Should I deposit SDO A or B in II for an ongoing request?

[marmite]

I am going to be putting in a request for Christmas 2012, with a 1 bedroom unit SDO (gold plus, float). The Starwood resorts I am interested in are WKV (Kierland) and WDL (Desert Willow).

I would like to get a one bedroom with a 'full' kitchen, as both resorts have two kinds of one bedroom units.

For II trade purposes, does it matter if I deposit an A side or a B side? When I look at instant trades on II, I do not see any visible difference in my trading power. However, when II makes a match for your request, would which side I deposit factor in to what they gave me?

I know holidays are a long-shot and all, but I wanted to at least see if II can come through on this.

Thanks!

 

[yumdrey]

I think either A or B side would work to pull 1BR premium.
But x-mas week is not easy trade.
Starwood doesn't deposit holiday weeks.

 

[DeniseM]

You would be better off to put in your request at Starwood resorts that have TRUE fixed weeks & holiday event weeks because the owners at those resorts are allowed to deposit Christmas weeks. At the floating week resorts - Starwood decides.

I don't know if WKV or WDW sold event weeks or not?

 

[l2trade]

Since there is no visible difference that I've seen, I recommend always trading the small side first!

 

[marmite]

I think either A or B side would work to pull 1BR premium.
But x-mas week is not easy trade.
Starwood doesn't deposit holiday weeks.

I realise it is not an easy trade, but how can it be that Starwood doesn't deposit holiday weeks? Or is the exception what Denise mentioned about resorts that have "TRUE fixed weeks & holiday event weeks".

Christmas weeks do show up on the instant trades (or is that just Marriott and other brands?)...

Are Starwood owners that you know of putting in Christmas requests in II and NEVER getting them? It's (only) Palm Desert & Arizona after all (not WSJ!).

 

[marmite]

Oh, a couple more thoughts here.

The difficulty for Christmas reservations, or Starwood not depositing at that time... does that include the week before Christmas? I was thinking of putting a Request period from December 14th to 31st.

Since I have seen Christmas weeks coming in for Marriott, is there actually a better chance of getting a Marriott Christmas week from II through request?

Or, would it be easier to try and trade some time at DVC Beach Club Villas for a reservation made by an owner at one of those resorts? Or is it even hard for owners to get Christmas week?

Thanks again!

 

[DeniseM]

With Marriott - I believe that owners can still choose the week they deposit.

Since 2009, Starwood has not allowed floating week owners to choose the week they deposit. Starwood chooses.

However, TRUE fixed week/Event Week owners CAN choose the week they deposit.

 

[jerseygirl]

I hope it's true that "event week" owners can deposit the week they own (even though it would rarely happen). Starwood stops WSJ Hillside and HRA Phase One owners from depositing our fixed weeks because we have the "capability" to float within our season (even though there's only ever been one report of it working here on TUG!). Can "event week" owners float?

 

[yumdrey]

Oh, a couple more thoughts here.

The difficulty for Christmas reservations, or Starwood not depositing at that time... does that include the week before Christmas? I was thinking of putting a Request period from December 14th to 31st.

Since I have seen Christmas weeks coming in for Marriott, is there actually a better chance of getting a Marriott Christmas week from II through request?

Or, would it be easier to try and trade some time at DVC Beach Club Villas for a reservation made by an owner at one of those resorts? Or is it even hard for owners to get Christmas week?

Thanks again!

Week of Dec 14 (week 50) is an easy trade, but week 51 and 52 are not.
I have seen week 50 at both WMH and WKV.

 

[DeniseM]

I hope it's true that "event week" owners can deposit the week they own (even though it would rarely happen). Starwood stops WSJ Hillside and HRA Phase One owners from depositing our fixed weeks because we have the "capability" to float within our season (even though there's only ever been one report of it working here on TUG!). Can "event week" owners float?

There was a WKORV (or WKORV-N) event week deposit very recently in II, so I think they can.

I don't think event week owners can float - hopefully an event week owner will chime in.

 

[marmite]

I got my Christmas week trade!

Just wanted to report back on this, as I was starting to doubt that Interval would come through for me. I deposited my SDO 1 BDR A, in November 2011 and just was notified a few days ago that I got Christmas week for WKV.

I am really pleased with this, but am surprised it took so long to see the December weeks as the Marriott resorts had lots of Christmas weeks available many months ago. Not sure why Starwood took so long to show their December inventory.

The only irritation, was that as soon as I got the booking, I looked online and could see a 2BDR unit for Christmas week (and wanted to trade my week for it, even if I needed to pay another trade fee). When I called in, I was unable to, and was told it was a 'phantom week' that they can't see in their system. Interval has some serious computer issues they need to sort out, that is for sure.

Anyhow, I have a bit more faith that prime weeks are possible, and as I write this I am staying in my very first trade to Marriott Lakeshore Reserve -- thanks to all of you who helped me buy SDO!