New SDO owner

[PassionForTravel]

Just received a letter from the HOA that they were acknowledging receiving the paperwork that I am the new owner of a 2bdr EOY even and to check out starcentral or call them.

Not bad I purchased it on April 29th.

It just so happened that last weekend we were in Phoenix so we took the opportunity to walk around SDO and WKV and liked both properties. While Kierland was much bigger and more spread out we also would have no probled staying at SDO.

Guess its time to get II setup and learn the tricks of using it with a Starwood unit, my only experience has been with Worldmark

Ian

 

[momeason]

Read the stickies in the Starwood forum. Best use is Starwood priority in ii. Can frequently upgrade when Starwood spce banks. Use a 1br deposit to get a 2br.
I also picked up a 2br Hyatt in Sedona for October, 2013 with a 1 br deposit.

I have only owned for 13 months. Sedona will be my first exchange. I have 3 more deposits. Mine came with 2012 free usage. Still have a 2012 deposit on a ongoing search request and two 2013 deposits.

Working out fine so far.

 

[PassionForTravel]

Yup already read the stickies before I bought. The II comment was directed at II differences between using a WM which has some unique properties and using an SDO which is more traditional. Since my only experience with II is for WM that is what I'm used to.

I'm going to be real interested in observing how the Starwood priority works.

Ian

 

[momeason]

I owned a Wyndham II affiliate resort and had a corporate II account.
The one thing I discovered right away was that I needed a multi-year
II membership. I was used to being able to request far in advance. I originally purchased just one year of II after buying my Starwood. I could not do any ongoing requests beyond my II membership expiration. I now purchased a 5 year membership. I did not have this issue with a corporate..paid by Wyndham account..II account.
I sold my Wyndham now. Did you do II exchanges with your Worldmark or stay in your system?

 

[PassionForTravel]

Until last August we had only stayed in the WM system. A few years ago we joined II and couldn't get it to work. Last August we joined II & RCI and this time I figured it out. With II we have two exchanges coming up Marriott Summit Watch and Hyatt Mountain Lodge. With RCI we've gotten HHV Lagoon, Wyndham Kona, Kaanapali Beach Club, and Lawaii Beach Club. So we've been having a good time with exchanging this time around.

Ian