Hyatt vs. HGVC

[Remy]

Since we're on the topic of comparing systems with HGVC, I'm curious what folks think about Hyatt in comparison with Hilton, especially in resale comparison. At first glance it seems Hyatt has more locations and uses a point system for reservations like HGVC.

 

[newportbeach]

Hyatt vs. Hilton or Marriott

I started with Marriott because it offered some many locations and I was thrilled 25 years ago and still enjoy their locations. Next visited Hilton at Kona and had to own it and was impressed with units in Europe and Honor points for visits to European Hotels. Then visited Hyatt Carmel and Sedona and found that Hyatt has more exclusive and less commercial locations.

My experience is they compare in the order above and I recommend if you want to buy more than one, buy Westin, then Marriott, then Hilton, and then Hyatt but it really depends on where you live and where you want to vacation.
Sorry about surprising you with Westin, but it is really a cut above. Caveat on buying Marriott you cannot go wrong on Ebay for a Desert Springs for $1600 if the m.f. is paid by seller, and closing costs paid by seller, so it really and actually is a $1 acquisition, and even if you live on the East Coast or Canada.A two bedroom lock off gets you two weeks in a lot of locations. You can't join the Destination club but that is all right. I once met a women at the Marriott Aruba that said I own here in Aruba and I would travel no other location and own no other T.S.. I kept my mouth shut, I don't want to always vacation at the same exact location and own one TS and I don't want to one multiply TS within just one trading company. Too each his own.

 

[Remy]

I started with Marriott because it offered some many locations and I was thrilled 25 years ago and still enjoy their locations. Next visited Hilton at Kona and had to own it and was impressed with units in Europe and Honor points for visits to European Hotels. Then visited Hyatt Carmel and Sedona and found that Hyatt has more exclusive and less commercial locations.

My experience is they compare in the order above and I recommend if you want to buy more than one, buy Westin, then Marriott, then Hilton, and then Hyatt but it really depends on where you live and where you want to vacation.
Sorry about surprising you with Westin, but it is really a cut above. Caveat on buying Marriott you cannot go wrong on Ebay for a Desert Springs for $1600 if the m.f. is paid by seller, and closing costs paid by seller, so it really and actually is a $1 acquisition, and even if you live on the East Coast or Canada.A two bedroom lock off gets you two weeks in a lot of locations. You can't join the Destination club but that is all right. I once met a women at the Marriott Aruba that said I own here in Aruba and I would travel no other location and own no other T.S.. I kept my mouth shut, I don't want to always vacation at the same exact location and own one TS and I don't want to one multiply TS within just one trading company. Too each his own.

The problem I run into when reading about other systems is the full week stay. I don't really vacation Saturday to Saturday, so I'm drawn to point-based systems that allow me to choose my days and stay over a weekend if I wish. A quick 4 day weekend in Vegas or a 5 night stay in south Florida is more my speed than the midweek vacation. I have the same problem with many of the RCI exchanges that go a full week. Perhaps I'm already in the best system for me. Recently I thought I had a Hyatt bought but the deal got weird so I bailed. Maybe it was a sign.

Since I'm a resale buyer does Westin treat resale the same as a developer purchase? I'm curious how Hyatt compares to others when using your points in other locations, like Aspen and some of the "Residence Club" locations.

 

[newportbeach]

Here is what I know

Westin is very straight up certain resorts are designated as mandatory, so if you purchase at an expensive resort like Westin St. John for a whole lot of money you can get up to 148,100 StarOption points. If I purchase at a less mandatory resort I pay less and still get 148,100 StarOption points and quite possibly pay less in M.F. You do get a 90 day Home resort priority but otherwise StarOptions are StarOptions, The program works fine. Buy at a non mandatory unit like Sheraton Desert Oasis for $500 and pay $800 in maintenance fees, and get no StarOptions but every year you trade at the Sheraton desk at Interval and get priority on Interval Trades. Works every time

Hyatt: works simply on points and I enjoy it. I never bother with using Interval, and Hyatt permits a 2 year wait list. Short 2-3 night stays and incredible off season rates at 5 star properties like Grand Aspen.

The more different large resort companies are the more similar. Now with the Marriott Destination Club you can get simple hotel like reservations instead of the wait list reply of Interval and RCI. Westin, Hyatt, and Hilton all had that for years, and Marriott finally followed them. All the majors allow short stays, but I am unsure as to Westin, so I am placing a caveat.

 

[yumdrey]

Hyatt and Hilton are quite similar, but Hyatt doesn't have Open Season.
Also if you want a ski week or Feb/March weeks at Naples (coconut plantation), you will be disappointed because those weeks are rarely available at 12 months out and pop up later during last minute.
Wait list can work, but not guaranteed.
Also Sunset Harbor in key west during prime season is hard to get.
You should check availability often and if you are lucky, you can see it one day and get it.
For Hilton, I never had hard time to get what I needed. Maybe Oahu can be tough to get, but saw plenty of weeks (prime weeks) within 3-5 months of range.
And if you stay less than a week, there is a cleaning fee (like housekeeping fee) charged by Hyatt. For Hilton, you don't pay that.
Hyatt has more resorts in more locations, but some ski resorts and hyatt siesta key resort have VERY HIGH maintenance fees.

 

[dbmarch]

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