New owner - Confusion about HGVC booking window

[docjefe]

Just bought resale 20160 points biennial EVEN to HH Grand Islander. I didn't realize that even though I intentionally bought enough points for a 2 bedroom that my primary HW is a 1bd/1ba (so far the only thing I overlooked despite all my research ahead of the purchase - kind of a bummer). If anyone has any information/tips to cheer me up about this, I will take it.

Alas, I'm still looking to book a 2bd at Grand Islander in 2024 using club points. However, I am being told that I'm "Outside booking window of 6/24/23 - 12/27/23." (when i click on booking eligibility it says : Only eligible to book from 6/24/2023 until 12/27/2023) Aren't I allowed to book anytime in 2024 so long that it's within 9 months of check out? What's even weirder is that if I want to book at other Hawaii locations (Lagoon, GW, etc) I can book through the 276 day period into March 2024.

Can anyone explain this to me? Does this mean I have to wait until 2024 to book at GI since I'm not booking my HW?

TIA

 

[GT75]

Both the GI and Hokulani Waikiki have 186 (6 months) club season bookings windows.

 

[Eric B]

Since you are trying to book something other than your home week, you are trying to make a club reservation. From the Club Rules (emphasis added):

Club Reservations require a three night minimum booking in any accommodation available at a Club Resort or Club Eligible Resort1 using available ClubPoints during the “Club Reservation Window.” Except for the resorts listed below, the Club Reservation Window commences nine months (276 days) prior to the check-out date. After the Club Reservation Window ends, Members may still make a Club reservation up to one day prior to check-in, subject to availability.

• The Club Reservation Window for Hokulani Waikiki, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club and The Grand Islander, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club begins six months (186 days) prior to the check-out date.

• The Club Reservation Window for West 57th Street, a Hilton Club, begins 59 days prior to the check-out date and the three-night minimum booking does not apply.

• The Club Reservation Window for The Central at 5th, a Hilton Club, The Residences, a Hilton Club, The District, a Hilton Club and The Quin, a Hilton Club begins 89 days prior to the check-out date, and the three-night minimum booking does not apply.

You'll be able to make a 2024 reservation once we are inside the 186 days from check out (e.g., if you are trying to book a week in a 2 BR+ ending February 24, 2024, the window will be open ~ August 22, 2023).

 

[letsgobobby]

welcome you have enough points for a 2 br almost every year (11,200) at Lagoon. You could do 7 d one year and 6 the next; you could do 7 d in a 2br one year and 7+ d in a 1 br the next.

Lagoon is your friend because of the low point requirements. Kalia is another option. of course both are harder to book because everyone else tries to stretch their points as well.

You should be able to find available rooms at the 9 mo mark many months of the year though spring break and some other higher demand times could be harder.

 

[HuskerATL]

Just to add to what others have said, there are a few properties, mainly Hilton Club, but also two HGVC including GI rhat have different club reservation windows. Look in the club reference guide and it shows a table with the timelines.

That really stinks if you wanted a 2 bed for HW but you have a nice bit of points to use for club reservations.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

A positive is because this is a one bedroom your MF are lower than a 2 bdrm because it is usually based on square footage of the unit.

What are your MF? At 20160 points I bet they are a very low cost per point. What was your acquisition cost. Have they come down in price from a few years ago?

 

[docjefe]

A positive is because this is a one bedroom your MF are lower than a 2 bdrm because it is usually based on square footage of the unit.

What are your MF? At 20160 points I bet they are a very low cost per point. What was your acquisition cost. Have they come down in price from a few years ago?

That is true. I think they are around $1400 per year; total acquisition cost about $17k. Acquisition cost was the same for 1 bd and 2 bd from what I could see, but there was a clear difference in the MF (2bd in the $1700+ range) that made this an *easy* decision, but clearly I overlooked the concept of what I owned vs what I could actually book.

 

[docjefe]

Thank you everyone for your responses. As an extension of my question above..
Let's say my goal is to get a 2bd at GI, but I am willing to settle for 2bd elsewhere (ie GW or Rainbow).

Is it possible to book 9 mos out at GW/Rainbow to guarantee a reservation, and then cancel the reservation at 6 mos out to secure a GI reservation? Essentially - is there a penalty for reserving elsewhere/cancellation and do I therefore need to roll the dice on a 6 month reservation at the preferred destination? Thank you.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

That is true. I think they are around $1400 per year; total acquisition cost about $17k. Acquisition cost was the same for 1 bd and 2 bd from what I could see, but there was a clear difference in the MF (2bd in the $1700+ range) that made this an *easy* decision, but clearly I overlooked the concept of what I owned vs what I could actually book.

Nice! That's a 0.0694 MF/point. Very desirable and efficient point usage.

To answer your question: Correct. No penalty if you change the reservation from GW/Lagoon to GI prior to 61 days of arrival. You don't risk your original reservation if you change. If you cancel and rebook you pay the reservation fee twice and risk losing the original reservation if the GI reservation fails.

With 20,000 very efficient points you can book a 15,600 point week for $1083 + $59 res fee. Nice deal for a 2 bdrm during platimum season.

 

[docjefe]

Thank you everyone for your responses. As an extension of my question above..
Let's say my goal is to get a 2bd at GI, but I am willing to settle for 2bd elsewhere (ie GW or Rainbow).

Is it possible to book 9 mos out at GW/Rainbow to guarantee a reservation, and then cancel the reservation at 6 mos out to secure a GI reservation? Essentially - is there a penalty for reserving elsewhere/cancellation and do I therefore need to roll the dice on a 6 month reservation at the preferred destination? Thank you.

I said Rainbow but meant Lagoon*

 

[docjefe]

Nice! That's a 0.0694 MF/point. Very desirable and efficient point usage.

To answer your question: Correct. No penalty if you change the reservation from GW/Lagoon to GI prior to 61 days of arrival. If you cancel and rebook you pay the reservation fee twice. With 20,000 very efficient points you can book a 15,600 point week for $1083 + $59 res fee. Nice deal for a 2 bdrm during platimum season.

How are you calculating $1083?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

0.0694 your Maint Fee (MF) cost per point * 15,600 points for a 2 bdrm Premier in Lagoon.

 

[HuskerATL]

Thank you everyone for your responses. As an extension of my question above..
Let's say my goal is to get a 2bd at GI, but I am willing to settle for 2bd elsewhere (ie GW or Rainbow).

Is it possible to book 9 mos out at GW/Rainbow to guarantee a reservation, and then cancel the reservation at 6 mos out to secure a GI reservation? Essentially - is there a penalty for reserving elsewhere/cancellation and do I therefore need to roll the dice on a 6 month reservation at the preferred destination? Thank you.

You can book and cancel as much as you like. It will only cost you the reservation fee unless you are Max or Elite Premier. You can't change a HW reservation but you can modify a club reservation to another resort or date with no fee as long as you are outside 60 days from the stay.

 

[frank808]

If your original reservation is not for Grand Islander or Hokulani, you will have to call in to HGVC to get a rep to change reservation. You cannot do it online. If you have a Grand Islander and then want to change to Hokulani, you will also have to call in to change.

Most of the time it is not a problem. Unless it is after HGVC phone hours.

This was a problem a few years ago before I have AI. Now, I just book a new reservation and cancel old one since it does not cost me anything.

Maybe HGVC has improved the site and now you can book GI or Hokulani if your reservation was not originally there?

You can always make a new reservation with a new reservation fee.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

[tomvc]

0.0694 your Maint Fee (MF) cost per point * 15,600 points for a 2 bdrm Premier in Lagoon.

The cost per point seems to be too low. @docjefe Is the MF for your biennial EVEN billed every year or every other year?

Link to 2023 MF

 

[FilthyForever]

The cost per point seems to be too low. @docjefe Is the MF for your biennial EVEN billed every year or every other year?

Link to 2023 MF

It would be $1525.38 (excluding GE tax) billed every other year. So $1525.38 / 20160 = ~7.6 cents per point (and the same cents per point if you divide both in half for every other year in this case). Still very good.

Grand Islander, Hawaii

View attachment 69476

Above does NOT include Hawaii GE Tax

Hawaii calculated GE Tax for 1 BR at GI for 2023 is $66.48
Hawaii GE Tax for 2 BR at GI for 2023 is $87.80
Hawaii calculated GE Tax for 2 BR Penthouse at GI for 2023 is $174.26
Hawaii calculated GE Tax for 3 BR Penthouse at GI for 2023 is $220.05

(The overall combined assessment for all unit types increased by 5% for 2023.)