Points Pooling Across properties

[AJCU]

Hi All,

I tried to look around a little bit and find some info, but was unsuccessful.

We love going to Maui and have stayed at both the original Westin as well as Nanea. With our several trips and interest in going in the future, we are looking to buy some sort of property with Star Options.

My question lies in the high maintenance fees associated with Maui resorts, and I was wondering how pooling properties from several locations works. For instance, if I were to buy a 1 bed every other year property in Hawaii and something in Kierland, how would my points be usable? Is it relatively easy to redeem points from Kierland in Maui, or is it a little difficult because you need to book within 8 months? Also I saw that you had preference at your home property at the 8-12 month mark just for a whole week, and couldn't use two long weekends for instance. Is that true?

Additionally, if I am short points in my Maui property but want to use a 2 bedroom one year, can I pull from Kierland or no? Are the SO pooled, or are they individual and I would need to make two different bookings?

Thank you in advanced!

 

[Mroze]

During your Home-Options Period [12-Months -> 8-Months], you can only book what you own [Season/Size] in 7-Day intervals.
You can pool points from multiple ownerships, however the NON-Home-Preference points [e.g. use Kierland to book Maui] can only book 8-Months prior.
During Star-Options period [8-Months or less] you can book any number of nights [e.g. Weekend 2-Nights].

On the dashboard, the points show under the specific Ownership, however, when booking, you can pull points from multiple ownerships at 8-Months or less.

 

[iftravel]

During your Home-Options Period [12-Months -> 8-Months], you can only book what you own [Season/Size] in 7-Day intervals.
You can pool points from multiple ownerships, however the NON-Home-Preference points [e.g. use Kierland to book Maui] can only book 8-Months prior.
During Star-Options period [8-Months or less] you can book any number of nights [e.g. Weekend 2-Nights].

On the dashboard, the points show under the specific Ownership, however, when booking, you can pull points from multiple ownerships at 8-Months or less.

Between 12 - 8 months, do you have an option to exchange into Nanea through II? Can request first work on a lock off WKV? That may give you two weeks instead of one.

 

[dioxide45]

One caveat may be that Vistana/Marriott Vacations might not combine all your ownerships into a single account. I know there have been struggles with them doing this since the integration of the businesses. This can leave you with silos of StarOptions that may not be easy to combine for a 8-month reservation.

 

[dioxide45]

Between 12 - 8 months, do you have an option to exchange into Nanea through II? Can request first work on a lock off WKV? That may give you two weeks instead of one.

You can place a request really at any time. Even further out than 12 months. You can use each side of the lock off for separate exchanges.

 

[iftravel]

You can place a request really at any time. Even further out than 12 months. You can use each side of the lock off for separate exchanges.

Yeah that’s true. II could also take the deposit 2 years from now giving OP extra flexibility. The inventory of Westin in Hawaii isn’t bad if OP is flexible and he can pay for membership to unlock the private sub forum for “sightings” in II exchanges - only $10 dollars now don’t wait it could go up any time.

 

[alwysonvac]

Hi All,

I tried to look around a little bit and find some info, but was unsuccessful.

We love going to Maui and have stayed at both the original Westin as well as Nanea. With our several trips and interest in going in the future, we are looking to buy some sort of property with Star Options.

My question lies in the high maintenance fees associated with Maui resorts, and I was wondering how pooling properties from several locations works. For instance, if I were to buy a 1 bed every other year property in Hawaii and something in Kierland, how would my points be usable?

You can book your deeded week (exactly what you purchased unit size, type, season) between 12 to 8 months prior to check-in for the designated check-in days.
At mandatory resorts, at 8 months or less, you can use StarOptions to book any Vistana resort, in any unit size/type, in any season, for any number of nights, any checking-in day

NOTE: Maui room placement is based on timestamps. If you make one reservation at 12 months and the other at 8 months and ask the front desk to keep you in the same room, you will be giving up your early timestamp. Here's an example (link).

Is it relatively easy to redeem points from Kierland in Maui, or is it a little difficult because you need to book within 8 months?

It will depend on your travel dates. There will be lots of competition during high demand times (holidays, school breaks, whale season, etc)
During high demand times, you'll want to reserve as soon as the booking window opens (9pm PT / midnight ET)

Also I saw that you had preference at your home property at the 8-12 month mark just for a whole week, and couldn't use two long weekends for instance. Is that true?

Correct. StarOptions don't come into play until 8 months prior to check-in.

Additionally, if I am short points in my Maui property but want to use a 2 bedroom one year, can I pull from Kierland or no? Are the SO pooled, or are they individual and I would need to make two different bookings?

StarOptions bookings open up at 8 months. It's a single bucket based on unused weeks from the current year + any saved StarOptions.
StarOptions point chart (link)

Also take a look at this FAQ sticky post, if you haven't.

Vistana (formerly Starwood) FAQ - if you are new to Timesharing or Vistana start here!

Welcome to the Vistana (formerly Starwood) Forum! :hi: We've put together some of the most common questions to introduce you to the Vistana System. After you've had a chance to look at it, please let us know if you have any other questions! For more detailed info. please click on the...

tugbbs.com

 

[AJCU]

Thanks for all of the responses, you guys are truly the best!

Is there any resource out there to get an idea of availability for SO's? I would love to see what the various resorts have open for say October right now, more just to get a good understanding of how often availability is well, available. Primarily would be interested in the Maui properties and Avon in the winter.

 

[alwysonvac]

Thanks for all of the responses, you guys are truly the best!

Is there any resource out there to get an idea of availability for SO's? I would love to see what the various resorts have open for say October right now, more just to get a good understanding of how often availability is well, available. Primarily would be interested in the Maui properties and Avon in the winter.

October is ~ 4 months away. The StarOptions booking window would have started ~ 4 months earlier.
Vistana's reservation system requires a date so I just performed a broad search (21 nights) for a few dates (see attachment).
Nanea two bedroom and larger and the North/South studios seem to be available (see attachments). There may be some one bedrooms but that requires further drilling down by date.

 

[AJCU]

October is ~ 4 months away. The StarOptions booking window would have started ~ 4 months earlier.
Vistana's reservation system requires a date so I just performed a broad search (21 nights) for a few dates (see attachment).
Nanea two bedroom and larger and the North/South studios seem to be available (see attachments). There may be some one bedrooms but that requires further drilling down by date.

Awesome, and I suppose that implies you could do a booking less than 21 nights during any of those screenshots, correct? For instance, you could do October 22-26th at WKORV because that is within one of your booking windows. Hopefully that makes some sense.

Thanks so much for all the help!

 

[alwysonvac]

Awesome, and I suppose that implies you could do a booking less than 21 nights during any of those screenshots, correct? For instance, you could do October 22-26th at WKORV because that is within one of your booking windows. Hopefully that makes some sense.

Thanks so much for all the help!

Correct

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

We have owned for 9 yrs and have always got into Maui for summer 8 mos out. We book exactly 8 mos.

 

[daviator]

Also worth noting that the Westin properties in Hawaii (and probably elsewhere) do their room allocation priority by reservation date. So the earlier your reservation time stamp, the better the room location you will get.

If you're reserving just three or four months in advance of arrival, you should expect an inferior room location (like an "ocean view" room that is on a low floor and overlooks the restaurant, for example.) This is more upsetting to some folks than others. After all, you're in Maui!