I regret buying into Max, so far. I did so before becoming aware of this site, and the resale market. Availability is poor at new/expanded locations. Frustrating to see (and be sold on) a bunch of new countries/sites listed with limited to no availability at resorts. I understand the DRI properties do not meet HGVC standards, but I haven't been to one yet to experience the difference. Maybe I'm saving on some fees, not too sure actually, if there are other side benefits like that.
well, the good side is that availability will probably get better over time. Max is just an exchange so they need folks exchanging to increase availability but if folks don't join, they it really restricts it. Same for the Embarc/Max arrangement. Like @escanoe said, Max does not transfer nor does Elite in Legacy. There is a paragraph in the club rules that goes over this.
To expound slightly on the "No" you've received from others, Max is a property of an owner not a deed. The most well advertised benefit of which is the ability to use your DRI or HGVC points to exchange into resorts on the other side at six months.
Max is actually a program/exchange so no ownership involved. The best name for a person in HGV Max who own in HGVC is "HGVClub with HGV Max", this shows that the owner still has their core benefits from HGVC but they also get the Max benefits which include exchanging into DRI/HVC at the 6 month window but also come with some perks, like no reservation fee. Since it is just a program/exchange though, it can end anytime without warning from HGV. This is from the club rules:
funny thing, the sales people don't point these terms out.
I don't think many of them actually understand. If you own in HGVC, then your primary benefits are from HGVC but really, you are only guaranteed your week at the property where you own. Everything else is subject to change.
They either may not really know themselves or certainly don't want to lose a sale with "too many details".
My guess is the answer may depend on if you buy retail, or resale. I'm not sure though. I own only HGVC Max and was offered DRI trust points at our last update in Charleston. The offer was not at all appealing.
Booking into a former DRI Resort is limited by the 6 Month Window no matter your Status in HGVC. We are DRI owners. We have no desire to join MAX. Most DRI Members we talk to are of the same opinion. So if there has to DRI members in MAX that Book into a HGVC resort for there to be availability for HGVC MAX members to Book into former DRI Resorts this might be a severe limitation. Another bad thing for DRI Members is they lose Benefits/Privileges if they join MAX.
Our eventual plan is to have two buckets. All will be resale so we will be Grand Pubah in neither program and will have saved a ton of money. For DRI, we are interested in Maui and Kauai, so the Hawaii Collection resale should work for us.
I like the saving on fees part. If you book in-network resorts, there is no booking fee. That saves $. We booked a managed (M) resort in Paris using only points, no fees. It felt nice.
agreed, i like booking things that i find open, then discussing with the wife, and cancelling if we decide against, all without concern for fees.
That is one of the things that I like about elite premier. Free reservations and free unlimited guest certs
i doubt I'll ever achieve that status. one saving grace of MAX, free book and cancel, and some free certs (i think).
limited (or determined from) max tier level.