HGVC questions

[jpc763]

Hello,

I am a long time MVCI owner and understand pretty well how that system works.

My cousin recently told me about a "mistake" she made a year ago when she bought an EOY week in HGVC. She is paying it off monthly and has yet to use it. I told her that I would help her use it as she had no clue how to do that.

Here is what she has...
Purchase Date: May 2016
Home Resort: HGVC at MarBrisa
Unit Size: Studio
Season: EOY Even
HGVC points: 2500

She showed me her account and she has the following:
ClubPoints - 2017: 0
ClubPoints - 2018: 2500
ClubPoints - 2019: 0

She let me poke around on the site and It looks like she can book a studio at most locations that have studios. She can book larger units for shorter stays with her 2500 points. I am not sure what happened to her 2016 points as she says she has never used it since purchase. Her booking window seems to be 9 months out.

I also see that she can convert her points to Hilton Honors points for 25 to 1 (65000). RCI trades look pretty dismal at 2500.

I told her her best bet is to either book a location she wants for 2018 or to convert to Honors points for other locations (Disneyland is of big interest to her). 65000 honors points seems to be enough for a week at an embassy suites.

So thoughts on options I have provided to her or other things to consider?

Thanks in advance!

John

 

[PigsDad]

If she didn't do anything to "save" her 2016 points into 2017, then those points would have just expired -- no way to retrieve those points at this time.

Honor point conversion is a poor use of her points. I think you are off on what 65000 Honors points will get you. At an Embassy Suites, those are usually at least 30K-40K points per night.

If she wanted a reservation that will use more than her 2500 points, she could "save" her '18 2500 points into '19, and then in 2019 have up to 5000 points available (since you can borrow from the next year for free). The other option is RCI -- check the RCI portal from the HGVC website, as she may have 5000 points available for RCI, since it can pull from future years. 4800 points will get her a 2BR red week.

Unfortunately, 2500 EOY points is a very small amount of points in the HGVC system.

Kurt

 

[jpc763]

If she didn't do anything to "save" her 2016 points into 2017, then those points would have just expired -- no way to retrieve those points at this time.

Honor point conversion is a poor use of her points. I think you are off on what 65000 Honors points will get you. At an Embassy Suites, those are usually at least 30K-40K points per night.

If she wanted a reservation that will use more than her 2500 points, she could "save" her '18 2500 points into '19, and then in 2019 have up to 5000 points available (since you can borrow from the next year for free). The other option is RCI -- check the RCI portal from the HGVC website, as she may have 5000 points available for RCI, since it can pull from future years. 4800 points will get her a 2BR red week.

Unfortunately, 2500 EOY points is a very small amount of points in the HGVC system.

Kurt

Kurt, thanks for your reply! You are correct, the points values were listed per night at like 35k points per night! Since I am not a member of the program, I could not get past the first page to the total page.

So for her, the best bet would be to book a studio in her year or save the points for 2 years for a larger place.

Both Hilton Honors and RCI are not a good value for the number of points she gets.

Thanks for everything!

John

 

[GTLINZ]

Kurt, thanks for your reply! You are correct, the points values were listed per night at like 35k points per night! Since I am not a member of the program, I could not get past the first page to the total page.

So for her, the best bet would be to book a studio in her year or save the points for 2 years for a larger place.

Both Hilton Honors and RCI are not a good value for the number of points she gets.

Thanks for everything!

John

It appears she has an EOY gold season studio. You probably know this but you can book ANY season or unit size - the points just change. SeaPointe (across the street from the ocean) and Grand Pacific Palisades are also in Carlsbad and a shorter stay is an option. Vegas is not far and the studios are cheaper. If you go out to RCI, RCI points can book shorter stays than a week (I find RCI very hit or miss, but it is an option).

I would agree with PigsDad that conversion to HHonors is a lousy deal, and even worse since they increased the number of points needed for desired seasons last year (or earlier this year?) - it really soured me on HH points.

You will also have the option to rescue (before the end of 2018) any unused 2018 points into 2019 - even if you use some of them. There is a fee (currently 99$ online?) but I think I have done it every year since I have owned and have hardly ever lost points. As an example - she could book a prime plat studio at Marbrisa for Mo-Th nights at 350 points a night for next summer, and then push the remaining 1100 points into 2019 and have up to 3600 to use in 2019 (because you can always borrow from the next year). I bought into HGVC because it is so flexible (plus we live near FL and have lots of options and love to get away for a long weekend).

I am guessing she also lives in CA. One of our absolute favorite places to stay is San Luis Bay Inn in Avila, CA - it requires a week reservation and would be 2400 points. The studios have a full kitchen and couch and table and are large. There is a SMALL number of lockoff studios - so make sure the RCI search hits a room that can sleeps 4. I have had good luck booking there by putting in a search (which requires payment) and inventory hits a year out.

HGVC may also give her a break on her 2016 points - it could not hurt to ask. Call them asap (you may need her to do this) and ask if her 2016 points can be moved into RCI, which makes them good for 2 years (and because of their age the would likely only be good thru the end of 2018). But you would have to use those next year (and SLBI in Avila might be a great option). Since she bought from the developer and did not understand the system yet, they just might do it if you ask nice (and escalate if needed).

Good luck, and I think she will find she can enjoy what she has.

You can also look at resorts and points without login:
http://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/explore/

 

[Talent312]

To be clear:
If she "saved" her 2018 pts (for a fee), they will be available for a 2019 stay... and
If she needed MT 2500 pts for her stay, the system borrows the shortage from 2020 (no fee).
That's what gives her 5,000 pts to play with in 2019.

Staying weekdays only makes points last 2x as long. I set 4 - weekday stays, each LT 900 pts.
But then, I'm retired so to me a weekday is a Saturday.

If she hasn't already, she needs to set up an account at the members' website and noodle around herself.

.

 

[alwysonvac]

Also check if your cousin received bonus points with her developer purchase.
Bonus points will expire in two years.