Looking for advise re:Harborside Silver Week

Two years ago, friends of mine purchased an Atlantis Harborside Phase II, two bedroom, from the developer. It was one of those typical WOW purchases, where the place was wonderful, the bonus of starpoints was enticing and the salesperson convinced them that using staroptions for less than a full week was doable. So they purchased a cheap silver week, which floats between weeks 35-46.

My friends only travel 4-5 nights at a time, since they are unable to travel a full week. Using Starwood Options to book single nights requires waiting until 90 days out to book a vacation. Since Harborside is a popular trade within the Starwood system, booking less than a full week stay is not going to happen. They were able to exchange their week for Starpoints this year but that option can only be used every other year.

Harborside is a very popular resort, but I have my doubts that it will be easy to rent a week between 35 - 46? The price to charge is another story. A broker keeps calling them, claiming to be able to rent their unit for $5,000. I warned them about timeshare brokers and suggested they rent it through TUG, Ebay, etc.

My Questions - Which week should be booked for a rental? I was thinking Labor Day Week.
Is using starpoints and renting their unit every other year, their best options? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Pam

Can't they just utilize their membership more effectively by booking a whole week, arriving on time (whether it's Fri, Sat, or Sun), and leaving early (after, say, five days)? We left a day early when we were at WKORV with no problem....

Kim

I would do the same thing. Book a week, check-in your normal day, but leave early.

Rental of Haborside Week

This is JMHO, but....

From what I've seen, I think $5,000 is unrealistic on what they can expect to rent their week. I'd look on the tug classifieds, redweek.com and myresortnetwork.com and see what others are asking but remember that's what they are asking. They may not get that much. $5,000 is more realistic for a June or July week.

Another option they have is to book their 2-bedroom unit and use one unit for themselves and rent the other out. That way they won't feel quite so bad in not using the entire 7 nights.

Labor Day sounds like a good idea but it is hurricane season. I'd look at the rental ads for Labor Day weeks and see if they are being rented.

Good luck!

Hey Tuggers! Thanks for the feedback! Pam