Best advice you'd give yourself if starting over? (Poll included)

[NightHawk]

As someone new on TUG and yet to purchase my first TS, I'm wondering what you would tell yourself if you could go back in time.
Aside from avoiding retail and trying to get the most points for the least MF, what are some of the best tips you've discovered over the years?
Would you go back and change your "home" location?
Would you buy more/less points?
Would you use RCI more/less often?
Would you sign up for the Hilton credit cards to get more HH points?
Would you attend more/less sales presentations to try and get more free points in your HH account?
Would you use a different company (not use Hilton) for your TS travels?
What would be your ideal starter point/location deal?
Were there upgrades that you wish you had taken, or some you wish you had avoided?

 

[HuskerATL]

We have owned for over 20 years and really enjoy our vacations but, if we were starting over again, we may not do it. Twenty years ago there were less options, today, you can rent from other owners, rent from TS websites, use sites like VRBO, use hotel points and FNCs, join sites like AFVC, SFX, etc. to use properties there. You don't need to buy into a system now to use the properties and when you don't own in a system, you are more likely to use a variety of them.

At a minimum, I would rent weeks from owners for a bit before buying

I would only buy into the system if you want to use the properties in HGV. RCI, DEX, converting to HH, booking cruises/flights/cars, etc. are just extra stuff but the real value is in using HGV. Now, we do use RCI occasionally and DEX EU more and more and do like those options.

 

[escanoe]

If you are going to use RCI a lot, get an RCI trader. I did that about a year into HGVC. There are times when trading HGVC in RCI is a good deal, but that is an exception to the rule.

 

[ljmiii]

Would you go back and change your "home" location?

IMHO HGVC is an excellent system in general, but one of the ways it truly outshines MVC, Vistana, and (to a lesser extent) DVC is that Home Week reservations are generally easy to book. So we LOVE our EOY OF Lagoon Tower ownership at HHV. My understanding is that those who bought HGVC to ski feel similarly.

Another is that in NY and DC (though sadly not the later bHC locations) there is a Home Resort Priority window in addition to the Home Week one. So it is generally quite easy to book reservations aside from Thanksgiving and New Years (which are event weeks at some locations)...and I've been successful both Thanksgivings I've owned NYC.

Would you buy more/less points?

Initially I owned only at HHV and since have expanded to NYC. Thus far my ownership has matched my usage.

Would you use RCI more/less often?

I never use it. Like II (which I have used) I regard it as a depository for points that otherwise would go to waste when 'last minute' changes in planned vacations occur. However, I understand that some people aggressively play the RCI game for certain things (e.g. getting into HCNY and previously DVC).

Would you sign up for the Hilton credit cards to get more HH points?

Absolutely yes. I have both an Aspire and a Surpass because the benefits are complementary, but other TUGgers have multiple Aspires to reap a bounty of FNCs.

Would you attend more/less sales presentations to try and get more free points in your HH account?

Not in a million years. The only time I would attend a sales presentation is if I planned to accumulate resale deeds with an eye to upgrading into a very special deed (e.g. Fixed Penthouse units in NYC or Hawaii).

Would you use a different company (not use Hilton) for your TS travels?

I do...MVC, Vistana, and DVC. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages but I'm a firm believer in buying where you want to stay. It makes life much easier...and it's all your deed actually entitles you to anyway.

What would be your ideal starter point/location deal?

My ideal starter deed would be at a HGVC unit/season/location at which you want to stay for a week at least every other year. If you don't have any of those, low MF/point deeds in Vegas or Craig Lodges in Scotland. If you're willing to make a more significant commitment to HGVC, there are also some good high cost/high point value Penthouse deeds at GI and GW in Hawaii.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

YMMV This is what works for our travel patterns and budget. You may have different locations, budgets and quality preferences.


Would you go back and change your "home" location?
We bought retail 10 years ago and regretted that. We bought resale and have benefited greatly. Currently have 5.5 weeks across HGVC and Vistana because you cannot have just one.

We sold 1 resale VOI to adjust our portfolio to a better one.

Would you buy more/less points?

I am pretty happy with our current mix. Currently playing with Interval International (II) and Vistana SO points that were more recently acquired and may sell a Vistana that we use due to high MF because we are tiring of the location, it is too expensive to trade, and we are on the verge of having too many.


Would you use RCI more/less often?
We have gotten a few gems e.g. Four Seasons Vilamoura Portugal but mostly trade in-system points, DEX and II. RCI has gotten increasingly expensive with resort fees tacked on making in-system trades a better value for the quality. RCI has a lot 3 star resorts including Wyndham vs. HGVC 4 star. Why trade your Cadillac for a VW Golf?

Would you sign up for the Hilton credit cards to get more HH points?

Yes. And we pay MF for these. Great for augmenting trips with extra nights.


Would you attend more/less sales presentations to try and get more free points in your HH account?

Fewer. We were using these to get discounted stays but now realized that with our resale timeshares that trade in II and DEX that we can get better value exchanging and then take HHonors or other offers as they arise at the resort. Pretty high bar for us these days.

Would you use a different company (not use Hilton) for your TS travels?

We own both HGVC deeds and Vistana with SO points and II trading. These systems complement each other with different locations. II trading is valuable to access Marriott, Hyatt Disney properties. SO points is best for in-system Westin and Sheraton trades.


What would be your ideal starter point/location deal?

HGVC Vegas or Craigendarroch Lodges Scotland for HGVC deeds
We also own NYC because we like to go there so would pickup a resale there.

Outside HGVC to complement:
(free) Sheraton Desert Oasis to trade in II for MVC and Vistana if you can vacation for a week at a time. IMHO II Is better than RCI because you can access Marriotts and some Hyatt and Disney.
Westin Kierland (mandatory SO points) for use in the Vistana system (costs money)


If you want to discuss any of these options in detail, please PM me.

 

[HuskerATL]

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[Janann]

Would you go back and change your "home" location?
Would you buy more/less points?
Would you use RCI more/less often?
Would you sign up for the Hilton credit cards to get more HH points?
Would you attend more/less sales presentations to try and get more free points in your HH account?
Would you use a different company (not use Hilton) for your TS travels?
What would be your ideal starter point/location deal?
Were there upgrades that you wish you had taken, or some you wish you had avoided?

I don't have answers to every question, but here are some:

I'm happy with the home location (HGVC on the Boulevard, Las Vegas) because it is generally regarded as a good value in terms of the maintenance fees. I've never stayed at the resort.

We use RCI almost all the time. I know this isn't a popular strategy, but I like the flexibility of borrowing HGVC points. We can also stay for a partial week at RCI points resorts.

We attend a sales presentation at least once a year, usually in Las Vegas. We like the HH points with three nights in a one bedroom at the Elara for about $110.

My biggest regret is that we paid retail many years ago. Searching for advice on the internet wasn't really a thing back then.

 

[jp10558]

For the ones I can answer, answers below:

Would you go back and change your "home" location?

Yes - I got suckered into FL via the broker and for a lot of this stuff I can get help from TUG but it's hard to really "know" till I actually use it a bunch.

Would you buy more/less points?

Possibly I'd buy none. I've now gone to Ocean Enclave, Ocean Oak, McAlpin, Flamingo, and MarBrisa. I feel very little desire to go back to any of them, though McAlpin would top the list due solely to location. That said, I mostly would want to go there for warmer weather during winter, and the MF to week is 2-3 times what I can get Weston for in RCI extra vacations which while many would consider a "worse location" has about as nice weather and more amenities IMO.

Would you use RCI more/less often?

Probably about the same.

Would you sign up for the Hilton credit cards to get more HH points?

I did this well before having a timeshare, and the Hilton Honors / credit cards got me to do HGVC "first" as it "felt safer". For me, it probably was a mistake.

Would you attend more/less sales presentations to try and get more free points in your HH account?

Most likely not.

Would you use a different company (not use Hilton) for your TS travels?

YES. I think I would have been happier with an additional $2k a year in Wyndham most of the time - they just have more locations, and places I want to go back to, and places closer to me. They have locations in FL that I think are comparable to HGVC.

What would be your ideal starter point/location deal?

I probably would say Las Vegas or Scotland. Kind of depends on if you want to combine the Amex Aspire for Hilton Hotels when you're not doing TS or not. If so, Las Vegas gets you the MF resort credit use. Otherwise, I think Scotland gets you HGVC or RCI or II or DEX on any given year, so by far the most flexible.

EDIT: I'm not saying HGVC isn't good, I'm saying I'm not sure it fits me that well. While many said - Make Sure HGVC locations are where you want to go - it's also important to make sure HGVC is the *type* of TS you like to stay in. I'm finding I really don't love the tower / elevator based ones that are most HGVC.

 

[elaine]

• Would you go back and change your "home" location?
  • No, we have a resale floating week at Eagles Nest. I have no issues reserving a week-maybe not a prime spring week, but we knew that going in and use it in the fall, which has worked well. We pay a bit more in annual fees, but it's worth it to have a Marco home week. We use our home resort 2/3 years.
• Would you buy more/less points?
  • I'd not hesitate to buy another HGVC just for staying at HGVC, if we were traveling to timeshares and the locations worked. But, we have DVC for Orlando, only occasionally go to Hawaii, and never to Vegas. We cruise more now, so have actually divested 2 other TS as our vacations changed.
• Would you use RCI more/less often?
  • We used RCI for 15+ years; trading worked well. DVC switching to II greatly diminished our usage of RCI. Plus, we now do not need larger units as kids are adults. I also don't want to book a year out (to get the "good stuff") anymore. We divested the other 2 TS and now only (rarely) use RCI for extra vacations.
• Would you sign up for the Hilton credit cards to get more HH points?
  • No, HH points don't seem worth it--takes too many points. Marriott points work better for us.
• Would you attend more/less sales presentations to try and get more free points in your HH account?
  • Nope, not worth our time at this point.
• Would you use a different company (not use Hilton) for your TS travels?
  • DVC for Orlando, Marriotts for cash sometimes in Orlando/Wllbg, HGVC cash for Williamsburg, VA. Also use II/RCI getaways.
• What would be your ideal starter point/location deal?
  • Either straight HGVC points (esp. if I was fine with Vegas, MB, Orlando for at least 1/2 trips), or a home base where I'd go at least 2/3 years.
• Were there upgrades that you wish you had taken, or some you wish you had avoided?
  • I don't know what the upgrades are--but if it's MAX, trust points, airline tickets, etc.--I don't see the value.

 

[Alohamary]

As someone new on TUG and yet to purchase my first TS, I'm wondering what you would tell yourself if you could go back in time.
Aside from avoiding retail and trying to get the most points for the least MF, what are some of the best tips you've discovered over the years?
Would you go back and change your "home" location?
Would you buy more/less points?
Would you use RCI more/less often?
Would you sign up for the Hilton credit cards to get more HH points?
Would you attend more/less sales presentations to try and get more free points in your HH account?
Would you use a different company (not use Hilton) for your TS travels?
What would be your ideal starter point/location deal?
Were there upgrades that you wish you had taken, or some you wish you had avoided?

We have owned over 20 years in Hawaii. One original from Hilton, and one on resale. We have used at least 1 home week every year except a few, two that we gave to kids for honeymoons and they chose different RCI places, and during Covid. It has worked great for us. I'd do it again. Resale is the cheaper way to go - but I don't know what if anything happens to you if you just own resale.... someone else likely knows that. I think no difference, a home week is still a home week . We've stayed in Miami, Hilton Head, Charleston, Carlsbad and Las Vegas as well. The only reservation I had a hard time getting was Hilton Head. It looks to me like Hilton always uses their right of refusal on that one.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

what you would tell yourself if you could go back in time

nothing new
"different people have different situations. don't try to "follow the crowd" just because it works for them"
But then, I'm a fairly recent owner and not trying to optimize the bleep out of these.

Oh, the other thing I DID tell myself that I still think was/is right
"Don't rely on RCI. Don't "buy a trader" and then get into the situation of "only OK vacations that took a lot of effort""
TSs we own = "v good vacations that took almost no effort & save 33% or more"
RCI ?=? "only OK vacations that took a lot of effort ... but saved 50%"? count me out
but back to the top
"different people have different situations."

 

[jp10558]

"Don't rely on RCI. Don't "buy a trader" and then get into the situation of "only OK vacations that took a lot of effort""
TSs we own = "v good vacations that took almost no effort & save 33% or more"
RCI ?=? "only OK vacations that took a lot of effort ... but saved 50%"? count me out
but back to the top
"different people have different situations."

Though one thing (at least for me) is RCI Extra Vacations are really great for ease / price / value. FOR ME. YMMV. I've been trying to use II for exchanges and TBH I think exchanging is a right PITA - or at least a lot of more uncertainty. My II "Trade" Strategy may have been a mistake - only time will tell, and I probably won't "know" till 2027 once I've either gotten or failed to get a Hawaii exchange and can compare a Branson exchange. I get the feeling RCI in trading has the same kind of issues - you are waiting months and months to see if an OGS matches or not, and the stuff for "instant exchange" often isn't compelling.

Extra Vacations are "chose from a reasonable list" IMO however. You do have to set the expectations properly but for MANY locations, including Orlando where I own Seaworld - just paying in Extra Vacations if I wanted to go back to Orlando makes a lot more sense and is cheaper. It also is great for a lot of other locations in shoulder or "off" seasons.

Which TBH also feels a lot like the "realistic exchanges" to me.

 

[pedro47]

Read TUG Help and Advice Section Three Times before your purchase a timeshare.

 

[ljmiii]

Read TUG Help and Advice Section Three Times before your purchase a timeshare.

I read this and couldn't help thinking..."There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home!" ;-)

 

[alwysonvac]

Best advice you'd give yourself if starting over?

1. One size doesn’t fit all. What works best for someone else, may not be best for you and your family.
2. Nothing is forever. Your travel needs/wants will change over the years like car types/sizes and home types/size.
3. Don’t hold onto a timeshare that no longer works for you. Instead replace it with a better fit. Yes, breaking up is hard to do especially when it worked so well for you in the past.
4. Don’t make assumptions based on a brand name or resort designation (Gold Crown). All resorts are not created equal. Always do some research ahead of time to avoid surprises and/or disappointment.
5. Expect resale prices to decrease as maintenance fees increase.
6. Don’t put all of your vacation dollars into timeshares. Give yourself the flexibility to choose how and when you want to visit a destination (cruise, escorted tours, home rentals, etc).
7. Know that the rules of the game can change at any time and not always in your favor.

 

[kanerf]

Actually use my RCI points from other timeshares to book into HGVC. I can often pick up a week in DC for about 35,000 points.

 

[elaine]

Nothing is forever. Your travel needs/wants will change over the years like car types/sizes and home types/size.
Don’t hold onto a timeshare that no longer works for you. Instead replace it with a better fit. Yes, breaking up is hard to do especially when it worked so well for you in the past.

So, ALWAYS think exit strategy! That (mud/off-season/not top location/older) TS week that you got free might be harder to get rid of later. I stick with something that's high demand, like summer East Coast beach weeks, etc. (and we thought we'd keep them forever). But, kids got older, vaca plans changed, and RCI trading became a chore. So, we easily divested to a new happy TUG owner.
Now, if that off-season is associated with points, like Wyndham, etc., then analysis is a bit different (but remember-you still got those Wyndham points for pennies). For HGVC, it appears that lower season (with higher maintenance fee ratios) and EOY weeks can be not as popular and harder to sell. Good luck!

 

[dayooper]

Would I do something different with my ownership? Probably not. We were introduced to HGVC from friends and longtime owners. We were blown away with the size and comfort of the unit we stayed in. They said we shouldn’t pay retail and look into resale and that’s when we found TUG. We have two Vegas deeds that we bought resale and are very happy with those. The points work for us now, but can see a time where we could use more.

Funny thing is, the property that got us all ex tied about the system is both my wife and mine’s least favorite of any we have been to (The Boulevard). We would stay there again, but prefer other resorts more.