Vistana Signature Experiences Guide & Information!

History of Vistana Timeshares

Vistana Timeshare Locations

Vistana properties are a combination of developed and purchased properties. These properties are all premier resorts and properties in terms of size, amenities, and furnishings. Properties originally developed by Vistana prior to 1999 will be referred to as legacy Vistana properties below.

• Sheraton Broadway Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC (formerly Embassy Vacation Resort at Myrtle Beach)
• Sheraton Desert Oasis, Scottsdale, AZ (formerly Embassy Vacation Resort Scottsdale)
• Sheraton Mountain Vista, Avon, CO
• Sheraton PGA Vacation Resort, Port St. Lucie, FL
• Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas, Steamboat Springs, CO
• Sheraton Vistana Resort, Orlando, FL (formerly a legacy Vistana property)
• Sheraton Vistana Villages, Orlando, FL
• The Westin Desert Willow Villas, Palm Desert, CA
• The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Maui, HI
• The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, North Maui, HI
• The Westin Kierland Villas, Scottsdale, AZ
• The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort, Cancun, Mexico
• The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa, Los Cabos, Mexico
• The Westin Mission Hills Resort and Villas, Rancho Mirage, CA
• The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas
• The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, Kauai, HI
• The Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas, Avon, CO
• The Westin St. John Resort & Villas, US Virgin Islands (formerly Virgin Grand Villas/Hyatt Regency)
• Harborside Resort at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas (jointly built by Vistana and Kerzner International Limited
• Lakeside Terrace, Avon CO (formerly a legacy Vistana property)
• Vistana Beach Club, Jensen Beach, FL (formerly a legacy Vistana property)

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Vistana Hotel Resorts

Vistana plans to convert the following properties over time to timeshare vacation ownership. The two resorts in Mexico will become, along with the Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa, part of the Westin Adventras Flex ownership program. See Flex ownership later in this article.

• Sheraton Kauai Resort, Kauai, Hawaii
• The Westin Resort & Spa Cancun, Cancun, Mexico
• The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

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Previous Vistana Properties

In late September 2011 it was reported that the owners of the Villas of Cave Creek had decided to terminate its relationship with Vistana. As of this writing that termination seems to be final effective December 31, 2011.

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Vistana Home Resort Reservations

During the time eight to twelve months in advance reserve only at the deeded (home) resort, use year and season. The reservation must be for a full week. This is considered the home resort priority period. There are several properties that have special reservation rules that may deviate from the eight to twelve months in advance home resort priority period. Fixed week owners should confirm their reservation at least twelve months from the start of their fixed week. At some resorts the fixed week can be confirmed longer in advance.

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vistana StarOptions

VSN properties are deeded resorts with a perpetual deed. While the deed has a specific week and unit number, the vast majority of units were sold as float weeks and units. Fixed weeks and/or units can usually be purchased from the developer at a premium. When purchasing resale, the buyer should understand if the purchase is a fixed or float week and/or unit.See the resale section for more details on resale purchases.

While ownership is technically not points based. Vistana uses an overlay system where for all intents and purposes VSN is a points system. All units purchased from the developer, and some units purchased resale, have a point assignment, called StarOptions. The number of StarOptions for a given unit is based on the resort, season, and unit size. StarOption values for each resort/season/size are in this pdf: StarOptions Value Chart.

As an example, below are some StarOption values. The chart shows the unit size, the season, and the number of StarOptions needed to stay each night and for a week.

Westin Mission Hills

Unit	Season	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Week
2br/lo	platinum plus	14,800	14,800	14,800	22,225	29,625	29,625	22,225	148,100
1br pre	Gold Plus	4,400	4,400	4,400	6,600	8,800	8,800	6,600	44,000

Sheraton Vistana Villages

Unit	Season	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Week
2br/lo	Platinum	9,550	9,550	9,550	14,350	19,175	19,175	14,350	95,700
1br pre	Gold Plus	4,400	4,400	4,400	6,600	8,800	8,800	6,600	44,000

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Reservations using StarOptions

VSN members wishing to make reservations at a property other than the one they own or within a different season than they own can use StarOptions to make a reservation 8 months in advance of check-in. Reservations are best made online at midnight or by phone at 9:00am Eastern Time eight months to the day in advance of the desired stay.

Reservations can also be made by phone at 9:00am eastern time eight months in advance. There is no charge to use StarOptions for a reservation a week. There is also no fee for changing or cancelling a StarOption reservation, but owners may be subject to housekeeping fees if multiple StarOption reservations using their single week ownership.

Cancelling a reservation close to check-in date may have additional penalties. The reservations agent will detail the fees and penalties when completing the reservation.

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Banking StarOptions

Effective August 2011 StarOptions can be banked for up to two years. For example, StarOptions banked from the 2017 use year will be available for StarOption reservations through December 31st 2019. There is currently a $99 fee to bank StarOptions. Banked StarOptions cannot be converted into Starpoints or used to make reservations at your home resort 8 to twelve months in advance. Banked StarOptions also cannot be used for deposit for exchange through an external exchange company.

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Vistana Flex Ownership

Vistana now sells a pure point product where buyers can purchase any number of Home/Flex Options. Home/Flex Options can be used to reserve any view or unit size for up to the number of Home/Flex Options you own from twelve to eight months in advance. Vistana also sells Home/Flex Options in popular increments based on specific weeks based reservation types from the StarOption chart. For example 81,000, 148,100. The following Flex Ownership programs are available:

Sheraton Flex

This product allows owners to reserve any of the available properties in the eight to twelve month home resort booking window. At eight months, Flex Options become StarOptions and can be used to book other VSN resorts in the network float period. The following properties are available for booking in Sheraton Flex.

• Sheraton Broadway Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC
• Sheraton Desert Oasis, Scottsdale, AZ
• Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas, Steamboat Springs, CO
• Sheraton Vistana Resort, Orlando, FL
• Sheraton Vistana Villages, Orlando, FL
• Vistana Beach Club, Jensen Beach, FL

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas

This product allows owners to purchase either Ocean Front Home Options or Resort View Home Options. Home Options can be used to reserve any villa size within the view purchased for any length of time up to 21 nights for any time of the year starting at 12 months in advance for the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas. At eight months, Home Options become StarOptions and can be used to book other VSN resorts in the network float period.

Westin St John Resort & Villas

The Coral Vista and Summer Bay phases were/are sold as Home Options. Owners can use their Home Options to book any villa size for any length of time up to 21 nights within their owned season from eight to twelve months in advance. At eight months in advance owners can use their Home Options to book any season, even outside their owned season to book any villa size for any number of nights up to 21. Also at eight months, Home Options become StarOptions and can be used to book other VSN resorts in the network float period.

Westin Adventuras

This program allows buyers to purchase vacation ownership interest in several properties in Mexico. This product allows owners to reserve any of the available properties in the twelve to eight month home resort booking window. At eight months, Flex Options become StarOptions and can be used to book other VSN resorts in the network float period. The following properties are available or will be available in Westin Adventuras.

• The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa, Los Cabos, Mexico
• The Westin Resort & Spa Cancun, Cancun, Mexico
• The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa is currently the only resort of the three that is available for Home Option or StarOption reservations.

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Vistana on the Resale Market

Vistana properties have an active resale market. Timeshare resale sites and EBay have many listings for Vistana properties. As with any purchase the buyer should only deal with reputable sellers and take appropriate purchase precautions.

Because of the conglomerate nature of the Vistana network of properties, resale benefits within VSN vary based on the property purchased. Some resorts are mandatory and StarOptions transfer to the resale purchaser. Others are voluntary and StarOptions do not transfer. In neither case does the ability to convert the week in to Starpoints transfer to the new owner. Nor do resale StarOptions count toward Elite Owner status. Mandatory properties are usually sold at a premium to voluntary properties due to their additional flexibility.

Mandatory Properties

• Harborside Resort at Atlantis
• Sheraton Vistana Villages, Bella and Key West phases only
• The Westin St. John, Virgin Grand/Hillside phase only
• The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas
• The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, North
• The Westin Kierland Villas

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Requalifying Resale Purchases

In 2005 Vistana introduced the Elite program to encourage multiple week ownership. There are 3 membership levels with increasing benefits:

Three Star Elite Member *** must own two or more weeks, worth at least 159,000 StarOptions

• Ability to convert to Starpoints every year rather than every other year
• Option to convert to Starpoints extended to July 1
• 30,000 Starpoints if you refer someone who buys a unit
• Separate toll-free number for reservations and customer service
• Earn 3,000 extra Starpoints when take a Signature Escapes vacation
• StarOption banking fee $79

Four Star Member **** must own weeks’ worth at least 359,000 StarOptions

• Ability to convert to Starpoints every year rather than every other year
• Option to convert to Starpoints extended to October 1
• 35,000 Starpoints if you refer someone who buys a unit
• Separate toll-free number for reservations and customer service
• Earn 4,000 extra Starpoints when take a Signature Escapes vacation
• $99 Starpoints conversion fee waived
• 10% premium on Starpoints conversion
• 2:00pm villa check-in if available
• Ability to “wait list” for another reservation without having to cancel a confirmed reservation
• StarOption banking fee $79

Five Star Member ***** must own weeks’ worth at least 649,000 StarOptions

• Ability to convert to Starpoints every year rather than every other year
• Option to convert to Starpoints extended to October 1
• 40,000 Starpoints if you refer someone who buys a unit
• Separate toll-free number for reservations and customer service
• Earn 5,000 extra Starpoints when take a Signature Escapes vacation
• $99 Starpoints conversion fee waived
• 10% premium on Starpoints conversion
• 2:00pm villa check-in if available
• Noon villa check-out if available
• Ability to “wait list” for another reservation without having to cancel a confirmed reservation
• StarOption banking fee waived
• Automatic SPG Platinum status
• SPG Platinum Concierge service

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Vistana External Exchange

Vistana’s primary external exchange company is Interval International (II). Some older resorts also trade through RCI. II membership is automatic with purchases from Vistana and resale purchases at mandatory properties and the membership fee is included in the annual VSN fee. This II account is only for Vistana properties. Resale voluntary properties or non Vistana timeshare properties must be in a separate II account.

Deposits into an external exchange company are for a full week. Lock off units can be split and one or both sides deposited into II. Lock off ownerships eligible for StarOptions can also lock off and utilize one side of their unit as either home resort or StarOptions and also deposit the other side of the lock off in to an external exchange company.

Vistana determines the value of the deposited week. The value determines the trade power assigned to the deposit and thus types of properties and weeks that the deposit can be traded into.

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Starwood Hotel Starpoints

Not to be confused with StarOptions, Starpoints is the currency used in Starwood’s Preferred Guest Program (SPG). SPG is similar to other major hotel frequent stay programs. Owners who purchase weeks directly from Vistana are automatically enrolled (if they are not already members) and given Gold-level membership.

Starpoints may be used for hotel stays (no blackout dates), plane tickets (by converting to frequent flier miles or through www.spgflights.com), special experiences, etc. For more information, see http://www.spg.com

Weeks or ownership purchased directly from Vistana may be converted to Starpoints at a fixed exchange rate that is listed in the purchase documents and within an owners account on www.vistana.com/dashboard. Weeks can only be converted every other year (unless a certain Elite level); however, a lock off unit can convert only part of a unit to Starpoints if desired. There may be a fee to convert a week to Starpoints.

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The Final Word!

Disclaimer: This information is accurate to the best of my knowledge. The information is provided for the enjoyment and use of TUG members and guests!

If you have questions, please post them on TUG’s Vistana Signature Experiences Forum, located here: Vistana Signature owners forum! There are many knowledgeable owners willing to help!

Credit and Thanks: About the latest author: “Dioxide45” has been a Vistana owner since 2016 and is a ten year timeshare owner.

Foot notes:

• 1. VSE History
• 2. Starwood History

Come join thousands of other owners on the free Vistana Timeshare owner forums!

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