- Joined
- Apr 30, 2016
- Messages
- 3,185
- Reaction score
- 3,024
- Resorts Owned
- SVRx2, SDO, WKORV-Nx2, Westin Flex, HGVC (BLVD)
As a Vistana owner for over a decade, I was pretty sceptical of the value of Abound points relative to StarOptions. I did find my first use case where it made sense for me to convert some of our usage into Abound points rather than use SO, so I've now made my first "real" Abound reservation. I had considered trying II, but it's rare that you see a 2BR available for exchangee in II - and our SVR weeks are 2BR units - so we can't split.
The methodology I used is pretty simple, but it does take a little advance planning. I'll likely have to make a second reservation as only part of what I wanted was available at the 12 month mark (likely because the following week is not yet released in Abound).
Target resort: SDO (Christmas and New Year's weeks 2026)
Note: we own a Plat+ week at SDO, but I used those SO to make a reservation at WKORV/N for Spring break in March - it was a better value using those SO there than converting to Abound.
Abound Source/Elected Weeks: SVRx2 + 500 points from a Owner's Update last summer. Each SVR week is 2600 Abound points (81000 SO/week).
Total available Abound points: 5700
MF Cost Per Abound Point: $0.53 (note: this excludes the 500 "free" owner update incentive points - otherwise this cost would be even less)
MF Cost Per SO: $0.017
For the 8 nights that I've booked so far, the required points in Abound is 3300 ($1749).
The equivalent SO would have been 177,725 points ($3021)
Alternatives would have been to stay at WKV, which we love (5625 Abound or $2981) or Marriott's Canyon Villas (4325 Abound or $2292).
While we do like WKV and could have borrowed Abound points from 2027, the SDO setup works just fine for us and our kids. We prefer Scottsdale - so the Canyon Villas are out as it's not well situated.
The process was pretty easy, but I would have preferred to be able to book all 15 days rather than having to wait and see if I can piece together an additional 7 days when it opens up next week. Points-wise it makes sense to also book the following week using Abound if staying at SDO. If that doesn't work I'll have to take a risk and look at booking via SO at the 8 month mark.
Hopefully this helps those who are thinking of taking the plunge and getting into the Abound game.
The methodology I used is pretty simple, but it does take a little advance planning. I'll likely have to make a second reservation as only part of what I wanted was available at the 12 month mark (likely because the following week is not yet released in Abound).
Target resort: SDO (Christmas and New Year's weeks 2026)
Note: we own a Plat+ week at SDO, but I used those SO to make a reservation at WKORV/N for Spring break in March - it was a better value using those SO there than converting to Abound.
Abound Source/Elected Weeks: SVRx2 + 500 points from a Owner's Update last summer. Each SVR week is 2600 Abound points (81000 SO/week).
Total available Abound points: 5700
MF Cost Per Abound Point: $0.53 (note: this excludes the 500 "free" owner update incentive points - otherwise this cost would be even less)
MF Cost Per SO: $0.017
For the 8 nights that I've booked so far, the required points in Abound is 3300 ($1749).
The equivalent SO would have been 177,725 points ($3021)
Alternatives would have been to stay at WKV, which we love (5625 Abound or $2981) or Marriott's Canyon Villas (4325 Abound or $2292).
While we do like WKV and could have borrowed Abound points from 2027, the SDO setup works just fine for us and our kids. We prefer Scottsdale - so the Canyon Villas are out as it's not well situated.
The process was pretty easy, but I would have preferred to be able to book all 15 days rather than having to wait and see if I can piece together an additional 7 days when it opens up next week. Points-wise it makes sense to also book the following week using Abound if staying at SDO. If that doesn't work I'll have to take a risk and look at booking via SO at the 8 month mark.
Hopefully this helps those who are thinking of taking the plunge and getting into the Abound game.
