Star points vs II

[BRD]

Hi! I am starting to look at resales that have the star points. However, I’m not sure it’s worth it since most are in Hawaii and Cancun. How easy is it to use star points at other properties other than a home resort. How easy is it to exchange into a 1 or 2 bedroom into II if you own at Westin Kierland compared to one of the Cancun properties or a property like Cabo Azul in Ssn Jose Del Cabo?

 

[DeniseM]

Just to clarify: Vistana timeshares have StarOptions - StarPoints were the Vistana Hotel points which went away when Marriott took over.

StarOptions have FAR more value than Interval Deposits.

These timeshares have StarOptions, even when you buy resale:

* Harborside at Atlantis
* Vistana Villages (Bella and Key West phases only)
* Westin St. John (Virgin Grand - Hillside only)
* Westin Ka'anapali & Westin Ka'anapali-North
* Westin Kierland Villas

 

[Hindsite]

From Denise's reply you can see that the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun isn't on the list of mandatory resort, so buying resale doesn't get you any Staroptions, but you can still exchange it in II, and having a lock-off there is high season can be worthwhile.
The general rule of thumb is that any resort in Mexico that has mandatory all inclusive fees in II, does not trade anywhere as well as a similar resort quality and unit size that does not have mandatory AI. Mexico is also one of the heavily saturated locations so tends to trade a bit less well than Kierland would, but its not a strict science as II trading power has variable components in it as well as fixed ones.

 

[BRD]

From Denise's reply you can see that the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun isn't on the list of mandatory resort, so buying resale doesn't get you any Staroptions, but you can still exchange it in II, and having a lock-off there is high season can be worthwhile.
The general rule of thumb is that any resort in Mexico that has mandatory all inclusive fees in II, does not trade anywhere as well as a similar resort quality and unit size that does not have mandatory AI. Mexico is also one of the heavily saturated locations so tends to trade a bit less well than Kierland would, but its not a strict science as II trading power has variable components in it as well as fixed ones.

I was under the impression that I could do a direct exchange into any Westin Timeshsre or Sheraton timeshare if we a property thst has mandatory Star options.

 

[BRD]

What else are the benefits of Star options?

 

[DeniseM]

They can be used to exchange into all Vistana resorts.

 

[wmgjr]

Just to clarify: Vistana timeshares have StarOptions - StarPoints were the Vistana Hotel points which went away when Marriott took over.

StarOptions have FAR more value than Interval Deposits.

These timeshares have StarOptions, even when you buy resale:

* Harborside at Atlantis
* Vistana Villages (Bella and Key West phases only)
* Westin St. John (Virgin Grand - Hillside only)
* Westin Ka'anapali & Westin Ka'anapali-North
* Westin Kierland Villas

A non mandatory purchase would still have home options I believe. Limited to Westin or Sheraton portfolio respectively.

 

[DeniseM]

A non-mandatory resort has no options. You can only use it for reservations at the resort where you own.

 

[Eric B]

A non mandatory purchase would still have home options I believe. Limited to Westin or Sheraton portfolio respectively.

A non-mandatory resort has no options. You can only use it for reservations at the resort where you own.

The only non-mandatory purchases that have home options would be the Westin Flex trust, where you could use the options to book in Westin properties included in the trust, the Sheraton Flex trust, where you could book in Sheraton properties included in the trust, and Westin Aventuras, where you could book Westin Lagunamar, Westin Los Cabos, or Westin Cancun. What you could book with home options at those resorts is limited to unit types and seasons within the trust, which can be limited (e.g., there are no Westin Los Cabos Baja Point units in the Aventuras trust). For Westin Flex, not all Westin properties are included (e.g., the Mexican ones). It remains to be seen whether any of the new Westin properties would be added to Westin Flex - I can't really think of a good reason why they would be from a marketing perspective since MVW seems more interested in selling MVC points.

 

[kozykritter]

What else are the benefits of Star options?

Star Options are an internal trading currency for your ownership within the Vistana booking system and don't exist outside of that. They have no value or use in II as you have to exchange your full underlying ownership usage there (except for home options products like Flex where you can exchange in chunks of home options). Having a mandatory or VSN enrolled week with Star Options only affects what fees you will pay related to II as the membership fee is part of your VSN/Abound club dues and exchanges into Vistana or Marriott properties in II are free, including retrades. Non Star Options eligible ownerships have to buy their own II membership and pay all II fees

 

[Hindsite]

I was under the impression that I could do a direct exchange into any Westin Timeshsre or Sheraton timeshare if we a property thst has mandatory Star options.

Yes if it is a mandatory property it comes with the ability to book from the VSN availability from 8 months ahead, as well as the ability to exchange in II, and book the home reservation from 12 months ahead.
II and VSN and the home reservation system all have different sets of inventory so some resorts have better availability in one and not the others and some can be got using less ownership via one way vs another. It really depends on where and when you want to travel and then which reservation system gives you the best chance of obtaining that and the associated costs of that.

 

[BRD]

Has anyone used thirdhome.com to exchange?
Has anyone successfully gotten a Disney Villa exchange in Orlando?

 

[Hindsite]

Has anyone used thirdhome.com to exchange?
Has anyone successfully gotten a Disney Villa exchange in Orlando?

Yes any Sheraton or Westin ownership, except for the Sheratons in Orlando, can exchange for DVC Orlando inventory using II. What you get will depend on the season and unit size (or number of home options) you are depositing vs the season and unit size you are requesting.
DVC has a regional block on any exchanges from weeks deposited timeshares of any brand that are in the Orlando area.

 

[dansimms]

Has anyone used thirdhome.com to exchange?
Has anyone successfully gotten a Disney Villa exchange in Orlando?

I have used Third Home on 2 occasions. By booking a high demand week at one of your home resorts, in my case, I was given 6 Third Home Keys’. The next challenge is finding a week that you want in the Third Home System. Most of the inventory is private homes with at least 3 bedrooms. There is an additional fee that comes along with the booking. So, you end up paying a premium for this additional flexibility . We don’t need more than a 2 BR on most occasions, so we don’t exercise this option often. The two homes we selected were excellent, but we missed some of the offerings that a traditional Villa would have , such as the workout room and pools. There are a decent number of TimeShare villas in Third Home, but again, an Owner has had to give up the week you want.

 

[BRD]

I have used Third Home on 2 occasions. By booking a high demand week at one of your home resorts, in my case, I was given 6 Third Home Keys’. The next challenge is finding a week that you want in the Third Home System. Most of the inventory is private homes with at least 3 bedrooms. There is an additional fee that comes along with the booking. So, you end up paying a premium for this additional flexibility . We don’t need more than a 2 BR on most occasions, so we don’t exercise this option often. The two homes we selected were excellent, but we missed some of the offerings that a traditional Villa would have , such as the workout room and pools. There are a decent number of TimeShare villas in Third Home, but again, an Owner has had to give up the week you want.

Thank you

 

[Eric B]

Has anyone used thirdhome.com to exchange?
Has anyone successfully gotten a Disney Villa exchange in Orlando?

I use ThirdHome frequently; most often for Europe or the Caribbean. I've never sought a Disney Villa exchange but have seen Saratoga and Aulani show up. I generally don't use my Vistana or Marriott ownerships to exchange with them because the keys I get for other ownerships get me a better price.

 

[bethd]

I use ThirdHome frequently; most often for Europe or the Caribbean. I've never sought a Disney Villa exchange but have seen Saratoga and Aulani show up. I generally don't use my Vistana or Marriott ownerships to exchange with them because the keys I get for other ownerships get me a better price.

Eric- What do you mean by the keys I get for other ownerships get me a better price?

 

[Eric B]

"Keys" are the currency ThirdHome uses for exchanges. I look at the efficiency of a TS to trade in ThirdHome based on dividing the maintenance fees plus any additional costs by the number of keys it would yield deposited there. There is no trading power issue other than the number of keys you have.

 

[andremike]

Just to clarify: Vistana timeshares have StarOptions - StarPoints were the Vistana Hotel points which went away when Marriott took over.

StarOptions have FAR more value than Interval Deposits.

These timeshares have StarOptions, even when you buy resale:

* Harborside at Atlantis
* Vistana Villages (Bella and Key West phases only)
* Westin St. John (Virgin Grand - Hillside only)
* Westin Ka'anapali & Westin Ka'anapali-North
* Westin Kierland Villas

isn't Vistana Villages Key West and Bella part of that list?

 

[DeniseM]

Yes - 2nd on the list


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[andremike]

Yes - 2nd on the list


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thanks,, any advice for someone looking to buy on the resale market?

 

[DeniseM]

I would check out the Ads on TUG, and Redweek for the type of unit you want to buy, and figure out what your target price is. Personally, I like Westin Kierland for a resale for it's lower maintenance fees and it's a nice property to use or rent, as well.

 

[needvaca]

Has anyone used thirdhome.com to exchange?
Has anyone successfully gotten a Disney Villa exchange in Orlando?

I have used my 2BR Sheraton Broadway Plantation (or could have used my Westin Kierland, but too valuable) to trade into Disney Saratoga Springs in March 2022 and in May 2025. Not difficult, but you have to check Interval International daily