Reserving less than a full week

[zsn]

I know that there was a thread a few weeks (months?) ago about this, but I can't seem to locate it, and I don't remember if this exact scenario was discussed. I apologize in advance if it's been asked-and-answered.

Let's consider the following example. I own 1 wk 2BR OV at WKORV for 148,100 points. I would like to split the week between 1wk of a 1BR at WKORV and 6 days of 1BR at a non-home resort, let's say WPORV, or vice versa (and this becomes important, as you'll see). I know that I can book 12 months out at WKORV, 8 mo out at WPORV and 3 months out for the 6-day at either resort. Which of the following is the best path for keeping my view category at WKORV?

Scenario A: I book the 2BR at WKORV at 12 mo. out, to lock in the OV. Then, I keep the 1BR and book a studio at WPORV, either the week before or week after. Then 3 mo out, I convert the studio to 1BR for 6 nights - downside, the 1BR may not be available at WPORV. Upside, I keep my view time-stamp.

Scenario B: As above, I book the 2BR, I keep the studio at WKORV, book the 1BR at WPORV for 1 wk at 8 mo out, and then flip the studio at WKORV to 6-night 1BR. Again, availability risk. But the question I have is what is my time-stamp for the OV? Do I still keep the date priority of when the 2BR was booked, if I am able to flip the studio week for 6-nights of 1BR, or would this be considered a brand new reservation (same check-in date)?

Thanks very much in advance.

 

[gregb]

I don't understand your questions. Why would you book a 2BR if you only want the 1BR at WKORV?

Book your 1BR at WKORV 12 months out for 80k options. This will give you the resort/view preference for WKORV. You then have the rest of the points (68.1K) to use at WPORV. You can make that reservation starting 8 months ahead.

I believe if you cancel a home resort/view reservation, you lose your home resort/view priority for that year. You get the points back but cannot make another reservation at your home resort until 8 months before, just like other SVN members.

Greg

 

[DeniseM]

When you change the Resv. to 6 nights, at 3 mos. out, you lose your view category.

The best way to do this is to book your home resort at 12 mos. out and then use Staroptions for 7 nights at WPORV at 8 mos. out. If you have to forfeit one night because you just want to stay 6 nights, it's not enough Staroptions to worry about. WPORV is an easy Resv. to get if you call at 8:59 a.m. - 8 mos. out.

 

[zsn]

Greg, you are absolutely correct....there is no need for me to book the studio at the same time and then switch. So, it would be a modification of the first scenario.

One minor point, Denise. It is not about reserving a week (it will be a studio) and using only 6 nights.....it is about getting two separate 1BR's for 148k points - one for a week and another for 6 days. We have used a 1BR and a studio in exactly those two resorts, and with two (now) teenage girls we realized that we prefer the 1BR arrangement!

Of course we could always rent/exchange etc. Also, with the banking option opening up, it becomes less of an issue. I mainly wanted to clarify if I were to make an 68k point studio reservation, and decide to convert would I lose my view, and it looks like I will.

Thanks again, for your insights

 

[DeniseM]

Do you have anything to trade through II? WPORV is a fairly easy II trade.

 

[zsn]

No, just the WKORV. It is probably not that much of an issue, as I try to rent out every other year, and use every other year. We prefer to use two successive weeks in Hawaii so that we can save on airfare - the flights tend to be no more for mainland-islandA-islandB-mainland than for mainland-islandA-mainland. As airfare is probably the largest contributor to vacation cost, spending two weeks in Hawaii is optimal for mental health and financial health.

So far, I have been able to rent out our unused points (through TUG marketplace ) and use what we wanted. Our goal is to use one week in WKORV and another on a different island - we did WPORV this year. However, we'll be looking to trade the studio into Big Island and Oahu in the future - any suggestions on what the easier trades on those islands might be? If we cannot find anything suitable trades there, we might just rent something or revert to the sure thing on Kauai.

Thanks, again!

 

[DeniseM]

You have first priority for Starwood to Starwood trades - so your easiest trade is into WPORV, which has less demand than the Maui resorts.

However, to put in an ongoing request for a 1 bdm., you must deposit a 1 bdm.

You CAN trade a studio for a 1 Bdm. with an Instant Online Exchage - so if that's your goal, I recommend that you religiously watch the TUG Sightings Forum for Starwood deposits - or search II yourself on a daily basis. If you can "see" a 1 bdm. with your studio - you can reserve it.

The best way to go about it is to get your II trade first - and then reserve your home resort to match up with it.

See the II FAQ for some tips on how to get an instant online exchange to work the best.

*I just noticed that you are a guest. The Sightings Forum is a members forum where Tuggers post the best deposits they see. To access it, you must be a TUG member.

 

[zsn]

Thanks for the advice, Denise. I will add my membership.