Vistana Fountains offered SVO Program-Please help

I will make this as brief as possible. I purchased a 2br Villa in the Fountains section of the Sheraton Vistana off of EBAY for 1000.00 about a 1 1/2 years ago. As a resale buyer I was never permitted to join the program. I have now received the paperwork and can join for 109.00 (which includes my membership to II). Here is my question is it worth it??

What are the pluses and most importantly are there minuses?

Details:

Staroptions 76,000

Starpoints 42,000

PLEASE let me know if there is a down side to joining. I think it's a no brainer...which always makes me nervous.

Thanks so much for any and all feedback.

Tony

Hi Tony - We've been discussing this offer quite a bit. Here are a few threads to get you started:

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70428&highlight=vistana

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69917&highlight=vistana

This one isn't specifically about Vistana, but it discusses the value of owning Staroptions:
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69357&highlight=vistana

Follow Up

Thank you for the links, I apologize however I have just rejoined and didn't see them.

As a follow up, the links are good but not specific to my question. I was wondering if there was a down side, specifically for a resale buyer, to joining the network. If all it costs is the extra 20.00 as they pay your interval fee (89.00) that would be great. However im worried that there maybe something im missing.

If you were a resale owner would you join? I respect everyones opinion on this board, thus the question.

Thanks again for any and all responses.

Yes, it would include your Interval Fee, but since you can only deposit Starwood weeks in the Starwood II Acct., you would still have to pay for a separate II Acct. if you have other resorts. Therefore, it will cost you an extra $99 a year for SVN membership.

The last post above discusses using Staroptions for SVN exchanges, and that is the primary reason for joining the SVN. But, you will have a fairly low number of Staroptions with your unit, and sometimes Staroptions exchanges aren't easy. Just depends on where and when you want to go.

One downside is that Starwood has more control over what you deposit with II once you join the SVN. Here is a thread with all the details about using II as an SVN owner.

The downside to joining SVN is that if you choose to use II to trade, you surrender your right to deposit the week you bought at the resort your bought during the season you bought. Starwood controls what goes in on your behalf.

In other words, they might deposit your Orlando week or they might deposit a summer week in Phoenix. For owners who paid a lot of money for their timeshares and continue to pay high MFs, surrendering the right to deposit the week they bought could be a real detriment.

What I did the one and only time I traded a week in was reserve Presidents day week and then called II and banked it. Sheraton wasn't happy but allowed it and I traded the week for the Marriott Fords Colony Williamsburg for the upcoming 7/4 week.

I assume I will not be able to make reservations on my own and then bank it through II if your correct, that is defintely a downside for me.

Tonyboombatz said:

What I did the one and only time I traded a week in was reserve Presidents day week and then called II and banked it. Sheraton wasn't happy but allowed it and I traded the week for the Marriott Fords Colony Williamsburg for the upcoming 7/4 week.

I assume I will not be able to make reservations on my own and then bank it through II if your correct, that is defintely a downside for me.

Click to expand...

Tony - if you haven't had a chance, read the thread I posted about this, because it has a lot of detail about getting Starwood to deposit the week you want. If you are outside the SVN, you have the right to deposit the week you want. Once you become an SVN member, Starwood has the right to choose that week - some people have been successful in getting Starwood to bend that rule.

Personally, I think the deal that SVN is offering the fountain owners is one of the most amazing offers I've seen in a very long time. It basically cost you nothing and you get full membership into SVN which most people have to pay ~$10K ( over resale) to get the same benifits.

A no brainer!! Grab it with both hands.

I sent the paperwork in today and accepted the offer. Thanks Bill and Denise for your thoughts. I trully appreciate it.

Tony