StarOptions Reservation vs. Home Week

[sdtugger]

I am just learning the Vistana reservation system. My understanding was that owned weeks or flex options (VOI's) can be reserved from 12-8 months. However, after 8 months, anyone with staroptions can reserve any remaining inventory.

I recently tried booking a week at Lagunamar using staroptions for February 2024 (long after 8 month window opened). I can only see studios using staroptions. However, if I use an owned week at Lagunamar, I can see 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom units, in addition to the studio. Is this how it should work? If not, how do you fix it? Thanks!

 

[VacationForever]

That's the way it works. Nothing to fix. Different inventory buckets.

 

[echino]

Yes, that's what I've seen as well. A Home Resort Reservation is available within 8 months, but not StarOptions. And the other way around. A StarOptions reservation is available, but not as a Home Resort Reservation with a deeded week.

 

[sdtugger]

So, what is the rule regarding staroptions at less than 8 months? How is the inventory determined?

 

[dioxide45]

Is the owned week a resale voluntary, meaning no StarOptions?

 

[sdtugger]

Is the owned week a resale voluntary, meaning no StarOptions?

Yes, it is right now. However, I recently purchased aventuras flex and it will eventually be requalified once that all closes.

 

[sdtugger]

The Vistana website states: "The VSN Float reservation period begins 8 months prior to arrival, where ownership reservations require you to use StarOptions." I must have misunderstood this language. I assumed that once you hit 8 months prior to arrival that anyone with staroptions could reserve whatever units were still available. But, that is clearly not the case in what I am seeing. Can anyone help me understand what is available using staroptions at 8 months and how it is determined? Thanks.

 

[dioxide45]

Yes, it is right now. However, I recently purchased aventuras flex and it will eventually be requalified once that all closes.

If a week is voluntary, it isn't in VSN and that voluntary inventory never makes it into VSN for 8 month reservations. So some inventory is always held aside for voluntary owners to reserve.

 

[sdtugger]

If a week is voluntary, it isn't in VSN and that voluntary inventory never makes it into VSN for 8 month reservations. So some inventory is always held aside for voluntary owners to reserve.

Wow, OK. That was unexpected. Thanks. Once it is requalified, will it still see the same inventory?

 

[dioxide45]

Wow, OK. That was unexpected. Thanks. Once it is requalified, will it still see the same inventory?

It should because inside 8 months it will be seeing StarOption inventory instead of voluntary inventory.

 

[sdtugger]

It should because inside 8 months it will be seeing StarOption inventory instead of voluntary inventory.

Sorry, I was not clear. Right now my voluntary week can see a 2 bedroom in February (4 months out). But, my staroptions can only see a studio in February. Once my voluntary week is requalified, would it still see the 2 bedroom inventory at 4 months?

 

[dioxide45]

Sorry, I was not clear. Right now my voluntary week can see a 2 bedroom in February (4 months out). But, my staroptions can only see a studio in February. Once my voluntary week is requalified, would it still see the 2 bedroom inventory at 4 months?

No, once requalified it will be in VSN and the StarOptions should work just like your other. There is separate inventory available to Voluntary owners for Home Resort reservations. That 2BR unit you are seeing is available as a Home Resort reservation for voluntary owners at Lagunamar.

 

[sponger76]

I am just learning the Vistana reservation system. My understanding was that owned weeks or flex options (VOI's) can be reserved from 12-8 months. However, after 8 months, anyone with staroptions can reserve any remaining inventory.

I recently tried booking a week at Lagunamar using staroptions for February 2024 (long after 8 month window opened). I can only see studios using staroptions. However, if I use an owned week at Lagunamar, I can see 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom units, in addition to the studio. Is this how it should work? If not, how do you fix it? Thanks!

They have to keep some weeks back for unenrolled resale weeks owners. Since Lagunamar is a 'voluntary' resort, an unenrolled resale owner would not be able to use StarOptions, at their own resort or elsewhere, even within 8 months. So inventory has to be kept available to cover unenrolled resale weeks that can't be taken away by someone using StarOptions. Once a 'voluntary' resale is enrolled, within 8 months it will act as StarOptions and will only see inventory available as StarOptions reservations.

 

[sdtugger]

They have to keep some weeks back for unenrolled resale weeks owners. Since Lagunamar is a 'voluntary' resort, an unenrolled resale owner would not be able to use StarOptions, at their own resort or elsewhere, even within 8 months. So inventory has to be kept available to cover unenrolled resale weeks that can't be taken away by someone using StarOptions. Once a 'voluntary' resale is enrolled, within 8 months it will act as StarOptions and will only see inventory available as StarOptions reservations.

Ah, thank you. Makes sense now!

 

[byeloe]

Owning voluntary resale has some restrictions but this booking availability is somewhat of a perk as is the ability to cancel right up to the day of check in with no fees

 

[sdtugger]

I am at a key point and wanted to ask for some additional advice. I just received the paperwork to requalify my Lagunamar weeks. I could sign and return today. This process has taken an incredibly long time and this final step will probably take a long time too. But, it is possible that it could go quickly.

I am hoping to reserve thanksgiving 2024 at Cancun which I think I can reserve in about 12 days. Vistana helped me create separate accounts for my weeks so that I can make reservations before they are requalified.

My question is whether requalifying the weeks would potentially interfere with my ability to reserve 2 bedroom units at 12 months out for thanksgiving? I can hold the paperwork for 2 weeks or so if it would improve my chances at a unit.

Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[alexadeparis]

I am at a key point and wanted to ask for some additional advice. I just received the paperwork to requalify my Lagunamar weeks. I could sign and return today. This process has taken an incredibly long time and this final step will probably take a long time too. But, it is possible that it could go quickly.

I am hoping to reserve thanksgiving 2024 at Cancun which I think I can reserve in about 12 days. Vistana helped me create separate accounts for my weeks so that I can make reservations before they are requalified.

My question is whether requalifying the weeks would potentially interfere with my ability to reserve 2 bedroom units at 12 months out for thanksgiving? I can hold the paperwork for 2 weeks or so if it would improve my chances at a unit.

Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks

Requalifying wouldn’t affect the home resort reservations aspect, just the staroptions part. So the home resort reservation is the same whether Re qualified or not.

 

[sdtugger]

Thanks. I did a few practice searches 1 year out. I see the exact same availability using my not yet enrolled weeks and using options.

One new question is whether there are specific days when availability is released? I could be wrong. But, it seems like the latest available day was the same yesterday and today.

 

[DeniseM]

Home resort reservations are released at exactly midnight eastern, 12 mos. before check-in.

Staroption reservations are released exactly at midnight eastern, 8 mos. before check-in.

Example: Tonight a midnight eastern, they will release July 10, 2024. (8 month - Staroption reservations)

In most cases, they will not release home resort reservations, because July 10, 2024, is a Wed, and in most cases home resort reservations are for Fri/Sat/Sun.

Flex Options/Home Options and similar variations, may have a different release.

 

[kozykritter]

Home resort reservations are released at exactly midnight eastern, 12 mos. before check-in.

Staroption reservations are released exactly at midnight eastern, 8 mos. before check-in.

Example: Tonight a midnight eastern, they will release July 10, 2024. (8 month - Staroption reservations)

In most cases, they will not release home resort reservations, because July 10, 2024, is a Wed, and in most cases home resort reservations are for Fri/Sat/Sun.

Flex Options/Home Options and similar variations, may have a different release.

Home options release at the same 12 months mark as deeded weeks.

 

[sdtugger]

New follow up question. I now have retro'ed weeks at Lagunamar and Aventuras points. I also secured my family week reservations for thanksgiving. Yay!

My spouse and I are now considering adding some days before and after the week that the family will be there, just for us (prepare for a recover from grandkids time ). I can easily see and book nights for the week before (Nov. 20-23) and for 1 night after our week (Nov. 30-Dec. 1). But, for any nights after Dec. 1, the only thing I can see are studios and then only with my aventuras. We are not yet at 8 months, so I think I understand that it makes sense that I need to use staroptions to book outside of my ownership week (platinum plus ends on Nov. 30 I believe).

My question is for aventuras: Shouldn't I be able to see all inventory even outside platinum plus times? Does this mean that there really are only studios available at that time? Or, will that change at 8 months?

I am hoping that things will change at 8 months. But, I am concerned. Thanks for helping me understand VSN reservations again!

 

[daviator]

I think you should see SO inventory pop up once you get inside of eight months, but as always, your best chance will be right ar midnight eastern time on the day eight months prior to desired arrival (check in) date.

The good news is that if the room type is the same as on your existing reservation, they will try (and usually succeed) to keep you in the same room so you don’t actually have to check in and out between reservations. You may want to call them a few days before arrival to make that request, but they seem to usually figure it out on their own.

Another idea which might not be applicable to you as a resale buyer, but I am in a similar boat as you for a reservation in the Fall at another Vistana property. I booked 9 nights with SOs at eight months but I really wanted ten nights, but I’d have had to “break” another VOI to use some of its SOs and I didn’t want to do that. So I searched with (Abound) Club Points and was able to book the additional night at a very reasonable Club Point cost. So that’s an option too, I think that much of the time, using Abound for Vistana properties represents a poor value, but sometimes it can be quite good.

Oh, and I just realized I didn’t answer your main question. NO, you will NOT see inventory outside of your Platinum Plus season during the home resort reservation period.

 

[dioxide45]

From what I understand, much of the inventory in Aventuras at Lagunamar happens to be studio units. Perhaps booking larger units is difficult unless right at the 12 month mark.

 

[daviator]

From what I understand, much of the inventory in Aventuras at Lagunamar happens to be studio units. Perhaps booking larger units is difficult unless right at the 12 month mark.

That’s the key info that MVC will never tell you. They say “these properties are in Aventuras” but for Lagunamar, the reality is that they had been selling weeks there for many years before they created Aventuras, and so the inventory that they dumped into Aventuras was pretty much the dregs that they hadn’t been able to sell. But they’re savvy enough to know that advertising Aventuras as owning mostly less-desirable inventory at Lagunamar isn’t effective at driving sales.

 

[sdtugger]

Thanks very much. That is exactly what I need to do now.