considering banking my week at II ?

[adanac1]

Hello everyone,
Our trip to the bahamas and then Florida (december 11 - 26)during this snow and cold snap was a blessing. My family really enjoyed the trip. We would be considering banking our week from Vistana villages into Interval Interanational and then taking a year off before travelling again. We have a 2 bedroom (81000) options prime season and would like to deposit it to II.
Any suggestions on how I best should work that so I have the most trading power. I know Vistana villiages is not the highest trading resort but it is the only one we own at this point.


Thank you in advance

 

[DeniseM]

Have you read the Starwood & II article in Owner Resources? That's the best place to start.

If you bought from the developer, or it's a resale that's in the SVN (mandatory) you need to call Starwood Owner Services and ask them to deposit it in II for you. If you want to put in an ongoing request for a 2 bdm., you need to deposit a 2 bdm. If you want to request 2 weeks (2 vacations) in a 1 bdm. you can split it, if it's a lock-off and make 2 deposits. (Based on your post, it looks like you do own a week in the SVN.)

If you bought this week resale and it is not in the SVN, you can reserve a popular week yourself as if you were going to use it yourself, and deposit it with II online, after setting up an Acct. When you reserve the week with SW, do not mention that you are going to deposit it, because they will probably want to deposit it for you and you won't get as strong of a trader if they pick the week.

You want to pick a popular check-in date that's a year out, for the most trading power. For instance - a check-in date of 12/27/09 would be good because most kids are out of school the week after Christmas - that date can be reserved TODAY.

 

[calgarygary]

If I recall correctly, the OP is in SVN so I would ask Starwood to deposit a non Orlando week for you. We had success in getting them to do so and the SDO week we had deposited shows much more than our VV week.

 

[Gordo1111]

on the same topic - i just called and deposited my sdo (bought from ebay) week 13 . what a pain -but i used everyones advice and just kept saying over and over that i control the week etc.
i hope i still have excellent trading power.
i'm shooting for harborside...wish me luck!

 

[Politico]

If you bought this week resale and it is not in the SVN, you can reserve a popular week yourself as if you were going to use it yourself, and deposit it with II online, after setting up an Acct. When you reserve the week with SW, do not mention that you are going to deposit it, because they will probably want to deposit it for you and you won't get as strong of a trader if they pick the week.

Is it really possible to deposit a non SVN starwood week without going through Starwood? How do you use II to deposit a week you have already reserved? This would seem an easy way to avoid some of the frustration with SVO trying to control the week.

 

[Twinkstarr]

Is it really possible to deposit a non SVN starwood week without going through Starwood? How do you use II to deposit a week you have already reserved? This would seem an easy way to avoid some of the frustration with SVO trying to control the week.

I'm going to give it a shot, with my Lakeside Terrace ski week.

Jerseygirl has been successful with depositing her SBP summer week directly into II.

 

[DeniseM]

Is it really possible to deposit a non SVN starwood week without going through Starwood? How do you use II to deposit a week you have already reserved? This would seem an easy way to avoid some of the frustration with SVO trying to control the week.

You reserve your Starwood week exactly as you would if you were going to use it yourself, and then you go online and deposit it on II's website. some Tuggers are having success with this method - YMMV.

 

[jenniferhu]

Trading power

Hello - I'm not clear on the trading power. We own 2bdr resale SDO and I always deposit with II. The first year, the SDO person asked what week I wanted to reserve to bank, and I gave her a popular week - the FBR open in Scottsdale. The last year, I deposited through II - but the communication between II and SDO was poor and I had to keep checking back.

Could someone explain "trading power" with II? I deposited a good week (in my opinion) and I'm looking for a week next summer in Kauai. What are my chances?

We've had it for 4 years and used it in Orlando (2xs), Maui, and New Hampshire. I seem to have good luck with II.
Will I get Poipu next summer???

 

[DeniseM]

II does not disclose trading power, so most of what we know is through owner's experience. The highest trading power at SDO is generally March (MLB Spring Training) and the week before and after Easter (April 12th.)

Since you are requesting an exchange for the highest demand time and a very popular area, I would not limit my request to Poipu. If you are limiting your request to one resort and one week, you may not get it.

There are some things you can do to improve your chances:

Do you know about the 3-day priority for other Starwood timeshare? All Starwood owners can see and exchange for other Starwood properties 3 days before non-owners. I think you have a good chance to get the Westin Princeville if you add it to you on-going request. For complete info. about the 3-day priority, see the Starwood & II article in Owner Resources.

I'd also go to the TUG Kauai TS reviews and see what other Kauai resorts are acceptable to you and add them to your request. I like the Lawai Beach Resort, some of the Pahio Resorts, and the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beach Boy. If you don't mind a very large resort, the Marriott is nice, too.

Another thing you should do is to check the TUG Sightings board regularly, because when Starwood does a bulk space banking (deposits a lot of weeks all at once) it usually gets posted there. You have to join TUG to have access to the member's only Sightings board.

 

[jenniferhu]

Thanks, I didn't know about the 3-day priority. I have requested all the resorts in the Poipu and surrounding area, including the ones you mentioned- we prefer that area to Princeville; we like the beaches for our little ones.

 

[DeniseM]

Thanks, I didn't know about the 3-day priority. I have requested all the resorts in the Poipu and surrounding area, including the ones you mentioned- we prefer that area to Princeville; we like the beaches for our little ones.

I do too, but if you don't get any of the other resorts, WPORV could be a back-up plan. WPORV does have a great pool and a kids pool. Of the resorts I mentioned, only the Lawai Beach Resort is in the Poipu area.

 

[jhm40cu]

Thanks, I didn't know about the 3-day priority.

I didn't know about this either. Thanks for the info.

 

[Captron]

II - Trading Power - 2BR vs 2BR LO?????

Does anyone have any information on the difference between trading power in II for a standard 2BR vs a 2BR LO?

I know the flexibility issues related to ownership and being able to use 2 weeks/deposit1-use-1/etc. I am specifically interested in the difference related to trading power in II. Since II is more sensitive than RCI with regards to like sized exchange and not being able to do an ongoing search for a larger capacity unit... They seem to also emphasize PRIVATE occupancy more than RCI seemed to.

I am specifically considering a purchase of a unit FOR TRADE in II. (Breaking rule #1 - buy where you want to go) With slightly lower MF (less sq ft.) would it be better to buy 2BR or pay extra MF if it is determined there is better trading power for a LO? To limit this, lets assume all else is equal - resort, season (or even week), purchase price, max/private occupancy, etc.
(Even though most 2BR would be 8/6 vs LO 8/8.)

Does II give a different TRADING POWER for a 2BR vs 2BR LO?

Thank you for any input.

 

[jerseygirl]

I don't think the 2-BR L/O has more II trading power than a regular 2-BR.

Having said that, I think the extra costs (additional maint fee, extra exchange fee, and small difference in purchase cost) are worth it for the ability to split the unit in two and obtain two trades ... especially if there are times when you only need one-BR units.

 

[readyalready]

I didn't have any luck requesting a non Orlando week for my Vistana Villages week. I don't remember what week it was, but it had lousy trading power except for Starwood deposits. I had planned to call back and request that it get replaced but in the meantime found a 2 bedroom at Kierland during our fall break so just booked it. As long as you are happy going to a Starwood during a period they tend to bulk bank, you should be fine.

Ironically, I wanted a non-Orlando week so I could try to get into a Disney on site resort for a trip this summer. I didn't know about the switch to RCI at the time, but found out a few months later. During the last summer bulk bank on RCI I was able to get a 2 bedroom in July with one of my many RCI weeks, I doubt I ever would have gotten that on II. Sometimes things just work out.

 

[Captron]

A 2 BR is a 2BR to II

FYI: According to the person I talked with at the Starwood II desk today - for exchange purposes a 2BR is a 2BR it does not matter if it is a standard configuration or a LO configuration. They consider them all the same beast and they have the same trading power (All else being equal).

Don't you love it when I get the answer to my own question? :ignore: SORRY!

I thought I would share what I learned though!