Looking to join HGVC but not sure best route

[mamilovestotravel]

Hello!

So my family and I did a sales pitch this past summer and my husband and I would have been sold but their entry level package was still mind numbing. It was a 3400 point biennial at one of the vegas properties for 10k if I remember correctly. We own DVC and have for years and I love it! I am looking for something equally flexible but with more options for usage on the west coast. HGCV seems like it fits the bill. I am looking to get my feet wet and get familiar with the program first. I saw this listing on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-400-HGVC-...319383?hash=item5680562f97:g:a5IAAOSw2s1UrxGV

I am not sure if it is what would be considered a good deal. The MF fees seems awful high to me for only 2400 points. That is almost what I pay for my DVC points and I doubt I could get as much out of these points.

We are a family of four so a 1 bdrm works but a 2 bdrm is best. I am limited to the traditional vacation times because my oldest is in middle school and taking off for a week for a vacation is not as easy. Any strategies you could suggest would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to get in for the least amount possible to see if I even like the program and later decide how to add on if it works out. How many points would be best for this approach?

Thanks!!!!

 

[presley]

That's a horrible contract.

For a 2 bedroom during prime season (when kids are out of school), you need at least 7,000 points. If you want California or Hawaii during the summer, you'll need more than that.

You can buy smaller contracts, such as a 5,000 annual gold for pretty cheap and bank/borrow points similar to how it is done with DVC. There are no limits on borrowing, but for banking, you pay a fee. If you decide to buy more points later, you'll have another MF. So, for many, it is better to buy a larger point package.

I don't recommend every buying a silver or bronze week, even if you just want to try out the system. Also, buy an annual instead of a EOY. With the EOY, banking/borrowing doesn't work as well and you may end up with small number of points leftover that aren't worth paying to save.

 

[Cyberc]

Hi

Welcome to tug

I'm sorry to say but 2400 points is an awful amount no mater how you roll the dice.

You say your are 4 in your family and need to travle in the traditional vacation window with school kids. With 2400 points you can't get a 1 week in a 1br. A 1br in School vacation window is almost always platinum time, and that costs 4800 points for 1 week.

My recommendation is to go for minimum 4800 points, or 7000 if you want a 2br.

Regards

 

[mamilovestotravel]

Thank you so much for your feedback!!!! So I need to look for at least a 5k annual contract but 7k is probably better for my family of four. I am also looking for platinum season given the times that I can take vacations. If I buy a bigger contract from the get go then I may save in the long run on maintenance fees. Got it. You two have been very helpful!!!!!! I will keep an eye out on the resale with those parameters in mind...Thank you!!!!!

 

[onenotesamba]

Keep in mind, though, that at any given property, a 5K Gold point package will have the same membership fee as a 7K Platinum point package. So, unless the buy-in price for 5K is really, really cheap, you'll most likely get more points for your money with a Platinum 7K contract.

Basically, you want to look for the greatest number of points (that you think you'll use--and if you want a two bedroom during school holidays, that's at least 7000 points/year), for the lowest membership fee location (Vegas or Orlando), and at the lowest initial purchase price.