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Vistana Presentation

crisby

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We will be staying at our Cascades villa in October/07. We own one every year and one EOY there.

We are considering transferring one of the units (EY) to Star-Options and keeping the EOY as a weeks unit.

If we attend the "presentation" while we are there, will we be able to talk about this, or are they just going to want to talk about selling us more weeks at the Villages?

Also, if anyone has an opinion about what we are planning, we would love to hear from you. We own at OLCC West Village as well.

thanks
Chris and Bill
 

arlene22

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You don't need to talk to anyone or do anything to use your StarOptions. Just call and make a reservation within 8 months of the time you want to go. (Assuming you bought from the developer or had your unit requalified, of course-- resale units don't have StarOptions).
 

crisby

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Weeks conversion to StarOptions

We did buy from the developer, but we chose the Weeks option instead of StarOptions.

As I understand it, we have to convert our Weeks units to StarOptions in order to trade internally in the SVO.

We want to convert one of our two weeks, but we don't know if we can do this while we are there in October by attending the sales presentation. We don't want them to be selling us new units, we just want to discuss the conversion.

Chris
 

saluki

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crisby-

I am not really following you here. I can tell you, though, that if you have questions about yor existing weeks you should call SVO. The salespeople at your presentation are going to be MUCH more interested in selling you more weeks than helping you use what you already have.
 

AwayWeGo

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[triennial - points]
Sella-Sella-Sella.

If we attend the "presentation" while we are there, will we be able to talk about this, or are they just going to want to talk about selling us more weeks at the Villages?
Based on various timeshare presentations we have attended, including 1 at Vistana Orlando, I'm pretty sure you can talk about anything you want even though the sole purpose of the presentation is to sell you more timeshare(s) at full freight -- not that there's anything wrong with that.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 

DeniseM

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We did buy from the developer, but we chose the Weeks option instead of StarOptions.

As I understand it, we have to convert our Weeks units to StarOptions in order to trade internally in the SVO.

We want to convert one of our two weeks, but we don't know if we can do this while we are there in October by attending the sales presentation. We don't want them to be selling us new units, we just want to discuss the conversion.

Chris

If you bought from the developer, every year you have the option of either using your timeshare as a week at your home resort, or converting it to Staroptions for an exchange within the Starwood system. You have this choice every year - there is no conversion. All Starwood weeks can be used at the owner's home resort OR for a Staroption exchange. All you do is call the owner's reservation number 8 mos. before the date you want to check in, and see if the resort you want is available. If not, you still have your week to use at your home resort. In other words, you don't convert to Staroptions until you actually call and get the exchange you want.
 
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DeniseM

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I just wanted to add, that the best way to handle a Staroption exchange is to make a reservation at your home resort at 12 mos. out for a week you can use as a "back up," then at 8 mos. try for the exchange. That way, if you can't get the exchange you want, you still have a reservation at your home resort to fall back on.
 

Iwant2gonow

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I own a week at Vistana and I am also under the impression that if I want to change to Star Options or Points I have to do some kind of conversion. However I know that points are different than Star Options and I understand how points work. I don't however what Star Options do for you.
 

Courts

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I own a week at Vistana and I am also under the impression that if I want to change to Star Options or Points I have to do some kind of conversion. However I know that points are different than Star Options and I understand how points work. I don't however what Star Options do for you.

Are you registered at "mystarcentral.com" ?

If not, the best thing to do is register and look for; (if you own at Vistana Resort Orlando)

"Your User Guide"

Using this online handbook, you will learn:

* How and when to reserve at your Home Resort
* How and when to use StarOptions®
* How and when to convert your week to Starwood Preferred Guest® Starpoints®
* How to exchange your week through your external exchange company


MyStarCentral.com is very useful, no matter which Starwood property you own.


.
 
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DeniseM

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I own a week at Vistana and I am also under the impression that if I want to change to Star Options or Points I have to do some kind of conversion. However I know that points are different than Star Options and I understand how points work. I don't however [know] what Star Options do for you.

Staroptions are the exchange value of your Starwood week. You can use them at 8 mos. to try for an exchange within the Starwood system. You don't have to make any kind of permanent conversion, you just call at 8 mos. and see what is available for exchange.
 

Iwant2gonow

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Staroptions are the exchange value of your Starwood week. You can use them at 8 mos. to try for an exchange within the Starwood system. You don't have to make any kind of permanent conversion, you just call at 8 mos. and see what is available for exchange.
Thanks Denise. With your explanation several questions come to mind.
1. I purchased a floating week before Starwood purchased Vistana so am I also allowed the starwood options?
2. Do they give you the value of the week you reserved or the value of the week on your deed that was only for deeding purposes when you purchase a floating week?
3. If at 8 months out they find you an exchange then there is a conversion fee? If so do you know the current rate?
4. I liked your suggestion about reserving 12 months out at a time when you can go to your home resort to fall back on in the event there is nothing to exchange into at 8 months out. Have they ever found anything interesting for you at 8 months out (for instance on a holiday week)?
and last
5. I honestly never thought they pertained to me since I purchased before Starwood ownership. I even called once and asked about my options of trading into Starwood resorts since I knew they had one at Steamboat and I thought they said I was not a members since I did not belong to points.
I guess I need to look into this more thoroughly. I'll have to check My Star Central as “Courts” suggested. That web site seems to have obstacles for Vistana owners. Always saying you cannot complete whatever...to call them instead. :wall:
Thanks for your help. Your explanations make things clearer.
Terrie
 

DeniseM

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Thanks Denise. With your explanation several questions come to mind.
1. I purchased a floating week before Starwood purchased Vistana so am I also allowed the starwood options?
Hi Terrie - I didn't know that you didn't buy from Starwood - you will probably have to pay a fee to join the Starwood Vacation network.
2. Do they give you the value of the week you reserved or the value of the week on your deed that was only for deeding purposes when you purchase a floating week?
They are going to give you the value of the week you own, but it may not be as much as it would have been if you purchased it from Starwood.
3. If at 8 months out they find you an exchange then there is a conversion fee? If so do you know the current rate?
If you join the SVN, there will be a mandatory yearly fee added to your MF that covers this, whether you exchange or not.
4. I liked your suggestion about reserving 12 months out at a time when you can go to your home resort to fall back on in the event there is nothing to exchange into at 8 months out. Have they ever found anything interesting for you at 8 months out (for instance on a holiday week)?
I have only tried to exchange into Westin St. John, which is the most difficult exchange in the SVN and I was not successful.
and last
5. I honestly never thought they pertained to me since I purchased before Starwood ownership. I even called once and asked about my options of trading into Starwood resorts since I knew they had one at Steamboat and I thought they said I was not a members since I did not belong to points.
I guess I need to look into this more thoroughly. I'll have to check My Star Central as “Courts” suggested. That web site seems to have obstacles for Vistana owners. Always saying you cannot complete whatever...to call them instead. :wall:
Thanks for your help. Your explanations make things clearer.
Terrie
You will not be able to register at mystarcentral until you join the SVN. Don't confuse StarPOINTS and StarOPTIONS -
Starpoints = converting your week to hotel points or airline miles
Staroptions = the exchange value of your week in the Starwood system
 
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