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Need HGVC advice

JonathanIT said:
Isn't this similar to the situation given as an example by linsj above where you are using HHonors points for a reward stay at an HGVC property (Hilton Waikoloa)? I full agree with him; why use your HHonors points there when you can use either HGVC points or pay open season cash rates. Save your HHonors points for somewhere that has no HGVC property!
Click to expand...

Sorry, I should have been more clear. We are using HHonors points to stay at the hotel side - NOT at the HGVC @ Waikoloa. This is our first trip to Hawaii and we wanted to check out this area. It actually worked out this way because we were able to score low airfare and since we just purchased HGVC, we do not have our HGVC club points yet. So we decided to use the Hhonors points. We only need a hotel unit since it is just the two of us.

I wanted to clarify JonathanIT's post about the conversion rate since it is still slightly off. The rate is NOT just a flat 23:1 at any time. To get the 23:1 rate, it has to be in one of the following 2 situations:
--You have to convert ALL of your HGVC points BEFORE the beginning of the use year for those points. So IOW, I would have to convert ALL my HGVC 2008 points before 12-31-07 (this also assumes you are not actually making a reservation at that time).
--Or, you can convert any remaining current years HGVC points at 23:1 ONLY IF you are booking a 6 night stay using one of the VIP Rewards. So IOW, I could call today and book a 6-night VIP reward stay using a portion of my 2007 points and still get 23:1.

For ALL OTHER HHonors bookings using HGVC points in the CURRENT year, it is only 20:1.

This was explained in great detail in prior posts and also confirmed to me by Seth Nock, who is one of the most reliable HGVC resale brokers out there. Hope that helps - since I agree that it is a very confusing thing.....
 
StuckinChicago said:
I wanted to clarify JonathanIT's post about the conversion rate since it is still slightly off. The rate is NOT just a flat 23:1 at any time. To get the 23:1 rate, it has to be in one of the following 2 situations:
--You have to convert ALL of your HGVC points BEFORE the beginning of the use year for those points. So IOW, I would have to convert ALL my HGVC 2008 points before 12-31-07 (this also assumes you are not actually making a reservation at that time).
--Or, you can convert any remaining current years HGVC points at 23:1 ONLY IF you are booking a 6 night stay using one of the VIP Rewards. So IOW, I could call today and book a 6-night VIP reward stay using a portion of my 2007 points and still get 23:1.

For ALL OTHER HHonors bookings using HGVC points in the CURRENT year, it is only 20:1.
Click to expand...
Yes thank you for this clarification... I forgot that when I converted from my HGVC points they were bonus points, not the regular yearly usage points (bonus points can be converted at any time in any increments). Yes, you do have to convert them ahead of time.

It should also be noted that when you do convert them ahead of time (e.g. 2008 points by 12/31/07), they will not show up in you HHonors account until 2008 (so, no "borrowing back" in the current year as with HGVC pts). However, one advantage (as has been noted) is that they do not expire after conversion.
 
VIP rewards booking

You have to book the VIP award by calling HHonors directly. Any category 5 and below hotel is 150,000 points for six nights. A category 6 hotel is 175,000 points and the points cost varies for the Waldorf collection based on the particular property chosen. A couple of years ago, I booked a single night award for the Hilton Zurich hotel. It cost 25,000 points for one night versus 500 Euro(approx $700). To say the least, it was very much worth the 25,000 points to stay there. The hotel conversion is a great benefit as long as you're using properties that are otherwise expensive to stay at.
 
Learning a lot!

I've learned much more from this thread regarding HGVC than anywhere else I have looked. Thank you all for your input!
I purchased my HGVclub this past March (7000 points in Orlando Int'l Drive). I know we will not be going on a vacation the remainder of 2007 where I can take advantage of the club. My question is: Where should I put my 2007 points? Roll over to 2008 HGVC; Roll into HHonors; or move them to RCI? Also, at the end of this month we should be receiving our 10,000 bonus (or whatever they called them) points for joining HGVC. We plan on converting them to HHonors, since we didn't get them in time to pay our taxes/fees. Is that the correct thing to do as well?
Most of the trips we will be taking will be in the Caribbean, Central or South America. That is the reason we were thinking about moving our points to RCI. I never thought about using other Hilton properties in those countries with HHonor points.
I'd appreciate any help/suggestions you all could provide. I do think the key to making this work and be enjoyable is learning how to 'play the system'.

-Larry-
 
If I was fortunate enough to ;ive in Hawaii. I would buy where I want to really vacation- Vegas, Florida, Portugal, california
etc-
I would also have the available points to use as I wish for nearby spot vacations here and there in Hawaii- Since nearby vacations are flexible --reservations wouldnt be a problem
I currently own HGVC in Waikoloa -I plan on using eOY- since I live in california I can use my Hyatt points for 3/4 day vacations in Tahoe and carmel
good luck
 
I agree, there has been some great advice and explanations given that really helps to understand the HGVC system.

I have another question concerning the potential use of an EOY purchase.
How long do I have to use my HGVC points.
1. For example if I receive 7000 pts for 2007 and my next usage is 2009, can I carry over the points until 2009 for either a 2009 vacation or 2010 vacation.
2. It sounds like I would be able to borrow the 2009 points in 2008 for possible use in 2008 or 2009.
 
killman said:
............My question is: Where should I put my 2007 points? Roll over to 2008 HGVC; Roll into HHonors; or move them to RCI? Also, at the end of this month we should be receiving our 10,000 bonus (or whatever they called them) points for joining HGVC. We plan on converting them to HHonors, since we didn't get them in time to pay our taxes/fees. Is that the correct thing to do as well?
Most of the trips we will be taking will be in the Caribbean, Central or South America. That is the reason we were thinking about moving our points to RCI. I never thought about using other Hilton properties in those countries with HHonor points.
I'd appreciate any help/suggestions you all could provide. I do think the key to making this work and be enjoyable is learning how to 'play the system'.

-Larry-
Click to expand...

Larry
I do not own HGVC, but I have used RCI for trading. Before you or anyone can answer this question you need to narrow down on where you want to go. The Caribbean, Central or South America covers a lot of area and options. Some Caribbean Islands have many timeshares that you can trade into using RCI and some islands have very few timeshares. (Same for South America) IMO HGVC does not have much to offer in these locations for timeshare resorts therefore RCI will be your only option for trading.
If you choose a location with few timeshares then you may have to use the HHonors option. I have traveled the Caribbean a bit and there are not a lot of Hilton hotels on many of the islands either.
So, you need to start with getting specific about where you would like to go to see what your options are.
 
Bootser said:
1. For example if I receive 7000 pts for 2007 and my next usage is 2009, can I carry over the points until 2009 for either a 2009 vacation or 2010 vacation.
Click to expand...
You can "bank" or "recover" your 2007 points and put them into 2008. But then those points must be used for a 2008 (or 2007) reservation. You could not use those points for a 2009 reservation.
2. It sounds like I would be able to borrow the 2009 points in 2008 for possible use in 2008 or 2009.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is correct.

You can borrow points from a future year for free. If you want to "bank" (done before Dec 31 of the previous year) or "recover" (done in December of the current year) your points to the next year, there is a fee to do those transactions.

Hope this helps,
Kurt
 
Booster,

I see that we are neighbors!

I've checked the RCI website and just about everywhere we would want to go, they have something available. Again, I haven't checked Hilton to see what hotels they have at these locations go get a good comparision. What I understand, or perceive to understand, from this forum is that I would probably be better off moving my points to RCI, and using them within the next 2 years versus converting my points to Hhonors.
The only 'concern' that I have is that I've talked to people who have booked with RCI and they've had a tough time getting the dates/locations that they've wanted, even 9 to 12 months out.
 
As a HGVC member is there a way to check rCI availability and make reservations online- Have I been missing out for a year and a half????
 
CaliDave said:
I would buy a 4800 or 5000 in Vegas. It will meet your needs.. just make sure you book at 9 months out for Hawaii and you'll be fine.. unless you are trying to get Xmas or New years.. then you'd have to own in Hawaii
Click to expand...

Thanks CaliDave, I think I like this approach as well. It seems the gold seasons are sooo much cheaper per point than platinum. Since I do not plan to use it every year, it sounds like I can accumulate the points with HGVC for a couple of years until I can use them.
Ofcourse there are always trade offs, I would have to pay the maintenance fees every year for the gold season points. This is the trade off against the higher purchase price.
 
I would definitely go for 7000 points. This would give you 2 weeks or 1 and a partial week if you are looking for a room with a view. Down the road I am sure you will be glad you got the extra points as you may decide to exchange elsewhere. The maintenance fees are much the same for 5000 and 7000. I have 14000 and still looking at more. I have had about 10 or so years of enjoyment with mine (especially going to Hawaii). Sooby
 
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