Hi - would like to connect with HGVC owners of Kohala Suites/Bay Club/Kings Land

[GlobeHopper]

Hi all! We are new to TUG and in our first year as HGVC Kohala Suites biennial owners. If you own (or have stayed in) one of the timeshare communities in their Waikoloa Beach Resort (WBR) system we would love to "meet" you and learn. If you would like, please email us via TUG.
Main questions:

• Have any of you stayed at any of the WBR's over Christmas week?
• Do some folks actually "own" timeshares on the hotel (Hilton Waikoloa Village) property (i.e., Lagoon Towers, ...)?
• If we don't want to use our week at our home resort, do you find it highly desirable to "trade"? How do you get the most "bang" for not using it (i.e., trade in RCI, find another HGVC owner who wants it for that week, ...)?

Thanks - this is so new to us and confusing to navigate at times.
Any helpful tips - or just hearing your feedback/experience - would be both helpful and enjoyable.

 

[GregT]

Hi all! We are new to TUG and in our first year as HGVC Kohala Suites biennial owners. If you own (or have stayed in) one of the timeshare communities in their Waikoloa Beach Resort (WBR) system we would love to "meet" you and learn. If you would like, please email us via TUG.
Main questions:

• Have any of you stayed at any of the WBR's over Christmas week?
• Do some folks actually "own" timeshares on the hotel (Hilton Waikoloa Village) property (i.e., Lagoon Towers, ...)?
• If we don't want to use our week at our home resort, do you find it highly desirable to "trade"? How do you get the most "bang" for not using it (i.e., trade in RCI, find another HGVC owner who wants it for that week, ...)?

Thanks - this is so new to us and confusing to navigate at times.
Any helpful tips - or just hearing your feedback/experience - would be both helpful and enjoyable.

GlobeHopper,

Welcome to TUG and congrats on your purchase!!!! A few random thoughts -- I've not stayed in WBRs over Christmas, but I think the Waikoloa area is fabulous, having stayed there in 2009. I'm going to KingsLand in June and am very excited for the trip.

If you don't want to stay in your home resort, your next best choice (IMO) is to use the points allocated to stay at a different HGVC report, perhaps the Hilton Hawaiian Village (Lagoon Tower/Kalia Tower/Grand Waikikian) and use your points as your currency. As you know, you have the right to reserve your WBR 9-12 months prior to your travel, and at 9 months in, you can use your points to reserve at a different HGVC property (and other HGVC owners can use their points to reserve at your property).

Some people do use HGVC to trade with RCI (and external exchange company) but I'm not an expert on HGVC/RCI trading and would let others respond. I do trade thru RCI with another timeshare I own -- Worldmark.

The hotel itself at Hilton Waikoloa Village doesn't have timeshares, just several towers of hotel rooms. The timeshares are located a very short walk/shuttle away and WBR has access to the full amenities of the hotel facility.

Welcome again and enjoy your WBR and your HGVC ownership!

Best,

Greg

 

[SmithOp]

All my ownership is Hawaii

My family has a standing vacation for Memorial Day week. I booked 12 months out because I had no flexibility, needed to lock in this week without playing the club season shuffle because I was a 60 hr per week workaholic. I never came up for air.

Memorial week in Oahu has the lantern lighting and other special ceremonies, I still get goose bumps thinking of the 01 60th anniversay Pearl Harbor parade down the Waikiki strip. Bands from every state college matching the ships with survivors in the lead cars. I saluted every one with tears streaming down my face. I come from a long line of military service. My great grandfather Jim "ox" Smith was blown up and gassed in the trenches WW1 and survived, but with terrible injuries. I have his medals and id card.

Xmas week in Lagoon tower will be very difficult for club season, you might get a studio in Kalia or pay the GW point premium.

WKL should be no problem for quite a few years, its not sold out. You wont find many Lagoon weeks left for sale.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I have owned at Bay Club for 15 years. Have been in HGVC for about 10 years.

I think your best best is to particpate in HGVC. You will still have access to RCI but you will have the flexibility of trading within HGVC at a lower transaction cost. You can then go to RCI if the location is want to go it NOT within HGVC's system, because they have limited (at least now looks like is is growing a little bit) locations.

I always felt like I gave up too much to RCI for what I got in return, hence the staying within HGVC. I have NOT looked up the trade value for HGVC properties in the new TPU era of RCI so I do not know what trade value they are assigned.

I rarely use my HGVC in RCI. I did it this year, but that is only the second time since I converted to HGVC that I have done so, but I used it trade back into an HGVC at less points than it would have been possible directly, plus I picked up NYC.

 

[fillde]

Globehopper- Probably the best bang for the buck that I have gotten with rci is the Manhatten Club in NYC. But I see your from the East coast.

Disney also trades in rci.

 

[GregT]

My family has a standing vacation for Memorial Day week. I booked 12 months out because I had no flexibility, needed to lock in this week without playing the club season shuffle because I was a 60 hr per week workaholic. I never came up for air.

Memorial week in Oahu has the lantern lighting and other special ceremonies, I still get goose bumps thinking of the 01 60th anniversay Pearl Harbor parade down the Waikiki strip. Bands from every state college matching the ships with survivors in the lead cars. I saluted every one with tears streaming down my face. I come from a long line of military service. My great grandfather Jim "ox" Smith was blown up and gassed in the trenches WW1 and survived, but with terrible injuries. I have his medals and id card.

Xmas week in Lagoon tower will be very difficult for club season, you might get a studio in Kalia or pay the GW point premium.

WKL should be no problem for quite a few years, its not sold out. You wont find many Lagoon weeks left for sale.

That's a great tradition -- the Memorial Day family vacation. I particularly love the story about the 60th anniversary, thx for posting this! And keep those medals safe, that's a family treasure.

All the best,

Greg

 

[SmithOp]

That's a great tradition -- the Memorial Day family vacation. I particularly love the story about the 60th anniversary, thx for posting this! And keep those medals safe, that's a family treasure.

All the best,

Greg

Thank you, I can go back even further than WW1. A distant cousin has done the genealogy and we have pictures of family that fought in Boer War and the Zulu wars. I myself am Vietnam era USAF vet.

 

[barond]

I personally have only used my HGVC points via RCI. There are no TPUs for trades via HGVC to RCI it is only based on points. Red season, White, Blue etc. Red season is 3400 points for 1 bedroom, 4800 points for 2 bedroom. This makes RCI "cheaper" in points than staying at HGVC including booking HGVC via RCI (but you have the $199 booking fee). Make an ongoing search request and be flexible in when and where you want to stay. I booked a 2 bedroom at BLT and got a magic kingdom view for last January, though I have "rented" Parc Soleil and Seaworld, I always wanted to stay at BLT (Bay lake Towers). Since the points are exactly the same I try to trade equal or better, the resorts listed via the HGVC/RCI interface are not the same as you will find via RCI.com. HGVC and RCI have an internal evaluation that determines what HGVC considers worthy of showing online. You can book or rent via RCI anything you want you just have to call, the interface does not show you everything for rent or points via HGVC/RCI interface.

Baron

 

[SmithOp]

I personally have only used my HGVC points via RCI. There are no TPUs for trades via HGVC to RCI it is only based on points. Red season, White, Blue etc. Red season is 3400 points for 1 bedroom, 4800 points for 2 bedroom. This makes RCI "cheaper" in points than staying at HGVC including booking HGVC via RCI (but you have the $199 booking fee). Make an ongoing search request and be flexible in when and where you want to stay.

Baron

Could you elaborate on the timing of this? I'd like to do just as you are suggesting to get a 2 BR in any of the WKL properties. I had to use some 2013 points, so I only have 6000 left and I want a 2BR for a week. I could purchase additional open season night, but am interested in your approach.

I want to stay this week, next year, last week of March. When would I make the request and would they take the 4800 from my 6000 in 2013? I have no points remaining this year. I don't want to borrow from 2014 because I intend to use that as a Home resort booking.

Thanks!

 

[GregT]

Could you elaborate on the timing of this? I'd like to do just as you are suggesting to get a 2 BR in any of the WKL properties. I had to use some 2013 points, so I only have 6000 left and I want a 2BR for a week. I could purchase additional open season night, but am interested in your approach.

I want to stay this week, next year, last week of March. When would I make the request and would they take the 4800 from my 6000 in 2013? I have no points remaining this year. I don't want to borrow from 2014 because I intend to use that as a Home resort booking.

Thanks!

SmithOp,

I think the timing is going to be tough for you -- Kings Land has been bulk banking in April/May the last couple of years and I understand that RCI/HGVC don't let HGVC owners use points for RCI trade unless its within 9 months of check-in. Unfortunately, unless the bulk bank occurs later (like June/July), I don't think you'll get your March check-in date.

It is certainly worth a shot, but will be tough to pull off. I hope it works out for you!

All the best,

Greg

 

[SmithOp]

SmithOp,

I think the timing is going to be tough for you -- Kings Land has been bulk banking in April/May the last couple of years and I understand that RCI/HGVC don't let HGVC owners use points for RCI trade unless its within 9 months of check-in. Unfortunately, unless the bulk bank occurs later (like June/July), I don't think you'll get your March check-in date.

It is certainly worth a shot, but will be tough to pull off. I hope it works out for you!

All the best,

Greg

Thanks for the info, experience is the best teacher. So your saying I could take my chances an maybe get the leftovers at 9 months, if not I can get as many nights as I have club points and hope to stretch extra nights with open season.

The other option would be to change my dates and book 9 months from when the inventory is released.

Got it, cheers.