[ 2023 ] Hapimag

[alwysonvac]

I wrote to Hapimag today to determine the cost per point for trial members. The point price for trial members is 9 CHF.

Here's a link to their T&C -

https://www.hapimag.com/en-gb/imprint/try-out-hapimag-booking-conditions/

The rep also mentioned the 10% off summer promotion for those who wish to purchase a share (1980 CHF per share instead of 2200 per share).
NOTE: A share is 60 points

 

[alwysonvac]

Has anyone sold or bought Happimag shares via Marketplace?
It seems Hapimag is not involved in the contract between the seller and buyer. I am wondering how the buyer and seller are protected against any scam. I presume they will need to sign a contract between themselves.
Is there any sample contract for this purpose?

There's a transfer agreement (link).

Here's the link to the Help Section for Buying share from members which covers other FAQs.

Hapimag Help Center

help.hapimag.com

Also, here's a link to their marketplace T&C

https://www.hapimag.com/en-gb/imprint/marketplace/

 

[bizaro86]

How are the MF paid for Hapimag? I tried to negotiate a purchase once, but the seller wanted payment via some sort of European money transfer that I wasn't able to accomplish and it sort of fizzled. Can the dues be paid easily via credit card?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Thanks for the information. I may try this out for our next trip since many of the locations are in cities.

 

[alwysonvac]

How are the MF paid for Hapimag? I tried to negotiate a purchase once, but the seller wanted payment via some sort of European money transfer that I wasn't able to accomplish and it sort of fizzled. Can the dues be paid easily via credit card?

It looks like the website and resorts can take credit cards but perhaps @Maple_Leaf can confirm member options.

Hapimag Help Center

help.hapimag.com

 

[4TimeAway]

I own Hapimag and am happy to answer any questions you may have.

Will PM you my contact info.

Is there a reason anyone can think of to not buy Hapimag?

It seems like a RTU and the share should have value at resale.
The costs are not like Last Minute Deals on RCI, but the selection seems better.
This might be a good enough value to be better than Air-BNB and Hotels in terms of rooms and total cost.

Just seeing if I'm missing something.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Do you need to commit to a week at a time? What is the minimum stay requirement?

What is availability like? Do you need to book popular destinations at midnight 14 mos prior?

What is the exit plan? If you cannot sell (or too complicated for your heirs to sell in Europe) can you deed it back or walk away? or is a "share" only good for 5 years and expires?

 

[alwysonvac]

From page 40 of the 2023 Annual Report - https://assets.ctfassets.net/tzyjn3...apimag_Annual_Report_2023_English.pdf#page=40

 

[alwysonvac]

Do you need to commit to a week at a time? What is the minimum stay requirement?

What is availability like? Do you need to book popular destinations at midnight 14 mos prior?

Try it yourself. No login required to check availability.

https://www.hapimag.com/en-gb/s/

 

[Maple_Leaf]

It looks like the website and resorts can take credit cards but perhaps @Maple_Leaf can confirm member options.

Hapimag Help Center

help.hapimag.com

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View attachment 98271

I pay my annual maintenance by sending an electronic transfer to a Hapimag Swiss banking number. I pay local resort fees using a credit card at the resort.

 

[Maple_Leaf]

Do you need to commit to a week at a time? What is the minimum stay requirement?

What is availability like? Do you need to book popular destinations at midnight 14 mos prior?

What is the exit plan? If you cannot sell (or too complicated for your heirs to sell in Europe) can you deed it back or walk away? or is a "share" only good for 5 years and expires?

You can book as little as a one day stay. Popular destinations need to be booked early and you can be added to a wait list in case of cancelation. Hapimag buys back shares and also provides a marketplace for owners to sell shares. Shares don't expire.

 

[bizaro86]

I pay my annual maintenance by sending an electronic transfer to a Hapimag Swiss banking number. I pay local resort fees using a credit card at the resort.

Hmm. That sounds like something that would be difficult/expensive for me to actually do.

 

[Maple_Leaf]

Hmm. That sounds like something that would be difficult/expensive for me to actually do.

If you can electronically pay USD fees to a US company you can pay CHF fees to Hapimag.

 

[Maple_Leaf]

Hmm. That sounds like something that would be difficult/expensive for me to actually do.

I checked the most recent invoice. Hapimag also takes payment at their secure website by credit card.

 

[Tacoma]

I have a Wise prepaid credit card which I suspect would work for the payments. If nothing else their exchange fees on foreign currencies are very minimal. I recently paid a $750 US charge. PayPal took Wise and it saved me $38 Canadian compared to paying by my bank. It holds up to 20 foreign currencies. During last years trip to Australia we didn’t touch cash once. I absolutely love it.

 

[Maple_Leaf]

Is there a reason anyone can think of to not buy Hapimag?

It seems like a RTU and the share should have value at resale.
The costs are not like Last Minute Deals on RCI, but the selection seems better.
This might be a good enough value to be better than Air-BNB and Hotels in terms of rooms and total cost.

Just seeing if I'm missing something.

Just be aware this isn't bargain basement travel. European travel at this level is expensive. We found Hapimag to be good value for money.

 

[Maple_Leaf]

I have a Wise prepaid credit card which I suspect would work for the payments. If nothing else their exchange fees on foreign currencies are very minimal. I recently paid a $750 US charge. PayPal took Wise and it saved me $38 Canadian compared to paying by my bank. It holds up to 20 foreign currencies. During last years trip to Australia we didn’t touch cash once. I absolutely love it.

I use Wise to make my payments and manage the CAD to CHF exchange.

 

[bizaro86]

Is there a reason anyone can think of to not buy Hapimag?

If you weren't planning on going to Europe frequently enough to use the points. They last for 5 years so as long as you go every couple of years you're probably OK, but of course there are other costs with going to Europe (flights, etc). They don't allow rentals of units so that safety-valve for unused time isn't there, although you can rent your points to other owners I believe.

I'm seriously considering it but with kids I generally need a 2 bedroom unit (what hapimag calls a 3 room apartment). That is in considerably lower supply in their system, and some locations I'd be interested in (eg Amsterdam, Edinburgh) don't have them at all.

Offsetting that is that with the 5 year expiry we could easily use all 5 years on a longer trip every 5 years. And then it only implies like 2 trips before our kids are gone, and then shorter 1br trips with just my wife and I would be way easier.

 

[4TimeAway]

If you weren't planning on going to Europe frequently enough to use the points. They last for 5 years so as long as you go every couple of years you're probably OK, but of course there are other costs with going to Europe (flights, etc). They don't allow rentals of units so that safety-valve for unused time isn't there, although you can rent your points to other owners I believe.

I'm seriously considering it but with kids I generally need a 2 bedroom unit (what hapimag calls a 3 room apartment). That is in considerably lower supply in their system, and some locations I'd be interested in (eg Amsterdam, Edinburgh) don't have them at all.

Offsetting that is that with the 5 year expiry we could easily use all 5 years on a longer trip every 5 years. And then it only implies like 2 trips before our kids are gone, and then shorter 1br trips with just my wife and I would be way easier.

The ability to rent points is also helpful. 60+120=180.

The costs don't seem that bad.

 

[alwysonvac]

Just a heads up... last minute Hapimag rentals can be found on various 3rd party sites (Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com, etc)

For comparison

​

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Terrific info @alwysonvac I wonder how close in these "Last minute" rentals are to check-in? Difficult to be last minute when it comes to European travel.

Question not just for @alwysonvac: Does Hapimag trade in an exchange like II? RCI or DEX?

 

[alwysonvac]

Point Requirements and Local Service Charges can change. Here's an example.
I found older Hapimag point charts (2022, 2021).
For Hapimag London, I noticed Season A points per night and local charge changes (see comparison below). I didn't look at the other resorts in the linked pdf.

Hapimag London from 11/2021 thru 10/2022

Hapimag London from 11/2022 thru 10/2023

Hapimag London from 11/2023 thru 10/2025

 

[alwysonvac]

Terrific info @alwysonvac I wonder how close in these "Last minute" rentals are to check-in? Difficult to be last minute when it comes to European travel.

It probably depends on the resort/season/current occupancy rate.

For example, I found dates in Expedia for Sept, Oct, Nov, and Dec at Hapimag in Edinburgh but those months are not prime season (Season A).

Question not just for @alwysonvac: Does Hapimag trade in an exchange like II? RCI or DEX?

Just search the resort directory for each exchange company.

 

[alwysonvac]

As the Hapimag fiscal year-end approaches on April 30 it is an opportune time to purchase extra points that expire after April 30. For example, a London check-in say April 25 2024 can utilize these points that expire April 30 even if the stay extends into May. I just purchased extra points that expire April 30 for EUR 1.30 per point. I made the reservation using 2025 points but after the points purchase these 2024 points I just bought were automatically substituted into the reservation for the 2025 points. With the points marketplace Hapimag has created an excellent way for owners to monetize expiring points and for travelers at fiscal year-end to get great deals.

Can you borrow from a future year?
In your quote above, you were able to use your 2025 points to cover your 2024 reservation? If you can borrow, are you required to prepay your annual fee?

Also, if you make a 2026 reservation using 2025 and 2026 points as soon as the 2026 booking window opens on November 1, 2024? Do I need to prepay annual dues first?

View attachment 98493

 

[Maple_Leaf]

I'm not aware of any ability to borrow residence points from future years. However you can buy up to 120 additional residence points from other owners and sometimes you can get great deals on these points.

Remember, when I paid 2024 dues I received 60 points that expire 30 Apr 2029. If you want 2026 points you have to go to the marketplace and buy them.