Cruise Exchange

[terces]

I'm sure this topic has been pounded to death, but I am having a hard time finding threads on it. I have an extraordinary number of points to use up this year and the USA where most HGVC resorts are that we are interested in, is the only North American country excluding those who cannot partake of the injections, so we as Canadians are looking for ways to spend out points and the idea of a Mediterranean Cruise has come up. Is it a ridiculous waste of points and are there any ways to use points more efficiently than others when booking a cruise?

 

[dougp26364]

I don’t think there’s any way more efficient than another. For the most part, I’ve found the value of using timeshare points for anything other than timeshare stays to be around 50% of the MF’s paid.

We have booked cruises in the past using timeshare, including using HGVC points. We may be doing this again in the next couple of years using our Marriott or HGVC ownerships because CoVid has us scrambling to use everything we own.

 

[WIHuck]

The only ridiculous waste of points is not using them.

 

[alwysonvac]

The only ridiculous waste of points is not using

I honestly would hate to lose any points but you also want to keep in mind your total out of pocket cost for those remaining points to determine if it’s worth the time, effort and additional cost to try to use them.

Here are some options that I can think of

If you‘re flexible with your travel dates, consider RCI to trade back into HGVC, BHC and HCNY resorts. Of course there will be additional fees (RCI and resort fees). You can also trade into Disney, Wyndham, Shell, Grand Pacific and some other resorts if you can travel non-peak. However all weeks, resorts and unit sizes may not be available for exchange so it’s best to investigate first and ask questions about historical availability for resorts you’re considering. I suggest having a plan before going down this path due to exchange availability and additional fees.

Take a look at Honors hotel bookings. It might give you a better bang for the buck if you use them for higher priced hotel rooms. You’ll have to compare HGVC cruise vs Hilton hotel options. There are frequent discussions on Flyertalk regarding the best options for Honor rewards.

Also consider trips with friends and extended family or possibly gifting trips to extended family.
I’ve taken several timeshare trips with extended family (Dad, siblings, niece/nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends). I’ve also gifted timeshare accommodations to extended family members for trips to Orlando, Oahu and Disney.

Another option is private exchanges for future trade in 2024 or 2025 (of course you’ll want to make an arrangement with a TUG member who has been on here a while since this involves a significant level of trust). I’ve done private exchanges with TUG members as well.

 

[SmithOp]

A Med Cruise from Alberta is going to incur additional costs in airfare and onboard spend. We have always found much better deals for cruises with the online discount sites.

What about Mexico? There is another thread here using points for the Vidanta locations, much closer than the Med.

 

[alwysonvac]

Forgot to mention the tip to converted current year’s ClubPoints to Honors points.
It’s been years since I’ve converted ClubPoints into hotel points but this trick should still work.

THE TIP: Make a hotel reservation with current year’s ClubPoints and then cancel the hotel reservation a few days later which will make your Honors points available for future use.

Currently there are two ways to use Club points for Hilton Hotel reservations.

(1) Request a hilton hotel reservation using current year’s ClubPoints (at a lower conversion rate) via HGVC Club Member Services.
NOTE: Clubpoints can not be returned to your HGVC account if you cancel your hotel reservations. They will be refunded as HHonors points.

(2) Request a conversion of your ClubPoints the year before which "will be deposited into your HHonors account early the following year
NOTE: Once the HHonors points are in your HHonor account you can make hotel reservations.

 

[terces]

A Med Cruise from Alberta is going to incur additional costs in airfare and onboard spend. We have always found much better deals for cruises with the online discount sites.

What about Mexico? There is another thread here using points for the Vidanta locations, much closer than the Med

Forgot to mention the tip to converted current year’s ClubPoints to Honors points.
It’s been years since I’ve converted ClubPoints into hotel points but this trick should still work.

THE TIP: Make a hotel reservation with current year’s ClubPoints and then cancel the hotel reservation a few days later which will make your Honors points available for future use.

Currently there are two ways to use Club points for Hilton Hotel reservations.

(1) Request a hilton hotel reservation using current year’s ClubPoints (at a lower conversion rate) via HGVC Club Member Services.
NOTE: Clubpoints can not be returned to your HGVC account if you cancel your hotel reservations. They will be refunded as HHonors points.

(2) Request a conversion of your ClubPoints the year before which "will be deposited into your HHonors account early the following year
NOTE: Once the HHonors points are in your HHonor account you can make hotel reservations.

What is the advantage of option (1)? Is there a better conversion rate than the current 16:1?

 

[SmithOp]

What is the advantage of option (1)? Is there a better conversion rate than the current 16:1?

The only advantage of option 1 is you have longer to make the conversion, you can use current year points right up until they expire. The 16:1 option is only for next year points before Jan 1.

There is a list of resorts that get 32:1, bHC. The list is in the rules document.

In looking this up I just noticed a change in the 2023 rules, we can only convert biennial now. It was every year.

"ClubPoints may be converted into Hilton Honors points on a biennial (every-other-year) basis (including owners of biennial interests) at the current ratio of 1 ClubPoint to 16 Hilton Honors points, for a fee. For example: 5,000 ClubPoints = 80,000 Hilton Honors points."

 

[alwysonvac]

	Hilton Honors Conversion for Following Year Use	Current Year Hilton Honors Hotel Reservations.
All HGVC owners (see exception below)	Members may convert any or all of the next year’s allotment of ClubPoints into Hilton Honors points on a biennial (every-other-year) basis (including owners of biennial interests) at the current ratio of 1 ClubPoint to 16 Hilton Honors points. For example, 5,000 ClubPoints = 80,000 Hilton Honors points. ClubPoints will be deposited the first week of January of the following year.	Members may confirm a Hilton Honors hotel reservation for travel by December 31 of the current year, using any number of their current year or next year’s allotment of ClubPoints, which will be converted at the ratio of 1 ClubPoint to 13 Hilton Honors points. For example, 5,000 ClubPoints = 65,000 Hilton Honors points. HGVC Elite Plus and Elite Premier can convert at the standard rate of 1 to 16 Hilton Honors points. For example, 5,000 ClubPoints = 80,000 Hilton Honors points.
EXCEPTION ClubPoints associated with ownership interest at one of the below resorts Penthouse owners at Grand Islander & Grand Waikikian By Hilton Club (BHC) resorts listed below West 57th Street The Residences The Central at 5th The District The Quin Bay Forest Odawara The Beach Resort Sesoko Elara, a Hilton Club Liberty Place Charleston La Pacifica Los Cabos	Conversions of the entire annual allotment of ClubPoints attributable to their Home Week receive an increased conversion rate of 1 to 32 Hilton Honors points. For example, 5,000 ClubPoints = 160,000 Hilton Honors points. Conversions for less than the entire allotment may be made at the standard rate of 1 to 16 Hilton Honors points.​ For example, 5,000 ClubPoints = 80,000 Hilton Honors points.	RULE IS THE SAME AS ABOVE

Additional Rules listed in 2023 Club Rules

• Conversion rates are subject to change without notice. A non-refundable conversion fee applies.
• Converted points will be deposited into the Member’s Hilton Honors account the first week of January of the following year.
• Increased conversion rates may be offered to owners at select resorts or in connection with special promotions from time to time.
• Once ClubPoints are converted to Hilton Honors points, the transaction is final and points may not be converted back to ClubPoints. The converted points are then subject to the Hilton Honors Program Terms and Conditions and all transactions using Hilton Honors points must be made by contacting the Hilton Honors Reservations and Customer Care or by visiting hiltonhonors.com.

Here’s the 2023 Rule posted in the 2023 Club Fee thread

2023 Club Rules and Fees

Hi @GT75 I don’t plan to add anything else for HGVC. Please add the Hilton Club of New York documents to the new sticky thread either as post #1 or perhaps create a new post #1 with links to prevent it from getting buried in the new sticky thread. ;) Hopefully someone else will volunteer to...

tugbbs.com

 

[alwysonvac]

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