exchange for week 52

[susan6103]

hi,
just wondering if anyone has been able to get anything decent for Hawaii for week 52. I would be relinqueshing either my SDO 1 bdrm or my Marriott Harbour Lake 2 bdrm. Trading through II of course, wondering if I should even bother trying to put in a request for these.

thank you

 

[DeniseM]

Since Marriott has more total units in Hawaii, and since you have a 2 bdm., and since Marriott does not control deposits the way Starwood does, I'd go with Marriott.

That being said, weeks 51 and 52 at the Starwood resorts are event weeks, and as such they "may" be true fixed weeks. If they are true fixed weeks, then that means that the owner can deposit the actual week in II. But that's a theory. A couple mos. ago, someone did spot a Christmas week in the online inventory - at WPORV I believe.

Does anyone own week 51 or 52 that can shed some like on this? Are they true fixed weeks - or fixed-float weeks?

 

[pathways25]

Since Marriott has more total units in Hawaii, and since you have a 2 bdm., and since Marriott does not control deposits the way Starwood does, I'd go with Marriott.

That being said, weeks 51 and 52 at the Starwood resorts are event weeks, and as such they "may" be true fixed weeks. If they are true fixed weeks, then that means that the owner can deposit the actual week in II. But that's a theory. A couple mos. ago, someone did spot a Christmas week in the online inventory - at WPORV I believe.

Does anyone own week 51 or 52 that can shed some like on this? Are they true fixed weeks - or fixed-float weeks?

Weeks 51 and 52 are sold as "Event" weeks which means that you're guaranteed the week in which the event occurs. For Christmas, that is either week 51 or week 52 depending on the year and check-in day. If your check-in/check-out day is on the day of the event, it will be on your check-out day.

A reservation is automatically created for you at 1 year out and does not need to be confirmed. However, if you cancel it, you can book any other week of the year subject to availability. Does that make it a fixed week or a fixed-float week?

 

[DeniseM]

I think that makes it fixed-float. A true fixed week cannot be canceled and used another week of the year.

 

[pathways25]

I think that makes it fixed-float. A true fixed week cannot be canceled and used another week of the year.

Are there any true fixed weeks in the Starwood system? On MyStarCentral, this is what it says about fixed weeks:

If you purchased a Fixed Week, your Fixed Week is tentatively reserved for you with your assigned check-in day indicated in your purchase documents in the villa type purchased (for example, a Saturday check-in to a two-bedroom lock-off villa on Week 20), pending confirmation during your Home Resort Fixed Priority Period 12 months to 10* months prior to the check-in date of your Fixed Week. If you purchased a specific villa number, it will also be tentatively reserved with your Fixed Week.

If you wish to use your Fixed Week at your Home Resort, you must confirm your reservation between 12 and 10* months prior to your Fixed Week check-in date. At 10* months prior to your Fixed Week check-in date, if you have not confirmed the reservation with Owner Services, it will be automatically cancelled. If the reservation is cancelled, you can still request reservations for an available Floating Week within your season and villa type at your Home Resort ten (10) to eight (8) months in advance of your requested arrival date, on a first-come, first-served basis based on availability.

Example: If you purchased a Fixed Week during Week 20 with a Saturday check-in day which would check-in in May, you would need to confirm the use of that week during the Home Resort Fixed Priority Period 12 to 10* months prior to your Fixed Week check-in–between May and July of the year prior to check-in. If you do not confirm at least 12 to 10* months prior to your Fixed Week check-in date, the reservation will be cancelled. However, you will still be able to request an available Floating Week in your season and villa type at your Home Resort.

As a Fixed Week purchase, you also have the flexibility to release your Fixed Week and float your week within your season and villa type 12 to 8* months in advance of any week within your purchased season at your Home Resort, or float your week to any Starwood Vacation NetworkSM resort within 8 months of the vacation period. Reservations for Floating Vacation Periods are made on a first-come, first-served basis, based on availability.

*Sheraton Vistana Resort Courts, Falls, Springs, Palms and Spas Owners' Fixed Week and Fixed Unit are automatically booked and must be confirmed by calling Owner Services 12 to 8 months in advance or the vacation period is automatically released to the floating pool. Sheraton Vistana Resort Falls and Springs Owners may float their week 8 months or less before their desired arrival date.

Important Note:
If you have purchased a fixed villa with your Fixed Week and you choose to float your week at your Home Resort, you release your use of your fixed villa as well.

 

[DeniseM]

Yes - I own a fixed week 16 at SVR Falls and it can only be used for that week. I can also deposit that specific week in II, and it is listed in my II Acct. as week 16. I don't confirm it - it's automatic.

 

[susan6103]

week 52 leftovers

so, what happens to the theoretical fixed/floating weeks 52 that people choose not to use? What does starwood do with them? Would they be available for reservation by the rest?

 

[tschwa2]

It would become the property of Starwood to do as they please. They would rent it out. If they could not find a renter they may make it available for staroptions and as a last resort they might deposit it in II. They may have to make another platinum week available in SVN if they rent out the week 52 but they keep that kind of accounting behind closed doors. I think your chances of getting week 52 in Hawaii in a starwood unit are 1 in 10,000 or less to get a studio and near 0 for a one bedroom or two bedroom. If you are willing to take a non starwood in Hawaii for week 52 your chances are not great but much higher than starwood as long as you are not counting on a Marriott.


I would also think week 52 owners are more likely to rent out their own unit than use staroption, starpoints or be crazy enough to deposit in II so I don't think Starwood gets any Maui week 52 from owners. They may have some Kauai unsold week 52's but I don't know about that.

 

[VacationForever]

It would become the property of Starwood to do as they please. They would rent it out.

Is there documentation that Starwood would do this? I think this is guessing at best.

 

[tschwa2]

Is there documentation that Starwood would do this? I think this is guessing at best.

But is there documentation showing they don't do this. I just said they don't give a detailed accounting of how they manage the inventory especially when it comes to II deposits. I think the documentation says that if it is used to float or exchanged in II or for staroptions or starpoints more than 60 days out, they would have to make something equivalent available. I would hope that would mean the same property in the same season but I guess it could mean the several SVV or like weeks that add up to the staroptions. It is guessing but only becuase Starwood is ambiguous and not forthcoming with this information to owners. At less than 60 days, I believe I read that Starwood could take the unit and maybe has to refund the MF's to the HOA if it rents it out.

From the SVN disclosure guide.

Event Week reservations are generally only accessible to SVN Members who own an Event
VOI, depending upon the specific Resort Documents. SVN Members who own Floating Vacation Ownership
Interests should not expect to reserve an Event Period during the Home Resort Preference Period.

I guess someone could check the resort documents for anything more specific in regards to Starwoods obligation if the member chooses not to use the week.

 

[YYJMSP]

Is there documentation that Starwood would do this? I think this is guessing at best.

Given that Christmas units are available for booking directly on SPG.com, doesn't that essentially prove that SVO rents some of these units out?

I did a check for availablity at WKORV/N from Sat-Sat 2012 week 51 (Dec 22 to Dec 29) and it shows IV studio units $489/nt, OV studio units $569/nt, IV 1BR units $649/nt, and OV 1BR units $709/nt.

I tried to look for New Year's units, but I think it's too early...

 

[VacationForever]

Given that Christmas units are available for booking directly on SPG.com, doesn't that essentially prove that SVO rents some of these units out?

I did a check for availablity at WKORV/N from Sat-Sat 2012 week 51 (Dec 22 to Dec 29) and it shows IV studio units $489/nt, OV studio units $569/nt, IV 1BR units $649/nt, and OV 1BR units $709/nt.

I tried to look for New Year's units, but I think it's too early...

Inventory could have come from delinquent owners or units that were not sold or foreclosed by the developer.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Along with other ways that Starwood obtains weeks - Starwood owns weeks at their resorts which they rent out. At WSJ-VG, their ownership is ~10% (iirc).

Event weeks are for the weeks that the event occurs - they are referred to as week 51 and 51 (for example) for xmas and new years, but sometimes they are not actually weeks 51-52 depending on the year and the check-in date. iirc, 2011 was like this with xmas following on week 52 with a Sat check-in.

 

[kcgriffin]

I own week 52 at WSJ and just returned. Because there were 53 weeks this year I was given a choice of my fixed week 52 (Christmas this year) or week 53 (new years). I chose Christmas. Bewcause no one owns week 53 I extended my stay in our same villa, without having to check out with starpooints.

 

[DavidnRobin]

... without having to check out with starpooints.

Nice - how was your stay?
curious... What do you mean w/o having to checkout w SPs?

 

[crisby]

We own a week at Vistana Cascades which is listed as week 52, although we belong to the SVN and have points for this floating week.

We have always traded this week into RCI and now II and have received good trades into other resorts (often Marriott).

Now after reading this thread, I am wondering if we are doing this wrong, and if we should be booking the week with Starwood 12 months in advance and then renting it out. I think you have implied that we would get enough money for this special event week to make up for the maintenance fee with cash left over for an extra getaway.

Or am I missing something?

Chris

 

[grgs]

Nice - how was your stay?
curious... What do you mean w/o having to checkout w SPs?

I think a comma was left out. I believe they're saying they were able to extend their stay in the same unit by booking additional days with SPs.

I extended my stay in our same villa, without having to check out, with starpoints.

Glorian

 

[DeniseM]

We own a week at Vistana Cascades which is listed as week 52, although we belong to the SVN and have points for this floating week.

We have always traded this week into RCI and now II and have received good trades into other resorts (often Marriott).

Now after reading this thread, I am wondering if we are doing this wrong, and if we should be booking the week with Starwood 12 months in advance and then renting it out. I think you have implied that we would get enough money for this special event week to make up for the maintenance fee with cash left over for an extra getaway.

Or am I missing something?

Chris

The Florida resorts do not command the same high rental prices as Hawaii, Maui, and Harborside, but you could certainly cover your MF and possibly more.