Sheraton Steamboat unit types

[bajohnsons]

I've searched here and online, called the resort itself (they seem unwilling or unable to tell me) and finding it difficult to find information on the various 2BR units. Hopefully someone on here has the lowdown.

Vistana site shows: "2BR lockoff villa," "2BR Villa" and "2BR villa valley side." The lockoff unit sleeps 8. The valley side unit sleeps 6 but is 600 sq ft larger. The "plain" 2BR also sleeps 6 but is less than 1/2 the size of the valley side units. Confusing things further, the Staroptions charts show 2BR lockoff Mountainside, 2BR lockoff, and 2BR.

Does anyone have any special insight into these units with recommendations based on location? We've been here twice previously but stayed in the 4BR unit but that's not available for our reservation time. The 2BR valley side seems a no-brainer due to its size?

One additional comment. On the reservation portion of Vistana site there is listed a "2BR premium valley side."

 

[vacation dreaming]

From my memory, the “Valley side” larger units are the most luxurious, built to be sold as full ownership/multi week ownership. The 2BR lock off is a typical lock off style unit comprised of a studio and 1 bedroom combined. The 2BR Villa is the newest type of unit (and most plentiful) which is not a lockoff, they managed to add a very small second bedroom into space not much bigger than a 1 bedroom unit. I suspect if you had a 4 bedroom last time, you were in 2 off the 2BR Villa’s that connected. the “valley side” felt like a residence to me, the 2BR was the most updated but it has been a few years since I was there. Hope that helps.

 

[bajohnsons]

Very helpful! Thanks so much!

 

[DagnyT]

The key difference here is the building. The original building at Steamboat, which is closest to the mountain, has 7 floors. This was pre-Vistana so no lockoffs and the unit is much more like a large condo. This is very much the more desirable side, IMHO. So if you can get it, I absolutely would.

Each floor of the original tower building has 2 of the 3-Bedroom residences and one 2-bedroom. These were running older, but they've completed renovations to these side now, so the units are all nicely modernized.

The other building (West Tower), which was converted from the hotel, is shorter and has the lockoff units.

The way you know which one you're getting is through the naming conventions. The 3-bedroom listed as Mountainside or Valley side and the 2-Bedroom Valley side are all in the "condo" building. The 3-bedroom mountain view on the 7th floor is as good as it gets.

If you look at the maps, you'll see the key difference here is in the square footage. The 3-bedroom on the valley or mountainside has 1,946 square feet. The Valley side 3-bedroom (which still has a good mountain view from the living room) is 1,726 square feet.

But it's on the 2-bedroom where the value comes in. The 2-bed villa in the new building only has 760 square feet, while the 2-bed valley side in the tower has 1,617 square feet.
The 2-bed lockoff has more space, at about 1,000 square feet, but it's still no comparison space-wise.

If you're traveling with other adults and need separate space, the lockoff is nice. But if you have a family in one space, the true 2/3bed config is generally better.

The maps here are pretty good, but the comparison is striking. 2-bed from the Valley side on the left. 2-bed villa from the West Tower on the right.

 

[bajohnsons]

Thanks Dagny! That's everything I've been looking for!