Westin Desert Willow resale advice

[samelli]

Hi all! I first came on here when I purchased a $15,000 of Westin points at Westin Desert Willow Villas. I read a lot on this site and was super grateful for all the advice, and canceled it.

I am now ready to buy a resale!

I am interested in purchasing a resale, Gold/Gold Plus, floating week, annual, 2 bedroom lockoff unit at Westin Desert Willow Villas.

[solicitation redacted]
2. What should I know about buying a resale (specifically at this resort, I have combed through all the TUG general FAQs!)
3. Are SMTN and Redweek reputable places to purchase from?

I know I won't be able to exchange as easily as buying points from the developer, but I really liked the resort and would definitely stay there again 1x a year. What are the pros and cons of purchasing a resale, and any pitfalls I should be aware of?

Thanks so much!

 

[dioxide45]

As you know, you won't be able to use StarOptions on resale. That is the biggest drawback. That said, you really should just look at buying a mandatory resale week at a resort that comes with StarOptions. I would think Westin Desert Willow is pretty easy to book with StarOptions at eight months just about any time of the year except peak winter weeks in February and March and certain holidays. You could pick up a Sheraton Vistana Villages that is going to have a lower maintenance fee and can book those same weeks with the same number of StarOptions. This would then give you the flexibility of VSN vs having to trade via II and pay the II membership and exchange fees instead of just the one VSN fee.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Pros and Cons:

Desert Willow is a nice timeshare and the lockoff splits into two 1-BR units rather than a 1 BR and an efficiency. (Pro)
The Desert Willow maintenance fee seems high to me (Con)
I am uncertain if owning a Westin gets any preference period in Marriott through Interval International. It probably has some preference when exchanging into other Westins.

 

[samelli]

As you know, you won't be able to use StarOptions on resale. That is the biggest drawback. That said, you really should just look at buying a mandatory resale week at a resort that comes with StarOptions. I would think Westin Desert Willow is pretty easy to book with StarOptions at eight months just about any time of the year except peak winter weeks in February and March and certain holidays. You could pick up a Sheraton Vistana Villages that is going to have a lower maintenance fee and can book those same weeks with the same number of StarOptions. This would then give you the flexibility of VSN vs having to trade via II and pay the II membership and exchange fees instead of just the one VSN fee.

Appreciate this! Maybe I'm old school, but the points system seems like the scam of their timeshare pitch and end up being hard to use. Is this a viable option to what you're suggesting? "44,000 Vistana Sheraton Flex Points"

 

[dioxide45]

Appreciate this! Maybe I'm old school, but the points system seems like the scam of their timeshare pitch and end up being hard to use. Is this a viable option to what you're suggesting? "44,000 Vistana Sheraton Flex Points"

There is a big difference between a mandatory resale deed and Sheraton Flex. Don't go with Sheraton Flex, you won't be able to use that at Westin Desert Willow. Don't buy Westin Flex. You want to buy a deeded week at a mandatory resort. Did you see this mentioned in any of the FAQ stickies you read at the top of the forum?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Westin Desert Willow is a beautiful timeshare and cheap to buy resale for a platinum season week. I would only buy Platinum (I did buy an EOY platinum, actually).

II and Marriott (formerly Vistana) allow me to deposit my week to receive back a blended trading power for platinum season for my lockoff unit. I don't have to pay $95 to lock off, like I do with Marriott, and my trading power was exceptional until lately.

The drawbacks:
Trading power is down over the last few months in II but may improve. Not sure if it will, but I am hoping.
You cannot book a specific week to deposit and can only get the blended trading power (Makes me crazy after the recent drop in trading power)
The fees are pretty high, even higher than Marriott's Shadow Ridge, which I can book a specific week, I can lock it off for $95 and deposit high TP weeks to II. Much better choice.

What would I do, if I had about $17K lying around? I would buy Westin Kierland 148,000 Mandatory Options (platinum season 2 bed lockoff) and use it for booking within Westin. Fees are lower and it's never going to lose its value as a mandatory resort. There is nothing Marriott can do to ruin that product, but they would sure love to take away resale owners' rights. They cannot. It's a great value for the money.

 

[vacationtime1]

If you want to go to Desert Willow at least half of the time, buy Desert Willow -- annual or eoy as appropriate and definitely buy a high season week.

If you want to stay at Westin resorts other than Desert Willow at least some of the time, buy Kierland plat+ as @rickandcindy23 suggests.

I agree with @dioxide45 -- neither flex product is appropriate for your purposes (and in my mind, appropriate for anyone only in very, very limited circumstances).