HHV this April - Anyone want to split costs of Beach toys/items?

[Aptman]

I was telling some friends who are timeshare curious about this site, how much it helped me with my purchase, and how any information one would want is available here. I also told them about how easy it was to deal with different people you meet here. Last year, based on reading these forums, I got a nearly unused Hawaii Entertainment Book from user Oneohana, who was done with his after his trip. After I came back, I noticed that UWSurfer was going to HHV a couple of weeks after me, so I offered up the book to him (we all live in LA, so it was relatively easy).

My wife, two kids (boys 8 & 6) & I will be going to HHV for spring break this April as well, and I was telling this to my friends, and discussing how we were going to just buy a bunch of beach items and things of the like at Costco, and probably leave them in Hawaii. They had a great suggestion, finding another family that is going to HHV either the week before us, or the week after us, and splitting this with them. Stunning in it's simplicity.

So here is my proposal. Are there any families going to Hawaii and either returning from there around the 4th or 5th of April (we arrive on April 4), or coming around April 10th or 11 (we leave the 11th). If so, would you be interested in splitting the cost of a bunch of beach items so that we don't have to rent them from HGVC, and so they don't go to waste after only one use. I'm talking about beach chairs, umbrellas, some water toys, and things of the like, perhaps spending $100 or $150 total? One party would buy them at the start, and hand them off for half the cost to the other party when they leave. If worse comes to worse and there's no overlap, I"m sure there's a way one party could leave a package for someone who comes a day later with the resort. I'm hoping that there's some other family there somewhere who's in a similar situation and wants to try this kind of a hookup.

With the cost of luggage these days, I can't imagine it's worth it to bring back beach toys, beach chairs, and an umbrella. It is also a shame to toss them out after one week (it's a shame after 2 weeks too, but only half the shame ). I guess, theoretically, whoever is there last can find some nice family to give everything to when they leave.

Has anyone had any experience trying this before? Sort of a fractional toy ownership thing? It seems like all of us are trying to wring out any advantage we can get, this seems so obvious in its simplicity. Any thoughts from people? It seems to me to take the whole information sharing thing one step further. If people have other advice in this vein, I'm curious.

 

[nonutrix]

I was telling some friends who are timeshare curious about this site, how much it helped me with my purchase, and how any information one would want is available here. I also told them about how easy it was to deal with different people you meet here. Last year, based on reading these forums, I got a nearly unused Hawaii Entertainment Book from user Oneohana, who was done with his after his trip. After I came back, I noticed that UWSurfer was going to HHV a couple of weeks after me, so I offered up the book to him (we all live in LA, so it was relatively easy).

My wife, two kids (boys 8 & 6) & I will be going to HHV for spring break this April as well, and I was telling this to my friends, and discussing how we were going to just buy a bunch of beach items and things of the like at Costco, and probably leave them in Hawaii. They had a great suggestion, finding another family that is going to HHV either the week before us, or the week after us, and splitting this with them. Stunning in it's simplicity.

So here is my proposal. Are there any families going to Hawaii and either returning from there around the 4th or 5th of April (we arrive on April 4), or coming around April 10th or 11 (we leave the 11th). If so, would you be interested in splitting the cost of a bunch of beach items so that we don't have to rent them from HGVC, and so they don't go to waste after only one use. I'm talking about beach chairs, umbrellas, some water toys, and things of the like, perhaps spending $100 or $150 total? One party would buy them at the start, and hand them off for half the cost to the other party when they leave. If worse comes to worse and there's no overlap, I"m sure there's a way one party could leave a package for someone who comes a day later with the resort. I'm hoping that there's some other family there somewhere who's in a similar situation and wants to try this kind of a hookup.

With the cost of luggage these days, I can't imagine it's worth it to bring back beach toys, beach chairs, and an umbrella. It is also a shame to toss them out after one week (it's a shame after 2 weeks too, but only half the shame ). I guess, theoretically, whoever is there last can find some nice family to give everything to when they leave.

Has anyone had any experience trying this before? Sort of a fractional toy ownership thing? It seems like all of us are trying to wring out any advantage we can get, this seems so obvious in its simplicity. Any thoughts from people? It seems to me to take the whole information sharing thing one step further. If people have other advice in this vein, I'm curious.

We can not help you out in sharing expenses, but I would like to add that there is a Walmart not far from HHV with great prices on water/beach toys. Some of their prices on swim equiptment are lower than home! With their prices, I think you can get a lot of toys for $150. Let us know how it works out for you - BTW, great idea!

Good luck!

nonutrix

 

[Talent312]

What about trying to find a local at your destination who'd be willing to take the stuff off your hands, either for a price or should it come down to it, free?

You could enlist the help of a taxi driver, an HGVC employee, bartender, local beach goer, or if you'll have internet access... List the stuff on www.craigslist.com or www.freecycle.org, both of which have chapters there.

Another thought: Would TUG benefit from a roll-call forum? Cruise critic has a roll-call set up for each major cruiseline where members announce their dates and boats, so fellow critics can find each other. But I 'spose we may be too independent or not have enuff critical mass for that to work here.

 

[jehb2]

Great ideal

I think this is a great idea if you can pull it off. Last trip we had a couple of cases of Costco food-a whole case of bowls of noodles which I saw individually for $4+; case of gadorade; case of water; other unopened food items. WE spent a couple of hours driving around (following leads) to find a food bank or pantry to no avail.

We ended up leaving it in the hospitality room. Hopefully the staff took it.

 

[Talent312]

Last trip we had a couple of cases of Costco food-- a whole case of bowls of noodles which I saw individually for $4+; case of gadorade; case of water; other unopened food items. We spent a couple of hours driving around (following leads) to find a food bank or pantry to no avail.

Perhaps one could go online to locate a Salvation Army or Goodwill office B4 leaving on vacation.
Charity is a great idea.

 

[mrsmusic]

food drive

I think this is a great idea if you can pull it off. Last trip we had a couple of cases of Costco food-a whole case of bowls of noodles which I saw individually for $4+; case of gadorade; case of water; other unopened food items. WE spent a couple of hours driving around (following leads) to find a food bank or pantry to no avail.

We ended up leaving it in the hospitality room. Hopefully the staff took it.

That's funny you should say that; when we were in HHV April last year there was people on the sides of the roads collecting food for a food drive. Maybe we could find the organizers of that and post information for year-round donations. At the Kapaa Shores, on Kauai, there was a box inside the office that was specified as non-perishable food donations for the local food bank. There was one inside the WorldMark Yellowstone as well. You'd think more timeshare offices would have such an option.

Crystal

 

[jehb2]

At the Kapaa Shores, on Kauai, there was a box inside the office that was specified as non-perishable food donations for the local food bank. There was one inside the WorldMark Yellowstone as well. You'd think more timeshare offices would have such an option.
Crystal

Absolutely. This should be a standard service offered by all timeshares. For what it's worth, I'm going to at least see if my various boards can set this up.

 

[sfwilshire]

I'm surprised the resort doesn't offer left behind equipment. The Kona Hawaiian Vlg had a whole section of things for the taking. We got chairs and toys. Can't remember about umbrellas. In those days of better luggage allowances, we even took our favorite chair with us to the next island as a "checked bag". The airline made us sign a waiver releasing them from liability in case of damage.

The beach equipment exchanges are very common in resorts in the Eastern US as well.

Sheila

 

[jehb2]

I'm surprised the resort doesn't offer left behind equipment.

I'm guessing at HHV some equipment would compete with business. I think rental for 2 chairs and an umbrella at HHV is something like $50+ For years I took a great $9.99 beach umbrella to Hawaii. I figured at some point it would break but never did. I saved a bundle. Alas those days are gone. Now I just buy one every time and leave it in the back of the TS closet.