Exchanging to Hawaii

[SteveS1]

If I wanted to get into WKORN/WKORV during the summer for TWO consecutive weeks, say last week of June, first week of July, in a 2BR what would be the best option (for someone who owns Starwood but not in Hawaii):
- Accumulate 296,000 SO through banking weeks, etc. and exchange through SVN
- Put two on-going exchange request for two different 2BR Starwood weeks in II for the same resort (recognizing if both requests were fulfilled I may have to move rooms after the first week).

Or are neither of these scenarios even possible?

Seems like the second option would be be better financially since I am using just two ownership weeks versus probably up to 4 weeks for me with the first option.

Interested in your thoughts..

 

[jerseygirl]

Your chances are definitely higher with SOs. Starwood doesn't bulk bank prime summer weeks with II (too much demand from owners and SVN members). There have been a couple of reports of people getting filled on ongoing requests ... But far too few to count on an II exchange, especially for two consecutive weeks. You might even find it's difficult to book with SOs as the economy continues (hopefully) to improve.

As much as I love my traders, owning where you want to go is still important for those who need to travel during peak vacation periods.

 

[vacationtime1]

This will be a tough exchange, nearly impossible if you want to do it in 2012.

Your odds will be far higher using StarOptions as Starwood deposits few summer weeks into Interval. You may find only one week available using StarOptions, in which case you will get to call Starwood's reservation desk over and over to get the second week. We have done single week StarOption exchanges during the summer; never tried back-to-back weeks.

Bear in mind you will have no view preference using either approach. If view is important to you, you will need to rent.

 

[SteveS1]

This will be a tough exchange, nearly impossible if you want to do it in 2012.

thanks ..was just thinking about this for then future.. 2013 or maybe 2014.

 

[lily28]

I have on ongoing request using my starwood unit for a 2 bedroom westin maui unit for 6/12 since 3/11. so far no luck yet.

 

[LisaRex]

We simply don't have enough evidence to answer this question yet. The rules change, which now allows SOs to be banked, will mean that many SVNers who previously didn't have sufficient SOs to exchange into a 148,100 unit, will now be able to do so. With 2012 being the first year that non-elites can bank, 2013 will be the first year where the full impact will be felt. More competition is going to work against you.

Asking for a summer or winter month, which are high seasons on Maui, will also work against you. WKORV was sold as all float, which allows owners to congregate towards the same weeks. I strongly suspect that there will be few Jan/Feb/March or June/July weeks left after the owners priority period expires.

To give some anectodal evidence, I own at WKORV-N, and when I went to book at 10 months out, my first choice (a non-holiday 2 bdrm January 2013 week) was closed out. This is the first time I have EVER not gotten my first request filled, and I've owned since 2007. (I was able to get my second request, which was a Friday check-in.)

The final thing working against you is that WKORV sales are up, as evidenced by SVO exercising ROFR a lot lately. My gut tells me that brand new owners are a lot more likely to USE their week vs. exchanging it. I certainly did when I was a new owner. That means fewer weeks for non-owners.

So...my advice is to be prepared to call at 8 months out at 9am EST/EDT, if you are using SOs. If you are using II, get that request in now because I believe it's first come-first served. And then, as always, have a Plan B if it doesn't work out.

Plan B options: If you must travel in the summer due to school restraints, consider renting out your home resort and applying proceeds toward a WKORV rental. Or look at mid-August weeks, which tend to be less popular than June/July weeks. Or look at Honua Kai, a very nice resort two doors away, which has very competitive rental rates.

Good luck!