Viewing 2023 Formula 1 races from Elara - November, 16-18th

[Nowaker]

I think we can have a thread for all things Elara + Formula.

Some generic F1 info first:

> A star-studded opening ceremony, featuring music acts and staple Las Vegas entertainment, will take place on Wednesday, November 15, unveiling the spectacular new multi-use Paddock Building and signal the start of the Las Vegas Grand Prix week – which will see unprecedented levels of F1 activity and events, with Practice on Thursday, November 16 and Qualifying on Friday, November 17, ahead of the Saturday night race.



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I own 1 BR Grand Gold and can book a home week in 1BB or 1BR for Fri, 11/17/2023 - 11/24/2023.

What do you think is the better unit for viewing the race? Of course there's no guarantee of a higher floor, and I could end up on the 4th floor, but there's still a choice between 1BB and 1BR.

If I'm reading the layout correctly, if I book 1BB, I'm guaranteed the north side of the building, whereas 1BR gets me the south/north 5:4 odds.

So it all comes down to... when given a choice between North or South side, what's most preferable?

The northern side could offer direct line of sight of the curvy area... except, will it really be visible, and not covered by makeshift seats along the road?

The southern side would offer direct line of sight on the straight stretch on Harmon. Given the proximity of that road, makeshift seats built along the road wouldn't be an obstacle, unless someone is very unlucky and lands on like 4-6th floor?

What are your thoughts on the topic, both in north vs south debate, but also west vs east corner units, and anything related? It goes without saying that Plus units are preferable, but the side still matters (or doesn't it?)

1 BR Grand
1BB and the PLUS version 1BX - Standalone Unit (3/floor)
1BR and the PLUS version 1LP - attached to a STD (most are this type)
1X2 is the PREMIUM version - attached to a Studio PREMIER SX2 - only found on the 56th FL.

(...)

Floor Layout (used floor 31 as an example, but this indicated where all room numbers are located, along with room type, red equal signs show interconnecting rooms)

 

[HuskerATL]

We are at Elara now and north facing. There is a lot of construction on the east side so that area is visible plus where the track will be going north. I think the south side will just have that straight away so I think the north side would be better.

 

[HuskerATL]

View looking north east

 

[bnoble]

I would go South. That straightaway is probably where a good chunk of the racing will happen, as it’s long enough that DRS will be useful. Plus it’s just closer to the visible action.

 

[HuskerATL]

The downside to the south side is that you only have visibility to a very short section of the straight away. The rest of the track is north.

 

[dayooper]

The downside to the south side is that you only have visibility to a very short section of the straight away. The rest of the track is north.

Yes, but the view is quite a bit better than the north side. It’s like being in the first row in the end zone. You miss the action at the other end of the field, but you are right in the middle of it all on your side.

 

[HuskerATL]

I guess the best option is a east facing corner unit

 

[dayooper]

I guess the best option is a east facing corner unit

That’s my thought as well.

 

[buzglyd]

I'll be online at 9 months to see if I can snag something. I wonder how getting in and out of the compound will be once the race area is all fenced off.

 

[HuskerATL]

I'll be online at 9 months to see if I can snag something. I wonder how getting in and out of the compound will be once the race area is all fenced off.

Oh, Vegas is going to be a mess

 

[buzglyd]

I"m glad it's in November because my Seapointe 2024 points don't post until the first of the year. Once of the affiliate downsides.

 

[HuskerATL]

I"m glad it's in November because my Seapointe 2024 points don't post until the first of the year. Once of the affiliate downsides.

That is interesting. Our Craig go out two years so we have been using our 2024 points for 2023 reservations for a while

 

[AmIInTheRightPlace]

Do you think for 2023 and beyond, HGVC will change the weeks so the race will fall into Platinum season instead of it's current slot in Gold?

 

[dayooper]

Do you think for 2023 and beyond, HGVC will change the weeks so the race will fall into Platinum season instead of it's current slot in Gold?

No, my guess is they won’t. It would be very hard to change the amount of points and match it with the number of weeks for each unit.

 

[buzglyd]

Do you think for 2023 and beyond, HGVC will change the weeks so the race will fall into Platinum season instead of it's current slot in Gold?

No. It’s just a weekend event and there is no telling how long it will be held in LV.

 

[buzglyd]

I was just studying the track map. It appears if you got a high floor at the Trump facing South, you would see a lot of the track although you wouldn’t be within the track. Another option at least.

 

[buzglyd]

Interesting that there are already 3 night weekend stays gone in several different room categories. We're not at 9 months yet so were those pulled by HGV for cash rental? Maybe Hilton Worldwide gets to claim some of those?

 

[GT75]

We're not at 9 months yet so were those pulled by HGV for cash rental? Maybe Hilton Worldwide gets to claim some of those?

I have seen this happen at another HGVC resort, specifically Ocean Oak. I was wondering the same thing there because I can not explain how this can happen.

 

[escanoe]

Maybe they can do it if it is developer owned inventory? I have likewise seen it happen for ocean oak.

 

[buzglyd]

Also this isn’t HGV but Marriott Grand Chateau would have a view of the Harmon straigh facing north and parts of the track that weren’t blocked by Elara.

 

[dioxide45]

Also this isn’t HGV but Marriott Grand Chateau would have a view of the Harmon straigh facing north and parts of the track that weren’t blocked by Elara.

Only the northeast facing units would have a decent view. I certainly wouldn't want to be rooms control or even a front desk agent there during the race.

 

[vuice]

Any non-home week owners able to book at the 9-month mark? It seems like all the rooms have been booked, and I was trying to get rooms since earlier this week, but I could not book online because Wed, Nov 15 was totally locked out for all rooms in the online system, so I couldn't book the minimum 3 nights from Tue, Nov 14 thru Fri, Nov 17 because the gap was there. And as the following days progressed, all rooms started to disappear for the entire weekend.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I was able to walk to Sunday eve. but lost two larger units in the process. Not the unit I had planned but will make it work. This was the most competitive I have ever seen HGVC. Vistana is always like this at atomic clock midnight for Maui but this was a first for HGVC.

Although wonky at times with phantom availability, the overall HGVC reservation system seemed to handle the extra load reasonably well. Don't see this with Vistana/MVC.

 

[dioxide45]

It it owners booking to use or owners booking to try and rent them out? They may find, like those that tried to rent Phoenix weeks this year, that it isn't always that great. Too many people thinking of doing the same thing. Seven night timeshare rentals are also not all that conducive to one day events.

 

[jabberwocky]

There are a few Redweek listings at crazy rates - including a 3-night studio from the 16-19th for $1k/night (I think the old Westgate units have partial weeks - so not necessarily HGVC points). We'll probably see more come online, but I wouldn't pay that rate for a whole week in Vegas.

I did snag a unit for the 16-20th, but not the one I had originally wanted. My first experience walking a reservation, and will be my first F1 race. Now I just need to find a few people to go with.

Airfares are crazy expensive to fly in and out of Vegas for that weekend. Probably 4-5X what I would normally pay.