Took the plunge into Starwood

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

So after months of discussion about the Sheraton/Starwood priority period and the most recent Westin sightings, I took the plunge. I really didn't want to buy right away but I was fortunate to find an EOY even 1BR SDO unit for quite reasonable, about the same pricing as they were going for on ebay in Jan. The kicker was that the seller had reserved Superbowl week for next year with the Friday check-in. Can't go wrong with that as that gives me options.

Now I have to reread about all the little nuances of how to optimize its use.

My first question is do I get a new II account number that gives me SVO priority or do I just add it to my existing independent II account?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Yippee!!!!

Welcome to the family!!!!

OK, first off, what did you buy? What season? and, what deeded week?

Sheraton has it's own reps at II, so you will get a Sheraton account. What's really important, is getting a decent week from Sheraton, for them to deposit. That's not so easy with Sheraton, depending on what you purchased.......Sheraton bulk banks weeks, and tries to keep all the good weeks for owners that are going to be using them, opposed to depositing them for exchange. They try and get away with giving you a week already deposited, or giving you a week in another resort, or giving you a crappy week for deposit.

Because you are not part of SVN, they really don't have the right to do this, but still, they do. You must demand that a week in the resort you purchased, and the season you purchased is deposited into II. If you have a good deeded week, you should be OK.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Welcome aboard......still looking forward to our first trade but the SVN sightings have been exciting.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

Yippee!!!!

Welcome to the family!!!!

OK, first off, what did you buy? What season? and, what deeded week?

Sheraton has it's own reps at II, so you will get a Sheraton account. What's really important, is getting a decent week from Sheraton, for them to deposit. That's not so easy with Sheraton, depending on what you purchased.......Sheraton bulk banks weeks, and tries to keep all the good weeks for owners that are going to be using them, opposed to depositing them for exchange. They try and get away with giving you a week already deposited, or giving you a week in another resort, or giving you a crappy week for deposit.

Because you are not part of SVN, they really don't have the right to do this, but still, they do. You must demand that a week in the resort you purchased, and the season you purchased is deposited into II. If you have a good deeded week, you should be OK.

I bought a 1BR standard EO even year at the Sheraton Desert Oasis. I probably won't be depositing the 2008 week as the previous owner booked the Superbowl week. Unfortunately, I won't be able to bank it until 2009 for 2010 usage. If that's the case, maybe I'll have to keep looking for another deal!

[BobP Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BobP]

getting a decent week from Sheraton, for them to deposit

Trying to understand this. If someone reserves a week, and decides to deposit in I.I. Sheraton swaps out that week for a less desireable one?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

getting a decent week from Sheraton, for them to deposit

Trying to understand this. If someone reserves a week, and decides to deposit in I.I. Sheraton swaps out that week for a less desirable one?

II does not let you deposit your week into II. Sheraton must make the deposit. At least, that has been my experience. You CAN however deposit your week into SFX, or other exchange companies, without the assistance of Sheraton.

When you call Sheraton to have your week deposited into II, they try and give you an already deposited week, (Sheraton bulk banks) or they try and give you a lower demand week, then you are requesting.

If you are a member of SVN, then you have signed an agreement that allows Sheraton those privileges. However, buying resale prohibits you from becoming a SVN member, and you are not legally bound by these rules. .....You need to push for the week you want, and should be given a week in the season that you purchased, at the resort that you own.

[urple2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close urple2]

Very interesting thread...

After spending one night in a Weston hotel recently at near 300 bucks I started reading more about Sheraton,Starwood,Westin.


It does seem a serious downfall about not being able to choose your week of choice for deposit or resort choice.

So, would you say that persistant influence would prevail in depositing within your season purchased? Otherwise, it would seem unless you are within the Staroptions group of resorts, exchanging could be a real bummer.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Very interesting thread...

After spending one night in a Weston hotel recently at near 300 bucks I started reading more about Sheraton,Starwood,Westin.


It does seem a serious downfall about not being able to choose your week of choice for deposit or resort choice.

So, would you say that persistent influence would prevail in depositing within your season purchased? Otherwise, it would seem unless you are within the Staroptions group of resorts, exchanging could be a real bummer.

getting a decent week from Sheraton, for them to deposit

Trying to understand this. If someone reserves a week, and decides to deposit in I.I. Sheraton swaps out that week for a less desirable one?

I purchased a Starwood week in March 2007 - prime season at my resort is Xmas-early April and then the summer.
I preferred to get a March week - but when I called Starwood, all they had for Feb/March 2007 was weeks that had been deposited too late - they would have been a flex-change only.
I then requested and got a reservation for 12/21/07 and deposited it with II.

So you CAN make a reservation with Starwood and then call II and deposit it - it just isn't the way they like to do it. But as Angela said, you are entitled to do it as you are not part of the SVN network and many resale resorts were not originally developed as Starwood properties (thus having different guidelines for reserving and depositing).

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

I own at 2 Starwood managed resorts, both purchased resale, so I am not in the Starwood Network. I call & make my reservations. I have always deposited them on-line with II for exchange & have always received the exact week I have reserved (Easter week 2007 & superbowl week 2008.) I have noticed that my SDO 1 bedroom doesn't always see the KAA during the preference window. I don't know why. It seems to be inconsistant.

[urple2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close urple2]

Thanks all for posting this info.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Barndweller

I have always deposited them on-line with II for exchange

My Sheraton does not give me the option to make my own deposit on-line. I can, and do with all my Marriott's, but I can not with my Sheraton. There is no box for you to type in an exsiting reservation #. It reads.....Note: Contact resort/club to obtain reservation or assignment. 1-888-9869637

Now, I have made a reservation in the past, called II, and tried to deposit my week, without the interference of Sheraton. That also did not work. I was immediately connected to the Sheraton desk, at II.

Don't get me wrong, I did get the week on my deed deposited, but it took some serious discussion. That's what I'm saying. You have the right to get your week, or season (depending on which resort you own) deposited, as long as you're not a member of the SVN. It's just that Sheraton many times prefers to do otherwise.

As I have mentioned....I do not have this problem with other exchange companies. I have reserved a week, and on my own deposited that week into SFX, without a problem. So, it seems to be an arrangement Sheraton has with II, on some of their resorts.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

Angela
I own at Villas of Cave Creek and at Sheraton Desert Oasis. Both allow me to deposit online. When I call for anything the VC always wants to transfer me to the Starwood desk even though I have several non-Starwood timeshares in my account. So far I have gotten deposits & exchanges done on-line.

What Sheraton do you own & are you part of the network?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Angela
I own at Villas of Cave Creek and at Sheraton Desert Oasis. Both allow me to deposit online. When I call for anything the VC always wants to transfer me to the Starwood desk even though I have several non-Starwood timeshares in my account. So far I have gotten deposits & exchanges done on-line.

What Sheraton do you own & are you part of the network?

If you are able to deposit your week on-line. I'm starting to wonder if the reason that I can not, is due to a glitch in II.

I am NOT part of SVN, I purchased resale. This is the deposit screen for my resort.....

Resort

Sheraton Broadway Plantation • STW
Valid check-in days: Sun Fri Sat

Reservation No Unit No

N/A N/A

Bedrooms

2

Check-in Date

June 28, 2008

Notice....Under reservation # it reads N/A. There is no way to type in a reservation #. Therefore, I am forced to contact Sheraton to make my deposit.

Also it reads.......For assistance, contact your resort or club at 1-888-9869637.

Is it possible that this is just a glitch? I need to find out. Before I call II, I'd like to be sure what other Sheraton owners are experiencing. I am able to deposit my other resorts, on-line, without a problem.

[TomandRobin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TomandRobin]

getting a decent week from Sheraton, for them to deposit

Trying to understand this. If someone reserves a week, and decides to deposit in I.I. Sheraton swaps out that week for a less desireable one?

Your SDO resale is not a mandatory resort, there for does not (should not) have to comply with SVN rules.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

...I have reserved ...superbowl week 2008.)

Julie, how are you finding this particular week trading? The owner I am buying from has this week reserved and I'm trying to decide whether to rent or trade it. If it's a super trader then I may go down that route. We're buying the smaller 1BR as well.