Significance of a SDO Platinum? [& other SDO questions]

[toddvb20]

On one of the Starwood Stickys above there is a post under the Starwood Resources thread that describes what a "true platinum" unit is. A couple of questions :

Is it a good thing to have a true platinum? If so, what extra benefits go along with it?

Do you pay a premium to have a true platinum unit?

Thanks!

 

[DeniseM]

On one of the Starwood Stickys above there is a post under the Starwood Resources thread that describes what a "true platinum" unit is. A couple of questions :

Is it a good thing to have a true platinum? If so, what extra benefits go along with it?

The only benefit is that it may have slightly higher trading power. Since they overlap the same weeks at the 1-52 floating week, you can reserve the exact same weeks with Plat and Gold Plus.

Do you pay a premium to have a true platinum unit?

The two Bdm. Plat units sell for quite a bit more on the resale market, because people buy them to requalify them for Elite status, so they are harder to find and more expensive. The 1 bdm's sell for about the same as a Gold Plus (1-52) week. Because they are hard to find and more expensive, they probably aren't cost effective II traders, unless you stumble upon a really good deal.

 

[tomandrobin]

Is it a good thing to have a true platinum? If so, what extra benefits go along with it?

Only if you are going to requalify the unit on your path to 5 star elite.

 

[gnorth16]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330631717443

If this is the reason you are asking, the weeks don't match up. It is listed as a Platinum, but the weeks indicate Gold Plus Float.

Gold Plus Float is great if you want to stay at the resort, Platinum is a better trader (mostly with requests.) With instant trades, I have not seen any difference between a Gold Plus Float and a Platinum. That doesn't mean there isn't, just on the trades I have been looking/making the inventory is the same.

 

[toddvb20]

One bedroom annual?

Is the such thing as a one bedroom annual? As I look at the eBay ads if it's listed as a one bedroom they're always biannual. If you want an annual you have to get a two bedroom.

Also, with the one bedroom listings how do you know what kind of unit you're getting? From my understanding most of(All of?) starwood units are either a studio or a one bedroom and the two together make up the two bedroom lockout.

Would a SDO one bedroom still be a relatively good trader?

Thanks!

 

[susan6103]

1 bdrm

Is the such thing as a one bedroom annual? As I look at the eBay ads if it's listed as a one bedroom they're always biannual. If you want an annual you have to get a two bedroom.

Also, with the one bedroom listings how do you know what kind of unit you're getting? From my understanding most of(All of?) starwood units are either a studio or a one bedroom and the two together make up the two bedroom lockout.

Would a SDO one bedroom still be a relatively good trader?

Thanks!

yes- most definately.
We picked up a SDO 1 bdrm on ebay in the summer time. Traded for a 2 bdrm Ka'anapali for next September. Just be patient - it will come along.

 

[DeniseM]

Is the such thing as a one bedroom annual? As I look at the eBay ads if it's listed as a one bedroom they're always biannual. If you want an annual you have to get a two bedroom.

Also, with the one bedroom listings how do you know what kind of unit you're getting? From my understanding most of(All of?) starwood units are either a studio or a one bedroom and the two together make up the two bedroom lockout.

Would a SDO one bedroom still be a relatively good trader?

Thanks!

SDO doesn't have any studios - both sides of the lock-off are 1 bdm. units and trade as one bedroom units. You can tell which side it is:

a) by the maintenance fee

Sheraton Desert Oasis
EOY Lg. 1 Bdm. - $332.27
EOY 2 Bdm. L/O - $474.20
Sm. 1 Bdm. - $529.91
Lg. 1 Bdm. - $624.54
2 Bdm. L/O - $908.41

b) by having the closing company request a Resale Info. sheet from Starwood.

If you need to/intend to trade into 2 bdm. units - you should buy a 2 bdm. unit to exchange with.

 

[toddvb20]

Thanks and sorry for all the questions. I know very little about timeshares and you've all been a great help. Again, thanks to all!

 

[SDKath]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330631717443

If this is the reason you are asking, the weeks don't match up. It is listed as a Platinum, but the weeks indicate Gold Plus Float.

Gold Plus Float is great if you want to stay at the resort, Platinum is a better trader (mostly with requests.) With instant trades, I have not seen any difference between a Gold Plus Float and a Platinum. That doesn't mean there isn't, just on the trades I have been looking/making the inventory is the same.

Looks like it's been relisted without the "Platinum" wording. They are looking for $2000 for it! :hysterical:

 

[gtm2011]

Yes, you can buy an annual one bedroom at SDO. The Starwood Resale sheet that Denise mentions will not tell you if it is a Premium (large) or Deluxe/Standard (Small) one bedroom. It will just list the season and the size (one bedroom). Also, don’t always believe the listed maintenance fees in any eBay auction or online listing for that matter. Most people don’t know what they own or they are just lazy to verify it. I wanted the larger one bedroom and the auction listed the smaller one bedroom maintenance fees, but I did my own homework to verify what size unit it really was. I ended up buying a premium (large) one bedroom platinum on eBay. I have no problem trading it in II, I can see plenty of available Starwood two bedroom weeks at all three of the Hawaii properties and Harborside when they filter through the ongoing requests after a bulk banking using this one bedroom. If you are patient, something will eventually show up on eBay.

 

[gnorth16]

Looks like it's been relisted without the "Platinum" wording. They are looking for $2000 for it! :hysterical:

The seller sent me a message with two days left in the 1st auction and said it was a gold plus float, but never changed his listing until he had to re-list it.

$2000

Maybe if it had free usage AND closing costs included. That would put the actual sale value at about $600, which is not unreasonable.

Be patient. Although 2BR's don't come along nearly as much as the 1BR's, wait it out. With MF's coming due soon, some will be willing to part with it for next to nothing.

 

[toddvb20]

It's been mentioned on this board that SDO is an attractive property because it's a good trader on II.

Is sbp or one of the Palm Springs resorts(or any of the SVN voluntary properties for that matter) just as good as trader?

Is there ever a chance of SDO not being a good trader?

Thanks!

 

[DeniseM]

It's been mentioned on this board that SDO is an attractive property because it's a good trader on II.

Is sbp or one of the Palm Springs resorts(or any of the SVN voluntary properties for that matter) just as good as trader?

When you compare price, maintenance fees, and the fact that the 2 bdm. lockoff is 2 - one bedroom units, it's hard to beat.

Is there ever a chance of SDO not being a good trader?

There are no guarantees of any kind with trading.