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Seeking input on Starwood programs and resales

DeniseM

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could be looking for a resale there in newer section
any help or suggestions
looking to use every year not trade

I would be really surprised if there are resales in the newest section - Phase 3, (Nanea) because it is still under construction. Personally, I would not consider it, because it is much more expensive than buying in Phase 1 or 2.

I am an owner in the original phase (Ocean View) and if I was going to buy again, I would only buy Ocean Front, in Phase 1, on the resale market. The original phase has far superior views, and a lower maintenance fee. The ocean front units in phase one are at the ocean end of bldgs. 2 and 3 - directly facing the ocean, so it has a far better view.

WKORVcolorAerial.jpg


In phase 2 (WKORV-North - Bldg. 5, 6, 7, 8) Starwood really stretched the ocean front category, and some of the so-called ocean front views in Bldg. 5 and 8, are actually partial ocean views.
 
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dsmrp

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Yes I imagine. Are there any Starwood rules I should be aware of concerning locking off? Any usage restrictions for using the locked off unit? I know from working in HGVC that you can buy a higher point week and then use it for lower point stays (weeks/nights within the HGVC club) Is this true of Starwood or is the lockoff restricted to exchanges? I'm still thinking of a 2 bedroom lockoff floating platinum week at SVV. Thoughts?

Hi, you mentioned HGVC. I'm really new to HGVC, and a little less so to Starwood. Off the top here are a couple differences between the internal trading systems:
1. HGVC has a 9 months club reservations window vs 8 months for Starwood, as Denise mentioned.
2. No SVN fees for reservations and cancellations between 8 months to 60 days. There might be a cancellation fee within 60 days, but I've fortunately never had to go there :) As you know HGVC charges for everything...
.
 

DeniseM

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There is a 2 tier cancel fee within 60 days - $50 at 60 days and $75 at 8 days, and the Staroptions are restricted to 60 days reservations, can't be rolled over to the next year, and (for developer purchases) can't be converted to Starpoints.
 
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RR Drummer

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Hi, you mentioned HGVC. I'm really new to HGVC, and a little less so to Starwood. Off the top here are a couple differences between the internal trading systems:
1. HGVC has a 9 months club reservations window vs 8 months for Starwood, as Denise mentioned.
2. No SVN fees for reservations and cancellations between 8 months to 60 days. There might be a cancellation fee within 60 days, but I've fortunately never had to go there :) As you know HGVC charges for everything...
.

Yes you are right, HGVC does charge for everything. Although its been 5 years since my HGVC life I remember it well. I had vowed then during my 6 years of employement with them that if I were to ever buy a timeshare it would be HGVC. Now....Prob Starwood SVV.
 

got4boys

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Grand Vista cannot be reserved through Starwood - it is not a Starwood timeshares. You can only reserve other Starwood timeshares with Staroptions.

If you want to trade with outside properties, then you must exchange with RCI or II - and you certainly don't need Staroptions for that.

Due note that if you own Sheraton Vistana or Sheraton Vistana Villages and you deposit your week into Interval International and you want to trade into the Marriott Grand Vista (or any other Marriott Vacation Club in Orlando) you cannot. There is a regional block.

If you want to trade into a Marriott, buy a unit NOT in Orlando for trading purposes, unless it is another Marriott.
 

DeniseM

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Due note that if you own Sheraton Vistana or Sheraton Vistana Villages and you deposit your week into Interval International and you want to trade into the Marriott Grand Vista (or any other Marriott Vacation Club in Orlando) you cannot. There is a regional block.

If you want to trade into a Marriott, buy a unit NOT in Orlando for trading purposes, unless it is another Marriott.

I thought the regional block was only for Disney resorts?
 

got4boys

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I thought the regional block was only for Disney resorts?

Here is the verbiage from the Interval International Disclosure guide.

5. Some Members may be restricted from exchanging into resorts
located within the same geographical area as the Home Resort
accommodations that are being deposited or relinquished. There are
currently such restrictions in Aruba; Barbados; Cabo San Lucas,
Mexico; Cancún, Mexico; Cyprus; the Dominican Republic; Door
County, Wisconsin; Eastern British Columbia; Gatlinburg/Pigeon
Forge, Tennessee; Grand Bahama Island; Grand Cayman Island;
Guatemala; Hawaii (the Big Island); Maui, Hawaii; Kauai, Hawaii;
Hilton Head, South Carolina; Lake Tahoe, California; Las Vegas,
Nevada; Madeira, Portugal; Malta; Marco Island, Florida; Mazatlán,
Mexico; Naples, Florida; Okaloosa and Walton County, Florida;
Orlando/Kissimmee, Florida; Palm Desert, California; Palm Springs,
California; Phuket, Thailand; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Riviera Maya,
Mexico; Riviera Nayarit, Mexico; St. Maarten; Stateline, Nevada;
Summit County, Colorado; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Williamsburg,
Virginia. Generally, this restriction does not apply to Members
requesting an exchange to Member Resorts under common
ownership or management with the Home Resort. Additional
geographic areas may be restricted in the future. Members affected
by any future restrictions will be advised via II’s regular publications.


I have deposited a Sheraton Vistana into II and have not been able to trade into a Marriott in Orlando.
 

DeniseM

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I had no idea!
 

pchung6

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I would be really surprised if there are resales in the newest section - Phase 3, (Nanea) because it is still under construction. Personally, I would not consider it, because it is much more expensive than buying in Phase 1 or 2.

I am an owner in the original phase (Ocean View) and if I was going to buy again, I would only buy Ocean Front, in Phase 1, on the resale market. The original phase has far superior views, and a lower maintenance fee. The ocean front units in phase one are at the ocean end of bldgs. 2 and 3 - directly facing the ocean, so it has a far better view.

WKORVcolorAerial.jpg


In phase 2 (WKORV-North - Bldg. 5, 6, 7, 8) Starwood really stretched the ocean front category, and some of the so-called ocean front views in Bldg. 5 and 8, are actually partial ocean views.

So based on this, should we try to avoid bldg 4 and 6 as they have the worst view? which bldg should we ask before we check in and what would you recommend?
 

DeniseM

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So based on this, should we try to avoid bldg 4 and 6 as they have the worst view? which bldg should we ask before we check in and what would you recommend?

Bldg. 4 and 6 are in different phases - what phase is your reservation in?

Do you have a Staroption Reservation, or an Interval Reservation?
 

pchung6

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Bldg. 4 and 6 are in different phases - what phase is your reservation in?

Do you have a Staroption Reservation, or an Interval Reservation?

Right now I have Interval exchange to wkorvn. i know it is probably difficult to bargain as exchanger, but i just want to have an idea in mind when the room is assigned and i can try to ask for different if possible.
 
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DeniseM

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Right now I have Interval exchange to wkorvn.

The North Phase is Bldgs. 5, 6, 7, & 8. They won't accept a request in advance, but it never hurts to ask at check-in. If I were you I'd expect a garden view, and be pleasantly surprised if you get upgraded.

The really nice thing about the North Phase is that it has no parking lot views.
 

pchung6

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The North Phase is Bldgs. 5, 6, 7, & 8. They won't accept a request in advance, but it never hurts to ask at check-in. If I were you I'd expect a garden view, and be pleasantly surprised if you get upgraded.

The really nice thing about the North Phase is that it has no parking lot views.

Thanks. That is good to hear.
 

RR Drummer

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Due note that if you own Sheraton Vistana or Sheraton Vistana Villages and you deposit your week into Interval International and you want to trade into the Marriott Grand Vista (or any other Marriott Vacation Club in Orlando) you cannot. There is a regional block.

If you want to trade into a Marriott, buy a unit NOT in Orlando for trading purposes, unless it is another Marriott.

I've experienced that in the past as a representative. I've always been told that in order to get the top trades/exchanges into an area that it's best to exchange your best deposit that is not based in that area unless its from the same ownership group/club.
 

teddyo333

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Marriott:
Marriott Grande Ocean
Marriott Frenchman's Cove
I just tried to look. My SVV 2 bedroom would not show any Marriotts in Orlando but my 1 bedroom SDO does.

I had the same issue last year. I wanted a Marriott in Orlando but was unable to trade my Parkway International for a Marriott Resort. I was able to trade it for a 2BR SVV. Learning from my mistake I sold my Orlando and Williamsburg resorts and was able to easily trade Large 1BR SDO for 2BR Marriott's Cypress Harbour (Spring Break) & Small 1BR SDO for 2BR Marriott's Manor Club at Ford's Colony (Mid Summer).
 
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DeniseM

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capjak

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It's making sense now lol. Thanks for helping me. My end goal for the near future is to go to Orlando (Grand Vista??) once in March if I use the whole 2 bed lockoff or twice a year 1 bed each time in March and November at same prop I purchase (Grand Vista??). Is that reasonable thru Starwood & what fees would I expect to pay to book?

This is very doable every year. For example:

For March which is spring break and harder to book you would use your 2 bedroom lock off. In November (assuming not Thanksgiving week) you could easily stay via an II Getaway in a 1 bedroom at a Sheraton or Marriott for a lot less than a maintenance fee. Sometimes as little as $500 for a 1 bedroom $300 for a studio and $600 for a 2 bedroom.

The only thing I would add is that in the Starwood system the MFs for a 2 bedroom lock off seem quite a bit higher than just the 2 bedroom dedicated, as I described you may not need a lock off if going to Orlando as you can just purchase a Getaway for a second stay.

Also for Orlando I much prefer Marriott Grande Vista and Lakeshore Reserve over the Sheraton Vistana Villages. Maybe a hybrid is the way to go an every other year Sheraton Vistana and an every other year Marriott or even a reduced point value HGVC (4800 points) Lots of research for you.....
 

RR Drummer

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This is very doable every year. For example:

For March which is spring break and harder to book you would use your 2 bedroom lock off. In November (assuming not Thanksgiving week) you could easily stay via an II Getaway in a 1 bedroom at a Sheraton or Marriott for a lot less than a maintenance fee. Sometimes as little as $500 for a 1 bedroom $300 for a studio and $600 for a 2 bedroom.

The only thing I would add is that in the Starwood system the MFs for a 2 bedroom lock off seem quite a bit higher than just the 2 bedroom dedicated, as I described you may not need a lock off if going to Orlando as you can just purchase a Getaway for a second stay.

Also for Orlando I much prefer Marriott Grande Vista and Lakeshore Reserve over the Sheraton Vistana Villages. Maybe a hybrid is the way to go an every other year Sheraton Vistana and an every other year Marriott or even a reduced point value HGVC (4800 points) Lots of research for you.....

Thanks for the input. You make some valid points. Food for thought :) As a Canadian I don't need the typical US high travel/event weeks so I'd see some decent availability for my travel times I'm sure.
 
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