Club Rules

[prosperitylove79]

I have been reading the club rules starting on page 140 of the member guide..

can someone explain to me:

1. How do you know when your home week (I have a platinum points membership in Vegas) is or does it not matter so long as I book my home week 365 days out at my home resort?

2. should I chose not to stay at my home resort in Vegas, and I want to stay at another HGVC, I can start booking 9 months (276 days prior to the check out date)...where does the 9 month start from - January 1 or today??

3. what is the difference between deposit, borrow, and rescue points?

4. depending on the answer to question #3 ..if I have to deposit my points every year ($69) and ($49) to book a club reservation - it is $118 to make a club reservation??

thank you for your help and I'm sorry if these are obvious and I'm just oblivious!

 

[Sandy VDH]

I have been reading the club rules starting on page 140 of the member guide..

can someone explain to me:

1. How do you know when your home week (I have a platinum points membership in Vegas) is or does it not matter so long as I book my home week 365 days out at my home resort?

When you book in HOME week it is anything from 9 months to 12 months out, from TODAY. You are only allowed to book what you own during home week nothing else. So if you own a 2 BR you can ONLY book a 2 BR for a FULL WEEK, nothing else. There is NO fee to book your home week. If you want less than a full week stay you must wait until CLUB season to book it.

In the classic section you have to pick the HOME tab, and it is just a year button you may select. Then you are displayed what Full weeks that are available that you may choose. Again here you can only select a button that corresponds to the week you want. In the new Revolution booking engine, it system will remind you that you need to search for a 7 day stay, and a full week will only appear when you request a check in for the allowed check in days for that resort.

2. should I chose not to stay at my home resort in Vegas, and I want to stay at another HGVC, I can start booking 9 months (276 days prior to the check out date)...where does the 9 month start from - January 1 or today??

Again the 9 months out is from today, and that means your check OUT date is 9 months from day. So Club season is anything from 9 months down to 1 month. So you may have to wait a few days past your checkin date before you are allowed to book, as the remaining days of your stay are not yet available. Some people who want to ensure they get the unit they want without having to wait the extra days have a work around for this, book the start of your vacation and make it a 3 days reservation, then every day go online and change it (at no charge) to add the extra day.

Open season is anything within 30 days. These are available for points or for cash options as well. The price list is on page 147 of the guide.

3. what is the difference between deposit, borrow, and rescue points?

DEPOSIT: prior to the beginning of a use year, you DEPOSIT your points into the next use year. So you have all of 2009 to deposit your 2010 points into 2011. There is a fee for this.

BORROW: your make a reservation in the current year but lack points so you BORROW points from the next year. You lack 2009 points to make the reservation you want, so you borrow 2010 points to complete it. There is NO fee for this.

RESCUE: you rescue any remaining current year points into the next year, they can be used but have restrictions to be used only with HGVC bookings, no RCI, no parters, no HHonors conversion. There is a fee for this. So as 2009 is ending you realize your have points left, you RESCUE those 2009 points and place them for restricted use into 2010 use year.

4. depending on the answer to question #3 ..if I have to deposit my points every year ($69) and ($49) to book a club reservation - it is $118 to make a club reservation??

You do not need to rescue or deposit, these are options if you can't use your current years points, or you don't think you will use next years points. They have a fee, but are optional choices to help you manage your point usage better, by moving points that would otherwise expire, to expire in 1 years time.

If you book your HOME week there is NO charge. If you book anything in Club season there is a $49 reservation fee. All other fees are based on your needs and usage.


Hope that helps.

 

[jestme]

I have been reading the club rules starting on page 140 of the member guide..

can someone explain to me:

1. How do you know when your home week (I have a platinum points membership in Vegas) is or does it not matter so long as I book my home week 365 days out at my home resort?

Your home week reservation is a reservation made at your home resort, in your own season, for exactly the size and type of room you bought. You can make a home week reservation starting from 1 year prior to your check out date. For example, if you wanted the first week in July, then you could book it at the end of the first week in July the year before. But you can wait until later, if you want. The 9-12 month window is for home resort reservations, on a first come first served basis.

2. should I chose not to stay at my home resort in Vegas, and I want to stay at another HGVC, I can start booking 9 months (276 days prior to the check out date)...where does the 9 month start from - January 1 or today??

It starts from 9 months before the check out date you want. Using the above example, to book another resort at the 9 month level for the first week of July, you could book it starting the end of the first week in October, in the previous year. Similar to above, you could wait, if you want. The 9 month - 30 day window is for any resort reservation, on a first come first served basis.

3. what is the difference between deposit, borrow, and rescue points?

There is a thread around that already discusses this in detail.

4. depending on the answer to question #3 ..if I have to deposit my points every year ($69) and ($49) to book a club reservation - it is $118 to make a club reservation??

Every year, typically Jan1, you are allotted points, based on what you purchased. There is no charge for them "depositing" that original allotment of points into your account. Once the points are there, if you want to deposit or rescue them into following years, there is a fee. Borrowing is free.
Charges for club reservations are separate, $49 per reservation, if done online. Also, if done online, they are changeable.

thank you for your help and I'm sorry if these are obvious and I'm just oblivious!

See my responses in blue above

 

[Talent312]

The HGVC system is so flexible that it lends itself to confusion. Then you add a Member's Guide that's as clear as mud, and its no wonder that newbies are somewhat flummoxed.

While the others did a good job of answering your questions, I'm going to throw in a POV.

Your "Home Week" is one-week in the same-size unit during the same-season that you own. The HW-reservation period (12 to 9 months out from the week you want) gives you a head-start over owners at other resorts who get to compete for your home resort starting at the 9 month mark (for a club-reservation). OTOH, you can wait and attempt reservations at other resorts starting at the 9-month mark (from your check-out date).

RESCUE: Let's say that you're an astronaut and heading for the space station. You leave in less than a month, you'll be gone the rest of this year, so there's no way to use your 2009 points. Sometime b4 12/31, you can call or go online to HGVC (ask NASA to connect you) to save your points for use in 2010 with a "rescue" (they'll be restricted to home+club reservations).

DEPOSIT: Let's say that you're in the reserves and your unit will be spending all of 2010 in Afganistan. Since you won't be around to use your 2010 points, sometime b4 12/31, you can call or go online to HGVC to "deposit" next year's points into 2011.

BORROW: If you ever get time to use your points, you check you wallet and find yourself short a few, you can "borrow" points from the following year's account. The online reservation system makes this almost automatic for you.

 

[jestme]

The HGVC system is so flexible that it lends itself to confusion. Then you add a Member's Guide that's as clear as mud, and its no wonder that newbies are somewhat flummoxed.

Flummoxed, (adjective), A timeshare sales term meaning befuddled, deoriented, and defliggered. The absence of organized factual accuracy. Eg: The timeshare sales person flummoxed the customer, purposely.

Great word!

 

[HatTrick]

RESCUE: Let's say that you're an astronaut and heading for the space station. You leave in less than a month, you'll be gone the rest of this year, so there's no way to use your 2009 points. Sometime b4 12/31, you can call or go online to HGVC (ask NASA to connect you) to save your points for use in 2010 with a "rescue" (they'll be restricted to home+club reservations).

Does HGVC make allowances in case your shuttle mission is scrubbed due to a nitrogen leak but you've already gone ahead a rescued your points? :hysterical:

 

[prosperitylove79]

thank you!

I understand the red tape much better now! I appreciate the time everyone took to respond and the colorful analogies that were incorporated into the responses, thanks again!

 

[Talent312]

Does HGVC make allowances in case your shuttle mission is scrubbed due to a nitrogen leak but you've already gone ahead a rescued your points? :hysterical:

You should prob'y wait until you're ensconced in the space station. But you can borrow the points back or set up automatic point-protection in which HGVC will save whatever points remain each 12/31. [See page 143 of the Member Guide] You can do this online.

 

[yungster]

RESCUE: Let's say that you're an astronaut and heading for the space station. You leave in less than a month, you'll be gone the rest of this year, so there's no way to use your 2009 points. Sometime b4 12/31, you can call or go online to HGVC (ask NASA to connect you) to save your points for use in 2010 with a "rescue" (they'll be restricted to home+club reservations).

DEPOSIT: Let's say that you're in the reserves and your unit will be spending all of 2010 in Afganistan. Since you won't be around to use your 2010 points, sometime b4 12/31, you can call or go online to HGVC to "deposit" next year's points into 2011.

BORROW: If you ever get time to use your points, you check you wallet and find yourself short a few, you can "borrow" points from the following year's account. The online reservation system makes this almost automatic for you.

Are there any restrictions on DEPOSITed points? i.e. It's 2009 and I decide to deposit my 2010 points into 2011. 2010 comes along and I change my mind and want to take a vacation. Can I borrow those points back into 2010? or suppose 2011 comes along and I decide not to use the points in that year as well. Can I then convert those points to HHonors points?

Thanks,
-yungster

 

[natarajanv]

Are there any restrictions on DEPOSITed points? i.e. It's 2009 and I decide to deposit my 2010 points into 2011. 2010 comes along and I change my mind and want to take a vacation. Can I borrow those points back into 2010? or suppose 2011 comes along and I decide not to use the points in that year as well. Can I then convert those points to HHonors points?

Thanks,
-yungster

DEPOSITED points can be borrowed back, so in 2010 you can borrow the deposited points.
In 2011, you have option to RESCUE or USE the 2010 points. It cannot be re-deposited or converted to HHONORS.
I believe you should be able to DEPOSIT the 2010 points in 2011 into RCI

 

[Talent312]

... In 2011, you have option to RESCUE or USE the 2010 points. It cannot be re-deposited or converted to HHONORS. I believe you should be able to DEPOSIT the 2010 points in 2011 into RCI

Previously Deposited points cannot be rescued. (Members Guide, pp. 143).
They can only be used, borrowed-back or deposited into RCI.
IOW, no Home or Club reservations after 2011 with points moved from 2010.

 

[natarajanv]

I remember a month back blues has mentioned that he was able to RESCUE his DEOPOSITED points......

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85160&highlight=rescue

 

[Talent312]

I remember a month back blues has mentioned that he was able to RESCUE his DEOPOSITED points......
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85160&highlight=rescue

Blues did say: "I had some points deposited to the next year, and still didn't use them. I thought I'd lose them, but when talking to an HGVC rep, she suggested that I rescue them. I mentioned that they had already been moved once, but she told me that was no problem. And indeed, with the payment of another $69 fee, the points were rescued to the following year." -- That was in November 2008.

The 2009 Member's Guide had not yet been published. "Previously deposited or rescued point are not eligible [for rescue]." (p.143) Perhaps its a new restriction or perhaps the CSR did a no-no.

 

[Blues]

Yep, I certainly did. IIRC, I deposited 2006 points to 2007, and then in 2007 I rescued those points to 2008. I remember the conversation with the HGVC rep clearly. I assumed I was going to lose the points, and was contemplating another way to save them, such as an RCI deposit. She was the one who suggested a rescue. I explicitly pointed out that they were points that had previously been deposited from a prior year, and she cheerily said that it didn't matter. And then did the rescue for me.

Talent's comment seems right on to me. Either the the rules have since changed or the CSR did a no-no.
Edited to add: But if it was a no-no, why did the computer let her do it?

-Bob

 

[natarajanv]

I did confrim myself today by trying to convert my 2009 points to HH which was deposited into 2010 and was told by the CSR that the rules have changed and it cannot be done.

So what Talent312 mentioned was right. Deposited points can be BORROWED or USED or RCI DEPOSITED, but cannot be RESCUED or converted to HH points.

 

[yungster]

So what Talent312 mentioned was right. Deposited points can be BORROWED or USED or RCI DEPOSITED, but cannot be RESCUED or converted to HH points.

I guess they can be used for a Hilton hotel and then cancelled to convert to HH at 20:1, right?

 

[Elsie Mae]

I recently learned about converting our club points to Hilton Honors.
If you converted your 2009 points to HH points before 12/31/08 then you would get 25:1 (points); and the points would not be available to use until 1/1/09.
If you were unsure what to do with your 2009 points as of 12/31/08; so you didn't convert them to HH until after 1/1/09 then you only get 20:1 conversion.
You have to use those HH points (that were converted) before 12/21/09 or lose them. Whereas, the HH points you accumulate on your HH Credit card never expire.

 

[Blues]

You have to use those HH points (that were converted) before 12/21/09 or lose them. Whereas, the HH points you accumulate on your HH Credit card never expire.

Are you sure about this? That's the first I've heard of it. I converted my 2009 HGVC points to HHonors, intending to use them in 2010 or 2011. I'll be mighty mad if they expire.

-Bob

 

[Mcduck]

Once the points are converted to Hhonors they do not expire, per my conversation with the Hhonors rep. Also you can have all the hhonors accounts combined as I had a seperate one that Amex created and that is now linked with my ownership and hotel stays account.

 

[natarajanv]

HH points does not expire as long as you are accumulating points every 12 months. Easy way to do that is to get an AMEX HH Credit card and link it to your HH account.

 

[Sandy VDH]

HH points does not expire as long as you are accumulating points every 12 months. Easy way to do that is to get an AMEX HH Credit card and link it to your HH account.

Had that conversation with my brother last PM. When did HH start having an expiration on points? As HGVC members are we somehow exempt from that? Somehow I missed that memo.

 

[jestme]

Had that conversation with my brother last PM. When did HH start having an expiration on points? As HGVC members are we somehow exempt from that? Somehow I missed that memo.

They have always had that rule. I already had a reservation to go on holiday at a Hilton 13 months after I had had a 16 day hotel stay stay at HHV. I received an email telling me if I didn't stay within the next 14 days my points would expire. In Canada, we cannot get a HHonors points credit card, so it had to be a hotel stay. I called and was to flat out,l sorry, that is the rule. I was "Blue" at the time. Silver HHonors and up do not expire. All HGVC members are Silver by default, so we don't have that problem.

 

[Sandy VDH]

They have always had that rule. Silver HHonors and up do not expire. All HGVC members are Silver by default, so we don't have that problem.

Well that is why my points never expire and I never worried about it. I am Gold because of my HGVC Elite status. So points never expire for status members, I guess that is a nice perk then.