DVC owner, looking to find another timeshare for beach vacations

[GT75]

in looking at some of the resales, the exact same resorts with similar seasons have wildly different prices. I was looking on this site marketplace at Hilton Ocean Oak and one is $1250, others are $10k-$26k. The $1250 is every other year which is fine with me, but the other ones are 10 and 20 times the cost?

First off, it will depend on which season, view and annual/bi-annual. Ocean Oak has 3 room types, Ocean Front, Ocean View and regular (all 2BR). There are several seasons (platinum, gold and silver), but I would think that you would want either platinum(weeks 21-35) or gold (weeks 8-20, 36-47 , 51-52). In general HGVC has been waiving ROFR EXCEPT for SC properties. The developer (Stand) controls ROFR for the SC properties and they have been aggressive (you can refer to ROFR.net). I was able to pickup an OO 2BR OF platinum season a few years ago. It is expensive to purchase there. If you are mainly interested in MB, then you can pick up a cheap LV deed with low MFs or Craig.

We use to go to MB before Ocean Oak opened in 2017. Once it opened, we haven’t been back to MB. We go to HHI now twice a year with a summer family trip and October friends trip.

 

[ilovetrips2024]

First off, it will depend on which season, view and annual/bi-annual. Ocean Oak has 3 room types, Ocean Front, Ocean View and regular (all 2BR). There are several seasons (platinum, gold and silver), but I would think that you would want either platinum(weeks 21-35) or gold (weeks 8-20, 36-47 , 51-52). In general HGVC has been waiving ROFR EXCEPT for SC properties. The developer (Stand) controls ROFR for the SC properties and they have been aggressive (you can refer to ROFR.net). I was able to pickup an OO 2BR OF platinum season a few years ago. It is expensive to purchase there. If you are mainly interested in MB, then you can pick up a cheap LV deed with low MFs or Craig.

We use to go to MB before Ocean Oak opened in 2017. Once it opened, we haven’t been back to MB. We go to HHI now twice a year with a summer family trip and October friends trip.

I’m definitely more interested in HHI and platinum season, but I see your point. There aren’t really “deals” in HHI that I’ve seen so far. If I’m going to have to spend $26,000, I would buy more DVC and just rent on redweek for HHI most likely.

What is LV deed?

 

[Red elephant]

I’m definitely more interested in HHI and platinum season, but I see your point. There aren’t really “deals” in HHI that I’ve seen so far. If I’m going to have to spend $26,000, I would buy more DVC and just rent on redweek for HHI most likely.

What is LV deed?

I exchange my Marriott Ocean Watch gold season which I bought for $2000 for HHI. So far I have gotten Barony in June and Grand Ocean in August. Do this EOY then I go to Myrtle beach the other year. MOW is really nice and the rooms are lovely. Even the gold HHI weeks are expensive and I prefer HHI in spring and fall. Summer too crowded and hot.

 

[ilovetrips2024]

I exchange my Marriott Ocean Watch gold season which I bought for $2000 for HHI. So far I have gotten Barony in June and Grand Ocean in August. Do this EOY then I go to Myrtle beach the other year. MOW is really nice and the rooms are lovely. Even the gold HHI weeks are expensive and I prefer HHI in spring and fall. Summer too crowded and hot.

Thank you! There are some decently priced Grand Ocean resale even platinum season. I guess I’ll have to make a test trip to Myrtle

 

[GT75]

What is LV deed?

Sorry, Las Vegas deed.

If you are flexible with dates, then HGVC Ocean Oak on HHI can be booked during club season but it will require work (starting early and walking the reservation). IMO, Ocean Oak is one (if not the most) difficult HGVC resort to book during club season. But it is also doable, because several of us do it.

 

[ilovetrips2024]

Sorry, Las Vegas deed.

If you are flexible with dates, then HGVC Ocean Oak on HHI can be booked during club season but it will require work (starting early and walking the reservation). IMO, Ocean Oak is one (if not the most) difficult HGVC resort to book during club season. But it is also doable, because several of us do it.

Oh okay, thanks! I see a lot of Las Vegas ones. Is that what a lot of people do? Buy the cheaper contracts and then swap? How far out can you book your non home resort?

 

[Red elephant]

Thank you! There are some decently priced Grand Ocean resale even platinum season. I guess I’ll have to make a test trip to Myrtle

You mean Ocean Watch. Grand Ocean is HHI

 

[Red elephant]

Oh okay, thanks! I see a lot of Las Vegas ones. Is that what a lot of people do? Buy the cheaper contracts and then swap? How far out can you book your non home resort?

I do that with Marriott Grand Chateau it’s an amazing trader in Marriott. I have gotten HHI Barony with the 1 bedroom.

 

[ilovetrips2024]

You mean Ocean Watch. Grand Ocean is HHI

You are right. I have no idea how I even typed that because I was looking at Ocean watch listings lol

 

[elaine]

If you are planning to swap a Marriott for another, that means trading in II. You do get Marriott preference, but it's still not a "given." If you are flexible (any Marriott on the beach in June/July Aug) and you request as early as you can, you're chances are quite good. The more restrictions (only July, only Grande Ocean, etc.) the lower odds of getting a match. So, I'd buy a week where I was happy to stay 50% of the time in case trading some years didn't work out--such as a MB OW week to use if you didn't get HHI that year. Trading power does matter in II, so don't expect a shoulder season non-beach week to pull summer HHI. It might, but I would not count on it. A summer MB OW should be a very good trader--ask on Marriott forum of II trading power for any Marriott you consider purchasing.

With HGVC, it's very similar to DVC. You can book your home resort at 12ish months out (or use a deeded week); at 9 months out you can book any available HGVC week (there are exceptions to some with shorter booking times). In the 9 month booking, points are points, just like DVC for 7 months out--and prime weeks will have limited availability. I think there is decent supply for MB with HHI being much tougher.
Best wishes and let us know what you decide!

 

[AJtraveltime]

Hi all! I have recently started looking into a 2nd timeshare option as we own DVC, but DH would like to do more beach vacations. I have a general understanding, and have been watching some YouTube videos. My top two choices would be Marriott and HGVC, but I am confused why some resales are priced so high? I believe I would need at least 7000 points to do Myrtle or Hilton Head yearly? Am I correct? DVC points are so much lower so I want to make sure I'm understanding. Some HGVC Hilton Head properties are 13440 points for summer season for a week, but it looks like I can buy a deeded option for a LOT less than Marriott ones of 7000 points. Any tips are appreciated!

We have an HGVC 5600 points, home resort LV Flamingo. We were living on east coast for awhile and going to Myrtle Beach occasionally. 5600 points would get us a full week (2bdrm) in the off season (I think 8000-9000 required for summer weeks). Booking shorter trips (3-4 days), and/or 1 bdrm vs 2) we were able to stretch those points into two weeks total. All depends on when you want to use, your flexibility, how far out you book reservations, etc to maximize your nights for allotted points.

 

[ilovetrips2024]

We have an HGVC 5600 points, home resort LV Flamingo. We were living on east coast for awhile and going to Myrtle Beach occasionally. 5600 points would get us a full week (2bdrm) in the off season (I think 8000-9000 required for summer weeks). Booking shorter trips (3-4 days), and/or 1 bdrm vs 2) we were able to stretch those points into two weeks total. All depends on when you want to use, your flexibility, how far out you book reservations, etc to maximize your nights for allotted points.

Good info! Are all points associated with a home resort or are there generic multi-use point with HGVC?

 

[alexinorlando]

For beach vacations my recommendation is actually Wyndham. They have the most resorts on the beach in Myrtle Beach and Florida (the best beaches in my opinion). Lots of availability and very flexible to use. Not as luxurious as the Marriott properties but for the most part all the Wyndham properties are nice, well maintained and well managed.

It’s easy and cheap to buy Wyndham points re-sale with no hoops to jump through and restrictions of use.

If money was no option Marriott points would be needed for the best flexibility and availability for beach trips at the nicest resorts. That option would be a lot more expensive to purchase and more expensive on-going maintenance cost compared to Wyndham.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Wyndham has nothing in Hilton Head. I would not buy Wyndham. It's also a step down from Hilton and Marriott, and if you like luxury, that is the best choice.

 

[jp10558]

Sorry, Las Vegas deed.

If you are flexible with dates, then HGVC Ocean Oak on HHI can be booked during club season but it will require work (starting early and walking the reservation). IMO, Ocean Oak is one (if not the most) difficult HGVC resort to book during club season. But it is also doable, because several of us do it.

I just did it, but TBH I was comparing to RCI Last Calls in late January (which I did this year and enjoyed), and was able to just grab a regular room sitting there for 5,600 pts in mid Feb, which seemed like quite a deal to me. But I'm not someone who needs summer, though I might prefer later than Feb, I expect it'll get ever harder and more expensive.

On the lower end though this is ~ my costs.
However, I was able to use basically 1/2 of my pts for that in Feb, so it was like $675 in MFs (I don't have the best MFs, You could get that to more like $550 if you bought at Craig) plus $150 in club dues. And my purchase price, again not the best, but was $8,000 after everything, though I've amortized that already in the last 2 years vs hotel rooms.

 

[jp10558]

Good info! Are all points associated with a home resort or are there generic multi-use point with HGVC?

Most HGVC is a deeded week at a home resort. That week generates an amount of points. Those points are generally automatically given to you, you have from a year to 9 months IIRC to use all the points from the week to book the home week, and that home week is the deeded unit type at the resort you own at. You can rent out this week also.

OTOH, at 9 months (mostly, NYC has different rules) points are points and you can use them anywhere. But it's not something separate you have to buy.

 

[jp10558]

Okay, well, I think RCI is not going to work for school schedules. Also, trading even in II doesn't work as well when you really need summer and want beachfront.

I wouldn't want much of anything in RCI. Hiltons in RCI have added costs of $25 minimum PER DAY, plus exchange fees of $299.

I find RCI works well for me, but for the cash stays. I did say that it's not going to be the top tier though, which is why the OP probably doesn't want it. I was just commenting that to me the OP may easily be paying 4x for Marriott Beachfront Prime season.

 

[bnoble]

Oh okay, thanks! I see a lot of Las Vegas ones. Is that what a lot of people do? Buy the cheaper contracts and then swap? How far out can you book your non home resort?

You have to make some decisions. In general, you pay more for luxury, certainty, and choices. You pay less if you are wiling to be flexible, have less certainty, and take what is offered from a range "good to great" options.

What matters is what is important to you, not what most people do. I am (mostly) limited to a school calendar, which gives me less flexibility. But, I am happy to choose among many options for those times I can travel, which gives me much more flexibility. I'm also fine with a range of "quality"--Wyndham's resorts are not the equivalent of Marriott or Hilton, but they are perfectly nice for me. So, on balance, a mix of different options work well for me--my portfolio includes a couple of very good but un-branded traders that are dual-enrolled in both RCI and II, plus a pile of Wyndham points.

But if I wanted to know I could stay in a high-end ocean-front condo in South Carolina during peak summer season for sure, this would be at best an okay fit, and probably not a great one.

 

[needvaca]

[Redacted: Please send this as a private message.]

 

[ilovetrips2024]

I just did it, but TBH I was comparing to RCI Last Calls in late January (which I did this year and enjoyed), and was able to just grab a regular room sitting there for 5,600 pts in mid Feb, which seemed like quite a deal to me. But I'm not someone who needs summer, though I might prefer later than Feb, I expect it'll get ever harder and more expensive.

On the lower end though this is ~ my costs.
However, I was able to use basically 1/2 of my pts for that in Feb, so it was like $675 in MFs (I don't have the best MFs, You could get that to more like $550 if you bought at Craig) plus $150 in club dues. And my purchase price, again not the best, but was $8,000 after everything, though I've amortized that already in the last 2 years vs hotel rooms.

Do you mean Craig’s list for buying contracts?

 

[ilovetrips2024]

You have to make some decisions. In general, you pay more for luxury, certainty, and choices. You pay less if you are wiling to be flexible, have less certainty, and take what is offered from a range "good to great" options.

What matters is what is important to you, not what most people do. I am (mostly) limited to a school calendar, which gives me less flexibility. But, I am happy to choose among many options for those times I can travel, which gives me much more flexibility. I'm also fine with a range of "quality"--Wyndham's resorts are not the equivalent of Marriott or Hilton, but they are perfectly nice for me. So, on balance, a mix of different options work well for me--my portfolio includes a couple of very good but un-branded traders that are dual-enrolled in both RCI and II, plus a pile of Wyndham points.

But if I wanted to know I could stay in a high-end ocean-front condo in South Carolina during peak summer season for sure, this would be at best an okay fit, and probably not a great one.

I would say we don’t like “settling” just to go on a trip. We are definitely very restricted in our schedules because of our work and kids school. It definitely sounds like HGVC is the perfect sweet spot of not insanely expensive and still good options. If I think about any hotel I’ve stayed at in last 5 years besides Disney stays in our DVC, it’s a lot of Hilton’s so I guess that means we like the brand well enough. PS hi, I know you from Disboards! Good info.

 

[ilovetrips2024]

I just did it, but TBH I was comparing to RCI Last Calls in late January (which I did this year and enjoyed), and was able to just grab a regular room sitting there for 5,600 pts in mid Feb, which seemed like quite a deal to me. But I'm not someone who needs summer, though I might prefer later than Feb, I expect it'll get ever harder and more expensive.

On the lower end though this is ~ my costs.
However, I was able to use basically 1/2 of my pts for that in Feb, so it was like $675 in MFs (I don't have the best MFs, You could get that to more like $550 if you bought at Craig) plus $150 in club dues. And my purchase price, again not the best, but was $8,000 after everything, though I've amortized that already in the last 2 years vs hotel rooms.

How do you get lower maintenance fees?

I planned to rent points in 2026 to do a trip to the beach (we did this in 2023 at MVC Barony Beach), so this is what got me to thinking why not just buy a contract because it’s going to cost me about half a contract price to rent two 2 bedrooms. Last minute things will not typically work for us due to schedules but it’s nice to know there are options like that.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Do you mean Craig’s list for buying contracts?

People have a tough time spelling Craigendarroch, which is a Hilton in Scotland.

 

[ilovetrips2024]

We have an HGVC 5600 points, home resort LV Flamingo. We were living on east coast for awhile and going to Myrtle Beach occasionally. 5600 points would get us a full week (2bdrm) in the off season (I think 8000-9000 required for summer weeks). Booking shorter trips (3-4 days), and/or 1 bdrm vs 2) we were able to stretch those points into two weeks total. All depends on when you want to use, your flexibility, how far out you book reservations, etc to maximize your nights for allotted points.

Is there a way to see point costs for certain weeks before buying so you have the right amount?

 

[rickandcindy23]

You should join TUG for the measly $15 per year and watch the Sightings forum for exchanges, just to see what you can get with a Marriott.

I am tired of the pushing of Wyndham, a lower-quality resort system that has some nicer resorts, but some are not all that great. Most I would consider to be middle-of-the-road.

But if you are okay with 3 star, it's a good fit. I am not a fancy person, I say as I sit in March for two weeks at the Westin with an oceanfront view on Maui.