Is the Hilton Grand Vacation Club Worth It?

Perhaps you stay frequently enough at a certain hotel or destination that you've started to wonder whether to join a timeshare program. Many major hotel chains offer this option, which provides partial ownership of a hotel or resort and a guaranteed way to vacation. Hilton is no stranger to this type of program, and Hilton Grand Vacations provides customers with the ability to use dedicated points for stays around the world.

But is a vacation ownership with Hilton Grand Vacation Club worth it? Let’s take a look at HGV and how it's different from Hilton hotel’s loyalty program. Once you know how much HGV timeshares cost, you'll be able to decide whether they’re worth it for you.

How Hilton Grand Vacations works

Timeshare programs vary, but HGV’s method includes the ability to use points to book your stays. Each year you pay for a specific number of points, which can then be redeemed at a Hilton Grand Vacation property.

Otherwise, members can elect to exchange points for stays at one of RCI’s 4,200 locations or Destination Xchange,or choose to redeem them for cruises, houseboat rentals and guided tours.

The cost of being a member will depend on how many points you’d like to purchase, meaning the more points you buy, the more vacations you can take.

So, how much is a Hilton Grand Vacation ownership? On average, the price to become a member is $22,000, though keep in mind that you’ll also have to pay recurring annual fees, which include the maintenance fees used toward the upkeep of a resort and club dues.

If you don’t end up using your points one year, you can save them for the next year. Similarly, if you want to take a vacation that costs more than the points you have available, you can borrow points from your future balance for your trip.

HGV offers frequent deals for those interested in learning more about their timeshare program. These specials can include discounted travel packages, a bonus of Hilton Honors Points and even a $200 free night certificate. To obtain these offers, you’ll need to commit to attending a 90-minute timeshare presentation at some point during your stay.

Hilton Grand Vacations members can also access unique vacation events to pair with their travel through the company's Ultimate Access experiential travel program, which includes premier events like the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and Las Vegas Grand Prix Formula 1 race party and hospitality suite.

» Learn more: When is a timeshare presentation offer a good deal?

Hilton Honors points vs. Hilton Grand Vacation Club points

Hilton Honors is the loyalty program for standard Hilton hotels. These include more than 7,600 properties worldwide, all of which can be booked using your Hilton Honors Points.

Points, the currency you’ll receive as a Hilton Grand Vacations owner, aren’t inherently usable at Hilton hotels. As we mentioned above, you can redeem these at different Hilton Grand Vacation properties or deposit them for use in an exchange program like RCI or Destination Xchange.

However, it is also possible to convert points directly into Hilton Honors points. You may want to do this if you’re looking at a location where there isn’t a Hilton Grand Vacations resort, or if you aren’t able to use your points before they expire.

The ratio at which you can convert your points to Hilton Honors points varies depending on when you’re booking your stay, as noted recently in several blogs. You’ll want to check with a customer service representative to confirm the rate you’ll receive before taking any action.

» Learn more: Your guide to booking award nights with Hilton Honors

Where you can use your Hilton Grand Vacation points

There are many ways to use your points, including using them for reservations at HGV’s 55 properties.

These resorts are located in a wide variety of locations around the world. Many of them offer different layouts, including studios and one-, two- and even three-bedroom units.

For example, there are multiple HGV resort options within Las Vegas, including the Hilton Grand Vacations Club on The Boulevard, where you’ll find units with as many as three bedrooms. Another property, Elara, connects to the Miracle Mile Shops, making for one of the most central locations you could possibly book on the Las Vegas Strip.

If Las Vegas isn’t your style, how about a tropical vacation? The Grand Waikikian, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club in Honolulu is an all-suite resort located near the beach. Or, if you’re looking for something a little closer to home, you could opt for Anderson Ocean Club, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

All of this is to say that there are plenty of options for using points. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you may even decide to redeem points for a trip to the Galapagos, rent an RV for a cross-country tour or embark on a whitewater rafting trip.

» Learn more: The pros and cons of the Hilton loyalty program

Should I join the Hilton Grand Vacation Club?

Whether you should buy into a timeshare program is a personal decision. We’ve all heard the stories of people who purchased a timeshare and were unable to make use of it, losing both time and money each year.

If you’re a regular traveler who is interested in having dedicated time off each year, buying with HGV may be worth it for you. This is true if you’d like to take advantage of the variety of redemption options available to you as an owner.

However, it’s difficult to recommend timeshares to most people, as their ongoing costs and lack of flexibility can hinder many would-be owners. As an alternative, consider using reward points to fund your travel. These can come in the form of Hilton Honors points but can also include the ability to earn and redeem points with many other hotel chains.

Reward points grant flexibility and give you greater access to properties (like those 7,600 Hilton hotels worldwide) but be aware that redeeming points is based upon award availability.

Hilton Grand Vacations can provide value to members who value amenities like larger units and kitchens — particularly if they’re traveling to those destinations where they’re located.

But owning a piece of any timeshare can be limiting if you don’t end up traveling that year — or don’t want to travel to places where you can cash in your points.