Harborside vs Sheraton Vistana Villages

[julie98]

Hello Tugbbs friends!!

I am looking at buying into Vistana (resale). Debating between Harborside and the Orlando Sheraton Vistana Villages. It seems the Harborside MF are very high comparatively speaking... 57k points worth $1900/annual fees whereas I can get 81k+ points for less MF in Orlando. Questions:

1) Am I missing anything? Do the StarPoints convert back and forth between these mandatory resorts without issues equally?
2) Are there any benefits to owning on Harborside vs Orlando?

We travel to Maui and Oahu quite a bit, and would like to visit Atlantis next (but will likely only go there once or twice since we live in Cali).

Thanks for the help!

 

[goaliedave]

If you want free my 2 x 2br SVV St Augustine lmk

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[jabberwocky]

If you want free my 2 x 2br SVV St Augustine lmk

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St. Augustine units don't come with SO.

 

[jabberwocky]

Hello Tugbbs friends!!

I am looking at buying into Vistana (resale). Debating between Harborside and the Orlando Sheraton Vistana Villages. It seems the Harborside MF are very high comparatively speaking... 57k points worth $1900/annual fees whereas I can get 81k+ points for less MF in Orlando. Questions:

1) Am I missing anything? Do the StarPoints convert back and forth between these mandatory resorts without issues equally?
2) Are there any benefits to owning on Harborside vs Orlando?

We travel to Maui and Oahu quite a bit, and would like to visit Atlantis next (but will likely only go there once or twice since we live in Cali).

Thanks for the help!

1) Yes - SO can be used at the 8 month mark to book into an VSN property where there is availability.
2) The only advantage to owning Harborside would be that you could book in the 8-12 month window as a home resort reservation. Harborside is difficult to get at certain times of the year via StarOptions. If you are only wanting to go there infrequently you can probably rent for pretty close to what the MF are from a current owner.

A few thoughts:

- buying harborside ends up being over $0.03/SO - these are extremely expensive. Don't buy Harborside to use as a SO generator.
- SVV $/SO is $0.015. Some like these units because there is very low buy in (often less than $1000) and the MF are fairly reasonable from a SO perpective.
- If you have some funds and don't mind spending up front you could consider buying a Westin Kierland Villas platinum plus in Scottsdale. It generates 148,100 SO per year for a 2BR which works out to around $0.011/SO (you can also get a 1BR which gives you 81k options - but not as favorable $/MF)
- If you go to Maui frequently you could also look at a WKORV-N OF unit. You could buy an every other year unit for $12.5-14k. While the maintenance fees are not cheap, this week would generate 176,000 SO every second year at a cost of around $0.015 (same as SVV). You would also get home resort preference for booking in Maui 8-12 months. Booking into Maui can be tricky during peak season - available SO reservations are usually gone within seconds of the 8 month booking window opening.

 

[needvaca]

I own SVV Bella (a mandatory Vistana property) and I'm using my Staroptions to go to Harborside in 2020 with my family in a 2 bedroom. I had to reserve it at exactly the 8 month mark.
I acquired my SVV for very cheap.

So I vote, buy a SVV Bella or Key West.

 

[SteelerGal]

Read the stickies on the Vistana Board. There’s mandatory that come w/ SO and the non mandatory, which do not. I own both for different reasons.
I wouldn’t buy Harborside as others indicated due to the high cost. SVV Bella or Key West will be your cheapest option. We own at WKV because we are West Coast and want to use our home resort as well as go to other resorts.

 

[Theiggy]

I own SVV Bella (a mandatory Vistana property) and I'm using my Staroptions to go to Harborside in 2020 with my family in a 2 bedroom. I had to reserve it at exactly the 8 month mark.
I acquired my SVV for very cheap.

So I vote, buy a SVV Bella or Key West.

Just curious what time of year?


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[DannyTS]

Every time I looked, there was inventory at Harborside so you may not have a lot of problems booking with SOs. Harbourside is very hard to dispose of so you may be stuck with it when the time comes to sell. Provided Marriott does not mess with the Staroptions, SVV Bella is a clear winner.

 

[needvaca]

Just curious what time of year?


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June, when school let's out.
I tried for Christmas/new years, but it's always booked up before the 8 month staroption period

 

[SteelerGal]

Every time I looked, there was inventory at Harborside so you may not have a lot of problems booking with SOs. Harbourside is very hard to dispose of so you may be stuck with it when the time comes to sell. Provided Marriott does not mess with the Staroptions, SVV Bella is a clear winner.

Yes, always have an exit plan.

 

[CPNY]

Every time I looked, there was inventory at Harborside so you may not have a lot of problems booking with SOs. Harbourside is very hard to dispose of so you may be stuck with it when the time comes to sell. Provided Marriott does not mess with the Staroptions, SVV Bella is a clear winner.

Praise be to the lord above my HRA is out of my account. Phase 1 unit. Cutting down on the SVV ownerships!

 

[HenryT]

Praise be to the lord above my HRA is out of my account. Phase 1 unit. Cutting down on the SVV ownerships!

How did you get it out of your account? Did you sell it? Details?

Thanks.

 

[CPNY]

How did you get it out of your account? Did you sell it? Details?

Thanks.

“Sold” (gave away for free) the HRA phase 1 I had. Have another but in a better summer week.

 

[Smalls]

If still interested, I have a Harborside week 14 Fixed Phase 1, I would give you for free. I bought in 2003 and have got my money’s worth, but with 2 school aged kids both involved in sports it’s not always easy to use that specific week which is almost always the 1st week in April. If you can usually use it that week, it is worth it as the maintenance fees of $1700 are cheaper than what you’d spend to stay their for the week. Otherwise it’s not.

 

[CPNY]

Try join

If still interested, I have a Harborside week 14 Fixed Phase 1, I would give you for free. I bought in 2003 and have got my money’s worth, but with 2 school aged kids both involved in sports it’s not always easy to use that specific week which is almost always the 1st week in April. If you can usually use it that week, it is worth it as the maintenance fees of $1700 are cheaper than what you’d spend to stay their for the week. Otherwise it’s not.

Try Facebook groups to give it away there. I was lucky and found someone who wanted my week 19. I was extremely lucky. I still have summer weeks which are easier to rent out when need be. You should be able to book spring break weeks at 10 months and rent spring break weeks for at least maint fee at the very least