Vistana views from a BALCONY - Post your best photos!

[daviator]

This was a VSN reservation made only a month or so out that matched our travel availability - so, while I do have to turn my head and lean to one side, I'm very happy to have this view. I'm in Maui, after all.

This trip was a complete surprise for my wife on our 25 anniversary (literally on the day). She thought we were going to celebrate with lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant but I took her to the airport instead. I figured if I wanted to stay married to her, which I do, I better do something nice every 25 years or so! Anyway, I alerted the staff at the property at 10-days out to tell them about my caper and thank them in advance for doing whatever they could to make the trip a special one. I wasn't expecting them to move mountains but to be honest, I was a little disappointed. No acknowledgement at check-in and as far as I can tell, this is the bare minimum OV room possible - one floor down is not considered OV.

So, I've come to realize that I basically have no understanding of the actual process and pecking order of room assignments. Is there a good thread on this? Thanks.

My understanding is that room assignment priority is 100% based on the “time stamp” of your reservation. The earlier it is made, the better the room you get. So honestly, I think you were lucky to get a “cock your head and look through the leaves” ocean view room with a reservation only a month in advance. I’d sort of expect to be looking at the parking lot.

That's a really nice anniversary surprise though. Did you have to pack her bag for her? That might have been the biggest challenge!

 

[DavidnRobin]

WKORV OFD B3 6th Floor, NW Corner.
#TimeStampsMatter

Hard to get representative balcony photo to do it justice, Molokai in distance

Morning Rainbow

A few minutes later

Looking back at pool area under construction

Sunset last evening - like snowflakes.
Tip of Lanai. Crescent Moon.

NW Corner of B3 from our favorite beach spot

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[EnglishmanAbroad]

WKORV OFD B3 6th Floor, NW Corner.
#TimeStampsMatter

Hard to get representative balcony photo to do it justice, Molokai in distance

Morning Rainbow

A few minutes later

Looking back at pool area under construction

Sunset last evening - like snowflakes.
Tip of Lanai. Crescent Moon.

NW Corner of B3 from our favorite beach spot

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Can you invite DanV to your room so he can show his wife of 25 years what the ocean looks like if only he'd planned more than a month in advance

 

[DavidnRobin]

Can you invite DanV to your room so he can show his wife of 25 years what the ocean looks like if only he'd planned more than a month in advance

Actually met with @DanV on the beach.
Nice meeting him. Always great to meet up with Tuggers - even Jarta (RIP).

I guess my explanation of how WKORV/N villa assignments are made wasn’t that great.
Timestamp matters most, with some wiggle room depending on situation.
How is that not clear?


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[DanV]

Loved chatting with both of you, @DavidnRobin! Friendly conversation and so many good timeshare insights. I told David that meeting him was a little like meeting a celebrity for me!

 

[DanV]

With respect to room assignments, I get that timestamp is most important but any strategies around checking in on a particular day of the week? Does it matter if you check-in on a high turnover day or a low turnover day (and which day is highest turnover)? I gather that status is (a distant?) second to timestamp? And now that I think about it, I guess that in order to get a prime timestamp you need to be booking using home resort status because VSN is always <8 months out. I wasn't so worried about this . . . until I saw some of these photos!

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

Fri/Sat/Sun are always going to be the high turnover days (Sat the highest) as owner reservations made at 12-9 months will begin/end on these days. Timestamp is king although even then it's a 'dark art' as nobody really knows the logic behind their room assignment algorithms. Also, bear in mind the concept of 'best villa' within a view category is determined by them, you have absolutely no idea what it is and it may not align with your line of thinking.

Villa assignments should really be no harder than seat assignments on a plane and people should be able to choose at the time they make the reservation. That may come once they sort out their IT issues (i.e. never)

 

[daviator]

Fri/Sat/Sun are always going to be the high turnover days (Sat the highest) as owner reservations made at 12-9 months will begin/end on these days. Timestamp is king although even then it's a 'dark art' as nobody really knows the logic behind their room assignment algorithms. Also, bear in mind the concept of 'best villa' within a view category is determined by them, you have absolutely no idea what it is and it may not align with your line of thinking.

Villa assignments should really be no harder than seat assignments on a plane and people should be able to choose at the time they make the reservation. That may come once they sort out their IT issues (i.e. never)

Disagree that villa assignments are that easy.

The plane leaves and departs and everybody that's on it when it leaves is on it when it arrives. You have one set of people, all getting on and off at the same time and place.

Hotel (or timeshare rooms) have people arriving and departing literally every day... it's a much more complicated process. Sometimes rooms unexpectedly go out of service, needing some kind of repair that may take a few days. Sometimes people cut short or extend their stays. Sometimes they need to move people. Everything is a moving target.

Allowing people to select specific rooms in advance would probably result in most people getting much worse views, and/or result in more rooms being left empty. It's never going to happen. There is a reason that NO large hotel or resort allows room selection in advance. Vistana's use of time stamp is about as fair a process as we're likely to see. They also do their best to accommodate specific requests (higher floor, lower floor, near or away from elevator, building preference, etc.) within the framework of time stamp hierarchy.

 

[PamMo]

@DanV, I'm betting that your wife's trip to the Mexican restaurant for your anniversary and ending up in Maui was ANYTHING but amazing! I love that!

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

Disagree that villa assignments are that easy.

The plane leaves and departs and everybody that's on it when it leaves is on it when it arrives. You have one set of people, all getting on and off at the same time and place.

Hotel (or timeshare rooms) have people arriving and departing literally every day... it's a much more complicated process. Sometimes rooms unexpectedly go out of service, needing some kind of repair that may take a few days. Sometimes people cut short or extend their stays. Sometimes they need to move people. Everything is a moving target.

Allowing people to select specific rooms in advance would probably result in most people getting much worse views, and/or result in more rooms being left empty. It's never going to happen. There is a reason that NO large hotel or resort allows room selection in advance. Vistana's use of time stamp is about as fair a process as we're likely to see. They also do their best to accommodate specific requests (higher floor, lower floor, near or away from elevator, building preference, etc.) within the framework of time stamp hierarchy.

You are right, I did oversimplify it but I think it could be possible to offer it to reservations made in the 12-9 month window (with an 'unforeseen' circumstances rider to cover the service issues). The problem is, at the moment if reservations were completely clear and I get in at midnight to make the first reservation at 12 months (IV at WKORVN) I have absolutely no idea what villa that would give me - do you?. Closest to the ocean, highest floor, best view, nearest to lobby? I made our 2021 reservation at 6 months and our 2022 reservation at 12 months and ended up in the same room.

 

[daviator]

The problem is, at the moment if reservations were completely clear and I get in at midnight to make the first reservation at 12 months (IV at WKORVN) I have absolutely no idea what villa that would give me - do you?. Closest to the ocean, highest floor, best view, nearest to lobby?

I don't, and I doubt if the resort does either. They don't know what room you are going to get until a day or so before check-in, and even that might change.

I have no idea how they actually do it, but I'll bet they have the rooms in each view category segregated into sub-categories, something like "Fantastic rooms, good rooms, decent rooms, okay rooms, lousy rooms." Your time stamp determines which bucket your room gets drawn from, but within that bucket, they can probably apply some discretion. Some owners express a preference for a certain building, floor, etc., and I think they try to fulfill those if they can. But even at the last minute there can be changes... if I show up at 4 pm and "my" pre-assigned room isn't ready, they might give me a different one from the same bucket which is clean and ready to go. The person who shows up later gets "my" old room which, by that time, has been cleaned. In that way, they accommodate more people. Sometimes they ask what time you plan to arrive, and I think they use that information to try to ensure that your pre-assigned room is available when you get there.

The people exchanging on II or on an Encore Package gets one of the lousy rooms, because none of the rooms are (or should be) actually lousy, but some of them have a lousy view. Time stamps being equal, I'm pretty sure they give the better rooms to owners over exchangers.

I think keeping the assignments floating gives the resort much greater flexibility to make things work for guests, and I think that benefits us. I wish they were a little more transparent, but I've always been pleased with the rooms I've gotten when I reserve early. But I'm not as picky about exact location as some people apparently are.

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

something like "Fantastic rooms, good rooms, decent rooms, okay rooms, lousy rooms
I wish they were a little more transparent

I think that would work. "Good evening Sir, welcome to WKORVN. I'm happy to inform you that today you have a room in our Lousy section...."

 

[daviator]

I think that would work. "Good evening Sir, welcome to WKORVN. I'm happy to inform you that today you have a room in our Lousy section...."

Maybe not THAT transparent! ha ha

 

[HDiaz1]

The Westin Lagunamar

 

[byeloe]

Westin Lagunamar Room 911

 

[DanV]

I don't, and I doubt if the resort does either. They don't know what room you are going to get until a day or so before check-in, and even that might change.

I have no idea how they actually do it, but I'll bet they have the rooms in each view category segregated into sub-categories, something like "Fantastic rooms, good rooms, decent rooms, okay rooms, lousy rooms." Your time stamp determines which bucket your room gets drawn from, but within that bucket, they can probably apply some discretion. Some owners express a preference for a certain building, floor, etc., and I think they try to fulfill those if they can. But even at the last minute there can be changes... if I show up at 4 pm and "my" pre-assigned room isn't ready, they might give me a different one from the same bucket which is clean and ready to go. The person who shows up later gets "my" old room which, by that time, has been cleaned. In that way, they accommodate more people. Sometimes they ask what time you plan to arrive, and I think they use that information to try to ensure that your pre-assigned room is available when you get there.

The people exchanging on II or on an Encore Package gets one of the lousy rooms, because none of the rooms are (or should be) actually lousy, but some of them have a lousy view. Time stamps being equal, I'm pretty sure they give the better rooms to owners over exchangers.

I think keeping the assignments floating gives the resort much greater flexibility to make things work for guests, and I think that benefits us. I wish they were a little more transparent, but I've always been pleased with the rooms I've gotten when I reserve early. But I'm not as picky about exact location as some people apparently are.

It's interesting. Coming from the hotel side of the travel game, as far as I can tell, timestamp has almost nothing to do with which room you get. It's supposed to be (mostly) about your hotel program status and the actual time you check-in for the night. The timeshare "first reserved, first assigned" protocol is actually quite egalitarian. Are those of you typically getting the rooms you want ALSO high up in Vistana ownership status or is it really "timestamp (only) is king?" Also, by same logic, if it is just timestamp then no owners over exchanges priority? I'm going to ask some questions at my next owners update meeting and see if I can get anyone to spill the beans.

Also, as some of you probably know, some hotels allow you to pick your specific room on the day of your check-in. So, if you want a high floor, near the elevator you can see if one is available and choose it. But, with few exceptions, hotels seem to operate on a day-to-day check-in scheme which as @daviator pointed out, is not the case for timeshares.

Anyway, we should probably move this conversation to a new thread. Not sure if we can do that or if it requires moderator intervention. I think it would be interesting to gather people's ongoing experience and insights.

 

[DanV]

@DanV, I'm betting that your wife's trip to the Mexican restaurant for your anniversary and ending up in Maui was ANYTHING but amazing! I love that!

Thanks, @PamMo. We are having a FABULOUS time. BTW, if anyone is kinda geeky (like me), I highly recommend looking at the classes offered at the WKORV Hawaiin Cultural Center. Kai gave a small group of us a lesson on the Hawaiin language. So interesting and fun! Honestly, one of the best things I've done in Hawaii (but I pretty geeky).

 

[DavidnRobin]

It's interesting. Coming from the hotel side of the travel game, as far as I can tell, timestamp has almost nothing to do with which room you get. It's supposed to be (mostly) about your hotel program status and the actual time you check-in for the night. The timeshare "first reserved, first assigned" protocol is actually quite egalitarian. Are those of you typically getting the rooms you want ALSO high up in Vistana ownership status or is it really "timestamp (only) is king?" Also, by same logic, if it is just timestamp then no owners over exchanges priority? I'm going to ask some questions at my next owners update meeting and see if I can get anyone to spill the beans.

Also, as some of you probably know, some hotels allow you to pick your specific room on the day of your check-in. So, if you want a high floor, near the elevator you can see if one is available and choose it. But, with few exceptions, hotels seem to operate on a day-to-day check-in scheme which as @daviator pointed out, is not the case for timeshares.

Anyway, we should probably move this conversation to a new thread. Not sure if we can do that or if it requires moderator intervention. I think it would be interesting to gather people's ongoing experience and insights.

Dan
I just reserved our HR reservation for one year from now. The reservation confirmation from Vistana states verbatim.

“Villa assignments are made based
on the date/time of the reservation
booking. Home Resort Owners
begin making reservations as early
as 12 months prior to arrival date.
Reservations made using
StarOptions can be made as early
as eight months prior to arrival
date. Each villa is ranked within its
view category (highest floors to
lowest). Reservations for an
oceanfront view are the closest in
proximity to the ocean with varying
views based on floor.

See Special Request section
regarding villa assignment.”


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[timsi]

Dan
I just reserved our HR reservation for one year from now. The reservation confirmation from Vistana states verbatim.

“Villa assignments are made based
on the date/time of the reservation
booking. Home Resort Owners
begin making reservations as early
as 12 months prior to arrival date.
Reservations made using
StarOptions can be made as early
as eight months prior to arrival
date. Each villa is ranked within its
view category (highest floors to
lowest). Reservations for an
oceanfront view are the closest in
proximity to the ocean with varying
views based on floor.

See Special Request section
regarding villa assignment.”


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Abound will bring some interesting changes. Marriott takes the view that those who exchange through Abound should have the same rights as the resort owners.

 

[daviator]

Abound will bring some interesting changes. Marriott takes the view that those who exchange through Abound should have the same rights as the resort owners.

The whole concept of “resort owners” sort of went out the window already with Flex and the various trusts that now own huge swaths of many of our resorts.

 

[timsi]

The whole concept of “resort owners” sort of went out the window already with Flex and the various trusts that now own huge swaths of many of our resorts.

That is in part true, but at least Vistana was careful enough to give that inventory a home resort designation. Flex also has a finite ownership, the required inventory does not change every second and the flex owners do not lend their rights to others.

Give him an INCH and he'll take an ell.

 

[DanV]

Dan
I just reserved our HR reservation for one year from now. The reservation confirmation from Vistana states verbatim.

“Villa assignments are made based
on the date/time of the reservation
booking. Home Resort Owners
begin making reservations as early
as 12 months prior to arrival date.
Reservations made using
StarOptions can be made as early
as eight months prior to arrival
date. Each villa is ranked within its
view category (highest floors to
lowest). Reservations for an
oceanfront view are the closest in
proximity to the ocean with varying
views based on floor.

See Special Request section
regarding villa assignment.”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow, that language is crystal clear. Like room assignments could be done by a computer program. Not even a sniff of any other factors. So, elite status doesn't matter, owner/non-owner doesn't matter and even if it is your home resort if you book at say, 7 months, you will be further down in the villa assignment queue than someone that does a VSN exchange into the resort at 8 months. Thanks for forwarding. And I guess you can look forward to having a great villa assignment next year!

 

[timsi]

Wow, that language is crystal clear. Like room assignments could be done by a computer program. Not even a sniff of any other factors. So, elite status doesn't matter, owner/non-owner doesn't matter and even if it is your home resort if you book at say, 7 months, you will be further down in the villa assignment queue than someone that does a VSN exchange into the resort at 8 months. Thanks for forwarding. And I guess you can look forward to having a great villa assignment next year!

It is a lot worse, an Abound exchanger who books 12 months before check in will have priority over a home resort owner who books a second later. VSN is way down the road and a lot of the inventory is already gone by then.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Wow, that language is crystal clear. Like room assignments could be done by a computer program. Not even a sniff of any other factors. So, elite status doesn't matter, owner/non-owner doesn't matter and even if it is your home resort if you book at say, 7 months, you will be further down in the villa assignment queue than someone that does a VSN exchange into the resort at 8 months. Thanks for forwarding. And I guess you can look forward to having a great villa assignment next year!

On location - Elite status has less impact than Timestamp. It is clear that location is based on Timestamp. Keeps it simple. First come - first served. What is considered as prime location is up to argument.

Timeshare works best for long-term planning - different than hotels because we actually own the interval. This inventory will always be separate inventory- had to be lay regardless of what one person states here (over and over in multiple threads…)


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[daviator]

On location - Elite status has less impact than Timestamp. It is clear that location is based on Timestamp. Keeps it simple. First come - first served. What is considered as prime location is up to argument.

Timeshare works best for long-term planning - different than hotels because we actually own the interval. This inventory will always be separate inventory- had to be lay regardless of what one person states here (over and over in multiple threads…)

Yes, exactly. I'm not aware that elite status has any significant impact on location. I don't know if Marriott resorts allocate rooms the same way, though – nor do I know whether Vistana reports will continue to primarily/only use timestamps or whether they will move to whatever MVC's system is.

The way I see it, owners have an automatic priority, albeit indirectly, for location, because we're able to book at 12 months, while most others cannot book until later. So long as you are able to plan ahead, you're going to get a great location.

Under Abound, it would seem as if Abound members who plan ahead and make a reservation right at 12 months will also get the advantages of that early booking.