Just Bought Nanea - question about enrolling SDO and Staroptions

[lilbeaupeep]

HI all - appreciate the help.

We are pretty familiar with timeshares in general and have owned SDO for trading for 10 years. Today we bought "direct" a deeded Nanea contract with 98,000 StarOptions EOY. I've traded my SDO successfully for years and don't care *that much* if it won't qualify as StarOptions into the system but now am curious if it will do so at the 8 month mark. Does anyone have recent info on whether their resale at a voluntary resort will show up as StarOptions in the system with a new purchase? We are only using the Nanea purchase at Nanea and so don't have many questions on that end. Thanks for any help.

 

[bizaro86]

HI all - appreciate the help.

We are pretty familiar with timeshares in general and have owned SDO for trading for 10 years. Today we bought "direct" a deeded Nanea contract with 98,000 StarOptions EOY. I've traded my SDO successfully for years and don't care *that much* if it won't qualify as StarOptions into the system but now am curious if it will do so at the 8 month mark. Does anyone have recent info on whether their resale at a voluntary resort will show up as StarOptions in the system with a new purchase? We are only using the Nanea purchase at Nanea and so don't have many questions on that end. Thanks for any help.

It would have staroptions if you negotiated a requalification of the SDO as part of your purchase. If it isn't in writing as part of the contract then you won't get it.

 

[mjm1]

HI all - appreciate the help.

We are pretty familiar with timeshares in general and have owned SDO for trading for 10 years. Today we bought "direct" a deeded Nanea contract with 98,000 StarOptions EOY. I've traded my SDO successfully for years and don't care *that much* if it won't qualify as StarOptions into the system but now am curious if it will do so at the 8 month mark. Does anyone have recent info on whether their resale at a voluntary resort will show up as StarOptions in the system with a new purchase? We are only using the Nanea purchase at Nanea and so don't have many questions on that end. Thanks for any help.

If you are still in the rescission period, but absolutely want to buy it from them, you should contact them and say you want to have your SDO requalified. Otherwise, you can threaten to rescind. The opportunity to buy Nanea will be there the next time you are there if you still want it. It is worth trying.

 

[vacationtime1]

HI all - appreciate the help.

We are pretty familiar with timeshares in general and have owned SDO for trading for 10 years. Today we bought "direct" a deeded Nanea contract with 98,000 StarOptions EOY. I've traded my SDO successfully for years and don't care *that much* if it won't qualify as StarOptions into the system but now am curious if it will do so at the 8 month mark. Does anyone have recent info on whether their resale at a voluntary resort will show up as StarOptions in the system with a new purchase? We are only using the Nanea purchase at Nanea and so don't have many questions on that end. Thanks for any help.

If you don't care "that much" about whether your SDO unit has StarOptions, you should rescind your developer purchase at Nanea and buy the same number of Nanea Home Options on the secondary market for a fraction of the price you paid.

If you do care, take @mjm1's advice above.

 

[iftravel]

If you don't care "that much" about whether your SDO unit has StarOptions, you should rescind your developer purchase at Nanea and buy the same number of Nanea Home Options on the secondary market for a fraction of the price you paid.

If you do care, take @mjm1's advice above.

If requalified, could Abound Points provide any value? How do they convert SO vs Abound?

 

[rickandcindy23]

HI all - appreciate the help.

We are pretty familiar with timeshares in general and have owned SDO for trading for 10 years. Today we bought "direct" a deeded Nanea contract with 98,000 StarOptions EOY. I've traded my SDO successfully for years and don't care *that much* if it won't qualify as StarOptions into the system but now am curious if it will do so at the 8 month mark. Does anyone have recent info on whether their resale at a voluntary resort will show up as StarOptions in the system with a new purchase? We are only using the Nanea purchase at Nanea and so don't have many questions on that end. Thanks for any help.

You really should rescind that purchase. How much are you paying for this small number of SO's? You can buy Westin Kierland for about $16K resale, better MF per SO and these are actual SO's, 148K SO's, very usable in the system.

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

You really should rescind that purchase. How much are you paying for this small number of SO's? You can buy Westin Kierland for about $16K resale, better MF per SO and these are actual SO's, 148K SO's, very usable in the system.

I wonder at what point, if any, recommendations will steer towards resale purchases of WKORVN IV 2BR that can be bought for around $6K at the moment? I realize the MFs are ~$1K/annum higher. I hope it's soon as it might help me secure a sale when the need arises

 

[lilbeaupeep]

Thanks for all the advice here guys. We have a lot to think about. Future flexibility to book elsewhere (without Interval) is a perk we're considering as well and though direct might be the best case scenario at this time. Still have a few days. For anyone curious - SDO is worth 1500 abound points which is laughable. I'd continue using SDO for trade.

 

[iftravel]

As above mentioned, if you just want SO, resale SO is as good as direct SO, so why buy direct SO, if it’s just so so and pay so much more to get less SO?!

 

[lilbeaupeep]

As above mentioned, if you just want SO, resale SO is as good as direct SO, so why buy direct SO, if it’s just so so and pay so much more to get less SO?!

That's a great question and one we're still (slowly) thinking through. My understanding is that Nanea is a voluntary resort and resale purhcase would not allow us any Staroptions (only homeoptions, correct)? I think the possible flexibility of using Nanea elsewhere without going thru Interval is very attractive. We are not interested in buying North or South villas through resale even tho those are mandatory resorts. The direct purchase is deeded to Nanea (not Westinflex) which we like.

 

[lilbeaupeep]

You really should rescind that purchase. How much are you paying for this small number of SO's? You can buy Westin Kierland for about $16K resale, better MF per SO and these are actual SO's, 148K SO's, very usable in the system.

We'll also give this strategy some thought, thanks. So for WKV it's booking at other Staroption resorts at the 8month mark is that right? Is it difficult to book Nanea for holiday weeks?

 

[Red elephant]

If requalified, could Abound Points provide any value? How do they convert SO vs Abound?

Abound value for SDO is peanuts. It’s worth more on interval for trading and Staroptions. I enrolled mine and trade on interval getting 2 bedrooms x2 weeks with only upgrade fees that I pay.

 

[Red elephant]

Thanks for all the advice here guys. We have a lot to think about. Future flexibility to book elsewhere (without Interval) is a perk we're considering as well and though direct might be the best case scenario at this time. Still have a few days. For anyone curious - SDO is worth 1500 abound points which is laughable. I'd continue using SDO for trade.

As I mentioned earlier abound point value is laughable. I also use SDO and book WKV in October 44,000 staroptions and trade the other 1 bedroom. Or I use it for Lagunarmar in May 44,000 staroptions for a 1 bedroom .
Trading for 2 bedrooms x2 weeks is the best value.

 

[iftravel]

I wonder at what point, if any, recommendations will steer towards resale purchases of WKORVN IV 2BR that can be bought for around $6K at the moment? I realize the MFs are ~$1K/annum higher. I hope it's soon as it might help me secure a sale when the need arises

It’s always WKV 148k in the end, LOL. It’s the only solution to all SO problems!

 

[lilbeaupeep]

As I mentioned earlier abound point value is laughable. I also use SDO and book WKV in October 44,000 staroptions and trade the other 1 bedroom. Or I use it for Lagunarmar in May 44,000 staroptions for a 1 bedroom .
Trading for 2 bedrooms x2 weeks is the best value.

Agree with all this. The only BIG thing that is giving me pause is our sales rep told us he submitted an internal document to corporate to retro/enroll my current SDO for us to get staroptions. Its not in the contract. He seems confident and has done this alot of times based on our convos on the prior WestinFlex programs and how ppl would buy resale to retro them into the system (prior to the 2022 Marriott takeover). I am nervous on how this internal document process will work out. I feel like I had a better handle on the Vistana system before the Marriott takeover and now I don't know updated info.

For anyone who recently retro'd a resale unit, do you have insight on the process?

 

[Red elephant]

Agree with all this. The only BIG thing that is giving me pause is our sales rep told us he submitted an internal document to corporate to retro/enroll my current SDO for us to get staroptions. Its not in the contract. He seems confident and has done this alot of times based on our convos on the prior WestinFlex programs and how ppl would buy resale to retro them into the system (prior to the 2022 Marriott takeover). I am nervous on how this internal document process will work out. I feel like I had a better handle on the Vistana system before the Marriott takeover and now I don't know updated info.

For anyone who recently retro'd a resale unit, do you have insight on the process?

When I did this it was part of the contract.

 

[vacationtime1]

When I did this it was part of the contract.

It absolutely needs to be part of the contract. What the sales rep says or what he says he has done is irrelevant unless it is in writing -- a writing which is part of your purchase agreement.

But if all you would requalify is 1500 Abound points from your SDO unit, you should buy Nanea, Kierland, or Westin Flex resale and save a whole lot of money. Kierland will probably be the cheapest in the long run, but I suspect Nanea or Westin Flex would be better if getting a Christmas vacation week is central to your planning.

 

[Henry M.]

The Abound Club points from SDO still have value. The other question is how many Staroptions will you get that can be used at other Vistana resorts?

 

[GrayFal]

Agree with all this. The only BIG thing that is giving me pause is our sales rep told us he submitted an internal document to corporate to retro/enroll my current SDO for us to get staroptions. Its not in the contract. He seems confident and has done this alot of times based on our convos on the prior WestinFlex programs and how ppl would buy resale to retro them into the system (prior to the 2022 Marriott takeover). I am nervous on how this internal document process will work out. I feel like I had a better handle on the Vistana system before the Marriott takeover and now I don't know updated info.

For anyone who recently retro'd a resale unit, do you have insight on the process?

It must be in the contract. Stating resort and amount of SOs

 

[rickandcindy23]

If you actually bought Flexoptions, and not Staroptions, you really need to rescind. The salespeople use those terms interchangeably. We went to a sales' presentation in March before current owners received their Abound points for grandfathered contracts (2022?), and the only product Westin was selling at the time was Flexoptions.

I was ONLY interested in Staroptions and told her it would be my future purchase. The woman said we need to "forget about Staroptions," and at the end of the spiel, where they would take our Sheraton Broadway lockoffs and convert to Flexoptions for some insane price for a really terrible product that required a new purchase, I told her I would buy Kierland 148K instead. She said something like, Marriott's takeover won't help the value of those at all. Buying now would be the wise thing to do.

I don't know what that was about, but those have maintained value and even increased somewhat over what they were in 2022.

Last August, we had a salesperson at Westin Princeville who told us that we can book at 13 months as Chairman's Club, ahead of everyone else. I told her that we are already Chairman's Club and we cannot book our home resort at 13 months, so that was a lie, and we were only ten minutes into the presenation. She lost all credibility with that statement that she kept insisting was true. How many people fall for that line? She was basing the entire presentation on a lie and kept insisting on it. So laughable. The closer was very succinct and honest. Just be upfront and save me some time.

There has to be trust that the product you are buying is what the salesperson is representing. You only have a few days to figure out what is true and not true.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I wonder at what point, if any, recommendations will steer towards resale purchases of WKORVN IV 2BR that can be bought for around $6K at the moment? I realize the MFs are ~$1K/annum higher. I hope it's soon as it might help me secure a sale when the need arises

Those are real bargains. II no longer has 1 bedrooms available via exchange, and it's a big disappointment for those of us who took advantage. Maybe that will increase the resale value, no II availability for 1 bedrooms. The studios are about all I can get anymore. Of course, there is still Nanea, and I have gotten quite a few exchange matches for Feb-Mar of 2026 already with my Sheraton weeks.

The lack of one bedroom inventory in II is pushing me toward Kierland resale myself. It's on my mind.

 

[Venter]

I must admit I have not read through the whole thread. I will try and answer some of your last questions.

As far as being in the contract, very few people have had it written in their contracts and had to rely on the salesperson's word. Most of the threads have worked out and I cannot remember any that I read where there were any problems. I myself had a requalified purchase and it was not written into the contract but all worked out in the end. Most of us, however, that did this had some kind of proof such as an email where this was discussed and assurances were made by the salesman. I would email the salesman and just get some kind of confirmation from the salesman should things not work out and you need to go via the corporate route to get it resolved.

The threads regarding Nanea seem to infer that reservations during holiday weeks are hard to get. If you want Oceanfront make sure this is on your deed as there are two kinds of deeds - Oceanfront and Garden view. If you have Garden View Home Options at Nanea you will only be able to book that designated view and not Oceanfront. Oceanfront is more expensive to purchase. Nanea Home Options can be converted to Flex Options at 8 months in order to book at any of the other Vistana resorts. This can only be achieved if you bought developer because Nanea is considered a Voluntary resort. Oceanfront Home Options get more Abound points during conversion than Garden View.

If your Kierland is requalified then you can combine the Star Options at 8 months to book at any of the Vistana resorts or convert both to Abound points and book within the Marriott system. Make sure when they do the requalification that you name/names appear in the same order and are spelled the same to prevent future problems such as needing two accounts etc.

 

[lilpooh108]

I must admit I have not read through the whole thread. I will try and answer some of your last questions.

As far as being in the contract, very few people have had it written in their contracts and had to rely on the salesperson's word. Most of the threads have worked out and I cannot remember any that I read where there were any problems. I myself had a requalified purchase and it was not written into the contract but all worked out in the end. Most of us, however, that did this had some kind of proof such as an email where this was discussed and assurances were made by the salesman. I would email the salesman and just get some kind of confirmation from the salesman should things not work out and you need to go via the corporate route to get it resolved.

The threads regarding Nanea seem to infer that reservations during holiday weeks are hard to get. If you want Oceanfront make sure this is on your deed as there are two kinds of deeds - Oceanfront and Garden view. If you have Garden View Home Options at Nanea you will only be able to book that designated view and not Oceanfront. Oceanfront is more expensive to purchase. Nanea Home Options can be converted to Flex Options at 8 months in order to book at any of the other Vistana resorts. This can only be achieved if you bought developer because Nanea is considered a Voluntary resort. Oceanfront Home Options get more Abound points during conversion than Garden View.

If your Kierland is requalified then you can combine the Star Options at 8 months to book at any of the Vistana resorts or convert both to Abound points and book within the Marriott system. Make sure when they do the requalification that you name/names appear in the same order and are spelled the same to prevent future problems such as needing two accounts etc.

OP's wife here: Just wanted to thank you for this detailed post.

Apologies for the late response to anyone following this thread with interest regarding the retro/requalifying (was traveling)

I'm so glad to hear that most of the threads have worked out with very few ppl having had the retro written in their contracts. Our salesperson forwarded us the entirety of his email to corporate with the internal doc requesting the retro for our SDO resale unit. The email and his internal document seems legit (enough) to us.

Based on the chart the SDO unit is supposed to be 81,000 staroptions from memory - that is more important to us than Abound points

As for oceanfront - we won't bother. We are fine with resort view.

We've had timeshares for 20 years and have attended countless presentations (from when Marriott Maui started selling etc). This is our first "real" direct purchase after a timeshare presentation. We usually go for the perks. I find it slightly embarrassing to have finally purchased direct but I'm getting too old and tired to constantly check Interval for what we need. It kinda is what it is at this point and C'est La Vie

 

[lilpooh108]

If you actually bought Flexoptions, and not Staroptions, you really need to rescind. The salespeople use those terms interchangeably. We went to a sales' presentation in March before current owners received their Abound points for grandfathered contracts (2022?), and the only product Westin was selling at the time was Flexoptions.

I was ONLY interested in Staroptions and told her it would be my future purchase. The woman said we need to "forget about Staroptions," and at the end of the spiel, where they would take our Sheraton Broadway lockoffs and convert to Flexoptions for some insane price for a really terrible product that required a new purchase, I told her I would buy Kierland 148K instead. She said something like, Marriott's takeover won't help the value of those at all. Buying now would be the wise thing to do.

I don't know what that was about, but those have maintained value and even increased somewhat over what they were in 2022.

Last August, we had a salesperson at Westin Princeville who told us that we can book at 13 months as Chairman's Club, ahead of everyone else. I told her that we are already Chairman's Club and we cannot book our home resort at 13 months, so that was a lie, and we were only ten minutes into the presenation. She lost all credibility with that statement that she kept insisting was true. How many people fall for that line? She was basing the entire presentation on a lie and kept insisting on it. So laughable. The closer was very succinct and honest. Just be upfront and save me some time.

There has to be trust that the product you are buying is what the salesperson is representing. You only have a few days to figure out what is true and not true.

OP's wife here: I read through every single page of our contract and deed and I'm positive we bought a deeded Nanea unit which would give us Staroptions. The HOA doc itself is also exclusive to Nanea.

My understanding is that this is NOT a flexoptions product (which would instead be in a Deed of Trust document since it includes multiple resorts). I remember they also gave us the WestinFlex pricing sheet which had different prices and MFs (which we declined). Someone please correct me if I'm wrong about WestinFlex being in a Deed of Trust rather than a straight land deed.

Re MFs -- I calculated what was stated in our pricing sheet -- it absolutely has to be Staroptions for Nanea according to Syed's MF posts for Nanea. Our quote is the same ($1010 per year for EOY even 98,000 which works out to be $0.0103ish per point per year)

For anyone interested -- I'll keep checking my Vistana dashboard and see if we eventually got what we wanted. I'll post back in a few weeks. If I have any regrets (other than the $$$$ I could have saved from resale)...I probably should have used this purchase to retro/requalify something *more* in addition to our SDO since we enjoy the Westin product in general (as in, I shoulda bought a super cheap Nanea before buying direct sale Nanea).

Cheers to all and thanks for all the help -- but would still love to hear from anyone who has gone thru the SDO retro process. I'm oddly attached to SDO due to all the great trades it's gotten us through years.

 

[rickandcindy23]

You should still rescind and buy resale. We bought OFC, the last purchase (I do mean last!) was $34K, deeded oceanfront. Ocean view is cheap to buy! And it's ocean view.