[2008] Current Developer Pricing

[twz]

Yep, WKORV has some standalone 1 BRs. We're usually in Building 3 and I think there are four (two on each side) of the hallway.

 

[chermmian]

I just attended a timeshare sales presentation at Myrtle Beach, Broadway at the BEach and the price for a 2 bed room lock off was $2000 MORE than the price listed above, dated the same day we were given the presentation. . They offered us a one day $100,000 bonus star point if we bought that day. Is that a normal offer?

 

[DeniseM]

Hi chermmian! Welcome to TUG!

Am I correct in assuming you didn't buy from the developer? There are some great deals available on the resale market for a fraction of the price, and I hope you will do a little homework before you decide to buy from the developer.

If you did buy from the developer I strongly urge you to rescind following the instructions in your sales packet exactly - this is a totally legal way to get out of the sale and get your money back in full. Then you can take your time and make a purchase on your own terms.

BTW - The ONE DAY offer is available EVERY DAY....

For lots more info. about how Starwood works - see the FAQ at the top of the board.

 

[LisaRex]

They offered us a one day $100,000 bonus star point if we bought that day. Is that a normal offer?

I'm sure it was just a typo, but you realize it's not a $100,000 StarPoint bonus, but a 100,000 StarPoint bonus. What FlyerTalkers consider to be a good exchange on StarPoints is 3.5 cents per StarPoint or $3500 for 100k StarPoints. You could get significantly more or less value from your StarPoints depending on how you used them, however note that the best values tend to be at the lower category hotels.

For instance, with 100,000 StarPoints, you can get up to 50 free nights in a Category 1 hotel. If the normal rate for the hotel is $100/night, then the value is $5000. which is a great return on StarPoints. The problem is how often do you want to stay at the Four Points Saginaw?

But if you want to stay at a swanky Category 7 hotel, you can only get 2-3 nights for the same 100k StarPoints. So if you stay at the St. Regis NYC, which retails for $850/night, then your 100k StarPoints were only worth $2550, which is a crappy return and half the value of the Cat. 1 hotel.

If, like most people, you'd gravitate towards the Cat. 4-5 hotels, I've found the retail value is around $3500. But note that you have to stay at least 5 nights to get the best return because the 5th night free deal really helps add value.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cathyb]

LisaRex: Just a reminder that if you reserve 4 nights, the 5th night is free; so that calculation has to be recalculated when that happens

 

[Cathyb]

DeniseM: When are you in Kauai? We are there in July

 

[LisaRex]

LisaRex: Just a reminder that if you reserve 4 nights, the 5th night is free; so that calculation has to be recalculated when that happens

I did include that in my calculations. Note that Starwood doesn't offer 5th night free on Cat. 1 or 2. And at 30-30k StarPoints per night for a Cat. 7, you don't reach the 4 night threshhold with 100k points.

The actual breakdown for 100k StarPoints is:

33-50 nights in Cat. 1 (3k per night weekend; 2k per night weekday; no 5th night free)
25-33 nights in Cat. 2 (4k per weekend; 3k per weekday; no 5th night free)
17 nights in Cat. 3 (7k per night; 28k for 5 nights)
12 nights in Cat. 4 (40k for 5 nights; 10k per night)
7-10 nights in Cat. 5, depending on season (48-65k for 5 nights + 12-16k per night)
4-6 nights in Cat. 6 (80-100k for 5 nights + 20-25k per night)
2-3 nights in Cat. 7 (30-35k per night; insufficent points for 5 nights (120-140k)

Examples of how someone could use 100k points:

10 nights at Westin Aruba, Category 5 hotel for travel dates 10/3-10/10/08 (off season). Rack rate for a regular ocean view king size room is $240 night. $240 x 10 nights is a $2400 value.

7 nights at Westin Aruba, Category 5 hotel, for travel dates 12/21-12/28/08 (high season). Rack rate for a regular room jumps to $589/night. $589 x 7 = $4123 value.

12 nights at the Swan in Orlando, Category 4 for travel dates in June. Average nightly rate is $334/night. $334 x 12 = $4000.

So it's important to realize how the value of 100k StarPoints can swing, depending on the category and travel dates.

 

[DavidnRobin]

What FlyerTalkers consider to be a good exchange on StarPoints is 3.5 cents per StarPoint or $3500 for 100k StarPoints.

Isn't 3.5 cents per SP what SPG sells them for?

 

[chermmian]

Thanks so much Denise and Lisa for the advice and stats on how to use star points. I did type wrong and meant 100K. I DID NOT buy from the developer as I do feel that resale is probably the way to go. I own at Vacation Village for the past 12 years and was interesed in how Sheraton's system works. I did buy the Exployer Package, but then cancelled it a few days later when I looked at the details more. For total $2495 I would get another four day stay and , eventually, 60,000 star points and then if I bought at that next stay, up to 10% of this explorer package price would be applied towards the purchase price.

 

[LisaRex]

Isn't 3.5 cents per SP what SPG sells them for?

Yes. However, most folks don't buy them but accrue them for spending or staying at Starwood. So 3.5 cents per point is a pretty good rate.

ETA: Though now that you mention it, if I planned to go during a holiday week at a great resort, it might actually make sense to buy the StarPoints and use them in lieu of cash.

 

[teejay]

Updated Developer Pricing

Is it possible to update this thread to post current pricing? Is that information available?

 

[DeniseM]

Is it possible to update this thread to post current pricing? Is that information available?

Most resorts aren't in active sales - which resort are you looking at?

 

[Passepartout]

Why would TUGgers give a rats behind about developer pricing? We buy resale!

Jim

 

[bizaro86]

Yes. However, most folks don't buy them but accrue them for spending or staying at Starwood. So 3.5 cents per point is a pretty good rate.

ETA: Though now that you mention it, if I planned to go during a holiday week at a great resort, it might actually make sense to buy the StarPoints and use them in lieu of cash.

I've done that. Most recently was Le Meridien Khao Lak on the beach in Thailand at New Years. Buying a bunch of points to get the "free" nights was considerably cheaper than paying for that hotel or anything comparable.

 

[DeniseM]

Please note that this thread is from 2008.

 

[jarta]

Never mind. Emily Litella

 

[teejay]

Update Developer Pricing

Am considering buying a week to retro my resale week and obtain 5 star elite status. Considering Maui, Kauai, Scottsdale, or Palm Desert.

 

[YYJMSP]

Am considering buying a week to retro my resale week and obtain 5 star elite status. Considering Maui, Kauai, Scottsdale, or Palm Desert.

To retro your resale week in the most economical way, you're looking at a new developer purchase of at least $20K -- probably a EOY Westin Desert Willow if those are the locations you're intersted in. The Hawaii locations require a minimum $40K developer purchase to retro a week, and I don't think Scottsdale has any active developer unit sales.

To get to 5 Star Elite in the most economical way, you're looking at purchasing a resale week and then purchasing a new $20K developer unit to retro that resale week. Repeat until you have enough StarOptions to qualify for elite status. Best case scenario, you retro weeks worth 148K SOs and purchase EOY developer weeks worth 148K SOs every-other-year, which means 3 sets of purchases.

If you're starting from scratch (i.e. you just have the one resale week so far), you're realistically looking at ~$75K up-front, and another $8K/year in MFs, and you'll have ~6 weeks of units to use up each year.

So, first question, why do you want to get to 5 Star Elite?

 

[teejay]

Update Developer Pricing

I am currently a four star elite and have a resale with 148,000 staroptions. I am one week away from becoming a 5 star elite. I travel for business and frequently stay at Starwood properties, however, I have been unable to qualify for platinum status. I was thinking that a EOY in the desert is the less expensive way to go, but wanted to explore other options for comparison.

 

[YYJMSP]

I am currently a four star elite and have a resale with 148,000 staroptions. I am one week away from becoming a 5 star elite. I travel for business and frequently stay at Starwood properties, however, I have been unable to qualify for platinum status. I was thinking that a EOY in the desert is the less expensive way to go, but wanted to explore other options for comparison.

Sorry, didnt' realize that you were already most of the way there.

Depending on where you're at with your SOs, you might need as little as an EOY plus your retro unit, or you might need as much as 2 full 148K units.

I think WDW and WLR are both in the $35K range for an annual platinum season unit, and around $20K for an EOY unit.

 

[jarta]

I am currently a four star elite and have a resale with 148,000 staroptions. I am one week away from becoming a 5 star elite. I travel for business and frequently stay at Starwood properties, however, I have been unable to qualify for platinum status. I was thinking that a EOY in the desert is the less expensive way to go, but wanted to explore other options for comparison.

I believe the best option is a Plat 2-br EOY WDW in Palm Desert or a similar unit at Lagunamar in Cancun. Both cost around $21.5K. Both convert to SPG Starpoints at 72K EOY. With 5 Star Elite bonus you'd get 79.2K points.

Lagunamar has a $1,250 MF - half each year. WDW is around $1,600. Depends if you want to stay in the US or fly to Mexico. Both are nice resorts. Salty

 

[roar28]

Click on the link, then click on the new window, to make it larger.

Harborside Resort Atlantis

Sheraton Broadway Plantation

Sheraton PGA Resort

Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas

Sheraton Vistana Resort

Sheraton Vistana Villages Amelia, Key West & St. Augustine

Westin Desert Willows

Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas

Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas North

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

Westin St. John Bay Vista

Westin St. John Hill Phase I

Westin St. John - Hill Phase II

Would you happen by any chance to have seen an updated developer price list for the SVN located in CA, AZ, and SC?

 

[DeniseM]

Would you happen by any chance to have seen an updated developer price list for the SVN located in CA, AZ, and SC?

Except for Westin Desert Willow, resorts in those states aren't in active sales, so I doubt if there are price sheets. They are just selling individual units that they take back through foreclosures, etc.

 

[tschwa2]

I know as of 2 years ago, they were still in active sales at SBP Palmetto. I don't know if that is still the case. Unfortunately none of the units get 148,000. The closest is the 3 br l/o platinum at 125,000 SO's

 

[roar28]

Except for Westin Desert Willow, resorts in those states aren't in active sales, so I doubt if there are price sheets. They are just selling individual units that they take back through foreclosures, etc.

To your knowledge, are there anymore SVN properties in Active Sales to retro a resale week?