Westgate Exchange Which is Better?

[jjlovecub]

Without the stay away from Westgate comments - which do you think/feel/know would have better trading power within the II system? A fixed week 15 2BDR at Westgate Lakes or a floating 2BDR at Westgate Planet Hollywood in Vegas....Thanks for your input.

 

[timeos2]

Until Wastegate Planet Hollywood in Vegas actually exists it will be hard to say. However, based simply on total inventory likely to be available the Las Vegas unit would seem likely to have the better value at least initially.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Better Absolute Trading Power? Or Better Relative Trading Power For The Money?

WestGate Lakes has been around for a while -- might be possible to snag a bargain 2BR fixed-week unit there for nickels on the dollar via the resale market.

Planet Hollywood Towers -- The No. 1 Timeshare In The Whole U.S.A. -- is new or newish & thus might cost you lots more for a floating 2BR out there.

So unless the Planet Hollywood floater is way stronger than the WestGate Lakes fixter, it might well turn out that WestGate Lakes gives better bang for the bux, I don't know.

We toured WestGate Lakes 1 time (mainly for the freebies) & were wowed bigtime at how luxurious & nice it is. The WestGate lady told us we'd never be able to exchange into a nice timeshare like that with our dinky 2BR South African timeshare. Turns out she was right -- WestGate Lakes is I-I all the way & our dinky South African timeshare is strictly RCI.

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

 

[dougp26364]

Without the stay away from Westgate comments - which do you think/feel/know would have better trading power within the II system? A fixed week 15 2BDR at Westgate Lakes or a floating 2BDR at Westgate Planet Hollywood in Vegas....Thanks for your input.

Orlando is already overbuilt and they're still building more.

Las Vegas is soon to be overbuilt as there are definate plans for over 2,600 additional units in the next two years and more than another 8,000 units planned within another 5 to 10 years.

However, Westgate Planet Hollywood has some features that make in unique in the Las Vegas market. First, it has a good location 1/2 block off the strip. Most importantly it will be directly connected to the Planet Hollywood resort and casino and it will have it's own shopping mall with shops and restaurants right in the timeshare. It should also have a very nice pool deck where as most other (all perhaps) have very limited pools and/or amenities, in part because it's very expensive land to put non-income procucing amenities.

Couple this with the thought that Starwood is going to handle rentals for PH Towers (not sure how this will work with Westgate timehare owners) and the possiblity that owners could use their timeshare ownership for partial week stays and it makes PH Towers more attractive between the two to own at IMO.

BUT, you'll probably have to pay developer pricing for PH Towers and right now they're not inexpensive. In fact, the prices I've seen make them one of the more expensive timeshare units in Vegas. You also have to consider that if you buy a floating unit, Westgate will pick the unit and date you deposit for exchange (if I understand Westgate philosophy correctly). This could make PH Towers less attractive when wanting to trade as I believe Vegas is considered all one season yet there are definately weeks that are much weaker than others in Vegas.

Between the two, I think PH Towers would be the better resort to own at but, as pointed out above you could save a lot of money on Westgate Lakes unit bought resale and potentially fix the season for the week you own limiting what Westgate could deposit for you to exchange. A stronger Orlando season week might trade better than a weaker Las Vegas week.

Of course, this is all just speculation on my part as no one really knows how strong PH Towers will be when it opens. If I were to buy something to trade, Orlando and Vegas would not be the locations I would be considering. Both have to many units to be really strong exchangers IMO. This coming from someone who owns 4 weeks in Vegas.