New Tool to Calculate/Compare SO vs CP needed for booking. (Need Feedback)

[DJmonkey]

Hi Everyone,

I built a tool last night to help me figure out if booking with SO or CP are a better option depending on the resort and dates. I can never decide if I should convert my VOI to CP and needed to visualize it. Looking for feedback from you all to decide if I should keep building it out. Currently I only added the Westin Locations to test it out (I can add Sheraton/Marriott if it's worthwhile).

I always figured booking Westin with CP would be a worse value proposition due to the conversion skim but seems like that is not always the case.
This morning I added the ability to add your SO $/point and CP $/point as a metric to tell you what currency gives you the best ROI. For me I just average my cost across my 3 weeks/point packages. But I assume I could add ability to actually enter your weeks and have the blended average calculate for you.

There are tons of threads and spreadsheets and charts on Tug but I wanted to build something interactive. Thanks Ai.
Trying not to get too deep in the weeds on this one but can't use my time this year so looking to book new locations to rent out (usually just book Maui) and want to stretch the points where possible. I could get pretty crazy with adding pics and floor plans and all sorts of other metrics but seems like overkill. So for now just looking for initial feedback and suggestions for now.

Here are some screen shots but if you want to give it a try I hosted it on a temporary link for now here: https://studio--studio-4732018986-94888.us-central1.hosted.app

This was the optional $/point section I added to calculate approximate $ cost:

It defaults to the best currency/Value but you can override it to see points/cost breakdown.

 

[echino]

Only one resort is consistently cheaper when using Club Points compared to StarOptions - Sheraton Kauai Resort. All others are consistently cheaper with StarOptions. Assuming ~$0.85 per Club Point maintenance fees.

 

[Henry M.]

Nice tool!

One comment: When you are clicking the arrows to change months when selecting a date, the arrows move up and down the screen depending on the number of weeks in the month. Also, the names of the days are off from the dates below running on the latest version of Safari and the latest version of macOS.

The text below the bars comparing weekdays/midweek/weekend checkins is cut off.

 

[Henry M.]

Only one resort is consistently cheaper when using Club Points compared to StarOptions - Sheraton Kauai Resort. All others are consistently cheaper with StarOptions. Assuming ~$0.85 per Club Point maintenance fees.

I checked WKORVN next January. The !BR was more expensive using CP, but the 2BR was cheaper. I get 6200 CP for that unit, and it would cost me 6,025 CP to stay Jan 22-29. The 1BR would cost 3900 CP, which equals about 93,159 SP.

 

[echino]

I checked WKORVN next January. The !BR was more expensive using CP, but the 2BR was cheaper. I get 6200 CP for that unit, and it would cost me 6,025 CP to stay Jan 22-29. The 1BR would cost 3900 CP, which equals about 93,159 SP.

That's because your CP cost you ~$0.615 per point if elected. I was comparing to ~$0.85 maintenance fees per trust (non-elected) CP.

 

[DJmonkey]

Nice tool!

One comment: When you are clicking the arrows to change months when selecting a date, the arrows move up and down the screen depending on the number of weeks in the month. Also, the names of the days are off from the dates below running on the latest version of Safari and the latest version of macOS.

The text below the bars comparing weekdays/midweek/weekend checkins is cut off.

I'm trying to get the calendar fixed. Might need to actually go into the code but using my new best friend (Ai) in the meantime to prototype.

 

[DJmonkey]

Only one resort is consistently cheaper when using Club Points compared to StarOptions - Sheraton Kauai Resort. All others are consistently cheaper with StarOptions. Assuming ~$0.85 per Club Point maintenance fees.

My average cost per CP across 3 VOI are about $ 0.495 for the units I would elect (And $ 0.5454 if I convert all of them. I assume everyone's ownership or portfolio is slightly different depending on what they own and the MF. Using .85/CP only applies to non elected club points correct?
I'm just trying to figure out the best currency and was tired of bopping back and forth between vistana and Marriott and their painfully slow websites. This way I can pre price before I check availability or wait list. Also thought it may be handy to compare relative cost for example if it cost $300 more using club points, but they are expiring this year vs SOs that I banked for 2 years. Basically just a comparison shopping tool.

 

[DJmonkey]

I checked WKORVN next January. The !BR was more expensive using CP, but the 2BR was cheaper. I get 6200 CP for that unit, and it would cost me 6,025 CP to stay Jan 22-29. The 1BR would cost 3900 CP, which equals about 93,159 SP.

That's why I built it Trying to arbitrage this crazy system that they continue to convolute.

 

[dioxide45]

That's because your CP cost you ~$0.615 per point if elected. I was comparing to ~$0.85 maintenance fees per trust (non-elected) CP.

I think the primary purpose of the tool would be to determine if it makes sense to elect Club Points for the VOI or keep it as StarOptions to reserve. Thus using the MF/CP of the actual VOIs owned makes more sense than using the MFs for trust points.

 

[Hindsite]

Have you considered whether II is an option that might get you better value than Electing for Club points or using SOs? Per your example, given the volume of Westin Kierland inventory in II, if you wanted a smaller unit II might be better. If you wanted to go May to Aug the getaway prices are very decent and exchange inventory goes right out the Jan 2027, well beyond the SO reservation window start.

I know there are Tuggers who have identified specific sweet spots for using CP vs SO, possibly Riverfront IIRC, so I live in hope that the human collective remains a less complicated way to find out than AI, for now. That said it is essentially a data problem so if you managed to load all the points charts, the election values and the maint fees, it is ideally suited to automation. Data on the election values isn't easy to get for the whole system, though there is a TUG collation, and maint fees are also self reported so not covered totally.

All work that helps understand choices is worthwhile, thanks for doing it.

 

[DJmonkey]

I think the primary purpose of the tool would be to determine if it makes sense to elect Club Points for the VOI or keep it as StarOptions to reserve. Thus using the MF/CP of the actual VOIs owned makes more sense than using the MFs for trust points.

Agreed. My plan (time permitting) was to add ability for user to select their ownership and enter their maintenance fee. From there I can calculate CP election value from resources out there ie. Threads like this '2026 MFs to CPs -- Abound Election Values (MF/CP)' https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/2026-mfs-to-cps-abound-election-values-mf-cp.379843/
Then calculate their $/SO and $/CP automatically to pre populate the tool.
There are a ton of resources and treads on tug but ideally I can get a database built to store all that info and help owners make the best decisions for where they want to go.

 

[BA21]

My average cost per CP across 3 VOI are about $ 0.495 for the units I would elect (And $ 0.5454 if I convert all of them. I assume everyone's ownership or portfolio is slightly different depending on what they own and the MF. Using .85/CP only applies to non elected club points correct?
I'm just trying to figure out the best currency and was tired of bopping back and forth between vistana and Marriott and their painfully slow websites. This way I can pre price before I check availability or wait list. Also thought it may be handy to compare relative cost for example if it cost $300 more using club points, but they are expiring this year vs SOs that I banked for 2 years. Basically just a comparison shopping tool.

That's a really cool tool. I'll use it to calculate my actual costs per trip while comparing the Staroptions vs Club Points costs.

 

[DJmonkey]

Have you considered whether II is an option that might get you better value than Electing for Club points or using SOs? Per your example, given the volume of Westin Kierland inventory in II, if you wanted a smaller unit II might be better. If you wanted to go May to Aug the getaway prices are very decent and exchange inventory goes right out the Jan 2027, well beyond the SO reservation window start.

I know there are Tuggers who have identified specific sweet spots for using CP vs SO, possibly Riverfront IIRC, so I live in hope that the human collective remains a less complicated way to find out than AI, for now. That said it is essentially a data problem so if you managed to load all the points charts, the election values and the maint fees, it is ideally suited to automation. Data on the election values isn't easy to get for the whole system, though there is a TUG collation, and maint fees are also self reported so not covered totally.

All work that helps understand choices is worthwhile, thanks for doing it.

Haven't really given II much thought. Just trying to make the decision to elect or not more transparent based on where users plan on booking. I was suprised to find some good 2 bedroom vs 1bedroom CP redemptions.

 

[dioxide45]

Have you considered whether II is an option that might get you better value than Electing for Club points or using SOs? Per your example, given the volume of Westin Kierland inventory in II, if you wanted a smaller unit II might be better. If you wanted to go May to Aug the getaway prices are very decent and exchange inventory goes right out the Jan 2027, well beyond the SO reservation window start.

That is likely something someone simply has to do after the fact by comparing the cost in the tool to getaway cash costs on II. It might make sense to add the TDI chart information along with the number of points required for an II exchange using HomeOptions, but that type of comparison would only apply to those that own HomeOption based ownerships like Flex, Nanea or WSJ.

 

[dioxide45]

Agreed. My plan (time permitting) was to add ability for user to select their ownership and enter their maintenance fee. From there I can calculate CP election value from resources out there ie. Threads like this '2026 MFs to CPs -- Abound Election Values (MF/CP)' https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/2026-mfs-to-cps-abound-election-values-mf-cp.379843/
Then calculate their $/SO and $/CP automatically to pre populate the tool.
There are a ton of resources and treads on tug but ideally I can get a database built to store all that info and help owners make the best decisions for where they want to go.

There is also this spreadsheet that was created early on showing election values for many VOIs. They don't really change, though the maintenance fees do change.

Vistana_DC_ConversionRates

docs.google.com

 

[DJmonkey]

There is also this spreadsheet that was created early on showing election values for many VOIs. They don't really change, though the maintenance fees do change.

Vistana_DC_ConversionRates

docs.google.com

Thanks for attaching. I recall seeing this awhile back but didn't bother to look for it again. I'll see if I can get the data imported for resorts already seeded in the tool. I can add others later but trying to focus on the Westin, then Sheraton, then maybe...Marriott if it makes sense to do so.

 

[dioxide45]

I see you've added Sheraton, Vistana Beach Club and Harboriside

 

[dansimms]

This is a process I am comfortable continuing to do on my own manually. Often, I can only see availability on the Abound side for the specific need I have.

 

[Hindsite]

This is a process I am comfortable continuing to do on my own manually. Often, I can only see availability on the Abound side for the specific need I have.

Is it just the visibility of inventory that motivates your desision or have you also found that there are sweet spots wher using club points is a more efficient use of ownership than using it in VSN?

 

[GregT]

I think this is a really interesting tool, thank you for creating it and sharing it. I had done something similar, just manually comparing the ratio of StarOptions needed vs. DC Points, and came with ranges of 20X - 40X, the lower numbers favored using Starwood, and the higher favoring using DC points. I like that you implement the actual MF cost, whereas for me, I also factor in which system has more capacity and better reservation option. It still not clear to me how robust the Starwood inventory is in the DC system, but I do see enough sightings to know it is there. But I don't study the systems like I used to.

Thank you again for sharing this, I really do like this tool and perspective!

Best,

Greg

 

[dansimms]

Is it just the visibility of inventory that motivates your desision or have you also found that there are sweet spots wher using club points is a more efficient use of ownership than using it in VSN?

I find that if I can book a Sheraton with my Flex Points, the savings can be considerable vs using the Abound Points. That is why I added a small amount to my portfolio. I converted some into Abound and was reasonably pleased with the exchange rate.

 

[DJmonkey]

I find that if I can book a Sheraton with my Flex Points, the savings can be considerable vs using the Abound Points. That is why I added a small amount to my portfolio. I converted some into Abound and was reasonably pleased with the exchange rate.

Hopefully you can use the tool to price these redemptions ahead of time. I'm about to roll out an updated versions with all the booking windows baked in but still looking for feedback.

 

[DJmonkey]

I think this is a really interesting tool, thank you for creating it and sharing it. I had done something similar, just manually comparing the ratio of StarOptions needed vs. DC Points, and came with ranges of 20X - 40X, the lower numbers favored using Starwood, and the higher favoring using DC points. I like that you implement the actual MF cost, whereas for me, I also factor in which system has more capacity and better reservation option. It still not clear to me how robust the Starwood inventory is in the DC system, but I do see enough sightings to know it is there. But I don't study the systems like I used to.

Thank you again for sharing this, I really do like this tool and perspective!

Best,

Greg

Greg, Thanks for the info. Curious to hear more about your 20x-40x calculation but I think i have all that logic built in. The original goal for the calculator was to identify the redemptions that are cheaper with CP or close in price but I'd be able to book earlier. No clue how I can actually track capacity but I've been using it to pre price then check the actual sites to book. I have a new over the top version in the works. I'll DM it to you to take a look.

 

[DJmonkey]

I see you've added Sheraton, Vistana Beach Club and Harboriside

I have now added all the Marriott resorts as well. Anyone that wants a link to the new version let me know.

 

[DJmonkey]

That's a really cool tool. I'll use it to calculate my actual costs per trip while comparing the Staroptions vs Club Points costs.

It all depends on you portfolio of ownership average cost of SO vs CP but you get the idea. Let me know if you want a link to the version with the Marriott resorts.