[ 2013 ] Lagunamar Purchase - Sanity Check

[RLS50]

Normally I would never consider buying a timeshare in Mexico, and I am definitely not a fan of AI resorts.

But interesting with WLR is that I have never seen it available for a Getaway in II, even going out the maximum time period (1+ year). I also can't seem to trade into it, even a low demand offseason week. We are using a good oceanfront week that allows us to trade into multiple places in Aruba, and many other properties in the Caribbean, but we can't ever find WLR.

So what is the deal with that? In theory, trading into Mexico with what we have should be easy and we do have access to every other property in Mexico except for WLR.

Is it because WLR is not AI and makes the demand for it unique? Is it just that we don't already own a Starwood or Marriott week so we have no chance without that preference?

My experience might not be the norm, can't say. We have only been stalking WLR for about 6 months or so. This thread started in 2013 so we don't have the history with this resort most have.

We have got some good feedback from one existing owner, but curious to hear others thoughts or experiences?

 

[Helios]

I have been able to book St. John in Oct & Nov, but had to do it exactly 8 months out. (Lots of businesses closed still in October though.) We fell in love with St. John and bought resale. Now we can go every year, in the dead of winter!!

I like late November at WSJ. Weather is nice and the businesses are open. It seems like Thanksgiving is hard to get even at 8 months but other November weeks are somewhat easy at 8 months...Just be ready to click at mid night EST.

 

[jlp879]

....But interesting with WLR is that I have never seen it available for a Getaway in II, even going out the maximum time period (1+ year). I also can't seem to trade into it, even a low demand offseason week. We are using a good oceanfront week that allows us to trade into multiple places in Aruba, and many other properties in the Caribbean, but we can't ever find WLR.

This spring I purchased an II getaway for WLR in a studio in April. Lined it up to precede a one bedroom trade that I had got with the Starwood preference so I had two back to back weeks at WLR.

I actually had seen WLR other times as an II getaway, usually in shoulder season.

 

[Ken555]

WLR used to be often available as a getaway and an easy trader. Not sure of last few years, though.

I applaud the concept of buying where you want to go. But, with so many choices in Cancun, it seems very likely that a nice resort will have a week available via getaway, if not via owner rental, to avoid having the need to buy a deed. It's going to be hard to sell WLR, especially a non prime week, so I'd consider renting as a solution instead.


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[okwiater]

It's going to be hard to sell WLR, especially a non prime week, so I'd consider renting as a solution instead.

Not exactly true. The low MFs have kept prices above $0 even for Gold Plus weeks. Platinum Plus fetches reasonable resale prices. (Still a huge discount as compared to developer pricing, though)

 

[Ken555]

Not exactly true. The low MFs have kept prices above $0 even for Gold Plus weeks. Platinum Plus fetches reasonable resale prices. (Still a huge discount as compared to developer pricing, though)

Thanks for the correction. I don't follow WLR closely, but it seems there's always a lot of inventory available whenever I look.


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[margolism]

WLR used to be often available as a getaway and an easy trader. Not sure of last few years, though.

I applaud the concept of buying where you want to go. But, with so many choices in Cancun, it seems very likely that a nice resort will have a week available via getaway, if not via owner rental, to avoid having the need to buy a deed. It's going to be hard to sell WLR, especially a non prime week, so I'd consider renting as a solution instead.


Sent from my iPad

A big issue with many timeshares in Cancun is the all-inclusive requirement. There are a number of nice properties in Cancun, but many of them have all inclusive requirements, quickly limiting the number of viable choices (i.e., properties without an AI requirement.)

 

[RLS50]

This spring I purchased an II getaway for WLR in a studio in April. Lined it up to precede a one bedroom trade that I had got with the Starwood preference so I had two back to back weeks at WLR.

I actually had seen WLR other times as an II getaway, usually in shoulder season.

Thanks for that feedback. It must just be timing. For example right now in II it isn't showing WLR availability going all the way thru 6/14/2017.

By the way, how did you enjoy WLR? We have never been but going in 2016. Pretty excited to go and check it out. We met a TUG member that owns there and been a few times. The feedback and pictures they provided us were really outstanding.

 

[RLS50]

WLR used to be often available as a getaway and an easy trader. Not sure of last few years, though.

I applaud the concept of buying where you want to go. But, with so many choices in Cancun, it seems very likely that a nice resort will have a week available via getaway, if not via owner rental, to avoid having the need to buy a deed. It's going to be hard to sell WLR, especially a non prime week, so I'd consider renting as a solution instead.


Sent from my iPad

As I mentioned previously we frequently see we have access to almost every property in Mexico almost the entire year except Week 51/52 when some properties are fully booked.

But WLR? Been impossible for us to find as Getaway or trade. Sounds like some others have found a Getaway, but no luck for us.

Maybe a part of the reason is because as Margolism said it is one of the few non AI properties...and additionally it is high end and not a dive? I don't know.

It almost feels like in II the Travel Demand Index for Cancun might be 14, but for WLR it is 50 or something.

 

[dioxide45]

Thanks for all the responses. Definitely a lot of great information. My only concern with buying St John is the extra upfront acquisition cost along with what looks like an outrageous annual MF. With the plan to use it in Cancun most years, it seems like an expensive plan to only use it in St John once every six years or so.

It is good to know that St John has availability through SVN in shoulder season. So it looks like owning mandatory could get us to St John if we are able to plan exactly eight months out. Even if we made it there once, it would make us happy.

I have been searching the Sightings forum for II bulk banks for WLR and it doesn't look like they have dried up completely, but they do seem to be closer to checkin and there are very few 2BR units available. Owning WLR would give us the best flexibility and owning mandatory outside of there would be second best I suppose.

 

[hunkyleebo]

We've bought 3 gold weeks at WLR for next to nothing. They rent for more than MF if we don't need all 3. We prefer gold because there are fewer kids due to school schedules. You can't beat the location and the resort and its workers are incredible.

 

[okwiater]

Thanks for all the responses. Definitely a lot of great information. My only concern with buying St John is the extra upfront acquisition cost along with what looks like an outrageous annual MF. With the plan to use it in Cancun most years, it seems like an expensive plan to only use it in St John once every six years or so.

It is good to know that St John has availability through SVN in shoulder season. So it looks like owning mandatory could get us to St John if we are able to plan exactly eight months out. Even if we made it there once, it would make us happy.

I have been searching the Sightings forum for II bulk banks for WLR and it doesn't look like they have dried up completely, but they do seem to be closer to checkin and there are very few 2BR units available. Owning WLR would give us the best flexibility and owning mandatory outside of there would be second best I suppose.

Just to clarify, the 3-bedroom St. John pool villas have one of the lowest MF in the system, per StarOption. But they come with a ton of StarOptions (257,700), which makes the annual cost of about $3,000 quite a bit more than SVV or WKV. It just depends on how many StarOptions you want.

It sounds like the best plan for you might be to purchase at WLR, either annual or bi-annual, and use, rent, or trade it depending on your desired travel plans that year. If you really only want to go to WSJ once, you might just consider renting there from an owner.

 

[suzannesimon]

I just closed today on Week 51 Platinum Plus at Lagunamar for all the reasons mentioned here - non-AI, beautiful resort, great price and low maintenance fees. The fact there are no Star Options doesn't bother me. I own 2 weeks at HRA and have never used Star Options - with those maintenance fees, it isn't worth it. I use them or rent them. I thought Lagunamar would be a good trader because no one knew until the Estoppel came in that it was a fixed week. Once I learned that, I probably won't be trading this one either. I love fixed weeks - no drama. Called them today to pay the maintenance fee and they had already booked Christmas week next year.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Congratulation Suzanne

I just closed today on Week 51 Platinum Plus at Lagunamar for all the reasons mentioned here - non-AI, beautiful resort, great price and low maintenance fees.

I saw your post when you found out via the estoppel was a fixed week 51

Sounded like a slam dunk winner .

 

[margolism]

What size unit did you get?

 

[suzannesimon]

What size unit did you get?

It's a 2 bedroom. Neither the agent nor the seller knew what they were selling - just dumb luck for me. I thought it was a straight Platinum week.

 

[dioxide45]

Just to clarify, the 3-bedroom St. John pool villas have one of the lowest MF in the system, per StarOption. But they come with a ton of StarOptions (257,700), which makes the annual cost of about $3,000 quite a bit more than SVV or WKV. It just depends on how many StarOptions you want.

It sounds like the best plan for you might be to purchase at WLR, either annual or bi-annual, and use, rent, or trade it depending on your desired travel plans that year. If you really only want to go to WSJ once, you might just consider renting there from an owner.

Certainly the lowest MFs per StarOption, but would never be able to use all those StarOptions. There is just no way I can commit to that much of a MF each year, no matter how many options. I would be willing to pay more per StarOption to have a smaller MF per year.