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Combining star options

Fcast

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Does starwood allow you to combine staroptions if you purchase resale weeks?

Thanks.:confused:
 

LisaRex

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Does starwood allow you to combine staroptions if you purchase resale weeks?

Thanks.:confused:

Currently they do allow resale owners to combine their StarOptions. That hasn't always been the case nor might it always be the case, but for now, it's allowed. :)
 

tomandrobin

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No they do not, but accidents do happen in your favor.

If the resale unit is requalified, then you can combine the staroptions.
 

LisaRex

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No they do not, but accidents do happen in your favor.

Tom, Starwood may have recently changed their policy on this. Per Denise's "Are you new to Starwood" sticky above:

c. You can't combine the Staroptions from different resale weeks to make a Staroption exchange. [There has been no announcement from Starwood, but it seems that this rule was changed sometime in the summer or fall of 2008. Based on owner's reports, it now appears that Starwood does allow you to combine Staroptions from resale purchases.]
 

DeniseM

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Recently, Tuggers have reported that they HAVE been allowed to combine Staroptions, but I don't think there has been any formal announcement from Starwood. Be aware that they like to change the rules without notice. :rolleyes:
 

Cathyb

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Yes, they are very clever in changing rules without notice :(
 

clsmit

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I was able to combine developer-purchased Staroptions and resale-purchased Staroptions (from a mandatory resort) to make a reservation. The reservation was made in October 08 for a June 09 stay. So, as of last October it could be done.
 

Fcast

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Thanks all. I was asking in context of having star options from two different resorts both resale. I am not sure if they would allow since the preference periods are different at each home resort. Ie. I own at Maui and buy at Kierland and want an additional week in Maui to reserve at one time. If I have sufficient staroptions would they allow this when I have a 12 month window combining with an 8 month window.
 

LisaRex

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Anytime you use StarOptions, the earliest you're allowed to reserve is 8 months out. So you'd have to reserve your home resort during the home priority period (8-12 months out) and then wait til 8 months out to reserve the 2nd week using your Kierland StarOptions. You might also have to change rooms to a lesser view depending on the view you own in Maui and how busy the resort is.

If you want to do this during a popular season, such as the summer, you'd be advised to reserve the most popular week first and then call at exactly 8 months out to book the 2nd week. Remember, you're competing with everyone in the SVN network, so if you can't be flexible with your weeks, you have to be diligent about calling in.

FYI, II has Demand charts which show which weeks are in the most demand, but generally speaking, President's Day and July 4th are the busiest weeks, followed by summer and Spring Break weeks.
 
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DeniseM

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Fcast - bes ure you checkout the Starwood FAQ at the top of the board - it will answer most of your questions.
 

Fcast

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Anytime you use StarOptions, the earliest you're allowed to reserve is 8 months out. So you'd have to reserve your home resort during the home priority period (8-12 months out) and then wait til 8 months out to reserve the 2nd week using your Kierland StarOptions. You might also have to change rooms to a lesser view depending on the view you own in Maui and how busy the resort is.

Is this really combining then?
 
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capjak

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Combining would be to wait until 8 months out to make a reservation with all your staroptions which people have reported that they have had sucess doing this. However in the example given it would not make since to wait on the one you could make during your home resort period.

Also since there is not a written rule on combining resale options, I think only starwood can answer these questions and they can change their mind at any time...so don't count on being able to combine SOs, think of it as a perk if buying 2 units resale.
 

DeniseM

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Is this really combining then?

I'm assuming you own a 1 bdm. at WKORV and want to reserve a 1 bdm. for both weeks? In this situation, combining Staroptions isn't best practice, because 1) you will lose your preference for your deeded view at WKORV, and 2) you will have to wait until 8 mos. out to make your reservation.

When you use Staroptions to make a reservation at your home resort, you lose all owner's priority, so you could even end up with an Island View the 2nd week, if it's a busy time. Never the less, Lisa's suggestion is the best way to do it.
 

jarta

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Denise, "combining Staroptions isn't best practice, because 1) you will lose your preference for your deeded view at WKORV, and 2) you will have to wait until 8 mos. out to make your reservation."

I have found, if I so decide, that reserving a large 1br at the resorts I own (no WHORV) in the preference period I have can easily be made. Then, I combine the "left over" small 1br staroptions to reserve somewhere else on the "8 month out" date. Sometimes I can reserve as much as a 2br plus a large 1br with the "left over" staroptions in a Gold (or shoulder) season.

It helps that all my purchases are in the Platinum Season. "Left over" small 1br units have a larger staroption value than other preference periods, almost always 67,100. I bought Platinum because I live in chilly Chicago and want to get out of town in the Winter. At the time I bought, I didn't really consider the value of the small 1br units for SVO trading purposes.

But, you have to FIRST get the reservations where you own in your preference period and THEN make the combined staroptions reservation with the "left overs."

I realize that if you own units in the Gold or Silver seasons that you might only have enough total combined staroptions to reserve something nice in Platinum season at Harborside or St. John at the 8 month period - and that would be iffy.
 

DeniseM

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Jarta - My post [primarily] applies to [Maui] where there are no seasons, and view is an important factor.

The OP was asking about combining Staroptions to reserve BOTH weeks. If he did that, he would lose his owner's preference for his owned week, so it's not best practice.

Tom - I edited after you posted.
 
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jarta

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Denise, ... You are correct.

The reason I posted information not specifically related to Starwood resorts in Hawaii is that this thread is not so limited by it's title - "combining star options" and the initial post.

Threads can bend, twist and turn. That's why it's so hard to thread a needle, lol! ... eom :)
 
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