WMH-how hard to reserve weeks?

[Garnet]

I'm looking to purchase a Westin Mission Hills Plat. 2 bed. I read recently that booking weeks 51 or 52 (forget which) was readily doable-even a couple months past the 12 mo mark.

We are really only interested in booking weeks 52 and 13 (or whatever is our kids spring break week-typically week 13).

I also love the idea that if hubs can't make it with me and the 3 kids--me and the kids can stay in one side and possibly rent the other side to help defray the cost.

Can you please advise on this? Am I way off to buy for only these 2 weeks out of the year?

Garnet

 

[Cathyb]

Garnet: Generally Week 52 (Christmas or New Year's) is grabbed and many times rented out by owners. Spring break weeks are also high demand by people such as yourself, wanting the weeks kids are out of school -- or if there is a golf or tennis tournament in the area, the weeks are gobbled up.

If I were you, I would save my money and just rent the times you want.

 

[stevens397]

In this economy, which will certainly improve over time, don't even think of counting on rentals. Take a look at the number available and you'll see what I mean.

I had a March week on Redweek for months before I finally made alternate plans. Each week I got notification about another 2-3 listings!

That said, I purchased resale and closed in September. In August, I asked the seller to book me a week and he was able to get week 51.

 

[LisaRex]

If you want weeks 51 AND Spring Break, then you'd have to buy 2 platinum season units and be prepared to reserve them during the Owner's Priority period. If you want just one of the two weeks, perhaps alternating years, then you'd only have to buy one floating unit platinum 2 bdrm.

The good news is that WMH resales are a bit depressed because they are voluntary resorts. That means you should be able to pick one up for much cheaper than the mandatory resorts. The bad news is that you can't use SVN to trade to other resorts. If you're restricted to school schedules, that doesn't bode well for trading into other Starwood resorts because those weeks will probably be snatched up by the SVN exchangers before they could ever hit II.

Personally, I'd buy one 2 bdrm platinum unit at WMH on the resale market for as cheap as I could get it. Then I'd either use the entire unit for a family vacation OR, as you mentioned, I'd split it and use one side for us and then deposit the other side in II. If you reserve a strong week (e.g. during Spring Break or the week that the Tennis Master Series in Indian Wells is taking place), you might get enough trading power in II to book a 2 bdrm somewhere else. Then you'd have a 2nd vacation for the price of one unit.

 

[Garnet]

Thanks for the advise. Not sure I'll ever rent-for whatever reason I have a harder time forking over rental money than paying Mfs.

To clarify-I would want to go one year week 51 or 52 and another year week 13 (or whatever is our kids spring break) so I am only looking at one week plat.

I am amazed that stevens397 in Aug. got his seller to book a week 51. From what I understand, that would never happen if it were a Marriott or other brand.

Cathyb-when you say that these weeks are gobbed up...how quickly? Is it doable to reserve if I call one year out to the day? Are these weeks gone the first day, week, or month?


Thanks again.

 

[DeniseM]

Owners can reserve at 12 mos. out at 9 a.m. ET. If I wanted a holiday week, I'd start calling at 8:59 ET at 12 mos. out.

 

[Garnet]

Yes-good advise. I would plan on calling FIRST thing at 12 months out. However, I was looking for a feel for just how competative these weeks are to get.

For example, at Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort. you can book the Thursday before 12 months out or something. They tell you to call midnight at whatever date and leave a message. Last time I wanted Christmas week they said to call Dec. 23. While driving down to So Cal...suddenly at 3 am I realized I didn't call at midnight. I frantically called and left a message. Next day, they called be back and said I had the week. :whoopie: Or for week 31, you can call 11 1/2 months out and still probably get it (I did once.) So these weeks at this resort I think is doable.

My understanding is if this were say, Marriott Desert Springs, I would need to call exactly when they opened and try to book online simultaneously and cross my fingers as some weeks go within the first few minutes of being available for booking. Is this the case with WMH?

 

[DeniseM]

At Westin Mission Hills you have to call at exactly 9:00 a.m. at 12 mos. out - that is the earliest option. You can't reserve sooner than that, and there is no real-time Starwood reservation system online or phone message system.

 

[Garnet]

OK-sounds like you have to call right when first available for booking (except Christmas week like Stevens397?) or you are out of luck. I will take that into consideration. I really like the idea of the lock-off portion as being more than the standard studio/hotel room.

Also, I recently won Marriott Desert Spring Villas II White (gold) week. Maybe I need to hold off. Unless a really great deal comes along.:whoopie: Thanks for your thoughts.