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Super new to this - basic questions

C

cheesemouse

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Hi - We are in the VERY beginning of researching a HGVC purchase (resale). I have read so much info (especially on this site) but can't figure out how many years a contract is for?

i.e. If I buy a platinum 2br Hilton Hawaiian Village contract for $XXXX, how many years of vacations do I get? Can't find this info anywhere!!!

We have a family of 5 and vacation quite a bit so I'm thinking this could be a decent route for us. But in order to determine the value of a purchase I need to know how many years of travel I'm going to get.

Thanks!
 
The contract lasts forever--or until you sell you or give it away. It's a deed that can be passed on to your heirs.
 
Huh, so it's not like Disney Vacation Club contracts that have an expiration date? So as long as you pay the yearly maintenance fees, you get those yearly points? My very limited knowledge is mostly with DVC but it's so pricey and as our kids get older I doubt we'll go there much, hence the looking into HGVC.

Thanks!
 
Yes, DVC is expensive, but if you buy resale, they hold their value very well. (Sometimes they go up). I wish I purchased it first when they were introduced, but the RTU was what I thought was negative - BOY was I wrong. If I first bought Old Key West when they were introduced in 1991 at $48 per points and sell it today - even at resale, it is more than $48! (Currently they are going in the mid $50 to $60 per point - average)

Hilton if you buy resale value has been fluctuating quite a bit. What you buy it today at resale, may or may not be worth the same as you purchase it. It would depend on how much you buy it for resale.

Also, if you buy in Hawaii as your home resort, take into the account the airfare to get there.

Anything booked other than what is on your deed - specific size, week (or season), will incur a fee to book else where.

DVC at this time has no fees (and can book as little as 1 night). I own both and prefer the DVC system - if you are only traveling to Disney versus HGVClub.
 
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Forever

Hilton deeds last forever. If you don't plan to use it at the Hawaiian village every year you can get a better value with a deed from Vegas or Orlando. Disney is expensive and also not a great value unless you will be going there every year.
 
Like diamonds... FOREVER!

Be sure you want to pay the maintenance fee, FOREVER!

Based on resale prices, the prices haven't changed much over the last few years - I wouldn't expect to profit on a sale (esp. if you buy a non-platinum week or at a resort with lots of resales [Orlando or Karen/LVH Vegas locations).
 
DVC comparsion

Since you're familiar with DVC you might find this comparsion helpful as you begin your HGVC research.

Similar to DVC, HGVC has a home resort booking period (12 months prior to checkout for HGVC vs 11 months for DVC) then everything opens up for booking at any resort (9 months prior to checkout HGVC vs 7 months for DVC).

DVC is a pure point based system. With DVC, there is no minimum night requirement. With DVC, you can book any number of nights at any time including the home resort booking period.

HGVC is a combination of a weeks and points system.

The flexible point based system doesn't apply during the home week booking period. HGVC works like a floating week system during the Home Week window which means from 12 months to 9 months before check-in, if you want to book during the home week window then you must reserve the exact unit size and type in the season that you purchased (studio, 1 bedroom plus, etc) for the full week based on the fixed checkin date at your home resort. There is no flexibility. NOTE: Only points earned in the use year can be used in the home week window. Borrowed, Rescued or Banked points can not be used in the home week window.

HGVC works like a point based system during the Club Reservation window which means 9 months before checkout anyone can book any season, resort (including their home resort), unit size and/or type for any number of days (minimum of 3 nights). This means all HGVC resort owners have an equal chance at booking at any HGVC resort (except NYC W57) during the Club Reservation window.
NOTE: HGVC also offers an online changeable reservation option which allows members to change their reservations online.

In summary, HGVC has three reservation windows:
(1) Home Week window (3 month period begins 12 months prior to check-in and ends 9 months prior to check-in; requires a full week in the unit type and season owned on the designation home Week check-in date)
(2) Club Reservation window (begins 9 month prior to check-out through 1 day prior to check-in; requires a three night minimum; requires a reservation fee)
(3) Open Season Rental Reservation window (cash rentals begin 30 days before check-out through 1 day prior to check-in; requires a two night minimum; available to members for their personl use only). This excludes W57th (which is only available to w57th owners 15 days before check-in) and Grand Waikikian penthouse units (which is only available to Grand Waikikian penthouse owners 30 days before check-in).

Unlike DVC, you can't just add on a minimum of 25 DVC points. If you want more HGVC points, you have to purchase another deeded week to add points to your existing HGVC account. For this reason, some owners choose to purchase larger HGVC point packages instead of several smaller HGVC point packages. NOTE: HGVC Maintenance Fee (MF) is generally based on resort and unit size therefore a two bedroom bronze season owner (2,500 annual HGVC points) may pay the same MF as a platinum season (7,000 annual HGVC points), gold season (5,000 annual HGVC points) and silver season (3,500 annual HGVC points) at the same resort.
NOTE: Hilton manages and operates two club membership programs: Hilton Grand Vacations Club and The Hilton Club. The Hilton Club New York is a RTU (not deeded).

HGVC MFs are lower than DVC MFs. Unlike DVC, HGVC's MF is not all inclusive. The DVC's MFs are higher because it covers the onsite operational and administrative support from the Walt DISNEY WORLD Resort (i.e. member benefits such as resort transportation, package delivery from the parks to the resort, etc). DVC's MFs are also higher because it includes all administrative fees for reservations at the DVC resorts. With DVC, there are no additional club fee and no additional transaction fees (for making reservations at a DVC resort, changing reservations, banking, etc).
NOTE: HGVC SeaWorld and Flamingo Maintenance Fees for the last ten years - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179539

2013 Hilton Grand Vacations Club Program - http://www.2013clubprogram.com/
2013 Hilton Grand Vacations Club Rules - http://www.2013clubprogram.com/content/2013-Hilton-Grand-Vacations-Club-Rules.pdf
2013 Hilton Grand Vacations Club Fee Schedule - http://www.2013clubprogram.com/content/2013-Hilton-Grand-Vacations-Club-Fee-Schedule.pdf
2013 Hilton Club Program - http://www.2013clubprogram.com/content/2013-Hilton-Club-Rules.pdf

I hope this helps.

Good Luck and Welcome to TUG :hi:
 
Hilton Hawaiian Village

Hilton Hawaiian Village (HHV) Info
HHV Lagoon Tower views - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132545
HHV Lagoon Tower Penthouse versus Ocean Front - http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132850
HHV master thread - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95233
Future plans for HHV - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118932

For most HGVC resorts, it's not a problem waiting until Club Season (9 months before check-in) to book except for Oahu where there is more demand than supply so rooms are booked as soon as the Club Season window opens at midnight especially during peak season (July, August and Winter break when the majority of kids are out school). The Lagoon and Kalia tower will book immediately once Club Season begins since these two towers are under the old point structure. NOTE: The new Grand Waikikian Tower is under a much higher point structure.

If you want to visit Oahu on a regular basis and your future travel plans will be based on a school calendar (peak season for family vacations), you have the following choices

(1) buy at the Hilton Hawaiian Village but in order to take advantage of your home resort you would need to book your reservations 12 months to 9 months before check-in in the exact unit size, unit view on the designated checkin day for the full week. Only have to compete with the other HHV owners that plan to stay at their home resort and are tied to a school calendar.

OR

(2) get up at midnight and book your reservation under Club Season as soon as your reservation period begins taking whatever is available in whatever tower is available(during peak season leftovers weeks may not be available in all unit sizes and views and you may have to change rooms if there isn't a single room available for the entire length of stay). At the 9 month mark all owners have an equal chance to book any size unit, in any view for any length of time (3 night minimum) therefore whoever books the quickest gets whatever is available.


For example, when I checked on March 31st this year, the Lagoon Tower @ HHV had no units in any size for any nights between now and October. Starting in early November there were a few nights here and there and a one or two full weeks in December (not XMAS/NYE). The Kalia Tower @HHV was just as bad. The Grand Waikikian didn't have any units as well between now and mid Oct however starting in late Oct/Nov, they had lots of weeks available (not XMAS/NYE). However that too will slowly disappear as folks eventually breakdown and book there with less nights due to the higher point requirement.

Now, the Big Island doesn't have this problem but the HGVC resorts on the Big Island are not beachfront. Most folks want beachfront and/or ocean views which the Big Island resorts don't offer.
 
alwaysonvac -- I'm not the OP but thanks for this breakdown. We own DVC, are just getting into Wyndham and I had been looking at HGVC but I couldn't quite get over the transaction fees for booking during the 9 month window. Your summary was easy to understand and I think we'd be considering HGVC at a later point after our Wyndham resale closes.
 
rjp123 said:
Like diamonds... FOREVER!

Be sure you want to pay the maintenance fee, FOREVER!

Based on resale prices, the prices haven't changed much over the last few years - I wouldn't expect to profit on a sale (esp. if you buy a non-platinum week or at a resort with lots of resales [Orlando or Karen/LVH Vegas locations).
Click to expand...
Theoretically, yes, BUT:

If Hilton lost the rights to the land, which is possible (ie, Waikoloa Beach Club)- your screwed. You own a fractional ownership (1/52) of a condo with no land rights.

If Hilton lost the rights to manage a property that you own a TS at and have a HGVC membership at (ie, Westgate and Marco/Captive) - your screwed. Yes, you still own and have to pay a MF, but you lose your HGVC.

I gave 2 examples, 2 different possibilities, and I'm sure there are more.
 
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alwysonvac said:
Since you're familiar with DVC you might find this comparsion helpful as you begin your HGVC research.

Similar to DVC, HGVC has a home resort booking period (12 months prior to checkout for HGVC vs 11 months for DVC) then everything opens up for booking at any resort (9 months prior to checkout HGVC vs 7 months for DVC).

DVC is a pure point based system. With DVC, there is no minimum night requirement. With DVC, you can book any number of nights at any time including the home resort booking period.

HGVC is a combination of a weeks and points system.

The flexible point based system doesn't apply during the home week booking period. HGVC works like a floating week system during the Home Week window which means from 12 months to 9 months before check-in, if you want to book during the home week window then you must reserve the exact unit size and type in the season that you purchased (studio, 1 bedroom plus, etc) for the full week based on the fixed checkin date at your home resort. There is no flexibility. NOTE: Only points earned in the use year can be used in the home week window. Borrowed, Rescued or Banked points can not be used in the home week window.

HGVC works like a point based system during the Club Reservation window which means 9 months before checkout anyone can book any season, resort (including their home resort), unit size and/or type for any number of days (minimum of 3 nights). This means all HGVC resort owners have an equal chance at booking at any HGVC resort (except NYC W57) during the Club Reservation window.
NOTE: HGVC also offers an online changeable reservation option which allows members to change their reservations online.

In summary, HGVC has three reservation windows:
(1) Home Week window (3 month period begins 12 months prior to check-in and ends 9 months prior to check-in; requires a full week in the unit type and season owned on the designation home Week check-in date)
(2) Club Reservation window (begins 9 month prior to check-out through 1 day prior to check-in; requires a three night minimum; requires a reservation fee)
(3) Open Season Rental Reservation window (cash rentals begin 30 days before check-out through 1 day prior to check-in; requires a two night minimum; available to members for their personl use only). This excludes W57th (which is only available to w57th owners 15 days before check-in) and Grand Waikikian penthouse units (which is only available to Grand Waikikian penthouse owners 30 days before check-in).

Unlike DVC, you can't just add on a minimum of 25 DVC points. If you want more HGVC points, you have to purchase another deeded week to add points to your existing HGVC account. For this reason, some owners choose to purchase larger HGVC point packages instead of several smaller HGVC point packages. NOTE: HGVC Maintenance Fee (MF) is generally based on resort and unit size therefore a two bedroom bronze season owner (2,500 annual HGVC points) may pay the same MF as a platinum season (7,000 annual HGVC points), gold season (5,000 annual HGVC points) and silver season (3,500 annual HGVC points) at the same resort.
NOTE: Hilton manages and operates two club membership programs: Hilton Grand Vacations Club and The Hilton Club. The Hilton Club New York is a RTU (not deeded).

HGVC MFs are lower than DVC MFs. Unlike DVC, HGVC's MF is not all inclusive. The DVC's MFs are higher because it covers the onsite operational and administrative support from the Walt DISNEY WORLD Resort (i.e. member benefits such as resort transportation, package delivery from the parks to the resort, etc). DVC's MFs are also higher because it includes all administrative fees for reservations at the DVC resorts. With DVC, there are no additional club fee and no additional transaction fees (for making reservations at a DVC resort, changing reservations, banking, etc).
NOTE: HGVC SeaWorld and Flamingo Maintenance Fees for the last ten years - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179539

2013 Hilton Grand Vacations Club Program - http://www.2013clubprogram.com/
2013 Hilton Grand Vacations Club Rules - http://www.2013clubprogram.com/content/2013-Hilton-Grand-Vacations-Club-Rules.pdf
2013 Hilton Grand Vacations Club Fee Schedule - http://www.2013clubprogram.com/content/2013-Hilton-Grand-Vacations-Club-Fee-Schedule.pdf
2013 Hilton Club Program - http://www.2013clubprogram.com/content/2013-Hilton-Club-Rules.pdf

I hope this helps.

Good Luck and Welcome to TUG :hi:
Click to expand...

Thanks for this! It was very helpful and a lot of it I didn't realize when I looked at HGVC.

I have DVC and Wyndham, and I think I would need a third TS in a few years to round out my collection. Marriott points system is too new and unknown so I am still looking at HGVC but still find it expensive (even resale) and I can't seem to get over the fees. I am also looking for II vs RCI since Wyndham/DVC are already both RCI.
 
Myxdvz said:
I have DVC and Wyndham, and I think I would need a third TS in a few years to round out my collection. Marriott points system is too new and unknown so I am still looking at HGVC but still find it expensive (even resale) and I can't seem to get over the fees. I am also looking for II vs RCI since Wyndham/DVC are already both RCI.
Click to expand...

I think there is alot of overlap also between your existing timeshares and HGVC. HGVC rocks on Waikiki, but Wyndham Beach Walk is a great property. HGVC rocks on Big Island, but Kona Hawaiian is a lovely property. HGVC has lots of Orlando and Vegas, but so does Wyndham/Disney.

You are correct that Marriott points are prohibitively expensive, and therefore their mini-system is closed to the resale buyer. Buying a Marriott specifically for trading purposes is a little risky in the post DC world.

Worldmark might be a good companion system because they have a terrific mini-system, and the purchase price is not prohibitive.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

Best,

Greg
 
The NY properties in HGVC might be the exception. They do not last forever but expire after a certain number of years.
 
Additional information

Before you purchase, you'll also want to read this old thread that talks about Affiliated resorts vs HGVC resorts and affiliate availability

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134337

NOTE: Per HGVC, an affiliated Resort is a "resort that has entered into an agreement to participate in the Club program provided it maintains our high-quality standards of amenities and service."
 
alwysonvac said:
Before you purchase, you'll also want to read this old thread that talks about Affiliated resorts vs HGVC resorts and affiliate availability

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134337

NOTE: Per HGVC, an affiliated Resort is a "resort that has entered into an agreement to participate in the Club program provided it maintains our high-quality standards of amenities and service."
Click to expand...

In that thread, and some others that are referenced from it, I'm one of the ones who had been vocal about how inconvenient it was to borrow points with an affiliate. I'd like to say that the situation has gotten much better. Yes, it still takes a phone call; but the affiliates are now treated ALMOST the same as HGVC-built resorts.

See the 5th paragraph in my first post in this thread:

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176953

-Bob
 
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