Westin St John [Master Thread] - Part 2 (June 2014 and forward)

[SMHarman]

Does anyone know/understand how the deductible works when the resort gets hit by two named storms? Is the deductible for the first one only? Do you think any of the damage was officially accessed between the storms so they could say "No this isn't covered under the first storm deductible"?

I too would like to commend the forethought of the VGV BOD to plan for the deductible.

It's the same insurer and the same repairs. If the fix is the same claim and the read here is the 5% Co insurance not so much a deductible but this will be handled as a single claim, not two separate claims.

If the claims had been two months apart and repairs fully made from first claim then it would be a different story.

 

[cubigbird]

Same here. I sure wish SB does have the same fund. But it will certainly not be big enough to cover the damage because damage is more extensive and SB has had a short time to build the reserve, if there is any. Just my $0.02.

When was or will be your first use year? Mine is 2018. I may get a SA for damage that happened before my first use year...

My first use year is 2020. I have EOY but couldn’t swing travelling in 2018 as I’m already planned out. So if there is a SA, I will be paying for an assessment on a week I have yet to use.

 

[SandyPGravel]

When was or will be your first use year? Mine is 2018. I may get a SA for damage that happened before my first use year...

That's horrible!!

 

[Ty1on]

Good question. I don't think there would be grounds for denying coverage under the first storm deductible, though, because based on the extensive photo/video documentation of the damage done by Irma, to the extent Maria did any additional damage (with a far less severe blow to the island) it was largely or exclusively possible because of the damage already done by Irma. Typically these policies include language that when a covered event occurs, it is the policyholder's responsibility to ensure that reasonable efforts are made to secure the property to prevent further damage. Then, secondary damage that occurs as a result of the covered event would still be covered. IANAL

"reasonable"

These were BANG-BANG events. It will be interesting to see whether insurance tries to exploit such language.

 

[cubigbird]

That's horrible!!

You are right. Here’s hoping that there is no SA! Unfortunately I picked it up long before any possible Cat-5 hurricane could come through so obviously the timing was beyond my control. I have a Plat+ week so I had to grab it.

 

[SMHarman]

Same here. I sure wish SB does have the same fund. But it will certainly not be big enough to cover the damage because damage is more extensive and SB has had a short time to build the reserve, if there is any. Just my $0.02.

When was or will be your first use year? Mine is 2018. I may get a SA for damage that happened before my first use year...

Surely there are some legal ramifications to that. Warranty of habitable on transfer and who pays to make it habitable.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Last night (9pm PST), I used the SO from our WSJ-VGV 2018 weeks (June) to reserve 17 nites next June at WPORV in a 1Bd at the 8-month opening.

While we are paying a somewhat high cost for these nites, but at least the travel costs will be less as we live in SF Bay Area. I feel bad for those living on East Coast or South like majority of WSJ Owners.

We choose Kauai over Maui because we are going to Maui for 3 weeks in Sept.

38 nites in HI in 2018 - woohoo!

We usually go to WPORV in Sept - be interesting to see north Kauai in June.


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[Helios]

That's horrible!!

I say so...at least it seems like my 2 Pool Villa Weeks will be fine

 

[Helios]

Surely there are some legal ramifications to that. Warranty of habitable on transfer and who pays to make it habitable.

Hopefully. It is tricky because the paper work was filed in early 2017. However, my first use year is 2018...

 

[Helios]

Has anyone heard from SB?

 

[ELGEE TRAVELS]

Has anyone asked what the deal is for the star points?

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Hello, I just phoned them. The Star points deal is as follows:
You can buy one of three SPG star points options. You can only buy one option. Offer good to BUY the points by December 31, 2017.
--50,000 SPG Star Points = $825.00
--90,000 SPG Star Points = $1,485.00
--110,000 SPG Star Points = $1,815.00

This equates to 1.6 cents per SPG Star Point. Far less than any of SPG's regular offers of around 2.6 - 3.5 cents per point.

 

[cubigbird]

Has anyone heard from SB?

I have not heard any correspondence from SB, only the general resort updates that went out and that we have discussed here. I wonder how and where we can contact them?

 

[DavidnRobin]

Hello, I just phoned them. The Star points deal is as follows:
You can buy one of three SPG star points options. You can only buy one option. Offer good to BUY the points by December 31, 2017.
--50,000 SPG Star Points = $825.00
--90,000 SPG Star Points = $1,485.00
--110,000 SPG Star Points = $1,815.00

This equates to 1.6 cents per SPG Star Point. Far less than any of SPG's regular offers of around 2.6 - 3.5 cents per point.

1.65c per SP. That is pretty good.
This within the range of cent/SP from the non-scientific VSE consensus poll of the value of a SP.

http://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?...illing-to-pay-for-starpoints-cents-sp.248944/

 

[okwiater]

Hello, I just phoned them. The Star points deal is as follows:
You can buy one of three SPG star points options. You can only buy one option. Offer good to BUY the points by December 31, 2017.
--50,000 SPG Star Points = $825.00
--90,000 SPG Star Points = $1,485.00
--110,000 SPG Star Points = $1,815.00

This equates to 1.6 cents per SPG Star Point. Far less than any of SPG's regular offers of around 2.6 - 3.5 cents per point.

Wow thay is actually a great deal. Better than the SP purchase certificates included with developer purchases.

I may actually purchase a package at this rate.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Hello, I just phoned them. The Star points deal is as follows:
You can buy one of three SPG star points options. You can only buy one option. Offer good to BUY the points by December 31, 2017.
--50,000 SPG Star Points = $825.00
--90,000 SPG Star Points = $1,485.00
--110,000 SPG Star Points = $1,815.00

This equates to 1.6 cents per SPG Star Point. Far less than any of SPG's regular offers of around 2.6 - 3.5 cents per point.

Thanx for sharing!

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[cubigbird]

Wow thay is actually a great deal. Better than the SP purchase certificates included with developer purchases.

I may actually purchase a package at this rate.

You are going to want to use it ASAP and buy with a plan with the pending merger of SPG into Marriott Rewards. I’d hate to buy Starpoints at a nice discount only to see that discount go away in the merger. We don’t know the loyalty program merger details yet, but they did announce they look to combine in 2018.

 

[GrayFal]

Hello, I just phoned them. The Star points deal is as follows:
You can buy one of three SPG star points options. You can only buy one option. Offer good to BUY the points by December 31, 2017.
--50,000 SPG Star Points = $825.00
--90,000 SPG Star Points = $1,485.00
--110,000 SPG Star Points = $1,815.00

This equates to 1.6 cents per SPG Star Point. Far less than any of SPG's regular offers of around 2.6 - 3.5 cents per point.

You say you can only buy one option. What if you have more than one interval affected by the cancelation? My Fall 2017 CV snd February VGV 2018 were canceled .

And can I convert these to Marriott Reward Points ?

 

[okwiater]

You are going to want to use it ASAP and buy with a plan with the pending merger of SPG into Marriott Rewards. I’d hate to buy Starpoints at a nice discount only to see that discount go away in the merger. We don’t know the loyalty program merger details yet, but they did announce they look to combine in 2018.

Good advice! As it is I have a few hundred thousand SP in the bank. Maybe time to start planning some 2019 vacations.

 

[DavidnRobin]

You say you can only buy one option. What if you have more than one interval affected by the cancelation? My Fall 2017 CV snd February VGV 2018 were canceled .

And can I convert these to Marriott Reward Points ?

I just asked - only one purchase allowed.

I may buy a package as I gave up my AMEX SPG for a CSR VISA, and only have a few SPs. Used remaining for NYC (6 nites at Le Parker Meridian) and AA flights (1st class). Not sure how they can collapse the 3:1 MAR/SPG ratio without pissing off 1000s of customers. But, always good not to hold on to.

 

[SMHarman]

I just asked - only one purchase allowed.

I may buy a package as I gave up my AMEX SPG for a CSR VISA, and only have a few SPs. Used remaining for NYC (6 nites at Le Parker Meridian) and AA flights (1st class). Not sure how they can collapse the 3:1 MAR/SPG ratio without pissing off 1000s of customers. But, always good not to hold on to.

It's not how they collapse the 3:1 but how the redeem prices will go up when the align SPG redemption to MAR redemption.

 

[cubigbird]

Points are of no value until you use them. You must use them to realize the discount. With SO MANY hotel and airline and other travel currency frequent devaluations, it’s generally a bad idea to horde points. Case and point: look at the redemption requirements today on AA and Delta and even Hilton. Heck I don’t think Delta posts a redemption chart anymore. They keep wanting to move the goalposts.

Begin with the end in mind. You should always have a plan going in to use or accrue points with an intended usage. Otherwise you get stuck when a devaluation occurs. SPG -> Marriott no different. Don’t buy the points just to hold onto a nice large block!!

Let’s get back to talking about St John!!

 

[DavidnRobin]

It's not how they collapse the 3:1 but how the redeem prices will go up when the align SPG redemption to MAR redemption.

I understand- but same effect - potential to devalue SPs by needing more to stay for hotel nite - this is likely true for both SP and MP devaluation (this goes on), and not just SPs



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[DavidnRobin]

This is only offered to WSJ Owners and therefore WSJ related. Many WSJ Owners do not know the nuances of SP usage and value. I know a few that only own WSJ and know little about VSE, VSN or SPG.


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[GrayFal]

For a limited time convert Starpoints and earn up to 30% more AAdvantage miles.

Just saw this promo on Facebook

 

[duke]

Hello, I just phoned them. The Star points deal is as follows:
You can buy one of three SPG star points options. You can only buy one option. Offer good to BUY the points by December 31, 2017.
--50,000 SPG Star Points = $825.00
--90,000 SPG Star Points = $1,485.00
--110,000 SPG Star Points = $1,815.00

This equates to 1.6 cents per SPG Star Point. Far less than any of SPG's regular offers of around 2.6 - 3.5 cents per point.

90,000 SPG = 270,000 Marriott Rewards Points = 7 nights Cat 1 - 5 hotel and 132,000 United Miles (or 120,000 SW, AA, etc) by transferring to Marriott and then selecting Marriott Travel Package (flights and nights).