daviator
TUG Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2011
- Messages
- 1,346
- Reaction score
- 1,188
- Points
- 373
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
- Resorts Owned
- WKORV, WKORVN, WDW, Westin FLEX, Marriott's MOC, Abound (Trust) Points
I'm at Westin Desert Willows this week and attended an owner update (which, as we all know, is an opportunity for them to try to sell us more.) I own a deeded week at WDW and another at WKORV. They were pushing me to buy some Westin Flex points (ostensibly because it would give me more versatility, the ability to reserve less than seven nights at 12 months out, or to arrive any night of the week) or to convert my Maui week to points, for the same reason. "Everybody wants flex points now" was basically the line.
I understand the additional flexibility provided by those points, but am I correct in fearing that availability might be a bigger issue when using points? They tried to give me the impression that the only way to get into popular resorts like Beaver Creek would be through the Flex Points at 12 months (and it's true that it IS tough to get into some resorts at 8 months or less using StarOptions.) And because the maintenance fees are so high in Maui, my fees might go down a little. But before they moved to the FlexPoints system, they were selling deeded weeks and saying "buy now, this is your last chance to get deeded weeks, they're much better than points." So I'm not sure what to believe, lol...
I'm happy with my ownership, but am just curious what people think about weeks vs. points.
I didn't end up biting, but did buy a decent Explorer package; 240,000 Marriott Points and a 3-night stay at WDW, good for 24 months, for a little under $2,000. The points are worth that much by themself so it was an easy choice.
I understand the additional flexibility provided by those points, but am I correct in fearing that availability might be a bigger issue when using points? They tried to give me the impression that the only way to get into popular resorts like Beaver Creek would be through the Flex Points at 12 months (and it's true that it IS tough to get into some resorts at 8 months or less using StarOptions.) And because the maintenance fees are so high in Maui, my fees might go down a little. But before they moved to the FlexPoints system, they were selling deeded weeks and saying "buy now, this is your last chance to get deeded weeks, they're much better than points." So I'm not sure what to believe, lol...
I'm happy with my ownership, but am just curious what people think about weeks vs. points.
I didn't end up biting, but did buy a decent Explorer package; 240,000 Marriott Points and a 3-night stay at WDW, good for 24 months, for a little under $2,000. The points are worth that much by themself so it was an easy choice.