Probably the dumbest question of the year on using Staroptions

First, I want to thank the group members for helping me thus far (and I bet a lot of other members who are just now eligible to join SVN have been helped as well). I've gone over the info that Starwood has sent me and I've read the FAQ's above but I just can't find the answer to this question.

Suppose it's 2009 and we have yet to decide what we want to do with our Staroptions available. Several months go by and then the wife decides where we're going (I often have little input - many hubbies can probably relate :hysterical: ) BUT she doesn't want to go until Jan 2010. Can I make reservations (of course at 8 months) for a 2010 vacation using the 2009 points? Or will I need to book using the 2010 points and continue looking for something that will 'occur' in 2009?

The answer is probably there in something I've read, but I missed it, so my apologies in advance.

thanks
-Monte

Unfortunately, all StarOptions must be used in the calendar year for which they're assigned. So, the answer to your question is no.

Ken555 said:

Unfortunately, all StarOptions must be used in the calendar year for which they're assigned. So, the answer to your question is no.

Click to expand...

thanks ken, I was 99.9% sure that was the answer (hence the reason I called it a dumb question) but was unsure that when they said "used" if they meant points commited for that year or committed for a week of that year.

Again-thanks

When in 2008 do we have access to SOs of 2009? It seems like for summer weeks, one would need the 2009 points NOW to get a reservation for summer of 2009 in a popular place. Also, does that mean we have to pay MFs for 2009 to make the ressie?

Katherine

Kath - at 8 mos. out you have access to a Staroption reservation. Is that what you mean? So Nov. 1, 2008, you can make a Staroption reservation for July 1, 2009.

We have never paid our MF in advance - we always pay them in Jan. for WKORV and SDO, but there are posts from a couple people saying the had to pay in Adv., but it was for one of the resorts that was owned by another company before Starwood bought them out.

SVN Reservation Periods:

8-12 mos. out - owner can reserve his deeded unit(s) at his home resort.
0-8 mos. out - Staroptions exchanges can be made.
0-3 mos. out - Staroptions exchanges for less than a week can be made.

mbisson said:

The answer is probably there in something I've read, but I missed it, so my apologies in advance.

thanks
-Monte

Click to expand...

No apology needed! Here's what the FAQ says:

5) Can I roll Staroptions over to the next year? - No, they expire at the end of the calendar year.

DeniseM said:

No apology needed! Here's what the FAQ says:

5) Can I roll Staroptions over to the next year? - No, they expire at the end of the calendar year.

Click to expand...

I saw that. But wasn't sure if that mean the reservation had to be made prior to the end of the year or if the week had to be used prior to the end of the year. I guess it boils down to my not being positive how they defined "rollover".

Although you & Ken have both confirmed what I suspected, I thought it (rollover) could be meant to be points that were unencumbered only (not used or committed).

You can't bank your week for the following year, but you can borrow StarOptions from the following year. Unfortunately that throws you into the StarOptions Exchange Window, which means you can't make reservations until 90 days prior. Also you have to pay the following year's MFs ahead of time.

SDKath said:

When in 2008 do we have access to SOs of 2009? It seems like for summer weeks, one would need the 2009 points NOW to get a reservation for summer of 2009 in a popular place. Also, does that mean we have to pay MFs for 2009 to make the ressie?

Katherine

Click to expand...

if it is your home resort than you can book 2009 in 2008 at 12 months out. 8 months out for non-home resort. already booked arizona for 2009. you pay MF's in january except if borrowing 90 days out then must pay MF's for the following year. or if it is eoy and you own even years you must pay for your 2010 MF's.

Thanks guys. I guess I am (still) a confused gal.

So you never use SOs to book your own "home" resort? Or can you? In that case, you'd do it within the 1 year period, right? If it's outside your home resort, you do it at 8 months?

For example, what if I want to take my 148,100 SOs from my home resort at WMH and use up 81,000 and book a 1BR next Spring? I'd book that at 1 year, right? Then I have the remaining points left to book a studio at my home resort still. I take those SOs and book the studio for the Fall of 09 and I would book it the Fall of 08? Correct?

Katherine

SDKath said:

For example, what if I want to take my 148,100 SOs from my home resort at WMH and use up 81,000 and book a 1BR next Spring? I'd book that at 1 year, right?

Click to expand...

Yes, anytime 12 months or less prior to your arrival date (for your home resort only).

Then I have the remaining points left to book a studio at my home resort still. I take those SOs and book the studio for the Fall of 09 and I would book it the Fall of 08? Correct?

Click to expand...

The remaining SOs can be used at your home resort within the 12 month reservation period, OR at any SVN property within 8 months. Just be sure to use all the SOs in the same calendar year...

SDKath said:

Thanks guys. I guess I am (still) a confused gal.

So you never use SOs to book your own "home" resort? Or can you? In that case, you'd do it within the 1 year period, right? If it's outside your home resort, you do it at 8 months?

For example, what if I want to take my 148,100 SOs from my home resort at WMH and use up 81,000 and book a 1BR next Spring? I'd book that at 1 year, right? Then I have the remaining points left to book a studio at my home resort still. I take those SOs and book the studio for the Fall of 09 and I would book it the Fall of 08? Correct?

Katherine

Click to expand...

From 8-12 mos. out, at your home resort, you can reserve exactly what you own, including unit size and season. You are reserving your deeded week(s), so you aren't using Staroptions.

At 0 - 8 mos. out from your arrival date, no matter where you are reserving (home or exchange) you are using Staroptions, and you lose your owner's priority, even at your home resort.

Ken555 said:

The remaining SOs can be used at your home resort within the 12 month reservation period.

Click to expand...

True, as long you're booking in the season you own at the resort you own. For example, if you own Platinum at WMH, you would only be able to book a unit in Gold or Silver season at 8 mos. out. I'm sure you know this Ken, but I wanted to clarify for others.

So in SDKath's example above, she owns Platinum WMH, and wants to book a Fall '09 week (let's say a check-in date of Oct. 1, 2009). Since she owns Plat season, and Oct. 1 falls into Gold season, she can't book that week until Feb. 1, 2009.

Glorian

SDKath said:

Thanks guys. I guess I am (still) a confused gal.

So you never use SOs to book your own "home" resort? Or can you? In that case, you'd do it within the 1 year period, right? If it's outside your home resort, you do it at 8 months?

For example, what if I want to take my 148,100 SOs from my home resort at WMH and use up 81,000 and book a 1BR next Spring? I'd book that at 1 year, right? Then I have the remaining points left to book a studio at my home resort still. I take those SOs and book the studio for the Fall of 09 and I would book it the Fall of 08? Correct?

Katherine

Click to expand...

in the beginning of 2008 my staroptions for 2009 were listed on mystarcentral and i thought they were not correct, i asked elite services and since i own a fixed week at harborside those staroptions are automatically put to next years reservation and they are not listed in my total.of course if i decide not to go to the harborside then they will be put back in my account.

grgs said:

True, as long you're booking in the season you own at the resort you own. For example, if you own Platinum at WMH, you would only be able to book a unit in Gold or Silver season at 8 mos. out. I'm sure you know this Ken, but I wanted to clarify for others.

So in SDKath's example above, she owns Platinum WMH, and wants to book a Fall '09 week (let's say a check-in date of Oct. 1, 2009). Since she owns Plat season, and Oct. 1 falls into Gold season, she can't book that week until Feb. 1, 2009.

Glorian

Click to expand...

Very true! Thanks for the clarification.

even more confused

Continuing the newbie confusion, if I want to book a stay in a SVO resort for January or March 2009, must I wait til I get my 2009 allotment on 1/1/ or do I use my 2008 SO which I receive once the Vistana transfer takes place. If 2008 SO are only good in 2008, how could one ever visit a place in January 2009 if they are not an owner there because the window would be but a few days beteen 1/1 and the day of travel.

mishpat said:

Continuing the newbie confusion, if I want to book a stay in a SVO resort for January or March 2009, must I wait til I get my 2009 allotment on 1/1/ or do I use my 2008 SO which I receive once the Vistana transfer takes place. If 2008 SO are only good in 2008, how could one ever visit a place in January 2009 if they are not an owner there because the window would be but a few days beteen 1/1 and the day of travel.

Click to expand...

It may seem confusing, but it's actually quite simple. When reserving in a subsequent calendar year, you actually end up using that same calendar year SOs. In other words, for reserving January or March 2009 you will call in 2008 but use your 2009 SOs. So when you book your next vacation for next January you can do so eight months prior using your 2009 StarOptions.

You are always using the Staroptions from the same year as your reserved week. A 2009 reservation uses your 2009 Staroptions or your 2009 week.

The only exception to this is if you borrow Staroptions from the next use year, and it can only be done at 90 days out, so it isn't very useful.

If the unit you are buying has not been used for 2008, you will need to use it (use yourself, deposit, rent, exchange) for a 2008 reservation before Jan. 1st, or lose it. Staroptions cannot be rolled over from one year to the next.

Here is the recommended stategy for makeing a reservation from the FAQ at the top of the board:

14) How do I make a reservation?

The earliest you can make a reservation at your home resort for your deeded unit size & season is 12 mos. from your desired check-in date.

That means if you own a 2 bdm. lock-off, at 12 mos. out, you can reserve:
1) The whole 2 bedroom unit or
2) Just the 1 bdm. side or
3) Just the studio side

To make a reservation at your home resort, call owner services - (888) 986-9637, during the Owner's Preference Period, 12-8 mos. out from the date of arrival. Best practice: Call exactly at 12 mos. out at 9:00 a.m. ET.

To make a Staroption exchange, call owner services 8 - 0 mos. out from the date of arrival.
Best Practice: At 12 mos. out, reserve your home resort week as a backup. At exactly 8 mos. out at 9:00 a.m. ET, call and see if the exchange you want is available. If it is, you can cancel your home resort and reserve the exchange.

Reservations for less than a full week can be made 3 - 0 mos. out, if available.

Reservations canceled within 60 days of the check-in date, can only be used to make future reservations at 60 days out from arrival date and Starwood may charge a cancellation fee.