[2010] What is the difference between the 2 St. John properties?

I want to attempt to trade into St. John at the 8 month mark for non owners. I see they have 2 properties listed; The Westin St. John Resort & Villas (Hillside),The Westin St. John Resort & Villas (Bay Vista). Does anyone know if I would have a better chance requesting a reservation at one over the other? Also, other than one a hillside property and one is closer to the bay are their any significant difference between the 2? Any particular building I should ask for? Thanks

Your chances are probably better at Bay Vista because they sold at least 50% of the weeks as float, whereas Hillside is all fixed weeks. And, Hillside is older -- so most owners know the drill (hold your week at least 10 months in advance).

Bay Vista -- newer/more modern/smaller, closer to the big pool, restaurants and the beach; no parking at the units. Don't remember where the grills are, but I'm sure they have them.

Hillside -- older but recently renovated (the kitchens and bathrooms may not all be complete yet). The 3-BRs have their own pools and are off by themselves a little. The studios, one-BRs and two-BRs are in two rows on a hill. Each row has its own pool with a great view of the resort and the bay. You can park right outside your villa. Each pool villa has its own grill and the other units share grills in the pool area.

You really can't go wrong with either section ... I think it's the island, more than the resort, that is the best part. The call center reps probably check both codes when you request a reservation -- I'd definitely take either one on a SO exchange.

They aren't different properties - just different phases of the same resort. When you do a Staroption exchange, you don't really put in a request, like you do with II. You call up owner services and ask for the exchange and they tell you right then and there if it's available, and you make your staroption exchange right there on the phone - or not. If nothing is available you have to call back, and call back, and call back.... Since this is a very difficult trade, I'd take anything that was available at WSJ.

Call at 9am EST exactly 365 days out (don't forget Friday/Sunday check-ins!) and ask if any WSJ villas are available.

Know in advance how many SOs you have available so you can say "yes" to anything that is available right away. Also know in advance whether you prefer Bay Vista or Hillside -- when I exchanged, there were 2 two-bedrooms available, one in Bay Vista and one in Hillside. I chose the loft Bayside Villa because of the layout and because it was closer to the main pool. The only downside was that there was no parking outside the villas.

Good luck!

She can't call at 365 days out - she is not an owner. She has to call at 8 mos. out for a Staroption Exchange.

You're right, of course, Denise. Duh.

No biggie - I have more than my share of Duh moments!
Duh-nise

It is also important to know how many SOs are being used for this SVN exchange - and what season you are targetting (as they have different SOs, and seasons). This, along with other factors, will help you in your decision.

There are some significant differences between the resorts - we prefer Hillside (but then again we own there...). Better views (eventough the other one is listed as Bay View), parking in front of villa, semi-private pools and BBQs, and farther away form the main resort (we see this as a positive) - to state a few differences.

You may want to read the trip reports on the WSJ master thread.

ginja said:

I want to attempt to trade into St. John at the 8 month mark for non owners. I see they have 2 properties listed; The Westin St. John Resort & Villas (Hillside),The Westin St. John Resort & Villas (Bay Vista). Does anyone know if I would have a better chance requesting a reservation at one over the other? Also, other than one a hillside property and one is closer to the bay are their any significant difference between the 2? Any particular building I should ask for? Thanks

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When you call into the Owner Services group at 8:59 the day of the 8-month window, have your 6-digit account number ready. This is the fastest way to pull up the account. Anticipate that they will confirm who you are and your address....that will be their next question. From there, tell them that you are interested in either phase of the WSJ property for the dates you are looking for. The agent will have to select two seperate "properties" in their reservation system because this is how they are treated from an inventory standpoint.....similair to the Vistana Villages (Bella, KW, Amelia, St. Augustine)

Either phase is going to be very difficult. Even though the phase II of the WSJ has many weeks sold as true float, these owners bought to go there and they have 4-months more than you do to get reservations.

DavidnRobin said:

It is also important to know how many SOs are being used for this SVN exchange - and what season you are targetting (as they have different SOs, and seasons). This, along with other factors, will help you in your decision.

There are some significant differences between the resorts - we prefer Hillside (but then again we own there...). Better views (eventough the other one is listed as Bay View), parking in front of villa, semi-private pools and BBQs, and farther away form the main resort (we see this as a positive) - to state a few differences.

You may want to read the trip reports on the WSJ master thread.

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To the OP....take what you can get. If you have the choice, fine but take what is available and do not hold out for your "preferred" section.

James1975NY said:

To the OP....take what you can get. If you have the choice, fine but take what is available and do not hold out for your "preferred" section.

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I agree (of course) - I was just pointing out that the SOs for SVN exchanges and season between the 2 resorts makes a difference (e.g. the 3Bd private pool villas vs. the 3Bd BV villas). The OP did not supply the amount of SOs they were intending to exchange - or the season they were looking to go. If they have only 81K SOs - but were open to any season - this makes big difference for what is available for them to request in the 1st place.

I believe the OP owns a 2 bdm. ocean front unit at WKORV or WKORVN. She might do better by renting her OF unit ($$$) and renting from a WSJ owner, to get exactly what she wants.

David - since you own both, what do you think?

I missed that they owned a WKORVN OF - I guess the question is whether they are looking for 148.1K, 81K, or 67.1K SOs for exchanging - and what season they are looking at?

They will need to call at 8 months for every Fri/Sat/Sun check-in (drag).

Hard to anser the question on whether they would be better off renting their WKORVN OF villa, then renting a WSJ villa with the money.

Considering that I was looking for the opposite exchange once (private exchange our 2Bd/3Ba TH week for a 1Bd WKORV/N OF week - both 81K SOs) - I guess it would be worth it.

But again - we do not know what they are looking for (SO wise) or the season - and this matters. Also, many do not want the hassle of renting.

If it were me - I would rent the WKORV/N OF - and use the money to rent a private STJ villa with A/C (not at WSJ...).

We are still up-in-the-air on whether or not we will be able to go to STJ in 2010 (weeks 23-24) since Robin is out of work, and is looking for a new job and may not be able to get 2 weeks off from a new job so soon after starting. I had put it up for rent previously - at MF cost - and got no takers.

DavidnRobin said:

If it were me - I would rent the WKORV/N OF - and use the money to rent a private STJ villa with A/C (not at WSJ...).

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I am planning my vacation and searched for comparison b/w Hillside and Bay Vista and saw this comment. Is there no air-conditioning in the units at WSJ?

sptung said:

I am planning my vacation and searched for comparison b/w Hillside and Bay Vista and saw this comment. Is there no air-conditioning in the units at WSJ?

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Yes, there is.

I love renting out houses on VRBO. However, I really like having the hotel amenities of WSJ, such as pool and tennis courts. YMMV. I'd determine what features you really want, including a/c (which I believe is essential) and search from there. WSJ certainly isn't the only game in town.

sptung said:

I am planning my vacation and searched for comparison b/w Hillside and Bay Vista and saw this comment. Is there no air-conditioning in the units at WSJ?

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I meant rent a villa in StJ w/ A/C, and not rent at WSJ (which has A/C).

Whew! Thanks.