Hilton Head reservations!?!?

[discarm]

I have been trying to plan our annual Hilton Head vacation and have not been able to get a room. We have already changed the week 3 times and we can't string 5 days together. This is the first time it has ever happened and we have been going to hilton head for 7 years now. We are members (since 1992), but we don't own points at HHI, so we can only book at the 7 month window. Is anyone else experiencing the same problem?

 

[gracelrm]

What size villa are you trying to reserve? Any chance you can try for a 2BR - they seem to be available more often than the Studio or 1BR because of the number available? Can you get four days in a row and then try to get one day on cash? Maybe not ideal, but might get you the vacation you want.

 

[discarm]

Thanks for your suggestions but we have already done that. We are waitlisted for a 2 bedroom and are already paying cash for 1 day, and we still can't get a week! Didn't realize how popular HHI is getting! Good for them, sorry for me.

 

[WebmasterDoc]

I would still expect that the waitlist will be successful - especially for a 2BR villa.

This really emphasizes the challenge faced by a growing membership, seeking availability at a small resort during it's high demand time. I think that many have purchased HH contracts just to have better availability for summer trips - so that there is even less availability at 7 months for non-owners at the resort. Reports like yours have started to become more common recently.

We see similar issues at VWL for some times of the year, at BCV for some times of the year, at VB for some times of the year and even at some larger resorts (BWV, AKV) for specific villa types and views for some times of the year.

Hang in there - I suspect your patience will still be rewarded.

Good luck!

 

[Simba's Mom]

This really emphasizes the challenge faced by a growing membership, seeking availability at a small resort during it's high demand time. I think that many have purchased HH contracts just to have better availability for summer trips - so that there is even less availability at 7 months for non-owners at the resort. Reports like yours have started to become more common recently.


Good luck!

I think that all the positive reports on HHI have something to do with it also. I also agree about the growing membership contributing. We didn't even know that there was a Disney resort at HHI until the sales tour. After we bought, one of the first things I said was "I think I'd like to try that DVC resort in HHI" (our guide owned points there, so he was especially positive about it). DH thought he'd encountered his "Disney dream". Turns out he'd always wanted to go to Hilton Head so he could golf there, but he was afraid to suggest it to me, because he didn't think I'd enjoy going. Golf AND a Disney resort? A marriage made in heaven!

I almost forgot-for anyone having this problem who doesn't own points there, may I consider looking at the resale market? This is a good time, as there are some good deals on HHI points. We recently bought a small resale there, at $60/point, just so that we could have the 11 month window there.

 

[Connears]

We added on at HHI in 2002 just to get 11 month window for summer. We had been able to get xmas at 7 months(and continue to not have problem with this. We have 4 night reservation for June 6-10, in 1bedroom, but had to get 2 bedroom for 3rd night and are currently waitlisted for 1bdroom for that night. It is easier to get 2 bedroom(there are more of these), so I called yesterday to change to 2 bedroom for all 4 nights and not able. June July and August are tough for sunday-thursday as you well know. We were there last June at the same time and the weather was perfect..hopng for the same. Good luck with your waitlist and keep your finders crossed for mine..I don't want to move in the middle of vacation.

Connears

 

[discarm]

Thank you to everyone. We are hoping that our waitlist comes through but we have never had that luck. We are actually looking to purchase points at HHI right now and selling some of our OKW points so this doesn't happen again next year. I am keeping my fingers crossed for this year!

 

[MarieA]

I've only been there once but am booked for May for 7 nights. I didn't have a problem making this reservation at the 7 month mark but May is very quiet at HHI.

 

[Anal Annie]

I just this morning booked my first ever trip to HHI (but in a studio) beginning Aug. 14. We had been kicking around several options for our summer vaca & wanted to keep it on the cheap side for once (ie no park tix, drive rather than fly etc.). We considered trying to trade thru RCI to go to Myrtle but weren't sure how long it might take to get a resort we really wanted. HHI seemed like our cheapest option so we figured we'd give it a try. We are hesitant because we've never done any of the Carolina beaches & are afraid of being bored but I told DH that is sure seems like a popular place so we're gonna give it a try.

Anyway, I wanted to echo what someone else mentioned about the Sun-Thurs availability issue. When I was speaking to MS last week about the RCI thing I mentioned that we were also considering HHI. The CM told me that most people don't seem to want to part with their points to start their vaca on Saturdays there. She is the one who suggested to me that I'd have better luck calling to start for a Saturday. She also said that it's so small that for the summer ressies they usually sell out within about 5 minutes of the phones opening. So I called right at 9:00 on the dot for our 7 mo. window. I guess I got very lucky today. I see though with the point reallocation that they actually DECREASED the Sat night points by quite a bit for 2010. Perhaps more people have noticed that and are booking all 7 nights now?

 

[DisDaydreamer]

This really emphasizes the challenge faced by a growing membership

I agree completely. We've had SSR, AKV, THV, and BLT come on board pretty recently, but no additional beach property. You're starting to hear the same difficulties experienced with VB. I don't think we have come to a plateau yet either.

 

[discarm]

Our waitlist came through, somewhat. We got 1 more day, so we took it but it wasn't everything we wanted. We decided to stay in Charleston to begin our vacation. Booked a couple of rooms at the Harbourview Inn for 2 nights.....and now we have HHI for Tues - Saturday and we are using the points that we just purchased. The new contract had some points left over from this year. We are lucky, lucky, lucky!!!!!!! Anyone ever stay in the Charleston area? We are looking for some fun things to do with our kids, and they will both be 18 at the time.....and they are not twins!!!!!

 

[edk35]

When is your trip? What dates. I booked at the 6 month mark a few weeks ago for 6 nights starting July 18th in a 2 br. I called hours after MS opened that day too. I was quite excited because I was expecting to hear it was booked. This is our first trip. I am just curious what your dates are???

 

[hellerjw]

Anyone ever stay in the Charleston area? We are looking for some fun things to do with our kids, and they will both be 18 at the time.....and they are not twins!!!!!

If they like military stuff then Patriots Point is a great naval museum. They have the WWII aircraft carrier Yorktown (which houses the Congressional Medal of Honor museum inside it), a WWII destroyer, WWII submarine, several other vessels, a replica Vietnam Naval Support Base, etc. There are also several Civil War tours including the Fort Sumter boat tour, where the first shots of the Civil War started.

The downtown area features the historic Battery Park area, the open air markets, tours, shopping, dining, etc. Even driving over the new Cooper River Bridge is a neat experience.

 

[pb4ugo]

If they like military stuff then Patriots Point is a great naval museum. They have the WWII aircraft carrier Yorktown (which houses the Congressional Medal of Honor museum inside it), a WWII destroyer, WWII submarine, several other vessels, a replica Vietnam Naval Support Base, etc. There are also several Civil War tours including the Fort Sumter boat tour, where the first shots of the Civil War started.

The downtown area features the historic Battery Park area, the open air markets, tours, shopping, dining, etc. Even driving over the new Cooper River Bridge is a neat experience.

we second patriots point and not far away we enjoy the boone hall plantation in mt. pleasant - reminiscent of tara plantation in the movie gone with the wind; the battery in downtown is beautiful and the outdoor market shopping is great - but there is also a great state aquarium there - you can also look over to ft. sumter from the aquarium if you don't want to take the boat out there from patriots point.

 

[gharrer]

We were on a waitlist for the third week in june- no luck. So I called and a very patient CM went through and found me a Mon Tues and a Thurs/Fri and I did a cash for Wed. for June 28 week It worked out great because I didn't have to borrow points. I am so glad I called. Nancy

 

[JeffR]

After first trying to rent our points, we decided to go ahead and take two trips this year (one over Spring Break, one at HHI over Independence Day). We are now 2nd guessing our decision and will likely cancel our reservation. If we do, I'll post something here in advance with the day & time I plan to call in the cancelation and maybe someone can get my slot.

 

[Connears]

We added on at HHI in 2002 just to get 11 month window for summer. We had been able to get xmas at 7 months(and continue to not have problem with this. We have 4 night reservation for June 6-10, in 1bedroom, but had to get 2 bedroom for 3rd night and are currently waitlisted for 1bdroom for that night. It is easier to get 2 bedroom(there are more of these), so I called yesterday to change to 2 bedroom for all 4 nights and not able. June July and August are tough for sunday-thursday as you well know. We were there last June at the same time and the weather was perfect..hopng for the same. Good luck with your waitlist and keep your finders crossed for mine..I don't want to move in the middle of vacation.

Connears

Our waitlist came thru end of February..4 nights in 1 bedroom beginning June 6th...can't wait!