Westin Lagunamar - buy more points on the secondary market?

[tarkin79]

Hi all, I purchased 44,000 points at westin lagunamar a couple of years ago and I really like the place, but wondering if it's possible to buy additional staroption points on the secondary market. Searching around the web and it looks like possibly buying a timeshare at another location would allow that (Kierland, for instance). But looking for sage advice on the best way to do this. I'm interested in either 37,000 or 44,000 more points.

 

[vacationtime1]

Hi all, I purchased 44,000 points at westin lagunamar a couple of years ago and I really like the place, but wondering if it's possible to buy additional staroption points on the secondary market. Searching around the web and it looks like possibly buying a timeshare at another location would allow that (Kierland, for instance). But looking for sage advice on the best way to do this. I'm interested in either 37,000 or 44,000 more points.

What do you actually own? Marriott doesn't sell StarOptions as a stand-alone product.

Did you purchase a Lagunamar week from Marriott that is convertible to 44000 StarOptions or did you buy 44000 Aventuras points? This is important because you want to buy something compatible with what you already own for extended reservations.

 

[tarkin79]

What do you actually own? Marriott doesn't sell StarOptions as a stand-alone product.

Did you purchase a Lagunamar week from Marriott that is convertible to 44000 StarOptions or did you buy 44000 Aventuras points? This is important because you want to buy something compatible with what you already own for extended reservations.

I purchased 44,000 aventuras points. I didn't purchase a particular week. I just get the 44k points per year to use as I wish.

 

[vacationtime1]

If your goal is to stay at Lagunamar, the easy solution is to buy more Aventuras points. I don't know if they are all calendar year; if not, you should match the "year" to the points you already own. The problem is that resale Aventuras points aren't convertible to StarOptions, so you will be limited to the three Mexico properties in Aventuras.

The more flexible solution would be to buy a week at a mandatory property such as Kierland that comes with 81000 or 148100 StarOptions (i.e. a Plat+ week) and sell your Aventuras points. However, this would limit you to reserving Lagunamar only at the eight month mark which could be problematic (my experience doing this is not recent, so you should solicit opinions about how difficult this may be).

 

[tarkin79]

Interesting, thank you. I didn't realize that Aventuras and StarOptions are two different things (everything shows up in my Westin account as just StarOptions). Do you know if it is possible to combine the Aventuras points I already have with StarOptions from a location such as Kierland to book upgraded rooms at Lagunamar?

 

[vacationtime1]

Interesting, thank you. I didn't realize that Aventuras and StarOptions are two different things (everything shows up in my Westin account as just StarOptions). Do you know if it is possible to combine the Aventuras points I already have with StarOptions from a location such as Kierland to book upgraded rooms at Lagunamar?

I don't know -- but others here will and you will have an answer.

But you shouldn't buy the 44000 Kierland unit ("premium"; shoulder season) because the maintenance fees are high ($1,324 + SVN fee); the 81000 unit (one bedroom "premium"; high season) costs a bit more, comes with almost 2x the StarOptions, and has the same maintenance fee.

 

[WorldT]

Interesting, thank you. I didn't realize that Aventuras and StarOptions are two different things (everything shows up in my Westin account as just StarOptions). Do you know if it is possible to combine the Aventuras points I already have with StarOptions from a location such as Kierland to book upgraded rooms at Lagunamar?

No you cannot combine them. You can only use them separately.
While both can get you a reservation at Lagunamar, you have to think of them as two different currencies.

 

[cubigbird]

If your goal is to stay at Lagunamar, I’d buy a resale Lagunamar week, not Aventuras. Aventuras does have some Lagunamar but it isn’t abundant - it’s mostly Cabo but you won’t have Staroptions because it’s voluntary. If Staroptions is what you want to stay everywhere else other than Lagunamar then the others’ guidance of buying a Kierland is your best bet.

 

[byeloe]

Interesting, thank you. I didn't realize that Aventuras and StarOptions are two different things (everything shows up in my Westin account as just StarOptions). Do you know if it is possible to combine the Aventuras points I already have with StarOptions from a location such as Kierland to book upgraded rooms at Lagunamar?

I think inside 8 months you would be able to since your Aventuras home options become star options at that point.

If you are sure that you want Lagunamar then a resale week there is your best option.

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

I think inside 8 months you would be able to since your Aventuras home options become star options at that point.

If you are sure that you want Lagunamar then a resale week there is your best option.

You don't get SO on a resale week at a voluntary property, just the use of your ownership so there's nothing to combine.

 

[jabberwocky]

No you cannot combine them. You can only use them separately.
While both can get you a reservation at Lagunamar, you have to think of them as two different currencies.

They will combine if you are within 8 months since the Aventuras will be bookablw as StarOptions anywhere.

If you were to buy resale Aventuras the points would combine for bookings at the Mexican resorts, but not elsewhere.