Points Purchase

[kmsmith75]

Hi! I am an owner at Westin Lagunamar & am considering buying more points (or star options as they call them) on the resale market from another owner of the same resort. Does anyone know if the points I buy from them will be added to my current yearly points all in one pot or will I end up with basically 2 different points accounts? Thanks!

 

[VacationForever]

Westin Lagunamar is a voluntary resort, which means that resale weeks do not carry star options with the week when sold. So all that you will get is another deeded week with no star options. If you want star options, buy one of the five mandatory resorts. Westin Kierland and Vistana Villages (Bella and Key West phases only) are the most popular with respect to MF cost per SO. Kierland is more expensive to buy but has lower MF per SO. Vistana Villages (Bella and Key West phases only) is much cheaper and higher MF per SO when compared to Kierland. The other 3 mandatory resorts are much too expensive wrt MF per SO to consider. You can read about it in the sticky under Vistana/Westin sub-forum.

 

[kmsmith75]

Thanks for the response! The sellers listing doesn’t say they are selling a week, it says 44,000 yearly Aventuras points. I currently get 37,000.

 

[dioxide45]

This is assuming that you own a week at Lagunamar and not also just Aventuras HomeOptions

You can possibly use the Aventuras HomeOptions along with your StarOptions to book any of the Mexico resorts at 8 months from checkin. However, those Aventuras HomeOptions can only be used in Mexico. Also note that Lagunamar inventory in Aventuras is somewhat limited. A lot of studio units but larger units are harder to book at certain times of the year with Aventuras HomeOptions.

You are probably better to find a mandatory resale week and then you can combine the StarOptions from the mandatory week with the StarOptions from the existing week. This being if Vistana actually combines your accounts correctly.

 

[kmsmith75]

This is assuming that you own a week at Lagunamar and not also just Aventuras HomeOptions

You can possibly use the Aventuras HomeOptions along with your StarOptions to book any of the Mexico resorts at 8 months from checkin. However, those Aventuras HomeOptions can only be used in Mexico. Also note that Lagunamar inventory in Aventuras is somewhat limited. A lot of studio units but larger units are harder to book at certain times of the year with Aventuras HomeOptions.

You are probably better to find a mandatory resale week and then you can combine the StarOptions from the mandatory week with the StarOptions from the existing week. This being if Vistana actually combines your accounts correctly.

 

[kmsmith75]

I don’t even know how to respond LOL I feel like I don’t speak this time share language I just know I don’t own a week. We get 37,000 points annually. I have booked 1br and studio rooms at Lagunamar for 4 nights on separate occasions in one year. We love it there. The 44,000 points I am interested in buying can be used at the same resorts in Mexico as what I have now (Cancun, Cabo) So I’m wondering if I buy then will they go together with my existing points or be separate.

 

[vacationtime1]

I don’t even know how to respond LOL I feel like I don’t speak this time share language I just know I don’t own a week. We get 37,000 points annually. I have booked 1br and studio rooms at Lagunamar for 4 nights on separate occasions in one year. We love it there. The 44,000 points I am interested in buying can be used at the same resorts in Mexico as what I have now (Cancun, Cabo) So I’m wondering if I buy then will they go together with my existing points or be separate.

So you own 37000 Aventuras points, not a Lagunamar week?

If so, buying 44000 more Aventuras points will work with your existing points. But make sure the ownership of the two blocks of points is absolutely identical -- same owners, middle initials vs. middle names, etc. Otherwise it can be a nightmare to combine them.

 

[dioxide45]

I don’t even know how to respond LOL I feel like I don’t speak this time share language I just know I don’t own a week. We get 37,000 points annually. I have booked 1br and studio rooms at Lagunamar for 4 nights on separate occasions in one year. We love it there. The 44,000 points I am interested in buying can be used at the same resorts in Mexico as what I have now (Cancun, Cabo) So I’m wondering if I buy then will they go together with my existing points or be separate.

Yes, since you own Aventuras points they will work together well for making reservations between 12 and 8 months from check in. It might get a little messy for reservations made less than 8 months since the points you own now will technically be StarOptions but the resale points will still be HomeOptions. Perhaps they can be combined for a single reservation, but not 100% sure.

They key is making sure your ownership is "titled" the same way as @vacationtime1 indicated. Provide the exact same names to them as you have on your current ownership.

 

[kmsmith75]

Yes. Thank you so much!

 

[kmsmith75]

Yes, since you own Aventuras points they will work together well for making reservations between 12 and 8 months from check in. It might get a little messy for reservations made less than 8 months since the points you own now will technically be StarOptions but the resale points will still be HomeOptions. Perhaps they can be combined for a single reservation, but not 100% sure.

They key is making sure your ownership is "titled" the same way as @vacationtime1 indicated. Provide the exact same names to them as you have on your current ownership.

Thank you!