Staroptions- How do they work?

[scottmindib]

Hello everyone,

I was just wondering how the staroptions system works. Let's say if I were to buy 148,000 pts at the Westin kierlands ( a mandatory resort) in Scottsdale would I be able to book at the other Starwood properties? Also, how far out would I be able to book at my home resort as opposed to the other Starwood properties? Would I have to trade into them via I.I. or would I just stay in the Starwood system to trade? Thanks

Scott

 

[Henry M.]

Hi! You should probably look at the Starwood FAQ to understand the Starwood system, including Staroptions, II, mandatory vs. voluntary resorts and other nuances.

For you specific question, if you buy at Kierland, you'll be able to use your Staroptions at any other Starwood resort. Different locations and unit sizes require different number of Staroptions, but 148,100 will get you a week in a 2BR unit pretty much anywhere in the Starwood system. You can reserve up to 12 months out at your home resort and up to 8 months out at other locations. St. John is probably the hardest location to get.

You trade to other Starwood resorts within the SVN system directly. You can use II if you want to go to locations where Starwood doesn't have a property or you can exchange directly with other owners at other resorts (I've done that).

 

[LisaRex]

Westin Kierland is a good choice if you want StarOptions because it is a mandatory resort and StarOptions transfer upon resales. Most Starwood properties do not, and we term them voluntary resorts.

You can book your home property from 12-8 months out. You can trade to any other Starwood property using StarOptions at 8 months out if you want to book by the week or longer. For stays less than a week, you have to wait til 90 days out.

Starwood properties tend to trade well within II if you don't want to be confined to Starwood resorts. Starwood has stalled on building new resorts so II may be a bigger part of your future than you realize.