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Points are points, right?

icul8rg8r

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This may seem like a stupid question, but points are points, right? As long as you have enough points to book the property you want to travel to, does it matter what season those points come from?

Since I don't really care which PROPERTY I purchase my points from (want lowest MFs), does it matter if I buy those 7000-ish points from silver season, gold season, or platinum?

Another example: 4800 points vs. 5000 points. Only a 200 point difference, yet the 5000 (gold) season points and even the 5800 (silver) season points seem to cost less. Can I apply those 5000 or 5800 points toward a future 4800 platinum reservation? Or can I only use my points toward the same category season in which they were purchased?

Hope I'm making sense, because it's all sorta confusing to me!
 

ocdb8r

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Point are points and you can reserve any season you want as long as you have enough points. Note, however, that you may reserve at your home resort much earlier (12 months out) than any other resort (typically 9 months out).

The one area where season comes into play is the maintenance fee. While the initial up front cost of points in Silver or Gold season is likely to be lower than Platinum season, the long-term maintenance fee per point will be higher. For example, the weekly maintenance fee at the Flamingo is 923.39 for a 2 bedroom (regardless of season). If you own a Platinum 2 bedroom you're getting 7000 points for 923.39 ($.1319/point)...if you own a Gold 2 Bedroom you're only getting 5000 points for that same 923.39 ($.1846/point). If you plan to hold long term, this difference quickly adds up (and will quickly outstrip any savings on the initial purchase).
 

Sandy VDH

TUG Review Crew: Elite
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Wynd VIP Plat GF, HGVC Elite, WM, HICV, +
Cost to purchase platinum weeks will be slightly higher than lesser season (Gold, silver or bronze) points.

However you are NOT considering cost per points into the equations.

Since MF are set by size regardless of season, you get a lower MF cost per point on the higher Platinum points packages.

But yes, other than Home resort advantage, POINTS are indeed POINTS.
 

Remy

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Kansas
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Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Boulevard, Hyatt Residence Club Wild Oak Ranch
I've found the sunk cost of a Platinum isn't as painful to bear as the slow drip drip of maintenance fees. If those maintenance fees were for a paltry number of points it would weigh on me much more than the up front cost that will likely largely be returned to me when I'm ready to sell someday. Also, consider if you're paying a few hundred bucks for a Silver season, you will likely be paying out of pocket to unload that unit someday. A broker will charge $1500 to sell it for $500.

Yes, there are algorithms and opportunity cost calculations, but the simple cost per point via the MF is more accurate when considering an HGVC property, especially those with ROFR.
 
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