Favorite international HGVC?

[SNS02]

We keep saying we want to check out one of the international locations (Scotland, Italy or Portugal) when we visit one of those countries. All three countries are on our hit list for next year (likely Late June?? Not sure on timing yet but will be summer).If you have been to those locations or all three, what did you like about them? Worth visiting? What would be good to know about each location? anything else we should consider?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

IMHO you cannot go wrong with any of them. The only one I would hesitate is Portugal because it is a hotel with some HGVC rooms. It's still nice but that's just me. I much prefer Four Seasons Villamoura (not associated with the hotel chain) which you can trade using RCI.

 

[SNS02]

Good to know!

 

[Magus]

I've been to the Tuscany Italy location twice (flying into Rome once and driving up and flying into Milan once and taking a train to Florence then driving) and have been to Craigendarroch & Kenmore Club (Max location) 1x each in Scotland. If you want a food/wine/old history trip, do Italy. If you want castles, scotch and golf, do Scotland. Both are fairly relaxed settings and very beautiful area. Can't go wrong either way. I have not been to the Portugal location so can't comment.

 

[letsgobobby]

We liked Italy - be aware the location is pretty remote, not a bad base for a week of exploring but it is a decent drive to go anywhere. Lucca about an hour Siena further etc.

For me the drawback about Borgo is there is really nowhere to run. The roads are all narrow, windy, and hilly and Italian drivers speed. I didn't see anyone else running for exercise in the countryside and I didn't think it would be safe. I ended up running loops around the Lucca city ramparts and along the river in Florence, both beautiful options - but makes for a long hot sweaty drive home.

On the other hand I did see lots of cyclists in the Tuscan countryside.

 

[rc51]

I've been to both Scottland locations (though the Suites at Craig, not the lodges), Italy a couple of times, and Barbados. Never Portugal, so I can't comment. Loved all of them. Don't be afraid of off-peak for any of them, either. They are plenty lovely in shoulder seasons. For all but Barbados, you will need a car (and you could definitely consider it in Barbados, but taxi was easy enough and it's a small island. If you are going to be doing a trip around Europe, you might also consider open season, especially off-peak they are really easy. Scottland locations and Italy are definitely way out there; be prepared to drive or enjoy your local area.

Barbados is very Caribbean, so if you like that vibe, you will love it. It's a nice property. There are botanical gardens in the island center that you would be an absolute fool to not go see; they are truly stunning.

In Scotland, Balmoral Castle was (for us at least) a must see, and we've been a couple of times now. Inverness is off the beaten track, but absolutely charming. Edinburgh is a dream. If you like fishing, well, go there.

The Italy property isn't a crazy long drive to the Gladiator field (2.5 hours maybe?) and it's through some beautiful countryside, if that's your jam (and it was mine!). All of the little walled cities around the area are amazing, and food is both insanely cheap and super good. People comment that you need an international driver's license (and I've heard some absolute horror stories there, so get it), but I've never been checked any time I went to Italy. Piza is fun, and Lucca was super neat, too. You can day trip to Rome on a train out of Florence, if you are adventurous.

 

[Magus]

International License took me about 10 minutes through AAA - they did not check it for rental in April this year (Florence Italy) - rental guy told me they only check if you get pulled over so should definitely get it.

 

[brp]

International License took me about 10 minutes through AAA - they did not check it for rental in April this year (Florence Italy) - rental guy told me they only check if you get pulled over so should definitely get it.

Yeah, definitely get this...just in case. And be very careful driving into many of these cities as a number have Zona a Traffico Limitato which requires a permit or results in a camera-based fine that goes to the rental agency...passed to you along with fees, of course.

Cheers.

 

[SNS02]

f you want a food/wine/old history trip, do Italy. If you want castles, scotch and golf, do Scotland. Both are fairly relaxed settings and very beautiful area. Can't go wrong either way.

problem is both of those sound lovely ha

 

[PigsDad]

We liked Italy - be aware the location is pretty remote, not a bad base for a week of exploring but it is a decent drive to go anywhere. Lucca about an hour Siena further etc.

For me the drawback about Borgo is there is really nowhere to run. The roads are all narrow, windy, and hilly and Italian drivers speed. I didn't see anyone else running for exercise in the countryside and I didn't think it would be safe. I ended up running loops around the Lucca city ramparts and along the river in Florence, both beautiful options - but makes for a long hot sweaty drive home.

On the other hand I did see lots of cyclists in the Tuscan countryside.

We spent 11 days at Borgo a few years back, and our experience was quite different. First off, I would strongly disagree that you need to drive a long way to do things there. We spent a day in Siena which was great. We also did day trips to Volterra and San Gimignano (both of which I highly recommend and are both less than an hour drive), but the remainder of the days we spent exploring the smaller, local towns in the area, and there was plenty to see. First off, Peccioli and Selvatelle are 5-10 minutes and nice little towns. We also visited the towns of Terricciola, Palaia, Capannoli, Lari, Chianni and San Miniato to name a few. All a very easy drive from Borgo through the beautiful countryside and each had unique, interesting things to see and do. And we never had to deal with traffic or worrying about Zona a Traffico Limitato as you do in larger cities.

Of course, if you need to see the attractions that are always crowded with tourists, then yes, Borgo is remote. But I am of the opinion that you miss out on much, much more only spending time in places where you are herded through like cattle.

Kurt

 

[brp]

We spent 11 days at Borgo a few years back, and our experience was quite different. First off, I would strongly disagree that you need to drive a long way to do things there. We spent a day in Siena which was great. We also did day trips to Volterra and San Gimignano (both of which I highly recommend and are both less than an hour drive), but the remainder of the days we spent exploring the smaller, local towns in the area, and there was plenty to see. First off, Peccioli and Selvatelle are 5-10 minutes and nice little towns. We also visited the towns of Terricciola, Palaia, Capannoli, Lari, Chianni and San Miniato to name a few. All a very easy drive from Borgo through the beautiful countryside and each had unique, interesting things to see and do. And we never had to deal with traffic or worrying about Zona a Traffico Limitato as you do in larger cities.

Of course, if you need to see the attractions that are always crowded with tourists, then yes, Borgo is remote. But I am of the opinion that you miss out on much, much more only spending time in places where you are herded through like cattle.

Kurt

We,, sort of. If one has not spent much time in Tuscany, for example, I think it would be a shame to go there and miss Florence and Pisa. And even there it is very possible to avoid tourists, but some things are worth seeing even if crowded. I mean, there's a reason people visit these things.

I also see the allure of what you suggest, but that might be after having experienced the more glorious and historic sites. Then the small town visits can be grand, especially some of the smaller hilltop towns. But there are different approaches to this based on ones experience with an area and interests. So, yeah, it is possible to see much without a long drive, but not possible to visit many of the grander sites.

Cheers.

 

[PigsDad]

We,, sort of. If one has not spent much time in Tuscany, for example, I think it would be a shame to go there and miss Florence and Pisa. And even there it is very possible to avoid tourists, but some things are worth seeing even if crowded. I mean, there's a reason people visit these things.

I also see the allure of what you suggest, but that might be after having experienced the more glorious and historic sites. Then the small town visits can be grand, especially some of the smaller hilltop towns. But there are different approaches to this based on ones experience with an area and interests. So, yeah, it is possible to see much without a long drive, but not possible to visit many of the grander sites.

Cheers.

I agree with all of that. I think the key is know Borgo is not the best place as a base to visit the big tourist sites in Tuscany. However, it is not true that you need to drive long distances to find fun and interesting things to explore when staying there. If that is your goal, it would be best to stay in those larger cities such as Florence, Pisa, Rome, etc.

Kurt

 

[rc51]

Agreed on all of the above, too. You don't have to drive a long way to enjoy yourself (there's a ton of great stuff under an hour), but you most certainly *will* have to drive.

 

[Magus]

Yeah you'll be driving really with any of the Europe HGV timeshares - Pisa is about 40m from the location, Florence an hour - lots and lots of awesome towns within an hour drive, many of which have been noted here already. The scotland options are also going to be driving to anything generally as well. Balmoral is fairly close to Craig but everything else is going to be somewhat of a drive.

 

[brp]

Yeah you'll be driving really with any of the Europe HGV timeshares

Which is why we've never had an interest in these options for HGVC.

Cheers.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Which is why we've never had an interest in these options for HGVC.

Cheers.

That's the same for us. I agree the are great places to visit in countryside, but most often we prefer to be in the larger cities.

Neither approach is wrong or better than the other, but you do need to know what experience you want.

 

[Magus]

For those that want the big city too - If you have Hilton hotel points too and the Hilton Amex cards, a good way to get the best of both worlds is do 5 nights (5th night free with award points that way) in one of the big cities (London/Edinburgh or Rome / Milan / Florence for example) with your hotel points for free and then however many nights you want in the countryside at the HGV timeshare. This past April, we used 180k Hilton Honor points for 5 nights in Milan and then around 10k HGVC points for a 3 bedroom for a week at Borgo alle Vigne for my wife & I, along with 2 good friends of ours who met us in Italy after a few days in Germany. So all in for 12 nights, it cost me about $700 out of pocket for lodging ($0.07/HGVC point for me) and got the big city and the countryside. We did the same 4 years ago with Rome/ Borgo, and in 2021 in Edinburgh / 2025 London.

 

[rc51]

For those that want the big city too - If you have Hilton hotel points too and the Hilton Amex cards, a good way to get the best of both worlds is do 5 nights (5th night free with award points that way) in one of the big cities (London/Edinburgh or Rome / Milan / Florence for example) with your hotel points for free and then however many nights you want in the countryside at the HGV timeshare. This past April, we used 180k Hilton Honor points for 5 nights in Milan and then around 10k HGVC points for a 3 bedroom for a week at Borgo alle Vigne for my wife & I, along with 2 good friends of ours who met us in Italy after a few days in Germany. So all in for 12 nights, it cost me about $700 out of pocket for lodging ($0.07/HGVC point for me) and got the big city and the countryside. We've did the same 4 years ago with Rome/ Borgo, and in 2021 in Edinburgh / 2025 London.

This is exactly how I like to do it too, now that I'm not living in London anymore, the timezone change is a real chore, so getting a few days in for the city vibe (where late nights aren't that important, because there's a nightlife still) is nice to help adjust before you sit in the countryside super jet lagged.