Need Advice on WKORV Explorer Option/buying

I am a newbie and have never owned but am seriously considering it. I just returned from the "trial" visit at the WKORV and stayed in a studio in the North Villas. I attended the TS presentation and eventually passed. Before I left though they offered me the Explorer Package (Studio/island view) for 7 days and 50,000 Starwood points for $2800. I signed up for it thinking that I bought myself 2 years to decide and the ability to apply the package price to a purchase. Upon researching though, I found TUGs and realized that a resale is the route to go. My question is should I keep the Explorer package, or cancel and just apply the $ to a resale when I am ready? We plan to go to Maui each year at least for the next 3-4 years so we would definitely return to WKORV but maybe renting a week may be cheaper. I calculated the 50K points with a value of .016/pt to get a value of $800, so my week stay would be $275/night. I don't have a Starwood AMEX card so I don't have many points to use. The sales person said the 50K points would go far for hotel in Thailand. However when I look at resales of WKORV/N/S for a EOY 2B/LO I see they are going for $10K-$13K- the most I am comfortable spending. Am I better off just buying? I feel comfortable with the $1300 MF for an EOY and figure I would spend at least $2100 for a week stay each year. Also since we only stayed in the North villa I research pros/cons for North vs. South. I prefer more private/quieter setting (North villas) but read that the construction was not as good and they are slightly smaller. Any thoughts/suggestions on keeping/cancelling the Explorer package (I have 5 days left to do so) and buying resale- North vs. South would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Welcome to TUG!

It doesn't appear that you're a good candidate to purchase direct so I would encourage you to cancel the explorer package.

General advice here is to take your time, research research research and then purchase what is right for you...on the resale market.

As for WKORV north vs south, I typically stay at north and like it. If you don't buy a WKORV unit you have no view priority and there are very few bad views at north while you could have a parking lot view from south.

There are a number of factors for you to consider when buying. For instance, if your schedule is flexible then buying elsewhere may be best from a financial perspective. While important, the initial purchase price is typically the smaller portion when compared to years of maintenance fees. And, WKORV has one of the highest MFs in SVN. Many of us, myself included, bought WKV and simply use our StarOptions to get to Maui.

Anyway, cancel the explorer package immediately. Then take your time - you shouldn't be in any rush to buy. You can always rent for a year or two. It's much, much easier to buy than sell so go slowly.


Sent from my iPad

Ken-

Thank you for your insight. It's hard to keep a level head when the sales people keep tag-teaming you with "last chance" offers and will cancel the Explorer. I am curious about your strategy to buy at WKV and using the points for WKORVN. If I don't buy it specifically does that mean I have no view priority? Or are you referring to something else? Also for the time being I am tied to taking a week in late August due to school schedules does it make it harder to book if I don't buy WKORVN? I guess the reason I am a bit anxious to buy is being able to apply what I would rent $2400(?) to the purchase price since I am spending that anyway. Thanks again for your reply.

Oh, I should also add that it is unlikely that I would ever go to WKV so I don't know if that matters or not. My daughter is set on vacationing in Maui...