MAX-now that it’s operational, how is it and why would I want it?

[elaine]

How is MAX working in practice and why would an existing hgvc owner want it?
I still just don’t see the appeal to MAX, except maybe a few diamond resorts.

 

[geist1223]

We are not HGVC Members. We are DRI Members. We see no value in MAX. In fact we lose benefits if we join MAX.

 

[brp]

We are not HGVC Members. We are DRI Members. We see no value in MAX. In fact we lose benefits if we join MAX.

We are not DRI members, We are HGVC members. We see no value in MAX.

Cheers.

 

[drucifer]

I have Max. I've tried a couple of Diamond resorts that would fit my schedule at the 6-month mark. No availability. I mean, I just got an AirBnB for one of the trips and just scratched the other. Still, I'm not seeing any way that I would buy points or give Hilton money to have Max if I didn't already have it.

 

[Eric B]

I have Max from the HGVC side. Not much availability in the resorts I would book through it - more availability in those through RCI. The all inclusive fees might have value for those not owning bHC, though the cost for getting it is high.

 

[DianeNYS]

Edit: Post moved to DRI/HGVC Forum

 

[elaine]

Diane, I think there are numerous posts about using dri qnd not converting on hgvc-dri forum. Check/post there.

 

[DianeNYS]

Yeah...Thanks! I didn't find that Forum till after I posted here (duh!!!). Is there a way to move my post over there? I don't want to have it in 2 places (I think that's against the rules LOL).

 

[dayooper]

Yeah...Thanks! I didn't find that Forum till after I posted here (duh!!!). Is there a way to move my post over there? I don't want to have it in 2 places (I think that's against the rules LOL).

I’ll report it so a mod can move it.

I’m not a DRI member, but what you describe is typical salesman talk. I believe the salesman is lying but on the small instance he’s not, why would you make that move until it really happens. If you aren’t going to buy into HGVC, why even go?

The salesman’s only purpose is to get you to buy into HGVC. They will twist the truth until they get you to buy or tick you off because you didn’t buy. They have already primed you with the pressure of losing what you already own. HGVC upper management has already come out and said if you don’t buy in you will still be able to enjoy what you already have. The statement that you will lose access to any resort but what you own has been said to resale owners all the time. We still have access to what we had before.

 

[DianeNYS]

Thanks, dayooper! I edited the post to re-post in the right Forum (I hope that was okay).

The VIP woman who checked us in was a VERY fast talker and honestly scared the life out of us with her urgency of the 4/1/23 "Deadline" and we stupidly felt obligated to hear about it from the Updater (Yeah, yeah, I know--We've got TOO many years of TS Ownership to have fallen for that, but for some reason I felt guilty for not reading some Hilton email about it in my haste or something).

We don't plan on purchasing anything at all (we're pretty good at that LOL!), but losing part of our Tuesday of vacation is really irksome...

 

[geist1223]

As a DRI Member if we joined MAX we could not Book The Bay Club at Waikoloa until 6 Months before checkin. Through our Worldmark Account we Booked it through RCI 13 Months before checkin. In fact we Booked 3 weeks.

It is true we had to pay the RCI Fee but it would take a lot of those RCI Fees to equal what HGV wants to join.

 

[elaine]

Revisiting this. Is the only real benefit for a hgvc owner to join MAX being able to book DRI properties? And isn’t that only at 6 months out? And aren’t prime places/dates already booked up by then? Still wondering why hgvc owners would want MAX?

 

[elaine]

4 months later....still wondering? Anyone have good/bad experiences with MAX? Would you you do it again vs. just getting a resale week and staying in legacy HGVC or Diamond/HGV?

 

[GT75]

4 months later....still wondering? Anyone have good/bad experiences with MAX? Would you you do it again vs. just getting a resale week and staying in legacy HGVC or Diamond/HGV?

Great question and certainly worth an update.

 

[drucifer]

Update from March (6 months ago). I will be staying at my first Max-based reservation (a formerly DRI property in Orlando that was really low points compared to Parc Solei (sp?) or Tuscany.) I'll know how it goes in 5 weeks.

 

[muscae]

I was HGVC Elite Premier. I lost benefits going to MAX Premier+. I call it HGVC MIN.

 

[pedro47]

Update from March (6 months ago). I will be staying at my first Max-based reservation (a formerly DRI property in Orlando that was really low points compared to Parc Solei (sp?) or Tuscany. I'll know how it goes in 5 weeks.

We liked Grand Beach in Orlando, Fl. That was in the early 1980's.
The first phase of the resort; the rooms were larger and with a better view of the over all view of resort. IMHO.

 

[90_Min_Sales_Pitch]

If few are finding value here on Tug, I guess I'm not missing out. Most DRI properties are near a Wyndham property, so I don't need the access. We have stayed at 4 DRI properties, both before and after the acquisition, and they're really mixed bag as far as maintenance and amenities.

 

[chapjim]

We liked Grand Beach in Orlando, Fl. That was in the early 1980's.
The first phase of the resort; the rooms were larger and with a better view of the over all view of resort. IMHO.

I agree. I love the screened-in patio. I worked from there for a week during Covid. Indeed, practically lived on that patio for a week!

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I am not MAX, but have stayed at 3 DRI properties by exchanging via RCI. With the exception of Cabo Azul, the other two were a step down quality-wise from HGVC. Not terrible but if you are accustomed to HGVC, then you will notice.

 

[Smclaugh99]

I was HGVC Elite Premier. I lost benefits going to MAX Premier+. I call it HGVC MIN.

Yes! Same here. I was Elite Premier and swapped out a resale Gold week West 57th for a retail Plat week at West 57th in spring 2022 that made me Max Premier+. I called the elite line to do a reservation fix the other day and the guy encouraged me to call the max line which is just the general customer service. I definitely feel like it has been a step down.

Sean

 

[Lodemia]

Yes! Same here. I was Elite Premier and swapped out a resale Gold week West 57th for a retail Plat week at West 57th in spring 2022 that made me Max Premier+. I called the elite line to do a reservation fix the other day and the guy encouraged me to call the max line which is just the general customer service. I definitely feel like it has been a step down.

Sean

That sounds terrible.

 

[geist1223]

Similar results if a DRI Member joins HGV MAX. We are Platinum DRI with Club Select/Club Combination. We lose a lot of Bennies if we buy HGV MAX.

 

[4TimeAway]

Similar results if a DRI Member joins HGV MAX. We are Platinum DRI with Club Select/Club Combination. We lose a lot of Bennies if we buy HGV MAX.

This is my fear of spending money on something that isn't real.

I also feel like relative point values can change and so the "deal" point making place can turn to junk. I'm mainly thinking if a place gets overbuilt relative to demand.

It keeps feeling like Vegas is at that point, but it keeps getting bigger and now a football team and a racetrack. You have to admit they are hustlers there!

 

[elaine]

This is my fear of spending money on something that isn't real.

I've posted twice over the past year and still haven't seen anything yet that indicates MAX is worth it (at more than free/nominal price) and still don't even understand what I'd get over HGVC legacy except maybe a few leftover 6 months out DRI properties.