Westin Kierland

[VMTugbbs]

Few questions-

We’re thinking about going to the Westin Kierland Villas next year (week of new years). It will be a large family vacation, so we’re interested in activities/pools and food.

I saw that access to the main resort may be restricted in periods of high demand. Will this apply to us?

How does this resort compare to Canyon Villas?

Also, is there any chance Shadow Ridge week 46 deposited a year out will be able to trade into the Westin for that time (week 52)? Into what unit size?

 

[dioxide45]

Few questions-

We’re thinking about going to the Westin Kierland Villas next year (week of new years). It will be a large family vacation, so we’re interested in activities/pools and food.

I saw that access to the main resort may be restricted in periods of high demand. Will this apply to us?

How does this resort compare to Canyon Villas?

Also, is there any chance Shadow Ridge week 46 deposited a year out will be able to trade into the Westin for that time (week 52)? Into what unit size?

I don't know how often the Westin hotel blocks out guests staying at the Villas. Hopefully someone else who may have been there at the same time can confirm.

IMO, it is way better than Canyon Villas. Though we have only been during low season, so perhaps when it is super busy during a holiday week, it won't be as enjoyable.

Vistana controls the deposits of weeks into II and they tend not to deposit event or holiday weeks. This week may never even get deposited to II, making an exchange impossible. You might have better luck with Club Points if you can use them.

 

[jabberwocky]

Can’t speak to trading into Kierland, but we used our SO to book week 52 plus a few days last year.

While the resort was fully booked, Scottsdale can get chilly that time of year. Aside from a few fellow Canadians enjoying the hot tubs and lazy river, the resort and adjoining hotel facilities were not busy at all.

 

[cubigbird]

I don't know how often the Westin hotel blocks out guests staying at the Villas. Hopefully someone else who may have been there at the same time can confirm.

Stayed ant WKV often during high season. There have been occasions the hotel blocks off access to weekend days like Saturday and Sunday, leaving weekdays open, but if you ask nicely they can usually get you in if capacity allows.

 

[dsmrp]

The 2 bdrm units are lockoffs, so in II I've only seen them as 1 bdrm units , full kitchen and limited kitchen. So you'll have to make 2 exchanges if you need the full 2 bdrm.

 

[VMTugbbs]

You might have better luck with Club Points if you can use them

Yeah, we can do this (and likely will), but would rather do the Interval exchange.

 

[VMTugbbs]

Are the pools usable in December/January, or is it too cold?

 

[dioxide45]

Yeah, we can do this (and likely will), but would rather do the Interval exchange.

I think as noted previously, it will be hard to get an exchange in to a 2BR unit through Interval since Visana tends to deposit the individual parts of the lock off units.

 

[YYJMSP]

Can’t speak to trading into Kierland, but we used our SO to book week 52 plus a few days last year.

While the resort was fully booked, Scottsdale can get chilly that time of year. Aside from a few fellow Canadians enjoying the hot tubs and lazy river, the resort and adjoining hotel facilities were not busy at all.

We are here right now, temps have been a balmy 8C in the morning and up to high teens during the day. Definitely still shorts weather. Sorry, don't speak Fahrenheit...

It doesn't feel busy, other than Brittlebush at breakfast time. Kierland Commons was quite busy as well.

 

[YYJMSP]

Are the pools usable in December/January, or is it too cold?

A few people are in them now.

 

[marmite]

I have traded into Christmas week at Westin Kierland before through Interval. It was a 1BR, and in Vistana preference. I did not set up an OGS for that though, if I did, I would think a 1BR Shadow Ridge should do it. As @dsmrp advised, they do not deposit in Interval as 2BR units.

 

[jabberwocky]

We are here right now, temps have been a balmy 8C in the morning and up to high teens during the day. Definitely still shorts weather. Sorry, don't speak Fahrenheit...

It doesn't feel busy, other than Brittlebush at breakfast time. Kierland Commons was quite busy as well.

That translates to about mid-40’s to mid-60’s. I’ll start breaking out shorts when we get to the low 60’s. Being in the desert things cool off very fast once the sun starts setting. They do have some nice fire pits on property for the evenings.

The kids have loved the pools even at those temps; however, I tend to migrate to the hot tub. There may be a few people in the pool area, but your odds of winning country or Disney trivia will be pretty good.

 

[VMTugbbs]

a 1BR Shadow Ridge should do it

It’s not locked off (it’s a 2 bedroom shadow ridge), so I take it that helps our chances?

 

[marmite]

@VMTugbbs I hope that puts you to the top of the list! Good luck.

 

[GerryWA]

Are the pools usable in December/January, or is it too cold?

Cold and they are in the shade

 

[VMTugbbs]

[deleted]

 

[Don Springett]

Can’t speak for Shadow Ridge but the Westin Kierland is awesome. We liked it so much we moved nearby 18 months ago when I retired. Google Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter or just use google map the area…unlimited dining and shopping options within walking distance or via the Westin Shuttle. Old town Scottsdale is magical with all the Christmas decorations and has a crazy amount of shopping, dining, art galleries. IMHO swimming is doable when combined with a warmup with the SPA. High today is 62 but we did have a few days in the 70's around Christmas. Weather is perfect for hiking and you have 230 miles of trails from easy to hard at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve with multiple trailheads as close as 5 miles away.