Vistana Plus to SVN - Is this a Good Deal?

[kathieo327]

Hi all, Sheraton Vistana Owners who are in the Vistana Plus program have been informed that the program is going away Dec. 31. By Oct. 1 we have to decide if we want to join Starwoods Vacation Network. They are waiving the $599 fee to do this. This will get me into their network Start Options program. Can anyone tell me if this is a good deal and does it affect my weekly ownership under the old program. I own annual floating weeks, that I can trade through II. Under the Plus program, every other year I could convert to SPG points. That is also an option in this program. It sounds good, but I am skeptical. What are your thoughts?

 

[LisaRex]

The currency of Starwood Vacation Network (SVN) are StarOptions. You need to find out how many StarOptions your villa would be worth. Then check out the StarOptions chart in Owners Resource area above to see what properties you could trade to and whether they even interest you. If they'd do, I'd go ahead and join.

Hawaii should be fairly easy to trade into. St. John, Harborside, and the Colorado properties in ski season are difficult to trade into.

FYI, the annual SVN dues are $199, which are billed with your MFs. You have to pay this whether or not you trade that year.

Also note that once you join SVN, you cannot control your deposit into II. Sometimes they deposit a great trader worth more than what you own. Most times they try to get away with depositing a less attractive week than what you've paid for.

 

[vacationtime1]

The SVN dues vary by property location. Mine are $104 or $109 for WKV. You should ask Starwood what they will initially be for your property. SVN dues include a "free" Interval membership (good only for SVN properties).

LisaRex's comments about SVN choosing your exchange propery are accurate and significant. If you would still use Interval for exchanges into non-Starwood properties rather than StarOptions to exchange into other SVN properties, you should check the multiple threads on this Board on this subject.

Personally, I like using StarOptions to reserve Hawaii properties through Starwood member reservations at the eight month window.

 

[pointsjunkie]

but if you use the option to change your villa into starpoints every other year then the belonging to the SVN will benefit you. trading into the svn resorts is a great incentive also . i trade many times a year.

 

[bward]

Katheo,

I think this is worthwhile, as it will give you another option to use your timeshare. I own at Vistana Villages. And I've converted using SO's several times, once to Hawaii.

The nice thing about Star Options is that you don't have to wait for a trade to make something happen. If you have enough Star Options, and there's availability, the unit is yours.

Since they are waiving the $599.00 fee it makes it even more attractive.

One thing you should know that this ability to use Star Options probably won't be transfered with your Timeshare when you sell it.

If Vistana Resort is considered Voluntary, which I believe it is, the new owner would not have the ability to use Star Options.

As for StarPoints...don't get too caught up in that. Our units are not worth very much when they get converted to StarPoints.

If you are not going to use your timeshare, you are better to deposit into II for later use.

Good luck!

bward