Just traded my Kierland 2 bedroom lock off and Langumar every other year studio into Westin Flex bad deaL?

[gaydemac]

So my husband and I got talked into trading our Kierland 2 bedroom lock off (spring season-not sure level) and Langumar every other year studio for Westin Flex ownership level. This gives us points to be the lowest ownership level in Abound. We had to pay $15,000 premium and our maintenance fees were reduced by about $1500 per year. Selling point was that we could get a 12 month window to reserve on any other the eight properties in the Westin Flex. Also they argue that with the merger, it is going to be harder to get reservations in the 8 month window. That could be desirable for us as we may want to reserve at Vail or Beaver Creek. WE then also learn that for anything but the Maui resorts, it is better to use Abound points as we will get more days on the reservation but that is only a 10 month reservation window.

Please help as we only have a few days to back out of this if we want to. Please don't use abbreviations, as I don't understand them (as I've seen in other posts. I am knew to this forum. Thanks so much for any help! (We got some other perks for the deal like Bonvoy points etc. )

 

[gaydemac]

PS we also went down to 95,500 star options points from 148000 (yearly) and 37000 every other year. I keep thinking we are paying money to get less....

 

[WorldT]

@gaydemac

Let's keep this simple

Step 1: Rescind using the procedure specified in the contract
Step 2: come back here and do more research.
Step 3: armed with the knowledge, you can make an informed decision.

See that was easy.

 

[LeslieDet]

If you owned your Kierland 2B and Lagunamar prior to August 9, 2022, you are already part of the Abound program (assuming you did not opt out by refusing to pay the annual Abound Club dues). What you did was sell what you owned and purchase Westin FlexOptions. The Westin FlexOptions can also be elected in 20k increments into Abound Club Points. IDK what the election quantity was for your Kierland or your Lagunamar, but it may have been slightly better than what the Westin Flex can elect.

With Westin FlexOptions, yes, you can book at any of the "home" properties at 12 months; but the inventory owned by the Flex isn't going to get you into Kierland in the spring season, if that is when you enjoyed going. IDK what inventory the Flex has at Vail or Beaver Creek, but I am doubtful that it will be much inventory during the peak winter seasons, if that is when you hoped to go. Probably more mud weeks in the Flex (that is me speculating).

The FOMO pitch is that with the Abound program, everyone and their brother is electing Club Points and thus the properties that may otherwise have been available for StarOptions bookings at 8 months out will be gone. Don't fall for it. I'm assuming your Lagunamar and Kierland were eligible to elect Club Points and it sounds like you were not even aware of that ability; thus, you were not removing your VSN VOIs from the StarOptions pool, unless you were being diligent about booking your ownership during the owner preference period in the VSN.

As to your statement that "it is better to use Abound points" because you'll get more days, that is something that depends entirely upon what you are booking. Better than what? Which season? Which size property? Which view? Also, keep in mind that if you are hoping to go to the prime MVC locations during prime time, because you are at the "owner" level and only able to book at 10 months(for less than a 7 night booking -- it is 12 months for 7 nights), the prime reservations will be long gone.

Personally, I'd not pay $15k to give up what you already own and buy Westin FlexOptions. Given what is in the Westin Flex inventory, you may very well have the ability to book those locations where the Flex has some inventory at 8 months with your StarOptions. But if you really don't enjoy going to Kierland in the spring or Lagunamar, then yes, you will have some additional booking location at 12 months in the Westin Flex VOI. BTW - I don't know the maintenance fees, so I cannot comment on any MF comparison between what you had vs the Westin FlexOptions.

 

[gaydemac]

Thank you so much for your information. If anyone else has thoughts please weigh in. I will talk to my husband about this and look at backing out during the window to do so. Thanks!

 

[LeslieDet]

PS we also went down to 95,500 star options points from 148000 (yearly) and 37000 every other year. I keep thinking we are paying money to get less....

You nailed it! You paid good money to get yourself less than what you gave up.

 

[CPNY]

So my husband and I got talked into trading our Kierland 2 bedroom lock off (spring season-not sure level) and Langumar every other year studio for Westin Flex ownership level. This gives us points to be the lowest ownership level in Abound. We had to pay $15,000 premium and our maintenance fees were reduced by about $1500 per year. Selling point was that we could get a 12 month window to reserve on any other the eight properties in the Westin Flex. Also they argue that with the merger, it is going to be harder to get reservations in the 8 month window. That could be desirable for us as we may want to reserve at Vail or Beaver Creek. WE then also learn that for anything but the Maui resorts, it is better to use Abound points as we will get more days on the reservation but that is only a 10 month reservation window.

Please help as we only have a few days to back out of this if we want to. Please don't use abbreviations, as I don't understand them (as I've seen in other posts. I am knew to this forum. Thanks so much for any help! (We got some other perks for the deal like Bonvoy points etc. )

Oh Lord, Please rescind that immediately!!!! DO NOT WASTE TIME. That's the worst deal. It's so sad how they scam people. Yes, In this case this is a scam.

 

[Ken555]

Oh Lord, Please rescind that immediately!!!! DO NOT WASTE TIME. That's the worst deal. It's so sad how they scam people. Yes, In this case this is a scam.

^^THIS

Get out while you can. Don’t overthink it. Just rescind immediately.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[CaliSunshine]

Please rescind as soon as possible. And welcome to TUG!

 

[dioxide45]

This has to be the worst deal I have seen. I heard of one a while ago where the person bought Sheraton Flex and went down in the number of options vs what they had with mandatory weeks. They paid a whole bunch of money and annual fees were the same (if not higher). Unfortunatly they were too late to rescind.

 

[TUGBrian]

So very happy you found TUG in time to discover how bad a deal this was to cancel!!

 

[rickandcindy23]

I hope you rescind and take the advice here. What you have with Kierland is what most of us would like to own. No time to waste, rescind immediately. Be sure to send your rescind letter so that it has to be signed for and send it USPS for tracking information. It's not the day they received it, it's the day it's postmarked by the post office.

Welcome to TUG. Join us and learn. Pay the $15 and see sightings, which are so valuable! You can learn to use what you own. You are already in Abound. Notice that when you log in, you are logging into Marriott then Westin/ Sheraton? You are in!

I cannot believe the shysters that work in the sales' departments at Westin/ Marriott. It's disgusting.

 

[gaydemac]

Thank you for all your help!!! I am sending the rescind letter today to both addresses given with tracking and so they have to sign!

 

[The Colorado Kid]

If you owned your Kierland 2B and Lagunamar prior to August 9, 2022, you are already part of the Abound program (assuming you did not opt out by refusing to pay the annual Abound Club dues). What you did was sell what you owned and purchase Westin FlexOptions. The Westin FlexOptions can also be elected in 20k increments into Abound Club Points. IDK what the election quantity was for your Kierland or your Lagunamar, but it may have been slightly better than what the Westin Flex can elect.

With Westin FlexOptions, yes, you can book at any of the "home" properties at 12 months; but the inventory owned by the Flex isn't going to get you into Kierland in the spring season, if that is when you enjoyed going. IDK what inventory the Flex has at Vail or Beaver Creek, but I am doubtful that it will be much inventory during the peak winter seasons, if that is when you hoped to go. Probably more mud weeks in the Flex (that is me speculating).

The FOMO pitch is that with the Abound program, everyone and their brother is electing Club Points and thus the properties that may otherwise have been available for StarOptions bookings at 8 months out will be gone. Don't fall for it. I'm assuming your Lagunamar and Kierland were eligible to elect Club Points and it sounds like you were not even aware of that ability; thus, you were not removing your VSN VOIs from the StarOptions pool, unless you were being diligent about booking your ownership during the owner preference period in the VSN.

As to your statement that "it is better to use Abound points" because you'll get more days, that is something that depends entirely upon what you are booking. Better than what? Which season? Which size property? Which view? Also, keep in mind that if you are hoping to go to the prime MVC locations during prime time, because you are at the "owner" level and only able to book at 10 months(for less than a 7 night booking -- it is 12 months for 7 nights), the prime reservations will be long gone.

Personally, I'd not pay $15k to give up what you already own and buy Westin FlexOptions. Given what is in the Westin Flex inventory, you may very well have the ability to book those locations where the Flex has some inventory at 8 months with your StarOptions. But if you really don't enjoy going to Kierland in the spring or Lagunamar, then yes, you will have some additional booking location at 12 months in the Westin Flex VOI. BTW - I don't know the maintenance fees, so I cannot comment on any MF comparison between what you had vs the Westin FlexOptions.

@LeslieDet Wow what a wonderfully succinct and detail-packed reply! Always appreciate you sharing.

 

[CPNY]

Thank you for all your help!!! I am sending the rescind letter today to both addresses given with tracking and so they have to sign!

whoever is listed on the contract must sign the rescission letter. make sure this is done correctly. do not give them any reason to not let you out of this atrocious deal. these types of deals make me so angry.

 

[LannyPC]

I am sending the rescind letter today to both addresses given with tracking and so they have to sign!

Just to be clear, make sure you send it by certified mail if that's what the rescission instructions say. That's what they usually say. It is not necessary for the people on the other end to sign. As long as you send it by certified mail and request a receipt to prove that you mailed your rescission letter on time, you will be fine.

 

[WorldT]

Thank you for all your help!!! I am sending the rescind letter today to both addresses given with tracking and so they have to sign!

Excellent!!!!
Now pop over to the Westin/Sheraton forum and ask away. There are different ways to approach reducing your yearly cost (renting, selling some weeks, etc) those two resorts have very great renting power.
There are also ways to stretch your ownership to get more with what you already have. We have some very knowledgeable people in these forums.
Happy learning!!

 

[okwiater]

In one of my contracts the rescission instructions were to send an email. We followed the instructions and the contract was cancelled.

One good thing I will say about Westin/Marriott is I have not heard any horror stories about rescissions being ignored or challenged when people follow the instructions.

 

[dioxide45]

If you owned your Kierland 2B and Lagunamar prior to August 9, 2022, you are already part of the Abound program (assuming you did not opt out by refusing to pay the annual Abound Club dues). What you did was sell what you owned and purchase Westin FlexOptions. The Westin FlexOptions can also be elected in 20k increments into Abound Club Points. IDK what the election quantity was for your Kierland or your Lagunamar, but it may have been slightly better than what the Westin Flex can elect.

With Westin FlexOptions, yes, you can book at any of the "home" properties at 12 months; but the inventory owned by the Flex isn't going to get you into Kierland in the spring season, if that is when you enjoyed going. IDK what inventory the Flex has at Vail or Beaver Creek, but I am doubtful that it will be much inventory during the peak winter seasons, if that is when you hoped to go. Probably more mud weeks in the Flex (that is me speculating).

The FOMO pitch is that with the Abound program, everyone and their brother is electing Club Points and thus the properties that may otherwise have been available for StarOptions bookings at 8 months out will be gone. Don't fall for it. I'm assuming your Lagunamar and Kierland were eligible to elect Club Points and it sounds like you were not even aware of that ability; thus, you were not removing your VSN VOIs from the StarOptions pool, unless you were being diligent about booking your ownership during the owner preference period in the VSN.

As to your statement that "it is better to use Abound points" because you'll get more days, that is something that depends entirely upon what you are booking. Better than what? Which season? Which size property? Which view? Also, keep in mind that if you are hoping to go to the prime MVC locations during prime time, because you are at the "owner" level and only able to book at 10 months(for less than a 7 night booking -- it is 12 months for 7 nights), the prime reservations will be long gone.

Personally, I'd not pay $15k to give up what you already own and buy Westin FlexOptions. Given what is in the Westin Flex inventory, you may very well have the ability to book those locations where the Flex has some inventory at 8 months with your StarOptions. But if you really don't enjoy going to Kierland in the spring or Lagunamar, then yes, you will have some additional booking location at 12 months in the Westin Flex VOI. BTW - I don't know the maintenance fees, so I cannot comment on any MF comparison between what you had vs the Westin FlexOptions.

Vistana actually actually calls them HomeOptions. Not FlexOptions. Sometimes the terminology can cause confusion.

 

[dioxide45]

IMO more important than the method of delivery is using at least two forms of delivery. Like Certified Mail and First Class (stamp) with Certificate of Mailing. Have read of too reports of undelivered Certified Mail. While one should be able to prove mailing with just one it isn’t worth the stress. If the contract has an email address for rescission, use that as one of the methods.

 

[LeslieDet]

Vistana actually actually calls them HomeOptions. Not FlexOptions. Sometimes the terminology can cause confusion.

I may have the terminology off, but everything I've seen when it is the Westin Flex product, they are referred to as FlexOptions; whereas when you own at a particular location they are HomeOptions. I happen to own at Nanea, and when I was pitched to "upgrade" to Westin Flex, they used the term "FlexOptions". I've actually not heard the Flex VOI referred to as "HomeOptions" before. But all the more reason for folks to actually pay attention to the multiple types of VSN VOIs.

 

[sponger76]

I may have the terminology off, but everything I've seen when it is the Westin Flex product, they are referred to as FlexOptions; whereas when you own at a particular location they are HomeOptions. I happen to own at Nanea, and when I was pitched to "upgrade" to Westin Flex, they used the term "FlexOptions". I've actually not heard the Flex VOI referred to as "HomeOptions" before. But all the more reason for folks to actually pay attention to the multiple types of VSN VOIs.

At least within the actual Vistana online booking system, Westin Flex, Westin Aventuras and Sheraton Flex points are all called HomeOptions when used for a home resort stay 12-8 months in advance. When used for a non-home resort booking (only doable within 8 months, and VOI must be retail or retro'd resale) they are converted to StarOptions.

If it is a non-retro'd resale VOI, home resort bookings within 8 months are still using HomeOptions. When booking using retail or retro'd resale VOIs within 8 months, it becomes a StarOptions reservation, even at a home resort.

Westin Flex home resorts = Westin Vacation Club resorts in the US.

Westin Aventuras home resorts = Westin Vacation Club resorts in Mexico

Sheraton Flex home resorts = Sheraton Vacation Club resorts in the US

 

[LeslieDet]

At least within the actual Vistana online booking system, Westin Flex, Westin Aventuras and Sheraton Flex points are all called HomeOptions when used for a home resort stay 12-8 months in advance. When used for a non-home resort booking (only doable within 8 months, and VOI must be retail or retro'd resale) they are converted to StarOptions.

If it is a non-retro'd resale VOI, home resort bookings within 8 months are still using HomeOptions. When booking using retail or retro'd resale VOIs within 8 months, it becomes a StarOptions reservation, even at a home resort.

Westin Flex home resorts = Westin Vacation Club resorts in the US.

Westin Aventuras home resorts = Westin Vacation Club resorts in Mexico

Sheraton Flex home resorts = Sheraton Vacation Club resorts in the US

I suspect you are not trying to be too general, but the "Westin Flex" doesn't equal all "Westin Vacation Club resorts in the US" and the Sheraton Flex doesn't equal all "Sheraton Vacation Club Resorts in the US.". Not every Westin resort is part of the Westin Flex "home" properties. Yes, the Westin Flex does own one building at Nanea, but there are Nanea HomeOptions (like mine) that are not any part of the "Westin Flex".