Buying Starwood Advice

[NJDave]

I am looking add a Starwood for internal trading to supplement our Marriott and Hilton but don't need annual usage.

The purpose would be to increase our alternatives for Hawaii during the summer, but would use it for Harborside and St Johns if we were lucky enough to get those difficult trades and perhaps to Cancun (April) or Myrtle Beach (summer), and Orlando as a default. We currently use Foxrun to supplement our Marriott and Hilton. For example, we use it for trades into Marriotts such as Grande Vista, Palm Desert, Las Vegas, Ft Lauderdale, the Royals resorts in Cancun / Riveria Maya, Kona Coast in the Big Island and the Westin in Rancho Mirage. We would still use the new timeshare for that purpose but want the Starwood preference. This timeshare would replace Foxrun. Even though we may lose the AC that Foxrun gets and pay higher maintenance fees, the primary purpose is to gain flexibility in quality by gaining the Starwood preference. I believe that Starwood would obtain all the trades that we previoulsy obtained with Foxrun and would have the potential to trade into top Starwood resorts.

Any comments on this strategy and recommendations of which resorts I should be targeting within Starwood? Would I be better off buying at Vistana Villages in Bella to obtain points (enough points for a one bedroom at the top resorts) or trading a week for a week in Interval? I know that Starwood has moved to an average trading power. Which resorts have the best trading power for the price?

 

[DeniseM]

The purpose would be to increase our alternatives for Hawaii during the summer, but would use it for Harborside and St Johns if we were lucky enough to get those difficult trades and perhaps to Cancun (April) or Myrtle Beach (summer), and Orlando as a default.

There are 2 ways to go about this - you could buy a mandatory resort with Staroptions (not points - Starpoints are hotel points) that allows you to exchange with Starwood's internal trading system, or you could buy a voluntary resort and use it to trade in II, with the Starwood to Starwood preference.

As far as trading value in II, I don't think that across the board Starwood to Starwood trading value has decreased, but the rules have changed and the trading value of some specific weeks has changed. For a trader, you want to be sure you buy the highest season available at the resort.

You can pick up a voluntary resort for literally nothing that will be a good Starwood to Starwood trader with II. Someone got a Sheraton Vistana Resort 2 bdm. on ebay yesterday for $11 and free closing costs. Sheraton Desert Oasis is often recommended as a good II trader because of it's low maintenance fee, and you'd want to buy a 1-52 floating week, or a Plat week there - not gold or silver, for a strong trader.

Sheraton Desert Oasis (EOY Lg. 1 bdm) - $325.62 MF
Sheraton Desert Oasis (Sm. 1 bdm.) - $518.63 MF
Sheraton Desert Oasis (Lg. 1 bdm.) - $ 611.25 MF
Sheraton Desert Oasis (2 bdm.) - $889.08 MF
​

A mandatory resort will cost you a lot more (mandatory means it has Staroptions.) Westin Kierland Villas generally is considered to have the best maintenance fee to Staroptions ratio, but a 2 bdm. with 148,100 Staroptions will cost you $15-18K. To be able to trade into a 2 bdm. in Hawaii, you need 148,100 Staroptions; 81,000 Staroptions for a 1 bdm.

WKV - (2 bm. L/O) - $1,237.30 MF. (148,100 Staroptions)
WKV - (Lg. 1 bdm.) - Approx. $860 MF (81,000 Staroptions)​

Now that Hawaii has 3 Starwood resorts, it is a pretty easy II trade for Starwood owners, except for holidays - Starwood tries not to deposit holiday weeks.

Harborside is a harder trade - not impossible, but far less supply.

St. John is a very difficult trade.

Cancun, Myrtle Beach, and Orlando are easy trades.

If your main goal is to trade into Hawaii, and you can put in an ongoing request 12 mos. out, for non-holiday weeks, I think a voluntary week/II trader will work for you.

If you really want to have a shot at Harborside and St. John every year, then you probably need to buy a mandatory week, so you can trade in the SVN.

I'd also suggest that you check out the Starwood FAQ at the top of the page if you haven't already.

Here is a link to most of the current Starwood maintenance fees.

 

[DeniseM]

I forgot that you asked about Bella - the Staroptions to MF ratio there is really poor, but you can probably buy it for less than WKV.

Bella - 2 bdm. Plat. - only 81,000 Staroptions - $1,194 MF

 

[NJDave]

Denise, Thanks for the detailed response. It was very helpful.

I think a non-voluntary unit would work best considering that alternative costs. I think it may give me more flexibility only having an every other year since the deposit can be used for two years beyond the check in date. I lean toward Vistana Resort since I could use the unit. Would a good fixed week be better than a floating week?

 

[DeniseM]

The advantage of a true fixed week is that the new Starwood/II rules don't apply to it - you can still do deposit first, and deposit the week you own.

However, an off-season fixed week won't be a good trader, so your best bet would be week 51 or 52. I own an SVR fixed, Falls phase, spring week that is the week before or after Easter 65% of the time, and that's also a good trader.

The downside is that it's a fixed week - you will only be able to use that week, or trade it in II. With a Starwood true fixed week, you have no option to use your home resort during a different week, unless you trade in II.

I wouldn't buy a fixed week unless 1) it is a prime week and 2) you know you can always use it yourself for those dates.

 

[DanCali]

I think a non-voluntary unit would work best considering that alternative costs. I think it may give me more flexibility only having an every other year since the deposit can be used for two years beyond the check in date. I lean toward Vistana Resort since I could use the unit. Would a good fixed week be better than a floating week?

Vistana Resort is voluntary (I assume that's what you meant?).

 

[Ken555]

However, an off-season fixed week won't be a good trader, so your best bet would be week 51 or 52. I own an SVR fixed, Falls phase, spring week that is the week before or after Easter 65% of the time, and that's also a good trader.

FWIW, my SVR early Dec week (not as great a way as my SVR May) fixed week is trading just fine. I'm able to use it to get all the resorts my other can as well, especially when I call II. If I see it on either, they can grab it for me with whichever I want. At least, that's been my experience to date.

Even so, I agree with Denise to buy as best a week as you can. And it's worth waiting a bit to find a good fixed week (assuming you want fixed, for the benefits of better II reservations (and it will save you time during the rez process, since II won't have to confirm with SVN and vice versa quite as much), etc.

 

[DeniseM]

Also - with a true fixed week, you can deposit it 2 years before the check-in date, so you have a total of 4 years to use it - another plus!

 

[Fredm]

I am looking add a Starwood for internal trading to supplement our Marriott and Hilton but don't need annual usage.

The purpose would be to increase our alternatives for Hawaii during the summer, but would use it for Harborside and St Johns if we were lucky enough to get those difficult trades
Any comments on this strategy and recommendations of which resorts I should be targeting within Starwood?

I have a different take on your choices.

IF the purpose of a Starwood purchase is to provide more access to Hawaii during the summer months (and enough StarOptions to trade into Harborside and St John), then buy a Hawaii resort. Problem solved.

Trading into Hawaii during the summer is never a sure thing. As the economy improves, summer trades will be even more problematic.

It is a back to basics approach of buying where you want to go.

Westin Kaanapali and Kaanapali North both provide 148,100 StarOptions. A 1 bedroom at Westin Kaanapali provides 81,000 StarOptions.

Maintenance fees are ~$1000/use-year higher in Hawaii, but that is the price for control of the summer reservation calendar.

With Marriott and Hilton already in your portfolio, why not use them for Hawaii trades? Summer is a hard trade. Starwood is no different.

 

[NJDave]

I have a different take on your choices.

IF the purpose of a Starwood purchase is to provide more access to Hawaii during the summer months (and enough StarOptions to trade into Harborside and St John), then buy a Hawaii resort. Problem solved.

Trading into Hawaii during the summer is never a sure thing. As the economy improves, summer trades will be even more problematic.

It is a back to basics approach of buying where you want to go.

Westin Kaanapali and Kaanapali North both provide 148,100 StarOptions. A 1 bedroom at Westin Kaanapali provides 81,000 StarOptions.

Maintenance fees are ~$1000/use-year higher in Hawaii, but that is the price for control of the summer reservation calendar.

With Marriott and Hilton already in your portfolio, why not use them for Hawaii trades? Summer is a hard trade. Starwood is no different.

I do use the Marriott and Hilton for the Hawaii trades. With the changes to Marriott I am not so sure it is going to work as well in the future and Hilton is not on Kauai and Maui.

I have thought about your idea as well and still consider buying in Hawaii. However, I am concerned about the high fees (i.e. $2,500 - $3,000 per year). Everytime I think that is the best way to go, I figure I could rent it on Redweek for what my annual cost would be without a commitment and remember that I have other ways to get to Hawaii anyway. I then end up thinking that adding a cheap trader to increase my odds would be just fine.

 

[grgs]

I do use the Marriott and Hilton for the Hawaii trades. With the changes to Marriott I am not so sure it is going to work as well in the future and Hilton is not on Kauai and Maui.

Is this your main reason for buying the week? I'm asking because I think it is premature to assume you might not get your Kauai/Maui Marriott trades. (Yes, despite not owning Marriott, I have spent waaaaay too much time reading about the new points system. )

Now, if you want the week for other reasons, that's fine. I think the other posters have given you good advice with several points of view to consider. If you can stomach the high mf of WKORV and want to be assured of Hawaii in summer, now is probably a good time to buy.

Best wishes,

Glorian

 

[NJDave]

Is this your main reason for buying the week? I'm asking because I think it is premature to assume you might not get your Kauai/Maui Marriott trades. (Yes, despite not owning Marriott, I have spent waaaaay too much time reading about the new points system. )

I like the thought of owning a Marriott, Hilton and Starwood. I own a cheap VRI week that gets an AC and trades well. I am getting rid of that week and replacing it with a Starwood. The incremental cost of this swap is minimal. I like the flexibilty this move gives me for Starwood trades. Although I will lose the AC since the Starwood won't likley get one. I am just not going to sit around and hope Marriott works out well. I am increasing my odds by doing business with another hotel chain while the price is right.

 

[DeniseM]

No Starwood timeshares get AC's.

 

[NJDave]

No Starwood timeshares get AC's.

I receive one for an offpeak North Carolina timeshare. That doesn't seem fair!