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Westin St John

Watford

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Thinking of going to the Westin St John but since we live close to San Francisco it looks like a lengthy trip - anyone have tips on the best way to get there
 

LisaH

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Thinking of going to the Westin St John but since we live close to San Francisco it looks like a lengthy trip - anyone have tips on the best way to get there

I usually fly red eye from SFO to either ORD or IAD, then a morning flight to STT.
 

LisaRex

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I'm thinking flying might be your best bet.

Thank you very much! Be sure and tip your waiters!
 

LisaH

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Why not to MIA? is this a UA vs AA preference?

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Yes. SFO is UA hub and I have been a 1 MillionMiler for several years :), but I think DavidnRobin goes through MIA with AA often...
 

GregT

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Marriott: Maui Ocean Club Lahaina Villas (3BRx5), Ko Olina, Shadow Ridge II, Willow Ridge, Aruba Ocean Club, DC Points HGVC: Flamingo, Sea World, I-Drive, Starwood Bella (x4), SDO, TradeWinds, Worldmark
I'm thinking flying might be your best bet.

I'm with Lisa on this one.

When we go to STT, we take the redeye to Miami (on American) and then a morning flight to STT. I agree with the other comments that from SFO, United may make more sense.

Good luck!

Best,

Greg
 

Sea Six

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I'd worry more about even getting a reservation than trying to get there.
 

okwiater

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I'd worry more about even getting a reservation than trying to get there.

It's actually not too difficult right now since CV has been built and is not yet sold out. I'm anticipating that will change once CV is sold out, but it has been all but announced that the rest of the hotel rooms will be converted to additional phases as well.
 

DavidnRobin

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Thinking of going to the Westin St John but since we live close to San Francisco it looks like a lengthy trip - anyone have tips on the best way to get there

14-15hrs door-2-door
Uber -> SFO -> MIA(red-eye on AA) -> STT -> 4WD(car-barge) -> STJ -> WSJ

Best for 4 people staying 7 days or more... (in VGV and prefer exploring island...) - 2nd level stuff...

We have also stayed over nite in MIA - more relaxing but harder flying on AA miles. We did get OW (return) for just 30Kpp AA miles (using SP bonus) flying 1st class, but need to prepare to fly 331 days in advance. Another hidden savings of ownership.

Yes, AA sucks... but alternatives have downside.
 
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LisaRex

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It's actually not too difficult right now since CV has been built and is not yet sold out. I'm anticipating that will change once CV is sold out, but it has been all but announced that the rest of the hotel rooms will be converted to additional phases as well.

I actually think that it will be an easier (as opposed to impossible) exchange moving forward, for several reasons.

First is that the original phase was an acquisition and these owners bought either a fixed week or a fractional interest (e.g. month of January). Since there was no network to exchange in, these owners bought to use. I'd imagine many of those original owners still don't exchange much. But as time goes by, and more of these owners are replaced with resale owners who want to exchange, inventory should open up.

Second is that Starwood recently corrected the low SOs that they originally assigned to WSJ owners. When SOs were value so low, there was no incentive for owners to exchange because anything they could "afford" with SOs was a downgrade. With the correction, WSJ owners are incentivized to branch out and explore the other Starwood properties.

Third is that we now have significantly more units in the system with the build out of the BV and CV phases.

And finally, when Starwood increased the amount of SOs needed to book in platinum season beyond the 148,100 threshold, they squeezed out many single week owners who aren't willing to give up their annual usage in order to bank SOs.

So I'm cautiously optimistic that what used to be a nearly impossible exchange will become a not-so-impossible exchange moving forward.

Time will tell.
 
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SMHarman

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14-15hrs door-2-door
Uber -> SFO -> MIA(red-eye on AA) -> STT -> 4WD(car-barge) -> STJ -> WSJ

Best for 4 people staying 7 days or more... (in VGV and prefer exploring island...) - 2nd level stuff...

We have also stayed over nite in MIA - more relaxing but harder flying on AA miles. We did get OW (return) for just 30Kpp AA miles (using SP bonus) flying 1st class, but need to prepare to fly 331 days in advance. Another hidden savings of ownership.

Yes, AA sucks... but alternatives have downside.
With the dinky and few non-stops they run on the east Coast that does not look bad.

From Manhattan.
Car > JFK > MIA > STT > boat > WSJ looks about 10-11 hours. Two ~ 3 hour flights and a 2 hour layover.

Nonstop gets it to 4h flying but at twice the price.

I can't convince Mrs H to take the Cape Air Cessna from SJU over to STT!!!

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happymum

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I've taken the Cape Air Cessna. The flight was fine, but the administration is sub-par. A bit of rain early in the morning and they seemed totally incapable and unwilling to adjust. The pilot was there, the plane was there, the paperwork was not. This was for a return from STT and I missed my connecting flight from San Juan. :mad: Never again. I will add that it is a bit off-putting when you check-in and they ask your weight so that they can balance the plane!
 

SMHarman

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Yes. SFO is UA hub and I have been a 1 MillionMiler for several years :), but I think DavidnRobin goes through MIA with AA often...
Ha. I'm currently AA Platinum and UA Peon.
Problem is NYC STT for four seats is coming in at $1500 on UA and $2400 on AA.
Not sure the Platinum brings me $900 of bennys on this flight.

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Helios

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Ha. I'm currently AA Platinum and UA Peon.
Problem is NYC STT for four seats is coming in at $1500 on UA and $2400 on AA.
Not sure the Platinum brings me $900 of bennys on this flight.

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You should try the AA JFK STT direct. They fly a 757 with international configuration (angle flat seats with AVOD in the front of the bus). It's a short flight that can be very comfortable...IMHO (and my kids), the best way to get to the USVI from NY.
 

Helios

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I actually think that it will be an easier (as opposed to impossible) exchange moving forward, for several reasons.

First is that the original phase was an acquisition and these owners bought either a fixed week or a fractional interest (e.g. month of January). Since there was no network to exchange in, these owners bought to use. I'd imagine many of those original owners still don't exchange much. But as time goes by, and more of these owners are replaced with resale owners who want to exchange, inventory should open up.

Second is that Starwood recently corrected the low SOs that they originally assigned to WSJ owners. When SOs were value so low, there was no incentive for owners to exchange because anything they could "afford" with SOs was a downgrade. With the correction, WSJ owners are incentivized to branch out and explore the other Starwood properties.

Third is that we now have significantly more units in the system with the build out of the BV and CV phases.

And finally, when Starwood increased the amount of SOs needed to book in platinum season beyond the 148,100 threshold, they squeezed out many single week owners who aren't willing to give up their annual usage in order to bank SOs.

So I'm cautiously optimistic that what used to be a nearly impossible exchange will become a not-so-impossible exchange moving forward.

Time will tell.

100% Agree.
 

SMHarman

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You should try the AA JFK STT direct. They fly a 757 with international configuration (angle flat seats with AVOD in the front of the bus). It's a short flight that can be very comfortable...IMHO (and my kids), the best way to get to the USVI from NY.
They can't fly me back on Wed though. It is. F Sa Su schedule (or similar)

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Helios

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They can't fly me back on Wed though. It is. F Sa Su schedule (or similar)

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That's too bad, didn't know. I've never tried it in the middle of the week.
 

SMHarman

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Though now you tell me the flight details I may look at two one ways and a stack of 500 mile certs.

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Helios

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Let me know what you end up doing. I am always looking for alternatives.
 

Rasputinj

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Thinking of going to the Westin St John but since we live close to San Francisco it looks like a lengthy trip - anyone have tips on the best way to get there


That is why I own and go to Maui on a direct flight every year. Every time I look into going to St John's I think it is too complicated, if I am going to spend that much time getting somewhere I might as well go to Europe . Hawaii is so easy from the west coast
 

DavidnRobin

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STJ (no 's') is beautiful and worthwhile going to - do it every year (along with HI) - it is 'and' not 'or'...
 
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Helios

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Though now you tell me the flight details I may look at two one ways and a stack of 500 mile certs.

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BTW, since there is some discussion about Hawaii also, have you tried United's EWR HNL direct flight? Similar to the AA flight I mentioned, this is an internationally configured 767 with fully flat seats and AVOD. Totally worth worth it for 11 hrs WB and 10 hrs EB flights. You can get some sleep on your way back.

United uses the same bird from SFO to HNL. Most other wide body United flights to HNL use 777 with domestic Hawaii config. Not worth it...
 
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