considering purchase - significant difference between voluntary and mandatory

[optimist]

I am deciding between an EOY Starwood or Marriott for exchanges to Hawaii. We already own Hyatt and EOY Hilton. I read posts from all the boards and am a little familiar with the system and know that if I buy a voluntary resort then I can only exchange via Interval. My question is
Is there an advantage (that is worth the extra money) to the ability to exchange via Starwood's internal system? Am I pretty much guaranteed any Starwood exchange if I own a mandatory resort? even the difficult exchanges such as Harborside?
Or is it just that the points can be exchanged for hotel stays?

Also, if I buy a voluntary resort and definitely don't want Orlando, would you suggest Palm Springs or South Carolina as the place with better resale value.

I am always thinking that I need to sell in a panic (despite my name!) and don't want to buy in overbuilt areas.
Thank you for your help!

 

[LisaRex]

Just because you have StarOptions (from buying a mandatory property) doesn't mean that you will get an exchange. All exchanges are subject to availability.

The best way to get into Harborside, Westin St. John, and the ski resorts during high season is to buy there. The 2nd best, and perhaps only other way, is to exchange via SVN. Peak travel weeks at these resorts probably won't ever make it to II.

Maui has been a historically easy exchange, but demand is tightening up during holidays, summer, and winter. Non-holiday fall and spring should remain an easy exchange because they have so much inventory. Kauai seems to be an easy exchange year-round.

Most of the other resorts should have fairly steady inventory, except perhaps during holidays. Obviously, SVN is the easiest way to exchange while II remains the most economical way to exchange. If you can travel during low/shoulder season, I'd target II. If you can't, I'd target SVN.

Finally, Christmas and New Years weeks were sold as event weeks at many of the resorts, and you won't ever be able to exchange to them.

 

[optimist]

Thank you, that is helpful to know. Since we are not bound by holidays, I will look for a voluntary resort.

 

[alwysonvac]

Thank you, that is helpful to know. Since we are not bound by holidays, I will look for a voluntary resort.

Just something to consider....
I bought a Starwood mandatory resort to have the ability of coordinating back to back Hawaii weeks with Hilton & Starwood.
Also, I like the option of choosing the exact offseason week that I want at Atlantis instead of requesting a broad range of weeks in order to get an Interval International match.

With 81,000 StarOptions I can book one of the following:
- one week in a one bedroom in Maui or Kauai
- one week in a one bedroom in Atlantis
- two weeks in a two bedroom in Atlantis (weeks 18-49 only)