Craigendarroch Lodges Purchase

[Filmcraft]

Greetings All! I'm new here but have already learned so much.
Bottom line up front: My wife and I have recently retired and want to spend most of our time traveling, we are interested in purchasing several Craigendarroch Lodge weeks.
Background: We were gifted 6 weeks at the Kalia Suites by a family member a few years ago and we love it. It's not a good deal, LOL, considering the maint. fees/points... but we love it and occupy the entire 6 weeks now. Earlier, we had trouble using all the points, as I was on active duty and stationed in Germany. So we travelled around trying to stay at HGVC locations in Europe (Craigendarroch Lodges in Scotland, Vilamoura in Portugal and Borgo alle Vigne in Italy). We enjoyed all of these locations and if the price/value was right I would consider owning and occupying at all of these locations. Looks like Craigendarroch is a pretty good deal. Our weeks are resales, so no Elite, no Max. But we see the value in Elite. Max? Well, not sure yet.
Have a few questions for the group:
1. Anyone have any good or bad experiences renting their lodge through the onsite folks there?
2. The current Autumn Specials list is on their sales webpage, just wondering how these these prices compare to sales in years past.
3. We plan to purchase several weeks and occupy...maybe once or twice a year, we have family in the UK. The remainder of HGVC points we would use elsewhere (probably Hawaii). I know the Coylumbridge changeover has been mentioned here, but I still have concerns. Any pessimists out there want to talk me off of a ledge?
4. Purchasing through the onsite Craigendarroch folks seems fairly easy and straightforward. Any other recommendations of properties that have an onsite sales center (not Hilton retail, just onsite resales) with decent to good fees/points ratio? I ask this because a.) the gifting a deed to a family member process seemed difficult and b.) we've never purchased, nor do we know where to really look for, a resale.
5. Has anyone purchased Craigendarroch with the intention of traveling there every year to find out they are completely bored after a couple of years?
6. Last question. We are only considering platinum weeks, anyone have week 52? Christmas in Scotland sounds great... but Christmas anywhere sounds pretty good, right. Wondering what the rental demand is for week 52?
Thanks!

 

[GT75]

I moved your question and started a new thread.

 

[GT75]

I will try to answer a few of your questions:

6. Of course it all depends upon the calendar week (and Craig has different check-in dates also) but I thought that week 52 is typically New Year's week. Sometimes it will be Christmas week. Either way, I don't think that it will matter. I have a TUG friend who owned Christmas week there and rented it. The rent covered the MFs and the sales office handled the rental. I believe that they took 20% of the rental (or some percentage because that might be the amount which they take for selling the TS).

4. I don't know of another place with both easy-to-purchase (low price) and low MFs/points. Florida gulf properties has the first part (IMO) but I would only recommend purchasing there with the intent to use it most years.

@HuskerATL, I expected you to weight in on this thread.

 

[HuskerATL]

We own many weeks there but can only answer a few of your questions since we have not stayed there. We use these points to stay at other places but will stay there some day. It is just a longer trip from the US.

They are very easy to buy through...actually much easier than in the US with deeds. There it is a Certificate of Holiday so you don't have all the closing fees, just a legal fee. Andrew, is the sale's person there and very easy to work with. There is often more for sale than what is on the website so email him and tell him exactly what you are looking for and what is for sale. For example, in my last purchases there, the ones that he sent me were not on the website. It is very easy paperwork, just sign a few pages, wait 2 weeks since they have a required 2 week cooling off period where either the seller or buyer can back out, then call Donna a pay....with the Hilton Aspire card so that you get the 14x HH points for the purchase plus the $250 resort credit...if it is still available that year.

We have not used the rental services so I can speak to that but it is an option so it trading the week in II versus HGV. They also have owner only auctions for weeks but most are crappy weeks....like silver or bronze....maybe a gold one or two.

We have less concerns about a Coy situation because the Lodges share property with the Suites that are owned by HGV and they share amenities. I think, because of that, it is safer.

The only roll of the dice is the exchange rate but since the MFs are quite a bit lower than US ones, even if the exchange rate goes crazy..it is still pretty safe...in my opinion.

 

[HuskerATL]

I expected you to weight in on this thread

You knew I would....

 

[drucifer]

I've stayed a week there but haven't purchased there (yet?)

It's a great spot to escape the heat of summer, and the Scottish countryside in July is spectacular. I'm not so sure I'd be there at Christmas unless I had a lot of relatives in the UK that could join me. Even so, I'd be more inclined to be skiing at the Italian Dolomites, Zermatt, or maybe Laax.

 

[Filmcraft]

Great input folks! My only real concerns moving ahead (and we are moving ahead with this) is fluctuations in the £/$ exchange rate, as mentioned, and any future changes with the property's relationship with HGVC, also mentioned.

A few more questions for the group:

1. Anyone have any info on the last few years MF increases, just trying to gauge it.
2. Are renovations here addressed by special assessments paid by members or addressed by the MF increases?
3. Any experience with Lodge 94 "The Darrochshiel"... the virtual tour is impressive and a gold week week is available. The MF/points is probably the worst on the property though. A platinum week here would be great to occupy with family.

I thought that week 52 is typically New Year's week. Sometimes it will be Christmas week

According to their calendar, "Depending on the Lodge number, week 52 commences on the 22nd or 23rd December each year" as week 51 is "Retained for Maintenance"... so, looks like guests are well into their lodge and undisturbed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

They also have owner only auctions

Is that through an owners'/members' portal or something similar? Just wondering if there was a venue to communicate with other members, for the purposes of trading weeks one year or renting direct. Say for instance I found the folks who had Lodge 94 on my Birthday, etc.

Thanks Again for the comments... this is fun!

 

[GT75]

1. Anyone have any info on the last few years MF increases, just trying to gauge it.
2. Are renovations here addressed by special assessments paid by members or addressed by the MF increases?

For MFs (increases), you can find that information in the MF Sticky (there are links to previous years). I don't recall any SA. I predict that 2024 MFs for Craig will follow the British inflation rate (larger than US).

2023 Hilton Grand Vacations Maintenance Fees

* Please limit this thread to only the MF specifics and take discussions/commentary to the discussion boards. Thank you! * Owners, please report your Weeks MF's as they are billed (NOT proposed/estimated) in this format: Resort Name/Unit Size Operating Fee Reserve Fee Property Taxes (or note...

tugbbs.com

Is that through an owners'/members' portal or something similar?

yes

 

[SmithOp]

Check Free Timeshares forum, @ScottishTSOwner is gifting some Craig weeks.

 

[HuskerATL]

I would try to get a platinum week, if possible, since they have the best MF/pt unless you plan on staying there every year, then rent for the specific lodge.

Yes, there is a owner's website, https://www.craigendarroch.com/, and internally, once a year there is an auction and there are internal swaps.

This is from the websites and owners can click on these to go to those portions.

BTW, I sent you a private message.

 

[Sully0316]

Great input folks! My only real concerns moving ahead (and we are moving ahead with this) is fluctuations in the £/$ exchange rate, as mentioned, and any future changes with the property's relationship with HGVC, also mentioned.

A few more questions for the group:

1. Anyone have any info on the last few years MF increases, just trying to gauge it.
2. Are renovations here addressed by special assessments paid by members or addressed by the MF increases?
3. Any experience with Lodge 94 "The Darrochshiel"... the virtual tour is impressive and a gold week week is available. The MF/points is probably the worst on the property though. A platinum week here would be great to occupy with family.


According to their calendar, "Depending on the Lodge number, week 52 commences on the 22nd or 23rd December each year" as week 51 is "Retained for Maintenance"... so, looks like guests are well into their lodge and undisturbed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.


Is that through an owners'/members' portal or something similar? Just wondering if there was a venue to communicate with other members, for the purposes of trading weeks one year or renting direct. Say for instance I found the folks who had Lodge 94 on my Birthday, etc.

Thanks Again for the comments... th

Great input folks! My only real concerns moving ahead (and we are moving ahead with this) is fluctuations in the £/$ exchange rate, as mentioned, and any future changes with the property's relationship with HGVC, also mentioned.

A few more questions for the group:

1. Anyone have any info on the last few years MF increases, just trying to gauge it.
2. Are renovations here addressed by special assessments paid by members or addressed by the MF increases?
3. Any experience with Lodge 94 "The Darrochshiel"... the virtual tour is impressive and a gold week week is available. The MF/points is probably the worst on the property though. A platinum week here would be great to occupy with family.


According to their calendar, "Depending on the Lodge number, week 52 commences on the 22nd or 23rd December each year" as week 51 is "Retained for Maintenance"... so, looks like guests are well into their lodge and undisturbed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.


Is that through an owners'/members' portal or something similar? Just wondering if there was a venue to communicate with other members, for the purposes of trading weeks one year or renting direct. Say for instance I found the folks who had Lodge 94 on my Birthday, etc.

Thanks Again for the comments... this is fun!

Old thread but reading up on stuff from Craig…I own week 31 (Aug 1 - 8) at Darrochshiel. Not sure when your birthday is or if it’s still of interest to you. Let me know if you want to discuss using it sometime. The MFs are higher but we owned 3, platinum 3-bedroom units at Craig and were trying to get to Elite Premier. Buying another 3 bedroom @ 13440 points was just short so it was worth it to get Darrochshiel to get us over the top in a single additional purchase AND because we feel we’ll actually use the week in that beautiful lodge from time to time.

 

[GT75]

Darrochshiel.

Can you post the MFs in our MFs Sticky?

2025 Hilton Grand Vacations Maintenance Fees

* Please limit this thread to only the MF specifics and take discussions/commentary to the discussion boards. Thank you! * Owners, please report your Weeks MF's as they are billed (NOT proposed/estimated) in this format: Resort Name/Unit Size Operating Fee Reserve Fee Property Taxes (or note...

tugbbs.com