[merged]Westin Desert Willow (Palm Desert, Calif) opening March 2010

[Fredm]

I agree the getaway prices are good, but I traded a small one bedroom SDO unit to get a 2 bedroom unit. Both sides of the Westin units were around $300+, so I came out close with my trade even with the exchange fee.

Glorian

Very cool trade!

 

[tropical1]

Fredm,thanks for the pictures. My daughter wanted to take her chances and reserve for her spring break in the middle of March so I feel a little better about it now after seeing the photos!

 

[Fredm]

Fredm,thanks for the pictures. My daughter wanted to take her chances and reserve for her spring break in the middle of March so I feel a little better about it now after seeing the photos!

Progress really does look good.
Most of what remains is pool plaster and decking, and hard surfaces around the clubhouse. Streets are paved, except the Clubhouse perimeter road.

 

[Cathyb]

Nice pictures -- surprised they went to three stories -- feel sorry for the people that get the middle

 

[SDKath]

I kinda like 2nd floor. View without too many stairs. Are there elevators?

The landscaping still looks like a LOT of work but with another 6 months of worktime, I bet they will have it done. I'll be there in Nov so it will be interesting to see their progress.

Katherine

 

[thomasro3]

:rofl: Oversight my ***.

... I wonder if they will eventually be desperate enough to allow us WMH owners to upgrade into WDW. I would seriously consider a purchase then.
....
Katherine

Yes... they do allow upgrades in certain circumstances. Depending on your unit size or use level you may be allowed to upgrade from WMH to Desert Willows. I should probably clarify this...according to the sales office at Desert Willows. It's one of those case by case examples.

 

[Ken555]

Very nice. Thanks for posting the pics, Fred! Much appreciated.

 

[nodge]

Westin Desert Willow Villas Now Bookable on SPG.com

Hi Gang,

According to this web site, the Westin Desert Willow is now accepting reservations for arrivals on or after February 12, 2010.

I just checked for availability during late March, and a large one bedroom with full kitchen (less an oven of course) is $189/night (AARP rate) or $249/night (AAA Rate).

For comparison purposes, the cheapest rates for a large one bedroom at the Westin Mission Hills Villas (with full oven) for that same time is $219/night (AAA Rate. The AARP rate isn’t currently available at WMHV)

Given the fact that the WDW is just coming online, it may be a good candidate for scoring one of those "SVOWN50" rates, especially during the "soft opening" phase.

FYI,

-nodge

The top two "company news" stories on mystarcentral are still "Starwood Vacation Ownership Announces Plans for Third Maui Resort," a project that was placed on indefinite hold over a year ago, and "Starwood Vacation Ownership Prepares for the Grand Opening of the Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort in Cancun," a resort that actually opened over two years ago, so it may take a little time before news of WDW's actual opening date trickles into MSC. -n

 

[Fredm]

Stopped by WDW, Sunday.

All looks ready to the naked eye.

 

[thomasro3]

Hi Gang,

According to this web site, the Westin Desert Willow is now accepting reservations for arrivals on or after February 12, 2010.

I just checked for availability during late March, and a large one bedroom with full kitchen (less an oven of course) is $189/night (AARP rate) or $249/night (AAA Rate).

For comparison purposes, the cheapest rates for a large one bedroom at the Westin Mission Hills Villas (with full oven) for that same time is $219/night (AAA Rate. The AARP rate isn’t currently available at WMHV)

Given the fact that the WDW is just coming online, it may be a good candidate for scoring one of those "SVOWN50" rates, especially during the "soft opening" phase.

FYI,

-nodge

The top two "company news" stories on mystarcentral are still "Starwood Vacation Ownership Announces Plans for Third Maui Resort," a project that was placed on indefinite hold over a year ago, and "Starwood Vacation Ownership Prepares for the Grand Opening of the Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort in Cancun," a resort that actually opened over two years ago, so it may take a little time before news of WDW's actual opening date trickles into MSC. -n

I noticed that last week sometime when looking to make a reservation in Palm Springs...I called to see about staying a week with Family instead of going to Kauai that week but was told March for the Owners which has long since been reserved and the usual separate inventories etc. Probably reserved for just hotel stays and sales pitches. Perhaps a "Soft" Openning prior to the owners arriving?

 

[arosa1016]

Westin Desert Willow Villas

Does anyone have a reservation for the new Desert Willow. I have heard that it is opening on February 10th. Would love to know if it has opened and the lastest pictures of the resort. I was very lucky 2 weeks ago and got an exchange into Desert Willow for April. Would like some observations as where to request a room and what is your opinions of the resort.

 

[hefleycatz]

We are thinking about visiting later this year. Please give a report after your stay. It looks beautiful.

 

[DeniseM]

You've probably seen their webpage already?

A Tugger visited in Nov. and here are some construction pictures.

Here is another thread.

If you use the "search this forum" button - you will find a few more threads.

 

[smsavage]

We're also headed there in April. I called them this evening and was informed that they opened for business yesterday.

 

[walumb01]

Whats the latest pricing on the units

 

[jarta]

All the units at Desert Willow are being sold as 2-br units. No 1-br units are being released into sales inventory.

The pricing is similar to Lagunamar. I got the specific pricing when I was at Mission Hills last month, but I threw it away.

Unless you have a week or two to retro that were bought on the secondary market, it really doesn't make sense to buy directly from the developer. As I remember, an EY or an OY 2-br Platinum unit will get you the right to retro a week ($21K). Buying an EY to go with an OY for $42-43K (so you could go to Desert Willow every year) would get you the right to retro 2 weeks elsewhere.

Lots of Starpoints are included in the deals and there are programs to buy 80K Starpoints a year for up to 5 years at a discounted price.

But, why do any of that unless you are looking to get to 5* Elite? Getting to 5* Elite takes a lot of downstroke money, lots of vacation time, lots of vacation travel expense plus the ability to pay 5-6 MF each year - and they have been going up 10% each year lately.

Only buy what you can afford and will use at a place you want to go to in the season you want to go there. That's really all you will own if Starwood's SVN internal trading system goes south, if Starwood pulls out or is booted out of TS management at a resort you own or if external trading sytems wither and disappear. ... eom

 

[nodge]

Here is SVO's press release that was issued today announcing the opening of the Westin Desert Willow.

I especially like the part where it says that "Starwood Vacation Ownership is an award-winning company . . . .." Do you think they're referring to this award or this award?

-nodge

 

[James1975NY]

Here is SVO's press release that was issued today announcing the opening of the Westin Desert Willow.

I especially like the part where it says that "Starwood Vacation Ownership is an award-winning company . . . .." Do you think they're referring to this award or this award?

-nodge

I dont think they are referring to either of them.

 

[nodge]

I dont think they are referring to either of them.

Well then I hope it's not an award in math because the press release also says that "Starwood Vacation Ownership . . . [has] . . . more than 20 resorts in some of the most sought-after vacation destinations in the world." (emphasis added).

MSC provides the following handy numbered list of SVO resorts:

1. Sheraton Broadway Plantation
2. Sheraton Desert Oasis
3. Sheraton Mountain Vista
4. Sheraton PGA Vacation Resort
5. Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas
6. Sheraton Vistana Resort
7. Sheraton Vistana Villages
8. The Westin Desert Willow Villas
9. The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas
10. The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas North
11. The Westin Kierland Villas
12. The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort
13. The Westin Mission HIlls Resort & Villas
14. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
15. The Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas
16. The Westin St. John Resort & Villas
17. Harborside Resort at Atlantis
18. Lakeside Terrace
19. Villas of Cave Creek
20. Vistana's Beach Club

-nodge

I'm thinking that the guy that generated this list graduated from Ohio State. . . er . . . THE Ohio State.

PS. Oh wait, SVO must be counting its fractional properties that we lowly timeshare owners have no access to in that "more than 20" number. So SVO can keep its math award after all and maybe even earn a new one in deceptive writing.

 

[tomandrobin]

Oh wait, SVO must be counting its fractional properties that we lowly timeshare owners have no access to in that "more than 20" number. So SVO can keep its math award after all and maybe even earn a new one in deceptive writing.

I think they are using fuzzy math. For example WSJ is actually two resorts - Virgin Gorda & Bay Vista.

 

[nodge]

I think they are using fuzzy math. For example WSJ is actually two resorts - Virgin Gorda & Bay Vista.

Well if that's the case, no wonder SVO can't give a definitive number of how many resorts it manages. Actually, I would think that that would be a basic requirement of managing resorts . . . . knowing how many of them you are actually managing, but that's just me.

Good thing no one asked SVO how many corporate VP's it has.

-nodge

 

[ocdb8r]

I think they are using fuzzy math. For example WSJ is actually two resorts - Virgin Gorda & Bay Vista.

Shoot...why not count every phase as a different resort....just think of how many they can rack up for Vistana in Orlando!

 

[DanCali]

19. Villas of Cave Creek

I didn't even know this thing existed until I saw this ebay auction a couple of days ago...

$28 for a 2BR 1-52 Float... great job in preserving value for owners, Starwood

 

[DeniseM]

VCC was a non-SVN Starwood TS until a year or so ago. Owners were invited to join the SVN.

 

[arosa1016]

Is there anyone that is going to stay at Desert Willow before April that can update us on the condos. I see that Starwood sent out a press release showing the soft opening. Would really like a review prior to our reservation.