New person seeking advice - Vistana / Westin Kierland Villas

[dschumac]

Hi - my wife and I are new to timeshares and are looking for advice from more experienced folks. We travel regularly to Scottsdale for vacations - they are typically 3-4 day trips and are most frequent in May to September time frames. We have stayed at the Westin Kierland and absolutely loved it and hence started looking at the Villas as a potential time share option. We are now evaluating two options:

1) Buy a Gold Plus, 2 bedroom with 81,000 points and use that for 3 or 4 trips each year but booking a single bedroom unit - again typically May to September. We found a broker online who suggested starting with an offer of $1,750 for the timeshare (annual maintenance is also around $1,750 and another $1,000 or so for closing costs)

2) A few people here have helped me see an alternative where we just try to acquire the lowest 37,500 flex options and then look at booking rental options through the Vistana platform for our additional trips. Likely only $600 or so of annual maintenance and then finding rentals for our additional trips out.

We have typically spent $1,200 or so on lodging for each trip and make 3 to 4 trips per summer to Scottsdale so both options seem very beneficial financially. We really aren't looking at this as an investment or rental opportunity - just a plan to stay at a resort we love with great amenities, restaurants, etc. We don't plan on using the points for other resorts as a priority - really like the Kierland and just want to keep coming back. We don't see this as an investment either - at some point we are buying a house in Scottsdale and the timeshare would be used for our kids to visit. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and advice.

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

Seems like a well thought out plan to me, especially as there shouldn't be an issue with late availability for May through September. I think you'll have to factor in housekeeping charges on some of the visits although I'm not 100% sure how they work.

 

[CPNY]

Hi - my wife and I are new to timeshares and are looking for advice from more experienced folks. We travel regularly to Scottsdale for vacations - they are typically 3-4 day trips and are most frequent in May to September time frames. We have stayed at the Westin Kierland and absolutely loved it and hence started looking at the Villas as a potential time share option. We are now evaluating two options:

1) Buy a Gold Plus, 2 bedroom with 81,000 points and use that for 3 or 4 trips each year but booking a single bedroom unit - again typically May to September. We found a broker online who suggested starting with an offer of $1,750 for the timeshare (annual maintenance is also around $1,750 and another $1,000 or so for closing costs)

2) A few people here have helped me see an alternative where we just try to acquire the lowest 37,500 flex options and then look at booking rental options through the Vistana platform for our additional trips. Likely only $600 or so of annual maintenance and then finding rentals for our additional trips out.

We have typically spent $1,200 or so on lodging for each trip and make 3 to 4 trips per summer to Scottsdale so both options seem very beneficial financially. We really aren't looking at this as an investment or rental opportunity - just a plan to stay at a resort we love with great amenities, restaurants, etc. We don't plan on using the points for other resorts as a priority - really like the Kierland and just want to keep coming back. We don't see this as an investment either - at some point we are buying a house in Scottsdale and the timeshare would be used for our kids to visit. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and advice.

I’d look for a less expensive unit with much lower closing costs. LT Transfers charges 300 bucks

 

[The Colorado Kid]

Redweek.com if you haven't yet checked there for Kierland resales....I see this one right now - you can also make an offer to find out if the seller is negotiable:
$1,000 (Maint. Fee: $1,830.00)
2 bedroom Lock Off. Worth 81,000 StarOptions.
Gold season Week#22-27 & 36-49.
Buyer to pay $500 in closing costs

 

[sharr7]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think the 12-8 month home resort priority window only applies to full-week reservations. So if you want to make a few 3-4 day reservations, you're waiting until 8 months like everyone else, which means 81,000 SO resale from any mandatory resort would be just as useful. If you wanted to seek something lower cost/lower MF, just putting it out there.

 

[CPNY]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think the 12-8 month home resort priority window only applies to full-week reservations. So if you want to make a few 3-4 day reservations, you're waiting until 8 months like everyone else, which means 81,000 SO resale from any mandatory resort would be just as useful. If you wanted to seek something lower cost/lower MF, just putting it out there.

That’s a great point..... considering WKV summer dates are generally available from my limited knowledge, possibly owning another resort would be a better option.

 

[CPNY]

@dschumac see the below post. For what you’re trying to do, owning gold season at WKV isn’t ideal.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think the 12-8 month home resort priority window only applies to full-week reservations. So if you want to make a few 3-4 day reservations, you're waiting until 8 months like everyone else, which means 81,000 SO resale from any mandatory resort would be just as useful. If you wanted to seek something lower cost/lower MF, just putting it out there.

 

[Snazzylass]

Definitely research how you can best make your summer reservations, and for partial weeks. May to Sept is low season. I own in AZ (Not Kierland) and it is super easy for me to get bonus time and last minute reservations, or it has been, especially in summer months. Mid week is super easy for me.

 

[needvaca]

I own Platinum season at Kierland and love it. We've been going for 15 years, and it's a special place.

Since you like to go in the summer off-season, you can do it for very cheaply. Summer never books up there, and you can always make a reservation with short notice. Buy the smallest/cheapest mandatory Vistana property you can get. Maybe a 1BR Gold Kierland or 1BR Sheraton Vistana Villages (Bella or Key West). Then use the points to book within the 8 month window.

The big benefit for you will be that a mandatory Vistana unit includes an Interval International membership. II is a travel exchange company that has tons of bargain travel deals. It routinely has summer "Getaway" deals at Westin Kierland and other Scottsdale properties (because it's off-season). I looked now, and you can rent a July or August week in a 1BR at Westin Kierland for $397. That's not a typo. You can also get summer Palm Springs weeks at this price.


Resort Details & Photos
Westin Kierland Villas
Scottsdale , AZ , USA
WKV

Overall Rating

Rating 4.5 out of 5180 Member Ratings
from
$49.57
Platinum Avg. Night

		Interval Member	Gold Member	Platinum Member
Jul 25 2021 - Aug 01 2021 144		$397.00​	$372.00​	$347.00​
Jul 30 2021 - Aug 06 2021 144		$397.00​	$372.00​	$347.00​

 

[controller1]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think the 12-8 month home resort priority window only applies to full-week reservations. So if you want to make a few 3-4 day reservations, you're waiting until 8 months like everyone else, which means 81,000 SO resale from any mandatory resort would be just as useful. If you wanted to seek something lower cost/lower MF, just putting it out there.

The only way someone can make a 12-8 month home resort priority reservation for a period that is not a full week would be through one of the Flex programs.

 

[dschumac]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think the 12-8 month home resort priority window only applies to full-week reservations. So if you want to make a few 3-4 day reservations, you're waiting until 8 months like everyone else, which means 81,000 SO resale from any mandatory resort would be just as useful. If you wanted to seek something lower cost/lower MF, just putting it out there.

Thanks for your feedback and idea!

 

[dschumac]

I own Platinum season at Kierland and love it. We've been going for 15 years, and it's a special place.

Since you like to go in the summer off-season, you can do it for very cheaply. Summer never books up there, and you can always make a reservation with short notice. Buy the smallest/cheapest mandatory Vistana property you can get. Maybe a 1BR Gold Kierland or 1BR Sheraton Vistana Villages (Bella or Key West). Then use the points to book within the 8 month window.

The big benefit for you will be that a mandatory Vistana unit includes an Interval International membership. II is a travel exchange company that has tons of bargain travel deals. It routinely has summer "Getaway" deals at Westin Kierland and other Scottsdale properties (because it's off-season). I looked now, and you can rent a July or August week in a 1BR at Westin Kierland for $397. That's not a typo. You can also get summer Palm Springs weeks at this price.


Resort Details & Photos
Westin Kierland Villas
Scottsdale , AZ , USA
WKV

Overall Rating

Rating 4.5 out of 5180 Member Ratings
from
$49.57
Platinum Avg. Night

		Interval Member	Gold Member	Platinum Member
Jul 25 2021 - Aug 01 2021 144		$397.00​	$372.00​	$347.00​
Jul 30 2021 - Aug 06 2021 144		$397.00​	$372.00​	$347.00​

Wow thanks so much for the advice. That is an amazing rate for a week at the Kierland. That’s less than the cost of one night from my experience at the main Kierland hotel!

 

[CPNY]

Wow thanks so much for the advice. That is an amazing rate for a week at the Kierland. That’s less than the cost of one night from my experience at the main Kierland hotel!

I’d recommend a vistana villages (key west/Bella phase) 2 bedroom (non-LO) worth 81K star options. You’ll save a few hundred on the maint fee that the WKV gold plus lockout for the same 81K SO.

 

[Erinaadyn]

I’d recommend a vistana villages (key west/Bella phase) 2 bedroom (non-LO) worth 81K star options. You’ll save a few hundred on the maint fee that the WKV gold plus lockout for the same 81K SO.

I’d recommend a vistana villages (key west/Bella phase) 2 bedroom (non-LO) worth 81K star options. You’ll save a few hundred on the maint fee that the WKV gold plus lockout for the same 81K SO.

Curious why you suggest 2br vs 2 br lock off?

 

[Erinaadyn]

I’d recommend a vistana villages (key west/Bella phase) 2 bedroom (non-LO) worth 81K star options. You’ll save a few hundred on the maint fee that the WKV gold plus lockout for the same 81K SO.

I’d recommend a vistana villages (key west/Bella phase) 2 bedroom (non-LO) worth 81K star options. You’ll save a few hundred on the maint fee that the WKV gold plus lockout for the same 81K SO.

Curious why you suggest 2br vs 2 br lock off?

 

[sharr7]

I believe the maint. fees are higher for lock offs, while you get the same 81,000 SO.

 

[daviator]

Curious why you suggest 2br vs 2 br lock off?

What @sharr7 said.

If you actually planned to use the Vistana Villages unit, a lockoff might be more desirable. But if you're only buying it for the SO to use elsewhere, the non-lockoff has lower MFs for the same SO.

 

[CPNY]

Curious why you suggest 2br vs 2 br lock off?

When looking for a SVV resale, just looking at star option amount can throw you off. I’ve spoken to people who thought they were getting the right kind of 2 bedroom because it had 81K star options. I nearly bought one. The Bella platinum weeks don’t match the star options chart. I was about to sign a contract for a lockout in the Bella phase worth 81k SO. Luckily I was told by people here that what I was looking at was actually a gold plus lockout and not a platinum standard 2 bedroom. Brokers are confused as to what they are selling or misleading in general. I’m glad I caught it early.

2 bedroom standard platinum = 81K star options
2 bedroom lockout gold plus = 81K Star Options

the lockout maint fee is 300-400 more than the 2 bedroom standard. So it’s always best to look for a 2 bedroom standard worth 81K star options.

if one wanted a lockout at SVV and it’s a platinum week they will get 95,700 star options. Some like lockouts so they can deposit the smaller side in interval and still have star options left for a VSN booking. The MF/SO ratio is higher for the lockout so you’re spending more per star option.

 

[mdditt2000]

The only way someone can make a 12-8 month home resort priority reservation for a period that is not a full week would be through one of the Flex programs.

Correct. Nobody told me this when I purchased at Kierland. It’s kind of a problem. However I have been lucky booking Kierland at 8 months


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[mdditt2000]

When looking for a SVV resale, just looking at star option amount can throw you off. I’ve spoken to people who thought they were getting the right kind of 2 bedroom because it had 81K star options. I nearly bought one. The Bella platinum weeks don’t match the star options chart. I was about to sign a contract for a lockout in the Bella phase worth 81k SO. Luckily I was told by people here that what I was looking at was actually a gold plus lockout and not a platinum standard 2 bedroom. Brokers are confused as to what they are selling or misleading in general. I’m glad I caught it early.

2 bedroom standard platinum = 81K star options
2 bedroom lockout gold plus = 81K Star Options

the lockout maint fee is 300-400 more than the 2 bedroom standard. So it’s always best to look for a 2 bedroom standard worth 81K star options.

if one wanted a lockout at SVV and it’s a platinum week they will get 95,700 star options. Some like lockouts so they can deposit the smaller side in interval and still have star options left for a VSN booking. The MF/SO ratio is higher for the lockout so you’re spending more per star option.

I think a 2 bedroom plat is 144k at Kierland. Am I wrong?


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[mdditt2000]

Redweek.com if you haven't yet checked there for Kierland resales....I see this one right now - you can also make an offer to find out if the seller is negotiable:
$1,000 (Maint. Fee: $1,830.00)
2 bedroom Lock Off. Worth 81,000 StarOptions.
Gold season Week#22-27 & 36-49.
Buyer to pay $500 in closing costs

This is a reasonable deal. It’s hot but I like Kierland in June


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[CPNY]

This is a reasonable deal. It’s hot but I like Kierland in June


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You can book kierland in June without that ownership. I’d stay away from non platinum weeks in most vistana resorts unless you only want to go to that resort at that time. I wouldn’t recommend owning Arizona in the summer.

 

[CPNY]

I think a 2 bedroom plat is 144k at Kierland. Am I wrong?


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148K

 

[mdditt2000]

148K

Sorry my mistake - yes 148k


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[DavidnRobin]

Sorry my mistake - yes 148k


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148,100 SOs


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