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Starwood purchase right for us??

michellek26

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I have been browsing the boards for a week considering if a Starwood resale would be a good idea for us. We are a family of four, kids 6 and 9. The past few years we have been travelling about 3 times a year – Spring Break (which is usually week before or after Easter), July and possibly long weekend in fall or Christmas/New Years. We went to Hawaii in 2009 and 2011 and love it. We stayed at the Honua Kai next to WKORV in 2011 and loved what we saw of WKORV. We would probably be interested in going to Hawaii every other year. We are on the east coast and it’s a long trip.

Based on what I have been reading, it looks like a 2 BR at Westin Kierland in platinum plus season would give us 148,100 staroptions which would give us enough SO to trade into Harborside and WSJ. We should be able to pay about $13-$15k and MFs and SVO fee are $1237 right now?? Is all this right?

Based on when we travel and wanting to visit Maui, Harborside and WSJ for Spring Break, anytime in July (maybe until mid-August) would buying resale be a good idea for us? Or is it too hard to get the times we want without actually owning at the resort? I know we can’t reserve until 8 months out. It seems like Hawaii would be the easiest to get right?

Also I was thinking of a 2 BR to give us more staroptions. Right now we are ok in a 1 BR though. We would possibly be looking to book a 1 BR on two separate trips right now. In the future a 2 BR might be more comfortable for us. Can we book a one bedroom through starpoints and trade a 1 BR through II?

We would also possibly visit WKR but not often. Is it a bad idea to buy where we wouldn’t stay??

Thanks for any thoughts from the experts. :)
 

LisaRex

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If you want the cheapest way to get to these places, WKV is the best bet. However, there's no guarantee that you'll get into WSJ/HRA during the popular summer months when all the kids are out of school. Hawaii is definitely doable.

Normally, I'd advise buying the most difficult unit to exchange into (e.g. a summer week at HRA) and then exchanging out during the other years. However, both HRA and WSJ have very high MFs. And most importantly, summer at both these resorts is considered gold season and owners aren't given sufficient SOs to get an equivalent size unit in Hawaii.

As far as II goes, you can only deposit what you own, though you can split lockoffs and use one side and deposit the other at your home resort. This strategy may allow you to get into a 2 bdrm in Hawaii, but doubt you'll get into HRA/WSJ except low season.
 
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DeniseM

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It is going to be very difficult to get Harborside and WSJ during school holidays every year. If that's your goal, you are going to be disappointed. During school holidays, I think you would be lucky to get WSJ or Harborside once every 5 years - there is far more demand than supply for school holidays.

However, Hawaii every other year is very doable, if you put in a request for the whole summer, for all 3 resorts. Christmas and New Years are not available because they were sold as event weeks, Easter will be harder than summer because of the limited time frame.

If you don't mind going other places as a back-up, then it may work for you. You should check out the other East Coast resorts and see if they interest you - http://www.starwoodvacationownership.com/starwood_vacation_ownership_resorts.jsp

With II, you can only deposit exactly what you own, so no, you cannot deposit a reservation made with Starpoints or Staroptions.

If you own a 2 bdm. lock-off, you can split it, use one side, and deposit the other side - but only what you own.
 

MommaBear

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I think your logic is good. You are unlikely to get school vacation weeks at WKORV(N) 8 months out, but summer may be much more do-able.

I strongly recommend a two bedroom lock off, both for the flexibility and the fact that your kids will soon be teenagers and all of you will want your privacy. The problem with WKV for you is that you need school vacation weeks and buying there, although a mandatory property, will only let you book other properties with your Star Options at 8 months out, whereas you can book where you own 12 months out. Maybe an EOY at WKORV(N) and another WKV EOY would give you what you want.

There are many threads about Starwood here. Some people love them, some people strongly dislike them. I have stayed at many Starwoods, Marriotts and other TS, and I think you get what you pay for. I love the grounds of the Starwood properties, the rooms, the staff and the amenities. When I go to destination resorts to hang out and relax, I go to Starwood. When I go to a vacation where I am going to be on the go 90% of the time and just need a place to sleep and eat an occasional meal, most anything will do, as long as it is clean, quiet and safe.
 

vacationtime1

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Based on what I have been reading, it looks like a 2 BR at Westin Kierland in platinum plus season would give us 148,100 staroptions which would give us enough SO to trade into Harborside and WSJ. We should be able to pay about $13-$15k and MFs and SVO fee are $1237 right now?? Is all this right?

This is correct, although if I recall correctly, the MF's at WKV are $1,216 + the SVN fee; expect annual increases.

You could also use the 148,100 SO's to get 13 days in a one bedroom unit at WKORV or WKORVN, booking at the eight month mark.

You should seriously consider Lisa's and Denise's admonition about the availability (i.e. non-availability) of WSJ and HRA, especially if those are important potential destinations for you.

Finally, if you use SO's to book at WKORV or WKORVN, you should expect to get an island view room and be surprised if you get ocean view. Although your room assignment priority will be higher than an Interval exchanger, it will be lower than a Maui owner. If you use Interval rather than SO's, you could get two weeks in two bedroom suites but it is less certain in general, and unlikely during summer and holidays. The greater certainty of booking dates well in advance using SO's may make a large difference in the airfares you will pay.
 
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