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Westin St. John [Master Thread]

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LisaRex

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There must be something I am missing here as to why people buy timeshares on St John, I am definitely not seeing the benefit. The Westin is a nice establishment but certainly not the most fabulous resort on the planet so what are the factors that draws one in to buy a timeshare here?

I, too, love renting homes when I vacation, and have stayed in some incredibly nice homes. There will definitely always be a place for that in my travels.

However, timesharing also has its unique perks, because it offers a nice hybrid between a private home and a hotel resort. You still get a lot of space to spread out, your own private bedroom and bath, a fully-equipped kitchen, bbqs, washer/dryer, private lanai, etc, but paired with the amenities of a resort -- on-site restaurants and bars, kids' clubs, tennis courts, on-site car rental, on-demand taxis, gorgeous pools with poolside service, and clean, dry towels whenever you want one.

WSJ is also fairly unique in that rental rates (during the winter, when I want to travel there) are significantly higher than maintenance fees. So for people who buy at WSJ, the break-even point is much narrower than at other locations where rental rates are very close to MFs.

IF I were to buy another timeshare, it would be at WSJ.
 

DavidnRobin

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Thanks for the great reply.

I can see that this really doesn't make much sense to me at first glance but I will continue to read on. I'd rather rent a house of my own instead for the cost of a two/three bedroom timeshare.

There must be something I am missing here as to why people buy timeshares on St John, I am definitely not seeing the benefit. The Westin is a nice establishment but certainly not the most fabulous resort on the planet so what are the factors that draws one in to buy a timeshare here?

Just saw this. As an owner of 2Bd TH Hillside (VG) villa at WSJ (and lover of StJ) - a few things. For me... (aka IMO) - I would not buy a studio; at a minimum I would buy a 1Bd even if it is only 2 people. These reasons have been discussed, also discussions around whether BV or VG section - and there are many diverse opinions on this. As usual, much comes down to what matters to the individuals traveling.

Certainly StJ is not for everyone, and the same hold true for WSJ. Why buy or rent WSJ - versus renting a villa on StJ? Again, the opinions will vary. No doubt, in most cases, these are better than staying in the major hotels (Caneel, Westin {hotel-part}), but mainly for the reasons that people here what in TSs over hotel stays for long-term stays. {Not saying that Caneel, or WSJ are not great places to stay - esp w/ $$$ - just by comparison}

As to WSJ vs. StJ villa - again it comes down to many factors around expectations. We like the consistency, lack of hassle, and the known expectations of vacationing in our villa and at the resort. Since I am pretty much responsible for vacation - I am very happy (nowadays) going to the same places/resorts - which explains our SVO TS vacations - yes, I have become boring... but this causes less stress for me. (so purely selfish reasons...)

I follow many of the villas on StJ - mainly because most blogs are RE and rental oriented (and if I hit the Lottery - I am ready...) and I keep up on StJ news. There are certainly fantastic villas on StJ - some less expensive and some more (you generally get what you pay for...). I already own WSJ - so I am not going to change, but if I didn't and I were to find a great villa that fits our needs (low hassle, and what we want - like AC in the bedroom, a view, location, easy in/out...), and at a good cost - I would be all over it. But remember that WSJ-VG MFs have gone up 50% since I bought in 2006 (also the villas/buildings/resort have been extensively remodeled) - so not to long ago it was considerably less expensive. Also, BV has been built creating more availability. Also, having fixed weeks - it forces me to plan and take the vacation that in the past I would put off to the last minute (or not take) if I didn't have that commitment (selfish AND lazy). This is the only thing that ran true from the TS sales spiel.

I have recently gotten information for 2 different groups (n=2, 4) for StJ villa stays (too late for them to rent from an owner at WSJ). In looking at availability and prices - definitly the larger the travel party the better the villa (more for the $/person). For just 2 people it becomes harder to find adequate villas and locations. Certainly they exist, but the best villas for the most part cater to parties of 6-10.

There are a lot of great vacation villas on StJ, and some for less $/day that seem to be quite nice - but WSJ is also very nice. It is certainly not a dichotomy (one is better than the other) - as it comes down to individual factors.

and then there is always the lottery... of course, I fail to buy tickets.

added - it appears that LisaR and I (once again) - share the same idea and timing.
 
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DavidnRobin

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Nice.....Wish we were heading back soon.

Last weekend, we locked in our 2 bedroom loft for May 10th and we have our July 19th week for 2014 locked in too. In July, we can call to get our third week locked in for the July 2014 trip.

Nice.
Hopefully, we will run into each other again someday.

I just got a new underwater camera/video for the trip - Olympus TG-820
$200 (incl shipping and tax) from 1SaleADay.com. Can't wait to use it.
(oops - this is not meant to be an endorsement - just that my last Olympus failed {my fault}, and Amazon wanted ~$260...)

There was a major violent storm last week - the videos were wild (I follow a StJ photographer on FB). I hear the road to Coral Bay is in danger of being undermined - hopefully it holds up for the next 5 weeks as it appears it will not be repaired for a while (typical USVI speed).
 
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fmzip

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can I get a link to the videos you mentioned?

I think we will stick to the villa rentals. We are more into the privacy than the resort theme. For the money, I'd rather rent a multi-million dollar home each year and not be tied potentially for life to a timeshare.
 
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LisaRex

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can I get a link to the videos you mentioned?

I think we will stick to the villa rentals. We are more into the privacy than the resort theme. For the money, I'd rather rent a multi-million dollar home each year and not be tied potentially for life to a timeshare.

Sounds like the best plan for your travel style. I've been renting from VRBO for a decade now, and have been very happy with the rentals.
 

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can I get a link to the videos you mentioned?

These are videos on FaceBook - so you need to Friend them. Some videos are likely on YouTube. The major part of the storm was late at night. Centerline road is becoming severely undermined - stories of this are reported on various online news blogs.

If you come across StJ villas that are magnificent and inexpensive to rent - let us know - I would be interested for others. I have seen a mix of good and bad reviews.
 

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DavidnRobin

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DavidnRobin

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14 days and counting - getting psyched!!!

Drive to Liss Lucy's (from Cemetery - and almost ended up there by a Water Truck collision at ~2:25). If all of a sudden coming across a Water Truck (or Cement or Dump Truck) bothers you - someone else should be driving. Stay Left! my friend ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=h9Rcc9th_VM
 
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15 days!! This will be our first trip to enjoy our new 3bed pool villa!! We will be available for drinks and dinner any night except tues (night dive), and Thurs (all day dive to wreck of the Rhone). I will pm you my cell number David!! Let me know when you want to come enjoy pupu's, drinks and whatever comes off the grill that night!!
 

DavidnRobin

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15 days!! This will be our first trip to enjoy our new 3bed pool villa!! We will be available for drinks and dinner any night except tues (night dive), and Thurs (all day dive to wreck of the Rhone). I will pm you my cell number David!! Let me know when you want to come enjoy pupu's, drinks and whatever comes off the grill that night!!

Those pool villas are sweet - wish I knew more people that would want to travel to StJ from SF.
I sent our info via PM - and our photos are on the SVO people thread in case you run into us on the island (but picture us salty, sandy, burnt and partially soaked in rum).
I dove The Rhone in 1991 while sailing the BVI... be interested in hearing about it. I suppose you have to check into Sopers Hole than cut across the channel (bumpy) unless they have a dive before that and go around the backside of Tortola (we dove something called The Dogs iirc which was cool), and then head back across the island chain.

I am thinking of a sail charter just to sail and snorkel around (I miss that) - there's a few charters - so if anyone has recommendation?
 

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Just as a point of reference, my wife was able to book a 2BR in BV for next year's Memorial Day week (May 24-31) this morning. We own a Platinum 2BR float unit in Bay Vista. Can't wait to get there!

The agent did mention that it becomes increasingly difficult, even for owners of St. John, to book weeks later in the summer. Not sure if we just lucked out since we didn't call in at exactly 9:00 am at 12 month mark, which was a week ago.

The agent checked for availability October, November and December this year, and nothing was available for a 7 night stay.
 
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DavidnRobin

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They moved Labor Day to May? Those USVI folks sure are crazy... :D

Have you looked at the SVN availability calendar on MSC?
Added - there appears to be no villa that has 7 consecutive days for WSJ from Oct-Dec (yet) in the SVN Finder on MSC - I did see 7 days in Feb (22-28) 2014 - for those looking - that is high-season (hurry)

6 days away...
 
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lizap

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Since you book a year out and don't own there, I assume you used II?

Just as a point of reference, my wife was able to book a 2BR in BV for next year's Labor Day week (May 24-31) this morning. We own a Platinum 2BR float unit in Bay Vista. Can't wait to get there!

The agent did mention that it becomes increasingly difficult, even for owners of St. John, to book weeks later in the summer. Not sure if we just lucked out since we didn't call in at exactly 9:00 am at 12 month mark, which was a week ago.

The agent checked for availability October, November and December this year, and nothing was available for a 7 night stay.
 

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Completely missed the Bay Vista part. I was hoping-maybe it is possible to get here after all...

SVN Calendar on MSC shows Feb22-28 in 2014 open (8 months out)... Call SVN Owner Services if you have SOs available
 

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A Limited-Time Offer from the Virgin Grand Villas StJ Condominium Owners Assoc.

just saw this... Unfortunately we do not have a PC with us right now at WSJ - so can't see villa offers.
*****

Dear Virgin Grand Villas Owner,

Greetings from your Board of Directors! We are pleased to announce an Owner resale program which will allow Owners like you the ability to purchase Association-owned timeshare weeks. As you know, over the past few years a number of Owners have failed to pay their maintenance fees. As a result, these Owners were denied the use of the resort and their timeshare weeks were eventually transferred to the Association. The Association now owns approximately 73 timeshare weeks.

As an Owner, you are being offered the opportunity to purchase an Association-owned timeshare week at a substantially reduced cost. This offer is subject to the following terms:
Timeshare weeks are offered on a first come, first served basis. Please visit mystarcentral.com, “Your Owners Association” on the left side of the screen. Then click on “ownership opportunities” on the right side of your screen. This will take you to a listing of available timeshare weeks, associated price and instructions. If you own weeks at other resorts, please select the link for your Virgin Grand Villas timeshare week and you will be directed to the resale offer for this resort. Owners who are interested in purchasing a timeshare week must submit a request to purchase as detailed on the website.Once the submit button is clicked, an offer will be forwarded to us for submission. If you wish to only make an inquiry, please use the email address stated below.
Qualified Requests to purchase available timeshare weeks will be processed in the order received. A purchase contract and related disclosure documents will be mailed to owners with further instructions. An initial deposit of 50% of the purchase price will be required at time of returning the executed purchase contract.
Requests will only be deemed as Qualified Requests if the person submitting the request is an Owner in good standing with no outstanding balances due to the Association.
Timeshare weeks offered by the Association will be automatically enrolled in the Starwood Vacation Network (“SVN”).
Timeshare Weeks offered by the Association do not count toward SVN Elite status and may not participate in the SPG Conversion Program (exchanging the timeshare week for SPG or Starpoints). The Elite and SPG Conversion programs are funded by the Developer and are not available for this Association resale program.
This offer is limited to timeshare weeks owned by this Association.
The Association is not offering to take back any timeshare weeks. This is an offer to resell timeshare weeks already owned by the Association.
Please note that this is not a public offering but a limited term internal offer to Owners. This offer begins June 18, 2013 and ends July 17, 2013. Please note that the Association website will only be active beginning on June 18, 2013 at 12:00 P.M. EDT, until July 17, 2013 at 4:00 P.M. EDT. Any offers received before the offical starting time and date will not be considered. Should you have any questions regarding this information, for the fastest response time, please email us at 00svo-resaleoffer@starwoodvo.com.

Sincerely,
St. John Condominium Owners Association
Board of Directors
 
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LisaRex

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I'd love to know what prices they are offering these VOIs for. This is a great win-win for the owners and the resort.
 

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Probably most are smaller units (studio/1BR) in off season...Will find out on Tuesday!

The 18th is Tues? Gotta love vacation in StJ...

We will be in the BVI on Tues. Last time I tried to get my villa for week25 - and someone beat me to it. iirc -$8500 (probably in this thread somewhere...)
Guy in opposite villa to ours in B33 - just paid $4500 per week foe weeks 23-24 adjacent.
 

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SVO Sale

First, a plea for where I might find something that outlines the differences in the 3 bedroom pool villas based on unit number. I know some have a real wall upstairs and some don't. Some have a jacuzzi next to the pool and some don't. Not sure of any other differences. Is there any one place to see this? I found some threads but not enough to make sure I am clear what I may be buying.

Second, below is what they are charging for the VOI's being re-sold by the association. I was surprised at the number of good weeks available...and at some of the prices. I won't list all the weeks unless someone asks (and many are likely already gone) but I thought the price points would be a topic of interest. These are all in the Hillside section (only seciton I am an owner in - was there a concurrent Bay Vista sale?). NEVERMIND, I found a good thread! Love TUG!

Studio
Gold Plus - $500 + $1300 closing costs
Platinum - $2500 + $1300 closing costs
Platinum Plus - $8000 + $1700 closing costs

1 Bedroom
Gold Plus - $1000 + $1300 closing costs
Platinum - $5000 + $1300 closing costs
Platinum Plus - $12,000 + $1700 closing costs

2 Bedroom
Gold Plus - $5000 + $1300 closing costs
Platinum - $8000 + $1700 closing costs
Platinum Plus - None available

3 Bedroom
Gold Plus - $7000 + $1700 closing costs
Platinum - $15,000 + $1700 closing costs
Platinum Plus - None available
 
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ajb116

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First, a plea for where I might find something that outlines the differences in the 3 bedroom pool villas based on unit number. I know some have a real wall upstairs and some don't. Some have a jacuzzi next to the pool and some don't. Not sure of any other differences. Is there any one place to see this? I found some threads but not enough to make sure I am clear what I may be buying.

Second, below is what they are charging for the VOI's being re-sold by the association. I was surprised at the number of good weeks available...and at some of the prices. I won't list all the weeks unless someone asks (and many are likely already gone) but I thought the price points would be a topic of interest. These are all in the Hillside section (only seciton I am an owner in - was there a concurrent Bay Vista sale?). NEVERMIND, I found a good thread! Love TUG!

Studio
Gold Plus - $500 + $1300 closing costs
Platinum - $2500 + $1300 closing costs
Platinum Plus - $8000 + $1700 closing costs

1 Bedroom
Gold Plus - $1000 + $1300 closing costs
Platinum - $5000 + $1300 closing costs
Platinum Plus - $12,000 + $1700 closing costs

2 Bedroom
Gold Plus - $5000 + $1300 closing costs
Platinum - $8000 + $1700 closing costs
Platinum Plus - None available

3 Bedroom
Gold Plus - $7000 + $1700 closing costs
Platinum - $15,000 + $1700 closing costs
Platinum Plus - None available
Would love to be able to get these deals! Too bad I am not an WSJ owner yet!
 
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