If it's all about pts.,why do some people want to buy at specific resorts?

If, for discussion's sake, we set aside the few resorts with special rules that make being an owner there an advantage (e.g., New York), why do people want to buy an ownership at certain resorts? They do this, EVEN THROUGH they could buy pts. at resorts that have lower annual maintenace fees. ---Is it an emotional thing, or are there advantages that I am missing? (Again, setting aside the few resorts with special rules (e.g., New York)). ---Thanks for any discussion. ---Jaes.

JMHO....

I think it depends if you're willing to take a chance....HGVC has ultimate control and they can change the rules at anytime so I believe it is important to be happy with staying at whatever location you choose as your home resort.

From the 2009 Club Member Guide page 144 under "Program Changes" - http://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/mg/
Club program use options and rules, including but not limited to, the RCI Exchange Program, special exchanges, nightly point values, the Hilton Honors Worldwide Program, ClubPoint Depositing/Borrowing/Converting, and Club Partner Perks may be offered from time to time, are subject to change, adjustment, suspension or discontinuation without notice. Any such changes will not apply to transactions confirmed prior to the effective date of any such change.

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Old TUG threads regarding changes in the HGVC program
HGVC New Point structure from the Fall 2006 Grand Times - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31433&highlight=grand+times
HGVC Program News from the Spring 2007 Grand Times - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44320&highlight=upgrade

The only advantage of buying at a specific resort, as far as I can see, is if you want to go there every year and be sure you can get a reservation for exactly what you own. Owners can reserve at 12 months, nonowners at 9 months.

I've owned at Seaworld for a few years. Typically, we use our points to go elsewhere. We've only stayed there once for 3-days (Open-Season). Some HGVC'ers never book their home resort.

The legalese about Hilton changing the rules does not worry me. Any substantial change would be both a PR and administrative nightmare. I think its more an issue of flexibility. The rule should be -- If its imperative that you have annual use of a particular resort and thus, need the security of a Home Week reservation, then by all means, buy there.

OTOH, if your parameters aren't so narrow, you'll be able to find something that meets your specs during club and open season, so location does not matter. We had to be patient to get the week we wanted at Cancun last year, but it really hasn't been an issue for us.

Vegas and Orlando are likely not an issue, and using home reservation is likely not needed. Some exceptions may Vegas New Years eve, but that is an event week and those weeks are automatically booked for the owners, or Orlando Xmas.

Other places like FL coastal, Valdoro, CO, Hawaii where everyone is competing for ski, summer and/or holiday weeks, having home season advantage might be needed for certainly holiday weeks.

It is needed at some locations but NOT at most.

You got me; I have often wondered the same thing. I own in Vega$ just because the MF&T are the cheapest anywhere I've found for the amount of points I have. I almost never go there.

And if anyone knows of a property with lower MF&T/per point (10.1¢) please let me know... I will look there for my next purchase!

for me it was emotional, sad to say and expense. Vegas has the cheapest MF's which was a plus, and we go there 2 times a year. But the emotional was that I love the Flamingo and just had to own there. My mind was set on the flamingo as it made me feel better about my purchase for some reason. Something about saying that you own at the flamingo was a huge factor for me. Not to mention the location. Both my wife and I were so attached to owning here, I just cant explain it. Strange

Great discussion!

I clearly see the advantage that "linsj" points out---that is, owners have priority reservations,at their home resort, 12 to 9 months out, when reserving in their season (e.g., Platinum, etc. ) and type of unit. -----But for those of us who like to think of new and unthought-of-things to worry about, I believe that "alwysonvac" brings up something that may be worthy of thought and some amount of resultant anxiety. ---Thank you, "alwysonvac." (PR considerations & a possible revolt by owners aside, people who write the rules can change the rules.) ----Jaes.

Alwaysonvac's comments, unfortunately, are true. The one thing I was guaranteed when I bought was that the point structure would never change. Then came the Waikikian, King's Land, and the New York Club's points. Exchange rules have already changed, you need more points to get into higher point clubs now. The New York Club now has different Open Season and Club Season rules from everyone else, where all the clubs had the same rules before. Rules do change.

jestme said:

The one thing I was guaranteed when I bought was that the point structure would never change. Then came the Waikikian, King's Land, and the New York Club's points. Exchange rules have already changed, you need more points to get into higher point clubs now. The New York Club now has different Open Season and Club Season rules from everyone else, where all the clubs had the same rules before. Rules do change.

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When I was purchasing, they told me that the point cost would never change for the resort I was purchasing... and for similar resorts that were in existence at the time. They haven't changed, and I don't think they will in the future.

I don't know what you were told, but even with the newer resorts requiring more points, I don't feel I was lied to. It really doesn't surprise me, in fact it was expected for the most part, at least by me (did anyone really think that it wasn't going to cost anymore to stay in NYC than Orlando?!). It really is a simple matter of economics/inflation (costs to build these properties are definitely more than they were in 1992).

I think the only other alternative would be that the newer resorts be cheaper in design and construction. Which I'm REALLY glad they did not do. Cutting back on costs that way would be a disaster as far as mainting the quality of HGVC resorts, and the integrity & value of the system overall.

I'm really happy they have decided to come out with higher end properties. I'm hoping for more in the future!

JonathanIT, to me, inflation is a pricing issue, not a point structure issue. If it costs 40% more to build now than 1992, then the prices should be 40% more for the same points. As far as staying somewhere for the same price, Hawaii was always more expensive to buy than Orlando or Vegas for the same points. Did you get Hawaii for the same price as Orlando?
However, we are off topic. the question is why people buy at certain resorts. One good reason is that some clubs make an excellent trade outside of HGVC.

We are buying Hawaii (Lagoon) and paying a premium for the resale (points) and maintenance fees because:

A. the security of knowing we have the room and season we plan on staying at for as far as we can plan.
B. not having to worry about booking during club season since we will be booking during the home resort season.
C. The only hassle I anticipate having is buying open season additional couple of days prior to our week.
D. Like the Honolulu environment and more importantly can almost fall out of bed and be on the beach (I do not know why the new HHV (Kalia and Grand Waikikian) are so far off the beach) .

jaes said:

If, for discussion's sake, we set aside the few resorts with special rules that make being an owner there an advantage (e.g., New York), why do people want to buy an ownership at certain resorts? They do this, EVEN THROUGH they could buy pts. at resorts that have lower annual maintenace fees. ---Is it an emotional thing, or are there advantages that I am missing? (Again, setting aside the few resorts with special rules (e.g., New York)). ---Thanks for any discussion. ---Jaes.

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For me it was ego and what I knew. The only two HGVC resorts I have seen was HHV and Waikoloa. I was ohh and awed by what I saw in the Lagoon Tower and Waikoloa.

Another reason is the amount of points. I was looking, resell, for 9600+ points range. This ensured that I could get multiple rooms, if I invited friends and family, or stay at the higher points resort. When I was looking, I could not find very many non-hawaiian 9600+ points being sold resell. The non-hawaiian resort that were 9600+ points or more, were selling for comparable prices. I did not want to buy 2 lower point resort because the sum of two MF is more than the sum of 1 higher point MF. (for example 2 x 5000 pts Las Vegas at $800 MF = $1600 which equates to $.16 a point for MF. 1 x 9600 pts Waikoloa at $1300 MF = $1300 which equates to $.13 a point for MF.)

If I could do it all over again, I might reconsider buying Las Vegas or Florida.

Deros

It was emotion for us too. We were married at the Flamingo and had to "feel like we owned part of it". It just was ment to be.

I think linsj summed it up pretty well. That being said, we have only booked at our home resort in Orlando SeaWorld once in the past 8 years.

I love NYC

I bought in NYC because we enjoy going there and I can a reservation easier by owning there.
It is that simple.