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Harborside Atlantis, phase I vs II

lars158

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I am about to purchase a resale timeshare deed at Harborside Atlantis, 2 BD/LO/Platinum. It seems the timeshares in phase 2 are a few thousand dollars more expensive than phase 1. Is there a good reason to pay the premium to get a phase 2 unit? What are the pro and cons between these phases?

I hear phase 1 have bigger rooms and a better view (towards the marina) whereas the new phase instead have more modern/fancy rooms... I also understand there is a difference between the "float systams" when using SO but I have not been able to figure out in what way (the agent I spoke to said there is no difference). I have also been told that phase 1 will have a complete renovation in Q1/09, to bring the rooms up to par with phase 2...

Can anyone confirm and/or comment on this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

thanks, /Lars
 

tomandrobin

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Phase 1 weeks are fixed, phase 2 weeks float in thier season. Everything you have written is correct. Phase 1 weeks are fixed, what you buy is when you go. So at the 12 month mark you are locked into your week. At the 10 month mark you can float within your season, very difficult. At the 8 month mark you can compete with everyone else. Phase 1 does not trade into phase 2 at 10 months, only at 8 months.

Phase 2 owners float from 12 to 8 months within their season.
 

lars158

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Phase 1 weeks are fixed, phase 2 weeks float in thier season. Everything you have written is correct. Phase 1 weeks are fixed, what you buy is when you go. So at the 12 month mark you are locked into your week. At the 10 month mark you can float within your season, very difficult. At the 8 month mark you can compete with everyone else. Phase 1 does not trade into phase 2 at 10 months, only at 8 months.

Phase 2 owners float from 12 to 8 months within their season.

Thanks for the information! One more question, can phase 2 owners float into phase 1 starting from 12 months or only at 8 months?
 

tomandrobin

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Only at 8 months, can phase 2 exchange into phase1. This will be the same at St John too. The new Bay Vista and the Virgin Grand phases can not exchange into each other until the 8 month mark.

The views at Harborside really are not that big a deal. Its not like getting an Ocean Front unit in Hawaii. I definately would not base my Harborside purchase on the views at the resort. Even in Phase 1 there are alot of views that don't look at much.
 

tomandrobin

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Only phase 2 has three bedroom units, if that is a factor. The phase 1 vs 2 unit size is not that noticable. Personally, we like the phase 2 Master bathroom layout over phase 1. The decor is changing in the fall, so can't really compare them at this point.
 

lars158

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Only phase 2 has three bedroom units, if that is a factor. The phase 1 vs 2 unit size is not that noticable. Personally, we like the phase 2 Master bathroom layout over phase 1. The decor is changing in the fall, so can't really compare them at this point.

Good information! A couple of additional questions...

1) I hear some rooms allow smoking... is that correct?
2) There have been some complants in the reviews on the beds. Are the beds the same in both phases? Any word if the upcoming renovation will include changing out the beds?
3) For phase 1, is a specific building/room fixed along with the week or is it only the week that is fixed and the room may end up being any of the rooms in phase 1 (assigned at random every year)?

4) Staroptions booking in phase 1 vs phase 2 (in case of Platinum); is the following a correct understanding?
Phase 1
- 12 months : Can book a room only at the deeded week
- 10 months : Can book a float week within own season only (e.g. an owner in platinum season can not book in lower season such as gold or silver)
- 8 months : Can book a float week in any season in both phase 1 and phase 2 (or any other SVN resort for that matter)
Phase 2
- 12 months : Can book a float week in any room in any season within phase 2 (for own season and lower) -or is the same restriction true also here where booking can only be done within own season and not lower?
- 8 months : Can book a float week in any season in both phase 1 and phase 2 (or any other SVN resort for that matter)
 

tomandrobin

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1) I hear some rooms allow smoking... is that correct?
No, smoking is not allowed. The resort will charge you an expensive cleaning fee if caught smoking.

2) There have been some complants in the reviews on the beds. Are the beds the same in both phases? Any word if the upcoming renovation will include changing out the beds?
I do not know. If the beds need replacing, I am sure they will go with the heavenly bed.

3) For phase 1, is a specific building/room fixed along with the week or is it only the week that is fixed and the room may end up being any of the rooms in phase 1 (assigned at random every year)?
Not sure, I don't own week one.

4) Staroptions booking in phase 1 vs phase 2 (in case of Platinum); is the following a correct understanding?
Phase 1
- 12 months : Can book a room only at the deeded week
- 10 months : Can book a float week within own season only (e.g. an owner in platinum season can not book in lower season such as gold or silver)
- 8 months : Can book a float week in any season in both phase 1 and phase 2 (or any other SVN resort for that matter)
This is all correct.

Phase 2
- 12 months : Can book a float week in any room in any season within phase 2 (for own season and lower) -or is the same restriction true also here where booking can only be done within own season and not lower?
- 8 months : Can book a float week in any season in both phase 1 and phase 2 (or any other SVN resort for that matter).
If you own Platinum, you can only float within your season. If you want to book in gold season, you need to wait until the 8 month mark.
 

lars158

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No, smoking is not allowed. The resort will charge you an expensive cleaning fee if caught smoking.


I do not know. If the beds need replacing, I am sure they will go with the heavenly bed.


Not sure, I don't own week one.


This is all correct.


If you own Platinum, you can only float within your season. If you want to book in gold season, you need to wait until the 8 month mark.

Thanks again, based on all this information we will go ahead and purshase in phase 2 (for a little bit more)... main reason is that we want to have the flexibility to book in w51-52 and other high season weeks from the 12 month mark (in phase 1, w51-52 will be next to impossible to get booked unless you have those on the deed).

Now I have a few questions on Maui, but will ask those in a separate thread.
 

tomandrobin

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In phase 2, weeks 51 and 52 are event weeks are are fixed/float like phase 1. I would call Starwood or maybe someone can confirm this information.
 

lars158

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In phase 2, weeks 51 and 52 are event weeks are are fixed/float like phase 1. I would call Starwood or maybe someone can confirm this information.

Ok, I will try to get that verified with SVO. The pricing sheet we have for Harborside does not show any event weeks for w51-52 so we just assumed those weeks are floating on platinum (In the pricing sheets for other resorts such as St. John, Lagunamar, Ka'anapali you can see the event weeks specified with separate pricing).
 

richardm

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I forwarded this dialogue to one of my Starwood specialists, Jim Heberle, for his review since the Phase II ownerships can be so very confusing.. He added the following:


It is pretty accurate; however, there are some fixed week ownerships in phase II and there is special pricing for some weeks. Specifically, there are different price points for 7,12-15, 51 & then 52 is a higher category still.

This only applies to the Promenade, Courtyard, Partial Water, Wide Water and WW Sunset where they do sell a fixed week and fixed villa. Otherwise, there is also a category of ownership in phase II which is strictly float.
 

tomandrobin

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I forwarded this dialogue to one of my Starwood specialists, Jim Heberle, for his review since the Phase II ownerships can be so very confusing.. He added the following:


It is pretty accurate; however, there are some fixed week ownerships in phase II and there is special pricing for some weeks. Specifically, there are different price points for 7,12-15, 51 & then 52 is a higher category still.

This only applies to the Promenade, Courtyard, Partial Water, Wide Water and WW Sunset where they do sell a fixed week and fixed villa. Otherwise, there is also a category of ownership in phase II which is strictly float.

Our unit is deeded as one of the third floor water view units, but is a float week.
 

lars158

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I forwarded this dialogue to one of my Starwood specialists, Jim Heberle, for his review since the Phase II ownerships can be so very confusing.. He added the following:


It is pretty accurate; however, there are some fixed week ownerships in phase II and there is special pricing for some weeks. Specifically, there are different price points for 7,12-15, 51 & then 52 is a higher category still.

This only applies to the Promenade, Courtyard, Partial Water, Wide Water and WW Sunset where they do sell a fixed week and fixed villa. Otherwise, there is also a category of ownership in phase II which is strictly float.

Interesting as I thought Phase II was float only (within each season)... The value of having a Platimum float must be questioned if all prime weeks within the platinum season are occupied by owners of fixed weeks, as those weeks likely will never be avialable for float (or at least very rarely). If this is correct there is not much difference between phase 1 and 2.
 

richardm

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I agree. This phase is very confusing... Now you know why I simply refer questions I get to an agent that specializes in this program..

I have seen the Starwood pricing sheets for the different fixed use phase II ownerships- so I know that the fixed usage exists..

For example- villas 1768/1769, 1770/1771, 1772/1773 are first floor 3br lockout corner units designated as Wide Water Sunset views. These are sold as ultra premium fixed ownerships with prices that range from $56k for weeks 36-43 in Silver Season- to $110k for wk 52. Also, with the fixed view units- generally the higher the floor- the higher the price.

I believe, however, that the vast majority of Phase II ownerships are sold are entirely floating usage.
 
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