[Starwood] question regarding buying Timeshares on ebay vs. a rep from the resort

[cruzad3r]

will do, it's amazing the people you meet online.

i will research the Marriott and will post question so you vet. can help answer.

thanks all

 

[DeniseM]

will do, it's amazing the people you meet online.

i will research the Marriott and will post question so you vet. can help answer.

thanks all

The best place to post Marriott questions, is the Marriott forum.

But FIRST - read the stickies and get up to speed on Marriott.

 

[scooter]

In the past 18 months, I have bought several weeks at both Harbourside Atlantis and Lakeside Terrace on eBay. The Colorado weeks, (with the exception of one closing agent who was truly incompetent), all closed in a timely 90 days fashion. The three weeks I bought at Atlantis have yet to close. 8 months and counting, and they have still not cleared in Bahamas. Plus I still need to get through title at Starwood. I'm starting to get concerned because I want to use the points for Westin Maui or Kauaii in June, and we're inside the envelope for requests already. I've never bought a TS in the primary market, so I'm not sure what the deal is then.

 

[SuMoran1124]

Sheraton Vistana Resort

[I'm sorry, but advertising in the forums is not permitted. Please consider using our classifieds - linked as "Marketplace," in the red bar at the top of the page. Unfortunately, in this economy, the week you own is being given away for free. - Let us know if you want more info about that. - DeniseM Moderator]

 

[Ken555]

I think the last post offering to sell at a "reasonable price" places this all in perspective. Most owners don't know the value of their week. I'm sure their post (which I know Denise will edit as soon as she sees it) was made without reading the whole thread or they'd know a free week (including closing!) was offered. I say free+closing is now "reasonable" as far as these weeks are concerned.

 

[DeniseM]

I'm sure their post (which I know Denise will edit as soon as she sees it)

Yeppers!

ebay auctions for Sheraton Vistana Resort - http://www.ebay.com/csc/Timeshares-..._dmpt=Timeshares&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m283

Ending prices on the last 7 auctions for SVR:
$0
$1
$265
$550
$33.62
$0
$0

How can I give away my timeshare on TUG - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132509

 

[Passepartout]

i'm happy that i joined this board.

If you REALLY want to feel like an insider, part with the $15 to truly JOIN TUG, and you won't be listed as 'guest'. The benefits of being able to see the reviews of thousands of resorts, as well as the 'Sightings & Distressed' listings are worth waaay more than the cost of membership. Plus, when you post reviews of your own, your TUG membership can be free. Free is good! Use me as a reference.

Jim

 

[cruzad3r]

this might be a first time that i ever pay for an online forum. i'm seriously considering it. thanks for the advice.

for those who have more weeks then they can think of or using, do you usually trade on II or RCI? I mean is it worth it to pay for all of the MF?

Following question, what is (from your multi weeks owner's perspective) a reasonable MF that you're willing to pay say for 2-3 weeks of TS?

Finally, is it smarter to own different weeks from different developers so you can trade it with other? Is this a prefer method/strategy?

 

[DeniseM]

this might be a first time that i ever pay for an online forum. i'm seriously considering it. thanks for the advice.

for those who have more weeks then they can think of or using, do you usually trade on II or RCI?

All of the prime Starwood resorts are with II - so a II membership is valuable for Starwood to Starwood trades.

Disney is only with RCI - which at this point, is the only reason I'd join RCI.

I mean is it worth it to pay for all of the MF?

It depends on many things:
-How many weeks of vacation do you have?
-Do you want to gift vacations to friends and family
-Do you want to rent extra weeks?

Following question, what is (from your multi weeks owner's perspective) a reasonable MF that you're willing to pay say for 2-3 weeks of TS?

My Maui week started at about $1,200 and shot up to over $2,000 in less than 10 years. I would have never bought it if I knew it would do that (Rookie mistake.) The rest of my timeshares range from about $450 - $1,000 per year.

Here is a good rule of thumb - if you can rent it for less than the maintenance fee, why own?

Finally, is it smarter to own different weeks from different developers so you can trade it with other? Is this a prefer method/strategy?

Usually - it give you variety in trading power and location.

 

[slip]

Denise, You can rent Kauai Beach Villas for less than MF's but you won't
get that view you love.

 

[DeniseM]

Denise, You can rent Kauai Beach Villas for less than MF's but you won't
get that view you love.

Good point - and I'm all about the view. Which is exactly why we bought 2 weeks ocean front so we can guarantee it every year.

 

[slip]

I've seen that comment about rent being cheaper from a lot of people lately
on TUG. Guaranteeing a view, unit or a certain resort are good reasons to take
advantage of the super cheap resale prices.:whoopie:

 

[VacationForever]

While it is true that for many resorts one can rent cheaper than to own but I have never rented timeshare weeks because I do not know who I am renting from and how to take precautions against fraud. I certainly do not want to show up at a resort and then find out that the week was cancelled because the owner was foreclosed upon or somehting. Owning a timeshare week or trading it thru II offers me peace of mind. I have also never rented out a week. My own advice is buying only what you can use, not more and not less.

 

[cruzad3r]

My own advice is buying only what you can use, not more and not less.

this is very true... so my goal now is to find TS that's closer where i can drive to and back. Also it's perfectly fine to use only two or three days at the time right? do you have to use the entire week? does it matter whether i buy resale or from developer to just use several days instead of the entire week?

 

[DeniseM]

this is very true... so my goal now is to find TS that's closer where i can drive to and back. Also it's perfectly fine to use only two or three days at the time right? do you have to use the entire week? does it matter whether i buy resale or from developer to just use several days instead of the entire week?

Timesharing does not work well for short stays - it's really designed for 7 night stays.

For instance, with Starwood, you can't book a short stay unless it's a mandatory resort with Staroptions, and you can't make a reservation until you are within 90 days of check-in - by which time there isn't likely to be availability at a popular resort.

You can always reserve the full week and only stay part of the week, but you lose the extra days.

 

[scootr5]

Timesharing does not work well for short stays - it's really designed for 7 night stays.

For instance, with Starwood, you can't book a short stay unless it's a mandatory resort with Staroptions, and you can't make a reservation until you are within 90 days of check-in - by which time there isn't likely to be availability at a popular resort.

You can always reserve the full week and only stay part of the week, but you lose the extra days.

Not that I'm looking to do it, but in the SBP governing documents it states:

During the Floating Use Period, Floating Week Owners can make reservations for three-day and four-day Split Periods, subject to availability. Availability varies with respect to seasonality and Unit type. The Management Company shall have the right in its sole discretion to designate those Vacation Ownership Interests in which Split Periods will be permitted to reserve from time to time.​

I'm guessing that means while it is possible to split a week, they may not designate any units to allow it at most times (kind of like the phantom "bonus time" at SDO)?

 

[VacationForever]

Not that I'm looking to do it, but n the SBP governing documents it states:

During the Floating Use Period, Floating Week Owners can make reservations for three-day and four-day Split Periods, subject to availability. Availability varies with respect to seasonality and Unit type. The Management Company shall have the right in its sole discretion to designate those Vacation Ownership Interests in which Split Periods will be permitted to reserve from time to time.​

I'm guessing that means while it is possible to split a week, they may not designate any units to allow it at most times (kind of like the phantom "bonus time" at SDO)?

Now you make me curious, what is phantom "bonus time" at SDO?

 

[scootr5]

Now you make me curious, what is phantom "bonus time" at SDO?

It looks like Nodge tried a couple times but was unsuccessful booking it. I don't know if anyone has ever been able to.

f you are an owner at Sheraton Desert Oasis (SDO) and need a few more days beyond those you already own, don’t forget to see if they have any “bonus time” available. This program is apparently unique to SDO as a hold-over from when the property was an Embassy Vacation Resort. The current “bonus time” rate is $99/night for any sized unit that is available.

Here are the rules:

It can be booked only by owners for their own use;
It can be booked no sooner than 30 days before your planned arrival date;
It is limited to otherwise unreserved available space;
An owner may have only one “bonus time” reservation outstanding at any time during a use year;
Friday, Saturday, and Holiday stays require a two night minimum;
Sunday through Thursday may be booked for as little as one night;
Pre-payment is required; and,
No refund for unused, pre-paid nights.

I found this little nugget in the “Rules and Regulations of Embassy Vacation Resort at Scottsdale” document provided by the title company with my SDO resale.

I needed a couple of extra nights next month, so I called SVO to try to book some “bonus time.” No one there ever heard of it, but they were glad to book me into the SDO at the 35% Owners discount rate of $188/night. Upon further questioning, they “found the documentation.”

FYI,
-Nodge​

 

[VacationForever]

Thank you, Scott.

 

[jerseygirl]

SVR has owner rental rates, similar to bonus time. When not full, can rent very cheaply. I haven't done it in a while, but if I remember correctly, it was ~$69 (???) for a one-BR.

 

[cruzad3r]

just so i'm clear, has people who own SBP able to split their week into halves?

 

[vacationtime1]

just so i'm clear, has people who own SBP able to split their week into halves?

Some of the 2 bd units are lockouts; others are not. You can always tell which are which by the maintenance fees. At the original phase ("Plantation"), MF's are $965 for the non-lockout 2 bd units and a couple hundred more for the lockouts.

But always get a "Resale Information Sheet" on the unit that will give the official description before you close the deal.

 

[DeniseM]

Some of the 2 bd units are lockouts; others are not. You can always tell which are which by the maintenance fees. At the original phase ("Plantation"), MF's are $965 for the non-lockout 2 bd units and a couple hundred more for the lockouts.

But always get a "Resale Information Sheet" on the unit that will give the official description before you close the deal.

He wants to split it into 3 days - 4 days.

 

[YYJMSP]

just so i'm clear, has people who own SBP able to split their week into halves?

Not sure if you can split your week in half at SBP, but a few of the other properties (PGA, SVR Lakes & Cascades) also participate in another pre-SVN club called VCC ("Vistana Vacation Club") that has it's own rules and benefits.

One of those benefits (which is similar to the "book individual days using SOs" feature of SVN) is the split-week vacation, where at 90 days out you can break your week in to a 3-day and a 4-day component and stay at one of the VCC properties, subject to a bunch of other rules, etc.

Perhaps SBP has a similar feature?

 

[scootr5]

Not sure if you can split your week in half at SBP, but a few of the other properties (PGA, SVR Lakes & Cascades) also participate in another pre-SVN club called VCC ("Vistana Vacation Club") that has it's own rules and benefits.

One of those benefits (which is similar to the "book individual days using SOs" feature of SVN) is the split-week vacation, where at 90 days out you can break your week in to a 3-day and a 4-day component and stay at one of the VCC properties, subject to a bunch of other rules, etc.

Perhaps SBP has a similar feature?

According to the governing documents you can, but I have yet to read a report of anyone successfully doing it on any board.