Westin St John [Master Thread] - Part 2 (June 2014 and forward)

[GrayFal]

I have a 9 day reservation in 34 days (October 12th). I want to go to support the economy to help the rebuild. I have no idea what building my 3 bedroom lockoff reservation is in but considering it is a 12 person reservation I think it has to be a Sunset Bay Reservation.

Or coral Vista. Both of these phases have 3 BR lockoff sleep 12

Assume they will honor home resort reservations before SO Resies.

 

[josh2268]

We have reservations at Coral Vista 10/28-11/12, and really don't see how they can have things back up and running that quickly. However, if they are, we will probably go, because we wonder how that economy can recover if people don't go. Maybe we aren't thinking clearly....Anyway, if anyone hears anything official about what our options are as owners, please share ASAP. I really hate not having solid plans, whatever they may turn out to be!

They are allowing cancellations penalty free for reservations scheduled now until September 29th. With that they are waiving the SO restriction period and allowing you to bank your SO into the next year, as long as those SO where not banked from a previous year. If the reservation was put in someone else's name, the $59 fee is non refundable. As i understand, at this time, any reservation for later than September 29th all existing rules apply.

 

[carpie99]

Or coral Vista. Both of these phases have 3 BR lockoff sleep 12

Assume they will honor home resort reservations before SO Resies.

Well I do own in VGV ... but had to move from the summer to the fall ... still won't matter home/SO priority though

 

[carpie99]

They are allowing cancellations penalty free for reservations scheduled now until September 29th. With that they are waiving the SO restriction period and allowing you to bank your SO into the next year, as long as those SO where not banked from a previous year. If the reservation was put in someone else's name, the $59 fee is non refundable. As i understand, at this time, any reservation for later than September 29th all existing rules apply.

So open after 9/29??? Or are they just going to start moving the date out ....

 

[josh2268]

So open after 9/29??? Or are they just going to start moving the date out ....

They moved the date twice already. With a second storm coming right behind it, one would think the date is fluid at this time. But who knows.

 

[DeniseM]

*** Owner Services is closing at 3:00 Eastern today (in 1.5 hours) and will not open again until Tuesday, so if you need to do something regarding reservations this week - do it RIGHT NOW!

 

[josh_e]

We have (had) a reservation at WSJ for September 24 - October 1. Initially, we were hopeful it would work out, but after seeing the devastation, we know our trip wouldn't be happening.
I was able to cancel and started the refund process for our AA tickets to STT.
We still have not received official communication from Vistana about our reservation. After calling owner services, they said that they are canceling reservations through the end of the month (I have to assume this will be extended indefinitely). We were given the option to bank our points for next year, but they are not offering to waive the $99 fee to do this, even though it won't be possible for us to book something else this year. I'm hoping that policy will change.
Let me know if anyone else has the same experience.

I'm sure others have seen this, but this Facebook group seems to be the best source of info for the island right now. So sad to see our favorite place destroyed.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/125185931463839/

 

[canesfan]

I agree that the banking fee should be waived. It's certainly not your choice that you are banking options. Afterall if you are using your ownership at WSJ, you are also losing owner priority, so that is a penalty itself to banking. This is special circumstances and the fee should be waived, imho.

 

[duke]

With regard to Travel Insurance: Most of us here have discussed and gotten the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. This card has Travel Insurance for airline mileage (frequent flyer) reservations if you used the card to pay ANY portion of the ticket fees. This includes the TAX that is charged on all mileage reservations. Hope this helps.

 

[lizap]

So open after 9/29??? Or are they just going to start moving the date out ....

I can almost guarantee this date will be moved forward. There is no way WSJ will be fully operational by then.

 

[SandyPGravel]

I can almost guarantee this date will be moved forward. There is no way WSJ will be fully operational by then.

Or the infrastructure of the island. Water, power, food, transportation... Even if the resort could be functional in 3 weeks the rest of the island(s) won't be. Putting extra stress on the limited resources of the island that soon?

 

[lizap]

Or the infrastructure of the island. Water, power, food, transportation... Even if the resort could be functional in 3 weeks the rest of the island(s) won't be. Putting extra stress on the limited resources of the island that soon?

When I say fully operational, I mean not only having the necessities but the amenities that we are used to having when we visit there..AND if it is not fully operational, those of us who have a planned visit in the near future, should be allowed to cancel and bank without penalty. I agree it will take a very long time for the island to be normal again. Having been through Katrina, even in the continental U. S.,it took longer than a year, and we are still not where we were. Given the higher winds, more damage, and much less infrastructure, it will take a very long time for the island to get back to what it was, and it may not get there in some of our lifetimes.. I remember the gorgeous oak trees on Government street in Mobile being decimated during Frederick. Ten years later, they had still not recovered fully. I remember that Biloxi was never the same after Camile. I don't think we should expect too much soon.

 

[NerdAlert]

Just saw first pix from Caribbean Buzz on Facebook. It appears Virgin Grand bldgs 31-34, Bay Vista, and Coral Vista all have roofs intact, no debris around on ground either. Sunset Bay looks slammed. Can't see bldgs 41-44 pool villas yet. Anyone see them yet?

 

[NerdAlert]

Snapshot of VGV 31-34, Bay Vista, Coral Vista

 

[LisaH]

Snapshot of VGV 31-34, Bay Vista, Coral Vista

Thank god. Thank you!

 

[lizap]

Hard to tell, but overall the resort looks pretty devastated. However, it could have been worse.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Just saw first pix from Caribbean Buzz on Facebook. It appears Virgin Grand bldgs 31-34, Bay Vista, and Coral Vista all have roofs intact, no debris around on ground either. Sunset Bay looks slammed. Can't see bldgs 41-44 pool villas yet. Anyone see them yet?

2 of the VGV pool villas are on left side of photo

Hard to tell because of poor photo resolution, but looks like VGV, BV, and CV buildings are relatively intact. SB and rest of buildings by GCB look badly damaged.

Devastating photos from across USVI and BVI - comparatively to VGV, BV, and CV buildings - we got off easy. Many (many) have lost their homes, and livelihood.

Please allow VSN/VSE and WSJ time to recover and reorganize.

StJ (and USVI) will never be the same. Somethings are lost forever, others will rebuild, vegetation will grow back - some new things will be built - but post-Irma... we can only move forward with fond memories - and hopefully new memories.
It will never be 'the same' - ever. This has always been the case following major hurricanes that hit tropical islands.

 

[cubigbird]

Snapshot of VGV 31-34, Bay Vista, Coral Vista

Its hard to tell due to the distance but I am sure there is water, roof or other structural damage to all buildings.

 

[LisaH]

My biggest fear is Irma might have damaged or worse destroyed the reef around St John, which was what happened to St Martin 20 some years ago.

 

[SMHarman]

Hard to tell, but overall the resort looks pretty devastated. However, it could have been worse.

Looks pretty sound to me. Roofs on most buildings etc.

 

[SMHarman]

Soggy Dollar

 

[canesfan]

My biggest fear is Irma might have damaged or worse destroyed the reef around St John, which was what happened to St Martin 20 some years ago.

Yes, the Caymans reef was drastically changed after a major hurricane came through years ago also. It's a concern of ours too.


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[cubigbird]

Here's a video from The Weather Channel. WSJ at 1:00 and 1:14.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10155810563815921

 

[SMHarman]

And now Jose is on the way.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...me-first-help-or-jose/?utm_term=.929e127e9361

 

[DavidnRobin]

So... on our way to WKORV/WPORV - good timing... I guess it is called traveling now, and not vacation.

Following IRMA - I assume our WSJ deeds are valueless - as many if not most are now.
This is a huge blow to the VGV HOA - as the others.
Yes, WSJ will recover - but STJ/USVI/BVI land and reefs will never be the same... so glad we have 11 fantastic years of memories


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