HGVC affiliate availiblity?

[ohioelk]

How difficult are affiliate resorts to book during platinum season? For example south Florida during Jan, Feb, Mar or Valdoro during ski season. My question relates to non holiday weeks.

 

[SallyMagoo]

I know I have searched for Valdoro ski weeks before with my Hilton points and never found one. I most likely searched for weeks for a March spring break. I am not sure if January weeks would be easier to get. My impression would be that to get Valdoro, you have to own there.

Regarding Valdoro open season, I have noticed a big difference between availability this year vs. last year. This year, there hasn't been much open season availability there for weekends during ski season at all, while last year, I actually found availability for President's Day weekend and other weekends searching a few weeks ahead. I don't know if it's the Colorado snow conditions being phenomenal this year ... or something else.

 

[short]

4 years go I booked the last weekend in January Fri, Sat, Sunday about 2 1/2 prior to check in. I was only looking for those dates so cannot speak for getting 7 days in a row but I think January is doable.

At least you can search on line. Do so frequently know what you want and take in when you find it. Owners generally book early but may start canceling as they get closer to check in if their schedule does not work for the trip.

Short

 

[ricoba]

My understanding of the SW Florida affiliates is that they can be hard to get into during the winter months. From what I have read, many of the owners never trade their unit, they simply bought it to use again and again. As well many of the SW Florida folks have not chosen to join HGVC.

This is not to say it's impossible. It's just that it will take some flexibility and some give and take in your planning.

Good luck! Let us know how your search goes.

Rick

 

[kckreardon]

We have stayed at Valdoro for 4 years in a row during ski season. In all instances, we started our search right at 9 months out. Thanksgiving week seems to be the easiest to snag. We have 4 nights there this November. Skiing in Breckenridge in late November is normally a good possibility.

In 2005 we were able to snag a 2 bedroom the week between Christmas and New Years. This was a 4 night stay.

Around Easter seems to be a good possibility from past experience. Normally it is still Spring skiing in Breck during that time.

It is not easy to pull these and as soon as they pop up they disappear. I would recommend checking nearly every day around the 9 month window. I will say it is very rare to find a full week.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[awsherm]

I keep pretty close tabs on Valdoro availability. If you want to reserve a week you pretty much have to do it right at the start of the nine month window. For example, there is a 2BR available now for 01/27-02/02. That's only six nights, but the seventh will open up in another 20 minutes. It won't be available for long.

For Jan '07 I've seen a 3BR, 2 2BRs, a 1BR, and couple of studios come and go within the first week of Club Season availability. Sometimes they don't last a full week when someone reserves a partial week. One Studio Plus is still available 1/20-1/27.


Alex

 

[awsherm]

To be thorough I just double checked all Valdoro availability in Jan '07. Here's what's available online:

2BR+ 1/10-1/14
2BR 1/16-1/20
3BR 1/17-1/20
ST+ 1/20-1/27
2BR 1/27-02/03

Alex