Open Season - Not Always the Best Deal?

So, I am going to Vegas for 5 nights and staying at the HGVC on Karen Street in a studio room.

At Open Season rates it comes to around $380 with taxes etc.

Then I happen to go over to Hilon.com to look something up and lo and behold I check rates there.

They have a suite upgrade special from a studio to a 1 bedroom for $79 per night and it came to about $440 for the total.

It looks like for $60 more, I could have booked through Hilton.com and not HGVC and gotten a better deal since it would be a 1 Bedroom suite and not merely a Studio unit.

Kind of annoying to find this out after the fact. I guess I simply (like a simpleton), believed my best cash rates would always be Open Season.

Live and learn...or do I have any recourse?

Plus you would have received HHonors points for your stay if booked via hilton.com

sjuhawk_jd said:

Plus you would have received HHonors points for your stay if booked via hilton.com

Click to expand...

Yikes, you are right, I forgot about that!!! So instead of this face - I should have used this one and this one:

ricoba,

When are you going?

We are going to be at the Flamingo 9/24 - 10/1.

JM

JM48 said:

ricoba,

When are you going?

We are going to be at the Flamingo 9/24 - 10/1.

JM

Click to expand...

9/16 - 9/21

I noticed what you are noticing with Orlando with the studios so I probably wouldn't book a studio with open season without checking hilton.com first. But just try getting a 3 bedroom on hilton.com for cheaper and I couldn't do it. The rooms weren't even available but they were in the open season inventory.
Actually I was very happy that I was even able to get a 3 bedroom at the time I wanted to go (spring break) because I couldn't even get anything with 3 bedrooms with RCI or II on short notice.

I think it always pays to check both before booking.

chriskre said:

I think it always pays to check both before booking.

Click to expand...

Lesson learned, the hard way!

But I believe you are correct, the 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units are always more on Hilton.

This is actually the first time I cross referenced the Hilton site with a Open Season reservation. Next time, I will be more diligent.

Update

So, I get into Vegas today. Check in and go up to my Studio. It was nice but a bit crowded since it is an accessible unit. BUT, I requested a walk in shower - zero clearance and not a bath tub with shower. (With arthritis, I found out this summer that a shower with no step over is perfect for me.)

So, I call down to the desk and say that this is not what I had requested. I made two calls last week specifically requesting this type of unit. Well to make a long story short, I am now in a 1 Bedroom Suite with a walk in shower. They upgraded me to the 1 bedroom since the studio's don't have this type of shower arrangement.

So, I end up getting the 1 bedroom for the price of the studio, which is a great deal. Only downside, I find out there are no washer dryers in handicap units, which is kind of annoying since I expected to do laundry 1 day during my 5 days here.

But overall, I really can't complain. Just thought I would let you know the outcome of this story.

this past summer the hotels in Vegas have taken a big hit due to the economy, so the rates have come down. You can get some good rates at several of the big resorts, normally the hilton rates for the weekand are from $99-$135 but now you can get them as low as $75...With the current economy its always good to check the hotels first.

Rick,
Glad to hear you got upgraded. Leave it to Hilton to do the right thing.

Just curious why they don't put a washer/dryer in the 1 bedrooms? Is
it because it would have to be a handicapped accessible washer/dryer
and the expense too high so they just skip it? Would it have to be a front
loader to be included in an accessible room?

chriskre said:

Rick,
Glad to hear you got upgraded. Leave it to Hilton to do the right thing.

Just curious why they don't put a washer/dryer in the 1 bedrooms? Is
it because it would have to be a handicapped accessible washer/dryer
and the expense too high so they just skip it? Would it have to be a front
loader to be included in an accessible room?

Click to expand...

I like the fact that I was upgraded too. While I am not a big supporter of activist type things, I think it is only reasonable that people who need an accessible shower over a tub not have to pay extra to get that privledge.

Regarding the W/D, this is a very good question. Why should someone with a handicap be expected not to have the same ammenities as the rest of folks? I really don't know the answer. I have not pursued the question since my arrival. But I do know the front desk manager told me about "valet laundry service" when I asked about the W/D, when we did the move into this room. Again, why should a handicapped person be expected to have to send his or her laundry out vs doing it in the suite?

I think that there is enough room to put in a stacked unit, but I had not thought about the size issue of a side by side W/D.

It's kind of sad that one only thinks about these kind of things when one needs them. I came to realize that Hilton should put more information about accesibility arrangements on their website and in the owners guide. I had to make 3 initial phone calls asking about the shower issue, and still got the wrong shower in the studio. For others who are have far greater disabilities than I, I can get a sense that some of their day to day issues have to deal with lack of info and services for them.

As for a front-loader washer/dryer, isn't there a combo unit (both functions as a washer & dryer in one front loader cabinet) which is an European model design?

My understanding is the combo units that others have commented on here on TUG at other resorts take longer to get through a load (wash & dry) and generally weren't all that happy with them.

The HGVC Karen resort he is at have what I'll call "traditional" stacker units, top load washer with a dryer sitting above it. They do relatively small loads and would be difficult for some to access. Karen is more than 10 years old and is about to undergo a face lift to their units, much in the same way the HGVC Flamingo did in the same town a couple years prior.

I know I own and stay at Karen each year when I attend a series of meetings and trade shows for my industry and I always select a 1 bdrm over a studio unit specifically so I can get a full kitchen and washer/dryer, while being very close to the convention center complex adjacent the LV Hilton.

I have passed on studios there, while they save significant points because of the lack of a washer/dryer.

Check the Basement for Laundry Room

I was there recently and accidently took the elevator to the basement. I remember getting off and seeing a room labeled, "Laundry Room." Might want to check it out and see....... I'd be curious.....

I went to Hilton's website and below is what was listed for amenities:

Hilton Grand Vacations Suites - Las Vegas (Convention Center) Amenities and Services:
Complimentary High-speed wireless Internet available
All accommodations include wet bar, microwave oven, coffee maker, iron, ironing board, hair dryer and daily housekeeping service
Dual phone lines/data ports for today's connected world
Outdoor gas grills for poolside cooking
Complimentary convenient covered parking
ON-SITE LAUNDRY FACILITIES AVAILABLE
Charge privileges at the Las Vegas Hilton, located next-door

ricoba said:

I like the fact that I was upgraded too. While I am not a big supporter of activist type things, I think it is only reasonable that people who need an accessible shower over a tub not have to pay extra to get that privledge.

Regarding the W/D, this is a very good question. Why should someone with a handicap be expected not to have the same ammenities as the rest of folks? I really don't know the answer. I have not pursued the question since my arrival. But I do know the front desk manager told me about "valet laundry service" when I asked about the W/D, when we did the move into this room. Again, why should a handicapped person be expected to have to send his or her laundry out vs doing it in the suite?

I think that there is enough room to put in a stacked unit, but I had not thought about the size issue of a side by side W/D.

It's kind of sad that one only thinks about these kind of things when one needs them.

Click to expand...

Yes it is sad. We don't realize sometimes as walkie talkies how much some people struggle in their day to day lives with things we wouldn't even give a second thought to. I know that I'm having to think about these things as I travel with my elderly Mom who can get around for the most part but may fall if I'm not diligent to think ahead and make sure there are no stairs or big tubs involved. I've started to request handicap accessible rooms after learning my lessons the hard way.

Now, as soon as I get my exchange confirmations, I call the resort to make sure that they note that I need a room either on the ground floor if there are stairs or any other issues. I've had to move from an older resort (Stonegate to VV Berkshires) because of a few stairs and a few trips and falls. It's really an issue when staying at older properties. Not so much with the newer ones.

vacationhopeful said:

As for a front-loader washer/dryer, isn't there a combo unit (both functions as a washer & dryer in one front loader cabinet) which is an European model design?

Click to expand...

Haier makes one but it's ridiculously slow. Takes like 2 or 3 hours to do a load and you can only do a tiny load. I encountered it once in a TS but can't remember where.

I think if anything my experience gave me more insight and understanding into the needs of others. Which in my view is a good and positive thing.

On a side note, I left Vegas at 9am and arrived back here in Los Angeles Metro at about 1:30 (with a nice break for lunch).

When I left Vegas the weather was a pleasant sunny 87 degrees, when I got back home here in the South Bay, it is 70 degrees and cloudy/foggy.

ricoba said:

I think if anything my experience gave me more insight and understanding into the needs of others. Which in my view is a good and positive thing.

On a side note, I left Vegas at 9am and arrived back here in Los Angeles Metro at about 1:30 (with a nice break for lunch).

When I left Vegas the weather was a pleasant sunny 87 degrees, when I got back home here in the South Bay, it is 70 degrees and cloudy/foggy.

Click to expand...

We were in Vegas Friday night, spending the night on our way back from Sedona. Temps were in the mid-90's as we left town around 11am, they were in the 60's and gray when we got back home on the westside around 4pm...and we've not seen the sun since!!!

Glad you enjoyed your trip, Rick. It is 97º here now, with 6% humidity at 5 PM.

Fern