Mandatory Resort for SVN

[taterhed]

As a side note - last week I deleted a post from a newbie asking if anyone wanted to give away a WKV 2 bd. Plat week…

Yes, but this

"eoy even large 1 bedroom at xxxxxxxxx worth 30,500 star options"

was posted in bargains last month--not by me. (WKV)

this is not my ad!!!!

I was surprised!

 

[tomandrobin]

Yeah, but...what a waste. You'll find the same, or very very similar, II exchange strength using other voluntary Starwood weeks. I would never use my WKV week in II and intend to always use it for its 148k StarOptions.

That is not true....Not all of them have the same strength in II.

Here is one example on how I used WKV in II. I deposited the small side of my 2 bedroom unit and exchanged for a 2 bedroom l/o in Maui. The other side, I deposited and exchanged for a 2 bedroom at Disney's Beach club Resort.

So for 67k staroptions, I got a 148k staroption trade. The remaining staroptions got me a steal of a room, at a top DVC resort ( I am a big DVC owner and know the value of the resorts).

This is not my normal use of WKV. Almost all most usage has gone in getting rooms at Atlantis and St John.

 

[tomandrobin]

Yes, but this

"eoy even large 1 bedroom at xxxxxxxxx worth 30,500 star options"

was posted in bargains last month--not by me. (WKV)

this is not my ad!!!!

I was surprised!

You can't argue with the law.....

 

[Ken555]

That is not true....Not all of them have the same strength in II.



Here is one example on how I used WKV in II. I deposited the small side of my 2 bedroom unit and exchanged for a 2 bedroom l/o in Maui. The other side, I deposited and exchanged for a 2 bedroom at Disney's Beach club Resort.



So for 67k staroptions, I got a 148k staroption trade. The remaining staroptions got me a steal of a room, at a top DVC resort ( I am a big DVC owner and know the value of the resorts).



This is not my normal use of WKV. Almost all most usage has gone in getting rooms at Atlantis and St John.

Ok, I'm done making generalizations on TUG and will update my footer accordingly.

However, the essence of my point is that a voluntary week will benefit by the II Starwood preference and be very similar to a WKV week (some better, some worse).

BTW, how do you know a SDO 1-bed or other voluntary resort wouldn't pull those same 2-bed units you got via II with your WKV week? Fwiw, I use my SDO to get great resorts all the time (I got a Four Seasons 2-bed just a few days ago for a small SDO 1-bed, and that's arguably the best, if not amongst the top few, timeshares anywhere).


Sent from my iPad

 

[taterhed]

You can't argue with the law.....

Actually, I redacted the info in the post....not Denise.. I'm not the noob with the free timeshare question (this time)

I was just surprised that a free WKV was in bargains. It might still be there.

Of course, that's not a 2br platinum.....

 

[tomandrobin]

BTW, how do you know a SDO 1-bed or other voluntary resort wouldn't pull those same 2-bed units you got via II with your WKV week? Fwiw, I use my SDO to get great resorts all the time (I got a Four Seasons 2-bed just a few days ago for a small SDO 1-bed, and that's arguably the best, if not amongst the top few, timeshares anywhere).

Because in the other forums/sections, we do trade tests to see what resorts/units can pull in II/RCI.

SDO is a good trader, not as good as Kierland. Vistana anything pretty much suck as traders.

 

[Ken555]

Because in the other forums/sections, we do trade tests to see what resorts/units can pull in II/RCI.

SDO is a good trader, not as good as Kierland. Vistana anything pretty much suck as traders.

My experience differs. I checked my trading history and this is what I've been able to get with my SDO and SVR. I would not define this as a bad trader. I think SVR has been much maligned on TUG due to its location and lack of uniqueness. I only gave away my SVR weeks since I wanted SDO instead to lower my MFs, not because I couldn't use the weeks.

SVR 2-bed -> Harborside 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> Harborside 2-bed (yes, I got this twice)
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 1-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WPORV 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 1-bed
SVR 2-bed -> Marriott Timber Lodge 2-bed (ski week)
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORV 1-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORV 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> Club Intrawest Palm Springs 2-bed (December week)

SDO 1-bed -> WKORVN 1-bed
SDO 1-bed -> Marriott's Grand Chateau 2-bed (January week during CES!)
SDO 1-bed -> Four Seasons Aviara 2-bed

So, tell me again that SVR sucks.

* Past performance is not indicative of future results. Your mileage may vary. This posting is solely the opinion of the author and has no basis on anyone else's ability to trade for anything greater than a broom closet with a leaky roof.

 

[tomandrobin]

My experience differs. I checked my trading history and this is what I've been able to get with my SDO and SVR. I would not define this as a bad trader. I think SVR has been much maligned on TUG due to its location and lack of uniqueness. I only gave away my SVR weeks since I wanted SDO instead to lower my MFs, not because I couldn't use the weeks.

SVR 2-bed -> Harborside 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> Harborside 2-bed (yes, I got this twice)
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 1-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WPORV 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 1-bed
SVR 2-bed -> Marriott Timber Lodge 2-bed (ski week)
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORV 1-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORV 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> Club Intrawest Palm Springs 2-bed (December week)

SDO 1-bed -> WKORVN 1-bed
SDO 1-bed -> Marriott's Grand Chateau 2-bed (January week during CES!)
SDO 1-bed -> Four Seasons Aviara 2-bed

So, tell me again that SVR sucks.

* Past performance is not indicative of future results. Your mileage may vary. This posting is solely the opinion of the author and has no basis on anyone else's ability to trade for anything greater than a broom closet with a leaky roof.

I traded my 1 bedroom for 2 bedrooms......

 

[Ken555]

I traded my 1 bedroom for 2 bedrooms......

So? The ability to trade a 1-bed is a different topic than your earlier statement about the poor performance of SVR (many of which are 2-bed units). You said:

Because in the other forums/sections, we do trade tests to see what resorts/units can pull in II/RCI.

SDO is a good trader, not as good as Kierland. Vistana anything pretty much suck as traders.

And, more importantly, the earlier issue was the veracity of your claim that WKV is a better trader than SVR or SVV. Again, in my experience that's simply not the case. I cannot imagine trading via II and getting better results than WKORV, WKORVN, WPORV, Harborside, etc. What better resorts are in II that you would get?

 

[Ken555]

Here is one example on how I used WKV in II. I deposited the small side of my 2 bedroom unit and exchanged for a 2 bedroom l/o in Maui. The other side, I deposited and exchanged for a 2 bedroom at Disney's Beach club Resort.

FWIW, I believe Disney now trades with RCI and has no resorts with II. (Just so any other viewers don't get their hopes up...).

 

[taterhed]

My experience differs. I checked my trading history and this is what I've been able to get with my SDO and SVR. I would not define this as a bad trader. I think SVR has been much maligned on TUG due to its location and lack of uniqueness. I only gave away my SVR weeks since I wanted SDO instead to lower my MFs, not because I couldn't use the weeks.

SVR 2-bed -> Harborside 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> Harborside 2-bed (yes, I got this twice)
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 1-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WPORV 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 1-bed
SVR 2-bed -> Marriott Timber Lodge 2-bed (ski week)
SVR 2-bed -> WKORVN 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORV 1-bed
SVR 2-bed -> WKORV 2-bed
SVR 2-bed -> Club Intrawest Palm Springs 2-bed (December week)

SDO 1-bed -> WKORVN 1-bed
SDO 1-bed -> Marriott's Grand Chateau 2-bed (January week during CES!)
SDO 1-bed -> Four Seasons Aviara 2-bed

So, tell me again that SVR sucks.

* Past performance is not indicative of future results. Your mileage may vary. This posting is solely the opinion of the author and has no basis on anyone else's ability to trade for anything greater than a broom closet with a leaky roof.

Is that broom closet island view or ocean view?

Sent from my Kindle...pls forgive errors and brevity

 

[tomandrobin]

FWIW, I believe Disney now trades with RCI and has no resorts with II. (Just so any other viewers don't get their hopes up...).

I know..........

Again....Big DVC owner, I know rules and the game.

 

[tomandrobin]

And, more importantly, the earlier issue was the veracity of your claim that WKV is a better trader than SVR or SVV. Again, in my experience that's simply not the case. I cannot imagine trading via II and getting better results than WKORV, WKORVN, WPORV, Harborside, etc. What better resorts are in II that you would get?

You are an experienced owner and have gotten great trades. I did not say or suggest those trades were impossible. But I stand by my claim that WKV does trade better then SVV and SVR. What that percentage is, I do not know....but it is a fact. Your trade posts validates what I said....you traded a 2 bedroom for a 1 bedroom. I traded a 1 bedroom units for a 2 bedroom units. If you had used a 1-bedroom unit in your search, you "might" not have see any of those 1-bedroom trades....maybe half.

 

[LisaRex]

All of this begs the question: Why is a particular resort's trading power in II not disclosed to the owners? Is it because trading power is relative to what company deposits it?

My only anecdotal evidence about trading power of WKORV v SVV is when I did some experimenting years ago. WKORV was able to see Four Seasons Aviara and SVV was not. I don't recall if I used the entire 2 bdrm of WKORV or just one side, but I had to use the 2 bdrm of SVV because when I owned them concurrently, I had a fixed 2 bdrm at SVV. (I've since sold that one and exchanged for a 2 bdrm lockoff).

Since I love to see actual data, if other owners are up for an experiment of what resorts see what at a particular day and time, I'd be happy to use my SVV as a guinea pig.

 

[PamMo]

I'd be interested in doing a test. I don't own at Kierland, but can test with WKORVN, HRA, and SDO units. (And could compare with how they trade against my Marriott deposits.)

Last year, I tried to split my WKORVN OF unit to trade back into WKORV/WKORVN for two 2BR units (or a 2BR and 1BR). My studio could only see other studios (there was no point in trading and losing my view). My WKORVN 1BR saw exactly the same 2BR units that both sides of my SDO unit could see. I'm be curious if that would still be true?

 

[tomandrobin]

All of this begs the question: Why is a particular resort's trading power in II not disclosed to the owners? Is it because trading power is relative to what company deposits it?

My only anecdotal evidence about trading power of WKORV v SVV is when I did some experimenting years ago. WKORV was able to see Four Seasons Aviara and SVV was not. I don't recall if I used the entire 2 bdrm of WKORV or just one side, but I had to use the 2 bdrm of SVV because when I owned them concurrently, I had a fixed 2 bdrm at SVV. (I've since sold that one and exchanged for a 2 bdrm lockoff).

Since I love to see actual data, if other owners are up for an experiment of what resorts see what at a particular day and time, I'd be happy to use my SVV as a guinea pig.

Trading power fluctuates....The Sales team is selling you the resort. II/RCI is just a side benefit that most do not even understand or use.

All the work has already been done, you just need to sift through the results. http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=3&order=desc

 

[LisaRex]

I'd be interested in doing a test. I don't own at Kierland, but can test with WKORVN, HRA, and SDO units. (And could compare with how they trade against my Marriott deposits.)

That would be great. Let's decide on a date and time and maybe we could coordinate something. All I have is SVV to view, but at least it's a L/O so I can split it and compare.

If anyone else is interested, let me know.

I'm Eastern time zone and I could do Monday, Tuesday or Thursday evening. I could also do really early on a Friday or Sunday.

 

[LisaRex]

All the work has already been done, you just need to sift through the results. http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=3&order=desc

I know that the owner lists what he sees with what, but I'm looking to see if x (top tier resort) sees something that y (mid or low tier resort) doesn't see. If people are looking at x vs. y and wants to use II extensively, that would be good data for them to have.

 

[PamMo]

It's best to set some parameters for a trade test. What do you want to know? Here's an example of one test to show what units had the power to pull 2BR Lagunamar units in II:

http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185817&highlight=[Sighting+test]

 

[Ken555]

You are an experienced owner and have gotten great trades. I did not say or suggest those trades were impossible. But I stand by my claim that WKV does trade better then SVV and SVR. What that percentage is, I do not know....but it is a fact. Your trade posts validates what I said....you traded a 2 bedroom for a 1 bedroom. I traded a 1 bedroom units for a 2 bedroom units. If you had used a 1-bedroom unit in your search, you "might" not have see any of those 1-bedroom trades....maybe half.

I think you need to review my results again. 8 of the 11 SVR trades were 2-bed for 2-bed. If SVR was such a horrible trader that shouldn't be possible, based on your posts. How do you explain that the majority of my trades were for an equal size to some of the best II resorts, mostly using Starwood priority, and still claim SVR is a bad trader, as compared to WKV?

FWIW, during the years I owned SVR the MF was only just more than half the MF of WKV. And of course, WKV has value while SVR does not when purchasing, so the amortized cost of using WKV via II is higher.

Your "facts" seem to be more like "everyone knows" without any basis other than anecdotal evidence. FWIW, I believed a lot of that until I got my first SVR (thinking I would be happy with just a 1-bed or other trades) and then found out that it trades just great. I think your "facts" need to be reevaluated and adjusted to meet reality.


Sent from my iPad

 

[Sicnarf]

I thought you can only exchange to a bigger unit 60 days before arrival?

 

[PamMo]

I thought you can only exchange to a bigger unit 60 days before arrival?

A lot of us have traded our 1BR's for 2BR's far beyond 60 days. You can't place an ongoing search for a larger unit than what you've deposited, but anything your unit can "see" online in II is bookable. That's why the TUG sightings board is invaluable. Unfortunately, Starwood's bulk deposits are smaller and rarer since they allowed StarOption banking. It used to be much easier to trade up.

 

[amanven]

I would not define this as a bad trader. I think SVR has been much maligned on TUG due to its location and lack of uniqueness. QUOTE]

Thank you Ken555 for saying it!!! My experience with my SVR resale has been similar since 2011 I have traded into WKORV 3 times (twice for 2 bdr and once for a studio). Also managed to trade it for the Marriott Surf Club Aruba not to mention the thoroughly enjoyable usage I got from it anytime I didn't feel like exchanging. It's not a mandatory resort like WKV but I didn't pay in the 5 figures to buy it (got it resale for peanuts), I can live with the MF's and unlike WKV would be happy to use it anytime the mood stirkes me.

No maligning of WKV intended, it is a lovely looking resort but I do not routinely travel to the US southwest and likely never will and I find even the resale prices for WKV more than I want to pay for a resort I would likely almost always never use and therefore need to exchange.

 

[tomandrobin]

I think you need to review my results again. 8 of the 11 SVR trades were 2-bed for 2-bed. If SVR was such a horrible trader that shouldn't be possible, based on your posts. How do you explain that the majority of my trades were for an equal size to some of the best II resorts, mostly using Starwood priority, and still claim SVR is a bad trader, as compared to WKV?

FWIW, during the years I owned SVR the MF was only just more than half the MF of WKV. And of course, WKV has value while SVR does not when purchasing, so the amortized cost of using WKV via II is higher.

Your "facts" seem to be more like "everyone knows" without any basis other than anecdotal evidence. FWIW, I believed a lot of that until I got my first SVR (thinking I would be happy with just a 1-bed or other trades) and then found out that it trades just great. I think your "facts" need to be reevaluated and adjusted to meet reality.

Ken….[What] is up with you?

I never wrote that SDO or SVR were bad traders.

Why do you feel a need to keep trying to justify you week to me? Not once did I reference you or your ownership initially [edited] You are acting like those posters who put down being 5 star elite, yet they have never been 5 star elite. Those of us who are 5 star, love it.....its only those who are not, put it down and try to belittle its value.

Seriously, get a grip. SVR, SDO, SVV.....et al are fine resorts. What I said is WKV has better trading value (fact). WKV is the best jack of all Starwood (fact). You can tout all the things you have done with yours.....bully for you. My usage has been better....bully for me.

I know my reality, I know my experience and I certainly know how II and Starwood system works. One day I hope you get to my level of knowledge and experience.

PS - My timeshare is better then yours, nana-nana-boo-boo. :rofl:

 

[tomandrobin]

No maligning of WKV intended, it is a lovely looking resort but I do not routinely travel to the US southwest and likely never will and I find even the resale prices for WKV more than I want to pay for a resort I would likely almost always never use and therefore need to exchange.

No offense taken......I have never used it in Arizona either.