Westin Buy direct or resale

[grgs]

With that being said, an every other year ownership as your only mandatory deed, you’ll be paying an additional 145 in you non use year. I wouldn’t do that.

That's true, but with the EY Maui week, mf run about $2500. SMV mf are about $1500. If the OP is pretty sure they'll want to ski EOY, I think it makes more sense to buy the ski week and save on the mf (and upfront purchase price).

I agree, though, that if the 8 month window works for the OP for both Hawaii and the ski week, then another mandatory resort (Kierland or SVV) might work well for them.

 

[Tinman1412]

I have to say the past 48 hours this forum has been so helpful. I have learned so much about direct vs resale. Based on what I have heard everything thus far and the resale listings available on Redweek and AdvantageVacations. I think below are my order of options based on my criteria

Criteria:
Hawaii every other year. Ocean View preferred. Will likely go in summer months (June-Aug), Thanksgiving (Nov 22- Dec 1)
Ski Trip: every other year. Flexible with views

Option: 1 (Least Preferred)
Buy Direct from Westin at $50K
Pros: Sign On Bonus (296,000 Staroptions), Marriott Gold

Option 2 : Buy Resale at WKOVN (Nanea) at $15K Annual
Pros: guaranteed priority to stay in Hawaii with 12-month advance booking
Cons: Wait for 148,100 StarOptions at 8-month to book 2BR Ski Resort for Christmas/New Year school break (Dec 21-Jan 6) or Spring Break Week (April 2-12)

Option 3: Buy EOY Resale at WKOV (south or north) at ~$8K and Buy Resale EOY Sheraton Mountain Villas at ~$5K
Pros: Guaranteed Hawaii every other year. Not sure if this will guarantee my Christmas or Spring Break time frame. Possibly less expensive with the lower MF for Sheraton Mountain Villas.
Cons: 2 separate timeshares to maintain

Option 4: Buy Resale at Kierland. I see listings for $17K
Pros: Lower MF at $1,600
Cons: Have to depend on exchange 8-month availability to book Hawaii and Ski trip. May not get either.


At this time, I'm thinking the best situation for me is Option #2, followed by Option #3

Thanks

 

[Tinman1412]

Correction: option #2 is resale with WKOV (south or north) not Nanea

 

[CPNY]

I have to say the past 48 hours this forum has been so helpful. I have learned so much about direct vs resale. Based on what I have heard everything thus far and the resale listings available on Redweek and AdvantageVacations. I think below are my order of options based on my criteria

Criteria:
Hawaii every other year. Ocean View preferred. Will likely go in summer months (June-Aug), Thanksgiving (Nov 22- Dec 1)
Ski Trip: every other year. Flexible with views

Option: 1 (Least Preferred)
Buy Direct from Westin at $50K
Pros: Sign On Bonus (296,000 Staroptions), Marriott Gold

Option 2 : Buy Resale at WKOVN (Nanea) at $15K Annual
Pros: guaranteed priority to stay in Hawaii with 12-month advance booking
Cons: Wait for 148,100 StarOptions at 8-month to book 2BR Ski Resort for Christmas/New Year school break (Dec 21-Jan 6) or Spring Break Week (April 2-12)

Option 3: Buy EOY Resale at WKOV (south or north) at ~$8K and Buy Resale EOY Sheraton Mountain Villas at ~$5K
Pros: Guaranteed Hawaii every other year. Not sure if this will guarantee my Christmas or Spring Break time frame. Possibly less expensive with the lower MF for Sheraton Mountain Villas.
Cons: 2 separate timeshares to maintain

Option 4: Buy Resale at Kierland. I see listings for $17K
Pros: Lower MF at $1,600
Cons: Have to depend on exchange 8-month availability to book Hawaii and Ski trip. May not get either.


At this time, I'm thinking the best situation for me is Option #2, followed by Option #3

Thanks

Option 1 is NOT an option! Lol. FYI Advantage has an EOY WKOVN 2 bedroom for 4K listed eBay has a EOY WKOV for 5K 2bedroom at 148,100 star options listed.

With either you’ll be paying an additional 145 per year for your vistana network fee so keep that in mind.

I’ve never booked ski weeks before using options but I’ve always checked. I doubt Christmas will be easy to get. That’s just my guess. I’m sure others know much better than I do on that. So if you really want the best weeks at both resorts then maybe doing two EOY units is an option. One in Maui and another in a place like SMV. Keep in mind, you’re pretty much locked into ski weeks on your “other year”.

 

[Marathoner]

Option 2 : Buy Resale at WKOVN (Nanea) at $15K Annual
Pros: guaranteed priority to stay in Hawaii with 12-month advance booking
Cons: Wait for 148,100 StarOptions at 8-month to book 2BR Ski Resort for Christmas/New Year school break (Dec 21-Jan 6) or Spring Break Week (April 2-12)

Thanks

Getting Christmas/NY ski weeks is difficult unless you buy an event week so this option is really a Spring Break ski week option in April.

In the first week of April, Beaver Creek/Vail can be hit or miss skiing wise. The two most snow reliable resort at that time is Breckenridge and Snowbird. Vistana does not have resorts in that area. Moreover, availability is high in II for excellent quality resorts at that time of the year. So, you can reliably trade in II for Grand Timber Lodge/Grand Lodge at Peak 7 at Breckenridge. Occasionally, you can trade into Cliff Lodge at Snowbird as well.

Buying Nanea to trade into a ski resort in April is somewhat expensive so better to buy a cheaper EOY mandatory resort or directly into GTL EOY, in my view







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[grgs]

Vistana does not have resorts in that area. Moreover, availability is high in II for excellent quality resorts at that time of the year. So, you can reliably trade in II for Grand Timber Lodge/Grand Lodge at Peak 7 at Breckenridge. Occasionally, you can trade into Cliff Lodge at Snowbird as well.

Buying Nanea to trade into a ski resort in April is somewhat expensive so better to buy a cheaper EOY mandatory resort or directly into GTL EOY, in my view

Yes, you might want to look at other resorts outside of Westin/Sheraton--Marriott certainly comes to mind.

 

[CPNY]

Yes, you might want to look at other resorts outside of Westin/Sheraton--Marriott certainly comes to mind.

I’ve seen some good trades yesterday for mid March - early April in MVC resort in Breckenridge. but if they are looking for specific dates it seems like they need to spend the money and buy flex.

 

[CPNY]

I have to say the past 48 hours this forum has been so helpful. I have learned so much about direct vs resale. Based on what I have heard everything thus far and the resale listings available on Redweek and AdvantageVacations. I think below are my order of options based on my criteria

Criteria:
Hawaii every other year. Ocean View preferred. Will likely go in summer months (June-Aug), Thanksgiving (Nov 22- Dec 1)
Ski Trip: every other year. Flexible with views

Option: 1 (Least Preferred)
Buy Direct from Westin at $50K
Pros: Sign On Bonus (296,000 Staroptions), Marriott Gold

Option 2 : Buy Resale at WKOVN (Nanea) at $15K Annual
Pros: guaranteed priority to stay in Hawaii with 12-month advance booking
Cons: Wait for 148,100 StarOptions at 8-month to book 2BR Ski Resort for Christmas/New Year school break (Dec 21-Jan 6) or Spring Break Week (April 2-12)

Option 3: Buy EOY Resale at WKOV (south or north) at ~$8K and Buy Resale EOY Sheraton Mountain Villas at ~$5K
Pros: Guaranteed Hawaii every other year. Not sure if this will guarantee my Christmas or Spring Break time frame. Possibly less expensive with the lower MF for Sheraton Mountain Villas.
Cons: 2 separate timeshares to maintain

Option 4: Buy Resale at Kierland. I see listings for $17K
Pros: Lower MF at $1,600
Cons: Have to depend on exchange 8-month availability to book Hawaii and Ski trip. May not get either.


At this time, I'm thinking the best situation for me is Option #2, followed by Option #3

Thanks

Keep in mind with Westin flex. The Westin riverfront inventory for that trust might not be as plentiful for ski week as you think (especially high demand ones). If you really want Westin flex, I’d wait until they start hitting the resale market.

 

[grgs]

I’ve seen some good trades yesterday for mid March - early April in MVC resort in Breckenridge. but if they are looking for specific dates it seems like they need to spend the money and buy flex.

I meant that they might want to look beyond Westin/Sheraton to buy an EOY ski unit. The Hawaii unit could be WKORV/WKORVN, and the ski unit could be a Marriott, or something else.

OP might want to read this thread on the Vistana board:

https://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/comparing-vistana-ski-options.293905/

 

[CPNY]

I meant that they might want to look beyond Westin/Sheraton to buy an EOY ski unit. The Hawaii unit could be WKORV/WKORVN, and the ski unit could be a Marriott, or something else.

Yeah that’s very true and a good idea. My only issue with a mandatory deed EOY as your only ownership in VSN is having to pay the additional 145 per year. I’d suggest buy the annual hawaii and then get ski weeks at 8 months. Christmas week is prob never happening unless you buy that specific week. At 8 months you can get good ski weeks at SMV or seeing what the one bedroom portion of the lockout in WKOVN pulls in interval for an exchange. Bet they would be pleasantly surprised.

 

[grgs]

Yeah that’s very true and a good idea. My only issue with a mandatory deed EOY as your only ownership in VSN is having to pay the additional 145 per year. I’d suggest buy the annual hawaii and then get ski weeks at 8 months. Christmas week is prob never happening unless you buy that specific week. At 8 months you can get good ski weeks at SMV or seeing what the one bedroom portion of the lockout in WKOVN pulls in interval for an exchange. Bet they would be pleasantly surprised.

I still have hard time a hard time recommending an expensive Hawaii week as a trader (either with SOs or Interval) for something less expensive. For Interval, it looks like in the ski thread, you said that Sheraton Vistana Villages might be a good option for trading into SMV.

 

[Marathoner]

Generally, Vistana does not have great ski resorts. SMV is not a great location because you need to take a (short) bus.

If you can afford it, I would get a resale fixed week 51 or 52 at the ski mountain you like the most. Cliff Lodge at Snowbird, Marriott at Breckenridge or Park City, GTL/GP7 at Breckenridge or Westin Riverfront are all excellent choices.

If you are more price sensitive, then get the Vistana mandatory week to book at SMV and to trade in April via II.

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[CPNY]

I still have hard time a hard time recommending an expensive Hawaii week as trader (either with SOs or Interval) for something less expensive. For Interval, it looks like in the ski thread, you said that Sheraton Vistana Villages might be a good option for trading into SMV.

Correct. I see availability there And when you compare what I’m giving up for the week it’s a better value than booking with star options

44K lockout one bedroom for a 1 bedroom end of March ski week. It would be 81k star options to book SMV. So in that case, an interval exchange is much more beneficial than booking with star options. not only that, I saw Park city and Breckenridge with MVC (2 bedroom units). Factor in the maint fee for that one bedroom it’s only $600.

And the trader aspect of an expensive Hawaii week would be for those other locations where there is no vistana property. Rather than buying into another program. Having a high value property may pull really nice weeks and room types on an exchange, much better than my lockout. By doing that you could save 2,000 a year on a second ownership.

All I’m saying is, an II is an option. Buying the WKOVN resale would still hold its value. I’d start there

 

[grgs]

And the trader aspect of an expensive Hawaii week would be for those other locations where there is no vistana property. Rather than buying into another program. Having a high value property may pull really nice weeks and room types on an exchange, much better than my lockout. By doing that you could save 2,000 a year on a second ownership.

If the OP would be satisfied with a 1 bedroom unit in Hawaii, an EOY unit might suffice. They could trade with the studio for a ski week in the off year--either with SOs or via Interval.

All I’m saying is, an II is an option. Buying the WKOVN resale would still hold its value. I’d start there

I agree. The OP might want to focus on the Hawaii piece first. Personally, I'd start with an EOY Hawaii unit first. Then figure out the ski part later. The OP could always add a 2nd EOY Hawaii unit later, if they end up wanting to go that route.

One word of caution to the OP: none of is sure how/what Marriott might or might do to the Vistana internal exchange system, as they continue the integration of the Vistana timeshares. I think you would be fine buying an EOY Hawaii week, if your main goal is to use it.

 

[grgs]

Duplicate post.

 

[CPNY]

One word of caution to the OP: none of is sure how/what Marriott might or might do to the Vistana internal exchange system, as they continue the integration of the Vistana timeshares. I think you would be fine buying an EOY Hawaii week, if your main goal is to use it.

I wouldn’t worry about that. Especially buying a mandatory deed. It may be left alone or treated like the MVC enrolled weeks, where you get the best of both. I wouldn’t buy or hold back based on any of that. Buy what you want to use. I don’t see them doing away with VSN, not to move the conversation there. Sticking with what we are talking about, as long as the OP doesn’t go and spend 50K on a developer flex plan i think we will all be satisfied lol. We all have our own thoughts on what he or she should do. In the end they have to decide what’s best for them. It seems like they want the most in demand weeks available at each place. I will say this, if summer weeks are the goal in Hawaii and it doesn’t matter which summer week, then interval with vistana priority could be an option. If you look on the sightings thread here and the community forum on interval you’ll see a few weeks ago Westin dumped a lot of inventory for exchange. Dont discount interval with vistana priority as well. A 2 bedroom SDO could pull ski weeks and Hawaii as well

 

[Marathoner]

On this forum, we are experienced and well versed in navigating multiple timeshare systems and exchange venues. As an example, I own 16 weeks across 4 different timeshare systems since my eventual retirement goal is to timeshare all winter long and ski in Colorado and Utah.

For someone who wants ownership convenience at a good price, I can see that we may be optimizing too much for the OP. A WKORV purchase which is used to both stay in and to exchange for skiing can be a perfectly acceptable approach.

If the OP can convey how much effort they want to put into their timeshare, we can provide more tailored guidance.

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[CPNY]

On this forum, we are experienced and well versed in navigating multiple timeshare systems and exchange venues. As an example, I own 16 weeks across 4 different timeshare systems since my eventual retirement goal is to timeshare all winter long and ski in Colorado and Utah.

For someone who wants ownership convenience at a good price, I can see that we may be optimizing too much for the OP. A WKORV purchase which is used to both stay in and to exchange for skiing can be a perfectly acceptable approach.

If the OP can convey how much effort they want to put into their timeshare, we can provide more tailored guidance.

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First I’d like to say, I want to be you...... timeshare all winter long!!

I agree, start with the WKORV at first. At the very least it will/should hold its resale value, if in fact it doesn’t work for them.

 

[Marathoner]

First I’d like to say, I want to be you...... timeshare all winter long!!

I agree, start with the WKORV at first. At the very least it will/should hold its resale value, if in fact it doesn’t work for them.

You too can plan for a timeshare skiing retirement. You have to plan ahead and develop a strategy for acquiring the desired timeshares with MF fees that you are comfortable with. In my opinion, it is a no brainer to use timeshares for skiing because near slopeside lodging is very expensive, winter lodging can require a lot of maintenance (snow removal, freezing pipes, etc), and I don't want to pay for the lodging during spring/fall/summers.

I just hope my body (knees!) can stay healthy as well as my timeshare strategy!

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[CPNY]

You too can plan for a timeshare skiing retirement. You have to plan ahead and develop a strategy for acquiring the desired timeshares with MF fees that you are comfortable with. In my opinion, it is a no brainer to use timeshares for skiing because near slopeside lodging is very expensive, winter lodging can require a lot of maintenance (snow removal, freezing pipes, etc), and I don't want to pay for the lodging during spring/fall/summers.

I just hope my body (knees!) can stay healthy as well as my timeshare strategy!

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You’re right. I’d want a mix of Jan winter destinations then head to the Caribbean for sun and sand through May. Back home for Christmas. Although I’m a long way from retirement. Who knows what these ownerships would look like by then.

Consecutive deeded weeks would work nicely somewhere.

 

[Tinman1412]

I’m looking for probably the most simple option at this time to meet our needs

I think the resale at WKORV will work for us. Since Hawaii is more important than ski we can take our chances with II exchange to get a ski resort option for early April.

Also what is SDO?. There are way too many acronyms on this board. Is there a link to all the acronyms?

On this forum, we are experienced and well versed in navigating multiple timeshare systems and exchange venues. As an example, I own 16 weeks across 4 different timeshare systems since my eventual retirement goal is to timeshare all winter long and ski in Colorado and Utah.

For someone who wants ownership convenience at a good price, I can see that we may be optimizing too much for the OP. A WKORV purchase which is used to both stay in and to exchange for skiing can be a perfectly acceptable approach.

If the OP can convey how much effort they want to put into their timeshare, we can provide more tailored guidance.

Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk

On this forum, we are experienced and well versed in navigating multiple timeshare systems and exchange venues. As an example, I own 16 weeks across 4 different timeshare systems since my eventual retirement goal is to timeshare all winter long and ski in Colorado and Utah.

For someone who wants ownership convenience at a good price, I can see that we may be optimizing too much for the OP. A WKORV purchase which is used to both stay in and to exchange for skiing can be a perfectly acceptable approach.

If the OP can convey how much effort they want to put into their timeshare, we can provide more tailored guidance.

Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk

 

[CPNY]

I’m looking for probably the most simple option at this time to meet our needs

I think the resale at WKORV will work for us. Since Hawaii is more important than ski we can take our chances with II exchange to get a ski resort option for early April.

Also what is SDO?. There are way too many acronyms on this board. Is there a link to all the acronyms?

SDO is Sheraton desert oasis. It has good trading power in II.

I think buying the WKOVN is a great idea! Especially if that’s more important. You’ll do fine with ski weeks either using star options or your interval trades.