I've read the posts here about HGVC but (as usual - lol) everyone seems to be a step ahead of me. I have no idea how this works, other than it's a points based system. Looks like Hilton has 4 "home" resorts and the rest are a trade thru RCI? What's the minimum buy-in (I'm a DVC member and the minimum is 150pts)and what does that get you? Again, comparing to DVC (all I know) I use my points per night based on type of accomodations and season. Is Hilton similar to that? I'm especially interested in The Hilton Hawaiian Village - does that mean I should buy there or could I buy in Vegas and trade for Hawaii? With DVC you're always advised to buy where you want to stay.
Anyway, as you see, I'm full of questions - is there any webpage for owners that's not Hilton affiliated that would assist?
Sorry for the length of the post - any help is appreciated.

posted 05-28-2001 09:00            

5 resorts wear the HGVC name, South Beach, Hawaiian Village, Flamingo, Las Vegas & Sea World. Of those, Flamingo is the oldest and seems to have the most resales though Sea World seems to have it's share. This is where I'm not sure but I've seen Silver, 1 bedrooms for sale which suggests that the lowest # of points you can buy is 2,400.

It's better to buy a smaller unit in a higher float than it is to buy a bigger unit in a lower float, as you will end up paying more in maintenance for the bigger unit.

The rest of the resorts are managed by Hilton and are also in the Club. Some are on fixed weeks only, others have both fixed & flex weeks. How many points you receive depends on the week in the case of a fixed week, the week you reserve in the case of a Flex week.

If the resort is affiliated with II, you don't lose this ability but need to have your own II account.

Some things about reservations:
- Home Resort reservation from 9 - 12 months. It has to be for a week.
- Club Season reservations from 1 - 9 months. Whichever resort you like and there is a 3 night minimum stay.
- Open reservation, 30 days or less. 2 night minimum at a HGVC resort or 3 night minimum stay for specific RCI resorts. Can use ClubPoints, HHonors or cash.

Hawaiian Village has only Platinum & Gold weeks. Just to repeat what Juanita wrote :

Hilton Platinum Gold Silver
1-bdrm 4800 3400 2400
2-bdrm 7000 5000 3500
3-bdrm 8400 5800 4100

I have young kids and didn't want to start with anything less than 5,000 points. I found it easier to find a Hilton-managed resort at the right price. Besides that, it was unlikely that I would go to Vegas or Hawaii as often as I would the Gulf coast resorts.

posted 05-28-2001 11:46         

quote:

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Originally posted by Marina_K:
Some things about reservations:
- Home Resort reservation from 9 - 12 months. It has to be for a week.

The member's guids says it is 9-12 months before the start of your "season", i.e., Platinum, Gold or Silver, and not check in date, but no more than 15 months before your check in date. [This assumes you didn't buy a fixed week 52, for example. Then no need to reserve your week.] And it has to be for the exact week that you purchased. For example, you purchased a 1BR Gold unit at the Flamingo. The home season check in date = Fridays. So during this period, you can only reserve a week in the Gold season (which includes President's weekend, Memorial weekend, all summer, Comdex, and THanksgiving) that has a Friday check in and Friday check out. No fee for home season reservation.

If you want a different check in date or check out date or if you want to reserve a week in a different season or if you want to reserve something other than a 1BR in your season, you must wait for the Club Season, i.e., at least 9 months out, before you can make the reservation.

[QUOTE] - Club Season reservations from 1 - 9 months. Whichever resort you like and there is a 3 night minimum stay.
- Open reservation, 30 days or less. 2 night minimum at a HGVC resort or 3 night minimum stay for specific RCI resorts. Can use ClubPoints, HHonors or cash.

$39 fee for each of these reservations. The date limitations, e.g., 9 months out, refer to months before the check in date. During these periods you can reserve at any resort you want, any week/season you want, any checkin-out date you want, any size unit you want and any length of time you want, i.e., less than a week as long as more than 3 nights, provided the size/date/unit you want is available.

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If you are interested in Hawaiian Village, you probably should buy there. Of course for the next couple of years while it is not sold out, units will be available for trading in by other HGVC owners. In fact, right now there are plenty of units available within the 30 days Open season so you can pay a discounted owners' only rate for the rooms. But I assume owners of HHV, like the owners of Hawaii Marriott or other nice Hawaii/island resorts, will use those home resorts at a higher rate than owners at other locations, because of the location, the heafty premium they paid for the location and the higher maintenance fees. My guess is that they will trade less often; and some may never trade. So if you want to go back to HHV year after year, you probably want to guarantee you have the priority for reservations by buying there. I'm not sure whether the HGVC reservation system makes it easier for non-HHV owners to trade into HHV (compared to the Marriott system, for example). Within Marriott, for example, non-Maui or Kauai owners who don't want to use their week must exchange through II to see if another Marriott/non-Marriott unit is available before they decide. Other Marriott owners can't simply call up 9 months ahead and find out if dates/units are still available. I assume some owners do not make reservations way ahead of time even though they can. Some people simply never plan their trips that far in advance. So it seems like internal exchanges within point systems such as HGVC is a bit easier. But I don't know; I'm just guessing. I guess we'd all have a better idea in a few years after HHV sells out. Still, if you can only travel during holidays, summer/winter vacations, or if you want to assure you get the week you want for HHV, you should buy there. Also, if you use Frequent Flyer miles and need to reserve those "free" tickets way ahead of time, well befor the 9 months mark, you probably want to buy into the season you want to make sure your travel plans work out.

posted 05-28-2001 11:52            

quote:

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Originally posted by Magellan:
Looks like Hilton has 4 "home" resorts and the rest are a trade thru RCI?

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All resorts in the HGVC system, both Hilton-developed and Hilton-managed properties, can be booked through the HGVC system. It's a lot cheaper, and in my opinion a lot easier, than going through RCI.

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Juanita

posted 05-28-2001 12:36         

quote:

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Originally posted by Magellan:
Hello all - I just posted on the newbies board and the very helpful Marine_K pointed me here. Thanks Marina!

By the way, welcome to TUG!

is there any webpage for owners that's not Hilton affiliated that would assist?

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posted 05-28-2001 15:18            

I knew that, just don't quite understand how to do it in practise.

Lets say I own a Flex week at Surf Club. The float is 14 to 51, inclusive. Platinum - Week 51. Gold - 14 to 18, 24 to 33, 43 to 48. Silver - 19 to 23, 34 - 42, 49 - 50.

posted 05-28-2001 15:42            

If I want Week 14, when is the earliest I can reserve it? How about Week 26? And Week 51?
_____________

The earliest an owner at the HGVC-affiliated resorts can reserve his/her week(s) is 12 months in advance of the check-in date.

For example, if I wanted to reserve week 14 for year 2002, I would put in my request with HGVC around week 14 of year 2001. I could still put my request in now and might still get it because week 14 is not a premium week - Gold week.

Similarly, if I wanted to reserve week 26 for year 2002, I would put in my request with HGVC around week 26 of year 2001 or later, it doesn't matter much because week 26 is not a premium week - Gold week.

However, since week 51 is a premium week - Platinum, if you want to assure 100% success with your reservation, you need to put in your request no later than week 51 of year 2001.

The probability of your getting the prime week 51 depends on how big the resort is and how many % of HGVC members owners vs. % of non HGVC members owners. The HGVC members owners will have the priority over the non HGVC members owners. But, among the HGVC members owners, it's a first comes first served order.

Also, for the special weeks of the year like Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. my home resort exchange rules prohibit the same FLEX onwner from reserving/confirming into one of those weeks in consecutive years.

posted 05-28-2001 17:48            

You're absolutely correct in what you wrote on the other thread, about sharing knowledge and how although all the resorts are in the HGVC, there are differences for members who own at HGVC-built resorts and those who own at HGVC-managed resorts.

Sheryl,

posted 06-01-2001 09:31            

quote:

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Originally posted by Magellan:
...was the HGVC presentation "painful?"

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Not painful, just tedious. It was our first purchase. The Bay Club presentation was very low key and rather pleasant. With that said, they’re going to have to offer me a lot of extras to sit through another sales presentation. It really eats into your precious vacation time especially if you purchase.

We purchased HHV over the phone. I was really amazed at how quick and easy it was. Not nearly as much time and effort as purchasing on site. Plus they gave me a really nice discount in lieu of any gifts I would have received on site. I much prefer the discount.

posted 06-04-2001 20:56            

As far as buying direct from HGVC we did this intitially and again to upgrade. I generally think price is not negotiable but as mentioned earlier, the incentives are. They will typically throught HHonors points at you which can be advantageous. If your are serious about the deal I suggest asking for more points than they offer at first.

We also immediately signed up for the Hilton AMEX card and used it to purchase a part of the unit to get the points.