Hilton - Cancellation Fees

[terces]

More thoughts/questions from our HGVC presentation yesterday....

We were told that there is no cancellation fee charged for cancellations right up to the time of check in at the TS. Is this true?

Also the sales person told us all units are completely refurbished from top to bottom every three years?? Any truth to this one?

 

[presley]

There is no cancellation FEE. You lose points. You do not pay a fee.

The units are not fully refurbished that quickly. They are normally kept up very well. You never know what type of monsters stay in the room before you, though. I once stayed in a room that was only about a month old (the building had just opened) and the couch was torn and there was a very large stain on the carpet. I only mention that because no matter how often they refresh it, people can ruin it quickly.

 

[GT75]

We were told that there is no cancellation fee charged for cancellations right up to the time of check in at the TS. Is this true?

True but you will always lose your reservation fee (if you had one). If you cancel 31 days or more then you will get back all of your points. If you cancel 30 days or less then forfeit percentage of points based on a scale. If you have a changeable reservation, you can change it up the the day before.

 

[terces]

Can you tell me what a "changeable reservation" is?

 

[GT75]

changeable reservation

Most club reservations (those that are typically booked at less than 9 months out) are automatically book as a changeable reservations. There are some exceptions such as Fiesta Americana. Home week and reservations booked with bonus points are automatically non-changeable.

Obviously, a changeable reservations allows you to change it either adding/reducing days or even moving the reservation to another resort/dates/unit etc.

In previous years, HGVC had options (with different fees) to book either a changeable or non-changeable reservation.

 

[Talent312]

When cancelling LT 30 days out, you can avoid losing points by changing your booking to MT 30 days out (within the same calendar year), then cancelling. That's difficult near the end of the year, so you could pay for "point protection" during that time.

What I did:
Moved a November booking that was LT 30 days away to MT 30 in December.
Then reduced it to free up some points.
Then, made a new November booking - no loss of fee, no loss of points.

.

 

[Nomad420]

Most club reservations (those that are typically booked at less than 9 months out) are automatically book as a changeable reservations. There are some exceptions such as Fiesta Americana. Home week and reservations booked with bonus points are automatically non-changeable.

Obviously, a changeable reservations allows you to change it either adding/reducing days or even moving the reservation to another resort/dates/unit etc.

In previous years, HGVC had options (with different fees) to book either a changeable or non-changeable reservation.

Hey thanks, didn't realize bonus point reservations are "non changeable".

 

[hurnik]

True but you will always lose your reservation fee (if you had one). If you cancel 31 days or more then you will get back all of your points. If you cancel 30 days or less then forfeit percentage of points based on a scale. If you have a changeable reservation, you can change it up the the day before.

Sorta (in regards to changing it up to the day before).
Fiesta Americana resorts cannot be changed anymore (this is "new" this year), AFAIK.

Otherwise:
"
If the reservation change uses the same or
a greater number of ClubPoints required
for the stay, the change may be made
up to one (1) day prior to check-in. If the
reservation change decreases the number of
ClubPoints required for the stay, the change
may be made without penalty up to 31 days
in advance of the check-in date. Within 30
days prior to arrival, no changes can be made
and the standard cancellation policy applies."

The odd thing about the above is the stupid last sentence that implies you cannot make any changes in 30 days.
I'm fairly certain that you CAN change 30 days to 1 day prior to check-in provided you use the same or greater # of points.

I don't know if I saved any previous Club Rules from prior to 2017 to see if the same (IMO) poor wording exists.

 

[GT75]

I don't know if I saved any previous Club Rules from prior to 2017 to see if the same (IMO) poor wording exists.

Exact same working in 2016 rules. I am going to start saving them each year now for this exact reason.

 

[GT75]

Hey thanks, didn't realize bonus point reservations are "non changeable".

Your welcome. I have also learned much from the questions & answers.

 

[terces]

Thanks. I asked the question, because it sounded so odd that the sales person would say they are cancellable right up to the minute of check-in without penalty. How could Hilton or anyone run a successful lodging business with that kind of a policy? We discussed this for several minutes and I asked the question a few different ways, but the sales person was adamant that you could cancel anytime. This was one of several items where the truth was not to be had, but thankfully we were well prepared because of our TUG knowledge, and able to stay firm despite some very clever, aggressive and bold selling techniques.

 

[GT75]

but thankfully we were well prepared because of our TUG knowledge, and able to stay firm despite some very clever, aggressive and bold selling techniques.

Always glad to know that TUG has been helpful.

 

[ontilt]

Home week and reservations booked with bonus points are automatically non-changeable.

If you book a home week reservation, can you convert to points and reschedule or cancel it if you pay a cancel protection fee? I wasn't aware that that wasn't changeable.

 

[GT75]

If you book a home week reservation, can you convert to points and reschedule or cancel it if you pay a cancel protection fee? I wasn't aware that that wasn't changeable.

You can cancel up to 31 days prior to checkin date (cancel protection only necessary less than). That is why you will sometimes see inventory available at 6-5 week mark.

 

[Talent312]

Home-Week cancellation penalties (wo/protection) are as follows:
31 DAYS OR MORE - No penalty.
30 TO 15 DAYS - Forfeiture of 25% of points.
14 TO 6 DAYS - Forfeiture of 50% of points.
5 DAYS OR LESS - Forfeiture of 100% of points.

I've been a HGVC member for 10+ years.
In that time, I've never made and do not intend to make, a HW reservation.
The only time I might would be to rent out a week, and I don't plan to do so.

.