Which is the most luxurious resort?

[Quiding]

Hi,

I am just wondering, which resort is the "best"? Where you get the most value for your options? And then I mean summer time, not skiing.
The most luxurious resort.. I mean, when I bought from the developer everything was sooooooooooo amazing bla bla bla so to get this amazing stuff, which resort should I choose?
I know, some are so popular that they are booked way in advance but since I am not from the US I can book weeks that are not so popular in the US but popular for vacation for Europeans...

I mean, I suppose I got a "Bucket list", and start visiting all the resorts but still, some must be better than the others...

Thanks

 

[Pedro]

I'm having a hard time understanding the question. When you say "most value for the options", are you referring to the resort itself or are you thinking about things to do in the area? I think it is the latter since you mentioned summer time. If that is the case, I'd nominate WKORV/WKORVN.

 

[DeniseM]

In general, the newer the resort is, the more luxurious it is. However, there are huge differences in airfare and distance and local, so I'd take that into consideration, first. For instance, Harborside is relatively close to Europe, but it's a LONG way to Hawaii!

 

[ronparise]

I saw a post on another forum where someone asked the same question and the best answer was this one

"The hotel is not the destination. The destination is the surrounding area around the hotel"

I dont think better equates with luxurious...

For example If you want to visit Washington DC you only have two timeshare choices. Your decision probably doesnt depend on luxury it probably depends on how close to the metro you need to be

 

[spencersmama]

Hi Quiding,

I seem to remember you posting that you purchased in Orlando. I do not know how many staroptoins you have or if you need a 1 or 2 bedroom. Knowing you are from Sweden, I would suggest the following:

If you have a 2 bedroom lockoff, exchange one of the sides into II for a place in Sedona, AZ. Look at the reviews in the member section to find a good trade.

When you check out, drive to the Grand Canyon. Stay inside the park for one or two nights. (I would recommend this to get the full experience. It is so much nicer to tour in the early morning or evening when the day visitors are gone.)

Drive to Scottsdale, AZ and stay at the Westin Kierland Villas for a week. It is very nice and in an upscale area. There is golfing, good restaurants, and amazing views.

You will have to look at the check-in dates and StarOptions at the time you want to travel. I think you would enjoy both the Westin Kierland and the southwest area of the U.S.

 

[VacationForever]

Hi Quiding,

I seem to remember you posting that you purchased in Orlando. I do not know how many staroptoins you have or if you need a 1 or 2 bedroom. Knowing you are from Sweden, I would suggest the following:

If you have a 2 bedroom lockoff, exchange one of the sides into II for a place in Sedona, AZ. Look at the reviews in the member section to find a good trade.

When you check out, drive to the Grand Canyon. Stay inside the park for one or two nights. (I would recommend this to get the full experience. It is so much nicer to tour in the early morning or evening when the day visitors are gone.)

Drive to Scottsdale, AZ and stay at the Westin Kierland Villas for a week. It is very nice and in an upscale area. There is golfing, good restaurants, and amazing views.

You will have to look at the check-in dates and StarOptions at the time you want to travel. I think you would enjoy both the Westin Kierland and the southwest area of the U.S.

If you would like to take this route, trade for Hyatt Pinon Pointe at Sedona in II. Hyatt does bulk deposit about 4-6 months prior to the available dates so you will have to watch it like a hawk. They are all 2 bedrooms. However, you have to ensure that your 1BR Starwood Orlando property has enough trading power to get Hyatt Pinon Pointe. Sedona is out of this world, in my opinion. Very pretty. Lots of places to visit around Sedona. WKV is luxurious and will make a great 2nd week for your holiday.

 

[Quiding]

Hi!

Thanks for the replies, really appreciate it!
I have 2 of these: "2 Bedroom Villa" during Prime/Platinum season Floating week at SVV giving me 81000 SO / week so 162.000 in total a year.
I have noooo idea how much trading power I get, can I see that somewhere? (I'm a big newbie But I am really trying to learn! Just hard with the English sometimes)
Anyway, today actually, I will be trading both my weeks for Beaver Creek to go skiing with my brother and our girls so AZ will have to wait until next year but hopefully there are many years of traveling left!
Grand Canyon is of course one of the things on my Bucket List. I need all the tips and help I can get.

I don't really need a 2 bedroom when I travel, I am good with a studio for 4ppl or actually maybe even 2ppl if me and my girl is going alone. But I do like "really nice" places so I appreciate the tips.

But as I said, my English knowledge.............:
SPTung wrote:
"Hyatt does bulk deposit about 4-6 months prior to the available dates so you will have to watch it like a hawk."
What does that even mean? Bulk deposit?? I just went in to II for the first time and I know a little what it is about but I think I have to read the FAQ and all that in that forum to learn more... I am just afraid that if I put one of my weeks in II I wont get a trade and then the week is lost...
Hmm this was a long text Thanks for all the help, really impressed with how helpful ppl are in this forum!!

Best regards,
Johan

 

[Westin5Star]

I happen to think that luxurious SVO is an oxymoron. Keeping that in mind, I recommend the following depending on what you are looking for:

Best built- WKORV
Best beach at resort- WLR
Best beaches near resort- WSJ
Best layout- WPORV (very open and spread out)
Best activities (on site)- HRA (Atlantis)

Some may argue with these opinions, but they are based on my feelings and experiences. Service levels are generally alright at all of these resorts but I have had issues at each.

My opinions are also based on SVO resorts only. If you are looking for frozen grapes and regular sunglass cleaning near the pool forget it. You also will not get turndown service, have a butler assigned, or be given a private tour of the resort on arrival. The food is generally mediocre at the SVO resorts. If you are looking for luxury, I recommend looking outside of SVO. With that said, my family and I have had many great and comfortable vacations with SVO.

 

[jarta]

5 Star ... "Some may argue with these opinions, but they are based on my feelings and experiences."

I agree with every single word of that post. My feelings, experiences and reasons for recommendations would be the exactly the same. Haven't been to WPORV yet.

You can have great vacations at SVO resorts - but they are not 5 Star resorts and hotels (for some, maybe not even 4 Star). Salty

 

[DeniseM]

I am just afraid that if I put one of my weeks in II I wont get a trade and then the week is lost...
Best regards,
Johan

All Starwood request with II are "request first" which means if you don't get the trade, you can get your week back. See the II FAQ at the top of the forum for more details.

 

[MommaBear]

Best built- WKORV
Best beach at resort- WLR
Best beaches near resort- WSJ
Best layout- WPORV (very open and spread out)
Best activities (on site)- HRA (Atlantis)

.

I agree with above. I would add-

Best shows and activities nearby- SBP
Best location without a car- WKORV/N

I find that both WKOR/N and SBP have great restaurants in the immediate area.

Exactly 4 weeks until I am at WPORV for two weeks.

 

[VacationForever]

Hi!

Thanks for the replies, really appreciate it!
I have 2 of these: "2 Bedroom Villa" during Prime/Platinum season Floating week at SVV giving me 81000 SO / week so 162.000 in total a year.
I have noooo idea how much trading power I get, can I see that somewhere? (I'm a big newbie But I am really trying to learn! Just hard with the English sometimes)
Anyway, today actually, I will be trading both my weeks for Beaver Creek to go skiing with my brother and our girls so AZ will have to wait until next year but hopefully there are many years of traveling left!
Grand Canyon is of course one of the things on my Bucket List. I need all the tips and help I can get.

I don't really need a 2 bedroom when I travel, I am good with a studio for 4ppl or actually maybe even 2ppl if me and my girl is going alone. But I do like "really nice" places so I appreciate the tips.

But as I said, my English knowledge.............:
SPTung wrote:
"Hyatt does bulk deposit about 4-6 months prior to the available dates so you will have to watch it like a hawk."
What does that even mean? Bulk deposit?? I just went in to II for the first time and I know a little what it is about but I think I have to read the FAQ and all that in that forum to learn more... I am just afraid that if I put one of my weeks in II I wont get a trade and then the week is lost...
Hmm this was a long text Thanks for all the help, really impressed with how helpful ppl are in this forum!!

Best regards,
Johan

Bulk Deposit is when the developer put in a bunch of available weeks into exchange companies like II or RCI. I forgot to mention that you can also put in "request first" into II to trade for a resort/week that you want, that way you do not need to keep watching for what is available. "Request First" is fulfilled first and on-going search only shows what is leftover. Regardless, Hyatt will only deposit 4-6 months ahead of the date.

When you put a week into II that week is good for current year till 18 months later, in June.

 

[Pmuppet]

I happen to think that luxurious SVO is an oxymoron. Keeping that in mind, I recommend the following depending on what you are looking for:

Best built- WKORV
Best beach at resort- WLR
Best beaches near resort- WSJ
Best layout- WPORV (very open and spread out)
Best activities (on site)- HRA (Atlantis)

Some may argue with these opinions, but they are based on my feelings and experiences. Service levels are generally alright at all of these resorts but I have had issues at each.

My opinions are also based on SVO resorts only. If you are looking for frozen grapes and regular sunglass cleaning near the pool forget it. You also will not get turndown service, have a butler assigned, or be given a private tour of the resort on arrival. The food is generally mediocre at the SVO resorts. If you are looking for luxury, I recommend looking outside of SVO. With that said, my family and I have had many great and comfortable vacations with SVO.

We have only stayed at the westin princeville, and i have to say, it ranks up there favorably with other vacations. We travel A LOT (europe, asia, carribean,etc), and loved our week there even though it rained over 18 inches while we were there and only saw the sun one day. We were stuck at the hotel for three days due to the bridges on both sides of use being closed. Fortunately, we stopped by costco, so had steaks and tuna to grill. Worst places to be stuck in the world than the Westin Princeville.

I am totally sold on westin princeville but do plan on hitting WKORV and WSJ asap as their reviews are awesome as well.

 

[pointsjunkie]

wkv in AZ is a beautifully run resort. the staff takes the time to get to know you, the general manger,scott comes out to the pool everyday to make you feel at home. it is definitely up at the top from all the svo resorts i have gone to. (hawaii and colorado are the only ones i have not been to)