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Hello Again

gobears1986

newbie
Joined
Jul 6, 2020
Messages
2
Reaction score
2
Points
13
Location
Northern California
I had anonymously looked around more than a decade ago but finally joined up as we are finally at a place where timesharing could be for us

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?

Mainly Hawaii (we've visited the Big Island, Oahu, Maui and Kauai)

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?

Think we would visit more than half the time - we live in Northern California so Hawaii is fairly easy to get to

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?

Europe, Asia - think my wife and I would like to visit both continents at some point (I did quite a bit of traveling when I was younger - over 20 years ago but would love to go back)

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?

So three kids (one on her own, one in college, one in high school) so five currently - maybe more later

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?

Soon to be not locked into a school schedule

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?

Yes

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?

Yes

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?

At least 4 stars - we like to travel at nice accomodations

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?

$20K - would like to spend less but we wouldn't pass up a good deal

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year?

Think we can handle the MF

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?

Yes

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do?

Yes

So couple of other info points - our oldest daughter has graduated from college this year and her first job will be on the Big Island for at least two years and maybe more - we've stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in the past (the tower that is now being converted into timeshares) and stayed at Kings Land last summer (really enjoyed it)

Leaning heavily towards HGVC currently as it would be fairly close to Kailua-Kona

One other question, when I used to peruse the TUG boards many years ago, I remember how buying South African timeshares was an interesting strategy - how did that turn out?

Looking forward to learning/communicating more about timeshares on TUG - we are now members by the way ($15 is a steal)

Thanks

Andre
 

vacationtime1

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
5,159
Reaction score
2,750
Points
649
Location
San Francisco
Resorts Owned
WKORV-OF (Maui)
WKV x2 (Scottsdale)
I always suggest renting first. Renting allows you to determine what is important (views? amenities? location?) without making a capital investment. It will also show how much your vacations would cost to rent vs. buy.

HGVC has multiple properties in Waikoloa, as you probably know. I would rent at one of them and walk each before you buy anything. And after research, you may find yourself looking at HGVC properties in Las Vegas -- they're cheaper.
 

travelhacker

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2018
Messages
1,331
Reaction score
1,126
Points
274
HGVC sounds like it could be a good fit.

Personally, I would try for a cheap RCI points week (grandview 122k). If you can plan in advance it isn’t terribly difficult to get the HGVC Waikoloa inventory when they do their annual dump. However, it is certainly harder than booking with HGVC and probably isn’t a great fit for someone who is new to timeshares.
 

CPNY

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
7,508
Reaction score
4,392
Points
349
Resorts Owned
Harborside Resort at Atlantis
SVV - Key West/Bella
WKV
Regal Vista at Massanutten
I had anonymously looked around more than a decade ago but finally joined up as we are finally at a place where timesharing could be for us

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?

Mainly Hawaii (we've visited the Big Island, Oahu, Maui and Kauai)

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?

Think we would visit more than half the time - we live in Northern California so Hawaii is fairly easy to get to

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?

Europe, Asia - think my wife and I would like to visit both continents at some point (I did quite a bit of traveling when I was younger - over 20 years ago but would love to go back)

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?

So three kids (one on her own, one in college, one in high school) so five currently - maybe more later

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?

Soon to be not locked into a school schedule

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?

Yes

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?

Yes

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?

At least 4 stars - we like to travel at nice accomodations

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?

$20K - would like to spend less but we wouldn't pass up a good deal

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year?

Think we can handle the MF

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?

Yes

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do?

Yes

So couple of other info points - our oldest daughter has graduated from college this year and her first job will be on the Big Island for at least two years and maybe more - we've stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in the past (the tower that is now being converted into timeshares) and stayed at Kings Land last summer (really enjoyed it)

Leaning heavily towards HGVC currently as it would be fairly close to Kailua-Kona

One other question, when I used to peruse the TUG boards many years ago, I remember how buying South African timeshares was an interesting strategy - how did that turn out?

Looking forward to learning/communicating more about timeshares on TUG - we are now members by the way ($15 is a steal)

Thanks

Andre
Just had a broker offer me a westin kierland villa 2 bedroom 148K staroption 2 bedroom platinum for 11K. I can pass you his info if you’re interested. That’s a great deal. You can use those to book into Hawaii with vistana. Or look at WKOVRN
 

vacationtime1

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
5,159
Reaction score
2,750
Points
649
Location
San Francisco
Resorts Owned
WKORV-OF (Maui)
WKV x2 (Scottsdale)
Just had a broker offer me a westin kierland villa 2 bedroom 148K staroption 2 bedroom platinum for 11K. I can pass you his info if you’re interested. That’s a great deal. You can use those to book into Hawaii with vistana. Or look at WKOVRN

It's a fantastic price (for a buyer), but not for OP. Vistana has nothing on the Big Island, which is OP's primary destination.

Someone should jump on this.
 

CalGalTraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Messages
9,736
Reaction score
8,270
Points
498
Location
California
Resorts Owned
HGVC, MVC Vistana
Welcome to TUG. If you want to mainly go to BI, HGVC will offer you the best options with the widest range of amenities. If you head over to the HGVC board you can get all of the pros/cons of each of the BI units. It is good you have stayed there before so not sure you need to rent again. Since you will be off school and summer schedules. You could also buy a 7000 or more point Vegas and trade in to save on MF.

Of course the other islands offer options but I would not buy Vistana on Kauai because it is not mandatory. You can buy WKORV or N on Maui and trade with points into Kauai. But it won't get u to BI.

Good luck!
 

turkel

TUG Member
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
1,709
Reaction score
1,085
Points
524
Location
California
Resorts Owned
Marriott Shadow Ridge
Marriott Grand Chateau
I am not sure I would buy on the BI for a possible 2 year gig. Unless the BI is your favorite and you want to return every year.
 

dayooper

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2018
Messages
3,945
Reaction score
3,401
Points
349
Location
The Land of Ice and Snow
Resorts Owned
HGVC: The Flamingo, The Boulevard
I am not sure I would buy on the BI for a possible 2 year gig. Unless the BI is your favorite and you want to return every year.

Even if you want to return every year, I wouldn’t buy HGVC on the big island. The MF’s are very high and most of the Resorts can be booked in the club booking window. A lower MF resort in Vegas would be ideal.

If you are looking at HGVC, I would consider a platinum 3 bedroom plus. Here’s my reasoning, you want to travel with 5 adults or even more down the road. I have a family of 5 and 2 bedrooms are very tight, even with someone sleeping on the pull out. A child sleeping on the pull out sofa is fine. A teenager or an adult, not so much. The 9600 points would give flexibility to get those 3 bedrooms in mist resorts.
 

bbodb1

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2016
Messages
4,305
Reaction score
3,824
Points
348
Location
High radiation belt of the Northern Hemisphere
Resorts Owned
RCI Weeks: LaCosta Beach Club, RCI Points: Oakmont Resort, Vacation Village at Parkway. Wyndham: CWA and La Belle Maison, and WorldMark.
Ric Ocasek fan?
 
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