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First Reservation questions

Mookie

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I'm a new (resale) owner of WKORV and have some questions about making my first reservation. I've read many of the posts on this board and they have been extremely helpful, but I'm still a little confused about the timestamps. If I wanted to book the 1BR side of my 2BR lockoff and wanted to get the best timestamp, could I do the following: Call and book the studio for one year and one week before I wanted to go, and at the same time request the 1BR for the following week. (From another post, it seems that, if I talk to a knowledgeable reservation clerk, Starwood will reserve the 1BR seven days later before everyone starts calling in). I assume this would have a different reservation number with a different (and very desirable) timestamp ? Then, if I called later and cancelled the studio (or changed the date, or deposited it with II), would I still retain my desirable timestamp for the 1BR?

Also, what is the best way to make unit requests? (Unit or building number, or keep it generic, such as "highest floor possible"). Does it matter if I wait to make the request or do I wait to make the request after my reservation, thus getting the reservation in the system as quickly as possible?

Thanks in advance for your help.
 

DavidnRobin

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WPORV (Kauai)
WSJ-VGV (St. John)
WKV (Scottsdale)
Why risk it?
If calling in at 9AM EST isn't an issue for you and the timestamp (location) is important, then I would just call in for each reservation at 9AM - and not get fancy. I just did this for WKORV and we have OF - so less units to choose from. I even had a Elite specialist offer to reserve the next week for me, but told her not to worry about it and I will just call in. Just make your request at the time - unless you are trying to reserve a top week, then it shouldn't be an issue.

p.s. - welcome to TUG
 
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LisaRex

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I don't think it's correct that you can call in one year + one week in advance. However, I do think that if you have multiple weeks you only need to call in once, which would give you a +1 week priority over other people for that second week.
 

LisaRex

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What you want to do has its risks. If they link the reservations, they may consider your subsequent phone call as a cancellation and give you the timestamp of the re-booking.

There was one owner here who booked her entire 2 bdrm villa at 12 months out. When she called back to drop one side of it, they took that as a cancellation and she lost her original timestamp, despite rules to the contrary.

So I'd still call that second week at 9am to confirm that they pre-booked the 1 bdrm side and to cancel the studio side. If they've linked the reservations and consider it a cancellation, you still have a good timestamp. If they haven't linked the reservations, you'll have a great timestamp. But I wouldn't wait weeks later to call because the training Starwood gives it reservationists isn't great. Or perhaps their rules are so convoluted, and getting more so by the day, that no person could know them all.
 

Mookie

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Good advice. Not sure I want to call two weeks in a row, so maybe I'll just try my luck at Thanksgiving. Has anyone had problems booking Thanksgiving 12 months out?
 

DavidnRobin

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WKV (Scottsdale)
Again - I would not risk it - just call when they open. T-Day week is busier, but not crazy busy - especially in this economy.
 
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