Any tuggers at WSJ this week?

[Pedro]

We arrived at the Westin St. John on Saturday for a 1-week stay. I was expecting it to be more crowded that what it is, but it is actually easy to get lounge chairs at the beach and at the pool at any time. We've been playing tennis every morning and so far we haven't seen anybody playing at any of the other tennis courts - even today when we played for about 2 hours.

The weather has been great, with an ocassional shower here and there. We got a 3-br villa with a pool, so the kids have been enjoying the water even while we BBQ at night.

The only thing that worries me is the tropical system (92L) that is about 450 miles away from the Lesser Antilles. The latest forecast shows it passing north of St. John by Friday, so hopefully it won't disrupt our return flight to FL on Saturday. The kids start school on Monday, and I'm sure they don't want to miss a single day of school .

Are there any other tuggers at WSJ this week?

 

[rcs249]

Got back from WSJ only about 10 days ago but am obsessed with going back there and to St. John in general!

I hope you have a wonderful vacation and that the system isn't a bother!

 

[pointsjunkie]

did both of you trade within the SVN to get wsj?

 

[tomandrobin]

Wish I was at Harborside!

11 months, 3 weeks to go!

 

[Transit]

We arrived at the Westin St. John on Saturday for a 1-week stay. I was expecting it to be more crowded that what it is, but it is actually easy to get lounge chairs at the beach and at the pool at any time. We've been playing tennis every morning and so far we haven't seen anybody playing at any of the other tennis courts - even today when we played for about 2 hours.

The weather has been great, with an ocassional shower here and there. We got a 3-br villa with a pool, so the kids have been enjoying the water even while we BBQ at night.

The only thing that worries me is the tropical system (92L) that is about 450 miles away from the Lesser Antilles. The latest forecast shows it passing north of St. John by Friday, so hopefully it won't disrupt our return flight to FL on Saturday. The kids start school on Monday, and I'm sure they don't want to miss a single day of school .

Are there any other tuggers at WSJ this week?

Enjoy you stay I'd love to get back there.

Wish I was at Harborside!

11 months, 3 weeks to go!

I have 3 weeks to go!

 

[Pedro]

Traded through SVN

did both of you trade within the SVN to get wsj?

We traded within SVN - calling at 9:00 am EST exactly 8 months out. We called every week for 2 months and ended up in lots of waiting lists for a 3-br villa with a pool. Finally we got a call from SVN that there was a villa available for this week and we took it right away.

 

[tomandrobin]

We traded within SVN - calling at 9:00 am EST exactly 8 months out. We called every week for 2 months and ended up in lots of waiting lists for a 3-br villa with a pool. Finally we got a call from SVN that there was a villa available for this week and we took it right away.

Wow! I thougt wait lists actually working was a myth, like Bigfoot.

 

[tomandrobin]

I have 3 weeks to go!

Ugh!

Have a great time!

And remember........Bottoms Up!

 

[Transit]

We traded within SVN - calling at 9:00 am EST exactly 8 months out. We called every week for 2 months and ended up in lots of waiting lists for a 3-br villa with a pool. Finally we got a call from SVN that there was a villa available for this week and we took it right away.

I'm glad to see waitlists working.When did you get notified the unit was available?

Ugh!

Have a great time!

And remember........Bottoms Up!

Thanks.... Do you recognise the bus in the avatar?

 

[tomandrobin]

Thanks.... Do you recognise the bus in the avatar?

Love the shuttles at Atlantis. Run on time, every time.

 

[tomandrobin]

For either of you, is this your first trip to St John in August?

 

[pointsjunkie]

i am going back to HRA in november for a few days. can't believe i am going there 2 times this year.

 

[rcs249]

did both of you trade within the SVN to get wsj?

Nope, I rented from an owner but am considering buying (resale) if we love it as much next July as we did last month.

 

[island22]

Waitlists do work!
I traded into WSJ via SVN after being on numerous waitlists. It took alot of persistence and many calls to be added to the wait list and got the call that we snagged a week and will arrive WSJ on Sat 8/16 for a week in the villas and then 2 days at the resort thru SPG on points.
Alas we are not in a 3br villa but a studio, but will enjoy it to the max, we have been wanting to check out St John for quite awhile.
now if that pesky 92L weather system will just stay away from STJ...

 

[tomandrobin]

How far out from check-in did your waitlist come thru for you?

Last year I had waitlists for 6 weeks staight and none of them came thru for Harborside.

 

[Pedro]

The call from SVN came in early February (6 months before check in). Our requests were for a 3-br pool villa between late June and early August. About two weeks after getting the call form SVN and after having purchased the airline tickets we received another call saying that a 3-br pool villa was available for the 4th of July week. We had to decline since we already had purchased airline tickets.

 

[DavidnRobin]

For storm info... watch these sites...

http://www.stormcarib.com/
http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/

Enjoy your stay - as discussed, it is quiet in the summer (nice...). We will not be using our 2009 WSJ week - so it won't be until 2010 and still cannot wait to go.

 

[LisaRex]

We will not be using our 2009 WSJ week - so it won't be until 2010 and still cannot wait to go.

And where will you be going in 2009? Inquiring minds want to know.

(We're going to WSJ in 2009 so it'll be 2010 before I get back to my beloved Maui. Sniff, sniff)

 

[tomandrobin]

And where will you be going in 2009? Inquiring minds want to know.

(We're going to WSJ in 2009 so it'll be 2010 before I get back to my beloved Maui. Sniff, sniff)

When are you going in 2009?

 

[LisaRex]

When are you going in 2009?

1/30 - 2/6/09. 2 bdrm loft. Called at 8 months out on a whim and voila! Got it!

I also snagged a 35k saver ticket from DAY->STT, so airfare only cost us $650 for both of us.

woo hoo!

I printed out your recent trip report and plan to put it to good use. I also have gotten a few of the St. John books.

Can't wait to explore a new place though I already miss Hawaii.

No, no, no I'm not getting another timeshare. I'm not getting another timeshare. I'm not getting another timeshare.

 

[tomandrobin]

We are going in June next year. I was thinking you got a summer week. Didn't even cross my mind that you exchanged in during Platinum Plus season. Good for you!

 

[tomandrobin]

No, no, no I'm not getting another timeshare. I'm not getting another timeshare. I'm not getting another timeshare.

Stay strong....no owners update, no owners update, no owners update.

Good thing you are going early in the season. Snorkeling/swimming in 85 degree water might push you over the edge.

 

[Pedro]

Stay strong....no owners update, no owners update, no owners update.

Good thing you are going early in the season. Snorkeling/swimming in 85 degree water might push you over the edge.

We went to the owners update this morning. A little over 1 hour - $150 coupon, not too bad of a deal in my mind. We went early enough so it didn't interfere with our plans for the day. We asked about the 3-br pool villa prices for the summer season (gold plus?) and we were offered one at $22,500 EOY or $45,000 EY with a $2,200 MF plus taxes plus 80,000 starpoint incentive. For those of you wondering, no, we did not buy it.​

The weather has been great and the kids and us have been having a great time. The tropical system (92L) is forecasted to arrive late tomorrow evening and hopefully it won't affect us too much. I'll report tomorrow...
​

 

[tomandrobin]

We went to the owners update this morning. A little over 1 hour - $150 coupon, not too bad of a deal in my mind. We went early enough so it didn't interfere with our plans for the day. We asked about the 3-br pool villa prices for the summer season (gold plus?) and we were offered one at $22,500 EOY or $45,000 EY with a $2,200 MF plus taxes plus 80,000 starpoint incentive. For those of you wondering, no, we did not buy it.​

The weather has been great and the kids and us have been having a great time. The tropical system (92L) is forecasted to arrive late tomorrow evening and hopefully it won't affect us too much. I'll report tomorrow...
​

Did you tour the new Bay Vista units?

 

[Pedro]

Did you tour the new Bay Vista units?

Yes, we toured a 2-br Bay Vista unit. The sales rep told us the 3-br looks essentially the same, except for the extra bedroom. The unit was nice, but after staying at a 3-br pool villa (for the second time now), I don't think we can settle for a standard 2- or 3-br unit. We really like having a private pool, jacuzzi, and BBQ grill!