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Hawaii: trading in or renting?

vistana101

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I'm looking at planning our first Hawaii trip for next year...planning to stay at one of the 3 Westin/Vistana properties in Maui. We're looking at going in June 2020 and debating if we should use our timeshare weeks to trade in (internally, using SO) or just pay to rent a week from an owner (through Tug/Redweek, etc.). A few questions:

1. Deciding between resorts: based on reading other reviews/posts, I think we'd stay at WKORV South or Nanea if we were going to rent/book an OF unit, but would prefer the North side for other views (really do not want to be looking at a parking lot!). We also like quieter/more relaxing experiences, and it seems like the North side is a bit quieter based on what I've read...is this accurate? Any major advantages to a certain resort over another? (not super familiar with Nanea)

2. Do the 3 Westins share amenities? Or just WKORV and WKORV North?

3. Since we are looking at a summer week (late June), do you think it will it be hard to find availability when trading via SO at the 8-month mark? And if I could only book a non-OF view, are chances slim I could get an OV and not IV? (This is a major reason I am thinking of renting - guarantee view).

4. If I rent, I would not be able to add my Marriott Bonvoy number to the reservation, correct?

5. If I rent, are the Westin resorts the best option? Or should I look at another resort, like the Hyatt Residence Club?

6. If I rent, are there other places I should look other than Tug and Redweek?

Thanks in advance for answers/insight into any of the questions! :)
 

Luanne

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San Diego Country Estates
For renting also check vrbo.
 

grab

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If you use star options at 8 months you should assume IV.
 

DeniseM

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2. Do the 3 Westins share amenities? Or just WKORV and WKORV North?l

All 3 share amenities and charging privileges.

3. Since we are looking at a summer week (late June), do you think it will it be hard to find availability when trading via SO at the 8-month mark? And if I could only book a non-OF view, are chances slim I could get an OV and not IV? (This is a major reason I am thinking of renting - guarantee view).

To get a high season (late June week) you will have to make the reservation exactly at 8 months before check-in, and you should expect to get an Island View. Then, you should immediately submit a "special request" for a high floor and desired building on the Vistana website. FYI: You can only request a building(s) and high or low floor - you can't request "oceanfront or ocean view."

4. If I rent, I would not be able to add my Marriott Bonvoy number to the reservation, correct?

At check-in, I believe you can, but haven't done it or looked into it.

5. If I rent, are the Westin resorts the best option? Or should I look at another resort, like the Hyatt Residence Club?

The Hyatt Residence Club is lovely, and also much more expensive than the Westin - as much as $1,000-$2,000 more for ocean front.
-
6. If I rent, are there other places I should look other than Tug and Redneck?

HOW you rent is a lot more important than where you rent: https://www.tugbbs.com/forums/index...ntal-is-legit-when-you-are-the-renter.109479/
 

DeniseM

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My autocorrect prefers "redneck"

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
 

Tucsonadventurer

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2. Do the 3 Westins share amenities? Or just WKORV and WKORV North?l

All 3 share amenities and charging privileges.

3. Since we are looking at a summer week (late June), do you think it will it be hard to find availability when trading via SO at the 8-month mark? And if I could only book a non-OF view, are chances slim I could get an OV and not IV? (This is a major reason I am thinking of renting - guarantee view).

To get a high season (late June week) you will have to make the reservation exactly at 8 months before check-in, and you should expect to get an Island View. Then, you should immediately submit a "special request" for a high floor and desired building on the Vistana website. FYI: You can only request a building(s) and high or low floor - you can't request "oceanfront or ocean view."

4. If I rent, I would not be able to add my Marriott Bonvoy number to the reservation, correct?

At check-in, I believe you can, but haven't done it or looked into it.

5. If I rent, are the Westin resorts the best option? Or should I look at another resort, like the Hyatt Residence Club?

The Hyatt Residence Club is lovely, and also much more expensive than the Westin - as much as $1,000-$2,000 more for ocean front.
-
6. If I rent, are there other places I should look other than Tug and Redneck?

HOW you rent is a lot more important than where you rent: https://www.tugbbs.com/forums/index...ntal-is-legit-when-you-are-the-renter.109479/
For WKORV N which building would you request if not oceanfront?
 

vistana101

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Thanks for the replies! Sorry, one more question - do all the second bedrooms in the Westins have king-sized beds? Or do any have queens?
 

Dawnwrey

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At WKORV-N there are kings in both the studio and one bedroom sides of the 2BR lockoff.
 

DeniseM

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vistana101

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You can see the bed sizes and descriptions of all Vistana Resorts here - click on "destination" for the drop down menu:

https://www.vistana.com/destinations

Yep, thanks. I did check that but wanted to verify on here as I remembered some talk a while ago of bed changes in the studio - never know if I can fully trust what's on the website!
 

dlpearson

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Related question to #2 (shared amenities). I vaguely recall WAY back in the early days of WKORV, you could use the amenities (i.e. pool) at the Westin hotel, which is further south/next to Whaler's Village. Is that benefit still available today, or are those days long gone?
 

DeniseM

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No - that only lasted about a year, because the hotel people overwhelmed the timeshare resort.
 
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