Finally in SVO as a 3*

Thanks to all the Tuggers for the most informative and useful information available on how to go about becoming an elite member.

After familiarizing myself with all the "insider" tips, I purchased a Harborside 3BR platinum week on resale ($35K) and then retroed it by upgrading an SVV week that I also purchased on resale ($12K total on resale and upgrade).

Becoming a Tug member was certainly the most profitable $15 investment I ever made!

What were/are you goals in requalifying and reaching 3 Star Elite?

DeniseM said:

What were/are you goals in requalifying and reaching 3 Star Elite?

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I intend to work my way toward 5* and view 3* as the first step toward getting there. The requalification allows me more options in terms of using the SVN network. Futhermore, the elite status facilitates the SO to SP conversion which, albeit not being the best value for the dollar, does offer the flexibility of using Starwood hotels within and outside the U.S.

Here we go again.......

[SO---SP]

nilias said:

Thanks to all the Tuggers for the most informative and useful information available on how to go about becoming an elite member.

After familiarizing myself with all the "insider" tips, I purchased a Harborside 3BR platinum week on resale ($35K) and then retroed it by upgrading an SVV week that I also purchased on resale ($12K total on resale and upgrade).

Becoming a Tug member was certainly the most profitable $15 investment I ever made!

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Just curious, can you elaborate on how you did the "retro" by upgrading an SVV week that was also purchased on resale, please?

PS: We're going to harborside on Saturday!

clymberz said:

Just curious, can you elaborate on how you did the "retro" by upgrading an SVV week that was also purchased on resale, please?

PS: We're going to harborside on Saturday!

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SDKath's guide to becoming 5* (found in the Starwood Owner's Resources) describes this process in detail. To give you my example, I bought a 1BR SVV resale unit for $1K. The unit was originally sold for $14.9K by SVO. So, SVO gave me a $14.9K credit which I used to upgrade to a 2BR SVV unit that is being sold by $25.9K by SVO. Thus I had to pay only $11K for the unit (25.9K minus 14.9K) and I used this upgrade to requalify my Harborside unit.

There are two requirements for doing such as upgrade/retro: 1) the unit being upgraded to must have a current developer's price of at least $20K; 2) you have to spend at least $10K on the upgrade (this requirement varies somewhat by the Resort but is generally around $10K).

Congrads! That's awesome. I wished the Hawaii requirements were more relaxed.