Mandatory Resort for SVN

[sjsharkie]

HYPOTHETICALLY!!! I own an SVR purchased very cheaply resale with no SVN. I now have an opportunity to buy an SVV (in one of the mandatory phases) for a reasonable price resale but for more money and a higher MF than my SVR. is there an appreciable benefit derived from buying mandatory to get into SVN to justify paying the extra to get a mandatory Starwood resort in FLORIDA
If another trading debate is gong to break out I would prefer it only be concerned with SVR voluntary vs SVV mandatory. Thank you.

IMHO, the appreciable benefit depends on your planned usage of the property. The only reason to buy mandatory assuming a negligible purchase price would be to enable trading within the SVN network.

While there are no guarantees, it is far easier to obtain say a summer week at HRA through SVN versus relying on a trade through II. The chances of such a trade will be low through II given that Starwood does not deposit many of these weeks as they are generally few weeks that are unclaimed via SVN and owners are unlikely to deposit in II due to the high MFs and strong rental market.

In your OP, you stated the desire to trade to WSJ, WKORV/N. While not impossible in II, especially if you are flexible with date of travel, my experience is that it is far easier to get the exact day you want in high peak season going through SVN. It is also on average more costly to go this route versus trading through II.

Good luck.

-ryan

 

[lizap]

I miss Jarta's posts too. Hope he is ok...

I do miss jarta at times like these...

Having met both Ken and Tom (and jarta) - I can attest that they are very fine and personable people.

The problem partially resides in the ability (and nuances) of writing correctly and completely on a BBS to get one's intended opinion expressed properly, and differentiate the nuances of tone, intent and sarcasm - and unintended consequences of not conveying issues/opinions correctly.

For me - I wouldn't own SVR even if someone offered it for free - however, I will happily take any WKV Plat+ that someone wants to sell at a bargain (or give away?). Although this has nothing to do with II - I have never used II.

From my limited knowledge of II exchanges (from what I have read here over the last decade) - - it appears to me (as a novice) that SVR and WKV pretty much exchange equally in II given the natural variability of such exchanges.

 

[VacationForever]

You may want to check out sightings conparison on a thread right now. i see no difference between a 1 BR SDO and a 1 BR SVR. Another person using a 1BR SVV appeared to be seeing fewer..

 

[LisaRex]

HYPOTHETICALLY!!! I own an SVR purchased very cheaply resale with no SVN. I now have an opportunity to buy an SVV (in one of the mandatory phases) for a reasonable price resale but for more money and a higher MF than my SVR. is there an appreciable benefit derived from buying mandatory to get into SVN to justify paying the extra to get a mandatory Starwood resort in FLORIDA.

To me, the question is not whether to buy a mandatory resort in FLORIDA but whether to buy a mandatory resort at all. I, personally, would rather own a mandatory resort because I like the ease of using SVN vs. II. To exchange into WKORV via II, I reportedly need to deposit my week up to 2 years in advance. I don't want to plan my vacations that far in advance, nor do I like the uncertainty of waiting for a fill. With SVN, I have a pretty good chance of getting into WKORV and WSJ at 8 months out for all but prime season (winter, holidays, and summer), and I know immediately if I've got the exchange. That works for me.

I've never seen WSJ in II at all, which is a deal killer for voluntary resorts for me, because it's my favorite place in the Starwood network. However, I'm really looking forward to what new resorts they'll bring into the fold because as someone who likes to travel to new places every now and then, SVN overall has gotten pretty stale.

If you don't care about exchanging to WSJ, and/or using II is working well for you, then I don't really see a good reason to spend more money both upfront, in annual MFs, and in annual SVN dues, to purchase a mandatory resort. It has become increasingly harder to get good exchanges in SVN, both because banking has increased competition and because it appears that Starwood may be diverting inventory to the Flex program.

Also, with the Sheraton Flex program in its infancy, there is a chance that all existing Sheraton owners will be invited to join the Flex program, for a fee, similar to what Marriott did after they rolled out their points program. If that is the case, then that might be something to consider, especially since I believe that Starwood is beefing up inventory in the Flex program to make sure that the program is well received. There's nothing that will sell the program faster than Points owners bragging how easy it is to exchange to the resort of their choice.

 

[PamMo]

...is there an appreciable benefit derived from buying mandatory to get into SVN to justify paying the extra to get a mandatory Starwood resort in FLORIDA...

Trading in Interval is much less a sure thing since the economy has improved and Starwood cut back on their huge bulk deposits. Your SVR Cascades unit certainly has value as a trader, but if you read through the other thread on Sheraton/Vistana Flex Points and trading in Interval (www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230898), it looks like trading "up" in Interval is going to get more complicated. (I love how my SDO 1BR's traded for 2BR's in Maui!) Will the new changes have any effect on owners not enrolled in the Flex points program? We don't know yet.

Buying a unit with StarOptions increases your odds of getting what you want (St John and Hawaii, per the OP in this thread) if you have enough StarOptions and are flexible with dates. If you don't plan on staying in your home resort, what is it worth it to you to be able to make an SVN reservation 8 months out? To me, it is definitely worth paying a premium to be able to reserve longer stays, concurrent or consecutive weeks at a resort, and having enough time to book reasonable fights.

If I was looking to buy at SVV, I would want a Platinum 2BR LO, with 95,700 StarOptions.

 

[okwiater]

I own an SVR purchased very cheaply resale with no SVN. I now have an opportunity to buy an SVV (in one of the mandatory phases) for a reasonable price resale but for more money and a higher MF than my SVR. is there an appreciable benefit derived from buying mandatory to get into SVN to justify paying the extra to get a mandatory Starwood resort in FLORIDA

In my mind, this depends on: (1) How often you would like to stay at your home resort vs. trade; (2) If you will trade often, will you mostly trade for other Starwood resorts; and (3) If you will mostly trade into other Starwood resorts, how much is additional flexibility and availability worth to you?

I personally would never own a resort that wasn't part of SVN, simply because we love the Starwood resorts and the availability within SVN is far and away superior to that of II. However, I am a busy professional and my personal situation doesn't necessarily reflect everyone else's. If I had a lot more free time and flexibility, even with its limitations II might suit me fine.

 

[DavidnRobin]

I'm sure all are fine and personable people...that is not in question but it still remains that there is very little nuance to differentiate in the above 2 statements. Although the first was likely made in jest, I personally take exception to the second one. As a single timeshare/SVR owner I don't feel I should be characterized as one of those "looking from the bottom up" smacks a bit of condescention to me.

Now having said that I don't want to see this thread closed because it has derailed yet again from the original question so I am going to get a little more specific and hopefully this time things will stay on track.
HYPOTHETICALLY!!! I own an SVR purchased very cheaply resale with no SVN. I now have an opportunity to buy an SVV (in one of the mandatory phases) for a reasonable price resale but for more money and a higher MF than my SVR. is there an appreciable benefit derived from buying mandatory to get into SVN to justify paying the extra to get a mandatory Starwood resort in FLORIDA
If another trading debate is gong to break out I would prefer it only be concerned with SVR voluntary vs SVV mandatory. Thank you.

I gave you my opinion in post #6.

I have no idea what 'look from top/down - bottom/up' even means.
We buy what we want, can afford, and what fits one's personal needs - as post #6 stated. You are asking a question that only you can answer. i would not own SVR if it were given to me - I would consider a free SVV, but would buy WKV (and have).

whatever you do - don't throw good money after bad.

Added - see... difficult to tell on posts if something is intended as sarcasm or tongue-in-cheek...

 

[grgs]

I have no idea what 'look from top/down - bottom/up' even means.

Amanven wasn't referring to one of your comments, but the way the quotes displayed in her post was confusing.

 

[alexadeparis]

HYPOTHETICALLY!!! I own an SVR purchased very cheaply resale with no SVN. I now have an opportunity to buy an SVV (in one of the mandatory phases) for a reasonable price resale but for more money and a higher MF than my SVR. is there an appreciable benefit derived from buying mandatory to get into SVN to justify paying the extra to get a mandatory Starwood resort in FLORIDA
If another trading debate is gong to break out I would prefer it only be concerned with SVR voluntary vs SVV mandatory. Thank you.

I purchased SVR from the developer 162,000 points EOY, which is actually 2 two bedroom units. So it is enrolled in SVN. Total cost was about $14k. A lot of people would disagree with that move here on TUG, but I did what I wanted.

So you will understand my reasoning, my thought was: when I have my future grandchildren, (i currently have none) we can have, every other year, 2 two bedroom units for my husband and I, my daughter, her future husband and my future grandchildren, along with my nephew (who is like a son to me) and his future wife, to go to Disney with. (These are my underlying weeks.) I do NOT want to pay for an annual trip, every other year for Disney is about right. I own several other systems, and take other trips, also. Additionally, if I ever decided to deposit those units in II, for a little more maintenance fee than buying WKV resale, I have 2 two bedroom units to deposit instead of only one with WKV.


For about $2,000 per use, I have gone so far to:
2012: Westin St John - Spring Break Week - 2 Bedroom SVN 148,100 options
2014: Harborside - a 3 bedroom (full week) and a 2 bedroom (partial week) - my anniversary week - can't remember exact options used, but I did have change.
I would say that so far I have gotten my value out of it. I don't plan on selling it since it is voluntary and options would not transfer, but I will probably will it to my daughter.

I recently also bought a SVV mandatory Bella 95,700 2 Bedroom Lockoff. That MF is a bit higher, but I wanted to be up to 257,700 options EOY. So now I will be at $3,400 per use on those combined points. If my needs change, and I don't want that many options, I will sell that one and keep my developer weeks.

 

[amanven]

I gave you my opinion in post #6.

I have no idea what 'look from top/down - bottom/up' even means.
We buy what we want, can afford, and what fits one's personal needs - as post #6 stated. You are asking a question that only you can answer. i would not own SVR if it were given to me - I would consider a free SVV, but would buy WKV (and have).

whatever you do - don't throw good money after bad.

Added - see... difficult to tell on posts if something is intended as sarcasm or tongue-in-cheek...

Sorry my bad post formatting! The top/down - bottom up quote should have been attributed to poster tomandrobin.

SVV is what I want, can afford and fits my personal needs. I don't consider an SVV throwing good money after bad as my SVR for the last 7 years has provided exactly the 3 attributes you mentioned. An SVV mandatory purchase allows me to continue this and gives me the option of SVN and right now 2 Florida timeshares works for my personal needs.
Thanks to the recent posters who offered an opinion and kept it confined to SVR/SVV Florida and SVN. Most of the cthose omments confirmed that what I was thinking might be the case.

 

[tomandrobin]

As a single timeshare/SVR owner I don't feel I should be characterized as one of those "looking from the bottom up" smacks a bit of condescention to me.

First quote was in jest...

Second was reference to tiers within starwood. I merely referred to a long standing, long running debate/discussion that these types of threads diverge. None of this is about class or caste or worth, but obviously you have to spend more to own certain resorts. And in this discussion, you are buying at the low end of the resale pool, WKV is at the top. Like it or not, both of those items are true facts.

If SVV/SVR/WKV were equal, their respective resale prices would be too. Does that mean that a $1 ebay Starwood week is a bad buy? Of course not, if its what you want to own, then its the right price. I own a lot of Disney points (DVC) and there are plenty people I know who think its foolish to own DVC, when trades are "cheap" to come by. But I like to go and stay when and how I want, not hope that my RCI request comes thru or sit on the RCI site every day looking for weeks.

*If you go back to the beginning, my posts were made in support of buying Mandatory resort, which was answering your question. I was using my WKV as an example because that is what I own and use. Ken decided to chime in and write how WKV is such a waste.....and that is how the mess started.*

I have over 3,800 posts....Go search them and you will see where I stand. Being condescending or elitist is not one of them. I have helped many people buy/sell/trade over the years.....even SVV/SVR/SDO.