Westin St John Master Thread - Part 3 [Dec. 2017 and forward]

[DavidnRobin]

OK, I'm going to and owners update on Tuesday morning. If anyone has a question they would like me to ask, please post by Monday night and I'll try and ask the questions.

Thanks.

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Are all buildings now open? What buildings/villas had mold issues?


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[cubigbird]

We had a post further up the thread about the 40 year RTU and what will happen to unsold inventory under Marriott.
see below.

”

I see that you and are are both owners there.
I think @SandyPGravel is going this month. If she goes to an update maybe she can ask. I went to an owners update/ sales meeting in November and they kept telling me that the unsold inventory in Coral Vista and Sunset Bay would be rolled into a “Caribbean Flex”. I called them out on that and they backed down but it will be interesting to see what happens

I never received an answer on the 40 year RTU. I’d love it if someone asked the question about it and finds out what happens at the end of the 40 years.

 

[GrayFal]

@SandyPGravel did you run the 8tuff race?

 

[SandyPGravel]

@SandyPGravel did you run the 8tuff race?

Our friends weren't interested, so no. Maybe next year. We were in town for the start of the race. We jumped off the Willy-T for Leap day instead... (Click thumbnail, should be a GIF)

 

[SandyPGravel]

I never received an answer on the 40 year RTU. I’d love it if someone asked the question about it and finds out what happens at the end of the 40 years.

The only answer I received was they're not an RTU. I said I was told it is, he again said they are not.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Are all buildings now open? What buildings/villas had mold issues?


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The answer I received was that's a question for the resort, not sales. At this point we pretty much gave each other attitude. I said this is an owner update, that's what I want to know. He suggested we talk sports to fill up our allotted time.

 

[SandyPGravel]

My update included the following points.

St John is the only Westin property not in Westin Flex.(Not sure if this is true.) It is being added in the next few months.(Also, time will tell) Any St John properties that come back to Marriott via upgrade or otherwise, especially on the hill, are being squirreled away for Marriott exchange.

Marriott will restrict resale owners from using the entire Marriott network. Will not effect mandatory owners from continuing to exchange within Vistana. No mention if they are offering a buy in package for resale owners.

Trying to sell Sunset. Claiming only two seasons. Offer was 2 BR, $62,300 for winter season, $52,500 for summer season. Offer was to trade in my 81,000 Orlando unit and requal my WSJ VGV final prices were $32,760 for winter & $26,600 for summer. Then they offered a 148,000 Bay Vista 2 BR float wk 19 - 34 for $19,095, trading in my 81,000 Orlando unit and requal my WSJ VGV. (When i upgraded my inherited 67,000 Orlando to 81,000 it was $10,000 in 2007.) Prices were supposedly a discount price for current WSJ owners.

 

[controller1]

My update included the following points.

St John is the only Westin property not in Westin Flex.(Not sure if this is true.)

That is true.

It is being added in the next few months.(Also, time will tell)

Yes, time will tell as it was a timeshare salesperson saying this!

 

[jdent1]

Any reports on when the second restaurant on property will reopen?

 

[SandyPGravel]

Any reports on when the second restaurant on property will reopen?

I didn't go to the association meeting I'm assuming it was covered there. Snorkels is open until 10 serving food.

Also main lobby is being rebuilt in the previous spot approximately 2023.

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[SRG53]

They said very soon when we were there in Feb. Same owners as longboard

 

[cubigbird]

That is true.





Yes, time will tell as it was a timeshare salesperson saying this!

If WSJ is added to eventually flex, then that devalues my Sunset Bay 12 mos reservation capability. I’d now get to compete with all the Westin Flex owners at 12 months?!?! Do we know what phases might get added to flex?

 

[cubigbird]

The only answer I received was they're not an RTU. I said I was told it is, he again said they are not.

My WSJ-SB docs state 40 year RTU. It’s in writing.

 

[controller1]

If WSJ is added to eventually flex, then that devalues my Sunset Bay 12 mos reservation capability. I’d now get to compete with all the Westin Flex owners at 12 months?!?! Do we know what phases might get added to flex?

It shouldn't devalue your ownership as the Flex owners will be making their Home Resort reservations from a different bucket of units than would you with your Home Resort reservation of Sunset Bay.

 

[SandyPGravel]

If WSJ is added to eventually flex, then that devalues my Sunset Bay 12 mos reservation capability. I’d now get to compete with all the Westin Flex owners at 12 months?!?! Do we know what phases might get added to flex?

The salesperson implied Virgin Grand. Said he hasn't had any VGV to sell since he started selling here a year ago January.

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[SandyPGravel]

My WSJ-SB docs state 40 year RTU. It’s in writing.

He said it wasn't I said it was. I didn't have documentation to argue with him so I let it go. Sorry...

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[DavidnRobin]

The salesperson implied Virgin Grand. Said he hasn't had any VGV to sell since he started selling here a year ago January.

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VGV is fixed weeks/fixed villas - not very FLEXible.
And they are not taking them back.

Lips moving...


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[farsighted99]

so we're booked for a Encore Package for a week during the middle of May at WSJ. I've paid it in full, but am hesitating about doing the airline tickets because of all this COVID-19 stuff. I just came back from LAX on the 21st of Feb (and wasn't too thrilled about going there); but things have gotten worse in the last week. Anyone else have this problem? I'm wondering if I can buy flight insurance. Seems like American is allowing refunds on airline tickets, but only until the 31st of March (at least so far). What a drag.....

We can cancel the hotel portion 14 days before. I guess I'll be waiting to see how things go in April....

 

[controller1]

I'm wondering if I can buy flight insurance.

Yes, you can buy flight insurance but it won't cover you just because you decide it is too dangerous to fly.

 

[applekor]

so we're booked for a Encore Package for a week during the middle of May at WSJ. I've paid it in full, but am hesitating about doing the airline tickets because of all this COVID-19 stuff. I just came back from LAX on the 21st of Feb (and wasn't too thrilled about going there); but things have gotten worse in the last week. Anyone else have this problem? I'm wondering if I can buy flight insurance. Seems like American is allowing refunds on airline tickets, but only until the 31st of March (at least so far). What a drag.....

We can cancel the hotel portion 14 days before. I guess I'll be waiting to see how things go in April....

I'm pretty sure the American Airline statement implies that tickets purchased before 3/31 for travel between march 2020 and Jan 30 2021, can be changed without fee as long as you cancel before the original travel date and new trip needs to happen within 1 year of the original purchase date.

 

[tomandrobin]

I am getting so out of the loop with all the changes, changes, changes of the Vistana/Sheraton/Westin system. We have become so disillusion with the whole system since the spit off, and then event sale to Marriott. We still love the property/resort and the island.....that won't change regardless of the changes.

I just can't wait to get back to the island in July for our two week trip.

 

[ksqdomer]

Just booked flights from Philly the end of June. Scored a nice Discount on AA. Felt I had to pull the trigger as not many seats were left on the Miami to STT leg.

 

[DavidnRobin]

The USVI Governor just closed USVI to visitors for 30 days.

USVI Governor: Tourists Cannot Visit for the Next 30 Days | News of St. John

The Governor released the following information Saturday night, March 21, 2020.

newsofstjohn.com

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[clsmit]

The USVI Governor just closed USVI to visitors for 30 days.

USVI Governor: Tourists Cannot Visit for the Next 30 Days | News of St. John

The Governor released the following information Saturday night, March 21, 2020.

newsofstjohn.com

Hopefully that will give them more time to finish the rehab of the pool villas. We had to cancel our trip in Feb due to the mold.

 

[halsey]

I have been shocked at the lack of recognition by Vistana to COVID-19. We have heard from every possible business including mom and pop stores as to how they are responding and what to expect from them and the services they offer, and this changes daily as the counts rise. There has been zero response from Vistana, including no mention at all on the Vistana website. Mindboggling. We have our annual reservation May 9, that is obviously not going to happen. We just left our winter home in Cozumel, Mexico a month early as flights are shutting down after this weekend. I acknowledge that this is devastating for the island and it's peoples as it is in Cozumel but this is much bigger than an impact to tourism. People need to think globally, not selfishly, and stay home. It may very likely take months. Vistana needs to step up and advise us.