WMH exchange questions

[pvangordon]

Not sure if this should be posted here or in the Exchange forum. I think I've seen this question before, but can't find it. My question pertains specifically to Westin Mission Hills.

I am gifting weeks to a co-worker. Unfortunately there isn't a full 2 bdrm available for the week they want, but I can get a 1 bdrm with full kitchen and 1 bdrm with limited kitchen as two separate exchanges. It's a family with two small kids, so they need the units next to each other.

Has anyone tried to do two separate exchanges for the two halves of a 2 bdrm lockoff for the same week and asked the resort to assign the units together? What's the possibility I wouldn't be able to get them together? I can't take this risk if they couldn't arrange it, since they can't split their family up.

Also, if I do an exchange specifically for a 1 bdrm that has a full "K" for kitchen (not "LK") for this resort, does that guarantee it's the 1 bdrm premium side? I assume so, but wasn't sure if there were true 1 bdrm units here (not lockoffs).

Thanks, Pam

 

[pointsjunkie]

they do not have 1br that does not a l/o door. if they put it in the notes i don't think there should be a problem.

what i don't understand is, if they have the small 1 br and a large 1 br then that is a double l/o unit. so why can't they give that to you? another starwood puzzle

 

[glenn1000]

It sounds like you have the two parts that make up a WMH 2-bedroom unit. The "K" side is the large 1-bedroom and the "LK" is the smaller 1-bedroom.

We had the exact same situation at a different resort and were able to call and have them place us together. It was really all about talking to someone in the office who could flag our reservations to make it happen. I would imagine that a resort as big and as good as WMH could do this but I would definitely give them a call.

 

[pvangordon]

That was my thought - book the two sides and make sure they are assigned together.

Thanks for the responses. I just wanted to see if it would work and also verify there wasn't an alternate type of 1 bdrm with full kitchen.

Pam

 

[Ken555]

I've done this before at WMH. They won't guarantee it, but they will try. In fact, they go out of their way to say that they can't guarantee it, even up to when you arrive and are at the front desk. It was really ridiculous when I tried it, because the front desk clerk didn't even know if the units they gave us were next to each other or not (they were, it was taken care of when we called weeks prior).

 

[seenett]

what i don't understand is, if they have the small 1 br and a large 1 br then that is a double l/o unit. so why can't they give that to you? another starwood puzzle

If these WMH weeks were from II (exchange, getaway or bonus weeks), then it is very typical. Starwood controls all deposits into II and they almost always split units rather than deposit whole 2 bedrooms. Maybe they think they can double the number of exchangers to target for sales presenations or maybe they are trying to keep 2 bedroom exchanges more "exclusive" to internal SVN exchangers.