Starwood Interval International II Question

[laurenb]

Not sure if this post belongs in the Exchanging portion of BBS, but it's a Starwood only question.

I just read the fabulous Starwood FAQ for exchanging http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109418 (thanks Denise). I am left with a question. Do you have to have a week reserved at your home resort to do ongoing requests and instant online exchanges? Or do you just have to own the timeshare and have it registered with II using the steps Denise mentions?

Thanks, all, for answering my Newbie questions =)

 

[sjsharkie]

Not sure if this post belongs in the Exchanging portion of BBS, but it's a Starwood only question.

I just read the fabulous Starwood FAQ for exchanging http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109418 (thanks Denise). I am left with a question. Do you have to have a week reserved at your home resort to do ongoing requests and instant online exchanges? Or do you just have to own the timeshare and have it registered with II using the steps Denise mentions?

Thanks, all, for answering my Newbie questions =)

You do not have to have a week reserved at your home resort do an ongoing request and instant online exchange I believe in all cases (but I am unfamiliar with the rules in Sheraton Flex and CVV points so I will let others answer that).

For a normal floating week, you just have to own the timeshare and have it registered in II.

-ryan

 

[DeniseM]

You just have to have the ownership registered with II.

With Starwood, you actually are not permitted to make a reservation and deposit it - when you make a deposit, you get an generic deposit "credit."

 

[laurenb]

Request First

You just have to have the ownership registered with II.

With Starwood, you actually are not permitted to make a reservation and deposit it - when you make a deposit, you get an generic deposit "credit."

How does Request First come into play? If I am requesting but haven't deposited, can I have a reservation and then give it up if the request is filled?

 

[DeniseM]

How does Request First come into play? If I am requesting but haven't deposited, can I have a reservation and then give it up if the request is filled?

If you have a reservation in place, I don't think the exchange will go through, because II will call Starwood to authorize the deposit, and they will say no can do.

 

[laurenb]

What I find confusing, is the quote from the Interval FAQ in the TUG 2 free advice articles:
"o You must find an acceptable exchange before 60 days before your weeks check in date. If you don’t find an acceptable exchange, you can stop the search and use your week for your own vacation." So how would I use it for my own vacation, if I'm not allowed to reserve a week and have an ongoing request at the same time? My brain hurts. Steep learning curve here. Thanks for all the help!

 

[DeniseM]

If you don't get the exchange you want, you can cancel the search, get the week back, and make a home resort reservation.

 

[laurenb]

Thank You!

If you don't get the exchange you want, you can cancel the search, get the week back, and make a home resort reservation.

Makes sense! Thanks

 

[laurenb]

One Other Question

So if I let the ongoing search continue past 60 days out (59 days-0 days), how does that work? Does that mean I will go into the FlexChange? And then if I don't find anything I lose the week?

 

[DeniseM]

So if I let the ongoing search continue past 60 days out (59 days-0 days), how does that work? Does that mean I will go into the FlexChange? And then if I don't find anything I lose the week?

When you make the deposit, you know how long you have to use it - it will be stated in your account.

How long that is depends on when you make the deposit. But let's say that you deposit as early as possible. That will give you 30+ mos. to use the deposit.

If you don't get the exchange you request, that has no impact on the deposit - it just stays in your account. The deposit is good for a specific time frame, or until you use it for an exchange.

With Starwood, you have until the end of the year to make a deposit. So let's say you have a 2015 usage week that you want to deposit - the last day to deposit it is Dec. 31 - although I certainly would not wait that long.

 

[laurenb]

I just bought Sheraton Desert Oasis...$31.10 on eBay! Yeah! It's a 2-bedroom LO, floating weeks 1-52. I'm not done with escrow yet, and figure I can actually get it into II by the end of September. I want to trade one side for ANY Hawaii resort at the end of July 2016 for my honeymoon. I was thinking of doing request 1st to try to get Hawaii as soon as I get in II, but maybe it would be smarter to deposit so that I have the 30 months in case we don't get anything in Hawaii. Your thoughts? Thanks, Denise!

 

[DeniseM]

I just bought Sheraton Desert Oasis...$31.10 on eBay! Yeah! It's a 2-bedroom LO, floating weeks 1-52. I'm not done with escrow yet, and figure I can actually get it into II by the end of September. I want to trade one side for ANY Hawaii resort at the end of July 2016 for my honeymoon. I was thinking of doing request 1st to try to get Hawaii as soon as I get in II, but maybe it would be smarter to deposit so that I have the 30 months in case we don't get anything in Hawaii. Your thoughts? Thanks, Denise!

It is unlikely to be in your name by the end of September, but you can certainly deposit it by the end of the year.

Unless you want to use it yourself, I would deposit it.

If you are only open to requesting one check-in date, that makes it a MUCH more difficult exchange. If you can at least request a 2 week window, you will have better luck, and the earlier in June the better. In late June - there is tremendous competition for exchanges, so if you aren't locked into a wedding date, earlier in June would be better than late June. May even better.

 

[Markus]

II question

I have a question for the II experienced tuggers.

I am not that familiar with II as I have never used it. I have a number of weeks that are in SVN, and automatically associated with my II account. I have just bought 3 resale weeks that are not at mandatory resorts. Will Starwood automatically associate these resale weeks with my existing II account, or will I have to register them in a separate account? Will there be a separate fee also?

Thanks

Mark

 

[DeniseM]

The II account you have now is paid for by your SVN Fees, but you don't pay SVN fees on your voluntary deeds, so you can't put them in the same Acct.

You have to open a separate II Acct., and pay for it directly, yourself - there is a detailed walk-through at the top of the page in the stickies.

 

[Markus]

Thanks Denise, appreciate the quick reply.

Mark

 

[laurenb]

Yikes!

It is unlikely to be in your name by the end of September, but you can certainly deposit it by the end of the year.

Unless you want to use it yourself, I would deposit it.

If you are only open to requesting one check-in date, that makes it a MUCH more difficult exchange. If you can at least request a 2 week window, you will have better luck, and the earlier in June the better. In late June - there is tremendous competition for exchanges, so if you aren't locked into a wedding date, earlier in June would be better than late June. May even better.

Our Honeymoon is actually in late July. Is that even worse than June?

We are staying at Lawai Beach Resort from July 23-30 (good friend is giving us her week as a wedding gift) but we were hoping to stay a second week. Unfortunately, that would mean we are very unflexible and would need to check in July 30 or August 1. But like I said, it can be any Hawaii resort on any island! Still a no???

 

[DeniseM]

Sorry - you did write "July." July is worse than June, but if you are willing to take any resort, on any island, it will help. It will also help if you don't have to have a perfect match to your previous reservation, for instance, if you are willing to rent a night or 2 inbetween, if necessary.

 

[sjsharkie]

Our Honeymoon is actually in late July. Is that even worse than June?

We are staying at Lawai Beach Resort from July 23-30 (good friend is giving us her week as a wedding gift) but we were hoping to stay a second week. Unfortunately, that would mean we are very unflexible and would need to check in July 30 or August 1. But like I said, it can be any Hawaii resort on any island! Still a no???

Late July is even worse. I would of course try, but this trade is not likely. Someone would have to deposit this week (because Starwood won't on their own), and even if you use the large 1BR side, you would be trumped by a Plat Plus 1BR SDO + any other higher TDI unit.

I would have a backup plan in place for the week.

Good luck and congrats!

-ryan

 

[DeniseM]

I would deposit the full two bedroom, and only request a one bedroom, to increase your trading power.

*Ryan - she isn't just requesting Starwood.

 

[sjsharkie]

I would deposit the full two bedroom, and only request a one bedroom, to increase your trading power.

*Ryan - she isn't just requesting Starwood.

Ah, OK. I assumed because it was in the SVO subforum ... well, mom always said not to assume.

Doable. I'd also say to deposit the full two bedroom, but then if it is any resort, she almost is better renting. With SDO annual MF at $1100 + $200 trade fee (no Starwood only discount), we are looking at $1300+ for the week. She can rent at KBV for $1300 or even cheaper on VRBO for a 1BR. I think she has to stick to the 1BR in order to make the math work out.

I'd think you'd have better odds in RCI, except I don't think your SDO will be valued high enough. I see bulk banks of HGVC in Oahu and the Big Island with July dates sometimes. You might have to deposit each side separately, and then combine the deposit to maximize the points. And HGVC is so much nicer than what you might get if you go through II as I am assuming you will not get Hyatt/Starwood/Marriott given the July date.

Just my thoughts.

-ryan

 

[DeniseM]

When you get to the point where you have to book your airfare (it can actually be booked now) if you are going to book airfare so you can stay the 2nd week, I recommend that you book a cancelable hotel room for the 2nd week.

The Aqua Kauai Beach Villas Hotel on Kauai, is a really nice hotel, for a reasonable price (for Hawaii) and their units are all studios with a wet bar/microwave.

http://www.aquaresorts.com/hotels/aqua-kauai-beach-resort/

That will give you a back up that you can cancel, if your exchange doesn't come through, and you decide to look for a last minute timeshare rental.

 

[laurenb]

Maintenance before?

That is great advice! I will definitely have a back-up plan and Aqua Kauai looks awesome. There seems to be no shortage of people renting their Hawaii timeshares on ebay, also, so I'm sure we will find something. I'm a little bummed about probably not getting the trade, but I think I'm going to make an on-going search for the 2br anyway and go for it. I can always make a reservation at my home resort and have a second vacation if the trades don't work =)

So if I decide to book the weeks for my own use at SDO or deposit the weeks, do the maintenance fees have to be paid first? If so, can I just call Starwood to pay 2016 fees before I get the bill? (Once the title is in my name, of course). I want to get started on this as soon as I officially own it

 

[sjsharkie]

So if I decide to book the weeks for my own use at SDO or deposit the weeks, do the maintenance fees have to be paid first? If so, can I just call Starwood to pay 2016 fees before I get the bill? (Once the title is in my name, of course). I want to get started on this as soon as I officially own it

To book the (2016) weeks for home resort usage, you do not need to pay 2016 maintenance fees in advance of the due date.

To deposit the 2016 weeks in II, you will need to pay 2016 estimated maintenance fees in advance. You can either call or pay online.

-ryan

 

[tschwa2]

SDO, like most resorts managed by Starwood, requires you to prepay the MF if you are depositing with II (or RCI) or starting a request first Ongoing Search. If you are reserving a week at your home reservation then you will not have to pre-pay the MF's. SBP (Sheraton Broadway Plantation) is one of the exceptions that require you to prepay your MF's before making a reservation for the following year.

 

[DeniseM]

If so, can I just call Starwood to pay 2016 fees before I get the bill? (Once the title is in my name, of course). I want to get started on this as soon as I officially own it

You will set up an owner's Acct. at www.mystarcentral.com, and I think the easiest thing to do is to pay there.