Strategies for booking in HGVC

[kool_kat]

Hi all,

I've owned my timeshare since 08, but have only booked through Hilton one time (everything else was RCI exchanges). That one time dates were available, so no problem getting in.

Now, I am thinking of trying to go to HHV the week between Christmas & New Year (I know a hard get), but don't really understand the best way to book it. Can someone give me the low down?

It looks like it's 276 days before checkout, but doesn't that give people who are staying shorter period of time an advantage because they can book a couple days before someone staying a couple days longer? I thought I had read about booking at three days & then each day adding a day...can someone explain.

Also, do I need to be up at midnight?

If someone could explain how this works, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[GregT]

Hi all,

I've owned my timeshare since 08, but have only booked through Hilton one time (everything else was RCI exchanges). That one time dates were available, so no problem getting in.

Now, I am thinking of trying to go to HHV the week between Christmas & New Year (I know a hard get), but don't really understand the best way to book it. Can someone give me the low down?

It looks like it's 276 days before checkout, but doesn't that give people who are staying shorter period of time an advantage because they can book a couple days before someone staying a couple days longer? I thought I had read about booking at three days & then each day adding a day...can someone explain.

Also, do I need to be up at midnight?

If someone could explain how this works, I'd greatly appreciate it.

A more experienced HGVC'er will chime in, but I'll try (and let's see how accurate I am).

I believe best opportunity to get high demand ressie is to book a changeable reservation online -- exactly at 12:01am ET.

Let's say you want to go Saturday the 24th thru Saturday the 31st.

Once you hit nine months from check-out on Tuesday the 27th, you book a 3 night stay, checking in on Saturday December 24th.

The next night (at 12:01am ET), you change your changeable reservation to a 4 night stay, checking in Saturday December 24th.

The next night (at 12:01am ET), you change your changeable reservation to a 5 night stay.....etc etc etc

Until you have your 7 nights stay, checking in on Saturday, December 24th.

I've "practiced" with this during the summer, because I'm a curious guy. It looks possible, but there is risk. Yes, you definitely need to be up at midnight -- I noted that within an hour, alot of the inventory was gone.

Also, it is possible that you might get 4 nights in a 2BR+, but when you go to get that 5th night, there isn't any 2BR+ categories available.

Accordingly, it may not work as designed.

Thoughts from others? And did I accurately get the process down?

Best to all,

Greg

 

[sml2181]

Greg, I think that would be the way to make the reservation, especially during the hard-to-get weeks.

The weeks 51 and 52 are event weeks at HHV and so they may not be available at 9 months out; you will have to wait until an owner does cancel his/her reservation. (I never tried to get it at 9 months out so maybe it isn't a big deal, it's just my guess.)

I have found availability for these weeks every year, but that was more at 4 months out or so.

 

[kool_kat]

A more experienced HGVC'er will chime in, but I'll try (and let's see how accurate I am).

I believe best opportunity to get high demand ressie is to book a changeable reservation online -- exactly at 12:01am ET.

Let's say you want to go Saturday the 24th thru Saturday the 31st.

Once you hit nine months from check-out on Tuesday the 27th, you book a 3 night stay, checking in on Saturday December 24th.

The next night (at 12:01am ET), you change your changeable reservation to a 4 night stay, checking in Saturday December 24th.

The next night (at 12:01am ET), you change your changeable reservation to a 5 night stay.....etc etc etc

Until you have your 7 nights stay, checking in on Saturday, December 24th.

I've "practiced" with this during the summer, because I'm a curious guy. It looks possible, but there is risk. Yes, you definitely need to be up at midnight -- I noted that within an hour, alot of the inventory was gone.

Also, it is possible that you might get 4 nights in a 2BR+, but when you go to get that 5th night, there isn't any 2BR+ categories available.

Accordingly, it may not work as designed.

Thoughts from others? And did I accurately get the process down?

Best to all,

Greg

ok that makes sense, but boy that is a lot of work, especially if in the end you can't get all your days and have to cancel the whole thing and lose your fee. I'll try this & let you know what happens.

Thanks!