• Welcome to the FREE TUGBBS forums! The absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 32 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 32 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 32nd anniversary: Happy 32nd Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    All subscribers auto-entered to win all free TUG membership giveaways!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $24,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $24 Million dollars
  • Wish you could meet up with other TUG members? Well look no further as this annual event has been going on for years in Orlando! How to Attend the TUG January Get-Together!
  • Now through the end of the year you can join or renew your TUG membership at the lowest price ever offered! Learn More!
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Open season reservations

levatino

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Messages
499
Reaction score
8
I was playing on the system with Open Season. I seem to remember reading that Open season reservations can only be made for owners (not guests). However as I went through a practice reservation it gave me the opportunity to change the guest name... Huh, that made me wonder....

So, which is it? I am sure it is in the member guide, and I did a quick search on the forum that came up empty and thought I would ask the forum.

Thanks,
Paul
 
You are correct, Open Season is for owners only. When you fill out the form online you are the guest.

I haven't paid enough attention to it to answer the other part of your question about name change...
 
The room can be occupied by anyone, but the person checking in must be an owner showing their ID. Thus, you can make reservations for multiple rooms (obviously not all are for you), but you have to be there at check in. Great if you live in Hawaii, Florida or Las Vegas and you have people coming in to town, not great if you live somewhere else and want to get your friend a room.

Couple of years ago I was already going to Hawaii and some friends had reservations for a lot of money at the Grand Waikikian, and I got them open season reservations there for 1/4 the cost. Since our stays overlapped and I was able to check them in, it worked out perfectly (it didn't matter that I left before they did, only that I was there at check-in).

They had even talked about flying me out 1st class just to check them in, it would have been that worth it for them. They stayed in a 2bd at the GW for $120 a night, while I stayed in a 1bd at the Lagoon for my points. Hmmm, I should've switched with them.
 
Can Open Season Reservation Be Changed?

We just booked an open season reservation on 8/5/10 for 8/29-9/1 for a 1 bedroom as that the only available unit when we checked. Now I see a 2 BR on the same property and thinking that would be a nice splurge...can we change our original 1 BR reservation to the 2 BR? Is there a penalty or is there some waiver b/c it's a bigger unit?
 
We just booked an open season reservation on 8/5/10 for 8/29-9/1 for a 1 bedroom as that the only available unit when we checked. Now I see a 2 BR on the same property and thinking that would be a nice splurge...can we change our original 1 BR reservation to the 2 BR? Is there a penalty or is there some waiver b/c it's a bigger unit?

When changing an OS reservation, you are technically be subject to the OS cancellation policy.
The penalities are 25% (30-15 days), 50% (14-6 days) and 100% (5-0 days).

But why should you be subject to a penalty when you're merely upgrading?
According to the Guide, only home resort & club reservations (booked online or with a change-fee)
can have "changeable" status. Open season reservations do not. Guide, p. 137-138

HOWEVER, it don't hurt to ask. Call HGVC to see if a CSR will have a heart and "bend the rules."
But if they won't help, try calling the resort directly to see if they'd be willing to let you switch
"in house" for the difference in OS rates (like asking an airline gate agent for a better seat).

Bottom Line: If the change is important enuff, compare the total cost including any applicable penalty, to the cost of booking the suite you want thru Hilton Hotels.
 
Last edited:
We just booked an open season reservation on 8/5/10 for 8/29-9/1 for a 1 bedroom as that the only available unit when we checked. Now I see a 2 BR on the same property and thinking that would be a nice splurge...can we change our original 1 BR reservation to the 2 BR? Is there a penalty or is there some waiver b/c it's a bigger unit?
I have done that exact same thing in the past -- I had a studio Open Season reservation, and about a week before my travel date, a 1BR opened up. I called customer service, and they said it was technically not allowed, but she did upgrade me for no fee (just the extra cost for the larger room).

Just call and ask. If they say no, try again with a different customer service rep.

Kurt
 
The unit I saw was available was no longer available when I finally was able to speak to a HGVC CSR, but today an opening came up and just called to make the change w/o penalties. They refunded the full amount of our original reservation and made our new reservation for us. Thanks everyone!
 
Glad to hear they are still doing this -- that is great customer service!

Kurt
 
Top