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II vs SVN for Harborside Exchange

S

susiequeve

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:shrug: Need some advice on how to request Harborside for 2009. Should I deposit my Westin Kierland 2 bdrm Gold with an ongoing search w/II or should I wait 8 months out and try to exchange thru SVN. Please let me know of your successes & failures. I can be flexible anytime from May thru August. Thanks so much.
 
I don't think there's any guarentees either way. I was able to trade my WKORV for Harborside this year, but it wasnt easy. I called the first day it was available right when they opened and got lucky, many others haven't had that success. As for II, my sales rep from Harborside sent me an article which claimed that Harborside is the single most requested resort in II and I believe it. MHO is that you have a better shot through SVN.
 
We too were fotunate last year to get in Harborside via SVN. We called 8 months out, at opening of the phone lines.

FYI, I understand its easier to trade into Harborside in May then any of the summer months. Not sure if its true or not, but since you said you can travel in May...I would start there.
 
We did not have any problem trading for Harborside Memorial weekend. I could have gotten anything from a 1 bd to a 3 bd. I did call first thing exactly 8 months out. It seems anywhere from 2nd week in June through summer is more difficult. I believe going through SVN would be your best bet especially if you can go the end of May.
 
One more question - Is it 8 months exactly prior to the date you want to travel or 8 months prior to the season that you own? Say I want to travel May 1st, 2009 do I call Sept 1st of the prior year? Thanks again!! :confused:
 
8 months before the day you want to arrive - Sept. 1 for a May 1 arrival.
 
You will not have a problem exchanging SVN at 8 months out at the beginning of May! You would have a problem trying this from about June 15 to August 15 or so.
 
The huge disadvantage with II is that while you own an awesome unit that would command great exchange power on II, you don't get control over what SVN deposits on your behalf. They may deposit a low season week at Kierland or Avon instead.

The huge disadvantage with SVN is that owners lose their view when they trade into another location. I paid a premium for my OF unit at WKORV-N and I'd be stupid to exchange it for a mountain view in Cancun. If I were able to trade OF for OF, I'd consider doing it in a heartbeat.

So I plan on using II only to book great values that they offer from time to time, but will try to direct exchange, rent or give away my unit rather than considering depositing it with II. I doubt I'll use SVN at all, unless it's to a location where view doesn't matter, such as Kierland.

So, if I were you, I'd book a week during spring break (or some other high demand week) at Kierland so that I had something substantial to direct trade or rent on my own should I not be able to get into Harborside. You might also consider putting an ad on this site in late November for a Harborside owner to exchange with.
 
LisaRex said:
I doubt I'll use SVN at all, unless it's to a location where view doesn't matter, such as Kierland.
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Kierland! What's wrong with getting a golf view with the monutains with the hils in the background? Its better then getting a parking lot/nieghborhood view!

PS - Just busting on you!
 
Thanks everyone for your responses I'll be calling SVN 8 months out. And yes, the views at Kierland are absolutely beautiful. I had a corner unit this year and woke up to a beautiful view of the golf course with the mountains in the background. It was our first time staying there since we bought the property and we were hughly impressed. LOVE LOVE LOVE this resort. :banana:
 
tomandrobin said:
Kierland! What's wrong with getting a golf view with the monutains with the hils in the background? Its better then getting a parking lot/neighborhood view!
Click to expand...

If we're going to be ranking things, I suppose I'd put the parking lot view over the dumpster view...

:D
 
OMG I have another question. Should I reserve my week at Kierland first at 12 months out then call SVN 8 months out to search for Harborside trade? This is all so confusing to me. Thanks :confused:
 
susiequeve said:
OMG I have another question. Should I reserve my week at Kierland first at 12 months out then call SVN 8 months out to search for Harborside trade? This is all so confusing to me. Thanks :confused:
Click to expand...

Nope! If you are set on going, you are flexible (May-Aug), then just keep calling and you will get a room.

Just call promptly, you may or may not get a room the first time, and don't give up.

Last year, we were worried like you. We were planning on going to Harborside in June. After reading how hard of a trade it was, we were wreck the week before it was time to call. We were on the phone first thing in the morning. Not only did we get our room, we got three of them.
 
susiequeve said:
OMG I have another question. Should I reserve my week at Kierland first at 12 months out then call SVN 8 months out to search for Harborside trade? This is all so confusing to me. Thanks :confused:
Click to expand...

I have a different opinion. I would make a reservation at Kierland 12 mos. out as a backup. Yes, with flexibility, you should get your Harborside reservation, but you never know.

Glorian
 
LisaRex said:
...The huge disadvantage with SVN is that owners lose their view when they trade into another location. I paid a premium for my OF unit at WKORV-N and I'd be stupid to exchange it for a mountain view in Cancun. If I were able to trade OF for OF, I'd consider doing it in a heartbeat. ....
Click to expand...
Quick question from a non-Starwood owner: Does the view that you buy affect the number of Staroptions you receive for your unit? In other words, if you buy an ocean-front unit, does that give you more Staroptions than the same size, same season in a "garden view" (or whatever the lowest view is)?
 
JudyS said:
Quick question from a non-Starwood owner: Does the view that you buy affect the number of Staroptions you receive for your unit? In other words, if you buy an ocean-front unit, does that give you more Staroptions than the same size, same season in a "garden view" (or whatever the lowest view is)?
Click to expand...

No, view doesn't affect the number of options assigned to a unit.

Glorian
 
LisaRex said:
... I'd be stupid to exchange it for a mountain view in Cancun...
Click to expand...

I know this is a hypothetical example, but I'm pretty sure Cancun doesn't have a mountain view (i.e. non ocean view). I'm looking to exchange there in 2009!
 
seenett said:
I know this is a hypothetical example, but I'm pretty sure Cancun doesn't have a mountain view (i.e. non ocean view). I'm looking to exchange there in 2009!
Click to expand...

The Cancun resort will have ocean view rooms from every room. If there was rooms facing the other way, they would see a road, some shops on the other side and then the lagoon beyond.

We would like to go there in 2009 or 2010 too.
 
JudyS said:
Thanks, Glorian. So, I can see real drawbacks to exchanging an OF unit.
Click to expand...

SVN is flawed on the internal excanges. You pay a premium for ocean front view, but once you trade at the 8 month mark your unit is valued the same of someone who bought the dumpster view.
 
seenett said:
...but I'm pretty sure Cancun doesn't have a mountain view (i.e. non ocean view).
Click to expand...
Obviously we likely won't know until the resort opens, but I'm betting Lagunamar will have some of the same issues that the ocean-view locations have at WKORV.

Some of those rooms are going to be lower-floor locations away from the ocean, so the "ocean" part of the view will be minimal, if not non-existant as you look through the trees, waterslides, towel huts, etc.

But yes, my understanding is that all rooms face toward the ocean -- it's just a question of whether you'll be able to see the ocean or not.
 
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