March Madness in Chicago is exciting, with events and activities that make the city come alive. While March Madness might bring basketball to mind, it is also a playful nod to the city’s unique traditions, like dyeing the Chicago River and hosting sporting events like the Men’s Big Ten Tournament.
In 2024, I leveraged my HGV Max timeshare portfolio to secure stays at eight HGV/HVC properties, including Hilton Head, Las Vegas, and Los Cabos. Using Club Points and taking advantage of promotional offers (saving 50-75% on points), my timeshare points remained minimal. I enjoyed the comforts of home while traveling.
I spent two nights at the Hilton Vacation Club Varsity Club South Bend, a cozy property steeped in Notre Dame spirit and conveniently located near shopping, dining, and the University of Notre Dame. Upgrading to HGV Max opened opportunities to explore new drive-to properties, including those in Indiana and Wisconsin.
I accepted a timeshare offer. Because I purchased Hilton Grand Vacations in 2014, I know the value of consistency and premium experiences. Below, I explore the pros and cons of ownership. As an HGV owner who has also taken advantage of Marriott Bonvoy offers, I’ll share insights into both programs.
Consider Los Cabos as your next hottest destination. I am visiting Los Cabos for the fourth time in four years. During each visit, I find something new to experience. If you want to be near local shops and restaurants, book your stay at Cabo Azul. I stayed here in 2023.
Welcome to the Birthplace of a Nation. I travel to Virginia Beach occasionally but attended an event in Norfolk for the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend. However, I found a deal on an HGV Max property and drove to Williamsburg to stay at the Historic Powhatan Hilton Vacation Club.
Extend your stay in Arizona to visit Sedona. Kim and I were looking forward to getting away from daily triple-digit numbers in Scottsdale. Of course, we drove to Sedona on Wednesday morning to avoid the congestion on the weekend. Because of the discounted rate, I only used 880 Club Points.
My timeshare offered a deal on a property away from the Strip in Vegas. I could not pass up the opportunity to use 75% fewer Club Points. Although reviews for this property were less than favorable, a one-bedroom was available for 594 Club Points. What did I have to lose?
How do non-golfers enjoy themselves while visiting Hilton Head Island? A rare snowstorm in South Carolina changed my plans to vacation at HGV Club Ocean Oak Resort in 2017. Six years later, a two-bedroom was available in January during Winter Break. I redeemed 3,000 Club Points from my Max account.
In this post, I share my end-of-year expenses for 2023. However, I am only using accommodations booked in my timeshare portfolio. Because I want to see my HGV Max savings from a different perspective, I checked rates for the exact stay on the Hilton website. Analyze the graph I created.