Free: Hilton Vacation Club / Diamond Resorts US Collection, 5000 Points

[damian001]

• Resort Name: Diamond Resorts, Now owned by Hilton Grand Vacation
• Resort Location: Hundreds of Resorts around the United States
• Fixed Week / Floating Week / Number of Points (and specify what system): Points - 5000 Each Year
• Frequency (every year? every other year?): As many as you have points for, generally 5000 points can get you about 5 days’ worth of time. (Give or take a day depending on seasonal demand)
• Unit size (ie bed/bath/view): Every location I have stayed has been nice, variable numbers of beds, eat-in kitchens, laundry machines
• Annual Maintenance fees: These are based on your own fees if you already own and do not go up based on my existing fees. My existing fees are currently 1600 a year, and I have racked up $500 in late fees, which I intend to pay.
• Date the annual maintenance fees are due each year (or indicate if paid monthly): Early February
• Date the NEXT maintenance fee bill is due: I need to pay the one I already have for this year, and I intend to do so, otherwise the NEXT one is due February of next year.
• Number of Points and the frequency (every year? every other year?): 5000 Points each year
• Season if applicable (high demand etc): There aren't really limitations on seasons as far as usage goes. Generally, the resorts cost 25%-50% more around holidays. Though ironically scheduling last second tends to yield some savings.
• Exchange Company Affiliation (if any): "RCI"?
• Past trades you have made with this ownership: I haven't traded with anyone, but we originally purchased a "Sampler Plan", then upgraded a couple years afterward.
• Closing Cost estimate (if any): $250 is what Diamond says it costs to transfer an account. I will happily pay for this.

General Comments: First and foremost, I do not want to mislead anyone. Diamond Resorts is an awful and morally bankrupt company. Their tactics for persuading you is full of lies and misdirection. If you do not already own Diamond Resorts, or Hilton Grand Vacations, DO NOT purchase with them. And DO NOT take me up on this offer, it is not worth it. They are predatorial, deceptive, and flat out evil. The manipulation tactics used to try (and succeed) to trick my spouse and I were sickening. I cannot in good conscience hand off this time share to someone not already in the cesspit that is Diamond/Hilton. If you already own and just want more points to hopefully get some value out of your existing Timeshare before the “required, perpetual and potentially 25% yearly increasing” maintenance fees overcome the actual value, I’m happy to give this Timeshare away free of charge. If you are instead someone who JUST purchased Diamond or Hilton and are within the 45-day window of being allowed to cancel your time Share, for the sake of all things good in this world CANCEL YOUR GOODNESS FORSAKEN TIMESHARE and DO NOT try and acquire more (from these companies anyway). If you are super wealthy and want to throw away your money, go buy a boat and pay for it to sit in a dock somewhere.

Edits: Please forgive my ignorance, I've edited this post to include the "home location" where resorts can be requested and the exchange site.

 

[Janann]

• Exchange Company Affiliation (if any): Hilton Grand Vacation's bought out Diamond Resorts, I believe this is what is meant by "Exchange Company". Hilton offers services such as abandoning a TS.

It can be exchanged through RCI.

 

[geist1223]

Resell DRI can only Book directly in its Home Collection not all DRI Resorts/Collections.

 

[damian001]

It can be exchanged through RCI.

Please forgive my ignorance, what is RCI?

 

[damian001]

Resell DRI can only Book directly in its Home Collection not all DRI Resorts/Collections.

I'm struggling to understand what you are communicating here, are you suggesting a company that handles the "transfer"?

 

[geist1223]

No what I am saying is that your Buyer will not be able to Book stays in all hundreds of DRI Resorts world wide. Take a look at your original purchase Contract. It will list which DRI Collection is your Home Collection. So if your purchase was in the US Collection your Buyer would only be able to Book stays in the US Collection and not the Hawaiian Collection. Or if your DRI Home Collection is the Hawaiian Collection the Buyer would not be able to Book into the US Collection.

 

[Nowaker]

I'm struggling to understand what you are communicating here, are you suggesting a company that handles the "transfer"?

They're communicating that you need to disclose what DRI Collection exactly your trust points are part of, because resale DRI cannot book across multiple collections. While you still can (because you bought it retail), the subsequent resale owner will not be able to.

 

[free2travel]

DRI divided the world into geographic areas and your points are desiganted for "Home" to be one of those areas. Which one? USA?

 

[damian001]

No what I am saying is that your Buyer will not be able to Book stays in all hundreds of DRI Resorts world wide. Take a look at your original purchase Contract. It will list which DRI Collection is your Home Collection. So if your purchase was in the US Collection your Buyer would only be able to Book stays in the US Collection and not the Hawaiian Collection. Or if your DRI Home Collection is the Hawaiian Collection the Buyer would not be able to Book into the US Collection.

Thank you!! I will fix that now!!

 

[damian001]

They're communicating that you need to disclose what DRI Collection exactly your trust points are part of, because resale DRI cannot book across multiple collections. While you still can (because you bought it retail), the subsequent resale owner will not be able to.

Thank you!!

 

[damian001]

DRI divided the world into geographic areas and your points are desiganted for "Home" to be one of those areas. Which one? USA?

DRI divided the world into geographic areas and your points are desiganted for "Home" to be one of those areas. Which one? USA?

DRI divided the world into geographic areas and your points are desiganted for "Home" to be one of those areas. Which one? USA?

Thank you! It is the USA!

 

[TUGBrian]

in case you are unable to attract a buyer, note that DRI offers a surrender program that allows you to give this back for a fee.

 

[damian001]

in case you are unable to attract a buyer, note that DRI offers a surrender program that allows you to give this back for a fee.

Thank you, unfortunately that fee is $1000. T.T

The company that I work for offers me complimentary legal services, so if I don't end up finding a peaceful way to part with my time share, I'm hopeful that a rabid group of industry compensated federally oriented lawyers can be of assistance. Though I've recently read over the document that I signed, and I'm fairly confident that even though money isn't a concern with my litigation needs, I'm still stuck.

 

[Nowaker]

The company that I work for offers me complimentary legal services, so if I don't end up finding a peaceful way to part with my time share, I'm hopeful that a rabid group of industry compensated federally oriented lawyers can be of assistance.

They won't be of any assistance. You bought into it, you're now part of it. Don't lose your time on it, it won't work. Get rid of it ASAP for a deedback fee before you accrue more liabilities if nobody wants it. (Though it's highly unlikely anybody will want DRI points)

 

[free2travel]

highly unlikely anybody will want DRI points

seems unlikely to me. If 5000 points get 5 days (does that mean "nights" or is it 4 nights/ 5 days?) worth of time and Annual Maintenance fees for those are currently 1600 a year, that is 30 cents/point and $320/night. $320/night? I don't have a list in front of me but I imagine there are only a few DRI places that are worth $225/night.
How can the value be so bad? Does DRI / HVC provide other fringe bennies that make it less terrible, like free RCI, free exchanges, free massages, free something else?
Or did I do that math wrong?

 

[damian001]

They won't be of any assistance. You bought into it, you're now part of it. Don't lose your time on it, it won't work. Get rid of it ASAP for a deedback fee before you accrue more liabilities if nobody wants it. (Though it's highly unlikely anybody will want DRI points)

T.T I suspect you are correct. That might explain why none of the law firms I have called have called me back... Thankyou for your advice.

 

[damian001]

seems unlikely to me. If 5000 points get 5 days (does that mean "nights" or is it 4 nights/ 5 days?) worth of time and Annual Maintenance fees for those are currently 1600 a year, that is 30 cents/point and $320/night. $320/night? I don't have a list in front of me but I imagine there are only a few DRI places that are worth $225/night.
How can the value be so bad? Does DRI / HVC provide other fringe bennies that make it less terrible, like free RCI, free exchanges, free massages, free something else?
Or did I do that math wrong?

I suddenly feel silly for never calculating this out myself, I'm an Excel fiend. IT'S SPREAD SHEET TIME! *lights the bat signal*

Concerning the term "RCI" is this a timeshare exchange website? I see an rci.com website that seems to imply such. Does that mean that if I hand this timeshare off, the person I hand it off to can't just absorb my points, and instead has to convert it using this service/site? I'll admit, I've been so reluctant to deal with Diamond and in want of getting rid of them, that I haven't actually investigated the value of my timeshare in years.

 

[free2travel]

"RCI" is this a timeshare exchange website? I see an rci.com website that seems to imply such. Does that mean that if I hand this timeshare off, the person I hand it off to can't just absorb my points

Yes. For exchanging. No, in no way mandatory to convert or exchange via rci. RCI is not theh only one. Other exchange sites (II? DEX? others) may be better for exchnging those points. Go to the DRI / HVC forums to see discussions on those others and people's experience with each.
Did I get that right? the annual maintenance works out to about $320/night of room reservation? What size (# bedrm) rooms is that for?

 

[free2travel]

I got curious ...

FAQ of the Diamond Resorts - Read these first!

Admin Edit: Check out our Current Diamond Resorts Owner FAQ and Information page and How to exit or get rid of an unwanted DRI Timeshare The following was written 8 years ago. Since that time there have been many changes to DRI. DRI was purchased 6 other TS systems (or more) and added...

tugbbs.com

Q. How many points would be needed to make an average reservation in a 2 bedroom during "red" season?
a. The average "Red Season" points for a reservation varies by resort. But using about 6500 points for a 2BR should work most times.
(sounds like your est of 1000 pts/night was for a 2 bdrm)
Q. Does my ownership in DRI come with a membership in II?
a. All members of the "club" come with a DRI paid for membership in II. BUT if you buy resale, you must join and pay for your exchange company membership.

If you bought from DRI, it sounds like you have membership in II (interval int'l) not in rci & also DEX.

 

[free2travel]

we originally purchased a "Sampler Plan", then upgraded

you should go to the HVC/DRI forum to see if Diamond owners know if there is any unusual wrinkle to your position

 

[damian001]

Yes. For exchanging. No, in no way mandatory to convert or exchange via rci. RCI is not theh only one. Other exchange sites (II? DEX? others) may be better for exchnging those points. Go to the DRI / HVC forums to see discussions on those others and people's experience with each.
Did I get that right? the annual maintenance works out to about $320/night of room reservation? What size (# bedrm) rooms is that for?

Unfortunately the website is being a pain and not letting me check on how many points it cost for a given room, I suspect because I'm late on paying my fees for this year. But I'll give them a call to get some details, but I'm confident that whatever the value is, it's not great. I originally thought with inflation causing the price of everything to rocket upward that the points would become viable, but I shouldn't have underestimated Diamond's ability to maintain their own interests.

As far as bedrooms go, it's usually just my spouse and I, so we tend to aim for 1 bedroom. But Diamond always has immaculate accommodations... As much as I disdain to complement them, there are several things they do wonderfully. The resort rooms always come with a modern kitchen, washing room, storage area, and free parking. Also the staff treats you differently and the make a real show of it, so it feels high class and welcoming. It's hard to put a price on giving the feeling of having a "luxurious" life, but it is certainly worth something. All of that said, it is not worth dealing with their corrosive sales people. I don't feel like retyping up everything, but pitting spouses against each other, good-cop bad-cop, and holding your deposit ransom and forcing you to stay in their meetings for 8 hours (I am not exaggerating, we once stayed so late we missed breakfast lunch and dinner, and couldn't leave because if we did they threatened that we would have to pay full peak price for our hotel) are just a few of their tactics. Their should be some sort of consumer protection act to force these villains to offer the option to record and make available to the involved customers their encounters. Because the things they promise in those meetings often do not pan out.

*I did some searching, one of the last places I stayed was "Mystic Dunes" in Florida, it was for 3 nights and it cost me 4,250 points according to my reservation history. This stay we had to get 2 bedrooms. I checked the Orlando Mystic Dunes website and found the room. It's a suite, the head says "2 Bedroom 1 King 2 Queens connecting Suite". The living room was enormous, the master bed room was huge and had an equally huge fancy bathroom attached to it. It also had a balcony. That was fairly recently too, so that should give some insight into the costs.

 

[damian001]

you should go to the HVC/DRI forum to see if Diamond owners know if there is any unusual wrinkle to your position

It normally would cause issues, but we transferred out of the sampler plan into a normal plan several years ago. Doing so was a headache.

 

[Nowaker]

seems unlikely to me. If 5000 points get 5 days (does that mean "nights" or is it 4 nights/ 5 days?) worth of time and Annual Maintenance fees for those are currently 1600 a year, that is 30 cents/point and $320/night. $320/night? I don't have a list in front of me but I imagine there are only a few DRI places that are worth $225/night.
How can the value be so bad? Does DRI / HVC provide other fringe bennies that make it less terrible, like free RCI, free exchanges, free massages, free something else?
Or did I do that math wrong?

You did not. That's why I first said "highly unlikely anybody will want DRI points".

 

[TravelJoy]

*I did some searching, one of the last places I stayed was "Mystic Dunes" in Florida, it was for 3 nights and it cost me 4,250 points according to my reservation history. This stay we had to get 2 bedrooms. I checked the Orlando Mystic Dunes website and found the room. It's a suite, the head says "2 Bedroom 1 King 2 Queens connecting Suite". The living room was enormous, the master bed room was huge and had an equally huge fancy bathroom attached to it. It also had a balcony. That was fairly recently too, so that should give some insight into the costs.

Not to add salt to the wound but Mystic Dunes and many others are almost always available in ii getaway deals, MD in Fl. is often $300 for 7n, this is in line with what you and others have already stated regarding value of these points. My vote goes to paying the $1k exit scheme to simply be done with it.