We currently own 9600 platinum points (all purchased on the secondary market). We are considering purchasing more points and were wondering if there would be a disadvantage to purchasing gold points. Should we keep all points platinum? Thank you
We are considering purchasing more points and were wondering if there would be a disadvantage to purchasing gold points.
Is HGVC just a point system? I assume you use more points for more popular times of the year per resort. Please help me understand this all...
In my example I own a gold 1BR and a Platinum 1BR in Miami (both points based). I could only book the platinum for New Year's Eve week 2017 in the home resort priority window as that is a Platinum week. Outside the priority window points are points other than price point Sandy made. Also I believe you can only "rent" your property during your home resort season.You need to know the season from which your TS hails, as that will affect both when you can make "home-week" reservations
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I believe you can only "rent" your property during your home resort season.
Can I confuse you some more? HGVC is sort of a hybrid weeks & point-system...
At the inception of each resort, HGVC assigns each TS week to a "season" -- in order of demand -- platinum, gold, silver & bronze. When you buy a HGVC TS, you are buying a TS in a certain season. You need to know the season from which your TS hails, as that will affect both when you can make "home-week" reservations and otherwise, how many points you'll get to spend on club reservations.
Clear as mud?
.
And, if one does not plan to make "home week" reservations, there is no difference in the use of the points...just in the MF/point.
Cheers.
I went to a timeshare presentation at the Elara in Vegas. I went to get educated on the point system. I was told points are points. Platinum, Gold, Bronze, are just seasonal levels and points adjust around accordingly. I'm confused, as many talk about buying Platinum weeks, etc.
Is HGVC just a point system ? I assume you use more points for more popular times of the year per resort. Please help me understand this all....
Thanks![/QU
There is two parts to the Hilton system. 1 part is trading in HGVC point currency. You trade and go where you want with the point that you have. Simple, It is just a point system right. Easy. So that is using the points part. All you need to know here is how many points do you think you will need in a year.
But even though Hilton is a point based system, here is the part 2 of it, How much do you PAY to get that Point Currency. (This is also what is considered your HOME resort). Here is the big differentiator, all MF $$ are paid based on the underlying unit size and season you own, and you are allotted the amount of points that go with that unit size & season. OK, got that?
Now here is the distinction. HGVC charges ALL owners of a unit size the same MF$$ REGARDLESS of season. So people who own Bronze or Silver season get a lot less points for the same money as people who own Platinum season.
So less, purchase a week that is Platinum or at worst Gold season, you will pay less $$ /per point you pay annually, which will translate into cheaper vacations.
Simple math example, NOT EXACT HGVC math, but the ILLUSTRATION will do. MF is based on size of unit at a property so for example a 2 BR Owes $1000 in MF annually. Annually Platinum owners get 10000 points, gold get 7000, silver owner get 5000 and bronze owner get 2500.
So in the above example Platinum owners cost $0.10 per point, Gold $0.143 Silver $0.20 and Bronze $0.40. So to go use 2000 points if you are Platinum it will cost you $200 worth of points, Gold $285, Silver $400, and Bronze $800.
So you see in this illustration why it is bets to own a contract that is based on a deed that is in a season that Platinum, as your cost per point will be optimized in the HGVC system. It might cost you a little more to buy a platinum contract over other seasons but if you plan on owning for 10+ years it will likely make sense.
@vicreyes I was also at a HGVC timeshare event last week Wednesday (April 5) in Las Vegas. It was at the Hilton Vacation Club on the Boulevard, but I stayed at the Elara.I went to a timeshare presentation at the Elara in Vegas. I went to get educated on the point system. I was told points are points. Platinum, Gold, Bronze, are just seasonal levels and points adjust around accordingly. I'm confused, as many talk about buying Platinum weeks, etc.
Is HGVC just a point system ? I assume you use more points for more popular times of the year per resort. Please help me understand this all....
Thanks!
I know this is an old thread, but rather than start a new one, I hope my question here gets seen . . .
I've read everything and it's helpful. SO, is the following true?
1) If I buy Platinum at Elara Las Vegas, I can book a stay during Platinum week (New Years Eve) at Elara, or any other Hilton TS property, with my platinum points?
2) If I bought Gold at Elara Las Vegas, I could still book during a Platinum week at Elara or other Hilton properties, it would just cost more Gold points?
3) If I bought Platinum, I could book stays during Platinum weeks farther in advance than Gold members?
4) If i bought Gold, I would have to wait a bit longer to book advance dates for Platinum weeks, thereby possibly cutting down availability?
I know this is an old thread, but rather than start a new one, I hope my question here gets seen . . .
I've read everything and it's helpful. SO, is the following true?
1) If I buy Platinum at Elara Las Vegas, I can book a stay during Platinum week (New Years Eve) at Elara, or any other Hilton TS property, with my platinum points?
2) If I bought Gold at Elara Las Vegas, I could still book during a Platinum week at Elara or other Hilton properties, it would just cost more Gold points?
3) If I bought Platinum, I could book stays during Platinum weeks farther in advance than Gold members?
4) If i bought Gold, I would have to wait a bit longer to book advance dates for Platinum weeks, thereby possibly cutting down availability?
A whole lot of NO here, but these are great questions and this is not necessarily clear.
1. Points are just points. There are not Platinum and Gold points, just points.
2. There are Platinum and Gold weeks. What this means is that, for a given unit size Platinum = more points, Also, since MF are based on unit size, Platinum = more points at same MF, so lower MF/point ratio. Usually higher per-point buy-in price because of this.
3. Booking windows are not based on the type of week purchased. Home Week can be booked 12-9 months out. This can only be booked at your Home Resort, in your Home Season (so here the Season does matter) for the unit type you bought.
4. At 9 months. Points are points for use anywhere (not counting by Hilton Club resorts, but not gonna talk more about that here at present).
Let me know if that's clear.
Cheers.
The desirability of Platinum is that I would have first rights to book during Platinum weeks, before that privilege moves to Gold member, etc.
Right?
Hopefully I've finally got it!
Thank you for your responses!
So I think I have it.
And in fact, it makes the Platinum vs. Gold distinction kind of silly.
If I have 10,000 points, I can use them to book anywhere any time that is available.
It's going to cost more to book on a Platinum week than a Gold week.
Simple.
The desirability of Platinum is that I would have first rights to book during Platinum weeks, before that privilege moves to Gold member, etc.
Right?
Hopefully I've finally got it!
@brp has it correct.
I will add that once you hit the 9 month mark (274 days from check-out) anybody with any contract can book any non bHC resort that has availability. The issue is you get less vacation time with a gold as compared to a comparable platinum. HGVC determines their MF's by room size. A platinum 2 bedroom (7000 points) at the Flamingo will have the same MF's ($1087 this year) as a gold 2 bedroom (5000 points) and silver (3500 points). I get more vacation time for my money with my platinum contract than I would with a gold or silver one.
Another issue with the lower levels (especially silver) is divesting yourself of them. A lower MF platinum will retain the ability to sell while you may have a hard time giving away that gold or silver contract. Life happens and if I need to get rid of my contract, I know I can, at the very least, give it away. Many silver contract can't even be given away. Research here on TUG the various resorts and, of you choose to purchase, you will be informed and prepared.
@GT75 has compiled an awesome spreadsheet of the best MF value resorts in the system. You can also check out what other Tuggers have reported as their MF's at various resorts here.
I know this is an old thread, but rather than start a new one, I hope my question here gets seen . . .
I've read everything and it's helpful. SO, is the following true?
1) If I buy Platinum at Elara Las Vegas, I can book a stay during Platinum week (New Years Eve) at Elara, or any other Hilton TS property, with my platinum points?