Future Booking Cancelation

I got a question maybe some of you experienced Starwood owner's can help me with.

I own at WKORV and was planning for next year. If I book my home resort in Feb, can I cancel it for something else later? For example...if we decide we would rather go to Princeville can I call up and see if the same week at Princeville is available 8 monthes out and cancel the original reservation? Will they check availability somewhere else for me before canceling? Or do they make you cancel first before they'll check?

I noticed a $29 cancelation fee past 24 hours...no biggie if that is it...

I'm not an elite member (yet...HA!)...so if elite members get any special treatment with this I would not apply...

Thanks!

Yes - that is the best practice that we recommend. Always book your home resort at 12 mos. out to lock-in a guaranteed reservation and then try for the exchange at 8 mos. out. If the exchange isn't available, you still have a confirmed Resv. for your home resort.

For lots of info. about how Starwood works, check out the FAQ and other resources posted at the top of the page.

I did that this year. However, I did run into a snag as there were no 2 bedrooms available at Princeville for late July. So, we accepted a 1 bedroom and then, I decided to rent out the studio. I later find out that the studio loss its ocean view. Because I had to cancel the 2 bedroom unit in order to reserve the one bedroom at Princeville and get a new confirmation number for the studio. I am not happy about this policy. If I did reserve the 1 bedroom and studio separately at my home resort I would have ran into the risk of not having a unit next to each other if we ended up staying at WKORV.

jkrischt said:

I noticed a $29 cancelation fee past 24 hours...no biggie if that is it...

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I don't believe anyone has reported being charged the fee for cancelling a reservation at their home resort to make a reservation at another resort using StarOptions.

They will charge the fee if you make a StarOptions reservation, and then change that.

Glorian

ciscogizmo1 said:

I later find out that the studio loss its ocean view. Because I had to cancel the 2 bedroom unit in order to reserve the one bedroom at Princeville and get a new confirmation number for the studio.

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I thought you could "drop" either the studio or 1br portion of a 2br lock-off reservation without losing your priority...

twz said:

I thought you could "drop" either the studio or 1br portion of a 2br lock-off reservation without losing your priority...

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Hasn't worked for me. Is this written somewhere where I can show a supervisor? Because as far as Starwood is concerned I cancelled my reservation at the 8 month mark therefore, I lose my view. I have escalated my complaint to a supervisor. So, we'll see what happens.

ciscogizmo1 said:

Hasn't worked for me. Is this written somewhere where I can show a supervisor? Because as far as Starwood is concerned I cancelled my reservation at the 8 month mark therefore, I lose my view. I have escalated my complaint to a supervisor. So, we'll see what happens.

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You rented your studio out (right?), and the dates changed, so your view for that reservation doesn't matter right now since you wouldn't get your view anyhow at less than 8 months out.

I'm pretty sure that the supervisor could have fixed your original Thanksgiving studio timestamp if you had needed to preserve it. My friend did this with hers, though it took 24 hours before she had confirmation that it was correct. Clearly, Starwood should fix this so it automatically keeps the original timestamp for either side of the lockoff, but in the meantime, I know it can be done by hand.

Denise L said:

You rented your studio out (right?), and the dates changed, so your view for that reservation doesn't matter right now since you wouldn't get your view anyhow at less than 8 months out.

I'm pretty sure that the supervisor could have fixed your original Thanksgiving studio timestamp if you had needed to preserve it. My friend did this with hers, though it took 24 hours before she had confirmation that it was correct. Clearly, Starwood should fix this so it automatically keeps the original timestamp for either side of the lockoff, but in the meantime, I know it can be done by hand.

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Yes, I rented out my studio for a July week. I did not change dates at all. I just couldn't get a 2 bedroom at Princeville so, I reserved a 1 bedroom and left the studio at WKORV.

Hopefully, I'll be speaking to a supervisor soon to straighten this out...

ciscogizmo1 said:

Yes, I rented out my studio for a July week. I did not change dates at all. I just couldn't get a 2 bedroom at Princeville so, I reserved a 1 bedroom and left the studio at WKORV.

Hopefully, I'll be speaking to a supervisor soon to straighten this out...

Click to expand...

Oh, now I remember . I keep getting everyone's rental reservations mixed up! So, you should be able to restore the original timestamp on your July reservation, then! Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.

Okay.. I finally got an e-mail from the supervisor. At first she told me that all ocean view studios are gone. I said that was not possible as the change to the reservation was made at 8 months. So, the ocean view room should be there. So, then, she checked with inventory control. Sure enough it was still available. She did explain that the rep didn't follow proper procedcures. So, I got my view back. I do think e-mail is the best way to communicate with Starwood. I seem to get nowhere on the phone.

While I was at it I asked about e-mailing confirmations to owners. She said that they are aware of the problem. They can e-mail from another server. She was able to easily e-mail my confirmation to me. After she said that I said that she needs to let the reps know. Because they don't seem to know at least the ones I've talked to.

Tina..