How much do you think an HGVC point is worth (in 2024)?

[Stewcation]

I'm looking into buy an HGVC resale deed and I'm trying to determine what kind of value I'd be getting on a yearly basis.

I ran some simulations with multiple examples of how I might actually use 11200 points in a year and looked up the same stays on Hilton.com to see what the real cost would be and with this method I found that depending on the season, unit type, and property the value of a point ranged from $0.29 - $0.74 with an average value of $0.44 per point among the 14 different stays that I simulated. A fairly decent 11200 point deed costing $1200 per year for maintenance fees + club dues has a $0.11 yearly cost per point, meaning that the deed should provide on average a 4x value on its yearly costs (a $4800 value for only $1200).

Of course, my calculations only factor in booking resort stays on Hilton.com at full retail pricing, which I likely would never actually do, so if I factored in promotions/discounts for stays or even cheaper alternatives like Airbnb then I imagine that my calculated $0.44 per point would be a bit lower. So, I'm wondering, how much do you think that an HGVC point is actually worth in 2024 when trying to decide whether to buy a deed or not?


P.S. The 14 stays I used in my calculations were (Description - Point Cost - Hilton.com Cost - Point Value):

1. 7 Nights Elara Platinum 1BR 7680 $2,239.87 $0.29
2. 7 Nights Elara Platinum Studio 3520 $1,984.31 $0.56
3. 4 Week Nights Sunrise Lodge Gold 1BR 2688 $841.20 $0.31
4. 4 Week Nights Parc Soleil Platinum 1BR 3072 $993.40 $0.32
5. 3 Week Nights Elara Platinum 3BR 5088 $3,199.07 $0.63
6. 7 Nights Kings' Land Platinum 2BR 11200 $3,965.60 $0.35
7. 3 Week Nights Sunrise Lodge Silver 3BR Plus 2304 $1,713.55 $0.74
8. 7 Nights Kings' Land Platinum 1BR 7680 $2,787.22 $0.36
9. 3 Week Nights Paradise Silver 1BR 1152 $578.04 $0.50
10. 4 Week Nights Sunrise Lodge Gold 3BR Plus 4480 $2,203.13 $0.49
11. 4 Week Nights The Central at 5th Platinum Studio 3360 $2,113.00 $0.63
12. 4 Week Nights The Boulevard Platinum 1BR 3072 $880.28 $0.29
13. 4 Week Nights MarBrisa Platinum 2BR 4480 $1,513.11 $0.34
14. 7 Nights Parc Soleil Gold 1BR 5440 $1,607.29 $0.30

 

[brp]

This is an interesting analysis. In making our decisions, though, we don't use equations like this. We look at the MF ratio alone and don't try to compare with Hilton.com bookings since that is not what we would be doing if we did not have the points. We'd be staying with Hyatt, or something else. So, while interesting, this doesn't reflect a relevant comparison for us. For others, though, this may well be relevant and an interesting set of numbers to use as a basis.

Cheers.

 

[jp10558]

I never really considered basing it on what I could book on Hilton.com or whatever. I've done some comparisons (always for 2BR or bigger) with redweek rentals (though not as detailed) and usually found for my stays it either was about 1.5x value or it was infinity value because I could not find a comparable rental on the redweek market.

My main comparisons has always been to hotel rooms or AirB&B. However, I also think there are a bunch of ancillary concerns that will complicate the comparison.

With Hotel Rooms, 2BR costs double 1BR. You usually are not comparing a suite or having a full kitchen. The 2BR is usually less than double a 1BR in HGVC and other timeshares that I've looked at, so right away hotels are at a disadvantage. But if you're comparing 1BR then it gets trickier because the straight minimum cost can get closer. The hotels usually won't be as spacious or have kitchens, but in terms of a bed to sleep in, it does.

With AirB&B - I've only found one simulated trip so far that it'd save me money on, all the rest cost more, usually 1.5x to 2x for me. AirB&B also has more randomness in the accommodation and support staff for issues, cleaning, etc.

Both hotels and AirB&B tend to be far less likely to have a heated pool or hot tub but they might. They usually aren't resorts in the sense of timeshares, but larger rental houses may have game rooms etc. It's more random.

On the timeshare side - one thing HGVC gets you (well, to my mind, many systems or timeshares get you) is RCI access. Now, it'll depend a lot on your preferences, but the cash rates in the built up areas (Smuggs, Massanutten, Berkshires, Williamsburg, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Branson, Las Vegas, etc etc) multiply the value in an indirect way. What I mean is you often find sub $650 for a week all in in 2BR, and a bit less for 1BR in pretty nice resorts. They're not HGVC level, but there are often plenty nice places.

So I tend to use HGVC for the destinations where HGVC is and with the ability to often pick the time. I then tend to put weeks around that week via RCI cash rates to extend the trip for very attractive rates. Without *some* timeshare you can't get into RCI (though some people say there are other ways into those deals, IDK - haven't tried).

If you were going to do what I do, you will want to pay for TUG and look at the actual timeshare reviews before booking "random RCI ones", or just ask on the appropriate forum by location I think.

 

[brp]

If you were going to do what I do, you will want to pay for TUG and look at the actual timeshare reviews before booking "random RCI ones", or just ask on the appropriate forum by location I think.

I definitely second the suggestion to become a supporting member of TUG and gain access to the additional information that is available.

Cheers.

 

[DazedandConfused]

I value HGVC points at about $.10 per point, thus 1,000 points = $100 value

I value HHonors at $.005 per point, thus 20,000 points = $100 value

HGVC can convert to HHonors at 1:16

 

[WaikikiFirst]

worth between $0.06 & $0.30, with $0.20 - $0.22 my "central limit theorem", tee hee
$0.06 is what they give you if you use it to pay your MF, isn't it?
$0.30 is what it can sort of easily buy for "value" at the most expensive locations
The $0.44 isn't outlandish, but it is surely an outlier, and wouldn't hold up for a wide variety of travel to different places. I say not outlandish, since it seems people rent out some HGVC weeks for maybe 2x my CLT.

 

[Stewcation]

On the timeshare side - one thing HGVC gets you (well, to my mind, many systems or timeshares get you) is RCI access. Now, it'll depend a lot on your preferences, but the cash rates in the built up areas (Smuggs, Massanutten, Berkshires, Williamsburg, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Branson, Las Vegas, etc etc) multiply the value in an indirect way. What I mean is you often find sub $650 for a week all in in 2BR, and a bit less for 1BR in pretty nice resorts. They're not HGVC level, but there are often plenty nice places.

That's an interesting consideration. How do RCI cash rates compare to HGVC open season rates?

I value HGVC points at about $.10 per point, thus 1,000 points = $100 value

With this valuation do you even consider HGVC resale deeds to be worthwhile, since only the best ones will even give you less than a $0.10 per point maintenance fee?

worth between $0.06 & $0.30, with $0.20 - $0.22 my "central limit theorem", tee hee
$0.06 is what they give you if you use it to pay your MF, isn't it?
$0.30 is what it can sort of easily buy for "value" at the most expensive locations
The $0.44 isn't outlandish, but it is surely an outlier, and wouldn't hold up for a wide variety of travel to different places. I say not outlandish, since it seems people rent out some HGVC weeks for maybe 2x my CLT.

I didn't know you could use your points toward your maintenance fee, but that looks like it'd be a horrible use of points if they only offer $0.06 per point for that.
I'm wondering how you came up with the $0.30 and $0.22 values, are you calculating this value based off of what you could get by renting your weeks out? My calculation was based off of how much we would have to spend retail for equivalent stays, but it does make sense that the real value would be somewhere between what I calculated and what it would cost for similar stays on the timeshare rental market or alternatives like Airbnb.

 

[jp10558]

That's an interesting consideration. How do RCI cash rates compare to HGVC open season rates?

So the real trick here is you can't think of this like a hotel stay where you might well pick the lowest rate via various sellers (i.e. Hilton.com, Expedia, HHonors App, Travel Agent, etc). Because availability is the real issue here IMO. Open Season is only sub 30 days, but IDK how much of that has been "sitting around" vs "last minute cancellations". RCI Extra Vacations tend to be further out, but only some HGVC properties show up there. RCI also incurs resort fees. IDK if you get owner parking rates if you're an owner but booked RCI.

All that said, my very quick looks at Open Season were not compelling, they were basically MF, which is fine, but then I'd have wanted to also get the better planning for that money. RCI Extra Vacations looked to beat that in the limited times and locations they were available - around $1,000 vs $1,800, but with resort fees probably more like $1,200 comparison. For me, if I'm looking for a last minute thing based on what is available in the list (and not trying to fit a specific location or date) and am not wedded to HGVC - I'm looking RCI Last Call as those are usually $379 plus tax and fees, so usually less than $550 (for a 2BR).

I'm wondering how you came up with the $0.30 and $0.22 values, are you calculating this value based off of what you could get by renting your weeks out? My calculation was based off of how much we would have to spend retail for equivalent stays, but it does make sense that the real value would be somewhere between what I calculated and what it would cost for similar stays on the timeshare rental market or alternatives like Airbnb.

The timeshare rental market is a real PITA IMO. You've got the places like Wyndham that actively discourage it (but plenty of people claiming to rent it out on ebay etc - when you get told you can't check in what happens?), you've got just a plethora of sites with different formats, fees, and it just gets pretty hard to work out a holistic search, and you've got the scammers. On top of all that, it again seems to be a "see what's available" far more than a search for a place and time. Though the last minute rental forum, or wishes on TUG marketplace are better for that. I also have only rented 1 time so far, from the last minute forum here, and it went great. I guess the rate worked out to be similar to RCI Extra Vacations prices I think, so not as cheap as "last calls". That said, with some rental markets you can specify dates rather than just the week, which can be useful to some.

So - I guess my underlying point is defining a generic alternative is hard in a way hotels really isn't.

 

[SmithOp]

I don't consider it in terms of dollars, I'm more interested in how many nights I can reserve in places I want to go.

Since we live on the West Coast, Hawaii is our go to vacation spot. I never stay in the 2 bedroom week I own, I prefer to book smaller units in gold season to stretch points. I minimize weekends also. For my one week I can get two 12 day stays by booking Monday to a week from the following Friday (only one weekend). Using this strategy I can get a one bedroom unit in Hawaii for $100 a night based on my maintenance fees YMMV.

 

[brp]

I don't consider it in terms of dollars, I'm more interested in how many nights I can reserve in places I want to go.

Since we live on the West Coast, Hawaii is our go to vacation spot. I never stay in the 2 bedroom week I own, I prefer to book smaller units in gold season to stretch points. I minimize weekends also. For my one week I can get two 12 day stays by booking Monday to a week from the following Friday (only one weekend). Using this strategy I can get a one bedroom unit in Hawaii for $100 a night based on my maintenance fees YMMV.

This is exactly what we do. I quantify in terms of things of value: nights at location we want and the cost in terms of MF, rather than intermediate variables that have no real significance.

But there are many ways to peel the onion.

Cheers.

 

[dayooper]

I don't consider it in terms of dollars, I'm more interested in how many nights I can reserve in places I want to go.

Since we live on the West Coast, Hawaii is our go to vacation spot. I never stay in the 2 bedroom week I own, I prefer to book smaller units in gold season to stretch points. I minimize weekends also. For my one week I can get two 12 day stays by booking Monday to a week from the following Friday (only one weekend). Using this strategy I can get a one bedroom unit in Hawaii for $100 a night based on my maintenance fees YMMV.

We reserve up. It’s not about nights, it’s about size. We can book a 3 bedroom for our adult sized family of 6. We can’t take several weeks of vacation a year (we are too busy) so we book a family vacation and a small one for the wife and I. We can book the size of rooms we need for much less than even renting from a TS owner, let alone a company.

I used to hate traveling because I felt cramped in hotel rooms. Our HGVC gives us nice, large, consistent units that we can stretch out in. If we need our space, we have it. It’s sorta about money because we never could afford our trips without our ownership, but it’s also about the room and the connection with all of us.

 

[gggllm]

I just search the cash price in hilton.com and compare it.

My personal observation is that hilton grand vacation cash price is actually more competitive than hotel room you can get in the area.
Subjectively speaking, suite is much better than hotel/studio.

Price tag wise, for hotel, suite is at least 2x the cash price than the hotel room. But in HGVC, suite is only a little bit more than hotel room. Another observation is that usually the hotel rooms are priced similar for HGVC vs hilton/other hotels. Which makes me think suite or 2br+ are much better value than normal hotel. So I am very comfortable with using those cash price as my hgvc points valuation

 

[Tamaradarann]

I don't consider it in terms of dollars, I'm more interested in how many nights I can reserve in places I want to go.

Since we live on the West Coast, Hawaii is our go to vacation spot. I never stay in the 2 bedroom week I own, I prefer to book smaller units in gold season to stretch points. I minimize weekends also. For my one week I can get two 12 day stays by booking Monday to a week from the following Friday (only one weekend). Using this strategy I can get a one bedroom unit in Hawaii for $100 a night based on my maintenance fees YMMV.

I agree with your thinking about the value of HGVC ownership. It is not how much a POINT is worth but how much are you paying for a night in a timeshare. When we were staying the entire winter in a Studio in the Lagoon Tower from 2009-2020 I calculated at the begining of that period that it was costing us about $50/night and at the end of that period it was costing about $55/night. That was using all of our timeshare points which was 34.600 at that time and the maintenance for all those points as the cost for the stay. We looked at the value of owning the timeshares was that we were able to spend the winter in Hawaii away from the cold of New York. It was a very small Studio with a mini kitchen with no stove and a small refrigerator but we were in Honolulu for the beautiful winter weather and location not to stay inside of a timeshare unit.

 

[jp10558]

Yea, like others have said - timeshares in general (and TBH, most vacation rentals) beat out hotel rooms in space (we really like 2BR/2BA) and having a kitchen. When staying in Hotels you may get a free breakfast, but generally have to eat all meals "out" and we find that often 30%-50% of the food we have to throw out. With a timeshare we can "take it home" and get a second meal out of it. We can also buy frozen meals or cook at the timeshare which can be fun and will save money.

 

[dayooper]

Yea, like others have said - timeshares in general (and TBH, most vacation rentals) beat out hotel rooms in space (we really like 2BR/2BA) and having a kitchen. When staying in Hotels you may get a free breakfast, but generally have to eat all meals "out" and we find that often 30%-50% of the food we have to throw out. With a timeshare we can "take it home" and get a second meal out of it. We can also buy frozen meals or cook at the timeshare which can be fun and will save money.

When we are at a place that has a local cuisine or style, we always try to prepare at least 1 meal that fits that. When we are at Ocean Oak or Enclave, we try some low country seafood (ex. shrimp and grits) or we get locally sourced food that we can't get at home (seafood from a local fish market). Love making jambalaya with fresh shrimp. We cook the majority of our time on our vacations. We go out to eat a couple of nights, but cook the rest. When we drive to our location, we even bring some of our own cooking wear that the units don't have (dutch oven, slow cooker).

 

[Tamaradarann]

When we are at a place that has a local cuisine or style, we always try to prepare at least 1 meal that fits that. When we are at Ocean Oak or Enclave, we try some low country seafood (ex. shrimp and grits) or we get locally sourced food that we can't get at home (seafood from a local fish market). Love making jambalaya with fresh shrimp. We cook the majority of our time on our vacations. We go out to eat a couple of nights, but cook the rest. When we drive to our location, we even bring some of our own cooking wear that the units don't have (dutch oven, slow cooker).

We would do the same as you do eat out a couple of nights a week and eat home the rest even in our little Studio with no stove but a microwave oven. We would bring home left overs from a meal that we ate out to get a second dinner. Also we would get 3 meals out of one of the Sam's Club Huge Chickens with some salad and rice. We found that some of the best savings of a timeshare was being able to enjoy nice cups of morning coffee, breakfast and lunches in the room rather than going out for those meals. Also for dinner my husband would make salads, and alcoholic drinks in the room before going out for dinner. Salad and alcoholic drinks can cost about 1/2 the price of dinner eating out and with tip and tax added that is a real savings.

 

[TUGBrian]

thought this was a neat breakdown, id like to see this for other point systems =)

 

[fernow]

I'm looking into buy an HGVC resale deed and I'm trying to determine what kind of value I'd be getting on a yearly basis.

I ran some simulations with multiple examples of how I might actually use 11200 points in a year and looked up the same stays on Hilton.com to see what the real cost would be and with this method I found that depending on the season, unit type, and property the value of a point ranged from $0.29 - $0.74 with an average value of $0.44 per point among the 14 different stays that I simulated. A fairly decent 11200 point deed costing $1200 per year for maintenance fees + club dues has a $0.11 yearly cost per point, meaning that the deed should provide on average a 4x value on its yearly costs (a $4800 value for only $1200).

Of course, my calculations only factor in booking resort stays on Hilton.com at full retail pricing, which I likely would never actually do, so if I factored in promotions/discounts for stays or even cheaper alternatives like Airbnb then I imagine that my calculated $0.44 per point would be a bit lower. So, I'm wondering, how much do you think that an HGVC point is actually worth in 2024 when trying to decide whether to buy a deed or not?


P.S. The 14 stays I used in my calculations were (Description - Point Cost - Hilton.com Cost - Point Value):

1. 7 Nights Elara Platinum 1BR 7680 $2,239.87 $0.29
2. 7 Nights Elara Platinum Studio 3520 $1,984.31 $0.56
3. 4 Week Nights Sunrise Lodge Gold 1BR 2688 $841.20 $0.31
4. 4 Week Nights Parc Soleil Platinum 1BR 3072 $993.40 $0.32
5. 3 Week Nights Elara Platinum 3BR 5088 $3,199.07 $0.63
6. 7 Nights Kings' Land Platinum 2BR 11200 $3,965.60 $0.35
7. 3 Week Nights Sunrise Lodge Silver 3BR Plus 2304 $1,713.55 $0.74
8. 7 Nights Kings' Land Platinum 1BR 7680 $2,787.22 $0.36
9. 3 Week Nights Paradise Silver 1BR 1152 $578.04 $0.50
10. 4 Week Nights Sunrise Lodge Gold 3BR Plus 4480 $2,203.13 $0.49
11. 4 Week Nights The Central at 5th Platinum Studio 3360 $2,113.00 $0.63
12. 4 Week Nights The Boulevard Platinum 1BR 3072 $880.28 $0.29
13. 4 Week Nights MarBrisa Platinum 2BR 4480 $1,513.11 $0.34
14. 7 Nights Parc Soleil Gold 1BR 5440 $1,607.29 $0.30

Having mostly been a reader and only occasionally a contributor to the forums, I have noted the concept of “worth” or ”value” can get very complicated.

The truth. The best pickup truck. A great tasting beer. The best 10 movies of all time. Here, ”value“.

So let me give it my shot. Should I buy into this timeshare thing? Are the “points” worth the cost?

Firstly, nobody wants points, they want nights of lodging. You can stay in a clean comfortable room where they keep the lights on for you for $89 a night. There are plenty of great hotel resorts for only $1,000 a night. But we’re not talking about either of those.

Short answer is, yes. With only a little effort on the purchase decision and the points usage it is well worth it.

A 2 bdrm unit for a week costs you about $2,100 cash for yearly fees plus booking fees (not sure where you got $1,200 associated with 11,200 points) and room tax. And you “use“ your points. The number of points is not really relevant. It‘s the number it takes to get the week of lodging.

Similar (and that is where the best pickup truck debate begins) cost of 2 bedrooms booked without ownership in my experience costs +/- $4,200 so your points buy $2,100.

if you pay $10,000 for your contract. You break even in 5 years.

 

[Sandy VDH]

When I book something I usually check multiple options. 1) Points 2) Open Season 3) RCI or II option, 4) Hotel site, 5) Other TS system into RCI 6} Small Exchange company (SFX etc).

The cost per supply chain varies, sometimes greatly. I have booked via all of these methods at times. Some options and path have dried up or I have abandoned (like option 6, too much work and too little value}. I have looked at the hotel site, just to see what a non owner would face in terms of $$. But I would never use that as a comparison of my cost, only my value, at least for Hilton properties. But I have booked some units (WM or HICV for instance, that are cheaper on the company website than what my MFs are in $$).

I have booked Hawaii via RCI because it was cheaper, even with resort fees. But you have to assess your future travel plans that year, or if it is closer to the end of the year and you have point expiring or not, that could alter your situation and force you to book a more expensive, cost wise option, but to avoid having to save (for a fee) or lose points (and have nothing), it might sway your choice.

 

[jp10558]

A 2 bdrm unit for a week costs you about $2,100 cash for yearly fees plus booking fees (not sure where you got $1,200 associated with 11,200 points) and room tax. And you “use“ your points. The number of points is not really relevant. It‘s the number it takes to get the week of lodging.

There is the wrinkle of if you only own one 11,200 pts contract with HGVC or if you own 2 or more, and that's how you count the clubfees. TBH, for 2024 my "expensive" Florida cost $1,650 including my club fees cause I only own the one week. Booking was $79 I think. For 2025, that's $1,850 but still under your $2,100. The complicated part is some Vegas properties and Scotland both will be less than that, I think around $1,450 with the club fee. The other part is if you own a second or third week, the $399 club fee is only paid once, so the 11,200pts costs less even with the same MFs - i.e. if I bought a second week my 11,200 would go down to $1,650 again, simply because half the club fee would be used by the second week.

Similar (and that is where the best pickup truck debate begins) cost of 2 bedrooms booked without ownership in my experience costs +/- $4,200 so your points buy $2,100.

The excellent news here is that if it all works at $2,100 - it just looks better at the lower rates. But this all still basically fits with my calculations above. The other wrinkle is just like you point out - for any one person, the comparison needs to be towards their alternative - it really ends up needing to be relative. For me, on the one hand, TS save me gobs of money vs getting hotel rooms, certainly vs getting 2 hotel rooms, but my alternative was just not going anywhere, which was free in dollars, but sucky in experiences.

 

[cowboyfan]

I never really considered basing it on what I could book on Hilton.com or whatever. I've done some comparisons (always for 2BR or bigger) with redweek rentals (though not as detailed) and usually found for my stays it either was about 1.5x value or it was infinity value because I could not find a comparable rental on the redweek market.

My main comparisons has always been to hotel rooms or AirB&B. However, I also think there are a bunch of ancillary concerns that will complicate the comparison.

With Hotel Rooms, 2BR costs double 1BR. You usually are not comparing a suite or having a full kitchen. The 2BR is usually less than double a 1BR in HGVC and other timeshares that I've looked at, so right away hotels are at a disadvantage. But if you're comparing 1BR then it gets trickier because the straight minimum cost can get closer. The hotels usually won't be as spacious or have kitchens, but in terms of a bed to sleep in, it does.

With AirB&B - I've only found one simulated trip so far that it'd save me money on, all the rest cost more, usually 1.5x to 2x for me. AirB&B also has more randomness in the accommodation and support staff for issues, cleaning, etc.

Both hotels and AirB&B tend to be far less likely to have a heated pool or hot tub but they might. They usually aren't resorts in the sense of timeshares, but larger rental houses may have game rooms etc. It's more random.

On the timeshare side - one thing HGVC gets you (well, to my mind, many systems or timeshares get you) is RCI access. Now, it'll depend a lot on your preferences, but the cash rates in the built up areas (Smuggs, Massanutten, Berkshires, Williamsburg, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Branson, Las Vegas, etc etc) multiply the value in an indirect way. What I mean is you often find sub $650 for a week all in in 2BR, and a bit less for 1BR in pretty nice resorts. They're not HGVC level, but there are often plenty nice places.

So I tend to use HGVC for the destinations where HGVC is and with the ability to often pick the time. I then tend to put weeks around that week via RCI cash rates to extend the trip for very attractive rates. Without *some* timeshare you can't get into RCI (though some people say there are other ways into those deals, IDK - haven't tried).

If you were going to do what I do, you will want to pay for TUG and look at the actual timeshare reviews before booking "random RCI ones", or just ask on the appropriate forum by location I think.

I have a resale West 57th deed (8400 points Platinum). M/F for 2025 is $1881. I can stay one week at West 57th with Owner's Lounge access for $1881 plus $69 reservation fee. This is less than $300/night and that is unheard of in this part of Manhattan even for the cheapest hotels. I usually stay in NYC during Christmas time and HGVC gives me flexibility to book at 9 months out. By my calculation I am paying approximately 50% of the Manhattan hotel going room rate.

 

[Stewcation]

Thinking about it more I consider the various stays that a decent maintenance fee would get and I figure that I would end up paying 2 to 3 times or more.

 

[4TimeAway]

The value question assumes compared to what.

I think of it as a forced vacation.
Not free, but above average. We are taking more and better vacations. The "value" of this is very subjective. I think this is how they sell TS in 90 minutes for large sums of $$.

People have a need to be forced to take vacations and spend money. If you spend 2x on a trip you take 50% less trips?

 

[Tamaradarann]

The value question assumes compared to what.

I think of it as a forced vacation.
Not free, but above average. We are taking more and better vacations. The "value" of this is very subjective. I think this is how they sell TS in 90 minutes for large sums of $$.

People have a need to be forced to take vacations and spend money. If you spend 2x on a trip you take 50% less trips?

That is a very good point. It is a forced vacation. In certain times of your life with sufficient income this is a great motivation and you get great accommodations for those forced vacations. However, if your income, health, home location, family situations change then you are STUCK with taking those forced vacations or you are paying maintenance for nothing. Furthermore, even if none of the unexpected planned changes in life listed above happen as you get older you may not want to or can travel so that having forced vacations is a burden of just getting older.

In our personal situation we now live in Honolulu which is the area that we bought many of our HGVC timeshares for so we could stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the entire winter. That is no longer necessary since we live across the street. We are also in our mid 70's so while we still can vacation the "Adventure" of vacationiing in new places has dimmed.

 

[jp10558]

That is a very good point. It is a forced vacation. In certain times of your life with sufficient income this is a great motivation and you get great accommodations for those forced vacations. However, if your income, health, home location, family situations change then you are STUCK with taking those forced vacations or you are paying maintenance for nothing. Furthermore, even if none of the unexpected planned changes in life listed above happen as you get older you may not want to or can travel so that having forced vacations is a burden of just getting older.

In our personal situation we now live in Honolulu which is the area that we bought many of our HGVC timeshares for so we could stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the entire winter. That is no longer necessary since we live across the street. We are also in our mid 70's so while we still can vacation the "Adventure" of vacationiing in new places has dimmed.

The good news is you can probably give away or sell many of the HGVC if they're decent points to MF deeds. At least for aging out I tend to figure you can just default (assuming no loans, and TBH at a certain age, screw the credit score anyway lol) in the last resort.