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Interval vs. SVN/Staroptions

toddvb20

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If you can trade from a Starwood to a Starwood using Interval what is the benefit of buying a mandatory resort and using Staroptions? Better rooms? Guaranteed reservations?
 

DeniseM

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If you can trade from a Starwood to a Starwood using Interval what is the benefit of buying a mandatory resort and using Staroptions? Better rooms? Guaranteed reservations?

Not a better room - they are all the same, but possibly a better view or location.

More access to inventory during high season, when Starwood is less likely to deposit weeks in II.

More access to WSJ and HRA which are tough exchange through II.

Definitely not guaranteed reservations.
 

vacationtime1

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The major benefit of trading within Starwood using StarOptions, rather than external trades through Interval, is certainty. Once you are within the eight month mark, you call Starwood to make a reservation. If the unit is not reserved, it's yours.

That comes with a price -- Starwood mandatory resales are almost always more expensive than voluntary properties.

There is no single correct answer. We own both.
 

rickklogan

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Hi, I am new to timeshares but I have been reading hundreds of threads and have not found this answer (so please excuse me if this has already been answered).

If you deposit a 1 or 2 bedroom SDO unit into the II system, do you have a relatively higher chance of getting Starwood properties or is your unit lumped in with all others? I recognize that you would get first chance with mandatory properties, but I am unsure how voluntary properties work.

Thank you
 

DeniseM

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Hi, I am new to timeshares but I have been reading hundreds of threads and have not found this answer (so please excuse me if this has already been answered).

If you deposit a 1 or 2 bedroom SDO unit into the II system, do you have a relatively higher chance of getting Starwood properties or is your unit lumped in with all others? I recognize that you would get first chance with mandatory properties, but I am unsure how voluntary properties work.

Thank you

With II, mandatory and voluntary do not come into play. Those terms refer to whether your timeshare has Staroptions or not. Staroptions are not used in II.

With II trades, all Starwood resorts have first priority for Starwood deposits. Staroptions (mandatory/voluntary) are only used in the Starwood internal trading system.
 

rickklogan

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Thanks Denise, that is helpful to understand that a Starwood owner would have priority over non starwood owners for II trades. I was not able to find that information previously.

I am trying to decide between purchasing a unit at SDO or to purchase at SVV (Bella or Key West phase) that I can use as a trader as we probably would not look to stay at either resort. Our ideal trade, like many others, would be for WKORV or Harborside (shoulder season would be more than fine for us!).

We are either thinking of going for a large, plat 1 bedroom at SDO or a 2 bedroom lock-out. However, I am unsure what the trade value would be for the studio side of the lock-out.

Finally, I saw a thread yesterday about not being able to see the top-end starwood properties in II. Do you feel there is a high-risk that in the next couple years SDO would not be able to see the Hawaiian / Harborside properties?

Thank you so much!
 

DeniseM

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Thanks Denise, that is helpful to understand that a Starwood owner would have priority over non starwood owners for II trades. I was not able to find that information previously.

I am trying to decide between purchasing a unit at SDO or to purchase at SVV (Bella or Key West phase) that I can use as a trader as we probably would not look to stay at either resort. Our ideal trade, like many others, would be for WKORV or Harborside (shoulder season would be more than fine for us!).

We are either thinking of going for a large, plat 1 bedroom at SDO or a 2 bedroom lock-out. However, I am unsure what the trade value would be for the studio side of the lock-out.

SDO does not have any studios - both sides of the lock-off are 1 bdm. units and trade as one bdm. units.

Finally, I saw a thread yesterday about not being able to see the top-end starwood properties in II. Do you feel there is a high-risk that in the next couple years SDO would not be able to see the Hawaiian / Harborside properties?

First of all - many SDO owners can see those units. I think that most of the people who can't see them have undeposited weeks that they are searching with - that makes a huge difference. Someone with a deposited SDO Sm. 1 bdm. just posted that they CAN see them.

You can't really compare Hawaii and Harborside. Starwood has 3 resorts in Hawaii, so it's a much easier exchange through II than Harborside is. Even with the strongest trader, Harborside is more difficult, because so few units are deposited in II.

If you are flexible about when you go, I'd expect to be able to trade into one of the 3 Hawaii resorts. I'd never "expect" to get into Harborside - it's much more difficult.

The Westin Princeville should always be the easiest of the Hawaii Resort to trade into, because it's a voluntary resort, which means resale owners have to trade through II - they cannot trade through the SVN or roll their Staroptions over to the next year.
 
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rickklogan

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Thank you again.

Do you feel getting into WKORV or WKORV-north would be reasonable trade options (given date flexibility)?

Have you found that it is significantly more difficult to trade for 2 bedroom units at WKORV than 1 bedroom units?

My sense is that you would recommend SDO vs SVV for my scenario? At SDO, would you recommend a platinum 2 bedroom lock-off?
 

DeniseM

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Thank you again.

Do you feel getting into WKORV or WKORV-north would be reasonable trade options (given date flexibility)?

Yes - if you are completely flexible, I think it's doable. School holidays are not.

Have you found that it is significantly more difficult to trade for 2 bedroom units at WKORV than 1 bedroom units?

There are always a lot more 1 bdm. units available. If you need a 2 bdm., you should deposit a 2 bdm. and put in an ongoing request. Don't count on being able to trade up from a 1 bdm. to a 2 bdm.

My sense is that you would recommend SDO vs SVV for my scenario? At SDO, would you recommend a platinum 2 bedroom lock-off?

It just depends on what your strategy is - II trading or SVN trading.

II trading is a lot more cost effective, and SDO is a lot more cost effective.

2 Bdm. Plat weeks at SDO do have higher trading power - but you will have a hard time finding one and will pay a lot more than for a Gold Plus (1-52 floating) week. They are sought after by people who want to requalify them - so they are rare.
 

rickklogan

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I am assuming that the gold-plus weeks will allow me to trade to WKORV, and I don't require the platinum units. My strategy is not to use the unit to requalify.

Basically, our strategy is to get to the really nice resorts - without paying the outrageous maintenance fees currently required.

What I struggle with is getting a gauge for how likely I am to get into WKORV through the SVN network vs II trading and then figuring out the difference in cost to see which one works better for us.

I will be looking more closely at what is out there on redweek and ebay, so I will let you know how it goes. Thank you again.
 

DeniseM

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Right now you can trade into WKORV/N with an SDO Gold Plus week, as long as you request a wide range of weeks, don't request holiday weeks, and put in your request well in advance - 12 or more mos. out is optimal.

There is no way to say if that will always be true. II and Starwood can and do change the rules.

If you go the other route, and buy a mandatory resort, you will pay quite a bit for 148,100 Staroptions - that's the amount required for a 2 bdm. at the Hawaii resorts.

Westin Kierland Villas is usually considered to have the lowest Staroptions to Maintenance fee ratio - The 2 bdm. units there have 148,100 Staroptions and the MF was $1,216 this year. But, it will cost you $10K plus for a 2 bdm. there.

If you buy at a mandatory phase at SVV - you can probably get a week for nearly free, but the Staroptions are low there, so you will have to buy two weeks to have 148,100 Staroptions, which will really raise your MF -

Sheraton Vistana Villages
Bella - 2 Bdm. - $1,021 (Plat = 81,000 Staroptions)
Key West - 2 Bdm. - $1276.19 (Plat = 81,000 Staroptions)
Key West - 3BR L/O - $1,693.50 (Plat = 125,000 Staroptions)

*There are other sizes of units at SVV, but I don't have the MF.

So to buy a mandatory resort with Staroptions, you either pay more upfront - or you pay more in maintenance fees.
 
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rickklogan

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You are right, significantly more expensive to buy a Mandatory property with 148K points.

So, if we purchased WKV would we be significantly increasing our chances at WKORV/N or just a little bit (in your opinion, I recognize there isn't a specific calculation, etc.) higher availability?

Thanks so much!
 

DeniseM

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You will have more access with Staroptions - but not Christmas or New Years. You aren't allowed to reserve with with Staroptions.
 

rickklogan

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One last question, is there an easy way to decipher if a unit is the right 2 bedroom as I was able to see 2 bedroom WKR units for less than $5000 on a few websites?

Thank you
 

DeniseM

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One last question, is there an easy way to decipher if a unit is the right 2 bedroom as I was able to see 2 bedroom WKR units for less than $5000 on a few websites?

Thank you

Yes - You want a Platinum week which will be deeded for weeks 1-21 & 50-52 only.

Gold weeks only have 81,000 Staroptions
Silver weeks only have 56,300 Staroptions

If you actually buy one, you will want to request that the closing company provide a Starwood Resale Info. Sheet from Starwood to verify the week on the deed - before you close the deal. The closing Co. has to request it - Starwood won't provide it to the buyer directly.
 

rickklogan

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We have now decided to go with a 2 bedroom SDO unit as you right, the 2 bedroom platinum WKR units are very expensive.

If I am looking at units at SDO, many list them as 'red' weeks and then have fixed week 7, etc. As this week falls within the 1-21 / 50-52 timeframe, does this mean it is a platinum week unit or is it simply gold-plus?

I am a little confused with the old system as I haven't been able to track down if all units are previously fixed before Starwood took it over and implemented the 3 season plat/gold/silver. Basically, if someone owned ex: week 7 before Starwood took over, did they get converted from a 'red' to 'platinum' week?

Thank you (again)
 

DeniseM

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You have to look at the unit number as well as the week number:

To be a true Platinum week at Sheraton Desert Oasis the unit number must be in this range-

1064, 1072, 1081-1100, 2064, 2072, 2081- 2100, 3064-3072, and 3081-3100

AND

the deeded week must be in this range: 1-21, 50-52

Previous to Starwood buying the resort, the units were being sold as 1-52 floating weeks. After Starwood bought them out, they sold the remaining inventory as Plat, Gold, and Silver seasons. The old deeds remained the same (1-52 floaters) and that's why both systems are still in place.
 
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jarta

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ricklogan, ... "If you can trade from a Starwood to a Starwood using Interval what is the benefit of buying a mandatory resort and using Staroptions? Better rooms? Guaranteed reservations?"

Better rooms. Yes. With StarOptions you can state (most places) a preference that is not guaranteed but which the resort will try to fulfill. II traders have no preference.

Guaranteed reservations. Yes. With StarOptions you can trade in at 8 months from arrival. Except for WSJ and Harborside, if you call at exactly 9:00 am at exactly 8 months from arrival, you can usually get the month you want. With II you must match your request with a week that has been deposited there. DeniseM has given you good advice on how to do that.

Other advantages of StarOption trading are:

1. At 8 months from arrival, as long as your stay includes a check in or check out on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you can rent more than 1 week at a time (subject to having enough StarOptions). At II you can only rent a week (or less via a getaway) at a time.

2. With Staroption trading, you can cancel up to 60 days prior to arrival with a $29 fee. The StarOptions are returned unrestricted. With a home resort reservation anywhere in the Starwood system, the $29 fee is waived.

3. SVN StarOptions can now be banked for up to 2 years (with payment of a fee). SVN StarOptions can also be borrowed (with limitations). A voluntary week is not in the SVN and, since there are no SVN StarOptions, no borrowing or banking can occur.

4. A mandatory resort costs more now but has more opportunity for price appreciation in the future (this assumes the economy will eventually recover and timeshares will again will realize more than a few pennies on the dollar of developer pricing).

5. As others have said, you can know that you have a reservation as soon as you call at 8 months.

For most people, II works quite well and, if you are flexible, can result in dynamite trades due to the II Starwood preference. However, the big advantage to buying voluntary is initial low cost. GLTY! ... eom
 

Ken555

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1. At 8 months from arrival, as long as your stay includes a check in or check out on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you can rent more than 1 week at a time (subject to having enough StarOptions). At II you can only rent a week (or less via a getaway) at a time.

No. Getaways are always a week in length. If you exchange a week at II you may use their program to split a week, but resorts participating in that program are limited (based on my intermittent searching). Your first point is absolutely on target though, as I've often stayed longer than a week using a SO reservation and that is very convenient and a nice feature of SVN.

3. SVN StarOptions can now be banked for up to 2 years (with payment of a fee). SVN StarOptions can also be borrowed (with limitations). A voluntary week is not in the SVN and, since there are no SVN StarOptions, no borrowing or banking can occur.

Weeks deposited at II last up to three years, I believe (at no additional fee).
 

DeniseM

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If you pay for a Platinum II membership, you can make split week exchanges, but the inventory is mostly for resorts/seasons with high supply and low demand.

A II deposit is good for up to 30 mos., with a floating week, and up to 42 mos. with some fixed weeks, which may be deposited TWO years before check-in, instead of the usual 1 year.
 
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rickklogan

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Hi all,

What are Plat SDO weeks selling for now? What's a good price?

Also, are there better places to purchase from than others that have better prices?

Thanks again everyone, you all have been very helpful
 

rickklogan

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Denise, what is the significance of the unit number being important in determining if a week is deemed platinum? Are there older units that do not qualify?
 

DeniseM

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Denise, what is the significance of the unit number being important in determining if a week is deemed platinum? Are there older units that do not qualify?

Those are the numbers of the units that Starwood sold in the Platinum season.

Previous to Starwood buying the resort, all the units were being sold as 1-52 floating weeks. After Starwood bought them out, they sold the remaining inventory as Plat, Gold, and Silver seasons. The old deeds remained the same (1-52 floaters) and that's why both systems are still in place.
 

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Rick,

As Denise stated above people seek out the "true platinum" weeks to requalify because they are worth more staroptions than the Gold Plus weeks. That is the primary reason for the cost difference in the market. The platinum weeks can have more trading power in II, but that is a debatable point, some people are convinced, others less so.
 
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DeniseM

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We know that Plat weeks have a higher designated trading power in II, but since II doesn't reveal that info., we don't know how much higher. Recent Harborside trade tests indicated that the difference does exist.
 
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