Sheraton Desert Oasis - Master Thread [Merged]

[jran]

There seems to be a lot of interest in SDO these days. For the sake of continuity, and to compile questions and answers, I am going to merge the recent threads here. - DeniseM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After renting a time share recently we are interested in a resale purchase but feel a little overwhelmed. I have gotten a great deal of information from previous posts but hope you all could help with some questions.

1. We are a family of five and can fit in a 1BDR without a problem but would any of the locations have an occupancy issue?

2. I have been looking at a 2bdr lo at SDO that we would either trade or use during spring break. If I buy a floating platinum week am I guaranteed to be able to book for spring break? It looks like all weeks are floating 1-52?

3. At SDO I understand I can't trade in SVN but I don't quite understand the preference in has in II. Could someone help clarify?

4. We've also been looking at WKV but they seem much more expensive, any thoughts on what would be the better purchase? Is the ability to use the SVN trading worth the extra costs?

5. We are in Colorado and some years would like to trade for ski season, would SDO be good for this?

6. I have been watching eBay auctions - are there any other sources for resale?

7. If we purchase at SDO and it is floating 1-52 how far in advance can you make reservations at SDO? For example, when and who would I call for spring break reservations.

Sorry for all the questions, I really did try to look at older posts

 

[vacationtime1]

I will give you my biased answers and thoughts:

1. You will have occupancy issues with 5 in a one bedroom in some places. You will have comfort issues everywhere -- especially as your family gets older. This is a mid- or long-term purchase. What kind of configuration will you want in 5 years? In 8 years?

2. This should not be a problem as long as you are diligent and make your reservation exactly a year in advance. But there are no guarantees.

3. If you deposit a Starwood unit in I.I., you can "see" Starwood deposits three days before people who deposited non-Starwood units. This is very valuable.

4. WKV and SDO are different. WKV is far more luxurious, far more resort-like, and the units are far superior. SVN exchanges are easier and more certain than I.I. exchanges. It is an apples and oranges comparison; the price points are radically different (I own both).

5. Yes. I have traded my one bedroom SDO for Hyatt Sierra Lodge (Tahoe) and Lakeside Terrace (Vail), each two bedroom, each in March. I was able to do these exchanges because of the Starwood preference.

6. eBay is the cheapest. But use an independent closing company to protect your interests.

7. 365 days in advance to the day (except in leap years, then 366).

 

[jran]

Thanks Robert - we viewed the models at wkv and there were very very nice. That would be our first choice but it seems a lot less intimidating to make a $2K plunge than a $15K plunge and there doesn't seem to be as many wkv resales available.

Are any of the Starwood Colorado mountain resorts good buys or are the MF too high?

 

[Captron]

Some resorts do have an issue with 5 in a 1BR, unless the 5th is a infant or toddler, so I would not bet on this one in the long term.

Remember lots of people want spring break, NO week is guaranteed unless it is fixed and confirmed appropriately. If all 52 floaters wanted spring break they would have 52x the bookings as units. All school breaks are a challenge but booked as the phones open one year in advance should give you high likelihood.

There are LOTS of sites for resale, brokers sites, Craigs list, Redweek, etc but ebay does tend to be the cheapest if you get a deal there.

The Avon resorts are voluntary resorts and could not trade in SVN. Thus they do not have the premium you would pay for WKV, more like SDO. Unfortunately they do not seem to carry the trading power SDO has. WKV being mandatory, Starwood chooses the week to deposit to II from ALL RESORTS so to trade you may not always get a good deposit. (Despite what they say about ALWAYS giving an equivalent week)

LT has 2 BR only, non-LO, that would be a downside there. I too like the LO option. I frequently trade each 1BR side for a 2BR.

Westin Riverside is new and just selling so resales have to hit yet and will be sparse for some time to come.

Mountain Vista is built of LO units and is nice. Again, IM observations, not the trading power of SDO.

I am unsure about the floating options at these resorts. I would make sure the unit you buy was highest season available for the period you like. Remember, MF are based on footage, regardless of season, so take all the power you can get. This will greatly effect the long term value.

 

[DeniseM]

After renting a time share recently we are interested in a resale purchase but feel a little overwhelmed. I have gotten a great deal of information from previous posts but hope you all could help with some questions.

1. We are a family of five and can fit in a 1BDR without a problem but would any of the locations have an occupancy issue?

This means 2 kids on the sofa bed and one on the floor. I agree with the others - that won't work very long. I'd look at a 2 bdm. from the start.

2. I have been looking at a 2bdr lo at SDO that we would either trade or use during spring break. If I buy a floating platinum week am I guaranteed to be able to book for spring break? It looks like all weeks are floating 1-52?

There are no guarantees, unless you buy a fixed week and don't know if such a think exists at SDO - an owner would have had to pay a premium to fix it. However, I have never heard of an owner who couldn't reserve their home resort, if they call at exactly 12 mos. out at 8:59 a.m. ET. BTW, there are both weeks that float 1-52, and weeks sold in a particular season at SDO.

3. At SDO I understand I can't trade in SVN but I don't quite understand the preference in has in II. Could someone help clarify?

In a nutshell, Starwood owners have "first pick" of other Starwood resorts deposited with II on both on-going searches, and online instant exchanges. That priority "usually" lasts a minimum of 3 days, but may last longer - it's a bit of a mystery. However, most deposits are off-season, which may not work for a family with 3 kids in school. It would be very helpful to you to go to the TUG Sightings Board, right below the lounge, and browse back through the sightings to see what exchanges other Starwood owners are finding in II and RCI.

4. We've also been looking at WKV but they seem much more expensive, any thoughts on what would be the better purchase? Is the ability to use the SVN trading worth the extra costs?

Yes, the mandatory resorts are a lot more. I think I would start off with an inexpensive voluntary resort with a low MF and see how it works for you.

5. We are in Colorado and some years would like to trade for ski season, would SDO be good for this?

Ski season is a very difficult trade - remember most deposits at a ski resort are going to be off-season, not ski season. I would not count on getting ski season exchanges.

6. I have been watching eBay auctions - are there any other sources for resale?

There is a whole list of them in an article at the top of the Buying, Selling, Renting Board, and you should shop around, but you will probably decide that ebay has the lowest prices. However, it is perfectly fine to make low-ball offers on other sites. The worst they can say is, "no."

7. If we purchase at SDO and it is floating 1-52 how far in advance can you make reservations at SDO? For example, when and who would I call for spring break reservations.

At exactly 8:59 a.m. ET, 12 mos. out from your desired check-in date, you call Owner Services. See the Starwood FAQ at the top of the board for more "how-to" reservation/exchange info.

Since you are locked into the school year for years to come, I think it's real important that you buy at a home resort that you are happy to visit, if you don't get an exchange. Holiday exchanges are always the hardest. A good method is to reserve the desired week at your home resort, and then if the exchange doesn't come through, you still have a reservation at your home resort for the week you need, that you can fall back on.

Good luck!

 

[jran]

SDO Resale purchase

After reading lots of posts and getting some great answers to previous questions (thanks everyone) I think we have decided on looking for a 2bdr lock off at SDO. However, I still have some questions I was hoping someone could help with:

1. All the resales I see right now still have 2009 usage left and 2009 mf. We probably won't be able to use the unit in 2009 so I if I understand I would want to deposit the week with II. Should I have the current owner make a reservation that I can deposit after ownership transfers and what would be a good week for trading power?

2. How long does it generally take for closing and and for ownership to transfer?

3. Our plan is to usually use the unit or 1/2 the unit for spring break, but if I buy now I probably won't be able to get reservations for spring break 2010. Assuming we purchase and transfer everything by September, similar to my first question what weeks would be desirable to book in 2010 for trading purposes? Then we could start using it for spring break in 2011, do I have all this correct?

4. II/RCI: Can you/should you use both these companies for the same unit? As I understand with II you can deposit your week and see trades or you can also see trades based on your reservation without depositing the week, is this accurate and would you see the same types/amounts of trades? At some point we would like to trade into a DVC resort for a week, would we have to use RCI for this?

5. When depositing a 2bdr reservation with II do you deposit it a 2bdr or 2 1bdr or does it matter?

Thanks for everyone's help, I don't know how people purchase a TS without a forum like this!

 

[DeniseM]

After reading lots of posts and getting some great answers to previous questions (thanks everyone) I think we have decided on looking for a 2bdr lock off at SDO. However, I still have some questions I was hoping someone could help with:

1. All the resales I see right now still have 2009 usage left and 2009 mf. We probably won't be able to use the unit in 2009 so I if I understand I would want to deposit the week with II. Should I have the current owner make a reservation that I can deposit after ownership transfers and what would be a good week for trading power?

At this point in the year I'd try for week 51 or week 52 and, yes, you can ask the current owner to reserve it for you and, have them specify that the reservation transfers with ownership. There are also II and RCI FAQ's at the top of the Exchanging Board.

2. How long does it generally take for closing and and for ownership to transfer?

It depends on what closing company you use, and if there are any problems. I would say 2 - 3 mos.

3. Our plan is to usually use the unit or 1/2 the unit for spring break, but if I buy now I probably won't be able to get reservations for spring break 2010.

Others have been about to make Spring Break reservations in the last few days - the current owner can make 2010 reservations for you, too.

Assuming we purchase and transfer everything by September, similar to my first question what weeks would be desirable to book in 2010 for trading purposes?

The strongest traders at SDO are March (MLB Spring Training) and the week before and after Easter.

4. II/RCI: Can you/should you use both these companies for the same unit?

You can - but not at the same time - you can only deposit the same unit with one Exchange Co. at a time, so it depends on where you want to go. Also, exchange companies charge a yearly fee, so you want to plan out in advance where you want to go, to decide which exchange Co. to use. With an SDO lock-off, you could deposit 1/2 with RCI, and 1/2 with Starwood. Note that you have to maintain (pay) your exchange company membership as long as you have a week deposited with them, or an exchange pending.

As I understand with II you can deposit your week and see trades or you can also see trades based on your reservation without depositing the week, is this accurate and would you see the same types/amounts of trades?

My experience has been that I see more with a deposited week.

At some point we would like to trade into a DVC resort for a week, would we have to use RCI for this?

Yes, DVC only exchanges with RCI.

5. When depositing a 2bdr reservation with II do you deposit it a 2bdr or 2 1bdr or does it matter?

To put in an on-going request for a 2 bdm., you must deposit a 2 bdm. If you don't need a 2 bdm. you can split the lock-off, make 2 deposits, and get 2 exchanges out of it. With instant online exchanges you can often exchange a 1 bdm. for a 2 bdm., but that is a bit of a gamble, since all the on-going requests are filled first, and you never know what's going to be left over for an online exchange.

To see what kind of exchange power Starwood weeks have, browse back through the many Starwood Sightings on the Sightings Board below the TUG Lounge.

If you haven't had a chance to read them yet, the 2 Starwood and II articles in Owner Resources under the Exchanging Heading will also be helpful to you. There are also RCI and II FAQ's at the top of the Exchanging Board.

 

[SCMom]

Master Thread - Sheraton Desert Oasis (SDO)

I am fairly new to these forums, but have read lots of posts and stickies and FAQs about the different programs. We are current HGVC owners (bought pre-construction at MarBrisa) and are exploring the idea of adding another timeshare (resale this time, of course!) I have been intrigued by the posts, especially Denise's many informative ones, about buying at SDO. My husband is somewhat skeptical as I have tried to explain the idea of buying at SDO just to trade. He is not a fan of the desert and doesn't want to visit Scottsdale on a regular basis.

Here is our situation. We live in Orange County, California. We have four boys, ages 2-8. We have to have at least a 2 bedroom when we travel. We homeschool our kids, so we are not bound to traditional holiday times and prefer not to travel during the busy seasons. My husband wants to know how good the trades we might expect with the Starwood priority in II. Also, the strength for trading for non-Starwood II properties. Could we expect to have lots of choices to get into other resorts, or just a "good chance." Although SDO is selling inexpensively now, he doesn't want to be stuck with it and not able to trade for Maui occassionally. Our expectation would not be to trade into a big resort every year, but maybe every couple of years, and then book something driving distance from southern California in the other years. Airfare is a big expense for our family! I would love to opportunity to be able to do Atlantis at some point when the boys are a little older. If we buy an SDO 2 bedroom lockoff, I assume that we should shoot for platinum for the better trading?

I appreciate the time all of you put in to make this forum so great and look forward to your thoughts.

 

[clsmit]

Both Maui and Harborside are do-able in the offseason for trades through II, at least based on recent sightings. You could also get to Orlando pretty much any time of the year.

 

[DeniseM]

To actually see what kind of exchanges are available, check out the many Starwood Sightings on the TUG Sightings board, right below the TUG Lounge.

There 2 articles in Owners Resources about exchanging with II that you should read. Just like Marriott owners have a priority in II, so do Starwood owners, and that means that Starwood owners get first choice of Starwood deposits on both on-going and instant online exchanges. That is why a cheap little voluntary week can be a powerful trader.

I would buy a 2 bdm. Each side trades as a 1 bdm. or you can put it together and put in an on-going request for a 2 bdm. (You can do an instant online exchange and trade into a 2 bdm. with a 1 bdm., but you cannot put in an on-going search for a 2 bdm. with a 1 bdm.)

For trading with II you don't need a Plat week and they cost more. Just buy a unit that floats 1-52 and then reserve a popular week (March and the week before and after Easter are great traders.)

 

[hushpup]

Master Thread - SDO

We am looking to purchase a timeshare that will allow us to visit Florida but also have the flexability to have a good trade to go elsewhere. We currently have a Disney VWL timeshare which at the time we bought it was perfect, but since our family size has increased, going to Disney seems to be an everyother year deal. My family needs either a 2 or 3Br unit. with an annual or EOY. Again, looking for the ability to go to the Florida beaches but still have the flexability to change it up and travel some place different. Since the kids are small, travel timeframe is not as important, but as they get bigger, the timeframe will have to be summer or holidays. I need to stay within a budget and have looked at the Starwood Vacation Ownerships. I like that you can trade within SVN and also II. It would be nice to hear from other TUG members.

Other questions that I have:
1. Is it better to get a fixed or float timeshare
2. What SVN timeshare have good trade value within SVN and II
3. Is it better to by a SVN timeshare in Florida (since we would be traveling to differnt sites w/in Florida) and if so how difficult is it to trade and travel elsewhere
4. Can any SVN timeshare trade within SVN
5. Do all SVN use Staroptions
6. Does SVN allow lockoffs and can you to take a 3br and convert it into 2vacations, such as a 1BR and a 2BR.

Thank you again for all your help.

 

[tomandrobin]

Disney Owner and Starwood owner.....I think both systems compliment each other well.

If you need to focus on travel when the kids are out of school, then your options get a lot tougher to choose from. If time of year wasn't important, I would tell you to buy a Desert Oasis unit. It trades very well and is dual affiliated with RCI and II. If you want or need the Staroptions to enable you to trade into the other Starwood resorts, then I would buy either Vistana Villages or Kierland....depending on what your staroption usage would be and if you would also trade in II.

All of our timeshares are float weeks. We do not like to be tied down to the same week every year. We need flexibility.

Most of the Starwood timeshares have good trade value, except Orlando resorts. The big three are obvious excellent trades, but not worth trading because of the mf.

All resorts when purchased from the developer can participate in SVN. But only mandatory resorts can when bought resale. Read the sticky at the top of the forum on mandatory/voluntary resorts.

Not all of the resorts offer three bedrooms. Not all of them are lock-offs. I know Harborside has three bedroom lock-offs, but St John's three bedrooms are not.

 

[DeniseM]

Hi and welcome to TUG! :Hi:

For some good background info. on how Starwood works, I recommend that you read the Starwood FAQ at the top of this forum and then come back and tell us what questions you have. Starwood is a unique system and it can be a lot to learn at first.

 

[FlyKaesan]

lost SDO on Ebay

I thought I had a chance. I bid on the last minute and someone else snatched it at the last second.
$127.xx for 1 br float week. I think that is the lowest I have seen.

Next time...

 

[DeniseM]

You might want to consider using a sniping service that can put in a bid for you with seconds to go, or place your own bid with like 5 seconds to go.

 

[hushpup]

I spent quite a bit of time today looking at past posts to get a better idea of how SVO works and figuring out all the acronym.

Anyways, I guess it boils down to which TS from SVO to purchase. I am leaning towards SDO (based on Tuggers recommendation) but some of the same questions still keep coming up that I am looking from TS owners to give a little guidance.

1. Is SDO a good trade/exchange? I plan on going to different Florida locations over the next few years, but also want to go elsewhere (I saw in one of your past postings to visit the sightings boards but can’t find it). I don't want to get stuck buying into SDO and not have any leverage to travel elsewhere.
2. When looking at an SDO TS, is it better to look for a 1-52 float or a fixed week.
3. My understanding with 2BR lockoff, is you can use it as just a 2BR, or split it into two (1Br and 1BR/or Studio) for two potential vacations. If split into 2, do vac have to be used in the same year, or can you do one vac this year and the 2nd vac the next year (hope this makes sense)??
4. Since SDO is a non-mandatory, I assume all trades are done with RCI or II. Is one better than the other?

Again, sorry for all the questions, just looking for some clarification. Thank you for all your help.

 

[DeniseM]

I spent quite a bit of time today looking at past posts to get a better idea of how SVO works and figuring out all the acronym.

The FAQ at the top of the page really is worth checking out, because it summarize the main ideas about SW in one Doc and it will answer many of your questions. Also - there is a list of acronyms in Owner Resources, at the top of the page. You will want to read the 2 articles about exchanging with II, also in Owner Resources, under the Exchanging Heading.

Anyways, I guess it boils down to which TS from SVO to purchase. I am leaning towards SDO (based on Tuggers recommendation) but some of the same questions still keep coming up that I am looking from TS owners to give a little guidance.

1. Is SDO a good trade/exchange? I plan on going to different Florida locations over the next few years, but also want to go elsewhere (I saw in one of your past postings to visit the sightings boards but can’t find it). I don't want to get stuck buying into SDO and not have any leverage to travel elsewhere.

People like SDO because it is a strong trader AND one of the lowest cost voluntary resorts. To access the Sightings Board, you have to be a (paid) TUG member. The $15 membership will save you thousands. It also gives you access to the member's only reviews.

2. When looking at an SDO TS, is it better to look for a 1-52 float or a fixed week.

I don't think you will find any fixed weeks at SDO. I would go for the cheapest 1-52 week I can find, and then be sure to reserve a popular week to deposit.

3. My understanding with 2BR lockoff, is you can use it as just a 2BR, or split it into two (1Br and 1BR/or Studio) for two potential vacations.

SDO doesn't have any studios - the 2 bdm. consists of two 1 bdm. units - one larger and one smaller. They both trade as 1 bdm.'s.

If split into 2, do vac have to be used in the same year, or can you do one vac this year and the 2nd vac the next year (hope this makes sense)??

Yes - if you deposit the side you want to use next year. You can't roll it over with Starwood. With a II deposit, you have 2 years after the check-in date to make an exchange.

4. Since SDO is a non-mandatory, I assume all trades are done with RCI or II. Is one better than the other?

It totally depends on where you want to go. For example - for Starwood exchanges, you want to go with II, because almost all of the Starwood resorts are with II, and Starwood owners have a priority in II. If you want to exchange into DVC, then you'd go with RCI, because DVC doesn't exchange in II. You can use RCI some years and II some years, but of course there is a membership fee and you must maintain a paid membership as long as you have a deposit or pending exchange with the company.

 

[hushpup]

People like SDO because it is a strong trader AND one of the lowest cost voluntary resorts. To access the Sightings Board, you have to be a (paid) TUG member. The $15 membership will save you thousands. It also gives you access to the member's only reviews.

I joined Tug, but not sure where the sightings board is. Is there a link?? I'm a newbbie and I need help : ) :rofl:

 

[nodge]

Since this post is now the master thread for SDO, here are my thoughts regarding the place. In short, I like it alot.

-nodge

 

[DeniseM]

I joined Tug, but not sure where the sightings board is. Is there a link?? I'm a newbbie and I need help : ) :rofl:

You are still showing as a guest (see under your picture.) When you joined, you got an email with the member's code in it. You have to add that code to your member profile to be recognized as a member.

Click on User CP in the blue bar at the top of the page.
Click on Edit BBS Member Code
In the new window, scoll all the way down to the bottom and put the member code in the box and click the save button

Let me know if you need more help.

 

[DeniseM]

Since this post is now the master thread for SDO, here are my thoughts regarding the place. In short, I like it alot.

-nodge

Thanks, Nodge! (Are we SDO owners ruining a good thing by sharing the best kept secret in Starwood? )

 

[catlady]

Adding to the SDO questions..................

Is a floating week 22-27 & 36-49 worth looking at at all, mainly for trading use with II? It's a 2 bed lock off?

Thanks

 

[hushpup]

Denise, thanks for the tip.

I had one other questions. I have a friend that uses II and each year she deposits her TS with II and gets an additional week to use. Is this the AC that I see posted every now and then?

If trading SDO through II, with the above scenario, can you get an extra week?

thanks

 

[DeniseM]

Adding to the SDO questions..................

Is a floating week 22-27 & 36-49 worth looking at at all, mainly for trading use with II? It's a 2 bed lock off?

Thanks

No - because you can't reserve a strong trader with those dates. At SDO the highest demand weeks are 5, and 9 - 13. The lowest is weeks 27 - 34.

The best buy will be a week that floats 1-52.

 

[DeniseM]

Denise, thanks for the tip.

I had one other questions. I have a friend that uses II and each year she deposits her TS with II and gets an additional week to use. Is this the AC that I see posted every now and then?

If trading SDO through II, with the above scenario, can you get an extra week?

thanks

No - No AC's with Starwood deposits, however, the perk of having Starwood priority in II is far more valuable, IMNSHO. AC's usually have a very limited usage - you can't just reserve anything, anytime with them.