I am looking at "off" season, first week of May and last week of May (week 17 and week 21). Is it difficult to get either week at St John via SVN?
-
The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!
Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day! -
TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!
Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG! -
TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!
Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!
Visit TUG on Youtube! -
TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!
Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars -
Wish you could meet up with other TUG members? Well look no further as this annual event has been going on for years in Orlando! How to Attend the TUG January Get-Together!
-
Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!
Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners! -
Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!
All T-shirt options here!
St John SO reservation question
- Thread starter VacationForever
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2007
- Messages
- 6,792
- Reaction score
- 317
- Location
- 'burbs of Cincinnati, OH
- Resorts Owned
- Used to own: WKORV-N; SVV - Bella
In my experience, it's ALWAYS difficult to book St. John. But the easiest times are in the fall.
So be prepared to call September 17th at 9am Eastern time, and have a Plan B.
Thanks LisaRex. I actually have not booked using SOs before. How does one calculate exactly 8 months ahead, down to the day?
sptung, ... "How does one calculate exactly 8 months ahead, down to the day?"
Find a day of arrival that you want. Add 4 months or subtract 8 months.
For example: If you want to arrive on September 17, 2012, call Starwood Owner Services or the appropriate Starwood reservation number for the resort at 9:00 am EST on January 17, 2012. If you have Starwood Elite Status, call the Elite Number listed in mystarcentral.
You say you want a May arrival, but don't say what year. If you wanted to arrive on May 17, 2012, you should have started calling on September 17, 2011. It's already December, 2011. I'm afraid everything for May, 2012 is gone by now. If you want May, 2013, start calling in September, 2012.
Be persistent and flexible about the type of unit you want. If a Saturday arrival at WSJ doesn't work, ask about Friday or Sunday of the previous week. Many weeks there is no availability. Then, one pops up.
And, remember, if you are using StarOptions at 8 months from arrival, only the check-in or check-out day must be a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and the reservations can be more more than a week (7 days). So, you might be able to link up 2 availabilities of less than a week for a 7-day (or more) stay. GLTY! ... eom
Find a day of arrival that you want. Add 4 months or subtract 8 months.
For example: If you want to arrive on September 17, 2012, call Starwood Owner Services or the appropriate Starwood reservation number for the resort at 9:00 am EST on January 17, 2012. If you have Starwood Elite Status, call the Elite Number listed in mystarcentral.
You say you want a May arrival, but don't say what year. If you wanted to arrive on May 17, 2012, you should have started calling on September 17, 2011. It's already December, 2011. I'm afraid everything for May, 2012 is gone by now. If you want May, 2013, start calling in September, 2012.
Be persistent and flexible about the type of unit you want. If a Saturday arrival at WSJ doesn't work, ask about Friday or Sunday of the previous week. Many weeks there is no availability. Then, one pops up.
And, remember, if you are using StarOptions at 8 months from arrival, only the check-in or check-out day must be a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and the reservations can be more more than a week (7 days). So, you might be able to link up 2 availabilities of less than a week for a 7-day (or more) stay. GLTY! ... eom
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2007
- Messages
- 6,792
- Reaction score
- 317
- Location
- 'burbs of Cincinnati, OH
- Resorts Owned
- Used to own: WKORV-N; SVV - Bella
Add 4 months and subtract one year from your desired check in date.
Example: If you want to check in on April 21st, 2012 you'd call at 9am on August 21st, 2011.
***
Also note that openings at WSJ tend to go very quickly. It's best if you don't have a reservation already in place (e.g. at your home resort) because the CSR will need to go in and cancel your existing reservation before booking WSJ. By the time they get done with that, the WSJ week may be taken by another caller.
Don't forget to check Friday and Sunday check-ins either!
Also, FYI, if there is more than one unit available, know ahead of time which one you'd like. The Hillside villas are more removed from the main resort, and have their own pools/BBQ. And the parking lot is very close to the units. Bay Vista Villas are closer to the main resort and you feel more connected to the resort, not just because of its proximity, but because you use the amenities of the main resort (e.g hot tub, pool). The big downside with Bay Vista units are their distance from the parking lot. Hauling snorkeling equipment up that hill can get old.
***
My experience booking WSJ:
The first time I tried to exchange to WSJ (for January 2010), I was able to get the exchange on my first call, albeit for a Friday check-in. The CSR expressed shock at seeing it, so it was a pleasant surprise for both of us.
The second time (for January 2011), I was never able to get in, despite calling several times a week for months. 3 bdrm units were available, but no 2 bdrms.
This last time (for January 2012), I was shocked to hear that there were several 2 bdrm openings for the month of January -- which is high season on St. John! I was even able to change the dates of my reservation twice (at a cost of $29 each IIRC) -- ultimately to a Saturday check-in date that matched a held frequent flyer award reservation.
I'm honestly not sure what conclusions you can draw from all this, but there you have it. No matter what, your best bet is always to call in at 9am 8 months out and keep calling, if needed.
P.S. When you do go to exchange, please report back to let us know how it went.
Thank you very much, Jim and LisaRex. I am planning on going to WSJ in 2014. But the calculations will help with my other SO bookings.