posted 03-24-2005 13:39               

1. One agent has told us that Harborside has first right of refusal on the purchase. So if the purchase price is too low, they can buy it back. Is that true? I've heard that about Marriott but never Harborside. I also know that some lucky tuggers got bargains and their purchase went through.

2. Another agent was told by Harborside that you can exchange your week easily for the week that you really want. So if this is true, why wouldn't I just buy the cheapest week that I could in the season that we want?

3. Can platinum Harborside weeks can be used to exchange into Harborside for a gold week? For example, we would like to go to Harborisde normally into July but we like the idea that platinum weeks have more points for more flexibility to use for that St. John or Hawaii exchange.

4. What are the Harborside seasons for gold and platinum?

posted 03-24-2005 14:38               

quote:

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Originally posted by PatShaver:
1. One agent has told us that Harborside has first right of refusal on the purchase. So if the purchase price is too low, they can buy it back. Is that true? I've heard that about Marriott but never Harborside. I also know that some lucky tuggers got bargains and their purchase went through.

---

True - Starwood does have ROFR - but I don't know of them using it.

2. Another agent was told by Harborside that you can exchange your week easily for the week that you really want. So if this is true, why wouldn't I just buy the cheapest week that I could in the season that we want? .

Not true - What you are doing is using your StarOptions to trade within the Starwood system. You have to wait until 8 mos. out when you do this and you have no better chance than any other Starwood owner and you have to have enough options for the other season. The big 3 properties are hard to get into unless you are very flexible about when you can go and a little lucky.

3. Can platinum Harborside weeks can be used to exchange into Harborside for a gold week? For example, we would like to go to Harborisde normally into July but we like the idea that platinum weeks have more points for more flexibility to use for that St. John or Hawaii exchange.

If you have enough StarOptions and get lucky - but you have no more chance at it than any other Starwood member who has the same number of Staroptions.

4. What are the Harborside seasons for gold and platinum?

http://www.starwoodvo.com/ownership/staroptionChart.jsp

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Denise

posted 03-24-2005 18:39               

I don't understand why it would be easier to get an exchange at Harborside within your season. Can someone explain that?

My brother wants to purchase two thirds of the unit and we will purchase one third. At this time, we would probably split the unit for two consecutive years and then he would take other relatives or friends or rent it for the third year. Even if we don't split the unit, I could definitely see my family returning there every three years. Because of our children and his work, he would really want to purchase a week 26.

We've been told that it's easy to get the week you want if you own at Harborside. Is that only true if you buy in your season?

He was at the Westin Kierland this week and was told by the salesman there that he would "guarantee" that he could get any week he wanted at Harborside. My brother asked for it in writing. LOL!

Is the big 3 - St. John, Hawaii and Harborside? Just curious because he was told by the Kierland salesman that he wouldn't have enough points to get the weeks he wanted at St. John or Hawaii.

Thanks!

posted 03-24-2005 19:31               

At 12 months you can reserve exactly the unit you OWN only. Nothing else - no other size, or season, or resort. If you own a lock-off you can reserve the two sides separately, but still, only exactly what you own. At 12 mos. out, it is fairly easy to get the week you want - but only what you own.

At 8 mos. out you can use your StarOPTIONS (not points) to exchange into another Starwood resort, or at your own resort for a different season, or unit size, IF you have enough StarOptions for the unit you want. (This will be a little clearer to you if you look at the StarOptions chart that I posted above.)

Your exchange power is totally determined by the number of StarOptions that your unit is worth. It doesn't matter where you own - Starting at 8 mos. out, all Starwood owners have the same chance to exchange when they are using StarOptions.

Yes - The "Big Three" are St. John, Ka'anapali, and Harborside - St. John and Harborside have different seasons, with different StarOption values, but Maui is Platinum year round:

Maui -

2 BDM. - 148,100 Staroptions
1 bdm. - 81,000 Star options
Studio - 67,100 Star options

Hope that helps!

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Denise

posted 03-25-2005 07:34               

quote:

---

Originally posted by PatShaver:
So if I'm understanding correctly, you're saying that there is no benefit to owning at Harborside unless you purchase the week you want to use yearly. Is there any advantage then to owning in the same season? If not, I may come to the same conclusion and decide and buy a resale at Vistana or hold out for exactly what we want at Harborside.

---

Pat --

I'm no expert on Harborside, but I believe as an owner you can reserve ANY week during the SEASON you own 12 months prior to travel. So if you own Platinum and want to go during a Platinum week you'll be fine.

If however, you own during a different season, you'll have to until 8 months prior to travel to make reservations.

Aside from specific Holiday weeks, I question if owners are able to purchase fixed weeks or they are "assigned" a specific week only for legal (deed) reasons.

A Harborside owner would be able to tell you for sure!

posted 03-25-2005 10:38               

quote:

---

Originally posted by PatShaver:
So if I'm understanding correctly, you're saying that there is no benefit to owning at Harborside unless you purchase the week you want to use yearly.

---

If Harborside is where you want to go, owning there is a HUGE advantage because only Harborside owners can reserve 12 mos. in advance - if you buy at Vistana you will be up against all the other Starwood owners trying to exchange into Harborside at the 8 mo. mark.

quote:

---

Originally posted by PatShaver:
Is there any advantage then to owning in the same season? If not, I may come to the same conclusion and decide and buy a resale at Vistana or hold out for exactly what we want at Harborside.

---

Yes - if you are trying to book outside the season you own - your aren't booking as as owner, you are having to use Staroptions at the 8 month mark, and you probably don't have enough for the more expensive season. (see below)

Seasons only come into play, when you are reserving at your OWN resort. When you are exchanging into a different resort, it all comes down to how many Staroptions your unit is worth. It doesn't matter what season you own at Vistana, if you are trying to exchange into Harborside - what matters is how many Staroptions the unit is worth.

Example -

At Vistana, a 2 bdm. lock-off during Platinum season is worth 95,700 Staroptions.

A Harborside 2 bdm. lock-off during the lowest season is worth 79,900 Staroptions.

At Harborside, a 2 bdm. lock-off during Platinum season is worth 148,100 Staroptions.

If you own the Vistana 2 bdm., or the Harborside 2 bdm. during the lower season, you don't have enough Staroptions to exchange into the Harborside 2 bdm. during Platinum season.

Since you are exchanging using Staroptions, the seasons don't even come into consideration - it is totally based on how many Staroptions your unit is worth.

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Denise

posted 03-25-2005 11:27            

quote:

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Originally posted by stevens397:
not to make it more complicated, but when we had a sales conversation last month in St. John, the Sales Manager indicated that there was an addition to the 12 month/ 8 month rule. He said that owners in St. John (and I assumed Harboside where they sell specific weeks) owners not choosing their own weeks can choose different weeks at the home resort at 10 months, giving them a big edge over regular SVN trades. Has anyone else heard this?

---

I'd be surprised if this is true because as Westin owner at Kanapali I know we are supposedly guaranteed our view/unit from the 12 month to 8 month window. So, they can't guarantee if they allow Harborside & St John members to trade earlier. Second, I find it hard to believe that Kanapali is less superior to Harborside or St John. If this happens to be true I'd definitely be disappointed in the Westin system.

Tina

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You can see my timeshare photos here:

posted 03-25-2005 11:56               

quote:

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Originally posted by ciscogizmo1:
I'd be surprised if this is true because as Westin owner at Kanapali I know we are supposedly guaranteed our view/unit from the 12 month to 8 month window. So, they can't guarantee if they allow Harborside & St John members to trade earlier. Second, I find it hard to believe that Kanapali is less superior to Harborside or St John. If this happens to be true I'd definitely be disappointed in the Westin system.

Tina

---

Tina --

I had to read the message you replied to a couple of times, and how it is written says the 10 month rule (if it exists) would apply only to owners reserving at their HOME resort. It didn't say that owners could reserve at a different resort 10 months prior to travel.

Re-read it and see if you understand it differently.

Jerry

posted 03-25-2005 13:11            

Tina

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You can see my timeshare photos here:

posted 03-25-2005 14:11            

12 - 10 months in advance (home resort priority period): Fixed week owners call to confirm usage of their fixed week, or request a different week in their season. Float week owners can request a floating week in their season.

10 – 8 months in advance (home resort float period): If a Fixed week owner does not reserve his fixed week by month 10, it is made available to Float owners. Both Fixed and Float owners can reserve any week within their season during this period. Note that during this period, owners can only reserve a week at their home resort and season.

posted 03-25-2005 14:27               

quote:

---

Originally posted by bhurley902:
From Chris' Advice Article:

12 - 10 months in advance (home resort priority period): Fixed week owners call to confirm usage of their fixed week, or request a different week in their season. Float week owners can request a floating week in their season.

10 – 8 months in advance (home resort float period): If a Fixed week owner does not reserve his fixed week by month 10, it is made available to Float owners. Both Fixed and Float owners can reserve any week within their season during this period. Note that during this period, owners can only reserve a week at their home resort and season.

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posted 03-25-2005 14:46               

They were trying to sell me Platinum season for less than week 7, saying I would have an advantage over other SNV traders from months 10-8.

posted 03-25-2005 18:07               

Let me make sure that I have this straight:

1. For a resale gold week in Phase 1 at Harborside, we would have a 10-month priority only for a gold week at Harborside (same season).
2. It would not be worth it for us to pay more for a platinum Harborside week and try to exchange it for a gold week because then we will be paying premium for a week and competing against other Starwood owners that might have paid less for their weeks. As long as they have enough points, they have just as much chance as us to get a week.
3. We need to weigh out the cost of purchasing (resale only, of course )) the exact week that we want at Harborside vs. any week in the season we want vs. an inexpensive Starwood week for trading. If we really want a gold week at Harborside, that may be what we end up buying. We were leaning towards a platinum for more trading flexibility so I'm very thankful to have this cleared up.

A couple of more questions - Sorry but with spending this much money, we really want to understand everything and we can't trust the salesmen. When our children get older and we are getting tired of going to Atlantis every summer, is it possible to buy a less expensive Vistana Villages 1 bedroom premium resale to add to our 95,700 points so we have enough points for Ka'anapali or St. John's? Is it alright to combine weeks at different resorts?

Also, how successful have Harborside owners been in exchanging in their own season? I'm really kicking myself now for not buying that week 31 week on Ebay for $22,000! That may have been exactly what I needed at a decent price to get the week we want.

posted 03-25-2005 22:54               

You can combine StarOPTIONS from different resorts as long as they are from the same use year. StarOptions are like currency in a savings account that only has a one-year shelf life. You must use them during the designated use year or you will lose them.

It was probably just a typo, but make sure you don't confuse StarPoints with StarOptions. These are two separate and distinct facets of the Starwood Program. If you purchase resale, you will not have the ability to utilize the StarPoints portion of the program.

I'm really kicking myself now for not buying that week 31 week on Ebay for $22,000! That may have been exactly what I needed at a decent price to get the week we want.

Don't kick yourself too hard...They'll be other "deals"! It may take some time, but someone else will be motivated to sell.

Jerry

posted 03-26-2005 10:13            

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You can see my timeshare photos here:

posted 03-26-2005 12:36               

As I understood it, it meant that those who purchased Platinum at St. John, rather than a specific week, could trade into any open weeks or to weeks that another user had given up, at the 10 month window, giving them an edge at the home resort over people from other resorts.

posted 03-27-2005 09:06               

quote:

---

Originally posted by PatShaver:
Tony,

Are you having problems exchanging within Harborside at 10 months out at 8am? I would think that it wouldn't be as difficult to exchange within your season. After all, when we were at Harborside last year we met people from Westin Kierland who had traded into Harborside for a prime July 4th week.

---

Pat - We haven't tried to exchange into Harborside yet, but based on many frustrated posters on this board, it is difficult to exchange into any of the "Big Three" Starwood resorts.

Right now Starwood has 12 resorts in the SVN - due to their exotic locations, Maui, St. John, and Harborside are in far greater demand than the other 9 resorts. So you have the owners at all 12 resorts competing for 3 resorts. Do the math - they can't all go to the Big 3 Resorts on a regular basis. Yes, it is possible, if you can be very flexible about when you go. But if you need specific timeframes, it is very difficult.

If your main goal is to go to Harborside, you need to buy there. If you are willing to stay at other resorts, including those not in the Big 3 - then go for a lower price resale. Would you be happy if you could go to Harborside 1 out of 3 or 4 years? But, be aware of how many StarOptions the unit is worth, because that will limit your exchanging power.

posted 03-27-2005 11:17               

Now I have to deal with the reality that I'll probably never get to go back to that 3 bedroom suite. The closest I can see to getting a guarantee is to use 80,000 points (10,000 per night + 10,000 for a suite upgrade per night) to get a 1 bedroom suite at the hotel for 5 nights - but without a kitchen. Still, with 72,000 for trading my Kierland for points - and the fact that using my Starwood AMEX for many business purchases gets me over 10,000 points per month - I can't imagine not doing it at some point.

The only downside of the Westin St. John villas (to me) is that it was a bit of a walk to the center of things like the beach and pool. And the walk to the other villas (non- 3 BRs) is even longer and steeper. That said, it is SOOOOO worth it.