Harborside Exchange through II Using SDO

[poleary2000]

Good morning,

My first post in a while. Have been happily exchanging through RCI / II using knowledge gained through TUG.

Our kids are a little older and my wife wants to try to exchange into Harborside. We own a 2 BR Sheraton Desert Oasis. It's been so long since I bought it, so I do not recall all of the details, but I remember there being a Starwood preference for trading in II if you deposited a Starwood unit. True?

Any tips you can provide on exchanging into there would be welcomed. We'd like to go between Nov-Feb. We're probably too late to get a trade Nov18-Feb19 (right?).

Edit: I should have mentioned. We have a 2 BR SDO reserved for end of January (most popular week there due to a golf tournament). Does depositing that week make the exchange worth more, or does that not matter?

 

[VacationForever]

Vistana makes SDO blended week deposits into II. You will need to cancel your SDO reservation in order to deposit into II. Harborside weeks do get deposited into II but you should put in an on-going request to improve your chances of trading into it. It is late but then there may be late deposits made by Vistana. You ought to put in a request at least 12 months before when you want to travel.

 

[tschwa2]

Very few 2 BR Harborside units are deposited in II. If you need a 2 BR you definately need to put in an ongoing request ASAP. You have the best shot for Nov-early January minus Christmas and New Years weeks.

 

[poleary2000]

Thanks. I would definitely do an ongoing search. Its how I get most of my trades. I suppose the question I am looking to answer is:

- Is there a Starwood trading benefit? Do I get any preferential treatment in II because I am depositing a Starwood property and trying to book a Starwood property? I have other properties I can exchange that are non-Starwood, but wanted to know if it helps my odds by using a Starwood trade.

From the other responses and reading other threads, I take that:

- Doesn't matter what week I already have booked at SDO. Vistana makes blended deposits.
- 2BR are possible, but hard to come by. Get the ongoing search in ASAP.
- March is the busiest season. Nov-Feb is possible. November to early January. Must have an ongoing search. 12 months+ is best.

Thanks!

 

[HudsHut]

Yes, when searching with a Starwood, you will see other Starwood properties in II before non-Starwood owners.

 

[alwysonvac]

Nov-Feb is possible. November to early January. Must have an ongoing search. 12 months+ is best.

The key is “if” they deposit. We haven’t seen consistent Harborside deposits in a while. We actually see more Westin Maui and Kauai exchange inventory than Harborside in Interval International during the Starwood Preference Window.

Search the TUG Sightings forum for yourself. Using the Search function, search for Harborside and check “Search title only” and “Display results as threads”.