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

[ocdb8r]

Is the Freecycle Shed a thing of the past now? If so, any recommendations for beach chair/umbrella rental on St. John or St. Thomas? I know many beaches offer these for day rentals, but we'd like to explore some of the beaches with no facilities....

 

[SandyPGravel]

2 BR unit Virgin Grand 3112

First time in this style 2 BR. Unit is a little smaller, 2 balconies though. We moved the table & chairs onto one balcony so we can all sit together.
Nicer washer/Dryer & dishwasher than in our 2BR TH unit in Bldg 32.

Ice maker wasn't working, but maintenance promptly came and installed a new one & brought us a bag of ice.

The vegetation has really grown at this end, we can barely see a sliver of GCB.

 

[tborr123]

Is there a deed back (and walk away) program for WSJ Grand Villas? Anyone done it? Annual costs now too high when rentals are going for less. TIA.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Is there a deed back (and walk away) program for WSJ Grand Villas? Anyone done it? Annual costs now too high when rentals are going for less. TIA.

Yes. I initially started the process (hassle, and needed to pay current year MFs), but gave it away for free to a Tugger.
You should post on the TUG Freebies section.

 

[tborr123]

Did it cost you anything to transfer title? Did Marriott decline their ROFR (since you gave it away I would think they would take it).

 

[Eric B]

Did it cost you anything to transfer title? Did Marriott decline their ROFR (since you gave it away I would think they would take it).

Marriott doesn’t have ROFR at WSJ VGV.

 

[Ckhawaii]

Just came back from WSJ and loved it. Curious on possibly buying a week there resale or maybe renting from a owner. I am aware of the high MF but understand that some phases are better then others. Which ones should i potentially avoid?

 

[Eric B]

Just came back from WSJ and loved it. Curious on possibly buying a week there resale or maybe renting from a owner. I am aware of the high MF but understand that some phases are better then others. Which ones should i potentially avoid?

The Virgin Grand phase is the only one that is mandatory at WSJ. It's across the street from the main resort and up a hill but can be preferable if you rent a car or want to be able to use the SOs elsewhere. The other phases are all voluntary so your flexibility with them as resale ownerships is limited. Lots of decent info here on TUG and at https://www.westinstjohnownersinfo.com.

 

[ljmiii]

Just came back from WSJ and loved it. Curious on possibly buying a week there resale or maybe renting from a owner. I am aware of the high MF but understand that some phases are better then others. Which ones should i potentially avoid?

There is no one right answer as we all have different priorities. Your choices are...

Virgin Grand Pool Villas (all 3BRs). Across road from main resort and beach. Fixed week/fixed unit, pools in each villa, no views, parking next to villa. Mandatory (which means if you buy resale you get the ability to trade your week for StarOptions).

Virgin Grand Hillside (studio, 1BR, 2BR, 2BR Townhouse). Also across road, fixed week/unit, parking next to villa, and Mandatory. There are shared pools on the VG side separate from the main one by the resort. I've read that some villas have views...but vegetation growth is changing this.

Bay Vista (2BR & 3BR). Some fixed villa/fixed unit deeds. If you buy resale then all you can do is reserve your villa type in the season you own. Spacious compared to the next two phases.

Coral Vista and Sunset Bay (studio, 2BR, & 3BR). A very few fixed week/fixed villa deeds were sold. But generally speaking, deeds were sold as HomeOptions which if you buy resale gives you the right to reserve as many days as you wish in whatever size villa you wish but only in the phase and season you own. Coral Vista's villas are larger but farther from the beach. Two of Sunset Bay's six buildings offer the only two Oceanfront villas at the resort...but Sunset Bay's villas really are tiny and the second bedroom has no windows.

We chose Bay Vista because we wanted to be on the resort side in a larger 2BR villa - in particular we wanted as 'real' a second BR for our adult kids as possible. Obviously, YMMV.

 

[Red elephant]

Just came back from WSJ and loved it. Curious on possibly buying a week there resale or maybe renting from an owner. I am aware of the high MF but understand that some phases are better then others. Which ones should i potentially avoid?

We love it there too. We go EOY at Sunset Bay but have always ended up in a 2 bedroom as the ACs always have a problem there. We are there for 16 days in a studio instead of one week in the 2 bedroom as it’s just the 2 of us. So the high MF pay for itself and then some. We don’t rent a car so the other phases would not work for us. We like being close to the resort.

 

[Eric B]

VIRGIN GRAND VILLAS – ST. JOHN CONDOMINIUM OWNERS ASSOCIATION LETTER TO OWNERS

Dear Fellow Owner:

The Board of Directors of Virgin Grand Villas - St. John Condominium Owners Association met for our Annual Meeting on March 6, 2024 and again virtually on June 25, 2024, for a regular meeting. Here is a recap of current happenings at your home in the USVI.

Welcoming our new GM, thanking retirees

We welcome Paul Bishop as the new General Manager for The Westin St. John Resort Villas. Paul succeeds Eugene Martin, who retired earlier this year after 38 years with Marriott Vacations Worldwide (MVW) in many leadership roles.

Paul impresses with several years as General Manager at several Marriott Vacations Worldwide properties, including Marriott’s OceanWatch Villas at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach and Sheraton Broadway Resort Villas. Please plan to meet him and his staff for coffee at the weekly Owner’s Focus presentation on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. He provides a resort update and welcomes your individual input.

We also would like to acknowledge and thank David Futransky for his many years of service and leadership on the Virgin Grand Villas – St. John Condominium Owners Association Board. David is succeeded by Dean Bordner who was elected to a 3-year term at the March Annual Meeting.

Villa refurbishment in 2025

Planning of the Virgin Grand Villas Refurbishment project has begun. The phases of the project for 2024 include Westin® brand design and completion of a mock-up room by January 2025. The scope of the categories being upgraded is extensive and includes accessories, artwork, case goods (furniture), ceiling fans, interior carpet, lighting, mirrors, safes, seating, window treatments, appliances, bedding and televisions. The current construction plan is to begin in the Fall of 2025 in the “30” buildings, followed by the “40” buildings in 2026.

Anticipating the spa

Staff anticipates the grand opening of The Tropical Bliss Spa & Beauty Bar this fall! The vendor is currently operating three other spas—two in St. Thomas and one in Atlanta. Plans show one spa room offering side-by-side couples massages while additional rooms will offer other spa services.

Guest satisfaction surveys

The Management team requests feedback from all guests who visit the Westin St. John property. Please complete the survey after your vacation. Survey scores have declined a few points in the past year and dipped to the mid-60s range for Virgin Grand. The management team prioritized shortcomings and is working diligently to improve the vacation experience. Their goal is 80%, which is in the upper 25% of Westin
locations. The upcoming substantial refurbishments to all the villas will be a significant factor in improving key measures in the guest satisfaction results. Please remember to share your issues and concerns by texting 305-876-6429 so they can be promptly addressed and will not impact the next guest.

Financial picture has improved

The Owners Association revenue for 2024 is ahead of plan by 5% while expenses are being well controlled. Only 87% of owners had paid their 2024 fees as of April. Delinquent owners, please pay your fees or contact resale operations via email at Resale.operations@vacationclub.com or via telephone at 866-682-4547 to consider the deed return option.
In mid-2022, after considerable investigation, the Board revised the association investment policy to allow a portion of reserves to be invested in certain equity investments. The higher appreciation achieved with the assets invested in the equity strategy helps mitigate inflationary erosion of Association reserve funds over the long term. For 2023, the portion of reserve assets invested in the equity strategy increased in value about 25%. The fixed-income portfolio is also well managed with a 5% yield.

We, your owner-elected Board of Directors of Virgin Grand Villas—St. John Condominium Owners Association, are honored to serve you and happy to answer your questions and concerns.

Sincerely,

Bill Bolton
Bill.virgingrand@gmail.com
Dean Bordner
Dean.virgingrand@gmail.com
John Hilbert
John.virgingrand@gmail.com

 

[dioxide45]

Wait, what?

Delinquent owners, please pay your fees or contact resale operations via email at Resale.operations@vacationclub.com or via telephone at 866-682-4547 to consider the deed return option.

I guess this isn't a true deed back option for any WSJ owner, but probably more of a deed in lieu?

 

[Eric B]

Wait, what?

Delinquent owners, please pay your fees or contact resale operations via email at Resale.operations@vacationclub.com or via telephone at 866-682-4547 to consider the deed return option.

I guess this isn't a true deed back option for any WSJ owner, but probably more of a deed in lieu?

I saw that, too. Not sure how or if it works.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Just came back from WSJ and loved it. Curious on possibly buying a week there resale or maybe renting from a owner. I am aware of the high MF but understand that some phases are better then others. Which ones should i potentially avoid?

If you buy VGV (resale) - buy a week you want (including checkin day) and buy Plat+ season. Plat+ has best value based on MFs, SO allotment, and ability to rent. Also, VGV has a owner-elected HOA BOD that is more transparent, and isn't completely owned by MVC (unlike every other HOA in Vistana system).

Personally - I would rent if you can track rental offers. Many Owners renting for MFs, or close to them.
Or, as some have done, rent one of the many other villas on the island.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Wait, what?

Delinquent owners, please pay your fees or contact resale operations via email at Resale.operations@vacationclub.com or via telephone at 866-682-4547 to consider the deed return option.

I guess this isn't a true deed back option for any WSJ owner, but probably more of a deed in lieu?

If not - it is something they should be doing. Previously, they made it too complicated and time-consuming to give back the deed.

 

[dioxide45]

If not - it is something they should be doing. Previously, they made it too complicated and time-consuming to give back the deed.

When MVC initially rolled out their points program, they weren't adding any Frenchman's Cove weeks into the trust. They resolved that issue and eventually started adding Frenchman's Cove units to the trust about two years later. Perhaps they are going to be doing the same with WSJ weeks, what they reaquire they will add to the Abound point trust. This could be good for owners that want out, but could really drive up the MF on trust points as I don't think WSJ has very favorable MFs per point.

 

[Henry M.]

The new General Manager at Westin St. John published a newsletter. It contains some information on refurbishment and the ferry to St. Thomas for shopping excursions, among other things.

https://image.email1.marriott-vacations.com/lib/fea115737565067c73/m/1/06f4492d-df2f-42c3-ada5-7e0ffb758b6c.pdf

 

[SandyPGravel]

Just an FYI to any Virgin Grand Owners...Property tax is due this week, if you haven't already paid it.

 

[dkostner]

Virgin Grand Villas Property taxes are due today, in case you forgot.

You seem to know something I don't, so I'll ask you the question, hoping you are still around here to answer:

I'm a new VG owner and was under the impression that maintenance fees covered property taxes. Apparently not, but this information is difficult / impossible for me to find. I have received no bill from the USVI but I have been informed by email from Marriott that I owe these taxes for 2024. I went to the USVI access portal to search and no records come up under my name. I'm at a loss about what to do. Do you have any advice?

 

[DavidnRobin]

Did it cost you anything to transfer title? Did Marriott decline their ROFR (since you gave it away I would think they would take it).

Sorry for the delay - been off TUG since my Tapatalk App no longer works.

As mentioned, there is no ROFR.
I could have sold my VGV weeks for a small amount, but didn't want the hassle.
The Tugger that took them paid for closing and transfer of deeds - somewhere around $450.

MVC would have taken them, but not until the following year and I would have to pay the current year's MFs.
So it worked out. Considering that our 2-week WSJ vacations were costing ~$10K per year - it was worth it.

 

[DavidnRobin]

You seem to know something I don't, so I'll ask you the question, hoping you are still around here to answer:

I'm a new VG owner and was under the impression that maintenance fees covered property taxes. Apparently not, but this information is difficult / impossible for me to find. I have received no bill from the USVI but I have been informed by email from Marriott that I owe these taxes for 2024. I went to the USVI access portal to search and no records come up under my name. I'm at a loss about what to do. Do you have any advice?

If you own an WSJ-VGV VOI (TS week) - you definitely have Property Tax due.
In the process of buying WSJ-VGV - there should have been (actually required) a Tax certificate (or something like that) that shows that taxes have been paid and up-to-date prior to the deed transfer.

Go back to the USVI Tax site. This can be searched in various ways - either by name (try different ones) or parcel number. It is a bit confusing, but try various methods. Perhaps try and get a previous tax bill as this has the required info.
This is important - as you will get fined for a late payment.

You can call them, and tell them the issue, and perhaps they can help look it up. Advice, be overly polite with them. Good morning/afternoon, how's the weather been, etc. Not joking - goes a long way to get help.
GL

 

[KeithR]

We haven’t visited WSJ previously but are considering it for 2025. With the villa upgrades coming, does it make more sense to wait until 2026?

 

[tomandrobin]

We haven’t visited WSJ previously but are considering it for 2025. With the villa upgrades coming, does it make more sense to wait until 2026?

You go to St John for the island, not the resort or rooms. I say go and have fun!

 

[ljmiii]

We haven’t visited WSJ previously but are considering it for 2025. With the villa upgrades coming, does it make more sense to wait until 2026?

I can't imagine anything that they could do to the villas that would allow me to better enjoy WSJ. Other than maybe adding windows to the 2nd bedroom at Sunset Bay.

Seriously, if you can find availability in 2025...go!

 

[dokken88]

Here now in our usual Virgin Grand villa. Grounds need a refresh for sure..beds full of weeds but not awful. Main pool needs a good CLEAN for sure. All in all great time..ready for the bath tubs to be BLOWN up in the VG area. Looking forward to the "rehab". As usual..ST JOHN does not dissapoint.