Highlands Inn

[ecwinch]

What is more surprising - that there is one of these units on e-bay, or that it appears to be from a PCC frontman.

Anyone interested in starting a pool on what this will sell for? High m/f vs a small number of points. But unique location.

Higland Inns.

Assume their is some internal preference for owning at that resort.

 

[MaryH]

Highland Inn is beautiful. I have stayed there several times, on the hotel side though.

I don't know, if I was going to pay extra for Highland Inn in terms of both purchase and M/F, I would probably want a fixed week have the home resort advantage. I think the week advertised is a low season float and that leaves a bit too much to chance. With a fixed week, I have a 6 month window where I don't have to give it up until I am ready to book something.

 

[MaryH]

Guess - 10K....

 

[GregGH]

I see they are using pictures from the hotel rooms (which have the better ocean view) ...sly devil

Do you get an advance timeframe to book your home resort in Hyatt over people who want to trade into from other Hyatt's?

Have they updated the interior in the last couple of years??

Greg

ps - anyone have url for map of units --see an ad for ...UNOBSTRUCTED OCEAN VIEWS FROM FULL DECK!! SECLUDED UNIT. .. " trying to remember where these views are ...

 

[PA-]

It is a fixed week, week 12. While the season they bought is the lowest season, week 12 is probably the best week in this season as it is spring break for some folks. 1240 points could probably be bought for $3000 - $4000 in this economy. The maintenance fee cost here is too high. I'd pass on this one, there will be better deals to be had, and week 12 is an easy week to reserve I imagine. The only reason to pay extra for this resort is if it's a hard to reserve week. Otherwise, buy points elsewhere where they're cheapest.

 

[Kal]

...ps - anyone have url for map of units...

Go Here for a map of the units and unit layout. [Scroll down to the Highlands Inn].

 

[Nanoose]

Funny in the type description it says "Mountain/Skiing" . . . Skiing??? Where?

Maintenance fees are $1279 per year! YIKES!

It is a beautiful location. We stayed about 7 or 8 years ago . . . I hope the interiors have been updated since then . . . .

 

[GregGH]

Hi

OK -- eBay auction went for $4,605 ... ( without any reserve issues it seems)

questions

Bidder asked what unit - seller say #212 -- are you always buying a specific unit? If you buy a floating week - do you have a floating unit? If you buy a fixed week -do you get a fixed unit?

Notice on map ( thanks for the link - and nice work to keep up the data on Hyatt ) that 212 is 'garden view' - so the view if fixed units will really determine the price.

I have been hot and cold on Highlands in the past .... am I warming? ...the interior just doesn't have any feel - hard to describe - but love Carmel in general. And there are few options for other locations in same or similar locations (south or north of San Fran)

Greg

 

[WalnutBaron]

Hi

OK -- eBay auction went for $4,605 ... ( without any reserve issues it seems)

questions

Bidder asked what unit - seller say #212 -- are you always buying a specific unit? If you buy a floating week - do you have a floating unit? If you buy a fixed week -do you get a fixed unit?

Notice on map ( thanks for the link - and nice work to keep up the data on Hyatt ) that 212 is 'garden view' - so the view if fixed units will really determine the price.

I have been hot and cold on Highlands in the past .... am I warming? ...the interior just doesn't have any feel - hard to describe - but love Carmel in general. And there are few options for other locations in same or similar locations (south or north of San Fran)

Greg

I agree with Greg. Carmel and the Central Coast of California are incomparably beautiful. The Highlands Inn is a unique property, built on a cliff about 300 feet above the crashing surf below.

The hotel is a much nicer lodging experience, however, than the TS units are. They badly need updating. One other downside of the TS units: they are converted hotel rooms so they lack many of the modern amenities us experienced TS owners have come to expect.

 

[Carmel85]

I agree with Greg. Carmel and the Central Coast of California are incomparably beautiful. The Highlands Inn is a unique property, built on a cliff about 300 feet above the crashing surf below.

The hotel is a much nicer lodging experience, however, than the TS units are. They badly need updating. One other downside of the TS units: they are converted hotel rooms so they lack many of the modern amenities us experienced TS owners have come to expect.

I completely disagree with you in your statement in regards to the Hyatt TS here in Carmel. Have you been to them lately? These units have all the modern amenities and also the resort just got washers and dryers (not in each room but as a whole)

We actually live here in Carmel and visit and send out guest all the time to the Hyatt Carmel never have had a complaint yet except they would rater stay at our house.

Hyatt has done so many new things here in Carmel you need to come and enjoy the resort you will love the resort and love the area.

 

[GregGH]

I completely disagree with you in your statement in regards to the Hyatt TS here in Carmel. Have you been to them lately? These units have all the modern amenities and also the resort just got washers and dryers (not in each room but as a whole)

We actually live here in Carmel and visit and send out guest all the time to the Hyatt Carmel never have had a complaint yet except they would rater stay at our house.

Hyatt has done so many new things here in Carmel you need to come and enjoy the resort you will love the resort and love the area.

Hello

OK - lets agree to disagree - just rip out the hot tub and put in furniture that seems to fit the smaller space available.

Any answers on the FIXED units -or floating units ?? I had asked ...

Greg

 

[bdh]

Hello

Any answers on the FIXED units -or floating units ?? I had asked ...

Greg

Your deed will have a specific week and unit number - you are guaranteed that week and unit during the HRPP (Home Resort Preference Period) - the HRPP starts 12 months prior to the deeded week date and ends 6 months prior to your deeded week - if you not have not confirmed the use of your week 6 months prior to the deeded week check in date, the week/unit is opened up to all other Hyatt owners. When you do not confirmed your use by the end of the HRPP period, your deeded week is automatically converted to points to use within Hyatt or II.

 

[wilma]

I completely disagree with you in your statement in regards to the Hyatt TS here in Carmel. Have you been to them lately? These units have all the modern amenities and also the resort just got washers and dryers (not in each room but as a whole)

We stayed at the Carmel vacation club in January and our unit had an ancient TV, certainly not a modern flatscreen, and no DVD. They are lovely units because of the great views and location but they do not have "all the modern amenities".

 

[Carmel85]

We stayed at the Carmel vacation club in January and our unit had an ancient TV, certainly not a modern flatscreen, and no DVD. They are lovely units because of the great views and location but they do not have "all the modern amenities".

Wilma,

Yes you are right, We also at Hyatt Tahoe do not have flat screen but they are still HD TV and I know the board in Tahoe are considering blue ray players,new table and chairs on the patio,new BBQ area,redo the front lobby.

Here is the problem do you want brand new things in every room during these hard times ? If you do then you MF's will rise rise rise. Many items have a life span and when you start to replace those items early it cost all of us.

Again, I urge ANY HYATT OWNER that either owns at Tahoe or stays at Tahoe be heard this current board is listening to you and a few board members are actually going to read what you say on Tug at the HOA Board meeting in Tahoe on the 26 of March 2009.

If you want brand new stuff in the rooms tell the board but do not complain when you have to pay higher MF's!!!! It is very plain and simple to understand.

 

[jkc22]

Hi

Hi Guys:

Newbie here, but had been lurking around for a while.... anyway, I placed the bid on eBay for the Highlands Inn. I'm hoping this will go through smoothly. It too went through the Timeshare Closing Services / Vacation Innovations.

I, too, have mixed feelings about the HI. I actually am more familiar with the hotel side than the TS side. That said, even when I stayed at the hotel side earlier this year, some interiors were dated, but still manageable. However, the hotel was by no means a "Park Hyatt" standard hotel, thus the downgrade to "Hyatt" now.

Like for many, the location is the reason behind the purchase. We celebrated many birthdays and anniversaries there and definitely are looking to return, and week 12 is around family reunions and anniversaries, so it worked out well for us.

My challenge now is to handle the 1,240 points that would move from CUP into LCUP this month (within the next two weeks) associated with this TS.

I am also a top-tier member of Gold Passport, so exchanging to Gold Passport points would have been nice, but not an option here.

As for $ per point, I actually got a better deal here ($4.5/point) than the week 48 I bought at the High Sierra (paid close to $5.8/point).....definitely looking to some more "bargains" coming around this year........

Nice to see so many are familiar with the Highlands! Cheers!

Edited to add:
Reading the documents I've found out that it's actually a Unit 12 / Week 4 ownership, not Week 12. Otherwise it would have been Platinum. Week 4 is mom's birthday week, most years. Not bad.

 

[wilma]

Wilma,

Yes you are right, We also at Hyatt Tahoe do not have flat screen but they are still HD TV and I know the board in Tahoe are considering blue ray players,new table and chairs on the patio,new BBQ area,redo the front lobby.

Here is the problem do you want brand new things in every room during these hard times ? If you do then you MF's will rise rise rise. Many items have a life span and when you start to replace those items early it cost all of us.

If you want brand new stuff in the rooms tell the board but do not complain when you have to pay higher MF's!!!! It is very plain and simple to understand.

People owning at Carmel already pay high maintenance fees (>$1200) and should have had flat screen tvs put in a couple of years ago when the economy was good and many resorts were upgrading. The tvs in the Carmel units are ancient and if I owned there I would not be happy.

 

[MaryH]

Wilma,

Highland Inn has fewer units and probably higher expenses than other TS in the HVC. The golf carts, staff, restaurants, and grounds all take manpower and money to operate. When I was staying there in the Hotel side, I see far more people working than when I stayed at the HBH. Also I think property taxes can be substantial.

I love Carmel / Highland Inn for the ocean view and I think I don't watch much TV while there. I don't go to Carmel to sit in the room and watch TV - enjoy the spa tub indoor maybe I far prefer to sit on the patio or restaurant looking out or go visit in the surrounding area. If they wait 1-2 years when the TV is likely to be scheduled for replacement, they can get bigger and better since the prices are dropping so much the last year.

 

[MaryH]

Jkc 22,

congrats on winning the Highland Inn auction and also on your High Sierra purchase. I think you are also on FT? I am Snoopyo there and also a Hyatt Diamond.

I looked at the exchange options and it really is not worth it for conversion to GP points, especially since your your M/F is high and a hotel room at Higland Inn on the hotel side would be 18K normal or 28K+ for Diamond force...

 

[MaryH]

As to the points moving to LCUP, can you get the seller or the closing company to make some reservations for you? How many points do you have?

The contract I bought which is going through final steps of registration with Hyatt should give me 2-4 weeks before the II deposit dates and 4 months before LCUP so I think I can make use of it and it was only half of a years worth of points.

 

[jkc22]

Well, I think the point is moot now....I reread the contract and it appears the anniversary is Week 4, so the points (entire 1,240) is already in LCUP....hopefully I will be able to jump on something within 60 days in the next 4 months..... Will call the selling agent tomorrow anyway to see if any reservations / accommodations could be done while we are in escrow.....

As to the points moving to LCUP, can you get the seller or the closing company to make some reservations for you? How many points do you have?

 

[GregGH]

Hi
Had a PM form another TUG'r saying my question was confusing ... I can do that at times

Question --when you buy a FIXED WEEK --are you also buying a specific unit number as well -or will you get random unit at checkin

Greg

 

[tahoeJoe]

Good question.

Hi
Had a PM form another TUG'r saying my question was confusing ... I can do that at times

Question --when you buy a FIXED WEEK --are you also buying a specific unit number as well -or will you get random unit at checkin

Greg

I believe one is buying a fixed WEEK and fixed UNIT number (i.e view). If you attend a sales presentation at HI they really try to sell you on the views and they charge plenty for a slightly better view. The same week, same since unit size BUT different view can command $1000s more. Its funny, because if you stay outside the week you purchased you can get any view unit, go figure.

The sales staff at HI totally ignore the whole "points are points" discussion. At Wild Oak Ranch, all they sell is the "points are points" aspect.

-TJ

 

[tahoeJoe]

Wilma,



Again, I urge ANY HYATT OWNER that either owns at Tahoe or stays at Tahoe be heard this current board is listening to you and a few board members are actually going to read what you say on Tug at the HOA Board meeting in Tahoe on the 26 of March 2009.

.

Good point Bob, I will e-mail Steve and the others this week. Thanks for the reminder.

-TJ

 

[Carmel85]

Hi
Had a PM form another TUG'r saying my question was confusing ... I can do that at times

Question --when you buy a FIXED WEEK --are you also buying a specific unit number as well -or will you get random unit at checkin

Greg

Greg,

When you buy a Hyatt you are buying a fixed week and a fixed unit.

If you trade with in Hyatt or any other week that your fixed week you can get any unit at the resort it is up to Hyatt.

 

[wilma]

Wilma,

Highland Inn has fewer units and probably higher expenses than other TS in the HVC. The golf carts, staff, restaurants, and grounds all take manpower and money to operate. When I was staying there in the Hotel side, I see far more people working than when I stayed at the HBH. Also I think property taxes can be substantial.

I love Carmel / Highland Inn for the ocean view and I think I don't watch much TV while there. I don't go to Carmel to sit in the room and watch TV - enjoy the spa tub indoor maybe I far prefer to sit on the patio or restaurant looking out or go visit in the surrounding area. If they wait 1-2 years when the TV is likely to be scheduled for replacement, they can get bigger and better since the prices are dropping so much the last year.

I don't sit around the room watching tv either, I was responding to Carmel85 constant cheerleading that Highlands Inn units "have all the modern amenities". They don't. Also, the vacation club is not responsible for paying for all the expenses of the restaurants, they are mostly used by hotel guests & outside diners. The maintenance fees have been adequate to pay for improvements like flatscreen tvs, especially since there are few resort amenities here--very small pool, no tennis courts, limited resort grounds.