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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. I list the Hilton rate and Club Points used to book. When you attend a presentation, the salesperson will explain how much money you can save for your dream vacation when you purchase a timeshare.
HGV Max has a large footprint with properties in desirable locations, allowing flexibility to travel everywhere. For 2023, I made reservations at Hilton Club Liberty Place Charleston, Chicago Magnificent Mile HGV Club, HGV Club Flamingo Las Vegas, Grand Islander HGV Club, Cabo Azul HGV Club, HGV Scottsdale Links, HGV Oceanaire Virginia Beach, and HGV Scottsdale Villa Mirage. I visited Scottsdale Links in July and November. I stayed in a HGV property nine times in one year. My reservations included a studio (5X), 1-bedroom (2X), 2-bedroom (1X), and 3-bedroom (1X). I stayed at eight properties for three nights and in Hawaii for four nights.
To help make sense of my end-of-year expenses, you must understand the difference between Club Points and Hilton Honors Points. I cannot use Club Points to book Hilton Hotels, but I can use Hilton Honors Points to book at HGV Max properties. Although I only own 9,280 Club Points, I manage them well. I earned Bonus Points (9,480) in 2022 when I upgraded to HGV Max and saved 2,300 Club Points from 2022. I also took advantage of promotions for Scottsdale Links and Cabo Azul, using 50% and 75% fewer points to book. How many Hilton Honors Points would it take to stay at the same properties? Believe it or not, at least 3,000,000. The most points I have earned in one year is 600,000.
Ownership goes beyond just saving money on vacations. HGV offers quality accommodations with access to upscale resorts and amenities, providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Because I travel frequently, I try to book units with a washer and dryer or access to a laundry facility. I also need a refrigerator, stove or at least a microwave. Breakfast is my favorite meal. Yes, I cook during vacation. Finally, I know what to expect in quality, service, and amenities.
The annual maintenance fee can increase. With the addition of HGV Max, my fee is $1,600. Although some properties are challenging to book, I have become flexible and usually visit those locations in the off-season. It took almost three years to book Liberty Place and seven years to book Hilton Head Island for 2024.
According to the Hilton website, I could have paid $16,001 in 2023 on accommodations. However, I utilized 25,832 Club and Bonus Points. In addition, I booked Open Season for my stay in Chicago. Owners pay a discounted rate in cash instead of redeeming Club Points to book Open Season. Finally, I borrowed points from 2024 for the stay at Scottsdale Mirage. If I averaged $10,000 a year in savings for the past nine years and invested $45,000, the return on investment would be well worth the money I spent upfront. Membership makes sense for me because I vacation regularly.
I ended the year vacationing in Scottsdale, Arizona. When HGV added Arizona to the portfolio, I upgraded to Max. Even though I have not decided to relocate, I want my family to have somewhere to stay when they visit my son and the new addition to his family. The budget for my last stay of 2023 is below.
