Starwood options points question

[dsrbp]

If I purchase a Sheraton timeshare for a particular season and it gives 81000 staroption points and I also purchase a Westin timeshare for a particular season providing 81000 staroption points.

1. Would these points be able to be combined and used during the calendar year for a resort requiring 148100 points?
2. Would these points be able to be used for any part of that year regardless of the seasons I have in my home resorts?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[DeniseM]

Just to clarify, StarOPTIONS and StarPOINTS are two completely different things. Staroptions are the exchange value of your TS in the Starwood exchange system, and Starpoints are hotel/airface points that your timeshare can be converted to.

If I purchase a Sheraton timeshare for a particular season and it gives 81000 staroption points and I also purchase a Westin timeshare for a particular season providing 81000 staroption points.

1. Would these points be able to be combined and used during the calendar year for a resort requiring 148100 points?

The Sheraton and Westin resorts are in the same system - Starwood, so although they have different names, they are in the same program. Starwood may have recently changed the rule on combining Staroptions from resale weeks. The old rule was that only Staroptions from weeks purchased from the developer could be combined. There has been some info. lately stating they are changing this rule, but no one's seen it in writing. So the answer is, maybe....

2. Would these points be able to be used for any part of that year regardless of the seasons I have in my home resorts?

Once you convert your week to Staroptions, they are no longer connected to your deeded week in any way. They can be used at any Starwood resort with availability, but no earlier than 8 mos. before your desired check in date. They expire at the end of the calendar year.

For lots more info. about Starwood, see the Starwood FAQ at the top of the page.

 

[SDKath]

One clarification -- you DON'T get StarOptions on resale purchases unless the resort is considered mandatory (see owner resources sticky on the list). Many sellers don't realize this and tell you otherwise.

On mandatory resorts, SOs transfer and you now supposedly CAN combine points. This is a very recent development and as always, rules can change quickly, so I am still wanting to see this in writing somewhere.

Katherine

 

[dsrbp]

Thank you

Just wanted to say thank you for the responses. TUG has been a great resource for me. It's members with its wealth of knowledge provide me with more informed decision about the timeshares I wish to purchase. I am leaning towards purchasing one resort wish I can use for trading and one resort I can travel to - annual usage - probably both mandatory so allow staroptions to transfer - trying to be as economical as possible and hoping combining points will come through.