so are entitled to deposit the week that u have reserved...and it is no problem for you to hold to speak to a supervisor. ... I then asked if I could have a few weeks to select from, and was told that was not possible, as the request had to go the banking team. The person on the line does not complete the transaction. You tell the first person that you will wait on the line while they check with the 'banking team' - u have no problem being put on hold. I called both the regular number, as well as the elite number.

To those of you who did get to pick weeks, who did you talk with?

Glorian
Click to expand...

Glorian, go on the II website and log into your 'non-Starwood II account.
Click on 'exchange' then 'deposit/extend a week'
That brings u to the screen with all your units - click on 'deposit' next to the unit/year u want to deposit.
The next screen will have the place where you put your date in and then hit 'continue'

I don't want to go beyond that as I don't want to deposit anything.

Keep following the screens until you are done.

Because u r going to 'match' this exchange up with another week, I would call II and give them the list of resorts that would be acceptable to u as an exchange with the specific date u need. DO NOT include anything u don't want as u will match to the first one that becomes available.
 
Last edited:
GrayFal said:
Glorian, go on the II website and log into your 'non-Starwood II account.
Click on 'exchange' then 'deposit/extend a week'
That brings u to the screen with all your units - click on 'deposit' next to the unit/year u want to deposit.
The next screen will have the place where you put your date in and then hit 'continue'

I don't want to go beyond that as I don't want to deposit anything.

Keep following the screens until you are done.

Because u r going to 'match' this exchange up with another week, I would call II and give them the list of resorts that would be acceptable to u as an exchange with the specific date u need. DO NOT include anything u don't want as u will match to the first one that becomes available.
Click to expand...

Oops, I should have checked TUG one more time before proceeding. I called twice more and got the same story--that I could not deposit the New Years week. So I went ahead and deposited hoping they'll give me a decent week to trade with. If I get a lemon, I hope I can call back and ask them to assign something else? I'm hoping that since I'll be looking for this exchange more than a year out, and I'm somewhat flexible on location (if not dates), it will all work out.

Pat, thank you very much for your information, though--I'll definitely file this away and know what to say next time! I have been in my Interval account and done the steps that you described above. But Starwood needs to officially deposit the week first for it really work, right?

Again, thank you for the script--I'll be better prepared next time!

Glorian
 
I have tried this before but I don't think I understand the deposit. I thought we could exchange first without depositing a week. I have had SVO and II on the phone toegether on several occasions and they don't seem to know how it works. Do you get a deposit fee back if you don't use it?
Any info would be appriciated.
 
GrayFal said:
Yes, u would have a shot at Disney Vero Beach, Vistanna Beach Club, Plantation Beach Club at Indian River Plantation , ...maybe Marriott Ocean Point if u request it NOW - and I would also try for the Captiva/Sanabel resorts. All driveabe from Orlando
Click to expand...

Pat,

Thanks, too, for the specific resort & location recommendations. As soon as the week shows up in my Interval account, I'll place my requests. I really hope they don't give me a terrible week to trade with. :eek:

Glorian
 
GrayFal said:
go on the II website and log into your 'non-Starwood II account.
Click on 'exchange' then 'deposit/extend a week'
That brings u to the screen with all your units - click on 'deposit' next to the unit/year u want to deposit.
The next screen will have the place where you put your date in and then hit 'continue'.
Click to expand...

Pat, are you saying that if I do this I can deposite my non-SVN week with the date I reserved as opposed to whatever Starwood gives me?

Thanks
 
grgs said:
Oops, I should have checked TUG one more time before proceeding. I called twice more and got the same story--that I could not deposit the New Years week. So I went ahead and deposited hoping they'll give me a decent week to trade with.
If I get a lemon, I hope I can call back and ask them to assign something else?
I'm hoping that since I'll be looking for this exchange more than a year out, and I'm somewhat flexible on location (if not dates), it will all work out.

Pat, thank you very much for your information, though--I'll definitely file this away and know what to say next time! I have been in my Interval account and done the steps that you described above.
But Starwood needs to officially deposit the week first for it really work, right?

Again, thank you for the script--I'll be better prepared next time!

Glorian
Click to expand...
Yes, I have done that....

Not to be discouraging, but if they give u a crappy week, it WON'T work out. Your exchange into a beach location during summer vacation time will require a good week to be deposited. Please check your II account now and see what they deposited and let us know what it is. You will need a Feb-March, early April week to get that trade - the exception would be that you would PROBABLY get a match into the VBC but even with another Starwood week, that is not a guarantee if u have a bad week deposited.
If I search with my PGA week using an October check-in date - i do NOT se what I can see with a PGA March week..

No, you deposit it and then II confirms the deposit with Starwood
 
grgs said:
Pat,

Thanks, too, for the specific resort & location recommendations. As soon as the week shows up in my Interval account, I'll place my requests. I really hope they don't give me a terrible week to trade with. :eek:

Glorian
Click to expand...

Don't place your request until u have a good week deposited, please.

Glorian Darling - DO NOT ACCEPT a bad deposit....please!!!
 
Stefa said:
Pat, are you saying that if I do this I can deposite my non-SVN week with the date I reserved as opposed to whatever Starwood gives me?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Yes, Starwood doesn't 'give' u anything - u call up, reserve your week for the date u want and then deposit it online on the II website.
 
gcole said:
I have tried this before but I don't think I understand the deposit. I thought we could exchange first without depositing a week. I have had SVO and II on the phone together on several occasions and they don't seem to know how it works. Do you get a deposit fee back if you don't use it?
Any info would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Here is the info found on "MyStarCentral" - my comments are in RED.


The II Request First Exchange Method

Use the Request First method when you want to retain your week until you receive exchange confirmation.

This method is recommended when:
You specifically want to travel back to your Home Resort. True or just to keep your options open to use the week, the StarOptions or to rent your unit out

You are a Fixed, Event Week or Ultra Premium owner and you want the assurance of your Home Resort week if your exchange request is not confirmed. True

How to use Request First

Step 1. Contact Owner Services.

Step 2. Request a "Request First" Exchange
Owner Services places your initial external exchange request.
I don't agree with this as u do NOT know what week there are giving you to exchange - so my step number 2 is to request a GOOD week at your home resort and get the reservation number.

You must request a like or smaller villa than what you are surrendering, and a minimum of 1 resort choice with 3 sets of dates, or 2 resort choices with 2 sets of dates, or 3 resort choices with 1 set of dates. You can request a combination of up to 64 resorts or check-in dates.

You may request an II exchange without relinquishing use rights at your Home Resort.

Fixed, Event, and Ultra-Premium Owners maintain access to their week until a match is confirmed.

You may travel up to 1 year in advance of the Season owned.
To change or cancel an existing "Request First" request, please contact II directly.

Pat's Step 3. Call II and tell them you want to do a "Request First" - give them your resorts name and check-in date - they may or may not require your reservation number - and then wait for your confirmation. You may also search online even though you have a pending request and if u see something you like, you may confirm it immediately. If you decide you want to use your week - call II and cancel the request - they will return your exchange fee.
 
GrayFal said:
Don't place your request until u have a good week deposited, please.

Glorian Darling - DO NOT ACCEPT a bad deposit....please!!!
Click to expand...

Pat,

Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know what week I got as soon as it shows up. If it is a bad one, I'll call SVO up and request that it be changed.

Update: I called SVO back and requested that they alert the banking team that I would like either a New Years, March, or early April week deposited into my account. The rep said she would add that note in.

Glorian
 
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The resorts in the Tampa Bay area on the beach are closer to Orlando than Captiva and the beach is just as nice. Treasure Island is a nice beach, and that's where a bunch of the locations are. We also liked the Sheraton Sand Key hotel which is on Clearwater Beach (IMHO the best beach in the world). If you exchange into it, make sure the description says it's on the beach. Have a great time!
 
grgs said:
Pat,

Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know what week I got as soon as it shows up. If it is a bad one, I'll call SVO up and request that it be changed.

Update: I called SVO back and requested that they alert the banking team that I would like either a New Years, March, or early April week deposited into my account. The rep said she would add that note in.

Glorian
Click to expand...

Good, keep us posted.
 
GrayFal said:
Good, keep us posted.
Click to expand...

Well, they gave me a Sheraton Vistana Villages week 17 (Apr. 26-May 3). I'm assuming this isn't a good week as it's after Spring break, but before Summer vacation. So I guess I should call and see if they can give me something better?

I did think, though, they had to give me a Sheraton Vistana week since that's what I own and it's a non-SVN week? Also, my 2008 Vistana week is still listed as "available." Shouldn't that week have been replaced by the Vistana Villages week and not be listed anymore?

Glorian
 
Last edited:
grgs said:
Well, they gave me a Sheraton Vistana Villages week 17 (Apr. 26-May 3). I'm assuming this isn't a good week as it's after Spring break, but before Summer vacation. So I guess I should call and see if they can give me something better?

I did think, though, they had to give me a Sheraton Vistana week since that's what I own and it's a non-SVN week? Also, my 2008 Vistana week is still listed as "available." Shouldn't that week have been replaced by the Vistana Villages week and not be listed anymore?

Glorian
Click to expand...
Yes, a week that is a bit earlier would be better, call them back and request another.

Tell them u are searching with the week online and that it does not 'see' as much as a Feb/March date u r using to search.
If they try to tell you 'date doesn't matter', just be firm that in fact it does as u can see the results yourself.
Ask them to put you on hold while they check with the 'deposit team' to see what they have available - do not hang up, as u will not know what thye have to give you.
Be pleasant but firm :D as you are an informed consumer that knows what u r entitled to. :)

Sometimes, the 'old' week will remain in your account page even after they deposit for you.
As long as u don't try to exchange it for real :rolleyes: - u will be fine.
 
GrayFal said:
Yes, a week that is a bit earlier would be better, call them back and request another.

Tell them u are searching with the week online and that it does not 'see' as much as a Feb/March date u r using to search.
If they try to tell you 'date doesn't matter', just be firm that in fact it does as u can see the results yourself.
Ask them to put you on hold while they check with the 'deposit team' to see what they have available - do not hang up, as u will not know what thye have to give you.
Be pleasant but firm :D as you are an informed consumer that knows what u r entitled to. :)

Sometimes, the 'old' week will remain in your account page even after they deposit for you.
As long as u don't try to exchange it for real :rolleyes: - u will be fine.
Click to expand...

Again, Pat, thanks for all your help. I will call them back this morning (fortunately, I'm off work this week, and can devote myself to this sort of thing--I'll just add it to my list of chores).

In fact, I did compare results, and this week doesn't pull as much as a March week does.

I'll keep you all posted.

Glorian
 
Update--Success!

I called back SVO and politely requested that they see if they could deposit an earlier week for me. The rep put me on hold, checked with the banking team, and was able to secure a week 13 (Mar. 29-Apr. 5) for me. Hopefully, this will work well for my June '09 trade. Now, I'll put my requests in with Interval.

Thanks again, Pat, for all your advice. I'm definitely going to save this thread for future reference. :)

Glorian
 
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