Latest offer from Vistana

[DeniseM]

Reading and interpreting complicated rules can be tedious, and for many people, it's just not their cup of tea, so they interpret the rules based on their personal experiences - which can vary widely. Many owners get upgrades and perks, which may be a benefit of their Elite Status, but "perks and upgrades," are not the same as published rules.

One of the benefits of being a TUG member is that we have a lot of experienced owners with years of expertise, and even if rule-reading is not your thing, you can get accurate info. here in the discussion forums.

* I taught high school for 35 years, so I am uniquely qualified to explain the directions to those that don't want to read them. :rofl:

 

[trexmdr]

Reading and interpreting complicated rules can be tedious, and for many people, it's just not their cup of tea, so they interpret the rules based on their personal experiences - which can vary widely. Many owners get upgrades and perks, which may be a benefit of their Elite Status, but "perks and upgrades," are not the same as published rules.

One of the benefits of being a TUG member is that we have a lot of experienced owners with years of expertise, and even if rule-reading is not your thing, you can get accurate info. here in the discussion forums.

* I taught high school for 35 years, so I am uniquely qualified to explain the directions to those that don't want to read them. :rofl:

Ha! My son just graduated this year and is in college. He has never read directions in his life. He is going into maritime transportation in the merchant marines. He will have nothing except reading directions and following rules.

 

[LisaRex]

Here is why I say all StarOptions are not equal. I own a 2BR unit worth 81,000 StarOptions. If I book a 1BR premium unit at my home resort at 12 months out, it costs me 67,100 options, leaving me with 13,900 options remaining. Point is, since I own at this resort, I can book at 12 months out and you can't. My options are certainly worth more than yours, especially if the resort is so popular you rarely can even find a vacancy at 8 months out. And I certainly do use StarOptions to book at my home resort - they are clearly deducted from my account.

Let me first of all correct the SOs assigned to your unit. If you own a 2 bdrm gold+ season at WLR, the premium 1 bdrm side is worth 44,000 SOs. The studio is worth 37,000 SOs. If you combine both sides, that equals 81,000 SOs.

Regarding SOs v. home resort reservations. Although it SEEMS that you are using SOs when you book your home resort reservation during the Home Resort Priority period (8-12 months out for floating owners), because SOs are deducted from your account, you are actually NOT using StarOptions. Your SOs are reduced, yes, but only because you cannot use your week AND convert that week to SOs.

Think of it this way. Let's say you have own a vacation home that is listed on a vacation rental site for $2000 per week, and let's say that it's so high demand if you don't use it, you are 100% certain that someone else will rent it.

Now let's say that you decide to personally use a week at your vacation home. You might think in your head that it "cost" $2000 to stay in your own place, but in reality, no money exchanged hands. You simply lost the ability to collect $2000 in rent that you might use towards a vacation somewhere else. Slight but important distinction.

And why the distinction? Because SO and HRPP (Home Resort Priority period) reservations have important benefits and limitations. HRPP benefits are pretty clear:

• ONLY owners can book in this phase
• Owners who paid for an upgraded season, view, or a specific regime (phase) are guaranteed that season, view and phase (subject to availability)

However, there are important limitations for HRPP reservations as well:

• For 7 nights ONLY
• Arrival on Friday, Saturday or Sunday ONLY
• Once that HRPP window closes, any upgrade you paid for (season, view or phase) goes out the window as well.

Compare that to SO reservations:

• You can book only once the 8 month window opens
• You can are not guaranteed a specific phase at WSJ or HRA.
• You cannot book a specific view (except at WKORV/N using extra SOs)
• You can book any number of nights, arriving on any day of the week
• You can book in any season
• You can book in any type villa

If you haven't read the Ownership Guide on Vistana, it's worth a look.

https://vistana-web-static.s3.amazo.../pdf/guides/OWNERSHIP_GUIDE_SHERATON_CLUB.pdf

 

[Helios]

If you choose a biennial 148,100 HomeOptions at the new Nenea, the price would be just enough to put yours in the network $31,842 +$745, and make you Four StarElite (I’m sorry, I put 3 Star, I meant 4 Star). Four StarElite is huge in our network. One reason is, it gives you the waiting list to get into the really high demanded resorts at the really high demanded seasons. Please let me know either way. Have a nice day.

From: Rex Taylor [mailto:rextaylor@mac.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2016 1:28 PM
To: Alicia Richardson <Alicia.Richardson@vistana.com>
Subject: Re: Vistana Signature Experiences: The Westin Desert Willow Resort Villas, Palm Desert, California

Thank you for your offer but the bonus points and elite 4 are not enough for me to pay 41 or 70K dollars. I can buy resale for hardly anything at Dessert Willow and Nanea will be had for very little in three years. In the meantime the developer will make great returns and the salesforce will make great commissions but I’ll stick with what I have and add with resale.
Thank you

Not sure if you saw the thread about the elite waitlist flaws titled "Elite wait list doesn't work". This feature is really hit or miss and has little value.

Can someone please let me know how to add thread links to posts?

 

[DeniseM]

Can someone please let me know how to add thread links to posts?

Copy the link from your browser and paste it into the message window.

 

[Helios]

Copy the link from your browser and paste it into the message window.

How do you get the link in iPhone/Safari?

 

[DeniseM]

How do you get the link in iPhone/Safari?

Same way - except use your finger:

press on the URL in the browser bar

"copy" will pop up

click copy

paste by pressing on the TUG message box with your finger.

 

[Helios]

Same way - except use your finger:

press on the URL in the browser bar

"copy" will pop up

click copy

paste by pressing on the TUG message box with your finger.

Thanks, so obvious. I should have thought about that. I thought there was a link within the tugbbs page that needed to be copied.

 

[tillamookrn]

Mission Hills Requalify Offer

We just got back from Mission Hills in Palm Springs. I was lured into the "owner update" in which I received no update what-so-ever, just a sales pitch and repeatedly told my resale unit was labelled "unauthorized."

They finally convinced me to at least hear their offer... bottom-line:
They offered to "UPGRADE" my 2 bedroom EOY bronze week @ Mission Hills to a EOY platinum week @ Desert Willow for $15,880. Essentially giving me $7,000 credit from my resale week on the purchase. "For only $100 down and $255 per month." This would give me the full 148,000 Staroptions, and the ability to exchange for Starpoints. We of course politely declined and were on our way. But, it shows the lengths they are willing to go to for a sale these days!

 

[trexmdr]

Beat advice

This is the best advice a person can take from this board.
"We of course politely declined and were on our way. "
Politely decline and be on your way.
Perfect
RT