Hawaii update

[linsj]

I did a quick owner's update at the Oahu property yesterday since I had some questions and need honors points offered for the update for a trip next year. The saleslady said they are aggressively offering upgrades to current owners. Apparently, a lot of people who owned at Lagoon and Kalia Towers upgraded to the Grand Waikikian (and maybe Waikoloa), so there are odds and ends of inventory in those two towers. To sell off the units, they are offering discounts and bonus incentives to owners.

She guaranteed it's going to get harder for non-Hawaii owners to book into Oahu (I'm reserving judgment on that remark until after the Waikikian opens and we see how availability goes) and tried to talk me into trading one of my deeds for an EOY oceanview 2 bedroom in Lagoon, but I'm not willing to pay the cost for upgrading.

I learned the following:
* Minimum upgrade amount that Hilton will do is $7,000.
* Hilton now gives 65% credit on resales if you upgrade. They only know what the unit sold for originally. I learned what my resales are worth, which is considerably more than I paid for them even minus the 35% for upgrading.
* Hilton charges $795 (!) closing fee on upgrades +$300 upgrade fee, effectively gaining back a portion of the discount they give.

 

[Bill4728]

That is good to know. Thanks

BUT if someone wanted to buy a week at HHV, IMHO, it would still be a much better idea to just buy a HHV unit resale and not pay the extra cost of buying direct from HGVC.

But it would be less hassle to trade in your current HGVC unit ( in LV or Orlando ect) and buy HHV than to sell your current unit and buy HHV.

 

[pianodinosaur]

I have never had a problem trading into Hawaii and I own all my units in Orlando. There is no question that you can book 1 year in advance instead of 9 months in advance at your home resort. However, most of us in HGVC do not return to the same spot every year. This leaves numerous vacancies every year.

However, if Oahu is your idea of paradise and if you want more points and you want to be assured you will get Oahu when you want it, then go for it. I have not personally met any HGVC owners in Hawaii who have been disappointed. Then decide if you want to purchase directly from Hilton or if you want to purchase resale. If you wish to purchase resale, everything I have ever heard or read about Seth Noth suggests that he is the one to work with.

 

[linsj]

I have no intention of spending more money for Hilton and don't need any more HGVC points. I've been to Hawaii every year since 2002 on my Orlando/LV points, sometimes twice. It'll be interesting to see how availability shakes out after the Waikikian tower opens though.

 

[pianodinosaur]

I would have preferred to see Hilton build a new resort in a different location. They have yet to build an HGVC unit in Maui or Kuai, although they do have hotel resorts on these islands. I would have also preferred them to build in Aruba, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica. This would have opened up more vacancies and given us a wider range of destinations.

Glad to know that you have been utilizing your points and having a good time in Hawaii.