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HGVC vs RCI purchase

ryang63840

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I don't know if this is the right forum to post this question but I'm going to ask anyway. First of all thanks to everyone for all the helpful info. I own a DVC timeshare and am now looking into HGVC vs RCI. Basically I am looking at going to Hawaii (in particular HHV for 3-4 nights) every 2 yrs during the spring or summer months due to kids in school. I would also use it in Vegas, California and Orlando but Hawaii is the #1 priority. My question is how hard is it to get HHV using RCI points vs HGVC 4-9 months out (assuming my home resort would be in Vegas. The reason why I ask is that I could get 40000 RCI points annually for a cheaper price and lower maintenance fees than a 4 to 5000 HGVC point contract. However if everyone thinks that it would be difficult or impossible to get HHV or any Oahu HGVC using RCI points, I would look at purchasing HGVC. Also how hard would it be to get HHV for 3 nights during spring/summer months booking out 4-9 months using HGVC points (meaning am I better off buying one of the Oahu HGVC's or is safe to buy in Vegas). Thanks for helping me out.
 

SmithOp

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HGVC King's Land 2BR Premier 23.040K Points.
Grand Pacific Seapointe EOY Odd
HGVC only deposits full weeks into RCI, usually in April for the following year. They rarely deposit prime summer weeks for HHV, maybe April, May or Early June. I would say next to impossible to get what you want with pure RCI points.

If all you need is a 3-4 day booking then a 4800 point 1br Vegas Platinum HGVC every other year contract will give you enough for that many days in a 2br. If you get every year you could combine years points and get a full week in a 2br prime season. You will need to book right at 9 month when the club season window opens, they go quick at HHV. You would have to be vigilant to catch one at 4 months, maybe weekdays or a cancellation. The weekends tend to get booked up.

If you went to Big Island its much easier to get one as late as 4 months.


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SmithOp

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HGVC King's Land 2BR Premier 23.040K Points.
Grand Pacific Seapointe EOY Odd
Here is what availability looks like 9 months from now, end of May 2016. Grand Waikikian has lots because they charge more points for those units.

283dfbb20a5f07bd08c126e778633046.jpg



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Talent312

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Hawaii is a high demand location for HGVC. Thus, owning a HGVC unit there is an advantage becuz you get a home-week booking window of 12-9 months out. Owning a HGVC unit anywhere else means you must wait until 9 months out, and you need to to be quick, if not right at the 9-month mark to get what you want. Booking HGVC thu RCI is a crap-shoot. You'd have to be very flexible with your dates and willing to take what you can get.
.
 

vacationbear

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And having the right to book 12 to 9 months in advance is why we bought our 1st TS at the Lagoon Tower since we also have two young ones.
HHV is indeed in super high demand and we have had no problems getting what we wanted. 12 to nine months in advance that is!

Our 2nd TS was bought in Kings Land/ Hawaii for the points and, by comparison, low maintenance fee.
 

Cyberc

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Our 2nd TS was bought in Kings Land/ Hawaii for the points and, by comparison, low maintenance fee.


I was under the impression that Vegas had the lowest mf. How many points do you get and how much do you pay in mf?

Regards.
 

ryang63840

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What time can you start to book online at the 9 month mark. Thanks again.
 

Talent312

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What time can you start to book online at the 9 month mark. Thanks again.

Midnight, Eastern Time Zone, 276 days from your /check-out/ date.
Some OCD-peep book 3N-Min (273 from check-in) and each night, add a day.
Online reservations are changeable, without penalty up to 30 days out...
(and even that has a workaround).
 
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Blues

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Hawaii is a high demand location for HGVC. Thus, owning a HGVC unit there is an advantage becuz you get a home-week booking window of 12-9 months out. Owning a HGVC unit anywhere else means you must wait until 9 months out, and you need to to be quick, if not right at the 9-month mark to get what you want. Booking HGVC thu RCI is a crap-shoot. You'd have to be very flexible with your dates and willing to take what you can get.
.

Yes, but the OP wants to book for 3-4 nights, not a week. So the Home Resort advantage actually does nothing for him, as it requires exactly a 1 week stay. So OP, in your case, I'd say go ahead and buy a Vegas unit. Just make sure to book your 3-4 night mini-vacations exactly 9 months in advance, at midnight Eastern time. If you do so, you should mostly get what you want. At worst, every once in a while you'll need to book the Grand Waikikian, which as noted takes more points. But you should be able to book Lagoon if you're there right at 9 months.

Bob
 

vacationbear

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I was under the impression that Vegas had the lowest mf. How many points do you get and how much do you pay in mf?

Regards.

Thats correct! Las Vegas at the Strip probably has the lowest MF, but you cant get >9600 pts for a 2bd.

In my case at Kings Land: 12600 points (2bd) for about $1600 MF. I don't see a better/ cheaper alternative yet...
 

Cyberc

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Thats correct! Las Vegas at the Strip probably has the lowest MF, but you cant get >9600 pts for a 2bd.

In my case at Kings Land: 12600 points (2bd) for about $1600 MF. I don't see a better/ cheaper alternative yet...

I agree that you can't do it better in a single purchase. But you could buy 2 x 1br (6.200 pts) at the strip. That will net you 12.400pts and an annual mf below 1200$

I don't know how much you paid for your points and I hornestly don't know how much 2 x 6.200 points would cost. But it's doable to get cheaper in yearly mf but the upfront cost may be higher.

Regards.
 

Jason245

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Thats correct! Las Vegas at the Strip probably has the lowest MF, but you cant get >9600 pts for a 2bd.

In my case at Kings Land: 12600 points (2bd) for about $1600 MF. I don't see a better/ cheaper alternative yet...
I wish I had enough vacation time to even imagine using that many points....

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ryang63840

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Thanks for all the info. Blues is right, I probably would book 3-4 nights each trip so home resort advantage wouldn't mean much to me. I will look into the Vegas Strip due to the lower MF. Thanks again.
 

vacationbear

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I agree that you can't do it better in a single purchase. But you could buy 2 x 1br (6.200 pts) at the strip. That will net you 12.400pts and an annual mf below 1200$

I don't know how much you paid for your points and I hornestly don't know how much 2 x 6.200 points would cost. But it's doable to get cheaper in yearly mf but the upfront cost may be higher.

Regards.

Hm- good point!
Yet I don't see any of those 1bd/ 6200 pts units. Some of them (5000 pts) are very pricey (HGVC, Strip).
Also, such a low point count would mean that the resale value is trending toward "very little".
But, if bought at a bargain price, one would just give them away after having had a great time at the various resorts over the next 20 years or so.
 
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