Newbie Questions

[Gengee]

Hello there,
well the title says it all , I am a newbie, I also only discovered this website after I bought so I am a newbie who has probably not received the best bang for my buck .

Here is my story, I have bought 2 weeks in a 2 bedroom villa/condo in Vistana Resort in Orlando (Vistana Spa Condominium), a place I have never even seen and I believe the weeks are in the Spa wing. The season is High, they are 81000 staroptions a week and 28000 star points a week to trade in if I use that facility. The Reservation system is listed as Vistana Plus, there is nothing in the Exchange Company although I am sure I signed/saw something to do with Interval.

Ok so far I am happy that I have the correct information, then I get a bit lost. I realise I am not as yet part of the SVN, which if I read it correctly allows me to exchange my weeks staroptions value for something elsewhere if its available, earlier than other exchangers. I was lead to believe that the Spa wing would be coming under that system in the not too far distant future, and until then I need to use the Vistana Plus reservation system.

Here is what I would like to do and I hope you can shed some light on the viability of this. I want to exchange my two weeks, weeks 31 and 32 at the Vistana Resort Spa, for something in December in Colorado.

What are my options ? what are the chances of this exchange being viable ? I realise that I won't get a full 2 weeks in Colorado for what I have to offer so what is possible one week and a 4 day thing ?

Any help and advice would be very welcome, I wish I had found this site before I bought but c'est la vie

Regards
George

 

[LisaRex]

I'm afraid I'm not going to be the bearer of good news, George, but welcome aboard.

A trade into a Colorado resort in December is going to be tough to pull off. (If you want Christmas/New Year's week, I'd forget it. It ain't going to happen.) All of December is platinum season and owners paid big bucks to own there during ski season, so few owners give up their units to trade in the first place. They'd do far better financially to rent it out vs. trade.

If you're talking about trading this year, it's probably far too late. The internal SVN trading window opened up at the 8 months out so any units that were available were undoubtedly snagged back in April.

So let's look at 2009. If you want to trade into any place during high season, you have to be ready to call at exactly 8 months out, at 9am EST/EDT when the SVN office opens. If nothing is available, you have to keep calling back and hope that someone else canceled. The trouble with a December reservation is that if you can't get into the resort of your choice, you've missed the 8 month window for another more viable trade. I'd highly recommend making a reservation with either your home resort at 12 months out or another resort at 8 months out, then waiting until April to try and get into Colorado. That way you'll have a vacation even if it's not in your first choice. Remember that you have to use your StarOptions by December 31st or you lose them.

FYI, there's also a deadline for converting to StarPoints (by March 31st of the use year) and Starwood can decline to convert if they don't think they can rent your unit. So don't rely on that as a back-up. In April it will be too late.

Finally, you have to book entire weeks if you want to be able to call ahead 8 months in advance. If you want to book partial weeks (e.g. 4 days), you can't book them until 90 days out.

 

[DeniseM]

Welcome to TUG, George!

For a good over view of how Starwood works, see the Starwood FAQ at the top of the board.

Question - did you buy from the developer (Starwood) or did you buy resale?

 

[LisaRex]

Question - did you buy from the developer (Starwood) or did you buy resale?

I'm assuming from his first paragraph that he bought from the developer.

"...I also only discovered this website after I bought so I am a newbie who has probably not received the best bang for my buck."

Another "I wish I had discovered Tug earlier!" member.

 

[DeniseM]

I can't tell, because he also said this:

I realise I am not as yet part of the SVN,

If he bought from the developer he WOULD be part of the SVN...or is the Spa Section not in the SVN at all?

 

[pointsjunkie]

if someone purchases at the spas in svr from the developer they can't be part of the svn because that section is not in the svn yet. but they probably will be granted entrance when the refurb is over and then they will be in the svn probably in 2010 or 2011. but will resales be invited, we must wait and see......

 

[DeniseM]

Ohhh...so even from the developer the Spa Section isn't in the SVN?

 

[Gengee]

Thank you LisaRex and DeniseM and PointsJunkie,
I knew it would be a struggle to get those weeks in December, and yes I did buy from the developer. I am still a little confused though, if I am not trading through the SVN do I need to put my weeks into, say Interval International, before I could possibly trade to Colorado, or when I call because I speak to someone at Starwood and own a Starwood property do I have a little bit more pull ?
I did read the FAQ, I may have missed some of the things I am looking for especially with regard to the difference between the reservation systems, i.e. between fully fledged SVN membership and the Vistana Plus flavour.

Once again thanks for the help, I will look into trying for Colorado 2009 next April, I may get lucky

Later

George

 

[calgarygary]

Gengee, you stated that you found this website only after you bought but you didn't say when you bought. If by chance you are still in the recision period, rescind - you will get a much better deal than what you paid.

Second, if you can't rescind, I believe that you may be mistaken about the options and points that your unit has. The Spa section of Vistana Resort is not part of SVN so you do not have any options and can not trade within SVN. However, as others have mentioned, it is possible that after renovations, owners in the Spa will be asked to join.

I believe that your only hope for trading will be to put in a request first at Interval International and maybe with time and patience, and the current cost of flights, something might pop up.

 

[LisaRex]

I am still a little confused though, if I am not trading through the SVN do I need to put my weeks into, say Interval International, before I could possibly trade to Colorado, or when I call because I speak to someone at Starwood and own a Starwood property do I have a little bit more pull ?

If you can't trade within SVN, you have no choice but to use II if you want to trade. Starwood owners have a 3 day window in II where only they can see other Starwood units. However, your weeks 31/32 Orlando units are not going to be strong traders so you may not even see Colorado!

Besides, you have two important hurdles if you trade in II.

1) SVN traders get first shot at unused units at 8 months out. If they book all the available units, you'll be out of luck.

2) Starwood decides which weeks it deposits into II. They may not deposit December weeks into II at all.

 

[Gengee]

Once again more thanks,
I guess I will just have to see what next year brings, I am well out of the rescinding period so that is not an option, and still a little bit confused about the Vistana Plus reservations, but when I go home from work next month I will give Starwood a bell and ask them some questions.

Thanks once again,

George

 

[DeniseM]

As I recall - Vistana Plus means you are in a group of 3 (?) timeshares that you can exchange for - they are all on the East Coast. I want to say they are your resort, Sheraton Broadway Plantation, and the Starwood PGA Resort.

Woodie's - am I close?

 

[Ken555]

Here is what I would like to do and I hope you can shed some light on the viability of this. I want to exchange my two weeks, weeks 31 and 32 at the Vistana Resort Spa, for something in December in Colorado.

My story on exchanging into Colorado in December

I'm not (yet) sure of the trading power of Vistana Resort weeks as compared to WMH, but I'd be surprised if they're not somewhat similar.

I just checked Interval and there are some studios available in December 2008, but that's about all at this time. However, I do see a 2 bed unit in the second week of December 2009. This is is exchange for a 1 bed WMH.

Lots of variables involved with your priority in Interval International and there are no guarantees. But, I think your odds are much better in II than SVN getting into Colorado in December.

 

[clsmit]

As I recall - Vistana Plus means you are in a group of 3 (?) timeshares that you can exchange for - they are all on the East Coast. I want to say they are your resort, Sheraton Broadway Plantation, and the Starwood PGA Resort.

Woodie's - am I close?

Vistana Beach, Sheraton PGA, Vistana Fountains, but not Broadway Plantation (wasn't a Vistana property).
Here's a thread from earlier this year on Vistana Plus http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63210

It was discussed when the renovations and offers to join SVN for Fountains started. There might be more threads on it -- It's too early in the morning and I need to go to bed. (Had to get all the packing, laundry, and work done before HARBORSIDE! )

 

[SDKath]

I am pretty sure I was seeing December weeks in II for Sheraton Mt Vista just last week! I think you should quickly open an II account and have them deposit your weeks ASAP. You then have 2 years to make exchanges so you won't lose 2008 use this way. December in CO is easy compared to Feb or March. You will definitely be able to get 1BRs but I am pretty sure I saw 2BR too not too long ago.

Don't give up on 2008. Just deposit them NOW! Ask them to deposit a week that is NOT in the 60 day window though (since you JUST bought) and then the restriction of only being able to travel 60 days out will not be an issue. Vistana shoudl do this for you without a problem.

Yes, after you pay the refurb fees, Spas will undoubtedly be part of SVN and they will offer it to you for free to join. I am guessing not 2009 though. Maybe 2010 it will be ready.... So plan out your 2009 year now too! You can deposit those in II too, or trade into one of the other Vistana sister resorts (and rent it out!). Once you are part of SVN, that whole Vistana Plus Club thingy becomes defunct, just like at Fountains...

Katherine

 

[Denise P]

I have the small 1 bedroom of my Sheraton Vistana Villages 2 bed lock off depostied with II.

Is it showing availability at Sheraton Mountain Vista for most of December (excluding Christmas) in a one bedroom. There are 2 bedroom units available for 5-12 December and 13-20 December.

There are also lots of non Starwood properties coming up with availability too!

 

[LisaRex]

Is it showing availability at Sheraton Mountain Vista for most of December (excluding Christmas) in a one bedroom. There are 2 bedroom units available for 5-12 December and 13-20 December.

Wow!! I'd jump on this, George. Sounds like a great trade.

 

[Gengee]

I am at work, in Nigeria, and I do not yet have my access for the Interval site so unfortunately I cannot even look are those for this year ? I am looking to go in 2009 so hopefully they were for this year and there will be similar availability next year
This is a wonderful site full of extremely helpfull people, thank you all.

Later

George

 

[DeniseM]

I am at work, in Nigeria, and I do not yet have my access for the Interval site so unfortunately I cannot even look are those for this year ? I am looking to go in 2009 so hopefully they were for this year and there will be similar availability next year
This is a wonderful site full of extremely helpfull people, thank you all.

Later

George

Exchanges are often done a year in advance, so don't wait too long.

If you go to the Interval Website, you should be able to set up an Acct. - www.intervalworld.com from anywhere.

To deposit your week, just call owner resources - (888) 986-9637 They can help you with Acct. info. too.

 

[Gengee]

Hello again,
I managed to sign in to the II site and saw some availability will look again when I am home so the wife can decide what she likes best I did not see any Starwood properties but there was what looked like a nice one in Brekenridge I am now fairly hopeful I can get a couple of weeks for December 2009, now I just have to learn how to ski

Thanks again for all the help, it is very much appreciated.

Later

George