Good primer on NYC HGVC?

[letsgobobby]

We like visiting the city, could see ourselves going every 1-2 year after kids graduate. What's the best place to read up on bHC concept esp NYC properties?

Specifically what are the reservation windows for these as an owner; what are owner only perks; comparison of the different NYC properties; and if bHC points are not used for home resort, how are they used for other bHC properties and what are the reservation windows for these (including other cities like DC)?

 

[GT75]

Hilton Grand Vacations Club Timeshare advice article links and information for owners

Hilton - Hilton Grand Vacations Club HGVC FAQ: HGVC Introduction, primer and FAQ - Updated 2018 Comparison chart of the major Timeshare point systems: Link to Comparison Official HGVC Membership guide: Link to guide HGVC basic point chart for the majority of the resorts: Link to guide...

tugbbs.com

 

[letsgobobby]

what about a direct comparison of the different NYC properties? It seems like 2 of them are new in 2021 so it’s hard to find much info. What’s the story with the owner’s lounge(s)?

For example, at W 57th Plat season it seems like:

• 1 BR = 710 sf is 7200 points
• 1 BR plus = 546 sf on floors 16-20 is 9300 points
• 1 BR premier = 570 sf on floors 15, 21-24 is 12,600 points
• 1 BR penthouse = 718 sf on floors 25-26 is 16,800 points

how good are the views? what are the room layouts like? How do these rooms or this resort compare to those at HCNY, Quin, Central? What are vibes like at the different resorts? What about street noise in the different rooms, on the different floors, at the different resorts?

So on and so on.

 

[brp]

I can speak to W. 57th as we own there.

Views are of the courtyard or North toward the Park with a big building blocking most of it and affording partial park views. The lounge is quite nice with reasonable food choices. The rooms are quite comfortable and quiet (definitely quiet on the courtyard view and quiet enough on the W. 57th view when higher up). Then again, I grew up in New York, so my definition of "quiet" may be different from others.

The W. 57th vibe is quiet, private, intimate. We used to own at HCNY, and the vibe there was very large hotel, hustle-and-bustle, crowded, wait extensively for an elevator.

Cheers.

 

[letsgobobby]

Hilton Grand Vacations Club Timeshare advice article links and information for owners

Hilton - Hilton Grand Vacations Club HGVC FAQ: HGVC Introduction, primer and FAQ - Updated 2018 Comparison chart of the major Timeshare point systems: Link to Comparison Official HGVC Membership guide: Link to guide HGVC basic point chart for the majority of the resorts: Link to guide...

tugbbs.com

So for W57th, does this mean the home week window is the same as for HGVC (12-9 months), then it is open to W57th owners only from 9 months to 60 days; then any HGVC owner 60 days - 1 day? And there is a short term fee for 4 nights or fewer for any reservation regardless of window or where you own?

 

[brp]

And there is a short term fee for 4 nights or fewer for any reservation regardless of window or where you own?

3 nights or fewer. 4 nights has no fee.

Cheers.

 

[letsgobobby]

This is starting to make sense

HCNY is its own separate concept. Does not speak to HGVC at all.

W57th is HGVC, but with a distinct booking window.

The bHC properties are The Residences and the District in DC. Owning there gives you some benefits.

Do you have to own bHC points to reserve at bHC properties?

Where do Quin and Central fit in? They aren't available resale at this time as they are new.

 

[GT75]

W57th is HGVC

Where do Quin and Central fit in?

These are all bHC

 

[letsgobobby]

These are all bHC

Ok then getting warmer! How's this:

HCNY is its own separate concept. Does not speak to HGVC at all.

W57th, Quin, Central, Residences are bHC. bHC is HGVC, but with distinct booking windows for owners vs non owners. bHC owners are entitled to some special benefits such as no cancelation fee. Non bHC owners can book at bHC subject to availability in the distinct windows for club season.

Do bHC owners at one property, say the Residences, get advantages over non bHC owners at bHC properties they do not own at (je, W57th in this case)?

 

[dayooper]

HCNY is its own separate concept. Does not speak to HGVC at all.

I think you can use HCNY points for HGVC and bHC club reservations but only HCNY points can book at HCNY. Can someone verify if this correct?

W57th, Quin, Central, Residences are bHC. bHC is HGVC, but with distinct booking windows for owners vs non owners. bHC owners are entitled to some special benefits such as no cancelation fee. Non bHC owners can book at bHC subject to availability in the distinct windows for club season.

Yes. bHC properties in Las Vegas (top few floors of Elara) Charleston, Los Cabos and the two bHC properties in Japan (Odawara and Okinawa) all have the regular 276 club booking windows. It’s just the urban resorts that have the smaller club reservation windows.

Do bHC owners at one property, say the Residences, get advantages over non bHC owners at bHC properties they do not own at (je, W57th in this case)?

While it doesn’t include The Quin and Central on 5th, here is a great summary created by @alwysonvac that explained the different windows as of 2018.

 

[Smclaugh99]

HCNY does “speak” to HGVC in that HCNY club points can book into any HGVC or bHC properties within the appropriate booking windows for non-owners. The difference is no one within HGVC or bHC can book into HCNY. Club within a Club. Upside is less members to compete for reservations and they have legit 2bedroom options. Downside is MF are higher per point.

Each bHC has its own booking windows with West 57th being the most restrictive. It was technically the “first” by Hilton Club. It was my first purchase and never disappoints - upscale, great location, wonderful and loyal staff. The Residences and The District are linked together and have some reciprocal booking advantages. Same with The Central and The Quin. Where it gets confusing is bHC points are in a separate bucket from HGVC club points but can be used interchangeably at other bHC locations if you own at multiple bHC locations. But as far as I recall, lounge access has always been restricted to owners at those individual properties.

Sean

 

[brp]

Do you have to own bHC points to reserve at bHC properties?

No. HGVC points can be used for bHC properties in the reduced windows.

Cheers.

 

[Cyberc]

Ok then getting warmer! How's this:


..... bHC owners are entitled to some special benefits such as no cancelation fee......

bHC owners are not entitled to any special benefits, we pay the same as everyone else. However we have the option to buy the AI add-on to our membership so we can book as many reservations as we wish without paying any booking fees. If we need to cancel we don't risk the booking fee, however if we cancel less than 31 days out we lose points just the same as other owners.

 

[letsgobobby]

If we need to cancel we don't risk the booking fee, however if we cancel less than 31 days out we lose points just the same as other owners.

What if you shorten your reservation within 31 days (such as 7 to 5 days)? Do you lose those points?

 

[frank808]

What if you shorten your reservation within 31 days (such as 7 to 5 days)? Do you lose those points?

No modifications 60 days or less.

We can cancel 31+ days out and no penalty.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

[brp]

No modifications 60 days or less.

We can cancel 31+ days out and no penalty.

Yup. That's the AI trick since cancel is free.

Cheers.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Another factor to consider with NYC. The Residences and HCNY are both inside the Hilton Midtown property. When Covid shutdown happened owners were at the mercy of the hotel deciding when to re-open and could not use their units. The other NYC HGVC properties did not have this issue.

A future event which could also change cost and access to services is the scenario if the Hilton Midtown sells to another party and becomes another brand. We've seen changes affecting owner rights to use hotel amenities in Marriott in Palm Desert, Aviara in San Diego (4 Seasons), and now Westin Cancun which will no longer be a Westin.

 

[JohnPaul]

Another (minor) factor to staying in either property at the Midtown Hilton (Residences and HCNY) is that they seem obligated as part of the hotel to charge a variety of nuisance fees not at the other NYC properties. Checking a bag is $5 per bag. Receiving a package is $5 to $10. There are fees to use their computer, etc.

 

[brp]

Another (minor) factor to staying in either property at the Midtown Hilton (Residences and HCNY) is that they seem obligated as part of the hotel to charge a variety of nuisance fees not at the other NYC properties. Checking a bag is $5 per bag. Receiving a package is $5 to $10. There are fees to use their computer, etc.

In addition, being one of the (if not the) largest hotels in New York, elevator access can be problematic at times. We owned at HCNY for a bit and did not care for it relative to W. 57th.

Cheers.

 

[letsgobobby]

Well I have a signed contract on an STP at West 57th, so I'll update ROFR whenever I hear back...

Thanks for the all the tips.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

We love W57. The staff is terrific and tries to get to know the owners because unlike other properties, owners actually use and return to the property because bHC MF are too expensive to use elsewhere. Feels like home every time we return.

 

[letsgobobby]

If I bought 52 weeks at W 57th I would pay around $85,800 in maintenance fees. If one could theoretically find 52 STP weeks at reasonable prices and sell them X years from now for what you pay for them today, $7000 per month including amenities and utilities isn't bad at all for a lovely modern studio in that location. It doesn't include a full kitchen but it includes the lounge, as a single person in NYC I could probably do much worse.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I presume $85k in maint fees is good for NYC. You certainly could not buy a full-time condo on that street for the amount of money you paid for the week.

You also get bragging rights that you own (albeit a tiny fraction) on Billionaires Row! Welcome to the club.

 

[brp]

If I bought 52 weeks at W 57th I would pay around $85,800 in maintenance fees. If one could theoretically find 52 STP weeks at reasonable prices and sell them X years from now for what you pay for them today, $7000 per month including amenities and utilities isn't bad at all for a lovely modern studio in that location. It doesn't include a full kitchen but it includes the lounge, as a single person in NYC I could probably do much worse.

Well, sure But think of the reservation walking nightmares on a 365-day reservation

I guess one could book in month-long blocks 9 months from checkout. STP would probably work.

Cheers.

 

[Smclaugh99]

If I bought 52 weeks at W 57th I would pay around $85,800 in maintenance fees. If one could theoretically find 52 STP weeks at reasonable prices and sell them X years from now for what you pay for them today, $7000 per month including amenities and utilities isn't bad at all for a lovely modern studio in that location. It doesn't include a full kitchen but it includes the lounge, as a single person in NYC I could probably do much worse.

I like where your head is at. As I’ve stated in previous posts, my goal has been to accumulate New York properties to use as a pied-à-terre when I get closer to retirement. I’ve been able to do this by adding resales to my retail purchases and “upgrading” along the way. I currently have 3 STP weeks on 2 deeds at W57 (25,200 bHC points), Studio Premier Plus at The Quin (20,160 bHC points) and Hilton Club NY (46,400 points). The 91,760 points would give me just under 11 weeks per year in a studio. The bHC points are one bucket and I can use all of them at The Quin or all of them at W57. I may try to consolidate my W57 weeks for more favorable MF ratio in the future. Again, my approach certainly is not for everybody but I’m pleased with the results thus far.

Sean