Thinking about buying…[ Westin Ka'anapali ]

[AlyT]

My husband and I just sat through the Westin Ocean Villas Kaanapali presentation. We are interested in getting a timeshare but I know we can get better deals on the resale market. When I look at postings for this resort on the resale market it seems like the system works a little differently than how they explained it to us. Starpoints vs. club points vs. bonvoy points. If we buy a resale for this resort will we have the ability to exchange points to use at different hotels or resorts? I just don’t want to be locked into one resort every year. Do we lose benefits by not buying from Westin?

 

[DeniseM]

I would not buy at the Westin Ka'anapali unless you want to visit every year, or at least every other year. It's too expensive to use as a trader. If you want a Westin trader there are less expensive options.

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

Spend some time researching and don't rush into anything. There are plenty of resources in the stickies on this board and look back through the pages of posts as many people have asked the same questions you will have.

 

[rickandcindy23]

My husband and I just sat through the Westin Ocean Villas Kaanapali presentation. We are interested in getting a timeshare but I know we can get better deals on the resale market. When I look at postings for this resort on the resale market it seems like the system works a little differently than how they explained it to us. Starpoints vs. club points vs. bonvoy points. If we buy a resale for this resort will we have the ability to exchange points to use at different hotels or resorts? I just don’t want to be locked into one resort every year. Do we lose benefits by not buying from Westin?

Marriott is so expensive, and nothing they were talking about selling to you is worthy of the price they are charging. $17 per point is what we were quoted for Westin Nanea, 2,500 points. That is a lot of money for basically nothing on Maui.

Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Abound Points Chart 2024 – 2025 | Advantage Vacation Timeshare Resales

 

[AlyT]

I would not buy at the Westin Ka'anapali unless you want to visit every year, or at least every other year. It's too expensive to use as a trader. If you want a Westin trader there are less expensive options.

Ok from what I understand this is a mandatory resort and therefore I can exchange it for other Vistana resorts. If I buy it on the resale market that would be the case correct?

 

[buzglyd]

Ok from what I understand this is a mandatory resort and therefore I can exchange it for other Vistana resorts. If I buy it on the resale market that would be the case correct?

Yes. But, you buy Westin Kierland for less and still have Staroptions. Kierland is mandatory.

 

[AlyT]

Yes. But, you buy Westin Kierland for less and still have Staroptions. Kierland is mandatory.

Oh that’s good to know! So if we bought there we could still come to Maui if we had enough points?

 

[cubigbird]

Oh that’s good to know! So if we bought there we could still come to Maui if we had enough points?

Staroptions are staroptions. The biggest difference owning at WKV is you’ll have to wait until 8 months out, not 12 months out if you owned at Kaanapali. As others have said buy Kierland for trading, buy Hawaii if you want to want to use it as owned.

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

Yes. But, you buy Westin Kierland for less and still have Staroptions. Kierland is mandatory.

I think to get the same number of SO Kierland are actually now ~50% more expensive (14.5K v 9K) to buy resale than WKORVN IV but obviously the MFs are only around 66% of those in Maui (2.6K v 3.9K)

 

[Dardan]

We bought Maui resale two years ago. We bought EOY(every other year). we can use the star options at other Vistana resorts, but we just plan on going to Maui in the years. We are going this February with our kids and grandkids for whale season. So I agree you should buy it if you planned on spending most of your time there.

 

[DavidnRobin]

I own WKORV OFD that has some of highest MFs in the system (if not the highest based on a 2Bd), but was able to reserve 6-nites low season (Fri-Thur) in the 1Bd OFD using StarOptions (81K from WKV and 1500 or so expiring) that only cost ~$1400. Nice…

I originally was trying to get a 1Bd in Cabo (good luck) and the 1Bd OFD popped up so I grabbed it. We actually used our 2024 OFD usage and elected Abound and used some Club Points for 10 nites (1Bd OV) at Waikoloa (never been to the Island of Hawaii) 13 months in advance.
The OFD converted at ~45c/CP - not bad. Using the remaining CPs for weekday stays at Vegas’s Marriott Grand Chateau (30% discount at I am enjoying Abound.


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[Tucsonadventurer]

If you need mid summer 2 bedroom , whale season, or holidays but at Kaanapali. Otherwise Kierland is a good option. We paid 14,000 for 148+ staroptions and have always gotten into Maui at 8 mos, so far. We have flexibility though. We did go Feb this yr and last June but I know it's not guaranteed. It just depends on your vacation needs

 

[Henry M.]

When you buy resale, you don't get the option to convert to hotel points. The conversion value is low, but on occasion it can make sense. I've gotten some good value at some hotels in Europe. Not so much in the US.

I don't know if you can convert to Club Points either. You had to own before the merger of Vistana and MVC to get that privilege.

At WKORV and WKORVN, you get to convert to Staroptions, which can be exchanged for other Marriott locations. As others have said, the maintenance fees at these properties are so high that exchanging is not a good value.

I just don’t want to be locked into one resort every year.

This was a big consideration when we bought into the Starwood program back in 2002, before the resort was built. However, we have gone back every year anyway! We just like Maui so much. We still go elsewhere on vacation, but return to Maui too.

At the time, the hotel conversion gave reasonable value. For example, you could stay at the Sheraton in Maui for a week. Same for other nice hotels around the world. Since then, however, conversion rates to hotel points have remained unchanged while the points required for hotel reservations have gone up significantly. The other issue is that maintenance fees go up significantly every year (for all properties).

We are still happy with our ownership. We couldn't stay two weeks in Maui (locking off the unit - staying one week on each side) in a resort like this for what we pay in maintenance fees. We've built many great memories with our children, who were young when we first got into this. At the time, there were no resales yet. If I were doing this again today, I'd buy resale in Maui. In fact, I may still buy a couple more weeks to be able to stay there a few months a year. It is cheaper than buying a house up the hill from the resort. We were able to stay 3 months at WKORVN during COVID times and loved living on the island, especially without many tourists around. I like to own where I want to go. Resort management can change over time. At the end of the day, the only thing you are guaranteed is that you can go to where you bought.

I would not buy at Nanea, as it is voluntary. You also don't own an actual week, just points, which you may not be able to use. For example, you could buy points enough for a 1BR, but there are so few 1BR units that they are hard to reserve. You can't lock off the 2BR, so you can only reserve dedicated 1BR units.

If I don't want to use a week, it is easier for me to rent my units out and get an Airbnb or VRBO somewhere, than to try to exchange to a property of the same caliber as the Westins in Maui. This is not the case with some of the other timeshare properties. The exchange into other Vistana/Marriott properties is not as big a draw for me as I thought it would be when I first bought.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Converting to BV points is certainly an option in regard to versatility of use. I would hope that anyone that considers converting to BV points evaluates the cost. Especially if considering buying from MVC/Vistana because of this ability.
Just one example: iirc, WPORV is at 252K BV points for a MF of ~$3200, and giving up 7 days in a nice 2Bd LO.
What usage does 252K BV points get for that $3200?

One nite in an average hotel in Paris?

If you can convert to BV points, then better to elect Abound usage for MVC COs, or bank the SOs, or rent…


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[YYJMSP]

Just one example: iirc, WPORV is at 252K BV points for a MF of ~$3200, and giving up 7 days in a nice 2Bd LO.
What usage does 252K BV points get for that $3200?

One nite in an average hotel in Paris?

It's a bad value generally, but nowhere near as bad as expecting a single night redemption (heck, i think you'd still get 2nts in the Maldives!)

250K BV will still get you 5-7nts in a "nice" hotel room. Definitely not as spacious as a 2BR villa, more likely 500sq.ft if you're lucky

More value outside North America...

 

[Mulege]

Buy a resale Mandatory

 

[easyrider]

My husband and I just sat through the Westin Ocean Villas Kaanapali presentation. We are interested in getting a timeshare but I know we can get better deals on the resale market. When I look at postings for this resort on the resale market it seems like the system works a little differently than how they explained it to us. Starpoints vs. club points vs. bonvoy points. If we buy a resale for this resort will we have the ability to exchange points to use at different hotels or resorts? I just don’t want to be locked into one resort every year. Do we lose benefits by not buying from Westin?

One of my relatives owns a couple of Westin Kaanapalli two bed ocean front in the south building. He canceled his last trips because of the Lahaina fire and is in the process of getting rid of these. I thought about taking them but he warned me that the place is falling apart and the service is not as good as it once was and that was before the Lahaina fire.

I have a feeling that most of the Kaanapalli resorts were suffering staff shortages before the fire and now after the fire it's probably even worse.

Bill

 

[Ken555]

I thought about taking them but he warned me that the place is falling apart and the service is not as good as it once was and that was before the Lahaina fire.

Service has been falling everywhere, but otherwise this comment is erroneous. WKORV is still the best resort in Vistana, IMO. I was there just a few months ago.


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[Ken555]

I think to get the same number of SO Kierland are actually now ~50% more expensive (14.5K v 9K) to buy resale than WKORVN IV but obviously the MFs are only around 66% of those in Maui (2.6K v 3.9K)

WKV does not cost $2.6k per year, even with the Abound club dues. Why do you think it’s so expensive?


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[capjak]

I just stayed at the WKORV South 2 days ago and it was great, not sure what your relative is talking about. I would definitly take those units they are awesome Oceanfronts.

 

[easyrider]

Service has been falling everywhere, but otherwise this comment is erroneous. WKORV is still the best resort in Vistana, IMO. I was there just a few months ago.


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Certainly one of the most expensive. At this time in 2024, because of the Lahaina fire and workers not really wanting to endure the drive to the West side, it's probably not very well staffed compared to other Hawaiian resorts. Especially in jobs that require skilled workers as in building maintenance and house keeping. What I think will happen is mold and rust will become an issue. Kaanapalli Beach, which is why many enjoy these resorts, has washed away with some portions being used as a protest. I just don't see an upside other than it's warm.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

I just stayed at the WKORV South 2 days ago and it was great, not sure what your relative is talking about. I would definitly take those units they are awesome Oceanfronts.

I was going to take these but was talked out of it.

They were back in fall 2022 and the beach was eroded and the beach walk was damaged. I did say that it's a long beach walk but the thought was the beach erosion would continue to be a problem so the beach walk would continue to have problems. I get it because the beach in front of the Valley Isle disappeared and the State took too long to approve beach restoration measures which probably will wash away in a big storm.

Then there is the loss of Lahaina. For many, this was an important place to visit while staying in West Maui.

Bill

 

[DavidnRobin]

Service has been falling everywhere, but otherwise this comment is erroneous. WKORV is still the best resort in Vistana, IMO. I was there just a few months ago.


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Certainly erroneous - we were also there post-fire.

Besides - no one is giving away OF WKORV and if they are then that person would be giving away a TS worth $30K+.
I’d suspect MVC would be using their ROFR… LOL

Also - the beach is ever changing and always has and always will.


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[EnglishmanAbroad]

WKV does not cost $2.6k per year, even with the Abound club dues. Why do you think it’s so expensive?


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Sorry I thought that's what I saw on a Redweek listing but need my eyes testing. Looks like closer to $2k is more the norm but likewise it seems I overquoted WKORVN which are closer to 3.5K so the ratio I stated is roughly accurate

 

[AnneJe]

My husband and I just sat through the Westin Ocean Villas Kaanapali presentation. We are interested in getting a timeshare but I know we can get better deals on the resale market. When I look at postings for this resort on the resale market it seems like the system works a little differently than how they explained it to us. Starpoints vs. club points vs. bonvoy points. If we buy a resale for this resort will we have the ability to exchange points to use at different hotels or resorts? I just don’t want to be locked into one resort every year. Do we lose benefits by not buying from Westin?

I would recommend you do not get involved into TS, even in the resale market. Our family just spent 10 days trip to Hawaii, with 5 night in Hilton ( package deal) and 4 nights with Marriott ( all free with points we collected on Marriott credit card) . We believe just by playing hotel credit cards ( most of them also associated with airlines) , is enough to get what we want, even better than TS. TS involves paying MS constantly and the provider holds the power to increase MS

My husband and I just sat through the Westin Ocean Villas Kaanapali presentation. We are interested in getting a timeshare but I know we can get better deals on the resale market. When I look at postings for this resort on the resale market it seems like the system works a little differently than how they explained it to us. Starpoints vs. club points vs. bonvoy points. If we buy a resale for this resort will we have the ability to exchange points to use at different hotels or resorts? I just don’t want to be locked into one resort every year. Do we lose benefits by not buying from

No need TS, retail market either, except you really looking into rooms with kitchen and laundry. Otherwise, get few hotel credit cards, so you can earn points both through paying hotel and airlines, which enough to give you free nights every year. This is how our family played for past 2 years.

By doing that, you are free to MS, no need to worry about cancel membership. And can adjust your lifestyle with different financial circumstances easily.

BTW, we just got rid of TS contract today. Lesson learned.