New to Starwood

[rjsmom1]

Hi there,

My husband and I have been Wyndham owners for over 10 years now, but we purchased a Starwood off Ebay after spending the week there this summer. I'm very new to the nuances of owning a week based property (as opposed to points), so I have a lot to learn. But my general question is this.... If we bought a 2 bedroom EOY is it possible to get a 1 bedroom every year through the resort? I know I can catch deals in RCI/II and depending on when I deposit could end up getting two weeks out of the one week that I deposit, but not sure if within Starwood that's possible. This is not a lockout, so just curious on my options.

Thanks.

 

[DeniseM]

Hi and welcome to TUG!

No, you will not have usage through Starwood during the off years - you will need to do an exchange.

Also - You can't split a non-lock off, so when you deposit it with an exchange company, you have to deposit the entire 2 bdm.

With II, you will get the Starwood to Starwood priority for exchanges.

With RCI, you will get points (TPU - trading power units) and possibly enough TPU for two low-point exchanges.

 

[rjsmom1]

Thanks so much.

 

[Naniac]

Doesn't it depend on whether the resort is mandatory vs. voluntary?

Hi and welcome to TUG!

No, you will not have usage through Starwood during the off years - you will need to do an exchange.

The OP didn't indicate at which resort the resale was purchased, so if it's a mandatory resort, I'm pretty sure they can bank StarOptions (SO) for use in the off-year, and depending on the seasons they choose, and how many SOs they have, they might be able to get two 1 BRs (or a 1 BR and a studio) out of the deal.

I'm really new to Starwood as well, and I bought a mandatory 2 BR EOY (odd) resale. Now, mine is a lock-off, so maybe that makes a difference, but from what I've experienced, I got a pool of SOs for use in 2015. I didn't use all of my SOs in 2015, so I was able to bank the remaining SOs (for a fee and by the deadline) and can use them for a reservation in 2016 (and maybe 2017 - do banked SOs carry forward one year or two??).

OP - here are the mandatory resorts (which get SOs and can use the internal network). If you bought one of these, you should have options to split your week (SOs):

* Harborside at Atlantis
* Vistana Villages (Bella and Key West phases only)
* Westin St. John (Virgin Grand - Hillside only)
* Westin Ka'anapali & Westin Ka'anapali-North
* Westin Kierland Villas

Also, here's a link to the Starwood FAQs if you have other questions. And DeniseM is a wonderful resource, as well. I've learned a lot from reading her posts.

 

[rjsmom1]

Great info. I purchased at the Sheraton Vistana in Orlando. It's not a lock-off, so I didn't believe that it could be split. The unit I've purchased is a 2BR (non-lockoff) EOY - Odd. I'm good with waiting, just was curious.

 

[DeniseM]

Great info. I purchased at the Sheraton Vistana in Orlando. It's not a lock-off, so I didn't believe that it could be split. The unit I've purchased is a 2BR (non-lockoff) EOY - Odd. I'm good with waiting, just was curious.

You can only split a 2-bdm. lock-off.

Sheraton Vistana VILLAGES or Sheraton Vistana RESORT?

 

[DavidnRobin]

"Do banked SOs carry forward one year or two??"

Two years

 

[DeniseM]

I don't believe the OP has Staroptions, based on this:

I'm very new to the nuances of owning a week based property (as opposed to points), so I have a lot to learn.

If this is a voluntary week, she has to use an exchange company during the off years.

 

[rjsmom1]

Sheraton Vistana Resort - Lakes Villas