Rescinded Vistana Aventura contract, now confused about resales

[mmb99]

I just emailed a cancellation of a contract I purchased with Vistana Aventura at The Westin Resort & Spa in Cancun, and am now researching resales of timeshares. However, I'm a bit confused by what's being offered out there.

The plan I purchased from the developer allows me 44,000 Options each year, with my home resort considered The Westin Lagunamar (this is up the road from The Westin Resort & Spa, which is not technically considered a "home" resort but does sales for Lagunamar in that location). The part of the plan that appealed to me most was the flexibility of using "options" however I choose -- being able to go to any resort/hotel in the Vistana Signatures Network whenever I want, and choosing any size room I want, with the understanding that the options currency fluctuates in accordance to demand.

But when I search for resales of timeshares at Westin Lagunamar, the only packages offered are for specific rooms (studio, 1BR, 2BR, etc), some for even or odd years, or even for specific weeks. Are these an older system of timeshares at Lagunamar that I wouldn't be able to use as "Options" anytime or anywhere I want?

Is there a way to search for resales of the points/options system I bought through Vistana Aventura? I'd like to just be able to travel anywhere I'd like, whenever I'd like. Also, does buying such a plan on the resale market take away the opportunity to convert to Marriott Abound Club Points (less important to me) or to the Interval International exchange (more important)?

Thanks for any help you can provide to a flustered and overwhelmed timeshare newbie!

 

[dioxide45]

Vistana can be a confusing system with resales. Anything bought directly through Vistana comes with StarOptions that can also be used at 8 months for reservations at other resorts in the Vistana system (and also Abound Club Points for Marriott properties). Westin Lagunamar is what they consider a voluntary resort. This means that when you purchase it resale, it doesn't get the flexibility of StarOptions to make 88 month reservaitons within VSN. You can only use it to book your home resort or exchange to other properties using Interval International. The same is true with resale Westin Aventuras. You can only use resale HomeOptions to make reservations at the three Westin Aventuras properies (Lagunamar, Cancun Resort or Los Cabo).

What you want to look for is a mandatory resort on the resale market. These are in the stickies at the top of the forum. These resorts do come with StarOptions on the resale market and those StarOptions can be used within the VSN system at 8 months. With what you probably contracted for in Mexico, you can probably buy a Platinum Plus Westin Kierland Villas two bedroom that comes with 148,100 StarOptions. However, if you buy anything resale, you can't elect Abound Club Points with it.

 

[echino]

If you want to stay and the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun, buy a resale week there. This is the most cost effective way. You will only be able to stay at your home resort (Lagunamar), and only for a full week in the season you bought.

Do not buy Aventura resale. It has a very high maintenance fee compared to Lagunamar week.

If you want to stay at other Vistana resort, buy a resale week at a "mandatory" resort that comes with StarOptions. The lowest maintenance fees per StarOption is at Westin Kierland Villas in the high season. Then you will be able to use StarOptions to book any Vistana resort at 8 months before check in. Some peak season dates at high demand resorts may be difficult to book with StarOptions or unavailable.

 

[vacationtime1]

Realize that 44000 Adventuras options will only get you seven days in a one bedroom unit at Lagunamar during low season (or 8 days in a studio during low season, or 3-4 days in a one bedroom during high season, etc.). I believe they sell these inadequate amounts of points to get people committed to timesharing so they can try to sell them more points on subsequent visits (when they realize that what they bought doesn't get them the vacations they anticipated).

Which is why you are being encouraged to look at resale units having more points -- such as Kierland (but buy high season only and buy resale only).

 

[mmb99]

Thank you all!

Still a bit confused. I just checked resales of Westin Kierland Villas timeshares on RedWeek but they're also listed as specific room types (studio, 1BR, 2BR), some with specific usage weeks or years. Should I assume that bigger spaces (like the 2 BR) offered with a "floating high season week" are roughly equivalent to more Options? How can I tell which spaces or listings offer more Options? (I'm not registered with RedWeek yet, so maybe I'm not able to see them.)

I paid over $17,000 for the 44,000 Options plan with Aventuras. I can surely get the same Options/Interval International/Club Abound flexibility by buying resale, right? The ability to travel anywhere at anytime is what's most important to me - I don't want to return to the same resort over and over.

 

[byeloe]

Thank you all!

Still a bit confused. I just checked resales of Westin Kierland Villas timeshares on RedWeek but they're also listed as specific room types (studio, 1BR, 2BR), some with specific usage weeks or years. Should I assume that bigger spaces (like the 2 BR) offered with a "floating high season week" are roughly equivalent to more Options? How can I tell which spaces or listings offer more Options? (I'm not registered with RedWeek yet, so maybe I'm not able to see them.)

I paid over $17,000 for the 44,000 Options plan with Aventuras. I can surely get the same Options/Interval International/Club Abound flexibility by buying resale, right? The ability to travel anywhere at anytime is what's most important to me - I don't want to return to the same resort over and over.

You will not get Abound access with any resale purchase.

For $17000 or less, you can get a resale 2BD from Westin Kierland. The listings should mention the number of options. Generally the 2BD PLATINUM/HIGH season units are the most expensive ones listed on Redweek

 

[4TimeAway]

I find Redweek to be hit and miss.

I feel I found a better option Diane at: https://www.timesharebrokersales.com/about-us/
She can be a bit NY pushy, but she can quickly bring you up to speed with more accurate information. Her listings were good and I was able to get one that fell out of resale escrow for what I feel was good price.

Please be certain of what you are buying, why you are buying it and be comfortable before you jump in!

Also, let us know how the hunt goes! I might have to buy another like what you're buying.

 

[Captron]

First, congratulations on learning a valuable lesson before it was too late. Secondly, I want to confirm one thing. Please make sure you followed the directions for canceling the contract EXACTLY as stated in the contract. Most would also say, if you have to use mail, to get registered mail with receipt so you have proof it was delivered.

I concur with the advice given above. Find a mandatory resort with a lot more than 44k options (148k will give you the most flexibility) for less than $17k and smile!

 

[dioxide45]

Westin Kierland Villas and all resorts will be tied to a specific week and unit. Redweek may say "High Season", but you really need to find out the VSN season. Westin Kierland Villas will tend to sell resale in the $15,000 range. Westin Kierland Villas is a mandatory resale and the Platinum Plus 2BR units come with 148,100 StarOptions. I don't know the exact number, but maintenance fees on Westin Kierland Villas will be under $2000. Probably more than what you had with the Westin Aventuras, but you get way more StarOptions.

 

[mmb99]

Wow, thank you all for this helpful information!

I just dropped off a certified letter of cancellation with a return receipt at the post office as an extra precaution after sending the cancellation email.

That is so strange that my sales rep never mentioned that all resorts are tied to a
week and season. It truly all seemed to be a flexible options-based plan that only listed a home resort to be given priority for whenever I want to book there. And I couldn’t find any mention of a week or season tied to my timeshare of Westin Lagunamar in any part of my contract.

It does sound like Westin Kierland has much higher maintenance fees - mine was about $1100 total for the first year. I don’t know that I need THAT many points for now, I’m looking only to be able to travel 5-10 days a year, and I don’t need super fancy furnishings. Just flexibility in locale is all I’m looking for! I wouldn’t mind an apples to apples set of 44K options plan at Kierland for a much cheaper price.

Very grateful for all your advice, I’ll keep researching!

 

[echino]

This is the number of StarOptions you need to book a high season week at the Westin Lagunamar:

Studio: 67,100
One bedroom: 81,000
Two bedroom: 148,100

I would recommend buying at least 81,000 to be able to book a high season week in one bedroom.

If you only want to stay at Westin Lagunamar, buy a high season one bedroom week there. It does not give you any StarOptions, just a week at Lagunamar only. Maintenance fees are $1,254 in 2024.

If you want to stay at other Vistana resorts, buy a high season week at Westin Kierland, large one bedroom that gives you 81,000 StarOptions. Maintenance fees are higher, about $1,500 (but still lower than Aventuras, per StarOption), and purchase price is also higher. Decide for yourself if you need to pay more to be able to use StarOptions at resorts other than Lagunamar.

 

[jp10558]

Wow, thank you all for this helpful information!

I just dropped off a certified letter of cancellation with a return receipt at the post office as an extra precaution after sending the cancellation email.

That is so strange that my sales rep never mentioned that all resorts are tied to a
week and season. It truly all seemed to be a flexible options-based plan that only listed a home resort to be given priority for whenever I want to book there. And I couldn’t find any mention of a week or season tied to my timeshare of Westin Lagunamar in any part of my contract.

It does sound like Westin Kierland has much higher maintenance fees - mine was about $1100 total for the first year. I don’t know that I need THAT many points for now, I’m looking only to be able to travel 5-10 days a year, and I don’t need super fancy furnishings. Just flexibility in locale is all I’m looking for! I wouldn’t mind an apples to apples set of 44K options plan at Kierland for a much cheaper price.

Very grateful for all your advice, I’ll keep researching!

Are you sold on Vistana / Westin? Because if you don't need fancy and just want a lot of locations, you should probably start by backing up and looking at every system and where it has locations and where you want to go. For instance, resale, you can get lots of points cheap at Wyndham which currently doesn't really have any confusions like this thread shows - you buy X points and those are the points you can use. I don't think it's very easy to get a week or whatever and NOT get the points with Wyndham. (they have confusions with conflating their purchased Worldmark locations that you don't get access to, but you can usually tell because it has worldmark in the title of the resort). Also Wyndham doesn't currently charge fees to book, and you get some number of housekeeping credits. (only an issue if you do like 4 like 4 day stays, if you do weeks you most likely will never run out)

Now, Wyndham does RCI rather than II, and this is a different exchange company, but it does open up a similar number of potential out of network exchanges for more locations, as well as the last call and extra vacations cash prices / deals. These outside exchanges do cost money though even trading your points, and you have to deposit your points into RCI a day before you book, so that is a little hassle.

 

[byeloe]

And I couldn’t find any mention of a week or season tied to my timeshare of Westin Lagunamar in any part of my contract.

Correct, Aventuras flex is a different product. It has no season. But the number of options to book is as listed in the above post.

The other thing not mentioned by the sales person is that Adventuras inventory is 80% from Los Cabos and only 20 at Lagunamar.

You should have a look at the Staroptions Value Chart which will show the number of options to book all sizes and seasons at all the resorts in the system

 

[Ken555]

I don't know the exact number, but maintenance fees on Westin Kierland Villas will be under $2000.

FYI, this year WKV 2-bed MF is $1,996.04 and taxes are $67.26. Plus club fees.


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[Ken555]

Wow, thank you all for this helpful information!

I just dropped off a certified letter of cancellation with a return receipt at the post office as an extra precaution after sending the cancellation email.

That is so strange that my sales rep never mentioned that all resorts are tied to a
week and season. It truly all seemed to be a flexible options-based plan that only listed a home resort to be given priority for whenever I want to book there. And I couldn’t find any mention of a week or season tied to my timeshare of Westin Lagunamar in any part of my contract.

It does sound like Westin Kierland has much higher maintenance fees - mine was about $1100 total for the first year. I don’t know that I need THAT many points for now, I’m looking only to be able to travel 5-10 days a year, and I don’t need super fancy furnishings. Just flexibility in locale is all I’m looking for! I wouldn’t mind an apples to apples set of 44K options plan at Kierland for a much cheaper price.

Very grateful for all your advice, I’ll keep researching!

Congrats for researching and rescinding.

And don’t be surprised about the sales rep… they only volunteer just enough information to get you to sign.

44K staroptions won’t get you much. Please look at the redemption chart (in the sticky) and consider what you would use. Keep in mind it’s easier to buy a timeshare than sell it, and the maintenance fees are based on the size of the unit, not the season, so a 2-bed unit at Kierland in the low staroptions valued summer will cost the same maintenance fee as the high staroptions valued winter.


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[WorldT]

It does sound like Westin Kierland has much higher maintenance fees - mine was about $1100 total for the first year. I don’t know that I need THAT many points for now, I’m looking only to be able to travel 5-10 days a year, and I don’t need super fancy furnishings. Just flexibility in locale is all I’m looking for! I wouldn’t mind an apples to apples set of 44K options plan at Kierland for a much cheaper price.

Very grateful for all your advice, I’ll keep researching!

If you are not fixed on the fancy and you prefer flexibility, then your options are quite many. You would want to back off and examine how to get the maximum trading power for the lowest maintenance fee. The idea will be to have the ability to trade internally in that system and at the same time have access to interval international or RCI

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

Unscientific I know but I just took a quick look on Redweek and at todays price to rent a selection of non-event weeks in a 2BR at 10 resorts (7 Westin, 2 Sheraton and Harborside) would cost roughly $30K. Obviously 1BR/Studios would be cheaper and there are less expensive/more expensive weeks available if you do or don't have flexibility. Consider that to be your cost (plus obviously inflation) if you wanted to vacation across the Vistana network for the next 10 years without committing to a purchase today.

Purchasing enough to get you a 2BR across the board (and more in some cases) 148,100SO would probably cost you $15K plus Maintenance/Membership fees of $2300. So a 10 year outlay of $38K at today's prices.

So the decision is do you want to sink your money now and limit yourself to being stuck to trading around in Vistana for the next 10 years (and I know using II/Abound/Bonvoy is an option to broaden the pool but not necessarily a cost effective one) or do you want to keep your money in your pocket and be free to chose where you go on an annual basis.

With hindsight I would have chosen the latter (although my decision stings much more as we paid Maui developer prices).

 

[suzannesimon]

Westin Kierland Villas and all resorts will be tied to a specific week and unit. Redweek may say "High Season", but you really need to find out the VSN season. Westin Kierland Villas will tend to sell resale in the $15,000 range. Westin Kierland Villas is a mandatory resale and the Platinum Plus 2BR units come with 148,100 StarOptions. I don't know the exact number, but maintenance fees on Westin Kierland Villas will be under $2000. Probably more than what you had with the Westin Aventuras, but you get way more StarOptions.

I have a 2 bedroom platinum week at Kierland. The maintenance fees are creeping up. They are now $2358.

 

[Ken555]

I have a 2 bedroom platinum week at Kierland. The maintenance fees are creeping up. They are now $2358.

Incorrect. See post #14.


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[ssanel54]

I would really question what you mean when you say you want complete flexibility to travel anywhere anytime? If you are open to visiting different destinations and aren’t restricted to traveling during certain weeks, then you’ll be pleased with a resale purchase. If you are looking to travel over holiday/peak demand weeks, then your choices will likely be very limited

 

[mmb99]

I would really question what you mean when you say you want complete flexibility to travel anywhere anytime? If you are open to visiting different destinations and aren’t restricted to traveling during certain weeks, then you’ll be pleased with a resale purchase. If you are looking to travel over holiday/peak demand weeks, then your choices will likely be very limited

Just catching up on this thread! Yes, I have more flexibility -- I tend to prefer traveling in off seasons/low demand, definitely not during holiday or peak demand weeks. Definitely like the idea of visiting many different destinations!
On a side note, my certified letter of cancellation was delivered (I tracked it), but I haven't gotten a response from the company confirming contract cancellation. Do I just wait for the money to be credited back on my card?

 

[cubigbird]

Just catching up on this thread! Yes, I have more flexibility -- I tend to prefer traveling in off seasons/low demand, definitely not during holiday or peak demand weeks. Definitely like the idea of visiting many different destinations!
On a side note, my certified letter of cancellation was delivered (I tracked it), but I haven't gotten a response from the company confirming contract cancellation. Do I just wait for the money to be credited back on my card?

If you prefer to travel in low season then you really should evaluate if ownership and its lifetime commitments is the best way to go. You’re probably better off renting from an owner. Low season supply in Mexico or Scottsdale or Orlando and others isn’t hard.

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

Just catching up on this thread! Yes, I have more flexibility -- I tend to prefer traveling in off seasons/low demand, definitely not during holiday or peak demand weeks. Definitely like the idea of visiting many different destinations!
On a side note, my certified letter of cancellation was delivered (I tracked it), but I haven't gotten a response from the company confirming contract cancellation. Do I just wait for the money to be credited back on my card?

Per my earlier post and what cubigbird says, just use Redweek or similar to rent and for off season rentals it'll probably cost you less than half of what committing to a purchase would over 10 years. Invest that spare money somewhere else (not in snake oil BTW) or even put it under the mattress and reconsider in 10 years time what to do.

If you have proof of delivery of your recession then I think you are OK. I don't recall of ever reading of them confirming receipt themselves.

 

[mmb99]

This is all so helpful! Thanks so much!