exchanging to II

[rosema1268]

if you don't use your proprety for the year or rent it, how many years do you have to keep your points in II and how does that work are all resorts equalivent staroptions? i mean if you have a proprety that is worth 148100 star options how do you exchange into II is it all even ? some of the properties look nice and some are ok?
what other things can you do w/ II?

 

[DeniseM]

I think you are confusing Interval International, with Starwood's own exchange program - the Starwood Vacation Network (SVN.)

StarOptions cannot be used with II - they are only used for Starwood Exchanges for other Starwood properties. StarOptions expire at the end of the calendar year, if they are not used. They cannot be saved.

If you deposit your week into Interval International it is extremely unlikely that you will get a week of equal value in exchange, because there are very few weeks of that value deposited in II. So you would most likely be exchanging a very expensive week, for a much less expensive exchange - that doesn't make any sense. Again - You are depositing the whole week, not the Staroptions when you use II. You could deposit the studio, 1 bdm. side, or the whole thing - but it's not a good value.

If you want to try for a Staroptions exchange, you would reserve your home resort (Maui) for the week you want at 12 mos. out and then you would be able to call at 8 mos. out and try for an exchange to another Starwood property. If you don't get it, you will still have your original reservation in Maui as a back up.

I would not buy an expensive Maui week unless I was going to use it most of the time.

 

[Henry M.]

Last year I exchanged my Maui studio for a 2BR unit in the Bavarian Alps through II. I was satisfied with the exchange. The German property wasn't quite as nice as WKORV, but it was 2 bedrooms instead of a studio so overall the exchange was fair. We also staid in a Starwood hotel in Salzburg, Austria, since it was nearby. I used the Platinum discount and got two $500/night suites for just points (10K points, I think).

I normally would not have tried an II exchange because of the reasons Denise mentions. Due to poor planning on my part I reached the end of December of my use year and I had no choice. I couldn't even convert to Starpoints by then. Starwood deposits a bank of weeks with II and they give you a week out of that band rather than what you own. The best they had when I called was a 1BR at Sheraton Desert Oasis dated April 2005 (I called December 28, 2005 or something like that). The week was good for 24 months from the date of the week (April) so in December I only got about 16 months to decide where to go. I then started looking at II until I found something that interested me. My family wanted to go to Europe for Spring Break so we were happy we found something near Munich. We had a blast there and since then I've come to look at II as a more viable alternative than what I initially thought.

I do think the majority of resorts that are actually available (vs the resorts that are members) is not that great, but if you are flexible and are willing to keep looking for a long time, sometimes good deals do show up. I had initially asked for something in Southern California over a 4 month window and nothing was showing up. Then suddenly the resort we eventually used was listed. I didn't take it the first time around and it disappeared for a couple of weeks but then showed up again.

 

[rosema1268]

ok

I guess I am not confused i understand the staroptions vs. II and being able to exchange my property for a like property (points) in Bahamas etc.

So my confusion is then, what is Interval used for , if it's not worth the exchanging I thought that was what it was there for?

 

[vacationtime1]

StarOptions are for reserving Starwood/Sheraton/Westin timeshares other than your home resort if you own a mandatory property such as WKORV/N. The advantages are that it is "free" (because you already paid the $99 SVN fee), fairly easy (just call Starwood reservations, although you must be diligent about making that call at the 8 month mark), and Starwood resorts are generally high quality. The major disadvantage is that you are limited to Starwood properties.

Using StarOptions, you can get two vacations. For example, an owner of a 2 bedroom at WKORV/N could use 81,000 StarOptions to reserve a 1 bedroom at the home resort at the 12 month mark and then use 67,100 StarOptions to reserve a studio at Mission Hills or a 2 bedroom at Orlando at the 8 month mark.

II is for exchanging into a non-Starwood property. Although your II dues for exchanging your Starwood property are included in your $99 SVN fee, you must pay an exchange fee (I believe currently $139) for each exchange. Starwood has a funny system for determining what property they will deposit to II which affects your trading power (check other threads on this). My own experience is that it is more time-intensive and less certain. And if you owned at WKORV/N, you are exceedingly unlikely to get anything as good.

On II exchanges you can deposit your 1 bedroom and studio units separately to get two exchanges. II will also likely give you an accommodation certificate ("AC"; see other threads on that) that could be used for a third exchange for a relatively modest additional fee.

 

[nell]

II will also likely give you an accommodation certificate ("AC"; see other threads on that) that could be used for a third exchange for a relatively modest additional fee.

Do you get an "AC" with a Starwood Deposit? I thought I had read that one of the downsides of II was you didn't receive an AC.

Jonelle

 

[Dave M]

Assuming you have a high-demand week deposited into II, you may well get an AC. That's one of the upsides, not a downside of II. Read this explanation of ACs for more info.

 

[nell]

Assuming you have a high-demand week deposited into II, you may well get an AC. That's one of the upsides, not a downside of II. Read this explanation of ACs for more info.

I know the AC is not a downside. I was speaking of no AC for Starwood trades. There was a thread on this but I am having trouble finding it.

 

[seenett]

Do you get an "AC" with a Starwood Deposit? I thought I had read that one of the downsides of II was you didn't receive an AC.

Jonelle

One of the downsides of Starwood is that you won't receive an AC from II for a Starwood week. This is because all Starwood deposits are made by Starwood and not the individual owner. Starwood "bulk banks" weeks in advance and these pre-deposited weeks are transfered to an owner's account if and when they choose to deposit their week.

ACs are not always easy to use, due to their time and location restrictions. I have received ACs for my non-Starwood weeks and most of the time they expire unused in my account.

 

[Stefa]

So my confusion is then, what is Interval used for , if it's not worth the exchanging I thought that was what it was there for?

If for some reason you can't use (or rent) your week, II may be your only option.

 

[pointsjunkie]

I Have Used My Small 1 Br At Sdo For Atrade Into 1 2br Prime Season In Lake Tahoe For 2008.also Used My Large 1 Br At Sdo For A 2br In Willaimsburg,va In 2008.
I Use Interval To Go To Places I Would Like To Go Where There Are No Starwood Timeshares.

I Will Only Trade My Sdo Or My Svv. I Won't Use Harborside Or Wkv Because It Would Not Get Me A "better" Trade.

We Just Got Back From Sedona Which Was A Trade From 2005. It Was Clean And Nice. Definitely Not A Starwood Caliber. But We Had Fun.

 

[tomandrobin]

We Just Got Back From Sedona Which Was A Trade From 2005. It Was Clean And Nice. Definitely Not A Starwood Caliber. But We Had Fun.

Love Sedona! Where did you stay?

 

[DeniseM]

If for some reason you can't use (or rent) your week, II may be your only option.

There are many options - no one has to use II. I don't think an exchange is a good value, but if you decide to deposit, you can also use one of the independents, like San Freancisco Exchange Co., which only accepts the high end properties. But again, outside the SVN you are unlikely to get a resort of equal quality back in exchange.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

I think as a resale purchase, II can be a very important tool. The reason I say that is because you don't have the option of converting your unit to Star points to use for hotel and/or airline use. So, if you are unable to rent your week or use your week your only option is II or to let your week go. So, if I had only those two options then, II would be my choice. Things will happen in life where you won't have the option but to deposit the unit in II, etc..

In II, you have from one year prior to the check-in date to 2 years after the check-in to exchange your unit. I would think with a Westin Maui unit you should have no problem exchanging a studio for a one bedroom & a one bedroom for a 2 bedroom. I would definitely trade as separate units so that you get 2 trades for depositing a 2 bedroom unit.

I have never traded my Maui unit yet but I do own Marriott units that I have traded so, I understand a lot about trading. Planning is the key. Plus, researching is the key as well. You can easily figure out if your trade is possible just by understanding the system and how it works. You also, need to understand how the other system that you are trading into like Worldmark, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, etc.. work so, you can understand if a trade is possible. Alot of people complain about systems but the truth is they don't understand them. So, instead of trying to follow the rules they want to change how the system works which gets them nowhere.

While, many here don't like II it is still a valuable tool when you have no other options. I would never let a unit go unused for a week if I had other options even if the value isn't there. I think that would be silly but that's just my opinion.

Good luck on your search!

 

[tomandrobin]

We recently had two 1 bedroom units deposited in our II account. Starwood deposited two gold week 1 bedroom Kierland units. I have had the opputunity to trade for 2 bedroom units at some pretty nice resorts. Alot of those 2 bedrooms units were during platinum or busy times. I have not pulled the trigger yet on a trade, but I wouldn't dismiss the value of what a potential trade thru II will get you.

 

[Stefa]

There are many options - no one has to use II. I don't think an exchange is a good value, but if you decide to deposit, you can also use one of the independents, like San Freancisco Exchange Co., which only accepts the high end properties. But again, outside the SVN you are unlikely to get a resort of equal quality back in exchange.

Denise, I was referring to situations when you find out more at the last minute that you can't use your week. SFX probably won't take an October week in the middle of September. I agree that II is a pretty undesirable option when you own Maui, I just don't think it is a completely useless option. I would not buy a high-quality resort (other than Marriott) with the intention of trading through II.

 

[nell]

One of the downsides of Starwood is that you won't receive an AC from II for a Starwood week. This is because all Starwood deposits are made by Starwood and not the individual owner. Starwood "bulk banks" weeks in advance and these pre-deposited weeks are transfered to an owner's account if and when they choose to deposit their week.

ACs are not always easy to use, due to their time and location restrictions. I have received ACs for my non-Starwood weeks and most of the time they expire unused in my account.

That is the point I was trying to make. It was my understanding that with a Starwood deposit with II you would not get an AC. I wasn't sure if it was accurate information though. Since the OP was looking at purchasing a Starwood, I didn't want her to think she could get 2 weeks with her deposit without using the lockout option.

 

[thezinfan]

Wow, the initial post was almost exactly what i was going to ask.... Here's our exact scenario. Earlier this year we bought a 2bdrm WKORV lockout with 2007 use rights. We knew that we couldnt use it this year. i was able to get a studio reservation in August, which we then rented out. The only 1bdrm week I could reserve was for Nov. 24th-Dec 1. I have been trying to rent but no luck. So....at this point what are my options? i bought resale so i cant convert to StarPoints.

I was under the impression that if I traded using Staroptions, I still had to stay this calendar year at the other resort (which we cant do this year). Can I still trade into II this late?

Thanks for the help. I tried calling SVO, but there office always seems closed for a "celebration".... WTF

 

[tomandrobin]

Wow, the initial post was almost exactly what i was going to ask.... Here's our exact scenario. Earlier this year we bought a 2bdrm WKORV lockout with 2007 use rights. We knew that we couldnt use it this year. i was able to get a studio reservation in August, which we then rented out. The only 1bdrm week I could reserve was for Nov. 24th-Dec 1. I have been trying to rent but no luck. So....at this point what are my options? i bought resale so i cant convert to StarPoints.

You can put on e-bay, high bid wins. You may not get the dollar amount you want, but something is better then nothing.

I was under the impression that if I traded using Staroptions, I still had to stay this calendar year at the other resort (which we cant do this year). Can I still trade into II this late?

You can trade into II. You have to call owners services at 1-888-986-9637. They will make a deposit into your II acount. Tell them you want to trade into DVC, that way you won't get a Florida week. Disney has a regional block, so the other Florida resorts can not be deposited for use.

We recently closed on a two bedroom at Kierland. Too late to go to the resort, too late use the staroptions for a reservation this year. Our only option was to deposit into II.

 

[LisaRex]

Here's our exact scenario. Earlier this year we bought a 2bdrm WKORV lockout with 2007 use rights. We knew that we couldnt use it this year. i was able to get a studio reservation in August, which we then rented out. The only 1bdrm week I could reserve was for Nov. 24th-Dec 1. I have been trying to rent but no luck.

If you haven't already, you might try advertising on Craigslist or the Want Ads in Seattle, L.A., San Francisco and/or Portland. Hawaii is very convenient to the West Coast.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

I was under the impression that if I traded using Staroptions, I still had to stay this calendar year at the other resort (which we cant do this year). Can I still trade into II this late?

I believe with II you might be too late as it is best to deposit at least 59 days or more in advance. Otherwise, you go into flex time exchange where you can only exchange within a 59 day window. With II I find in order to get the best exchanges you need to put in a pending request at least one year in advance. With a late deposit you won't be allowed to do that.

Good luck... the other rental suggestions are great if you are willing to pay more fee except I believe craiglist is free...

 

[Stefa]

I believe with II you might be too late as it is best to deposit at least 59 days or more in advance. Otherwise, you go into flex time exchange where you can only exchange within a 59 day window. With II I find in order to get the best exchanges you need to put in a pending request at least one year in advance. With a late deposit you won't be allowed to do that.

Good luck... the other rental suggestions are great if you are willing to pay more fee except I believe craiglist is free...

Starwood can give you a week from their pool of previous deposites, so the 59-day window may not come into play.

 

[tomandrobin]

Starwood can give you a week from their pool of previous deposites, so the 59-day window may not come into play.

This is true, Starwood will use a previously deposited week.

 

[pointsjunkie]

Love Sedona! Where did you stay?

arroyo roble right in town.and up a hill. had a great time.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Starwood can give you a week from their pool of previous deposites, so the 59-day window may not come into play.

Opps, I totally forgot about that... I was thinking Marriott where we actually get to deposit the week we reserved.

I wonder if they would even have any weeks available from II so late in the game.