HRA-St John-Maui

[jjking42]

So looking at these three I would love to visit them each every third year.

I own some points at WKV and considering buying some at SVV.

But if I wanted to own a beach week which one ?

HRA looks like the MF on one bedroom platinum is less and you can get it for free but closing cost high. The two bedroom cost per point is not much better.

Maui
These weeks have some value so will have to higher purchase price and MF are higher. The two bedroom has a better MF cost per point than the one bedroom. Not sure on closing cost.

Don’t know much about St. John except there are different areas and I probably want to be near the beach and not in the hill.

I am flexible on travel dates not tied to schools schedule. I think HRA might be easy with Star options during off season but I would not want yo go in the cold.

The other options is too just get cheap Star options and try internal trades


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[tschwa2]

The only reason I would purchase any of those is if you want to regularly go to those places at a time or (in the case of Maui) a view you can't get most years thought SVN.

 

[jjking42]

The only reason I would purchase any of those is if you want to regularly go to those places at a time or (in the case of Maui) a view you can't get most years thought SVN.

My concern is somehow things change and I won’t be able to find availability at these priorities using Star options.

Had it been fairly easy to book these with Star options ?


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[tschwa2]

My concern is somehow things change and I won’t be able to find availability at these priorities using Star options.

Had it been fairly easy to book these with Star options ?


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It depends on when you want to travel. There are certainly times that it is difficult to book each of those properties can be difficult to book at 10 months. If you want to travel in 3 BR units during high season and holidays it can be difficult. If you have specific week in maui especially if you are looking for ocean front during high season it can be difficult. I really don't follow WSJ enough to know booking patterns but there is bound to be certain times of the year in certain size units that are difficult to book.

Unless you want to go regularly to those locations during the difficult times to book and even then it will only help with the one that you own. Owning an ocean front Maui won't make it any easier at 10 months to book another location than if you use a mandatory SVV unit.

If you are fairly open about your travel dates and willing to travel and able to book at exactly 10 months I wouldn't jump into the high cost/ high MF locations unless you find yourself regularly shut out when and where you want to go and you want to go to those places annually at that time or at least EOY.

 

[jjking42]

I am flexible and can do one bedroom units. I plan way ahead of time. I just remember buy where you want to go.

I guess I should wait for my resale WKV to finish transfer and then play with the website to see how I feel about availability. I just hate the idea of owning in Orlando and don’t really want to end up visiting WKV for two weeks if I can’t get the star option internal trades I want.


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[taterhed]

Uh, why 10 months?

Many of the hot weeks/OF etc.... are gone at 3 sec past midnight at 12 mos. (WKORV)
I did manage to book an oceanfront in Feb no problem at 9 mos.....but it varies from my limited browsing of the weeks.

But, yes, I'd wait. There is no shortage of SVV for sale for peanuts.

 

[buzglyd]

I am flexible and can do one bedroom units. I plan way ahead of time. I just remember buy where you want to go.

I guess I should wait for my resale WKV to finish transfer and then play with the website to see how I feel about availability. I just hate the idea of owning in Orlando and don’t really want to end up visiting WKV for two weeks if I can’t get the star option internal trades I want.


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I recently stayed at HRA booked with my SOs (SVV Bella). I booked it exactly at 8 months into a large 1BR. We stayed in May.

 

[jjking42]

Uh, why 10 months?

Many of the hot weeks/OF etc.... are gone at 3 sec past midnight at 12 mos. (WKORV)
I did manage to book an oceanfront in Feb no problem at 9 mos.....but it varies from my limited browsing of the weeks.

But, yes, I'd wait. There is no shortage of SVV for sale for peanuts.

With Star options I would be booking at 8 months


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[tschwa2]

Sorry, I meant 8 months not 10. I was thinking Wyndham not Vistana.

 

[taterhed]

Sorry, I meant 8 months not 10. I was thinking Wyndham not Vistana.

Worldmark, Marriott, Westin....RCI, Interval, SFX.

I can't remember this stuff anymore myself!!!!

getting old...

 

[DavidnRobin]

If you get a car in STJ - then highly recommend VGV (Hillside).
If staying at Resort with few excursions- then the Main Resort may be best for you.

Just returned from our 2 weeks - only time we went down to Main Resort was to checkin and quick walk around to show our friends the pool area.

Instead we went to Frances, Maho (2x), Trunk, Hawknest, Honeymoon (shuttle), Little Lameshur, Salt Pond, Hansen/Haulover, and a Charter on Island Roots (Capt Jason Siska) around STJ <excellent!> and 2 pool days.
whew!




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[LisaH]

How did you go to Honeymoon Beach? Shuttle from the resort or from Caneel? How much is the cost?

If you get a car in STJ - then highly recommend VGV (Hillside).
If staying at Resort with few excursions- then the Main Resort may be best for you.

Just returned from our 2 weeks - only time we went down to Main Resort was to checkin and quick walk around to show our friends the pool area.

Instead we went to Frances, Maho (2x), Trunk, Hawknest, Honeymoon (shuttle), Little Lameshur, Salt Pond, Hansen/Haulover, and a Charter on Island Roots (Capt Jason Siska) around STJ <excellent!> and 2 pool days.
whew!




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[DavidnRobin]

How did you go to Honeymoon Beach? Shuttle from the resort or from Caneel? How much is the cost?

Entrance of Caneel - $10pp RT
Park off road
They were also doing some deal with Taxis, but we had vehicle - so not sure.
Well worth the $10pp


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[CPNY]

I am flexible and can do one bedroom units. I plan way ahead of time. I just remember buy where you want to go.

I guess I should wait for my resale WKV to finish transfer and then play with the website to see how I feel about availability. I just hate the idea of owning in Orlando and don’t really want to end up visiting WKV for two weeks if I can’t get the star option internal trades I want.


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I own HRA and SVV. I much more options per maint fee with SVV. ILL NEVER use the options in Orlando. I plan on going to HRA as much as I can since it’s Mt favorite resort and a quick flight for me. I also prefer a phase 1 HRA and booking in home resort period so I’m guaranteed a phase 1 building which has the nicer views of the Atlantis and Marina. I wouldn’t buy HRA to use options in other resorts.

Can I ask what you purchased for WKV? I’m thinking I should have put an offer on an every other year 2 bedroom. It’s hard for me to justify the buy in price to be honest.

 

[controller1]

I own HRA and SVV. I much more options per maint fee with SVV. ILL NEVER use the options in Orlando. I plan on going to HRA as much as I can since it’s Mt favorite resort and a quick flight for me. I also prefer a phase 1 HRA and booking in home resort period so I’m guaranteed a phase 1 building which has the nicer views of the Atlantis and Marina. I wouldn’t buy HRA to use options in other resorts.

Can I ask what you purchased for WKV? I’m thinking I should have put an offer on an every other year 2 bedroom. It’s hard for me to justify the buy in price to be honest.

I'm having problems keeping up with all of your wheeling and dealing. I thought you previously stated you sold your HRA and hope to have it under contract today?

 

[CPNY]

I'm having problems keeping up with all of your wheeling and dealing. I thought you previously stated you sold your HRA and hope to have it under contract today?

Sold meaning found a taker Friday. Have to get the paperwork done lol. All happened over the weekend. Technically I still own the dang thing. And am still responsible for it. Guess I should wait until outs out of my name before I say I sold it lol

 

[chemteach]

My experience with Staroptions is that St. John's is next to impossible to get February, March, or beginning of April weeks. Harborside is doable, but some March and early April weeks can be impossible to get at 8 months (gone before the 8 month mark). Maui is difficult, but you can get March and April weeks (non ocean view). Princeville is easier than Maui. If you can travel in January, February, May, or September to december (non holiday) all places should be doable, and the Staroption route with WKV should work and will have the least expensive maintenance fees.

Of course, if Marriott does ever come up with a joint system for all the unsold weeks in Marriott and Vistana, who knows what will happen... But that's the timeshare business. Systems get bought and sold and you just don't know what the future holds. Based on past availability, off season (non holiday, non summer, non March/April) time should be fairly easy to reserve at 8 months. Good luck with whatever you choose!!

 

[bobpark56]

If you get a car in STJ - then highly recommend VGV (Hillside).
If staying at Resort with few excursions- then the Main Resort may be best for you.

Just returned from our 2 weeks - only time we went down to Main Resort was to checkin and quick walk around to show our friends the pool area.

Instead we went to Frances, Maho (2x), Trunk, Hawknest, Honeymoon (shuttle), Little Lameshur, Salt Pond, Hansen/Haulover, and a Charter on Island Roots (Capt Jason Siska) around STJ <excellent!> and 2 pool days.
whew!




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Did Haulover North survive the hurricane? Once you got in the water (a bit tricky), it used to be like swimming in a coral garden...with lots of fish.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Did Haulover North survive the hurricane? Once you got in the water (a bit tricky), it used to be like swimming in a coral garden...with lots of fish.

While Haulover faired relatively well. H.Irma was devastating to the coral throughout the area. I heard a report that 95% of the local Elkhorn Coral was impacted. From what I saw - that seem correct. Going to take a while for the hard corals to grow back.

 

[Henry M.]

I prefer to buy where I want to go, regardless of cost. When the chips fall, the only thing guaranteed is what is on the title. I own at WKORV and WKORVN, as well as EOY at St. John. I bought the latter on a whim during an exchange into St. John, and lucked out that the StarOptions were increased from 95,700 or so to 148,100 shortly after I bought. I could probably do with just the Hawaii weeks. I could live in Hawaii permanently, but only like to stay a week or so every time I go to St. John. I much prefer the lock-off arrangement of WKORV/WKORVN. An occasional exchange is all I'd need for St. John and Harborside.

I've now owned for 17 years and I have been happy with my purchases. We use them all the time, which is key for the program to work for us. I'd do it again, though I would probably buy resale. I bought all my weeks before I knew about TUG. I have enjoyed some pretty nice travel with all the Starpoint give-aways and Platinum benefits, though, so some of the extra costs were defrayed by that. Resales were rather scarce at the time, and not as cheap as they are today. They used to give a lot of hotel points for buying pre-construction on Maui, and the hotel points can be valuable at some locations, particularly outside the US. In fact, I can often recover all my maintenance fees by staying with points at some European hotels, though that is getting harder with all the point devaluations. I take advantage of suite upgrades and lounge access. I'd stay at some of these hotels anyway, so it isn't just funny money or fuzzy math.

My now grown children had a great experience growing up visiting these resorts. We started going when they were very young, and now, with their own children, are starting to build family memories themselves. I'm still friends with the guy who sold us our first timeshare and still works at WKORV.

 

[CPNY]

I prefer to buy where I want to go, regardless of cost. When the chips fall, the only thing guaranteed is what is on the title. I own at WKORV and WKORVN, as well as EOY at St. John. I bought the latter on a whim during an exchange into St. John, and lucked out that the StarOptions were increased from 95,700 or so to 148,100 shortly after I bought. I could probably do with just the Hawaii weeks. I could live in Hawaii permanently, but only like to stay a week or so every time I go to St. John. I much prefer the lock-off arrangement of WKORV/WKORVN. An occasional exchange is all I'd need for St. John and Harborside.

I've now owned for 17 years and I have been happy with my purchases. We use them all the time, which is key for the program to work for us. I'd do it again, though I would probably buy resale. I bought all my weeks before I knew about TUG. I have enjoyed some pretty nice travel with all the Starpoint give-aways and Platinum benefits, though, so some of the extra costs were defrayed by that. Resales were rather scarce at the time, and not as cheap as they are today. They used to give a lot of hotel points for buying pre-construction on Maui, and the hotel points can be valuable at some locations, particularly outside the US. In fact, I can often recover all my maintenance fees by staying with points at some European hotels, though that is getting harder with all the point devaluations. I take advantage of suite upgrades and lounge access. I'd stay at some of these hotels anyway, so it isn't just funny money or fuzzy math.

My now grown children had a great experience growing up visiting these resorts. We started going when they were very young, and now, with their own children, are starting to build family memories themselves. I'm still friends with the guy who sold us our first timeshare and still works at WKORV.

You said it right “building family memories” that is a great reason to have purchased. As my nephew said a few weeks ago, we have all these damn timeshares and we don’t even use them lol