Question about the HGVC site

Hi. We are still in escrow on a Bay Club unit, should be closing within a couple weeks. I am wondering if anyone can describe the HGVC website for members. I'm sure it is easy and simple to use - everything pretty much is these days.

What I'm specifically wondering about is what you have access to. Can you only see the HGVC owned resorts, or can you also see availability of affiliates? I do understand that RCI is not available online, you must call to do a search for that.

Also, when one is going to bank and/or borrow points, is that done online or does that require a phone call?

I'm anxious to get the opportunity to explore the site, and learn all the ins and outs. Thanks for the input and advice in advance.

HGVC website

Hi,
We just purchased our first HGVC at International Drive last summer. I too was excited to have it become official and to get my login name so I can access the HGVC website. They have updated the site a little since joining. You are ahead of us already being a member on this TUG site. We joined about 2 months ago and have liked reading the other timeshare reviews.

HGVC website

1. Once you login to your account, it will come up with a screen telling you in detail how many points you have used and have left.
2. You will have 2 choices to view: Classic system and the newer Revolution System. When you want to particularly look up what is available for OPEN SEASON, select the Classic system so you can see ALL the available resorts.
3. You will mainly just have access to only the HGVC resorts that are listed in your HGVC book that you should have received. It gives you similar information that is already in your book, info about the resort, number of clubpoints it uses, etc. For most of them, you will also be able to take a virtual tour of the property and accommodations.
4. I found it pretty easy to make online reservations and it is cheaper. It is just $49 vs $59 over the phone. Also, when you book online, you are automatically entitled to the Changeable Club Reservations, which allow you to make changes online without penalty (but see your book for specific details, pg 141 in the 2009 edition).
5. There is a link for you to get to the RCI website, but you can also just start looking at the RCI properties now while you are waiting at rci.com, click on the Resort Directory. I find the reviews there helpful as well. You aren't able to book any RCI resorts online. You'll have to do that over the phone with an RCI/Hilton rep.
6. To borrow points for a trip: Say you don't have Club Points until 2010, but you wanted to go on a vacation in 2009. You can just call them when you are booking your reservation and tell them that you'd like to use your 2010 points for a vacation for this year in 2009. Then they will do it for you.
7. Since we are new, we haven't needed to save points. But from what I know, it is better to use them up and borrow ahead since it costs no money. There is actually a fee if you wanted to say save some of your 2009 club points and use them for 2010. I believe this is called RESCUING your points.


Have fun.
Siao Mei

Hi. Thanks for responding. Your explanation was very thorough and she help (once I get to start exploring).

I've already been "window shopping" on the RCI website. Our plan is to stay at our home resort every other year (it is xmas week), so that will give us some points to play with every other year.

How do you know you are making a "changeable" reservation?

Thanks again!

Sunshine Wanted said:

How do you know you are making a "changeable" reservation?

Click to expand...

Under "My Reservations" you will select "Change Reservation" then select which reservation you want to change.

Some additional information.....

I prefer using the Classic system for the rolling 4 week availability calendar. This important feature along with the single page list of resorts available during Open Season wasn't carried over to the new Revolution system. The new system was obviously built by folks who were not familiar with reservations from a timeshare owner perspective. During the Club and Open Season, timeshare owners must choose from what is left over. If you're trying to determine the best time for a HGVC stay based on airfares, it is easier to see what is available using the Classic Reservation System. The new Revolution system looks fancy but it doesn't deliver. It is very slow and only shows you availability for a specific check-in date. Even hilton.com website displays a flexible availability calendar for cash and reward stays.

You can book the following resorts online during the Club and Open Season Reservation Window
Orlando - SeaWorld, Intl Dr & Parc Soleil
Miami Beach - South Beach
Breckenridge, Colorado - Valdoro Mountain Lodge
Las Vegas - Flamingo, Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas Strip
Honolulu, Hawaii - Lagoon, Kalia and Grand Waikikian
Waikoloa, Hawaii - Bay Club, Waikoloa Beach Resort, Kings' Land
Acapulco, Mexico - Fiesta Americana Villas Acapulco
Cancun, Mexico - Fiesta Americana Villas Cancun
Los Cabos, Mexico - Fiesta Americana Villas Los Cabos
Algarve, Portugal - Hilton Vilamoura Vacation Club
Carlsbad, Califormia - Grand Pacific MarBrisa Resort

The following resorts are only available for online booking during Open Season
Scotland - Hilton Coylumbridge, Hilton Craigendarroch, Hilton Dunkeld
Florida Affiliates - not sure if all are available oline; I've seen Plantation Beach Club, The Charter Club of Marco Beach, The Surf Club of Marco, and Club Regency of Marco Island

smshick said:

6. To borrow points for a trip: ... You can just call them when you are booking your reservation and tell them that you'd like to use your 2010 points for a vacation for this year in 2009. Then they will do it for you.

Click to expand...

You do not have to call. When making an online reservation, the system will automatically borrow the points from the following year for you. However, you may want to call if you want to take back points that you previously deposited or rescued, just to be sure that the "right" type of points are borrowed.

smshick said:

7. ... There is actually a fee if you wanted to save some of your 2009 club points and use them for 2010. I believe this is called RESCUING your points.

Click to expand...

Yep. But you can do this online. If you sign up for "point protection," the system does this for you. In addition, you can save (move) your 2010 points ahead to 2011 with a "DEPOSIT" b4 1/1/2010, online. Its actually better to make a deposti than wait and do a rescue later, becuz "rescued" points are restricted to HGVC stays, while "deposited" points are not.

BTW, all reservations made online are changeable... its built into the system.

Talent312 said:

You do not have to call. When making an online reservation, the system will automatically borrow the points from the following year for you. However, you may want to call if you want to take back points that you previously deposited or rescued, just to be sure that the "right" type of points are borrowed.



Yep. But you can do this online. If you sign up for "point protection," the system does this for you. In addition, you can save (move) your 2010 points ahead to 2011 with a "DEPOSIT" b4 1/1/2010, online. Its actually better to make a deposti than wait and do a rescue later, becuz "rescued" points are restricted to HGVC stays, while "deposited" points are not.

BTW, all reservations made online are changeable... its built into the system.

Click to expand...

Question, do you really mean I have to move 2010 points before 1/1/10 or is it 1/1/11, I don't mean this as picking, but IF I need to do it before 2010 even starts I need to know, this is all new to me too
thanks

yes, you need to move 2010 points by 12/31/2009.

wow, so if I move 2010 points to 2011
will I lose my 'priority reservation status' for the gold weeks in 2010?

Look at the page "Streching your club points" in the "resorts" section here... http://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/mg/

It says, you can "borrow" deposited points into current year to make a Home resort reservations, but not Home Week reservations though.

SusieQ927 said:

wow, so if I move 2010 points to 2011
will I lose my 'priority reservation status' for the gold weeks in 2010?

Click to expand...

Yep, absent a second source of points.
If moving the points means that you will not have enuff points left to make a "Home Week" reservation without borrowing, you'd be SOL. There's a rule that says, "Borrowed points may not be used to make a Home Week reservation."

BTW, the term "Home Week reservation" (the 12-9 month window) does limit you to the same unit and week that you own, rather your reservation is for the same unit type in the same season at your home resort.

Talent312 said:

BTW, the term "Home Week reservation" (the 12-9 month window) does limit you to the same unit and week that you own, rather your reservation is for the same unit type in the same season at your home resort.

Click to expand...

That is likely not a problem at Bay Club as only week 51 and 52 were sold as fixed weeks. All other units were sold as floating 1 - 50 Platinum weeks. Oddly enough no Gold weeks were sold as far as I am aware even though there are gold week in Hawaii.