• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Westin Lagunamar Question

suzannesimon

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
1,892
Reaction score
147
Location
Destin, FL & Bethany Beach, DE
Resorts Owned
Marriott Frenchman's Cove, Hyatt Sunset Harbor, Harborside at Atlantis, Marriott Aruba Surf Club, Marriott Grande Ocean, Westin Kierland Villas, Westin Lagunamar
I'm in the process of buying what was marketed as a Plat Plus Float. The agent truly believed that's what he was selling. When the title company sent me the closing paperwork, I noticed it was a float unit, fixed week 51. The agent is now saying that it is a fixed week 51 that also floats. Needless to say, I don't have a lot of confidence in his information.

It isn't really a problem for me because if I don't want to use 51, I'll just rent it and rent the week I want from someone else. Most years I'll probably come out ahead. Does anyone know if Starwood sold "floating" 51's? Since it's a voluntary resort, Star Options aren't available. If it does float, can I reserve a year out or do I have to wait until 8 months out as if it were Star Options?

I called Starwood and when they found out I wasn't the owner or the closing agent, the refused to give me any info on it. They said I had to talk to the owner who I've had no contact with and he lives in Mexico City
 

cubigbird

Tug Review Crew Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
1,775
Reaction score
675
Location
Western US
Resorts Owned
Westin Lagunamar, Westin Kierland X2, Westin St John-Sunset Bay X2, Westin Desert Willow, Westin Aventuras
I own the same week 51 - Christmas, however it is an annual fixed EVENT WEEK and guarantees usage during the Christmas holiday week. To my knowledge, WLR sold up to 50% of weeks 51 and 52 as such. If it is an annual fixed week you should see wording along the lines of "annual fixed" or "event week." I am also aware that floating week 51 does exist but it is not an event week and just a designation for inventory and does not guarantee Christmas and it's a separate inventory from the event week. That is a normal platinum plus week.

Ask the agent to get a screen shot from the seller of the ownership in MSC and that will tell you.

FWIW - WLR is wonderful that time of year if you go week 51 and the rental rate through SPG for a 2BD LO during that week can easily top $800/night, if it ever shows available.
 
Last edited:

Helios

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2015
Messages
2,297
Reaction score
134
I thinks that means that your unit will auto reserve at 12 months out and you need to confirm before the 10 month mark. If you don't, it will be released to other owners of your unit type in your season. At 8 months it will be available for everybody. That's how WSJ VGV work.

I wouldn't worry, actually it seems like you are getting a good unit that is fixed for Xmas.
 

cubigbird

Tug Review Crew Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
1,775
Reaction score
675
Location
Western US
Resorts Owned
Westin Lagunamar, Westin Kierland X2, Westin St John-Sunset Bay X2, Westin Desert Willow, Westin Aventuras
I thinks that means that your unit will auto reserve at 12 months out and you need to confirm before the 10 month mark. If you don't, it will be released to other owners of your unit type in your season. At 8 months it will be available for everybody. That's how WSJ VGV work.

I wouldn't worry, actually it seems like you are getting a good unit that is fixed for Xmas.

They were sold as event weeks. You want to ask them specifically about it being an "event week"
 

suzannesimon

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
1,892
Reaction score
147
Location
Destin, FL & Bethany Beach, DE
Resorts Owned
Marriott Frenchman's Cove, Hyatt Sunset Harbor, Harborside at Atlantis, Marriott Aruba Surf Club, Marriott Grande Ocean, Westin Kierland Villas, Westin Lagunamar
The estoppel says float unit, fixed week 51. Christmas next year is actually Week 52 so I'll have to clarify if it is an event week or always Week 51 after it closes. I actually rented 3 units at the Royals for my family for Christmas 2016 so if it turns out this is always 51, I'll go down a week early and relax before my family descends for Christmas.
 

SMHarman

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
4,171
Reaction score
86
Location
NY NY
The estoppel says float unit, fixed week 51. Christmas next year is actually Week 52 so I'll have to clarify if it is an event week or always Week 51 after it closes. I actually rented 3 units at the Royals for my family for Christmas 2016 so if it turns out this is always 51, I'll go down a week early and relax before my family descends for Christmas.
There is wording in the docs about 53 week years. You get to choose 51 or 52. 52 gets to choose 52 or 53. Starwood gets a week in the year and pays housekeeping.

You can still float just you have a guarantee you need to confirm for 51 or you release that And book a week you want.
 

suzannesimon

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
1,892
Reaction score
147
Location
Destin, FL & Bethany Beach, DE
Resorts Owned
Marriott Frenchman's Cove, Hyatt Sunset Harbor, Harborside at Atlantis, Marriott Aruba Surf Club, Marriott Grande Ocean, Westin Kierland Villas, Westin Lagunamar
There is wording in the docs about 53 week years. You get to choose 51 or 52. 52 gets to choose 52 or 53. Starwood gets a week in the year and pays housekeeping.

You can still float just you have a guarantee you need to confirm for 51 or you release that And book a week you want.

Thank you - that's excellent news. If I choose to float, I could select a week in the Platinum Plus season since Star Options are out of the question?
 

SMHarman

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
4,171
Reaction score
86
Location
NY NY
Thank you - that's excellent news. If I choose to float, I could select a week in the Platinum Plus season since Star Options are out of the question?
Yes and only in the pp season. So Feb (week's 5-17) but not Jan (week's 1-4) for example.
 

cubigbird

Tug Review Crew Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
1,775
Reaction score
675
Location
Western US
Resorts Owned
Westin Lagunamar, Westin Kierland X2, Westin St John-Sunset Bay X2, Westin Desert Willow, Westin Aventuras
The estoppel says float unit, fixed week 51. Christmas next year is actually Week 52 so I'll have to clarify if it is an event week or always Week 51 after it closes. I actually rented 3 units at the Royals for my family for Christmas 2016 so if it turns out this is always 51, I'll go down a week early and relax before my family descends for Christmas.

While it isn't Harborside this should rent really well. From actually being there week 51 (every year so far) I have noticed the resort has been completely full. As I mentioned above, if it ever even shows up, the 2 bedroom rental rate is north of $750/night.

Christmas is a great time to be in Cancun. The weather is very nice and there is a lot going on.

Out of curiously what did you pay for the week?? I've seen eBay listings online at $20k but they didn't end up selling.
 

cubigbird

Tug Review Crew Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
1,775
Reaction score
675
Location
Western US
Resorts Owned
Westin Lagunamar, Westin Kierland X2, Westin St John-Sunset Bay X2, Westin Desert Willow, Westin Aventuras
There is wording in the docs about 53 week years. You get to choose 51 or 52. 52 gets to choose 52 or 53. Starwood gets a week in the year and pays housekeeping.

You can still float just you have a guarantee you need to confirm for 51 or you release that And book a week you want.

That might be the difference for "event weeks." My event week auto books 18 months in advance and I don't have to confirm it. I literally can just show up and check in on check in day. I do, however, have to cancel it if I want to change to another week or go somewhere else.
 

suzannesimon

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
1,892
Reaction score
147
Location
Destin, FL & Bethany Beach, DE
Resorts Owned
Marriott Frenchman's Cove, Hyatt Sunset Harbor, Harborside at Atlantis, Marriott Aruba Surf Club, Marriott Grande Ocean, Westin Kierland Villas, Westin Lagunamar
I just got lucky. I searched for Lagunamar sales online and an agent popped up that had one. He admitted he didn't do much business there. They were asking $8,000 and we settled on $7,000 for a Platinum Plus week. I was happy with that compared to Redweek where I usually find them. It wasn't until weeks later when I was going over the paperwork from the closing company that I noticed it was a fixed week 51. I inquired further from the agent and he still thought it was floating. The closer requested a new Estoppel to be sure and it is Week 51 Fixed. I don't think the owner owned it more than a year and probably didn't know what he owned.
 

pacman777

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2014
Messages
629
Reaction score
219
I just got lucky. I searched for Lagunamar sales online and an agent popped up that had one. He admitted he didn't do much business there. They were asking $8,000 and we settled on $7,000 for a Platinum Plus week. I was happy with that compared to Redweek where I usually find them. It wasn't until weeks later when I was going over the paperwork from the closing company that I noticed it was a fixed week 51. I inquired further from the agent and he still thought it was floating. The closer requested a new Estoppel to be sure and it is Week 51 Fixed. I don't think the owner owned it more than a year and probably didn't know what he owned.

I thought deeded fixed weeks could not float for resale purchases. I could be wrong.
 

suzannesimon

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
1,892
Reaction score
147
Location
Destin, FL & Bethany Beach, DE
Resorts Owned
Marriott Frenchman's Cove, Hyatt Sunset Harbor, Harborside at Atlantis, Marriott Aruba Surf Club, Marriott Grande Ocean, Westin Kierland Villas, Westin Lagunamar
I thought deeded fixed weeks could not float for resale purchases. I could be wrong.

You can't get Star Options but it looks like a fixed week can float in their own season.
 

VacationForever

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2010
Messages
17,055
Reaction score
12,166
Location
Somewhere Out There
I actually bought event week 52 at WLR for about 45k which I rescinded. It was just hard to commit to going there every year and I don't want the hassle of renting out on my own for years which I don't want to go..
 

dsmrp

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2014
Messages
2,531
Reaction score
1,850
Location
MI Washington
Resorts Owned
Sheraton Vistana, Waikoloa Bay Club, Hyatt Pinon Pt
I just got lucky. I searched for Lagunamar sales online and an agent popped up that had one. He admitted he didn't do much business there. They were asking $8,000 and we settled on $7,000 for a Platinum Plus week. I was happy with that compared to Redweek where I usually find them. It wasn't until weeks later when I was going over the paperwork from the closing company that I noticed it was a fixed week 51. I inquired further from the agent and he still thought it was floating. The closer requested a new Estoppel to be sure and it is Week 51 Fixed. I don't think the owner owned it more than a year and probably didn't know what he owned.

Congrats! sounds like you got a very good, great deal.
 
Top