VIP stays

[scottc42]

I’m an EOYO owner, and occasionally I will purchase VIP packages. I have one coming up in a couple weeks at Kohala Suites, but I was only able to get 4 nights instead of seven. Our plan is to spend the remaining nights in Hilo. I call regularly to see if I can extend my VIP to the full 7 nights.

Today I see I can book those remaining nights at Kohala with HH points. I dont care if we would have to change rooms, but I actually don’t want to use the HH points.

So my questions:

1) is it likely that I can get that room added to my stay now?

2) the VIP call center is not open on the weekend. Should I go ahead and reserve that room with my HH points and then see if they can convert it to my VIP package?

I hope this makes sense.

Thanks!

 

[RX8]

@scottc42 Not sure what you mean when you say “convert it to my VIP reservation”. I know that you cannot combine VIP points with regular HGVC points to make a reservation but you should be able to use your HH points in conjunction with VIP. However, you will have two separate reservations. The resort may be able to keep you in the same room but that would be dependent on availability as well as whether or not the room reserved with VIP is the same room type as your HH reservation.

Edited: If you are wondering if HGV will be able to take your HH reservation and “convert” it to make it a full week VIP reservation I would say that is very unlikely. VIP pulls from very specific inventory that has nothing to do with HH or HGVC inventory. As I stated above, you can make a separate reservation using your HH points and that is likely the best you are going to be able to do. I say book the HH reservation and give it a try with VIP on Monday, especially if you can cancel the HH reservation with no penalty. If VIP says no, then you can decide to keep the HH reservation or cancel it.

 

[Reddart]

Oh man, 3 nights in Hilo could be rough. One full day at Volcano National Park, then…a half day touring the Hilo area, then…drive around the Puna District. Rains a lot on that side of the island too.

Well, if you do find yourself on the Hilo side and you like really good coffee (like coffee nerd level coffee), stop by Koana coffee shop in Mt View, half way between Hilo and Volcano.

 

[GT75]

I am pretty sure that the VIP packages use different inventory from the HGVC. I don't know about Hilton.com inventory. Have you looked to see if the inventory is available on HGVC club?

 

[scottc42]

I am pretty sure that the VIP packages use different inventory from the HGVC. I don't know about Hilton.com inventory. Have you looked to see if the inventory is available on HGVC club?

Yeah it is definitely different inventory, and HGVC inventory does not translate. I’m hoping though, that at 3 weeks out, with award inventory being available, maybe I can get it. Especially given that I’ve already paid for a 7-night package.

Honesty, I’d use the VIP package option a lot more if it wasn’t so difficult to actually book a trip.

 

[RX8]

Have you tried calling in to VIP occasionally to see if the extra days pop up? It is always possible that someone may cancel.

 

[scottc42]

Oh yeah… been calling in every couple weeks but haven’t lost hope yet! Regardless, we have our backup planned and just looking forward to our trip!

 

[Monkeyboy]

We have a 5 day 4 night package for 849. Is that considered the VIP package? Are you purchasing a 7 day package or adding on days?

 

[scottc42]

We have a 5 day 4 night package for 849. Is that considered the VIP package? Are you purchasing a 7 day package or adding on days?

Yes to both. We bought a 2br, 7-night package in an owners update at Kingsland this past January. It has options for usage at various locations, including several Hawaii resorts, however the best I was able to book for our normal vacation time (early January) is 4 nights at the Kohala Suites. Our plan all along has been to stay those 4 nights and then use HH points somewhere else (maybe Hilo) for the remaining 3. We’d then use the remaining VIP nights somewhere else at a later date, maybe Orlando, so no real foul.

In the meantime I’ve been calling in to see if something would open up, allowing us to max out the 7-night package. What prompted this thread is that, while the Kohala Suites has been sold out (via HH booking site) for months now, there is suddenly HH points-stay availability in a similar room for the exact nights we need. I’m hoping that this close in I might be able to snag those, even if I have to “split” the reservation and change rooms while there.

I just need to wait til Monday to ask and hope that no one books those nights in the meantime.

 

[scottc42]

To follow up on this…

I just spoke to the VIP reservations desk, and I was able to add 2 more nights to my stay. I’ll just keep trying, and otherwise, instead of going to Hilo, we’ll use HH points and spend that last night at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.

* I don’t know if the recent HH points-stay availability had anything to do with me being able to add nights. It’s likely coincidental since I could have booked all 3 with HH points, instead of the 2.

** it should be noted that when using only 4 nights of the 7-night package, I would have been able to book the remaining 3 at another time/place. Now, with using 6 nights, that last night is essentially lost. I still figure we’re getting a pretty good deal… about 50% discount using the VIP purchase vs. rates on Hilton.com.

 

[scottc42]

Wow!

So after months and months of calling in to try to fully utilize the 7-night VIP package we bought (originally could only book 4, then added 2 more a couple weeks ago) I was finally able to add the seventh night when calling in today.

At first the rep said nothing was available. I asked if there was anything else they could do to help me out with that last night, even if I had to move somewhere else. That was an immediate ‘no’, but then he put me on hold for several minutes. When he can back he said he was able to add the last night and immediately sent the new confirmation email.

I’m super stoked. We head to Honolulu next Wednesday and then on to the Big Island, Kohala Suites on Saturday. Gotta sit through another sales meeting, but that’s the only negative trade off.

 

[GT75]

Glad that the plan worked out for you. They should try their best because there is a possible sale riding on it (well maybe not).

 

[scottc42]

Glad that the plan worked out for you. They should try their best because there is a possible sale riding on it (well maybe not).

Haha! Well, we do like the VIP packages to fill in our off years, but I wish they didn’t make it so hard to use.

 

[4TimeAway]

When I called they said they update inventory on the 1st of the month and to call early.