From time to time we highlight different timeshare systems. This week we are discussing another hotel-based system affiliated with Sheraton. Starwood Vacation Ownership offers a way to have your dream vacation both at home and around the world wherever and whenever your heart desires. Starwood is a resort and hotel development company with headquarters in Orlando, Florida. The vacation system is comprised of 850 luxury hotels and 2200 fantastic villas in 75 countries.
Basic membership begins with the purchase of a Home Resort Timeshare ranging in price from $6000 to $23,900. A Home Resort unit is for a specific size with a specified season for use on an annual or bi-annual basis for one week at a time. Usage is on a fixed or float week basis with reservations to be made 12 months in advance. Electing to use the float week option offers flexibility to enjoy your home resort during a different season of the year or to exchange your home resort for one in a different location and season.
This is a one-time purchase at a fixed price. Along with the purchase, there is a yearly fee of $99 which is paid to the Home Owners Association in your home resort location. This fee is paid along with your yearly maintenance fee. This allows you to make internal exchanges as well as gets you an account with II for additional trades. The goal of the Home Owners Association is to provide a community atmosphere by offering opportunities to get to know your neighbors. And, like all timeshares, there is a yearly maintenance fee. Starwood’s tend to be on the higher side.
Older resorts were sold as fixed weeks and some are with RCI for trading. All newer resorts are sold as deeded property, but they work under a point- based system called Star Options points. These points work much the same as other timeshare point systems–higher points for larger units or at the prime times of the year.
Owners also participate in a Starwood Preferred Guest Program and use Star Points. This works the same as most major hotel frequent stay programs. You can exchange your timeshare points into the preferred guest program and stay at their hotels. Be careful of resale purchases because in some cases you can not participate in the hotel guest program or the Starwood internal exchange program.
Starwood properties in North America are located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New York City, South Carolina and Hawaii. Other western hemisphere locations are found in Mexico, The Bahamas and St. John in the Virgin Islands. Some of the resorts are affiliated with RCI and II, and some only with II.
Your Starwood Vacation Ownership includes membership in the Starwood Vacation Network, which offers countless ways to vacation in countries around the globe. The network is a points-based system that affords you the opportunity to exchange your week using the Star Option Plan. Under this plan, it is possible to visit non-time share locations around the world owned by the Starwood property system. Accommodation is offered on a daily or weekly basis. Points may also be used for airline miles, and car rental.
Starwood offers a user-friendly online directory listing locations and availability dates. Information is also provided regarding the number of units up for resale in a particular location, as well as the number of accommodations available on a daily or weekly basis.
Excellent customer service information is provided online listing telephone numbers, hours available and the name of the person in charge of sales, rental reservations, external exchange, owner services, association management and personal ownership account information.
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