Vistana Flex

[gwberg]

When making reservations through II using Options. Is there a stay four nights get fifth night free like with using Starpoints?
Thanks



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[vacationtime1]

No; you're actually making the reservations through Vistana using StarOptions -- a completely separate system which does not have the fifth night free feature.

 

[gwberg]

No; you're actually making the reservations through Vistana using StarOptions -- a completely separate system which does not have the fifth night free feature.

Thanks

No; you're actually making the reservations through Vistana using StarOptions -- a completely separate system which does not have the fifth night free feature.

 

[gwberg]

I just bought into Flex and want to know as much as possible in case I need to cancel. I have have 81,000 Options from deeded property at Sheraton Vistana resort. I purchased 20,700 Pptions for $8,050 to take advantage of Flex. What are the pros and cons? Even after spending 5 hours with salesman I’ Not sure I made a wise purchase. Any feedback is very welcome. I have VIP Gold status with Wyndham already.

 

[DeniseM]

You absolutely should cancel: It's too expensive, the resorts that are in the group are not the popular ones, and you can buy on the resale market for MUCH less - like 90% less.

If you want more Staroptions, [buy resale] - you can buy 81,000 Staroptions at Vistana Villages (Bella and Key West phases only) for less than $1,000.

MORE INFO ABOUT RESCINDING: https://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/faq-rescinding-canceling-a-timeshare-purchase.74493/

 

[gwberg]

Thanks so much! I really thought I was leveraging my initial investment in timeshare by joining Flex. 81,000 Options for $1000? Would you mind explaining how?


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[vacationtime1]

The first thing you do is rescind.

Then, if you want to find 81000 StarOptions cheap, try eBay. Here is a recent auction:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/81000-STAR-OPTIONS-SHERATON-VISTANA-VILLAGES-KEY-WEST-ORLANDO-FLORIDA-TIMESHARE/222730924232?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Finding the auctions is a matter of the correct search terms.

But be careful; read the stickies -- start here: https://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php...-to-timesharing-or-starwood-start-here.63224/.

Only two phases phases of Vistana Villages (Bella and Key West) have transferrable StarOptions. And you want to buy the highest season; it is the most cost/effective. Educate yourself before you bid.

 

[DeniseM]

Would you mind explaining how?

You buy them on the resale market.

And you want to buy the highest season; it is the most cost/effective.

- This is really important: The maintenance fee is the same for low season and high season, but you get a lot more Staroptions with a high season deed.

 

[tschwa2]

There are no pros to buying 20,000 flex options retail for $8000. There are almost no pros to buying 20,000 or even 81,000 flex options for $1 resale. If you are looking for 1 or maybe 2 nights in Steamboat during ski season than maybe paying $1 for flex options would make sense.

 

[gwberg]

There are no pros to buying 20,000 flex options retail for $8000. There are almost no pros to buying 20,000 or even 81,000 flex options for $1 resale. If you are looking for 1 or maybe 2 nights in Steamboat during ski season than maybe paying $1 for flex options would make sense.

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[gwberg]

Thanks. I really appreciate straight talk.


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[Makai Guy]

Not a thread about the bulletin board. Moving to Vistana forum.

 

[r1lee]

Thanks so much! I really thought I was leveraging my initial investment in timeshare by joining Flex. 81,000 Options for $1000? Would you mind explaining how?


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You can buy a platinum Vistana village (Bella or key West) 2 bedroom worth 81k SO’s on the resale market for under $1000 for sure. Then you would have double the SO’s, roughly same maintenance. $1k is even on the high side, I’ve seen at that amount it includes a free use year.

 

[gwberg]

Thanks for that. But how “roughly the same maintenance”? Wouldn’t I have twice the maintenance?


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[VacationForever]

Thanks for that. But how “roughly the same maintenance”? Wouldn’t I have twice the maintenance?


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Yes twice. One MF for each timeshare week.

 

[gwberg]

You can buy a platinum Vistana village (Bella or key West) 2 bedroom worth 81k SO’s on the resale market for under $1000 for sure. Then you would have double the SO’s, roughly same maintenance. $1k is even on the high side, I’ve seen at that amount it includes a free use year.

Also, what is a “platinum” 2 bedroom? And if I buy one, does that mean that my previous deeded 2 bedroom at Sheraton Vistana resort now enters the Flex system? (Which is really why I purchased more Options yesterday).


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[gwberg]

There are no pros to buying 20,000 flex options retail for $8000. There are almost no pros to buying 20,000 or even 81,000 flex options for $1 resale. If you are looking for 1 or maybe 2 nights in Steamboat during ski season than maybe paying $1 for flex options would make sense.

Your post really got to me. So you’re saying stay away from Flex altogether? I have to ask why so I have a better grasp of the “con” side of things. Thank in advance.


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[VacationForever]

Flex options have little to no resale value because the Star Option component part of the Flex Options do not transfer on resale. So a FLEX resale buyer is limited to booking at the 5 or 6 Sheraton properties. In addition, 20K Flex Options get you only 1 or 2 nights.

Mandatory resorts - SVV (Bella andd Key West phases) comes with 2 seasons. You pay the same MF regardless of whether it is Platinum or Gold Season but Platinum season gives you more Star Options. A 2 BR (non-lockoff) Platinum season comes with 81K Star Options while Gold season only has 67K Star Options. 81K is enough to book a 1BR for a week in Hawaii. A 2 BR Lockoff Platinum season comes with 95.7K Star Options while a Gold season week has 81K Star Options. 2 BR Lockoff maintenance fees are higher than a 2BR non-Lockoff week. For a platinum week, either 2BR or 2BR lockoff, costs around 1K to 2K to buy in the resale market.

 

[gwberg]

Great post. Now I think I know why I can’t get a decent vacation through II with my current deeded property is a not as valuable as I thought it was (39th week at Vistana resort). I thought that if I bought 20K more options I could use those 81 K options in the Flex system. Is that not true. (I know this is a different point than the resale issue.)


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[gwberg]

Yes twice. One MF for each timeshare week.

OK, that makes sense.


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[gwberg]

Flex options have little to no resale value because the Star Option component part of the Flex Options do not transfer on resale. So a FLEX resale buyer is limited to booking at the 5 or 6 Sheraton properties. In addition, 20K Flex Options get you only 1 or 2 nights.

Mandatory resorts - SVV (Bella andd Key West phases) comes with 2 seasons. You pay the same MF regardless of whether it is Platinum or Gold Season but Platinum season gives you more Star Options. A 2 BR (non-lockoff) Platinum season comes with 81K Star Options while Gold season only has 67K Star Options. 81K is enough to book a 1BR for a week in Hawaii. A 2 BR Lockoff Platinum season comes with 95.7K Star Options while a Gold season week has 81K Star Options. 2 BR Lockoff maintenance fees are higher than a 2BR non-Lockoff week. For a platinum week, either 2BR or 2BR lockoff, costs around 1K to 2K to buy in the resale market.

If I understand correctly the “mandatory resorts” you describe DO come with Flex options while my new purchase of 20K Flex Options DO NOT? Let me rephrase. What is the “Star Option component part of the Flex Options”?


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[VacationForever]

If I understand correctly the “mandatory resorts” you describe DO come with Flex options while my new purchase of 20K Flex Options DO NOT? Let me rephrase. What is the “Star Option component part of the Flex Options”?


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Flex Options is a new product that Vistana is currently selling. It comes with 2 components. First component which does transfer with resale, is the ability to book at 5 or 6 Sheraton properties at 12 months out. They are not highly sought after resorts except Sheraton Steamboat during ski season. The second component which disappears when Flex Options are resold, is the ability to book at other Vistana resorts within the internal booking system, which is also known as Star option booking. Flex Options are classified as voluntary because it loses the Star Option component when resold, and as such it becomes a liability to own one, making it worse than worthless for most people, unless one likes to go to the 5 to 6 properties that can be booked using Flex Options.

There are 5 Vistana properties that keep the Star optiion compenent on resale, and are called mandatory resorts. These resorts can book any of the Vistana properties at 8 months out, in addition to the timeshare of the underlying deed at 12 months.

You ought to familiarise with Vistana system with resource links under the Vistana sub-forum.

 

[VacationForever]

You need to rescind now.

Regarding your other deeded timeshare, I think you mentioned that it comes with 81K Star Options. You can use it to book Vistana resorts for no additional cost. Also, booking within the system is far less painful than trading through II.

 

[gwberg]

You need to rescind now.

Regarding your other deeded timeshare, I think you mentioned that it comes with 81K Star Options. You can use it to book Vistana resorts for no additional cost. Also, booking within the system is far less painful than trading through II.

This is very important to us. We bought 20K additional Flex Options because this would put us in the Flex system, including the 81K Options we already own. This would enable us to use a total of 101 K Options through the Flex system. If that is not true, then there is no reason for us to purchase the 20K Flex Options.


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[VacationForever]

You can pay 1K to 2K in the resale market to obtain 81K to 95.7K Star Options. FLEX options are a liability. Do rescind your purchase. You can give away what you own if you are concerned with 2 Maintenance Fees.

Having said that, I have no issues exchanging in II. It just needs more work than through an internal booking system. Even with owning Star Options, you also must be diligent in booking exactly at 8 months out, which is the night before, at 9pm Pacific Time or 12:00 am Eastern time.