• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 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 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 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 $23 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!
  • 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!

Questions from a newb

Paboshon

newbie
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Tampa
My wife and I are looking to buy our first timeshare. Fortunately we found the resale market before we followed through with purchasing direct. Are there any major "don'ts" when it comes to buying resale?

So far it appears that Hilton properties seem to work best in the resale market. Is this an accurate statement or am I missing anything negative about buying Hilton resale?

If we were to buy a two bedroom in the gold schedule, would I be able to use my points to try and book a one bedroom during a platinum week?

Because we live in Tampa, we are looking to buy in Orlando so that we will have easy access to the property. Is the Tuscany a better purchase over the Sea World resort?

Thanks in advance,
Shon
 

pianodinosaur

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
1,965
Reaction score
240
Location
Texas
Resorts Owned
HGVC SeaWorld x 2, HGVC Las Vegas Strip x 2, MVC Mountain Valley Lodge, MVC Legend’s Edge
The maintenance fees at SeaWorld are substantially less than at Tuscany. HGVC will have some special relationhips starting this year between Seaworld the theme park and HGVC at SeaWorld.
 

Asl18940

newbie
Joined
Sep 18, 2011
Messages
157
Reaction score
3
Location
Newtown, PA
Wish I had known about the resale market when I bought from Hilton years ago. Much as I like the club, I overpaid. The only disadvantage to the resale market is that you can't accumulate HGVC points toward elite status. That does open up some additional offerings for you, like the Grand Mayan, but is otherwise not worthwhile.
 

Paboshon

newbie
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Tampa
Wish I had known about the resale market when I bought from Hilton years ago. Much as I like the club, I overpaid. The only disadvantage to the resale market is that you can't accumulate HGVC points toward elite status. That does open up some additional offerings for you, like the Grand Mayan, but is otherwise not worthwhile.

It is reassuring to hear positive things about resale from some that bought direct. If it is any consolation (which I doubt it is :ponder: ) I will try to learn from your experience. :whoopie:

I am still trying to figure out if I buy points on a gold season property if I could use them to book a property during platinum, given I have enough points???

Most of the gold season would work for us, but there are some places (like Colorado) that appear to be in platinum season almost year round.
 
Last edited:

linsj

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2006
Messages
2,274
Reaction score
517
Location
Indianapolis
Resorts Owned
HGVC
Points are points with Hilton. As long as you have enough, you may book whatever is available nine months in advance.

The only advantage of owning where you want to go is to book the exact size/type of unit on your deed 12 months in advance. On paper, I own a two-bedroom, two-bath unit for one week. In reality, I usually book three + weeks in a studio.

Also with Hilton, you may borrow points from the next year, so you may get a larger unit that costs more points than you have now.
 

Paboshon

newbie
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Tampa
Points are points with Hilton. As long as you have enough, you may book whatever is available nine months in advance.

On paper, I own a two-bedroom, two-bath unit for one week. In reality, I usually book three + weeks in a studio.

Thanks linsj...this is exactly what I needed to know. Our family is still pretty small, so we are looking to do that exact same thing you are doing. Own a two bedroom, but book studios.

Thanks again. :cheer:
 

linsj

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2006
Messages
2,274
Reaction score
517
Location
Indianapolis
Resorts Owned
HGVC
Paboshon, Hilton is a great system and treats resale buyers much better than other timeshare brands. MFs are cheaper in Vegas and Orlando; I don't know which properties are currently lowest.
 
Top