Starwood Preferred Guest - Westin Maui timeshare prices

I have friends who are about to do the timeshare there. Can anyone tell me how many bonus star pts they were offered and general use timeshare pts and at what price. In there deal they were offered a one week 2 bedroom 1800 sq ft and 70k bonus starpts for $18k but I read someone was offered 90k (but they had another timeshare unit)

Also its 148k staroption pt. How do they convert?

I would strongly suggest that your friend, and anyone else contemplating purchasing a timeshare do themselves a favor and joinTUG, then read, read, read. It will likely save you from making huge mistakes that will cost you $$$.

From their homepage:

The Timeshare User's Group started in 1993 is a self-help organization composed of timeshare owners and other interested parties. TUG provides timeshare owners with an unbiased source of consumer oriented information regarding timeshare resorts and the timeshare concept. TUG collects reviews and ratings on more than 2000 timeshare resorts from TUG Members who have been there and provides this data along with area activities, sites to see and places to eat for member use. Additionally, TUG provides a variety of services (see Site Index) which enhance the Timeshare users' awareness of the current timeshare industry. The quote we hear most from new members is "I wish I had known about TUG before I bought my first timeshare".

BTW- I am a member of TUG, but that is the extent of my affiliation with the group.

-Plat

I would strongly suggest that your friend, and anyone else contemplating purchasing a timeshare do themselves a favor and joinTUG, then read, read, read. It will likely save you from making huge mistakes that will cost you $$$.

I have to agree with Plat. Here are some things to consider - with more detail found on TUG.

(1) There is no reason to pay retail for a timeshare. There are almost always weeks for sale at most properties by people who want out of the timeshare game with a cost that is always below what the resort is charging.

(2) Unless your friends plan to stay at this location, during their week, every year they are going to trade their time. They should consider a lower priced location - prime time week - that they can trade for a week at the Westin through RCI or some other group. Check with the Westin to see what groups they work with. TUG will have information about what locations are easier to trade.

(3) Yearly resort maintenance fees are rising rapidly - especially in Hawaii. We have family members who have been trying to sell their week in Kauai as the maintenance fee is over $1,000 a year right now.

(4) Yes, they will get SPG points and probably Gold status for life, but at what cost. How many nights will they be able to get for the 70,000 points they are getting. About 10 night at a category 4. Even at rack rates you could buy the nights for less.