Best way to get Starwood preference

[gmarine]

I'm kicking around buying something so I get Starwood preference with II exchanges. I was thinking platinum at SBP, Desert Oasis or Vistana Beach club. Opinions? Thanks

 

[djyamyam]

Either SBP or SDO

You'd be good either way with platinum from both. If you're buying SBP, buy the lockoff unit was opposed ot the standard 2BR. The MFs on the l/o SBP is a bit less than SDO.

From a pricing standpoint, the 2BR platinum l/o units have done pretty good at holding their own on selling prices. 2BR units at SDO have dropped quite a bit over the last 6 months, pretty close to what SBP is selling for.

Another option would be to pick up a couple 1BR platinum regular villas at SBP. If you're patient, you can pick those up for about $800 - $1000 all in right now. MFs on those are about $380 so actually less than the lockoff.

It depends on how you want to use the unit. If it's strictly trading, then I'd go with the SBP 1BRs but the 2BRs give you more options than just for trading (ie. renting, direct exchanges)

 

[tomandrobin]

All would do well.

 

[vacationtime1]

I recently purchased both platinum at SBP and 1-52 "platinum" at SDO and am impressed at the universe of possible exchanges. Not much during summers and holidays, but many high end Westin resorts show up for at least some weeks during shoulder and off season.

 

[jerseygirl]

If you just want one Starwood vacation per year, buy the small one-BR at SBP -- the maintenance fee is under $400 (of course, Starwood has a history of 10%+ increases, but it's still a bargain when you get WSJ, Harborside or Maui with it).

 

[gmarine]

How about the Vistana Beach Club in Florida? Units seems pretty cheap but then again m-fees appear to be around 1K.

Thinking about it, wouldnt one of the Vistana Orlando units work too? Or would trading power keep them from getting Harborside etc ?

 

[grgs]

How about the Vistana Beach Club in Florida? Units seems pretty cheap but then again m-fees appear to be around 1K.

I assume VBC would work fine, but the mf are what would keep me from buying this as a trader--they're not even LOs. At least they've been recently renovated, so that should keep an SA away for a while--although, there's always the possibility of a hurricane, I suppose.

Thinking about it, wouldnt one of the Vistana Orlando units work too? Or would trading power keep them from getting Harborside etc ?

Yes, they should also work. The mf are lower than VBC. You can pick up a Lakes unit pretty cheaply, and as these units have just finished with their renovations, they'd should also be SA proof for awhile.

The mf for both SDO and SBP are lower, and I'd look there first; although, if a super cheap Lakes unit comes up, I think that would be an option, too. However, I would guess that the trade power of peak SDO/SBP weeks (outside of the Starwood preference period) would be better than SVR units.

Glorian

 

[GrayFal]

If you just want one Starwood vacation per year, buy the small one-BR at SBP -- the maintenance fee is under $400 (of course, Starwood has a history of 10%+ increases, but it's still a bargain when you get WSJ, Harborside or Maui with it).

This is the wayto go George.