Vistana Exchange Strategy Needed

[TravelAmore]

I am a EOY WKV resale owner. I have StarOptions but I believe my unit is ineligible for Abound (although I have Abound as a MVC Marriott Kauai owner).
2027 is my year to reserve/use my WKV unit. This is the first time since my ownership started that I want to exchange my unit for another Westin property. If at all possible, I would like to reserve Westin Lagunamar for use in 2028 using my 2027 WKV ownership year.

I've read older TUG posts on Vistana exchanges and the "new" Abound rules related to Vistana VOI's. I'm more confused having read the various posts, policies and policy changes than I was when I started. It does appear if I reserve and deposit into Interval, I'll lose my Vistana ownership advantage to reserve at Lagunamar - or, do I?

Is it possible to arrange this sort of exchange? If so, how do I accomplish it??
I'm asking for strategy and instructions or approach.

Thanks in advance for thinking it through with me....

 

[dioxide45]

Did you buy the WKV prior to August 2022? If so, it would be enrolled in Abound.

 

[TravelAmore]

GREAT question.
I purchased the unit in 2020, although my first use year was 2021....so?
Would using Abound be the best option??

 

[dioxide45]

GREAT question.
I purchased the unit in 2020, although my first use year was 2021....so?
Would using Abound be the best option??

Yes, using Abound should be an option. WHen you go into the Dashboard, under the "My Choices" tile there should be an option for "Elect For Club Points". Your WKV week should show up there when you go through the flow to select which weeks you would want to elect.

That said, why are you not just using your StarOptions from WKV to book Lagunamar?

 

[TravelAmore]

I'm not sure how to use my StarOptions from WKV 2027 to book Lagunamar in 2028???
I've always used my unit in the ownership year. It's the non-ownership year usage that throws me...

So, from your question (why not use SO to book Lagunamar?) I started reading more about banking SO's. Sounds like I can bank before July 1, and choose to book Lagunamar 8 months (if available) before my intended stay date. Does that sound correct??

 

[DeniseM]

8 mos. before your desired check-in date (at midnight eastern) you can reserve with StarOptions. For example, tonight at midnight you can reserve Feb. 17, 2027. Note that StarOptions reservations can start any day of the week, as available.

 

[tomvc]

Is it possible to arrange this sort of exchange? If so, how do I accomplish it??
I'm asking for strategy and instructions or approach.

Thanks in advance for thinking it through with me....

You can bank 2027 to use in 2028. You can only borrow to odd use year, but banking should be ok. It used to be good for 2 year, but is supposed to shorten based on owner “benefit” level. Recommend calling or chatting with owner services to confirm.

 

[YYJMSP]

OP is trying to use 2027 EOY ownership for a 2028 reservation

Can they prepay their 2027 fees, bank them into 2029, and then borrow them back 8mos before the desired 2028 date?

Or can they only use them in 2027 and 2029?

 

[DeniseM]

It's still 2 years.

 

[TravelAmore]

8 mos. before your desired check-in date (at midnight eastern) you can reserve with StarOptions. For example, tonight at midnight you can reserve Feb. 17, 2027. Note that StarOptions reservations can start any day of the week, as available.

Got it! Also, GREAT to know reservations can start any day of the week.
Thank you!

 

[TravelAmore]

Many thanks to all who responded! I have a plan!

 

[dioxide45]

OP is trying to use 2027 EOY ownership for a 2028 reservation

Can they prepay their 2027 fees, bank them into 2029, and then borrow them back 8mos before the desired 2028 date?

Or can they only use them in 2027 and 2029?

That isn't necessary. No need to prepay anything. They probably can't bank them yet and they are at least a year before they even need to try and make a reservation. They can't reserve for 2028 until sometime in 2027. You only need to prepay fees if you want to borrow. When you bank, they bank into the next two calendar years. Only borrowing is restricted to the odd/even year depending on your use year. You also can't reborrow banked Options.

 

[BRF]

From
My experience and doing searches with Star Options, Lagunamar is very easy to book within the 8 months

 

[TravelAmore]

Thank you for sharing this experience. I've my date for banking and for reserving on my calendar!

 

[CPNY]

Thank you for sharing this experience. I've my date for banking and for reserving on my calendar!

Depending on when you’re looking to go to Lagunamar, check Interval. There are usually plenty of weeks available through that route. You may be able to get your desired week a year in advance through an exchange.

You don’t always have to use the StarOptions route if the resort is available in Interval. I’ve used my Vistana ownerships to book other Vistana resorts through Interval when those same reservations would have required more StarOptions if booked directly through Vistana.

I have a small one bedroom EOY odd unit at WKV and I can see plenty of studios and 1 bedrooms for March/April/May of 2027. If you have a lockoff and want a two bedroom then you'll need to go the star option route.

 

[TravelAmore]

Depending on when you’re looking to go to Lagunamar, check Interval. There are usually plenty of weeks available through that route. You may be able to get your desired week a year in advance through an exchange.

You don’t always have to use the StarOptions route if the resort is available in Interval. I’ve used my Vistana ownerships to book other Vistana resorts through Interval when those same reservations would have required more StarOptions if booked directly through Vistana.

I have a small one bedroom EOY odd unit at WKV and I can see plenty of studios and 1 bedrooms for March/April/May of 2027. If you have a lockoff and want a two bedroom then you'll need to go the star option route.

Your scenario takes me back to my initial post. So my question is which path to reserving a Lagunamar unit, (in February, early April or November) 2028, as an odd year Vistana/Abound owner is most advantageous and realistic??
- Use Star Options
- Use Club Points via Abound
- Reserve during my high season in 2027, then deposit & exchange through Interval.

Which would you choose?
Pros/Cons?

 

[kozykritter]

Can they prepay their 2027 fees, bank them into 2029, and then borrow them back 8mos before the desired 2028 date?

You can't borrow banked StarOptions... They are only good for reservations for the use year they are banked into.

 

[byeloe]

- Reserve during my high season in 2027, then deposit & exchange through Interval.

you don't actually reserve your week. you just deposit your unit and you get a blended trading power assigned to it

 

[CalGalTraveler]

It's still 2 years.

YMMV... I own an EOY odd and banked points. System gave the choice of next year or 2 years from now. I was able to use some SOs this year and then used the remainder for my next odd year.

 

[dioxide45]

YMMV... I own an EOY odd and banked points. System gave the choice of next year or 2 years from now. I was able to use some SOs this year and then used the remainder for my next odd year.

I am not sure if it is a YMMV. I would expect it to work the same for every owner. Perhaps it just works differently for EOY ownership? I know when I banked annual StarOptions last week that they were banked for the next two years and expire 12/31/2028.

 

[CPNY]

Your scenario takes me back to my initial post. So my question is which path to reserving a Lagunamar unit, (in February, early April or November) 2028, as an odd year Vistana/Abound owner is most advantageous and realistic??
- Use Star Options
- Use Club Points via Abound
- Reserve during my high season in 2027, then deposit & exchange through Interval.

Which would you choose?
Pros/Cons?

How big of a unit are you looking to reserve? A 2 bedroom or a 1 bedroom? How many StarOptions do you have to work with?

I wouldn’t exchange a WKV villa for fewer StarOptions than your ownership is worth. For example, if you own a WKV unit worth 148,100 StarOptions, I wouldn’t exchange it through Interval for a 1 bedroom at WLR that’s only worth 81,000 StarOptions.

I don’t think you’ll have any trouble reserving WLR in November or February unless you’re trying to book Presidents Week, when many schools are on break. That week may be difficult to reserve through Interval.

One advantage you have is that you don’t have to make a decision right away. You can keep checking Interval for a week you want. If you find an exchange that’s an equal or better value than what you’re giving up, then execute the exchange.

If you don’t find anything by the deadline to bank your StarOptions, then you’ll have a decision to make. You can bank your StarOptions with Vistana and use your odd year allocation during the following even year, or you can deposit your villa into Interval. An Interval deposit gives you two years to use that exchange, so it provides a longer travel window. I would keep checking Interval until your banking deadline. If the right exchange comes along, take it. If not, decide whether banking with Vistana or depositing into Interval makes more sense based on your future travel plans.

 

[TravelAmore]

"How big of a unit are you looking to reserve? A 2 bedroom or a 1 bedroom? How many StarOptions do you have to work with?"

CPNY: To respond to your question, I am trying to reserve a 1 bedroom at Lagunamar and I own a 1 Premium bedroom (Odd Year) at WKV. It appears both the Lagunamar 1 bdrm and my WKV 1 bdrm are 81,000 points, so even-steven.

It seems to me everytime I exchange using my Marriott weeks through Interval fees are charged (and the fees get higher each year - IMO). So, my first inkling is to stay within Vistana to reserve WLR, if possible to avoid paying fees for an exchange. In addition, I believe I have read there's an advantage to "exchanging" within Vistana (or at least there used to be). For one, there were not additional fees charged to reserve at 8 mos out.

Question: If I bank odd year StarOptions, can I only use those StarOptions in an odd year or can I bank them to use in an EVEN year??

 

[dioxide45]

I learned today (I guess I already knew) that it can sometimes make sense to trade through II even if the number of StarOptions are the same as the week you are giving up. We were able to exchange into a 1BR for next May. I can't even make that as a StarOption reservation for another three months. Ultimately I didn't have to use our SVV week anyway as our Marriott studio deposits could see the 1BR too, just had to pay the unit size upgrade fee.

 

[CPNY]

CPNY: To respond to your question, I am trying to reserve a 1 bedroom at Lagunamar and I own a 1 Premium bedroom (Odd Year) at WKV. It appears both the Lagunamar 1 bdrm and my WKV 1 bdrm are 81,000 points, so even-steven.

It seems to me everytime I exchange using my Marriott weeks through Interval fees are charged (and the fees get higher each year - IMO). So, my first inkling is to stay within Vistana to reserve WLR, if possible to avoid paying fees for an exchange. In addition, I believe I have read there's an advantage to "exchanging" within Vistana (or at least there used to be). For one, there were not additional fees charged to reserve at 8 mos out.

Question: If I bank odd year StarOptions, can I only use those StarOptions in an odd year or can I bank them to use in an EVEN year??

when was the last time you tried exchanging in interval with your WKV week? Either way, as long as you're exchanging in interval a large one bedroom and getting a large one bedroom and not the smaller side then it's a wash. I would still check interval as often as you can. you may be able to reserve a year out instead of waiting 8 months.

 

[TravelAmore]

I learned today (I guess I already knew) that it can sometimes make sense to trade through II even if the number of StarOptions are the same as the week you are giving up. We were able to exchange into a 1BR for next May. I can't even make that as a StarOption reservation for another three months. Ultimately I didn't have to use our SVV week anyway as our Marriott studio deposits could see the 1BR too, just had to pay the unit size upgrade fee.

This helps answer one of my questions to CPNY...
But in addition to the size upgrade (to move from Studio to 1 bd), didn't you have to pay an exchange fee of close to $249? If not, were you exchanging through Abound?