Newb Considering HGVC

[Willywilkes]

Hey there!

Currently at Ocean Tower in Waikoloa Village and had a timeshare presentation yesterday that very much tempted us. Fortunately I had found this site and the resale market years ago, so we stayed strong and turned down their offers. However, we found ourselves much more interested in time sharing and what HGVC had to offer than we expected. Now I think we are giving serious consideration to buying resale and trying to get more informed.

We are mid-30s who primarily travel domestically and are into 3-4 night stays. Most travel will be just us so a studio or 1B is sufficient (probably prefer 1B). Would consider doing 2-4 trips per year. If we do buy, may let my parents travel with us 1-2x yr for the first few years so may occasionally need a 2B. Might also want to do big family vacation every few years where we would need 3B.

I need help determining how many points is right for us. Any recommendations based on the above?

Are there pros or cons to buying 1 week for the amount of points we want versus buying two or more units if the over price and maintenance fees is cheaper but we end up with more points? Do all the points just combine into a single bank?

My understanding is we should try to buy Platinum, and that $1\point or less and $0.15/point in MF is a good target. I am seeing what seems like good deals at Elara, but we live in Vegas so will (likely) never want to use our home week. Partner thinks we should get a home week somewhere we would actually want to go, so Hawaii seems preferable, but pricing seems a lot higher for that... Is it recommended that we actually want to stay at “our” property.

It seems like RCI definitely is not as easy or convenient as the salesperson said, but within the actual HGVC is it fairly easy? We probably will only want to plan most of our stays 2-6 months out, but the big fam vacays would have more notice. We likely can be somewhat flexible on days of week for check in, but it’d be cool to travel around cheaper flight days.

What else should I be thinking about?

Thank you!!!

 

[mcsteve]

Welcome to TUG and congrats on avoiding the sales pitch. My personal opinion has been to own where you want to stay but many others have a different view which is valid for them. I own at Elara because 1) I would stay there if anything prevented me from being able to exchange (TS companies have been known to change their rules) 2) the cost per point MF ratio is very good in Vegas for HGVG. Your best value is almost always higher point value properties as opposed to combining multiple units to increase points because of the MF costs. From what you describe you will need to have multiple units so 2 Platinum 2br Elara @ 7000 points each (?) would be a much better value that 3 Platinum 1 br units at 5000 each giving about the same number of points in total. And avoid anything other than Platinum weeks. The MF on all seasons in HGVC are the same for the same units, only the point value changes.

I know others will provide a lot of other details for you as well. I have owned my Elara since 2014 and have never stayed there even though I go to Vegas at least once a year. the point system in HGVC allows a lot of flexibility and I can usually get at least 2 trips a year in the system from the 7000 points I have from Elara simply through internal exchanges.

 

[dayooper]

There is a lot to unpack here, but I will give it a go.

We are mid-30s who primarily travel domestically and are into 3-4 night stays. Most travel will be just us so a studio or 1B is sufficient (probably prefer 1B). Would consider doing 2-4 trips per year. If we do buy, may let my parents travel with us 1-2x yr for the first few years so may occasionally need a 2B. Might also want to do big family vacation every few years where we would need 3B.

I need help determining how many points is right for us. Any recommendations based on the above?

A couple of questions. Will you be travelling during a certain time? If you travel in off season, you will get more use of your points. Buying a 2 bedroom and booking a studio or 1 bedroom will maker your points stretch farther. You will get even more if you travel in off seasons. A 7000 point 2 bedroom platinum is always a great place to start. If you want that 3 bedroom every so often, you can always borrow from the next year and still have some points for your smaller trips. Take a peak at the HGVC points for the various resorts here to determine what you might need. There is a minimum of a 3 night stay using points.

Are there pros or cons to buying 1 week for the amount of points we want versus buying two or more units if the over price and maintenance fees is cheaper but we end up with more points? Do all the points just combine into a single bank?

As long as the names on the deed are exactly the same, the points will go into the same bucket. More deeds is usually a higher total MF, but there are places that have very high MF's (many resorts in Hawaii) and those that are lower (Vegas, among other places). Each deed that you enroll into HGVC, there is a ~$600 enrollment fee. Most are mandatory (you must enroll and pay the fee), but many of the affiliates are not.

My understanding is we should try to buy Platinum, and that $1\point or less and $0.15/point in MF is a good target. I am seeing what seems like good deals at Elara, but we live in Vegas so will (likely) never want to use our home week. Partner thinks we should get a home week somewhere we would actually want to go, so Hawaii seems preferable, but pricing seems a lot higher for that... Is it recommended that we actually want to stay at “our” property.

This is quite the debate around here. For your situation of wanting several shorter trips, home week would not work. Home week reservation use all of your points and it's a full week starting on the designated check in day (usually Friday or Saturday). If there is a place that's hard to book, than you get a 3 month reservation advantage (you can book at 12 months instead of 9 months).

I'm going to request that this be moved to the HGVC forum. There are many more knowledgable members there that will throw in their 2 cents.

 

[Makai Guy]

Moving this to th HGVC forum as there are people with more specialized Hilton knowlege there.

 

[Hobokie]

@Willywilkes , welcome to TUG! I own HGVC Elara and LOVE my HGVC! I feel like my situation is similar to yours (newer to timesharing, I am mid 30s with hubs and no kids yet, we tend to take shorter trips but want to invite friends and fam occasionally). I posted about how I've used my timeshare thus far here (in case you are curious and want to read): https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/looking-into-hgvc-again.298667/page-2#post-2373065

If you wouldn't go to Hawaii for 7 days (same resort, no island bouncing) then I would NOT buy Hawaii based on the fact that like @dayooper mentioned "home week" advantage will not help you. Basically, for HGVC specifically, the only advantage to "owning where you want to go" is the ability to book "home week" (a full week at your home resort, in your specific season which we've said above will be platinum, for the EXACT TYPE of unit you bought i.e. 1 bd or 2 bd) a full 3 months before everyone else can book. In other words, if you wanted to go to Big Island for 4 days and then jump over to Maui (HGVC coming soon there!) for 3 days, home week will NOT help you! Also, MFs for Hawaii are $$$$$ compared to other locations. Hopefully you've found the sticky post with all 2020 MFs for HGVC: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/2020-hilton-grand-vacations-maintenance-fees.296273/

Let us know if you have other questions! This forum for me has been a godsent, people are very nice and willing to help!

 

[brp]

Basically, for HGVC specifically, the only advantage to "owning where you want to go" is the ability to book "home week" (a full week at your home resort, in your specific season which we've said above will be platinum, for the EXACT TYPE of unit you bought i.e. 1 bd or 2 bd) a full 3 months before everyone else can book. In other words, if you wanted to go to Big Island for 4 days and then jump over to Maui (HGVC coming soon there!) for 3 days, home week will NOT help you!

I will add that, even if you did want to go to the Big Island for exactly a week in your unit, you would still not need to have Home Week advantage, i.e. pay the higher Hawaii MFs as this would be pretty easy to get with a Club reservation as well. We own in Vegas and have never had a problem getting what we want on BI. Granted, we've not stayed a week but, when I do book., that time is usually available.

Cheers.

 

[CPNY]

Hey there!

Currently at Ocean Tower in Waikoloa Village and had a timeshare presentation yesterday that very much tempted us. Fortunately I had found this site and the resale market years ago, so we stayed strong and turned down their offers. However, we found ourselves much more interested in time sharing and what HGVC had to offer than we expected. Now I think we are giving serious consideration to buying resale and trying to get more informed.

We are mid-30s who primarily travel domestically and are into 3-4 night stays. Most travel will be just us so a studio or 1B is sufficient (probably prefer 1B). Would consider doing 2-4 trips per year. If we do buy, may let my parents travel with us 1-2x yr for the first few years so may occasionally need a 2B. Might also want to do big family vacation every few years where we would need 3B.

I need help determining how many points is right for us. Any recommendations based on the above?

Are there pros or cons to buying 1 week for the amount of points we want versus buying two or more units if the over price and maintenance fees is cheaper but we end up with more points? Do all the points just combine into a single bank?

My understanding is we should try to buy Platinum, and that $1\point or less and $0.15/point in MF is a good target. I am seeing what seems like good deals at Elara, but we live in Vegas so will (likely) never want to use our home week. Partner thinks we should get a home week somewhere we would actually want to go, so Hawaii seems preferable, but pricing seems a lot higher for that... Is it recommended that we actually want to stay at “our” property.

It seems like RCI definitely is not as easy or convenient as the salesperson said, but within the actual HGVC is it fairly easy? We probably will only want to plan most of our stays 2-6 months out, but the big fam vacays would have more notice. We likely can be somewhat flexible on days of week for check in, but it’d be cool to travel around cheaper flight days.

What else should I be thinking about?

Thank you!!!

To those who say own where you want to stay..... yes and no. I say own in a system that allows you to use your ownership, whether it be weeks or points to stay easily within the system you own. I own in vistana in Orlando and use the points to stay at the Atlantis in the Bahamas nearly exclusively. I can also trade in inverval. I’ve been researching RCI as I may be up for picking up a trader unit just to exchange in interval, and it seems difficult to navigate.

you can do 3-4 night stays but you may be unhappy with the choices available. Although I just booked a 3 night and a 5 night stay in June and August in the Bahamas with Vistana. So, yes it can be done. If Prime seasons, prime resorts and locations then yes you’ll need to book 12-10 months I advance. You may find yourself constantly looking for what you want. My main advice to you is to buy in a system you like with flexibility of point usage that transfers on resale. I’d suggest looking at the big4. HGVC,MVC,Vistana and Hyatt.

It’s really not bad owning. I’ve usually rented half my points to cover maint fees then travel for free with the remaining points. But that doesn’t always happen.

 

[Willywilkes]

There is a lot to unpack here, but I will give it a go.



A couple of questions. Will you be travelling during a certain time? If you travel in off season, you will get more use of your points. Buying a 2 bedroom and booking a studio or 1 bedroom will maker your points stretch farther. You will get even more if you travel in off seasons. A 7000 point 2 bedroom platinum is always a great place to start. If you want that 3 bedroom every so often, you can always borrow from the next year and still have some points for your smaller trips. Take a peak at the HGVC points for the various resorts here to determine what you might need. There is a minimum of a 3 night stay using points.



As long as the names on the deed are exactly the same, the points will go into the same bucket. More deeds is usually a higher total MF, but there are places that have very high MF's (many resorts in Hawaii) and those that are lower (Vegas, among other places). Each deed that you enroll into HGVC, there is a ~$600 enrollment fee. Most are mandatory (you must enroll and pay the fee), but many of the affiliates are not.



This is quite the debate around here. For your situation of wanting several shorter trips, home week would not work. Home week reservation use all of your points and it's a full week starting on the designated check in day (usually Friday or Saturday). If there is a place that's hard to book, than you get a 3 month reservation advantage (you can book at 12 months instead of 9 months).

I'm going to request that this be moved to the HGVC forum. There are many more knowledgable members there that will throw in their 2 cents.

We can definitely be flexible with our travel - I don’t know that we’d never during travel during platinum, especially on HI since they are almost always plat it looks like, but gold and silver could be possibilities for sure.

Thank you everyone else for all the input and advice. This definitely helps to know that we prob won’t care where our home week is. Also useful to know that the sales presentation really undersells just how many points we need. I am sure it’s technically possible if you pick all midweek/lower tier properties but they claimed we could get 12 platinum nights in a studio for only 3400 points, and browsing the site now I think that we will need at least double that.

 

[CPNY]

We can definitely be flexible with our travel - I don’t know that we’d never during travel during platinum, especially on HI since they are almost always plat it looks like, but gold and silver could be possibilities for sure.

Thank you everyone else for all the input and advice. This definitely helps to know that we prob won’t care where our home week is. Also useful to know that the sales presentation really undersells just how many points we need. I am sure it’s technically possible if you pick all midweek/lower tier properties but they claimed we could get 12 platinum nights in a studio for only 3400 points, and browsing the site now I think that we will need at least double that.

Studios are fine for some. I’ve taken solo trips and refuse a studio. One bedroom or nothing. But that’s just me

 

[SmithOp]

Also useful to know that the sales presentation really undersells just how many points we need. I am sure it’s technically possible if you pick all midweek/lower tier properties but they claimed we could get 12 platinum nights in a studio for only 3400 points, and browsing the site now I think that we will need at least double that.

Yes, technically if you break it up into 3 stays of the cheaper weekdays, but then you also pay 3 reservation fees and the associated travel expenses.

If you want to go to Hawaii, gold season is a good value, its the summer shoulders April/May and Sept/Oct. We just spent 12 days there and you are right, its double what they wanted to sell you. You will notice I maximized the cheaper weekdays and only spent 1 weekend.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Hobokie]

We can definitely be flexible with our travel - I don’t know that we’d never during travel during platinum, especially on HI since they are almost always plat it looks like, but gold and silver could be possibilities for sure.

Thank you everyone else for all the input and advice. This definitely helps to know that we prob won’t care where our home week is. Also useful to know that the sales presentation really undersells just how many points we need. I am sure it’s technically possible if you pick all midweek/lower tier properties but they claimed we could get 12 platinum nights in a studio for only 3400 points, and browsing the site now I think that we will need at least double that.

Personally, I'm not sure you need more than 3400 points? If you are taking shorter trips and don't want to rely on your timeshare do all/most of your vacations, I think you'd be fine with 3500 - maybe 5000 pts? I am happy with my measly 3500 (platinum!) because I use open season and nights I get with points from work travel, etc. Also, a lot of the places we want to go to do not have timeshares PLUS we like the idea of sometimes going to more adult-mostly places since we don't have kids yet (I find that on average timeshare resorts have more children than nontimeshare resorts)... Keep in mind you can borrow points from the next year for free (one of the few "for frees" in the HGVC system).

 

[brp]

Studios are fine for some. I’ve taken solo trips and refuse a studio. One bedroom or nothing. But that’s just me

Yup, definitely a YMMV situation. For two of us, studios (HGVC, DVC) are just fine. We don't spend enough time in the room for it to matter.

Cheers.

 

[pacman]

Buy in Vegas. Even though, since you live there, you will never stay there, it continues to be the best bang for your buck. Like you have mentioned, I would recommend a 7000 point plat unit. If you decide down the road it doesn't work for you, you "should" be able to get your money back out of it.
HGVC is a great system. We own 2 plat units in Vegas and will never stay there. (Sorry, I hate Vegas).