Anyone taken up a H Grand Vacations offer?

[Deleted member 29185]

After just booking a few nights to take advantage of the great getaway sale, I was apparently "chosen" to receive an offer of amazing resort prices and some points for us to listen to the sales spiel for the Grand Vacations ownership.

Sounded pretty good, a week at Orlando Grand Vacation resort for the family including tickets to both theme parks for US$499 + taxes.

So, does everyone get offered this, has anyone taken up the offer and is it really the great value it seems?

 

[serfty]

I'm rather wary of such schemes ... and in general like most such 'timeshare' schemes you can get better value with 'resale'.

Maybe look at FT? e.g. Hilton Grand Vacations Club®: Is It Worth Becoming a Member? - FlyerTalk Forums

Finally, have a look at this site: http://www.tug2.net/ - :shock:

 

[drron]

This is not to buy a timeshare it is a teaser rate to try and convince you to buy.If you want to go to Orlando then it is good value.But the Sales people are persistent and do apply the pressure.
We stayed at one of the 3 there last November,here is the review-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....d-reviews/hgvc-parc-soleil-orlando-34571.html

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Thanks for the replies.

I did buy the "sales pitch" holiday, but yesterday requested and got a refund.

Too much to consider in a short period of time I'm afraid. Also combined with the fact a US holiday at christmas would probably cost almost as much as the timeshare ownership itself, very soon had us realising there are better options closer to home for us for the next few years at least. I've never been interested in timeshare (with good reason it seems, given the disater many here have been) and I guess the reality is, I'm still not interested in timeshare so the question was........are we prepared to put up with what I assume would be a week of harrassment about signing on the bottom line, to achieve cheap accommodation for a week (as opposed to a cheap holiday for a week). The answer was no.

 

[oz_mark]

I find that one can extract some good value from timeshare presentations - especially if you go with the mindset you are there for the gifts, not to buy anything

 

[steptoe]

We were staying at the HGI in New York last year and the Grand Vacations guy in the lobby enticed us to the time share sales pitch for their new 57th street property. The clincher for me was 50,000 Hhonors points for attending the session. Breakfast provided and $15 cash for cab fares (we walked there). Told them up front there was no way we would buy and it was all really quite painless. The points were credited within 24 hours.

 

[Deewhy]

Sorry to dig up an oldie, but thought it better to resurrect this one than start a new one.

I was offered a 6 night stay at HGVC parc soleil in return for a few universal orlando tickets and a rate that is about20% Better than best available. But wondering how hard the push is going to be for what is promised to be only "two hours" of my life.
Any one got recent experience on this? I don't want to go with it if I'm just going to be badgered the whole week, if I'm not interested. How persistent are they?

 

[JohnK]

I find that one can extract some good value from timeshare presentations - especially if you go with the mindset you are there for the gifts, not to buy anything

I have been to a few timeshare presentations and the gifts so far have not been anything flash.

I think one of them offered me a week accommodation at any of their properties at some ridiculously cheap price which in itself is OK but must buy breakfast and dinner at the property for 2 people. What if you are alone? Anyway the cost of breakfast and dinner for 2 people would almost be double what the place is worth per night.

 

[cove]

I did the Marriott one at Newport Coast near Los Angeles. Slick presentation for a full on retail priced deal. Basically if you committed you would be paying about double what a fair resale would be so be very, very careful.
If you want a timeshare look at the resale sites and do not lower your guard no matter what.

 

[albyd]

I'm a recent diamond and wanted to check with more experienced members. Last night I called HH with some queries to help me plan an upcoming trip. At the end of the call, they asked if I'd like to hear about a special promotion for diamonds with no obligation and I'd get 500 points for doing so.
I was transferred to an agent in Florida who after asking a few personal financial questions, offered me a choice of $700+ for 7 night family package in any of HH's resorts in Orlando plus a couple of theme park passes or 5 nights in a choice of 5 mid town Manhattan properties for a similar amount plus $200 gift card. I have 18 months to use either offer and could get a refund but had to decide on it during that phone call. I went with the NYC option as the choice was decent.
My question: has anyone else experienced this with HH? This all sounded legit and I called them so feel it shouldn't be a scam but you never know. I've been watching my email for confirmation and credit card. No action yet. I'm interested in other members' experiences.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This all sounded legit and I called them so feel it shouldn't be a scam but you never know. I've been watching my email for confirmation and credit card. No action yet. I'm interested in other members' experiences.

This has been going on for years. IIRC, it is a typical "timeshare" (or something similar) arrangement with Hilton Grand Vacations where they will pressure you into buying when you're all nice and relaxed on a cheap holiday. I declined, only because the cost of the airfares did not suit my travel plans at the time. I also think there are some other considerations with "Grand Vacations".......like they don't accrue night/stay/points, or something like that (I cannot remember exactly).

 

[QF WP]

I've done the GVC telephone call as well, but declined their kind offer as I wouldn't be in USA in the next 12 months in order to take up the offer - I told them if they could move to September 2017 and West Coast they might be in with a chance.

But I got the points:

13 Apr 2016

HGVC TOUR BONUS

500

0

 

[albyd]

Thanks for your feedback swanning_it and QF WP and highlighting the thread where this was previously covered. Looks like this is legitimate (charge pending on my credit card too). I went for it also as were planning a trip to NYC for a conference so we'd use it. I'll look more closely at the T&Cs and at the desirability of the properties (we like good hotels particularly when traveling without the kids) we can choose from before deciding whether to exercise my right to a refund.
They didn't mention anything about attending pitch for a time share. I'll confirm this with them. Assuming we have got a reasonable deal (apparently no black out dates) then happy to 'listen' for an hour but not likely to buy.

 

[drron]

I was an owner in the NYC Hilton club-Hilton midtown.In fact one of the first 100 owners.They timed the offering badly ~ 4 months after 9/11.Although the AUD was down at that time our son was moving to the states and was intending to work in NYC.So it certainly suited us.We thought it was expensive for us but worked out that we got a suite in NYC for ~ 130-170-200 a night depending whether a studio,1 or 2 bedroom suite so turned out to be fantastic value.
I got an offer last November for them to buy the remaining 17 years of my membership at a price greater than our purchase price in AUD-mainly thanks to our higher dollar.So not as good now.Remember that if you consider purchasing there will be an annual service fee-for the lowest membership this is now ~ $US1200 per year.
There will be a compulsory presentation for that offer you have taken up.It will be very high powered and you will be pressured-but stick to your guns.If you like just tell them that you are going to have to discuss it with your family and will give them an answer on the last day of your stay and then politely decline.The offer though is very good value.
Just one thing if you stay at the Hilton midtown you will have access to the Hilton club lounge on the 37th floor.If you stay at the club on 57th street the lounge is only for owners at 57th street.
Any questions just ask.

 

[jackthomas]

I've had this a few times too, but always hang up....

 

[cove]

If you go to any American based real estate time share operation you will be facing super high pressure sales tactics and typically what they are selling has a huge shortfall if you buy and then try to resell it. Usually it is easier to buy someone out of a resale timeshare and one of my business associates has done well at this.

 

[burnt]

Presently in HH at SFO (financial district) and will be ending up in NY, I was offered 4 nights at grand Vacations NY for US$744 on conditiion we sit through a 90 min time share presentation, we did a similar thing in Orlando a couple of years ago to get a stack of free Disney tickets.
Interestingly stayed at LAX Embassy Suites and they have a daily happy hour 1730-2030 for FREE drinks, inc alcahol, but here in SFO Financial District the exec lounge charges US$5.00 for wine and beer is either US$4 or $5 per bottle depending on local or premium, lots of people up there were saying that it was the first time they had to pay in an exec lounge.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Presently in HH at SFO (financial district) and will be ending up in NY, I was offered 4 nights at grand Vacations NY for US$744 on conditiion we sit through a 90 min time share presentation, we did a similar thing in Orlando a couple of years ago to get a stack of free Disney tickets.
Interestingly stayed at LAX Embassy Suites and they have a daily happy hour 1730-2030 for FREE drinks, inc alcahol, but here in SFO Financial District the exec lounge charges US$5.00 for wine and beer is either US$4 or $5 per bottle depending on local or premium, lots of people up there were saying that it was the first time they had to pay in an exec lounge.

The vast majority of Exec Lounges (not just Hilton) in USA have paid alcohol. Most are an Honor Bar type arrangement.

 

[Deewhy]

After holding out on an HGVC presentation I finally caved while in Waikiki a couple of weeks ago. I was genuinely interested in purchasing and was aware of the high pressure tactics. I was offered 50,000 HH points or $200 Amex card. Why not, eh?

Presentation was more than 90 mins with a sales guy who is really the presenter, and then spent almost 45 mins talking to the finance mgr who comes in to sell the deal. Was considering it but declined the offer. Bit of pressure to sign up, but I expected it. They then offered other properties and timeshare every two years to entice me to buy something.

When that guy gave up he said it typically takes 2.7 visits to sign someone up. They then bring in the QA guy who surveys you then offers an option to take up a week at a timeshare property for about $1700 usd. If you then decide to purchase that amount comes off your timeshare bill. For ref, properties for the week are going for upwards of $40-45 K USD for 1-Br suites for ever. Yearly fees are $1300+.

Interesting exercise for me. Points posted in two days. They even gave me a receipt just in case it didn't post.

 

[DC3]

... in SFO Financial District the exec lounge charges US$5.00 for wine and beer is either US$4 or $5 per bottle depending on local or premium, lots of people up there were saying that it was the first time they had to pay in an exec lounge.

Yes, at ES everyone gets the Managers afternoon drinks. Similarly at HI where everyone can help themselves to a selection of beers and soft drink during the afternoon complimentary meal (usually a couple of basic hot options). At Hiltons in the USA I haven't found one that provides complimentary alcohol (but some may exist), always the Honor bar when there's an EL. Anyone who stays in Australia, Asia or Europe would be more used to complimentary drinks at Hilton, but not in the USA, generally.