Should I upgrade during the 35% off sale or buy mandatory deeded week on resale market to pair with our current flex package.

[Ksrantz]

I own 51,700 Sheraton Flex options. With how we like to travel we need a minimum of 81,000 to go to Weston Ka’anapalli, Westin St John and Harborside. We are being offered to upgrade our 51,700 flex to 81k for $4,596 with no closing costs and we get 81k bonus options to use. Should we do this or buy a mandatory deeded week in Orlando to use as flex options with our existing flex? We are bi annual even years right now with our 51,700. We must cancel by Monday if we want to cancel the upgrade.

 

[jabberwocky]

Just to be clear - you don't get Flex Options by purchasing a mandatory deeded week in the Vistana system - you would just get regular StarOptions. But given where you are wanting to go, I think that regular SO's are okay - you just don't get 12 month priority at any of the locations you've mentioned.

- Is it a horrible deal - no - pricing is okay and it will give you a usable amount of SO.
- Do you want to book for longer periods than one week? If so buying a mandatory SVV deed would let you book for slightly longer at the locations you want to go (i.e., a total of 132,700 SO to use vs. 81000 - but also correspondingly higher fees). Availability will still be tough with what you are wanting to do.
- Personally I would have seen if they could have swapped you into a Westin Flex 81,000 contract instead of an 81,000 Sheraton Flex. This would at least give you 12 month priority at WKORV, WKORV-N, Nanea and Princeville in Hawaii (but not WSJ or Harborside which would still be 8 months). MF are slightly more - but for a small EOY package it's not too bad.

 

[Ksrantz]

Thanks jabberwocky. All good points. I think my biggest concern now is not finding availability at 8 months out. I keep hearing this from people. Maybe I just keep 51,700 and try to get my use out of it with a couple good Hawaii trips, break even and get out. I received 51,700 bonus options I could pair with my 51,700 flex options for a good Hawaii trip plus we were given 220,000 bonvoy points and a “free week” to use anywhere by our sales person. Do we just cut and run based on lack of availability at 8 months out?

 

[vacationtime1]

Start by rescinding the upgrade.

 

[jabberwocky]

Thanks jabberwocky. All good points. I think my biggest concern now is not finding availability at 8 months out. I keep hearing this from people. Maybe I just keep 51,700 and try to get my use out of it with a couple good Hawaii trips, break even and get out. I received 51,700 bonus options I could pair with my 51,700 flex options for a good Hawaii trip plus we were given 220,000 bonvoy points and a “free week” to use anywhere by our sales person. Do we just cut and run based on lack of availability at 8 months out?

For what it's worth I've rarely had difficulty booking Hawaii with SO at 8 months - but you should be on pretty much at midnight EST. WSJ and Harborside will be more difficult.

 

[Ksrantz]

Start by rescinding the upgrade.

Just keep our 51,700 and use until we feel we are at a break even and get out? Is that what you would do? Or buy on resale?

 

[Ksrantz]

For what it's worth I've rarely had difficulty booking Hawaii with SO at 8 months - but you should be on pretty much at midnight EST. WSJ and Harborside will be more difficult.

That’s what I’m concerned about. I’m sure we will love Hawaii but we want variety with WSJ and Harborside. Those three are really all that interest us so if we can only get one (Hawaii) every 2 years that could get monotonous.

 

[dioxide45]

Thanks jabberwocky. All good points. I think my biggest concern now is not finding availability at 8 months out. I keep hearing this from people. Maybe I just keep 51,700 and try to get my use out of it with a couple good Hawaii trips, break even and get out. I received 51,700 bonus options I could pair with my 51,700 flex options for a good Hawaii trip plus we were given 220,000 bonvoy points and a “free week” to use anywhere by our sales person. Do we just cut and run based on lack of availability at 8 months out?

The problem is that Sheraton Flex won't get you any of those locations you mentioned at 12 months out since they are Westin and I don't think Harborside is in any of the flex programs.

 

[Ksrantz]

The problem is that Sheraton Flex won't get you any of those locations you mentioned at 12 months out since they are Westin and I don't think Harborside is in any of the flex programs.

I messaged my salesperson and she told me that switching to Westin Flex from Sheraton Flex would triple our annual maintenance.

 

[jabberwocky]

I messaged my salesperson and she told me that switching to Westin Flex from Sheraton Flex would triple our annual maintenance.

Ummm...the salesperson needs to learn how to do math. MF for EOY in Sheraton Flex is around $0.008/option. Westin Flex is 0.01/option. That’s around a 25% premium - not triple.

 

[Ksrantz]

I ca

The problem is that Sheraton Flex won't get you any of those locations you mentioned at 12 months out since they are Westin and I don't think Harborside is in any of the flex programs.

n definitely book Harborside with flex. They are plentiful in my app right now but that could be covid related.

 

[jabberwocky]

I ca

n definitely book Harborside with flex. They are plentiful in my app right now but that could be covid related.

Harborside isn’t in the Flex program so it can’t be booked 8-12 months out. At the 8 month mark your Flex Options (developer purchases only) become StarOptions which you can use to book Harborside. Keep in mind that you are probably seeing lower hurricane season and covid availability at Harborside right now.

 

[Ksrantz]

Ummm...the salesperson needs to learn how to do math. MF for EOY in Sheraton Flex is around $0.008/option. Westin Flex is 0.01/option. That’s around a 25% premium - not triple.

Yeah that is nothing. I did the math and that’s barely noticeable....$162 more roughly.....do you think my Sheraton salesperson just can’t sell Westin so they are trying to discourage me? Or can they sell either? I was talking to some other owners that have used the Sheraton flex program for a while now and they said they have always been able to get Hawaii, Bahamas and St John 8 months out. I just don’t know what direction to take at this point. Maybe I’ll just rescind the upgrade for now and just keep an eye on availability for a while.

 

[CPNY]

Yeah that is nothing. I did the math and that’s barely noticeable....$162 more roughly.....do you think my Sheraton salesperson just can’t sell Westin so they are trying to discourage me? Or can they sell either? I was talking to some other owners that have used the Sheraton flex program for a while now and they said they have always been able to get Hawaii, Bahamas and St John 8 months out. I just don’t know what direction to take at this point. Maybe I’ll just rescind the upgrade for now and just keep an eye on availability for a while.

They can sell all flex. They probably just want a quick sale on the upgrade. Rescind the upgrade and hold out. With covid you may be able to get some good deals on mandatory resales. Flex is relatively new, the upgrade will be there most likely in the future

 

[jabberwocky]

Yeah that is nothing. I did the math and that’s barely noticeable....$162 more roughly.....do you think my Sheraton salesperson just can’t sell Westin so they are trying to discourage me? Or can they sell either? I was talking to some other owners that have used the Sheraton flex program for a while now and they said they have always been able to get Hawaii, Bahamas and St John 8 months out. I just don’t know what direction to take at this point. Maybe I’ll just rescind the upgrade for now and just keep an eye on availability for a while.

Where is your salesperson based out of (you may have mentioned this and I missed it)?

it could very well be that they cannot sell the WFlex product if it is a Sheraton location. Many locations are restricted. I think SDO is one of the few that can sell both.

My opinion is that you’d be happier with an 81k WFlex package than the SFlex package. If that is what you want and the current salesperson can’t deliver then rescind. You could then try talking to central sales and see what they can do for you.

 

[Ksrantz]

Where is your salesperson based out of (you may have mentioned this and I missed it)?

it could very well be that they cannot sell the WFlex product if it is a Sheraton location. Many locations are restricted. I think SDO is one of the few that can sell both.

My opinion is that you’d be happier with an 81k WFlex package than the SFlex package. If that is what you want and the current salesperson can’t deliver then rescind. You could then try talking to central sales and see what they can do for you.

My salesperson is located at Sheraton Vistana Villages. I did originally talk to central sales and the upgrade was going to be $2k more plus $945 closing. My salesperson quoted me $2k less and waived the closing costs and gave me bonus options and bonvoy points. It is probably just safer to wait though. Especially with all the uncertainty of Covid.

 

[Markus]

Vistana Villages is not able to sell Westin Flex.

markus

 

[Ksrantz]

Vistana Villages is not able to sell Westin Flex.

markus

Well there is my answer regarding why she is discouraging it. Thanks Markus.