Last Minute Travel - Newbie

[bschase2]

So, my wife and attended a sales presentation this past week for HGVC at Park Soleil. We were interested, but did not commit to anything. We did purchase something that allows us a 1 week vacation at certain resorts sometime during the next 18 months, but that is completely refundable within 10 days. Given the information we have discovered, it is now clear that we should not purchase through Hilton.

So thanks for that information.

My question is this. One of the biggest selling points for us was the last minute sales. It was explained to us that we could use the website and look for destinations that are available 45 days out and get them for what seems incredibly cheap (under $300 for the week.)

Can anyone here verify that? It seems to us that this would be a tremendous opportunity to go places inexpensively, and then save the points for trips we want to do that would be far to expensive on their own.

FWIW, we are a family of 4, with 2 young kids (6 and 3).

Thanks for the help in advance!

 

[Passepartout]

My question is this. One of the biggest selling points for us was the last minute sales. It was explained to us that we could use the website and look for destinations that are available 45 days out and get them for what seems incredibly cheap (under $300 for the week.)

Yup, it's true. They are through RCI- the exchange company HGVC and lots of other resorts use. You have to own a resort affiliated with RCI to get them, and they are for cash. No exchange required.

Now, you won't find a lot of Hilton or Disney quality resorts available last minute. You won't find beach front Hawaii. But if you can deal with 2nd tier, clean, sometimes independent or smaller chain type TSs, that's what most Last Calls are. They run from about $220 for a studio to $250ish for 1BR to just under $300 a week for a 2 BR when they are available. These get turned over to RCI by the resorts to fill their occupancy and to provide bodies for the sales force to try to sell on buying at the location.

I looked yesterday for about a day's drive from where I live in the boonies and saw over 30 resorts throughout Wash, Or, Cal, Nev, Utah. 7-or 8 perfectly fine ones in Las Vegas.

Welcome to TUG. Look around, read the forums that interest you and ask questions you don't find addressed in the search functions. I can't imagine any question you could ask that hasn't been covered one time or another.

Jim