DVC vs. Starwood

[DOOGIERUNNER]

Just thought I'd let ya'll know be appreciative of the flexibility DVC offers! We own both DVC and Harborside Resort at Atlantis. I called this week for availability 8 months out for both Harborside and the Westin St. John.... both are booked solid. I can't believe it. Retail price for our membership is close to $60K and we can't even get a reservation at our "home" resort 8 months in advance.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Just thought I'd let ya'll know be appreciative of the flexibility DVC offers! We own both DVC and Harborside Resort at Atlantis. I called this week for availability 8 months out for both Harborside and the Westin St. John.... both are booked solid. I can't believe it. Retail price for our membership is close to $60K and we can't even get a reservation at our "home" resort 8 months in advance.

Yeah - we owned at Vistana and World Golf Village, both prior to Starwood taking over, and then with the conversion, all I saw was our fees going up! One I bought on line for 4,000.00, and the WGV I bought for 12K, we did swap once and stayed at the Harborside, awsome place! But it was Presidents week 2002, and we booked last minute, using the points conversion stuff, while the program is great, the only reason we got in was because no one was flying after 9/11/2001.

Then we got hit with maintenance that was over 500 a unit (these were every other year timeshares), and WGV was sold to Bluegreen, but we fought it because we bought into and within weeks of getting home from vacation, we were told it is now Bluegreen, so they gave us another unit at Vistana. nice, but 1000 a year maintenance, then the fees to exchange, and I had to pay 100 a unit for Interval, because it was an eoy timeshre! so we dumped them, sold the online one for the 4K i spent, and probably got 5K for the one we paid 12K for! Live and learn.

I have friends that spent the major $$ for Harborisde aslo, they love it, but yeah, if you don't plane asap, you can't get in!

 

[DOOGIERUNNER]

I agree, it seems we have to plan much farther in advance. We've never had a problem with DVC .

 

[tomandrobin]

I agree, it seems we have to plan much farther in advance. We've never had a problem with DVC .

We own both DVC and Starwood (Kierland). We love both systems. DVC is by far more flexible and forgiving with planning trips. We three weeks ago we used our 2bd l/o at Kierland and got 2 premium one bedrooms and 1 regular one bedroom at the eight month mark. This was the first time we tried to book Harborside. Also, my brother inlaw booked a premium one bedroom two weeks ago for Harborsdie using his Sheraton Plantation unit.

 

[djp]

to the op if it is your home resort you, why didnt you book at the 12 month mark. that is why we pay the big money so we can book at 12 mos at our home resort. Indeed booking at 8 mos at harborside can be tough, however it is not my home resort and I was able to get july 4th there at 8 months out.