[ 2017 ] Newbie question

[mikeyasin]

hi all- have really enjoyed the wisdom dispensed on these threads!

I have a newbie question:

We just closed and transferred on an annual 2 lockoff deluxe OV at WKORV. I have an opportunity to pick up another 2 LO at WKORVN.

Question is, if I want to stay at just one of the properties for a period longer than the 7 nights, can I request that they combine my points and I can keep the same unit (considering availability isn’t an issue)? Or do I have to make 2 unique reservations at each of the resorts?

Thanks!

 

[echino]

You need to reserve your home week at 12 months before check to maximize your chances to reserve a week you want. If you wait until 8 months to make a staroptions reservation, then you risk the unit you want will not be available.

In any case, those will be separate reservations and you will not be able to keep the same unit.

 

[mikeyasin]

Thank you! Is the same true for banked point? In other words, does Vistana make a distinction for banked points between resorts? Or are my banked points otherwise comingled?

 

[DeniseM]

if I want to stay at just one of the properties for a period longer than the 7 nights, can I request that they combine my points and I can keep the same unit (considering availability isn’t an issue)? Or do I have to make 2 unique reservations at each of the resorts?

The resorts are considered to be separate properties, and they are not interchangeable. So you would have to make one reservation for the south phase, and another reservations for the north phase, and change units between the 2 weeks.

Even if you make two reservations for the same resort - there is no guarantee that you will be able to stay in the same unit for both weeks, because Vistana does not allow you to make a home resort reservation for 14 nights. You have to make 2 separate 7 night reservations.

You can absolutely request this, but they won't guarantee it, or disclose that info to you, until check-in.

 

[tschwa2]

Banked points are the same as staroptions from the original use year. They can only be booked 8 months prior to check in. It depends when you travel, if you aren't looking at snow bird/whale season or summer there well could be availability for 14 days at 8 months prior. You will have lost all priority based on your home weeks in Hawaii and will be competing with everyone using staroptions to book those weeks. If you want to use your priority booking a home week prior to 8 months for either one or both weeks you will need to book two separate reservations and if booked at the same resort (one home and one staroption) you can request to stay in the same room but no guarantees.

 

[DeniseM]

Banked Staroptions cannot be used for home resort reservations - they can only be used for Staroption reservations at 8 mos. before check-in.

With a Staroption reservation you can either reserve "floating view" or "ocean front." You cannot reserve "ocean view." It's difficult to find Ocean Front reservations in the Staroption reservation window.

With a floating view reservation, you are not guanteed to get any particular view, and you are most likely to get island view - it's assigned at check-in.

And of course, to reserve ocean front requires more Staroptions. For example - your 2 bdm. ocean view is worth 148,100 Staroptions, but to reserve an ocean front 2 bdm. you need 176,700 Staroptions.

Terminology:

StarOPTIONS - Vistana timeshare points

StarPOINTS - Starwood hotel points

 

[DavidnRobin]

When we were at WPORV (recently) - we had our 1st week as a Home Resort reservation in a 1Bd that I reserved at 12 months and ended up in a great villa. We used the studio side for 6 nites in a 1Bd (as we do not like the studio - Q bed and lack of counter space) as a SO exchange (8 months), and were moved to another villa. I was hoping to stay in same villa (of course), but priority is based on Time Stamp (Time stamp is king). It is possibly to stay in villa, but not at expense of Home Resort reservations.

They do try and allow people to keep their villas- but that probably depends on the location of villa during the 1st week. In our case, no way we could keep our 1st week villa, but our 2nd week villa was not so bad. We are very glad we used the studio for a SO reservation in a 1Bd.

As these are 2 different resorts (WKORV and WKORVN) - you will be moving.


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[ragdoll]

priority is based on Time Stamp (Time stamp is king)

I'm moving this thread up because I would like to hear more input about timestamps. How exactly do you know what your timestamp is? There is nothing on the reservation that shows this. I will often create a screen shot so that I have the time indicated on the file name. But how do I know what timestamp Vistana is using? They never send me anything to indicate this.

 

[DavidnRobin]

On the WKORV reservation confirmation process they explain Timestamp. And I have found Timestamp to be true based on our locations at WKORV and WPORV.

They do not tell you your Timestamp (Front Desk has told me when I have been #1) - but the person responsible for reserving uses the reservation confirmation number (that is incremental in number) is used - lowest gas priority.

I mention this due to some claiming elite status matters - and resale owners are lower than ‘real’ Owners when it comes to priority...
Not correct based on my experience (and on confirmation).



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[ragdoll]

Thanks, David. I hope you are correct. I will have to wait and see because our reservation window is a long way off. But I will pay attention to it.

 

[vacationtime1]

David is correct; timestamp rules.

Why else do we sometimes get a fifth or sixth floor center OF unit at WKORV when all of our units were purchased resale and we therefore have zero timeshare status?

 

[celica7101]

Hmm..
This summer I used star options (not home resort period) to book a 148K SO week at WKORV. I remember booking exactly at midnight 8 months out. Would that explain why they upgraded me to a 4th floor OFD? It was a handicapped accessible unit, but that wasn't a big deal to us.

David is correct; timestamp rules.

Why else do we sometimes get a fifth or sixth floor center OF unit at WKORV when all of our units were purchased resale and we therefore have zero timeshare status?

 

[DeniseM]

When you make a Staroption reservation, you don't have the same priority as owners booking their home resort at 8-12 months before check-in. With Staroption Reservations, Elite owners have priority for upgrades, so your Elite status, how many Elite Owners have Staroption reservations that week, and how full the resort is, will determine you placement.

 

[controller1]

When you make a Staroption reservation, you don't have the same priority as owners booking their home resort at 8-12 months before check-in. With Staroption Reservations, Elite owners have priority for upgrades, so your Elite status, how many Elite Owners have Staroption reservations that week, and how full the resort is, will determine you placement.

When you say "Elite Owners" I assume you are referencing Vistana elites and not Marriott Bonvoy elites, correct?

 

[DeniseM]

Correct - Marriott and Vistana are separate timeshare systems. Bonvoy points are hotel points.

 

[controller1]

Correct - Marriott and Vistana are separate timeshare systems. Bonvoy points are hotel points.

Yes, but that wasn't the question. I wasn't addressing the different timeshare systems nor points.

Many Marriott Bonvoy (the hotel loyalty program) elites stay at Vistana resorts and believe they will get upgrades on view, etc due to their hotel program status. I was hoping you were saying that Vistana 3-, 4- and 5-Star Elite members are the ones receiving the priorities and I believe that is what you are stating.

 

[DeniseM]

I wrote: "with Staroption Reservations, Elite owners have priority for upgrades." A Staroption reservation isn't a Bonvoy reservation.

*Before the AMEX converted to Bonvoy, it was our primary credit card, but after that change, we switched to a different primary card. So I'm unlikely to post about Bonvoy points here, but it's certainly a viable topic for Vistana owners who continue to use Bonvoy points.

 

[YYJMSP]

Yes, but that wasn't the question. I wasn't addressing the different timeshare systems nor points.

Many Marriott Bonvoy (the hotel loyalty program) elites stay at Vistana resorts and believe they will get upgrades on view, etc due to their hotel program status. I was hoping you were saying that Vistana 3-, 4- and 5-Star Elite members are the ones receiving the priorities and I believe that is what you are stating.

doesnt it say in the Bonvoy T&C that on hotel bookings at the timeshare properties that standard hotel elite status benefits (upgrades, breakfast, late checkout, etc) do NOT necessarily apply?

 

[controller1]

doesnt it say in the Bonvoy T&C that on hotel bookings at the timeshare properties that standard hotel elite status benefits (upgrades, breakfast, late checkout, etc) do NOT necessarily apply?

Yes and that is what I was trying to clarify for others. There was never anything said about a "Bonvoy reservation". Some owners who make a "Staroption Reservation" are not Vistana elite but do have Marriott Bonvoy elite status. I wanted to make that clear as one can see how confusing the Marriott forum is on TUG when posters start talking about the hotel elite program and mixing it up with the MVC elite program. I didn't want newbies to think that was happening on this forum.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Hmm..
This summer I used star options (not home resort period) to book a 148K SO week at WKORV. I remember booking exactly at midnight 8 months out. Would that explain why they upgraded me to a 4th floor OFD? It was a handicapped accessible unit, but that wasn't a big deal to us.

I got a 1Bd OFD (95.7K SO) at WKORV as a SO exchange (81K SO) from a WKV (resale) in Sept 2019. But... I made the SO reservation exactly at 8 months.

Sometimes the “Surprise&Delight” works. Or, maybe VSE just loves me.

I have gotten some of the best locations - even as a resale buyer - because I reserve exactly at 12 months (or 8 months) out. This has happened for years - not an isolated event. Thus - the TimeStamp comment.

Plus - VSE has included the importance of Timestamp for reservations.

From WKORV Reservation Confirmation:
“Villa assignments are made based on the date/time of the reservation booking. Home Resort Owners begin making reservations as early as 12 months prior to arrival date. Reservations made using StarOptions can be made as early as eight months prior to arrival date. Each villa is ranked within its view category (highest floors to lowest). Reservations for an oceanfront view are the closest in proximity to the ocean with varying views based on floor.”


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