Considering HGVC Resales

[potsticker1]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are considering buying our first timeshare. I've read through all the stickies and gotten as educated as possible on the resale market and if we decide to proceed, we will certainly buy on the resale market. A little about our family:

• We're a family of 3. My wife and I are in our mid-30's and we have a 1-year old baby.
• We like to travel to family friendly places (Hawaii, Orlando, South Carolina, Las Vegas, etc).
• We enjoy traveling with our friends and family (parents, siblings, etc).
• We currently live in Southern California.

I had considered purchasing HGVC several years ago before being married but didn't feel it suited my lifestyle as a single. However, now that we have a kid, a hotel with a kitchen and some extra space is critical and timeshares seem to be able to offer that. Additionally, since we enjoy traveling with larger parties, being able to book a larger suite (2bd/3bd) is attractive.

A few questions that I couldn't find answered or found dated information for:

• How far in advance do I need to book? I figure this is destination dependent, so let's take Hawaii as an example. If I want to stay at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Feb 2022, is booking now (3 months in advance) too late? Or would I need to book 9 months out? I searched on the Hilton.com site and saw availability - but I don't know if this is a different inventory classification.
• Do club members get charged the resort fee? I found older posts that said "no", but want to confirm.
• Because we do like to travel in groups, can we secure an additional room for cash or points+cash?
• We are looking at 3,400 points - is that enough? We prefer to travel during off-peak times but that may change once our kid(s) are school-aged. Rather than staying a week at a destination, we'd probably want to stay 3-4 nights.

Thank you in advance for providing answers and advice. Would love to hear everyone's thoughts, and definitely from those who are in a similar life stage.

 

[brp]

Welcome! Glad you found us prior to buying

Some basics (and others will fill in more details):

Resale and direct owners are treated the same in terms of fees and booking windows. No difference except the savings

For Hawai'i, I can speak to Hawai'i Island, ut not Oahu. For BI, booking is pretty easy. We can book at 276 days as we're not owners there (and even owners have to wait until 276 days out if not booking a whole week). We typically don't do it right at that time and have had no problems getting what we want. Vegas is also easy. Orlands has a lot of locations, so likely really easy as well.

Cheers.

 

[SHG]

1. Generally you need to book 9 mos in advance. This is particularly true for Hilton Hawaiian Village. Some other less propular resorts will have availability at 3-6 mos out...
2. Note: Availability on Hilton.com is NOT a reflection of what is available to book as a timeshare owner. This is totally different inventory.
3. Club members do not pay the resort fee.
4. You can book an additional room, but only using the amount of points that you have. You can only use cash for booking at 30 days out. So this represents left over inventory.
5. 3400 points will book a 1 bedroom in non-peak season, but you will not be able to book an extra room, nor a 2 bedroom.

I have answered your current questions, but generally speaking, for people to offer help to beginners, they are asked to respond to the 12 questions at the link below....

"What to Buy" Questions for New Timeshare Owners | Timeshare Users Group Discussion Forums (tugbbs.com)

 

[GT75]

Welcome to TUG. We have some great HGVC TUG members who are all willing to help. So always feel free to ask your questions. We may not have all the same opinion because of different perspectives, but that of course is the wonderful thing about humans and also HGVC system. After all, if we all like the same thing then we would all book the same which certainly won't be good.

How far in advance do I need to book? I figure this is destination dependent, so let's take Hawaii as an example. If I want to stay at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Feb 2022, is booking now (3 months in advance) too late?

I agree with previous comment, you really need to book HHV at 9 month mark, especially Lagoon Tower(LT). LT books quickly because it has one of the lower room point requirements (eq, 2Br - 7000 and 1Br - 4800 pts with views requiring more pts.)

Do club members get charged the resort fee? I found older posts that said "no", but want to confirm.

No

Because we do like to travel in groups, can we secure an additional room for cash or points+cash?

I would answer no. The club does allow you to book open season (<30 days) using cash but this is only left-over availability and pricing isn't very good for this option.

We are looking at 3,400 points - is that enough?

I would say NO. I would recommend looking at around 7000 (others TUG members, please give your opinions here) because I think this is a very good starting number of pts. I assume that you will have a growing family thereby needing more room in the future.

 

[potsticker1]

Thanks! I've read many posts where people wished they'd bought more points - so I am definitely seriously considering a higher point total. The only thing is, we likely can never travel for 1 week at a time. We'd stay 3-4 nights max. Looking at the point charts, it seems that you can get a 2 bedroom for 800-1200 points/night during Platinum season M-Th? I guess it'd be cutting it kind of close with only 3,400 points.

 

[GT75]

How far in advance do I need to book? I figure this is destination dependent, so let's take Hawaii as an example. If I want to stay at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Feb 2022, is booking now (3 months in advance) too late? Or would I need to book 9 months out? I searched on the Hilton.com site and saw availability - but I don't know if this is a different inventory classification.

Honestly, booking exactly when the club season booking window opens (usually at 276 days before check-out for most resorts) works best. If you book later, then you will only get the left-overs. Anyways, here is some sample availability screen shots on availability for February.

 

[GT75]

Thanks! I've read many posts where people wished they'd bought more points - so I am definitely seriously considering a higher point total.

You can purchase a lower point deed first. You could always add another deed later if you need more points. This is a perfectly good option.

 

[SHG]

Thanks! I've read many posts where people wished they'd bought more points - so I am definitely seriously considering a higher point total. The only thing is, we likely can never travel for 1 week at a time. We'd stay 3-4 nights max. Looking at the point charts, it seems that you can get a 2 bedroom for 800-1200 points/night during Platinum season M-Th? I guess it'd be cutting it kind of close with only 3,400 points.

potsticker, have you taken a look at the question from the previous link I posted?? Please review and answer those questions.

Also, why are you limited to less than 1 week?? You never get a full week of vacation time???

 

[brp]

potsticker, have you taken a look at the question from the previous link I posted?? Please review and answer those questions.

Also, why are you limited to less than 1 week?? You never get a full week of vacation time???

Well, can't speak for the OP. For us, we get quite a bit more and 1 week, but never travel for a week at a time. This is by choice, not any limitation. so the point-based system of HGVC that lets us do a few days is a necessity.

Cheers.

 

[potsticker1]

potsticker, have you taken a look at the question from the previous link I posted?? Please review and answer those questions.

Also, why are you limited to less than 1 week?? You never get a full week of vacation time???

Sure, I think I answered most but I will answer:

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where? No, nowhere on a regular basis. We like visiting different places.

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time? Trade - we like the flexibility of going to different places.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations? Hawaii, Orlando, South Carolina, Las Vegas, etc

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself? 4 to 6 people.

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule? Can travel any time for the next 4-5 years. After that, will likely be locked into a schedule.

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance? Yes.

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time? Yes - but we don't like to stay in the same spot for more than a week.

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars? 4 to 5 stars.

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing? I would say shooting in the less than $4k range for the purchase and closing costs.

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year? - $1,500

11) Are you a detail oriented planner? Yes

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do? Yes

 

[potsticker1]

Well, can't speak for the OP. For us, we get quite a bit more and 1 week, but never travel for a week at a time. This is by choice, not any limitation. so the point-based system of HGVC that lets us do a few days is a necessity.

Cheers.

Yep, exactly. We never stay in place place for a week at a time. We also do our fair share of cruising and taking time off for day trips, 1-2 night trips, etc.

 

[potsticker1]

Honestly, booking exactly when the club season booking window opens (usually at 276 days before check-out for most resorts) works best. If you book later, then you will only get the left-overs. Anyways, here is some sample availability screen shots on availability for February.

View attachment 42373View attachment 42374

Thanks for this - this is helpful!

 

[alwysonvac]

Here’s a link to the 2021 Point Chart and Open Season Rates for all locations
https://d1m2ucn09z2f8d.cloudfront.net/static/documents/7131a677-57b3-47da-9709-c8a63f3f3b20/HGV Points Open 2021-4.pdf

 

[SHG]

Well, based on your responses to the questions, I would say you are definitely a good candidate for a Hilton timeshare!!! ( I guess you already suspected that)

So, the next question might be, where would you like to own?? It is normally suggested that you purchase somewhere you might go to every year. Living in So. Cal, this could mean some of the So Cal resorts (there are 3), or even Vegas (there are 5).... Have you given this any thought?

 

[HuskerATL]

Just to add, since you are a new family and unless you plan on home schooling, you will have the same breaks as everyone with kids for many years so keep that in mind. 3,400 will get you a 1 bedroom gold season or 5,000 a two bedroom. For the most part, family break times are gold and platinum seasons. You can look at the season/week charts to see them. I would get 5,000 minimum, if it is in your budget so that you have options for a 2 bedroom or longer time in a 1 bedroom. If you do get Hawaii, get platinum season. Also, consider where your family likes to be the most to determine a purchase or just go for one with the cheapest price/maintenance and use your points at other places. Our first purchase in 2003 was 5,000 gold points at Tuscany Village in Orlando because we had kids that liked the parks but the reality is that we have used other places much more than Tuscany and the Orlando resorts don't have the cheapest maintenance. If you just want points, get cheap MF/purchase price but if you have a favorite place that you know that you want to be each year or every other year, get one there but be deliberate about the points and season.

 

[potsticker1]

Well, based on your responses to the questions, I would say you are definitely a good candidate for a Hilton timeshare!!! ( I guess you already suspected that)

So, the next question might be, where would you like to own?? It is normally suggested that you purchase somewhere you might go to every year. Living in So. Cal, this could mean some of the So Cal resorts (there are 3), or even Vegas (there are 5).... Have you given this any thought?

Great question! Honestly, I was thinking a location with the cheapest MF. So I guess that'd be Las Vegas or Orlando. I read the only advantage for having a home resort is being able to book 12 months out - and to be honest, we generally plan 6-9 months out. Not 12.

 

[GT75]

It is normally suggested that you purchase somewhere you might go to every year.

That is correct if the OP is planning to use their Home Week booking window. Based upon the OPs response, it doesn't sound like they are. So if they are going to always book during club season, then I would suggest purchasing a unit with both the cheapest price and lowest MFs (which Vegas is a good option)

 

[SHG]

Generally speaking, the cheapest MF's are some of the Vegas weeks. However, there can be a trade off between lower MF's and purchase price..... Some of the Orlando weeks are really cheap to purchase and are only a little bit more expensive than Vegas....

 

[elaine]

get a resale 5k points. 3400 will be too limiting. If you want to go to HHI, SC in the summer, you'd probably need to own there. MB tends to have good availability. Orlando almost always has capacity at one of the resorts, so no need to own there. BI HGVC has decent availability, but you really should guess on a date and book at 9 months out and then modify/change later. As long as it's more than 61 days out, there's no extra charge. For where you want to travel, HGVC will work very well.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I would also recommend that you ALWAYS purchase a platinum week, so you MF per point will be the lowest.

so you want minimally a 7000 point 2 BR, or a 4800 point 1 BR. The problem with 5000 and 3400 point weeks is that they are GOLD season and the MF is the exact same as the Platinum but you get less points. If you plan on owning more than 5 years then buy Platinum NOT Gold, Avoid Silver and Bronze at all cost.

Now there is even some Plus units in places that have the same MF as a regular unit, so finding those would be even better, why because year over year you pay the same MF as other units in your size, but you get more points. Not all resorts have this, but Elara does and some Kingsland units do. So it is worth figure out where the sweetspots are.

 

[SHG]

I would also recommend that you ALWAYS purchase a platinum week, so you MF per point will be the lowest.

so you want minimally a 7000 point 2 BR, or a 4800 point 1 BR. The problem with 5000 and 3400 point weeks is that they are GOLD season and the MF is the exact same as the Platinum but you get less points. If you plan on owning more than 5 years then buy Platinum NOT Gold, Avoid Silver and Bronze at all cost.

Now there is even some Plus units in places that have the same MF as a regular unit, so finding those would be even better, why because year over year you pay the same MF as other units in your size, but you get more points. Not all resorts have this, but Elara does and some Kingsland units do. So it is worth figure out where the sweetspots are.

I agree with this assessment. Good advice.

 

[potsticker1]

Thanks everyone. The callout about investing in a Platinum week makes a lot of sense. Another option I'm considering is starting with a 3,400 deed and then adding on an EOY deed later on. The reason is I feel somewhat pressured to use all 5k or 7k annually (possible burden to use). But, I would feel very comfortable going on a longer/bigger vacation every other year. I suppose I could also gift it to my parents or in-laws - I'm sure they'd appreciate going somewhere.

 

[GT75]

The reason is I feel somewhat pressured to use all 5k or 7k annually

Is Las Vegas and/or Carlsbad, CA drivable from your location? The problem with HGVC is currently not enough locations but to me, it is nice to have some drivable options. For me, the SC resorts (actually Orlando is also drivable but I have never been to those) are drivable (7-8 hours). This gives you options.

 

[WIHuck]

You will need 7000 points minimum. You can get into a two bedroom, as seen in the screen shot, for 12,000 points by burrowing points from the next year into the current year. Once you take a trip you will be hooked and want to go every year. Owning is great reminder to take your family on trips as much as you can because the kids grow up quickly!

 

[elaine]

You can Bank/borrow points. You don’t have to use 5000 per year. It’s $126/year to bank. Free to borrow.