WKV Purchase Advice

[uea1]

Hi! I'm new. I have been browsing TUG for the last couple weeks. Thank goodness! I've read the TUG guides and FAQs. I've learned so much.

I am looking to purchase at resale an annual (perhaps EOY) unit in the SVN primarily for internal Starwiid trading purposes but ocassionaly II trades too. I'm hoping to spend not more than $15k. From what I read, WKV will give me the best bang for my buck. I have not seen much information, however, on the ideal week that I should purchase, particularly becasue we intend to convert to staroptions each year and vacation out of WKV. My significant other and I vacation primarily during the late March and April period. Should we be looking for a week at WKV during that period or does it even matter? I'm a bit confused whether if we bought a week 2 that we'd practically be able to use our staroptions for week 10 even though those weeks are in the same class. By practically "use", I mean whether weeks later in the year would be available to us when we had to make our vacation decisions, which is apparently 12, 10, and 8 months out.

Also, it's just 2 of us now (though who knows who we could convince to vacation with us). It seems like aiming for 81,000 staroptions makes the most sense, but for those points we could get either a 2bd LO gold or 1bd premium platinum plus. What do people generally opt for or recommend?

What should I expect/hope to pay?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[DeniseM]

Since owners have have priority to make a reservation at 12 mos. out in the season they own, you will want to buy a week in the season you are most likely to use. March and April are in Platinum season which includes weeks 1-21 and 50-52. As long as you call at 12 mos. out at 8:59 ET, you should have no problem reserving the week within your season that you want. Reservations made at 10 mos. and 8 mos. can be much more difficult, depending on when and where you want to go.

Note that the specific week on your deed only indicates a season and is used for recording purposes - it does not indicate that you own a fixed week. You have the same chance as everyone else to reserve any week within your season, at 12 mos. out.

See the Staroption chart in the Owner Resources sticky at the top of the page for more information about the seasons at WKV.

For an idea of what WKV has sold for in the past, see the ebay resales database link in Owner Resources. There is also a link there to current ebay auctions.

And in case I haven't already said it, Welcome to TUG!

 

[tomandrobin]

You say you want the best bang for your buck and you want a week to use for staroption trading. By that definition, Westin Kierland would satisfy the need. However, you also said you wanted to travel in March and April, but didn't say to where. Most of the popular resorts, March and April are peak months for travel. If you were thinking of using the staroptions at Hawaii, St John and Harborside I think you will be disappointed in trying to make reservations 8 months out. Depending on where you are trying to trade into, you might want to look at resale at those resorts.

 

[LisaRex]

However, you also said you wanted to travel in March and April, but didn't say to where. Most of the popular resorts, March and April are peak months for travel.

I don't know. I think early March might be peak time, but I view late March/April and May as shoulder months, with the exception of Easter week. Shoulder months are the easiest time to trade in.

I don't think anyone will have issues getting into Hawaii with so much inventory. And with the new phase of WSJ still not sold out, if the OPer calls at 8 months out, he may get a pleasant surprise. When I called to book my January week at WSJ at 8 months out, they actually had two villas available.

P.S. Congratulations to the OPer!

 

[uea1]

I don't know. I think early March might be peak time, but I view late March/April and May as shoulder months, with the exception of Easter week. Shoulder months are the easiest time to trade in.

I don't think anyone will have issues getting into Hawaii with so much inventory. And with the new phase of WSJ still not sold out, if the OPer calls at 8 months out, he may get a pleasant surprise. When I called to book my January week at WSJ at 8 months out, they actually had two villas available.

P.S. Congratulations to the OPer!

hmmm.. this seems like a critical point for me. Is there an any analysis where I might find the demand/availabiliity for WSJ, Harborside, etc. during the late March/April period and the difficulty of obtaining with 81,000 staroptions?

Also, anyone have thoughts on 1br prem plat plus vs. 2br LO gold with same number of staroptions? Thank you!

 

[oneohana]

I would go with the 1 bedroom. Lower mfs. If you want to trade in II get a cheaper resort.

 

[LisaRex]

The demand index on Interval World says:

For Hawaii, the demand index is highest during these weeks:

Week 5 (President's Day?)
Week 31 (July 4th?)
Week 51/52
Weeks 24-27 are also fairly high

Lowest demand:
Weeks 16-21
Weeks 34-50

Most of the year looks doable, probably because there's no "hurricane season."

St. John has a similar pattern, though it's demand is higher overall than Hawaii. Demand peaks to the highest levels it can be during weeks 1-14 and weeks 51/52. At week 18, it drops off and continues to drop off during hurricane season. It picks back up a bit in November.

Harborside's weeks 1-6 are low demand because it's not as far south as other locations. It peaks weeks 9-13 and drops a bit weeks 14-16. Lowest demand begins at week 30 and bottoms at weeks 37-39. All of fall looks doable.

St. John definitely will pose the most difficulty for exchanges acc. to the demand index. But high airfares are wreaking havoc on the norms.

 

[Ken555]

I would go with the 1 bedroom. Lower mfs. If you want to trade in II get a cheaper resort.

I agree....

 

[DeniseM]

hmmm.. this seems like a critical point for me. Is there an any analysis where I might find the demand/availabiliity for WSJ, Harborside, etc. during the late March/April period and the difficulty of obtaining with 81,000 staroptions?

Also, anyone have thoughts on 1br prem plat plus vs. 2br LO gold with same number of staroptions? Thank you!

Let me emphasize the WSJ is nearly an impossible trade - not just difficult. Harborside is also difficult during high season and holidays. If by March or April you mean Easter week - all reservations are going to be really difficult. If those 2 resorts are where you really want to go, and you need a certain season, you should buy there.

I would definitely buy at the home resort where I wanted to go the most often and the season when I want to go the most often. Otherwise you will find yourself having to make exchanges every year and you will never have the home resort priority for view or the ability to make reservations at 12 mos. out. For me that would be extremely frustrating.

Staroption exchanges work the best when you can be very flexible about when and where you go, can travel off-season, not during school holidays, and have enough Staroptions for any size unit that's available.

 

[DavidnRobin]

WSJ may not be sold out, however it is also not entirely built (only 2 buildings open when we were there in June).

I advise only buying Platinum season at WKV
We own two 1Bd Prem Plat at WKV.