Elara

[oldsharon]

Hi Everyone


My daughter bought a 1wk/every 2 years timeshare at Planet Hollywood before the resort was finished. Now it is called the Elara and is part of the Hilton Vacations Club. They are saying she cannot convert to an RCI deposit without upgrading.

Can you tell me anything about this?

My daughter is now a single mom on longterm disability and we are going to have to take over the timeshare. We presently have a few RCI properties (fixed weeks) and would really only be able to use the Vegas time as a trade thru RCI.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sharon

 

[timeos2]

It is now managed by Hilton but remains a Wastegate/ii resort for existing buyers, it is NOT part of the Hilton system. To do that they would have to pay to get away from Wastegate & upgrade to Hilton. May not be worth it.

 

[SmithOp]

Hi Everyone


My daughter bought a 1wk/every 2 years timeshare at Planet Hollywood before the resort was finished. Now it is called the Elara and is part of the Hilton Vacations Club. They are saying she cannot convert to an RCI deposit without upgrading.

Can you tell me anything about this?

My daughter is now a single mom on longterm disability and we are going to have to take over the timeshare. We presently have a few RCI properties (fixed weeks) and would really only be able to use the Vegas time as a trade thru RCI.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sharon

If she purchased from Westgate, those units are only managed by HGVC, they are not part of the HGVC portal for exchanging with RCI.

Whatever you do, do not pay Westgate any more money!

Maybe at some time in the future HGVC will offer a conversion of the old Westgate weeks, until then book the week she owns and visit Vegas or trade it through II.

 

[tschwa2]

You/She could also reserve her float week on the use year and deposit it with one of the exchange companies that don't charge an annual fee. If it is at least a 1 bedroom, it could be deposited with SFX. DAE, Trading Places, and Platinum Interchange are also companies that do exchanges. If it is a studio and you are happy to exchange it for a studio somewhere else you should be ok but most of these charge to upgrade to a larger size unit.

 

[Talent312]

Maybe at some time in the future HGVC will offer a conversion of the old Westgate weeks...

Don't hold your breath. HGVC is busy with its own units.
They won't be interested taking on Westgate units for a long time, if ever.
.
.

 

[PigsDad]

Don't hold your breath. HGVC is busy with its own units.
They won't be interested taking on Westgate units for a long time, if ever.

I've seen you state this several times -- is this just your opinion, or do you have a contact at HGVC that said this? The OP seemed to indicate that they were given the opportunity to upgrade their Westgate ownership to a full HGVC ownership.

Kurt

 

[Talent312]

I've seen you state this several times -- is this just your opinion, or do you have a contact at HGVC that said this?

A family member in Orlando has a neighbor who once worked at MetroWest.
But all they pass on these days is opinion... or more like "attitude."
.
.

 

[timeos2]

I've seen you state this several times -- is this just your opinion, or do you have a contact at HGVC that said this? The OP seemed to indicate that they were given the opportunity to upgrade their Westgate ownership to a full HGVC ownership.

Kurt

They will sell them a new HGVC membership - they will sell one to anybody! - but they will not embrace a true "upgrade" (as in take over the old Wastegate ownership). The main reason is they have more unsold inventory in just the unfinished parts of the Tower of Terror than they are projected to sell over the next 7-10 years. Tying up capital in additional inventory would be a very bad move.

It is extremely liklely that the poor folks that got caught in the Wastegate PH disaster won't have any easy way out for years, if ever. As usual anything to do with Wastegate virtually guarantees that the owner will regret it at some point. Don't ever forget it.

 

[oldsharon]

Hi John
I was afraid that might be the response. Did you say there might be an exchange company that we could trade through without a fee? If so, could you give me contact info. I can't go to Vegas because I am a recovering Gambling Addict - 50 yr old women beware - apparently we are the largest percentage of problem gamblers.
thanks
sharon

 

[timeos2]

If SFX will take them they offer no membership fee options. Of course you would pay for the actual exchange when you got one. They are selective of the quality of the resorts they will accept. I don't know if Elara is one or not.

I believe Trading Places International (TPI) also has a no-membership fee program. They should accept Elara.

Of course you could also try direct exchanges with other owners. No fees involved but you both have to have something the other wants. Good luck & I hope you can get a value out.

 

[oldsharon]

Thanks John
I know you don't recommend trying to buy up to HGVC but I was wondering if anyone could tell me what kind of upgrade fees they are charging Elara owners to do just that.

 

[presley]

Thanks John
I know you don't recommend trying to buy up to HGVC but I was wondering if anyone could tell me what kind of upgrade fees they are charging Elara owners to do just that.

I don't know what they are charging, but it will be a lot. It doesn't really sound like taking over this timeshare would be a good idea for you. It isn't want you want or need. I'd suggest calling the HGVC sales staff at Elara and asking them. Give them a day or 2 to research what you have and what they would recommend.

I'm not sure if HGVC will give you what you want. They are heavily Florida, Vegas and Hawaii oriented.

Since your daughter is on disability, maybe she can just return her deed to the resort. She cannot afford it and I don't really think it is a good choice for you.

 

[Ron98GT]

Hi Everyone


My daughter bought a 1wk/every 2 years timeshare at Planet Hollywood before the resort was finished. Now it is called the Elara and is part of the Hilton Vacations Club. They are saying she cannot convert to an RCI deposit without upgrading.

Can you tell me anything about this?

My daughter is now a single mom on longterm disability and we are going to have to take over the timeshare. We presently have a few RCI properties (fixed weeks) and would really only be able to use the Vegas time as a trade thru RCI.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Sharon

You sparked my curiosity.

Who are "they"? Was this HGVC, Westgate, or someone else?

Did "they" happen to elaborate on what you had to upgrade to, how much, and what the upgrade consisted of (ie, replacing your unit/week for a larger/longer one, adding a week, adding points...)

Also, it's my understanding that Westgate is "only" in II, but you stated that you can utilize RCI if you "upgrade". That sounds like HGVC. So, if this is HGVC that you were talking to, would you deed this existing week over to HGVC and replace it with an HGVC week?

Thanks,
- Ron