question I know has been answered but...

I own 2 weeks in the Starwood system that have staroptions for both. One week bought with Starwood (I know...) and the other bought resale and the two 'retro-ed" into the network. I know we over paid, but bygones are bygones and we have had many wonderful vacations and I cannot complain. I am now considering buying a resale Laguanamar week. Westin Lagunamar is my husbands favorite resort and I think we would go at least every other year. My question is if I bought a premium week can I exchange for a lessor week? We would generally go in a "gold" week as we prefer to travel off season, but I would like the option of traveling during "high" season. My question is, I guess, if I bought a premium week, could I book 12 months out, a lesser week (ie trade at 12 months a premium week for a gold week) without having to exchange in and external system (Interval)?

No you would either need Staroptions for an internal exchange or do an external exchange through II. If I were you, I would buy an EOY gold if that's what you want to really use most Times, you could use II for the more infrequent occasion you wanted a platinum week. Or,get a cheap so generator and use SVN exchange all the time to go to WLR. Many here say it is an easy internal and external exchange.

Thanks, I could exchange internally via staroptions as I do have enough, but was thinking that I might want to want to buy at Lagunamar to go there, but not necessarily in "prime time". We do want the option to go there when we want... We do love this resort, but do not want to pay developer prices to go when we want, and was thinking if we owned a premium week we could book 12 months out- any week?

mirish said:

Thanks, I could exchange internally via staroptions as I do have enough, but was thinking that I might want to want to buy at Lagunamar to go there, but not necessarily in "prime time". We do want the option to go there when we want... We do love this resort, but do not want to pay developer prices to go when we want, and was thinking if we owned a premium week we could book 12 months out- any week?

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With Starwood, unless you use Staroptions, you will can only reserve the season and unit type that you own. (Resales at Lagunamar do not have Staroptions.)

We originally bought through developer and upgraded through developer...enough said.
Original: gold (low season) 1 bedroom premium
Upgrade: platinum? (High season) 2 bedroom lock off
Both were EOY
We are very happy with purchase. Love the resort.

To answer your question and to our disappointment, as a high season owner you can only reserve 12 -8 months out for high season date. We also like to go during low season (sept). and discovered our new purchase makes us have to wait until 8 months out if we are reserving during low season even with high season ownership.
We wanted the nigh season ownership so we can go anytime time we want and also for the higher star options.
Although many say Lagunamar is easy to get in to, as it is discovered, I think it will become more difficult. It's a Fabulous resort, great location and the most welcoming people.

Why would you want to buy if you have flexibility and plan on visiting during the off season? There is plenty of inventory in II (getaways) and the cost will be a lot less than what you'll be paying in maintenance fees.

zinger1457 said:

Why would you want to buy if you have flexibility and plan on visiting during the off season? There is plenty of inventory in II (getaways) and the cost will be a lot less than what you'll be paying in maintenance fees.

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Seconded. Use II and book a Getaway, especially if you're going to travel in off season.

The only reason to buy there is to secure an upgraded view or if you planned to travel during a hard-to-book week, such as Christmas. If you plan up front to book during a different season than you own, then you lose all your owner's privileges, including upgraded view.