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"Floating" at the WSJ

J

JP-pennsylvania

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Thinking about purchasing a WStJohn timeshare (gold season). In practice, curious how easy it is to exchange weeks at WSJ within gold season? Or is a floating TS almost as difficult to exchange as a fixed? thx.:rolleyes:
 
Welcome to TUG! :hi:

I am going to move this post to the Starwood Board where you will get expert help!

I'm not sure what you mean by "exchange." If you buy a floating gold season week you don't have to exchange to reserve a week in that season. Do you mean buy during low season to exchange into high season? Very, very difficult.

If you mean buy a gold season week and make your reservation at 12 mos. out for your season, it's doable. This is a resort where it's critical to buy during the season that you want to go.
 
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exchange within season

Buy a gold season week (ex. Week 25) and exchange for a later gold season week (ex. week 32)...
 
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You asked about a floating gold week:
Or is a floating TS almost as difficult to exchange as a fixed?
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Do you mean a fixed week? Yes, buying a fixed week and trying to exchange for another week will be difficult. Owners usually use their weeks or rent them for big bucks, so there are few units for exchange.

A floating week floats within it's season - you can reserve any available week in the season at 12 mos. Floating weeks have a week assigned to them just for deeding purposes, you really don't own that particular week.
 
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The new phase has "pure floating" weeks though -- so it would work there. You would just need to be prepared to call exactly 12 months in advance of the week you want.
 
The new phase at Westin St John has the "float" weeks. The Bay Vista is too new to get a feel on how well the float weeks are working. We bought this August and was able to book a unit for June, after we settled. So it seems that it may work out fine if you book within your season, at a reasonable timeframe.
 
The new WSJ section (Bay Vista) will have both fixed and float weeks (no more than 50% fixed - supposedly, if you believe SVO/WSJ sales).

You didn't say which section and whether this is resale or not - these things are very important to know in order to give optimal feedback. The seasons are diferent between the two sections VG and BV). Also these weeks are Platinum for BV, but Gold+ for VG.

If you are intended to buy directly WSJ BV from SVO, you really consider all aspects of this purchase. If you absolutely must have WSJ and ability to float within a season - then this is your best option for now since resales at BV while likely take a while.
 
Resale purchase of a gold season floating week at WSJ

I'm thinking about purchasing a gold season week that the sellers have described as a floating week. Basically, I'm wondering if A) I call up one year in advance, am I guaranteed that week, and B) do I have a realistic opportunity to choose a different week in gold season again if I call Starwood one year in advance. New to the Starwood TS system, etc...:doh:
 
JP-pennsylvania said:
I'm thinking about purchasing a gold season week that the sellers have described as a floating week. Basically, I'm wondering if A) I call up one year in advance, am I guaranteed that week,
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No - there are no guarantees with a floating week. The only guarantee is that you have the option to reserve at 12 mos.

B) do I have a realistic opportunity to choose a different week in gold season again if I call Starwood one year in advance. New to the Starwood TS system, etc...:doh:
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Yes - you have a very good chance as long as you call at 12 mos. out at 8:59 ET. The week on your deed means nothing with a floating week - it's just for recording purposes. You don't have any kind of a reservation until you call and make one.
 
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You'll have to ask the owners whether the unit is Phase One (Virgin Grand aka Hillside Villas) or Phase Two (Bay Vista). If it's Phase Two, and it's a "pure float," the early bird gets the worm -- call on the opening bell exactly 12 months in advance and you'll likely get the week you want. If it's Phase One, it's essentially fixed to the deeded week and although you CAN trade to other weeks in the gold season, it's based on availability .... reportedly very difficult .... definitely wouldn't count on it.

The system works the same way for Phase One units at both WSJ and Harborside. Therefore, it's pretty important to buy a week that works with your schedule and desired vacation time.
 
Virgin Grand WSJ float it is...

Ahh, so even though the deed will say week 20 Float, its not guaranteed until I call up Starwood to reserve at the 1 year out mark to reserve it. In addition, there is a chance that another Gold Season "floater" could call 5 min. before me and reserve that week (20). In which case I would have to select another week?::wall:
 
No .... if it's Phase One (Virgin Grand / Hillside Villa), you're GUARANTEED week 20 EVERY year as long as you call sometime before month 10 and tell Starwood you're planning on using your week.

If you forget to call, they'll open it up to other gold week owners. You then have to wait for someone else to forget so you can book their week.

For the "pure float" weeks in Phase Two -- no one is ever guaranteed a specific week. That's where the "early bird" comes into play.

Hope this makes better sense!
 
JP-pennsylvania said:
Ahh, so even though the deed will say week 20 Float, its not guaranteed until I call up Starwood to reserve at the 1 year out mark to reserve it. In addition, there is a chance that another Gold Season "floater" could call 5 min. before me and reserve that week (20). In which case I would have to select another week?::wall:
Click to expand...

We own week 24 on the Hillside - treat it like a fixed week - do not expect an exchange. While technically it can float - it is not easy, and it is a hassle.

This is why they limited fixed weeks in the BV phase.

Reserving the fixed week simple - you call 10-14 months in advance. Actually, they reserve it for you, but you do not want to take that chance. You can reserve at at the 10-month mark for the other week - you can try to exchange, but...
 
perfect, I understand....."float".

Thanks Jersey girl! I understand what I'm dealing with now...
 
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