HGVC Kingsland II versus The Bay Club

[bevans]

My wife and I will be staying at II in September but are considering changing to The Bay Club instead. We have stayed at Kings I and II as well as the Bay Club in the past but found the II one bedrooms all face the parking lot. The lanai's in II are small and frankly too cramped to really enjoy. The layouts at Bay are bigger and the Lanai's are huge compared to II. We are California beach people and spend most of our time there and jump in the pool to rinse off at the end of the day. To me unless III has a better set up for the one bedrooms the only thing going for staying at Kings are the pools unless I am missing something about the layouts. We stayed in II in building 21 before so that is our only experience with II so are the other buildings similar? Thanks, Curt

 

[cindyc]

Another option to consider if it works would be HGVC Kohsla Suites if a 2 bd will work for you. If you stay at Kohala, you get access to all of the amenities at Kingsland included (pools, towels, parking, tram). There is also a small pool there.

 

[brp]

We've stayed at Bay Club (multiple times) and Kohala once. Never stayed at KL, but the location is quite unappealing as is the big, sprawling feel. The bar there is far superior to the others, by a long shot, but easy to visit. Definitely not worth the additional points to stay there.

Also, this choice/comparison has been discussed at length previously. One example

https://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/help-me-pick-my-waikoloa-location.261742/


Cheers.

 

[bevans]

So, do all the one bedrooms in II and III face onto the parking lot or is one of the buildings better than the other. Frankly, we found our bottom floor lanai for our one bedroom in 21 pretty useless. To us having a nice Lanai means more than a bigger pool.

 

[Luanne]

We've stayed at Bay Club (multiple times) and Kohala once. Never stayed at KL, but the location is quite unappealing as is the big, sprawling feel. The bar there is far superior to the others, by a long shot, but easy to visit. Definitely not worth the additional points to stay there.

Also, this choice/comparison has been discussed at length previously. One example

https://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/help-me-pick-my-waikoloa-location.261742/


Cheers.

I could have written this post. Our experience is the same. Love Bay Club for the larger units. Don't feel the need to use the pools and facilities at the Hilton Waikoloa resort, so that part isn't a factor.

Bay Club and Kohala share pools, meaning you can use either of those pools if you are staying at those resorts.

 

[jnsrusty]

My family and I stayed at both Kingsland and Bay Club this summer. We had a 2 bedroom in phase II (I think) at Kingsland for the first part of our stay. We had originally made reservations for the larger 1 bedroom (I), but ended up finding a 2 bedroom that was actually less points. The 2 bedroom in building 21 was plenty spacious enough, had a nice lanai, a beautiful view of the golf course and mountains, and a 2nd bedroom for the kids. I think all the 1 bedrooms in II & III face the parking lot if I remember correctly.

I was not particularly happy with the 1 bedroom we had at Bay Club for the last part of our stay on the Big Island. I was told that all the 1 bedrooms face the parking lot and ours was no exception. The space was good, even though it was a 1 bedroom, I guess I just don't like flying all the way to Hawaii to stare at the parking lot when I'm back at the unit for the evening. Call me crazy if you'd like!

So, next time we visit the Big Island, we'll definitely stay at Kingsland! I thought the rooms and resort itself were much nicer. Our kids loved the pools and we enjoyed the pool bar.

 

[brp]

I could have written this post. Our experience is the same. Love Bay Club for the larger units. Don't feel the need to use the pools and facilities at the Hilton Waikoloa resort, so that part isn't a factor.

We very much enjoy the Lagoon pool at Hilton Waikoloa, so we did that. Since Bay Club and Kohala are basically the same points structure, it's a toss-up if one wants a 2BR (although the second bedroom was pretty small). We usually prefer 1BR, so Bay Club for just the two of us.

I was not particularly happy with the 1 bedroom we had at Bay Club for the last part of our stay on the Big Island. I was told that all the 1 bedrooms face the parking lot and ours was no exception.

Some on the upper floors face the golf course. We've had them. They're a different category (and I forgot what it's called) and cost a few more points.

So, next time we visit the Big Island, we'll definitely stay at Kingsland! I thought the rooms and resort itself were much nicer. Our kids loved the pools and we enjoyed the pool bar.

Aside from the bar, nothing about Kingsland appeals to us. And this is why they make multiple resorts for all of us

Cheers.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I have not heard much about Kohala suites however there have been some really good Ebay deals recently.

How does Kohala compare to Bay Club units?
Is there ROFR on Kohala since they are HGVC?
Can Kohala use the Waikoloa hotel lagoon and pools for free? If not what is the fee to access?
Any other considerations?

 

[brp]

I have not heard much about Kohala suites however there have been some really good Ebay deals recently.

How does Kohala compare to Bay Club units?
Generally smaller units, otherwise very similar. Access to the same pools and bars on that site.
Is there ROFR on Kohala since they are HGVC?
No clue
Can Kohala use the Waikoloa hotel lagoon and pools for free? If not what is the fee to access?
Free
Any other considerations?
Really, room size and Hilton access are the only things I can think of from a staying PoV. Not sure about from a buying perspective.

Cheers.

 

[buzglyd]

I have not heard much about Kohala suites however there have been some really good Ebay deals recently.

How does Kohala compare to Bay Club units?
Is there ROFR on Kohala since they are HGVC?
Can Kohala use the Waikoloa hotel lagoon and pools for free? If not what is the fee to access?
Any other considerations?

I owned at Kohala and yes there is ROFR. I paid $6500 for a 7000 point unit. I used it 3 years and sold it for $6500.

Kohala gets to use the hotel pools and park for free. You can charge to your room as well.

Kohala can use the Kingsland pools for I think $15 a day.

BTW, anyone can use the lagoon. You just have to bring your own towels. All beach is public access in Hawaii.

 

[brp]

BTW, anyone can use the lagoon. You just have to bring your own towels. All beach is public access in Hawaii.

And that part is considered regular beach, I guess, as opposed to something Hilton built? So, they won't be bothered that we don't have wristbands if we have our own towels?

Very cool!

Cheers.

 

[SmithOp]

I agree that the Bay Club 1br are better than KL2 1br even though both face parking lots.

Even though its just 2 of us we stay in the KL2 2br on the first floor for just a few points more. Buildings 21/22 are right across from the clubhouse and pools, closer than some of the outer KL1 buildings. We haven’t stayed at KL3 yet.

We like the happy hour and pools in the evening at KL, having a separate adult section is a plus and my wife likes that the pool is larger and shallow all over, she doesn’t like the deep end at the Bay Club main pool.


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[CalGalTraveler]

Thanks. If you have access to the hotel pools why you would need access to Kingsland?

May I ask why you sold?

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

I have not heard much about Kohala suites however there have been some really good Ebay deals recently.

How does Kohala compare to Bay Club units?
Is there ROFR on Kohala since they are HGVC?
Can Kohala use the Waikoloa hotel lagoon and pools for free? If not what is the fee to access?
Any other considerations?

CalGalTraveler,

The Bay Club units are larger. The internal layouts are a matter of preference. The views are basically the same. (Maybe a few units at Bay Club have a marginally better view, depending on how you measure view.)

There is no ROFR for Bay Club. This can be perceived as either a plus or minus. (Cheaper in, but cheaper out for Bay Club, versus Kohala Suites,)

Kohala Suites are pure Hilton. You can get more access at other Hilton TS properties, both nearby and for trading, all built into the MFs.

Kohala Suites have higher maintenance fees, but not dramatically so.

Bay Club does not require joining HGVC. That does 2 things. Limits your trading to RCI exchanges, (at RCI costs), and lowers the MFs. (I save around $200 a year USD by not being a member of HGVC. Note, I have the most expensive straight 2 BDR/2Bth units, with the narrowest margin for cost savings.) Unlike another competitor, you can choose to pay for HGVC any time you choose to join.

What do you want from a time share? Different people, different wants. . . .

Also note, Bay Club and Kohala Suites form one big complex, with a single check in point. From the outside, the only way you can tell them apart is a slight difference in stone on the buildings. (Kohala is closer to the check in.)

 

[Panina]

Kohala Suites are pure Hilton. You can get more access at other Hilton TS properties, both nearby and for trading, all built into the MFs.

What do you mean you get more access at other Hilton TS properties ?

 

[1Kflyerguy]

What do you mean you get more access at other Hilton TS properties ?

My guess, he is referencing that Bay Club owners don't have to join HGVC vs. Kohala or Kings Land where the HGVC membership is mandatory. With Bay Club you can save a few buck by not activating your unit into HGVC, but are then limited to only staying at Bay Club or trading via RCI.

 

[frank808]

Bay Club does not require joining HGVC. That does 2 things. Limits your trading to RCI exchanges, (at RCI costs), and lowers the MFs. (I save around $200 a year USD by not being a member of HGVC. Note, I have the most expensive straight 2 BDR/2Bth units, with the narrowest margin for cost savings.) Unlike another competitor, you can choose to pay for HGVC any time you choose to join.

What do you want from a time share? Different people, different wants. . . .

No savings if you are already in hgvc and paying club dues already. You pay just one annual fee no matter how many units you have enrolled in hgvc. To enroll Bay club units into hgvc it was a one time $250 charge to enroll all eligible units you wanted to. Then it changed to $250 per unit and per interval for enrollment. But those costs have definitley changed as my experience has been 10 years ago.

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[Ralph Sir Edward]

What do you mean you get more access at other Hilton TS properties ?

My bad, I wasn't specific enough. To access the Waikiola pool, staying at Bay Club, cost more per day that for other Hilton timeshares in the area. The owners consistently vote down proposals to pay more MF's to include Waikiola pool access. If you would never go to that pool, then you save money. Otherwise, you pay more for the access. There may be others. (I keep my stay "plain vanilla", buying at Costco, and cooking in. Billing to the room? Who 'dat? Your choices may vary. . . )

 

[brp]

To access the Waikiola pool, staying at Bay Club, cost more per day that for other Hilton timeshares in the area. The owners consistently vote down proposals to pay more MF's to include Waikiola pool access. If you would never go to that pool, then you save money. Otherwise, you pay more for the access.

There is a contention in another active thread that every has access to the Lagoon pool (provided they bring their own towel) as this is "beach" and all beaches on Hawai'i are open to all. Certainly sounds good, but I'm still not sure that there isn't a catch.

Cheers.

 

[SmithOp]

There is a contention in another active thread that every has access to the Lagoon pool (provided they bring their own towel) as this is "beach" and all beaches on Hawai'i are open to all. Certainly sounds good, but I'm still not sure that there isn't a catch.

Cheers.

There is a small beach access free parking lot (25 spaces) across from the entrance to the hotel parking lot (pay). Technically you can walk to the lagoon beach but its a long walk.

I would just park at A-Bay, its a lot closer to the beach. It serves as the public access for the Marriott hotel beach.

All the resorts have to provide public beach access.


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[brp]

There is a small beach access free parking lot (25 spaces) across from the entrance to the hotel parking lot (pay). Technically you can walk to the lagoon beach but its a long walk.



I would just park at A-Bay, its a lot closer to the beach. It serves as the public access for the Marriott hotel beach.

All the resorts have to provide public beach access.

We'd be staying at Bay Club, so we'd just walk down, so the car thing is not an issue. But if we can just walk onto the Lagoon pool via their piece of beach, that would be cool. Just not sure.

Cheers.

 

[SmithOp]

We'd be staying at Bay Club, so we'd just walk down, so the car thing is not an issue. But if we can just walk onto the Lagoon pool via their piece of beach, that would be cool. Just not sure.

Cheers.

I’ve done it every time staying at BC, just take your own towel. The only thing you can’t access are the slides, they require the wristband.

Walk across and enter the hotel property at the service shed, there is a walking path to Buhdda Point for the easiest access.


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[brp]

I’ve done it every time staying at BC, just take your own towel. The only thing you can’t access are the slides, they require the wristband.

Walk across and enter the hotel property at the service shed, there is a walking path to Buhdda Point for the easiest access.


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Cool, thanks. I know that path past the service shed well

We will have to do this next time,

Cheers.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I thought the Lagoon was private? They have hotel chaise lounges lining it...

 

[dsmrp]

I’ve done it every time staying at BC, just take your own towel. The only thing you can’t access are the slides, they require the wristband.

Walk across and enter the hotel property at the service shed, there is a walking path to Buhdda Point for the easiest access.

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I think we went that way; it was the first road we came across past bldg 1 of Bay Club.
We walked on the backside of the Ocean Tower to Buddha point, and then down around the other side past the water slides. Is that the way you've gone?

We never made it to Lagoon beach though. Next time...