Hi, there. Wifey and I sat through an HGVC presentation a few weeks ago in Orlando and we said no (mostly). Ultimately, we agreed to a VIP purchase, which we paid $1,695 for 11,000 points that we can use for a week stay or break into two stays at two properties. We can also bank those points if we agree to the “sales“ price of $25k and change for an Orlando HGVC for 8,000 annual points plus a bonus of 16,000 points (to be used within 4 years) plus the aforementioned 11,000 points with a current maintenance fee of $1,791. The VIP things was probably not the wisest decision, but we wanted to try it out and would have probably spent close to $1,000 anyway for a week somewhere. We are a family of four with two young kids. We have been weighing DVC also and are not opposed to MVC. It seems like on the resale market, there are HGVC properties with similar points (at least annual anyway) for less than $5k. I had a few questions if someone has time:
1) Why would I not just buy somewhere with the lowest cost for the most HGVC points? I know we need to factor in maintenance. What else am I missing?
2) If I buy resale points (plus frankly I can’t tell if I am buying points or a deeded week), what is the negative of not using it at the home property?
3) How do I know if a resale is not readily convertible to points? I am trying to read up, but it looks like some entities will charge to convert to points I.e. if I want to book at a different location.
4) I cannot really find a reason to choose MVC over HGVC or vice-versa. We really don’t know much about the other ones and rarely stay at a non-Marriott or Hilton hotel in general. So, interested in thoughts knowing it is subjective.
5) I can plan 9 months to a year in advance since our kids are starting first grade.
6) We don’t have a preference where we travel as we go to CA because of family in Sonoma and we’ve now been to FL three times since the kids have been born. We also would like to travel internationally once the pandemic has reached a baseline level.
7) Is there any benefit to buying direct initially and then adding more points via resale?
8) As a newbie, which is the safest resale site to buy?
Thank you in advance.
1) Why would I not just buy somewhere with the lowest cost for the most HGVC points? I know we need to factor in maintenance. What else am I missing?
2) If I buy resale points (plus frankly I can’t tell if I am buying points or a deeded week), what is the negative of not using it at the home property?
3) How do I know if a resale is not readily convertible to points? I am trying to read up, but it looks like some entities will charge to convert to points I.e. if I want to book at a different location.
4) I cannot really find a reason to choose MVC over HGVC or vice-versa. We really don’t know much about the other ones and rarely stay at a non-Marriott or Hilton hotel in general. So, interested in thoughts knowing it is subjective.
5) I can plan 9 months to a year in advance since our kids are starting first grade.
6) We don’t have a preference where we travel as we go to CA because of family in Sonoma and we’ve now been to FL three times since the kids have been born. We also would like to travel internationally once the pandemic has reached a baseline level.
7) Is there any benefit to buying direct initially and then adding more points via resale?
8) As a newbie, which is the safest resale site to buy?
Thank you in advance.