HGVC - point conversion to Hilton Honors or RCI

[prajora]

Hi,
I am relatively new to the HGVC ownership.
My question is what are the best choices for HGVC point conversion if they will expire say end of year and you may not be able to use them:
1. Extend HGVC point by paying fee.
2. Convert to Hilton Honors- don’t expire but don’t give lot of days at a Hilton.
3. Deposit to RCI

Any opinion in each of these. I know there will be Pro and Con for each.
Thanks in advance.

Pari

 

[PigsDad]

Personally, I think option 1 is the best. As for option 2, you cannot directly convert current year points to Honors; you can only make Hilton Honors reservations with current year points, and then they only convert at a rate of 20:1, vs. converting next year's points where the rate is 25:1. Caveat -- this is for "normal" HGV properties; there are different rules for bHC properties.

If you extend the HGV points, you can still use them for most anything (including RCI), and then at the end of next year if you still have not used them, you can then deposit into RCI (for a fee) and extend them an additional 2 years.

Kurt

 

[prajora]

Personally, I think option 1 is the best. As for option 2, you cannot directly convert current year points to Honors; you can only make Hilton Honors reservations with current year points, and then they only convert at a rate of 20:1, vs. converting next year's points where the rate is 25:1. Caveat -- this is for "normal" HGV properties; there are different rules for bHC properties.

If you extend the HGV points, you can still use them for most anything (including RCI), and then at the end of next year if you still have not used them, you can then deposit into RCI (for a fee) and extend them an additional 2 years.

Kurt

I agree. Using for Hilton resort properties is best if you can use them that year. Else RCI deposit- though it cost fees, gives enough weeks of vacation. HH points is least number of days option. As each days will cost about 30000 HH point. So in order of best use the order is 1,3,2. Correct?

 

[CarlosRobayo23]

I didn’t know that points can be extended. I have some 2020 saved points that I would like to extend for 2022.

Could you confirm what is the fee to do this?

 

[dayooper]

I didn’t know that points can be extended. I have some 2020 saved points that I would like to extend for 2022.

Could you confirm what is the fee to do this?

Club points are only allowed to be saved for 1 year. Your saved 2020 points can't be saved into 2022. The ability to extend saved 2019 points into 2021 was a one-time thing because of COVID. My guess is they won't allow that this year. Your only options for extending those points would be to convert to HHonors or deposit into RCI.

 

[Talent312]

The best option is to "save" current-year points to the next following year.
That way you have full-use of the points, and keep the RCI deposit option.

However, if you book a RCI stay for a future year...
Current-year points are used first, and future-year's points are used second.
Thus, you can "soak up" current-year points without paying a fee.
.

 

[prajora]

The best option is to "save" current-year points to the next following year.
That way you have full-use of the points, and keep the RCI deposit option.

However, if you book a RCI stay for a future year...
Current-year points are used first, and future-year's points are used second.
Thus, you can "soak up" current-year points without paying a fee.
.

Does any one think Hilton Honor points are worth much? They give you so few days of stay in Hilton hotels not resorts. Looking for opnions. Thx

 

[GT75]

Does any one think Hilton Honor points are worth much?

No. I put ~25K HH points = ~$100.

 

[Wright17s]

Does any one think Hilton Honor points are worth much? They give you so few days of stay in Hilton hotels not resorts. Looking for opnions. Thx

It really depends as there are so many options ( i.e. standard vs. preferred rooms, Hampton Inn stay in the suburbs vs. Conrad in the city )... with the 5th night free you can stretch the value of Hilton points a bit, but in my opinion accruing Hilton points via nightly hotel stays and their credit card is a much better way than converting from HGVC, which I would never recommend.

The Points Guy values Hilton Honor points at $0.006/point ( ref: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/monthly-valuations/ ).

TPG also has a really good blog on maximizing the value of Hilton Honor points: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/maximizing-redemptions-hilton-honors/

 

[prajora]

No. I put ~25K HH points = ~$100.

7000 HGVC points get 2 weeks in Hawaii. Some resorts. Can the conversion of all to HH points get 2 weeks in a Hilton hotel at a reasonable location? Possibly not. So on the weekly stay basis both HGVC points and RCI points go farther.

 

[GT75]

IMO, it is best to use HGVC points for HGVC stays.

 

[GT75]

The Points Guy values Hilton Honor points at $0.06/point

I think that you mean 0.6¢ or $0.006/point. I don't have a problem with that number.

 

[Wright17s]

I think that you mean 0.6¢ or $0.006/point. I don't have a problem with that number.

Yes, thanks! I've updated above to avoid any confusion.

 

[prajora]

Yes, thanks! I've updated above to avoid any confusion.

Could you explain what is meant by 6cents for buying points? Not sure how it works? Thx

 

[prajora]

IMO, it is best to use HGVC points for HGVC stays.

I agree. But if you cannot use before they expire like to know the best options. Thx

 

[Wright17s]

Could you explain what is meant by 6cents for buying points? Not sure how it works? Thx

The 0.6¢ is just a general valuation of their (Hilton Honor points) monetary value, given loads of assumptions, etc. It's not meant to infer anything about buying HH points.

 

[Wright17s]

Duplicate

 

[prajora]

The 0.6¢ is just a general valuation of their (Hilton Honor points) monetary value, given loads of assumptions, etc. It's not meant to infer anything about buying HH points.

So if I have say 250K HH points, it is worth about $1500 of Hilton stay.Correct?

 

[JohnPaul]

So if I have say 250K HH points, it is worth about $1500 of Hilton stay.Correct?

In my opinion it all depends on how you use them. For example, I get much more value (comparative cash rates) using my Marriott points at Ritz Carlton. I can get a $700 stay for 60,000 points vs using 40,000 points for a $250 stay.

I realize I’m showing Marriott vs Hilton but same difference. Depends on how you use it.

 

[Wright17s]

In my opinion it all depends on how you use them. For example, I get much more value (comparative cash rates) using my Marriott points at Ritz Carlton. I can get a $700 stay for 60,000 points vs using 40,000 points for a $250 stay.

I realize I’m showing Marriott vs Hilton but same difference. Depends on how you use it.

I agree with @JohnPaul, it definitely depends on how you use them. I always book 5 nights at Hilton hotels because if you book with points the 5th night is free ( so 5 nights for the same points as 4 ). Also depends on room type, and chain ( Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Conrad, Waldorf Astoria, etc. ) within the broader Hilton umbrella.

But if you're trying to boil it down to a really simple calculation, then per the valuation article I referenced above, 250k HH points would be valued at ~$1500.

 

[hurnik]

So if I have say 250K HH points, it is worth about $1500 of Hilton stay.Correct?

The average is about $0.004 - $0.006/point. It depends on where you want to stay. You can get "outsized" value for say the Maldives resorts where you'd otherwise spend $500/night, but there's no "set" value per se. I find TPG to be very "high" in their valuations vs. OMAAT. If you want to "average" it at $0.005/point you're in the middle, but again, it depends on where you want to stay, WHEN, and for how long.

 

[BingoBangoBongo]

So if I have say 250K HH points, it is worth about $1500 of Hilton stay.Correct?

I’d put the value at $1250, based on $.005 per point. Thats the price I’ve bought points from Hilton for over the past few years during their bonus promotions. It’s not that the points hold that value when trying to make a reservation, but a yardstick to use when comparing using points to paying cash. With 250,000 points I would look for a 5 night free redemption at a property with rooms up to 60,000/night. You do need to be at least a Silver member to book a 5th Night Free Stay.

 

[prajora]

I’d put the value at $1250, based on $.005 per point. Thats the price I’ve bought points from Hilton for over the past few years during their bonus promotions. It’s not that the points hold that value when trying to make a reservation, but a yardstick to use when comparing using points to paying cash. With 250,000 points I would look for a 5 night free redemption at a property with rooms up to 60,000/night. You do need to be at least a Silver member to book a 5th Night Free Stay.

Seems the best way is to use HGVC points within the time period before they expire. Else convert them to RCI so you get some more time to use them. Both give resort like experience- kitchen etc and week long stays.
If all else is not possible, convert to HH points, so they are worth something. HH may not maxmize the number of hotel days, also no kitchen also many times.
Am I right in my inference?

 

[dayooper]

Seems the best way is to use HGVC points within the time period before they expire. Else convert them to RCI so you get some more time to use them. Both give resort like experience- kitchen etc and week long stays.
If all else is not possible, convert to HH points, so they are worth something. HH may not maxmize the number of hotel days, also no kitchen also many times.
Am I right in my inference?

I agree with your inferences.

 

[prajora]

I agree with your inferences.

Thank you so much for agreeing with my inference. I assume you are a long time HGVC owner.