Hilton Parc Soleil - Good deal or did I blow it?

[Music City Mama]

So, I got a call from Hilton Grand Vacations (because of a stop I had at the Hampton Inn on my way down to WDW a couple of weeks ago).

They offered me for $308 for 3 nights (this includes tax) to use any time within the next 12 months. We do plan on going back next June. If I stay longer, they said it would be an additional $149/night. The catch is I had to commit to the 2 hour time share presentation.

Before getting the random call today, I was planning on trying to stay at either a deluxe (probably CR) or S/D given that I get a good room discount (either general public discount or PIN) before then.

It looks like Parc Soleil is very nice (we're driving by the way, so location is not an issue), but could I have gotten a rate for just slightly more w/o committing to the time share presentation?

Should I have stuck it out for my original plan? I'm so NOT a spontaneous person to do something like this, but it just sounded so good.

Thinking now to stay w/ this -- do a split-stay -- first 4 nights on-site, last 3 nights at Parc Soleil.

Thoughts? Thanks!!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

My son just bought there in May. He liked it but he was a newly wed and had the money because he took his wedding gifts and got a timeshare(he already had a house etc) thus insuring he would go on vacation every two years anyway. That being said, you need to be sure what they are offering. He travels for his job so he always stays at a Hilton and they upgraded him from the Studio to the one bedroom condo.

My son only paid 199 for 3 nights 4 days. I think if you call them you can bargain and get it cheaper, it is a brand new location and they WANT bodies there to try and sell. IMHO>

 

[kathy884]

Just my personal opinion. I'd skip it // wouldn't want to waste precious vacation time attending a high pressure timeshare sales presentation. I don't know about this particular one, but people tell me those two hour presentation often strech out to four hours. You can get a nice offsite rental for a better price than they are offering you if you stay seven nights offsite and rent from an owner (see sites TUG2.net or Redweek.com). There are lots of pretty good retail deals out there too for timeshares that don't require you to attend a presentation (price comparable to what they were offering). Any of these will ask you if you'd like to attend a presentation, and I always just say no and ask them not to call me. If they call me I disconnect the phone and use my cell phone for my stay.

And if you have any interest in buying a timeshare, definately buy it on the resale market to save major $s.

 

[Music City Mama]

This isn't not something I'd normally seek out -- and if it was just some company I had never heard of, there is no way I would have done it. But because Hilton is such a reputable company, I didn't really feel like it was a scam.

Two other things I wanted to mention. It's actually costing me $274 for 3 nights/4 days before taxes, so really $91.33/night. Also, they're giving me a $100 gift card toward a future Hilton stay (but said that if I didn't want to, I could turn that in for a $100 cashier's check -- I'm sure that's a pain to do that, though).

The other thing is that this resort is only 1 year old and BEAUTIFUL. See the link:

http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hot...es-by-Hilton-Grand-Vacations-Florida/index.do

Hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, etc. It doesn't look like the standard apartment looking timeshare resort (also has daily housekeeping). Also, it is in fact the 1 bedroom suite (king bed with KING sofa pullout), not the studio. The bathroom looks incredible!! I couldn't find any negative reviews on Trip Advisor.

However, like I mentioned this is unlike me to do something like this . . . He did assure me that my business is too important to them to not let me cancel this without a refund should I change my mind, so I do want to make a decision sooner rather than later.

I've been reading up about the dreaded timeshare presentations, but 1) it seems like Hilton isn't too bad compared to others as long as I can stick to my guns (which I can); and 2) I'd schedule it on the morning of our last day when we probably wouldn't have much planned anyway.

Ugh . . . decisions, decisions.

 

[jeff968]

I got the same call and we are going. I do these deals all the time but we have yet to buy. We are banned from presentations at Marriott at this point. Hilton is professional and shouldn't be too bad. We just tell them we have kids in college and now is not the time to buy, maybe later.

As for our deal, I was given 3 nights at $199 in a one bedroom unit at Parc Soleil with 2 attraction tickets. I wanted addtional nights at $149 a night and i wanted President's week 2011. I got what I wanted so we are going. The package, with all fees and for 7 nights was $875 with the 2 attraction tickets. The resort looks great and we are looking forward to it.

 

[Detailor]

Just my personal opinion. I'd skip it // wouldn't want to waste precious vacation time attending a high pressure timeshare sales presentation. I don't know about this particular one, but people tell me those two hour presentation often strech out to four hours. You can get a nice offsite rental for a better price than they are offering you if you stay seven nights offsite and rent from an owner (see sites TUG2.net or Redweek.com). There are lots of pretty good retail deals out there too for timeshares that don't require you to attend a presentation (price comparable to what they were offering). Any of these will ask you if you'd like to attend a presentation, and I always just say no and ask them not to call me. If they call me I disconnect the phone and use my cell phone for my stay.

And if you have any interest in buying a timeshare, definately buy it on the resale market to save major $s.

I don't know that HGVC presentations are all that high pressure (I think that the general rule is that the higher quality hotel chain-owned timeshare sales pitches tend to be of the lower pressure variety) but I do agree with the sentiment about wasting vacation time. It is typical though for timeshare presentations not to include the tour of the resort (if any) or visiting the model unit and the close time with the salesperson, sales manager, etc. So that's how a two hour "presentation" can get expanded into a lengthier commitment of time.

I think the OP has to weigh whether spending two + hours is worth it in exchange for the nightly rental rate and the rewards that Hilton offers. While I haven't seen anything but pictures of Parc Soleil, I understand that the resort villas are at the very top end of the timeshare scale and I bet you'll be very happy with the lodging and amenities at the resort.

Dick Taylor

 

[jeff968]

I've done many of these tours and received the benefits from them (reduced stay cost, free attraction tickets, money or points). We find the best approach is to do the tour first thing in the morning, 7 or 7:30 am. The kids aren't even out of bed yet. They usually feed us a light breakfast and I enjoy seeing the resort. Then, when it is time for the sales pitch we just use a strong answer like we have 2 kids in college and we are paying tuition now and can't afford any other new expenses. Don't just say "no" as you might want to be invited back. That said, I'll never buy a timeshare in Orlando. You can rent them for less money then the maintenance fees. I do own a timeshare in Cape Cod which has a $475 a year maintenance cost and I purchased it off of eBay for 20% of the retail cost.

We did one Hilton TS tour and it was higher pressure then the Marriott but we still survived. You can definately get out of them in less time as long as you don't ask a lot of questions. We did one for 20K Marriott rewards points in April and we were out in 60 minutes.

 

[Music City Mama]

I got the same call and we are going. I do these deals all the time but we have yet to buy. We are banned from presentations at Marriott at this point. Hilton is professional and shouldn't be too bad. We just tell them we have kids in college and now is not the time to buy, maybe later.

This made me LOL . . . but can I ask why? They just figured they're wasting their time on you?

As for our deal, I was given 3 nights at $199 in a one bedroom unit at Parc Soleil with 2 attraction tickets. I wanted addtional nights at $149 a night and i wanted President's week 2011. I got what I wanted so we are going. The package, with all fees and for 7 nights was $875 with the 2 attraction tickets. The resort looks great and we are looking forward to it.

Sounds like you got a better deal than me, but you're obviously a seasoned timeshare presentation goer -- this is my first time (if I actually decide to go through with it). The property does seem really nice, though, doesn't it?

I don't know that HGVC presentations are all that high pressure (I think that the general rule is that the higher quality hotel chain-owned timeshare sales pitches tend to be of the lower pressure variety) but I do agree with the sentiment about wasting vacation time. It is typical though for timeshare presentations not to include the tour of the resort (if any) or visiting the model unit and the close time with the salesperson, sales manager, etc. So that's how a two hour "presentation" can get expanded into a lengthier commitment of time.

I think the OP has to weigh whether spending two + hours is worth it in exchange for the nightly rental rate and the rewards that Hilton offers. While I haven't seen anything but pictures of Parc Soleil, I understand that the resort villas are at the very top end of the timeshare scale and I bet you'll be very happy with the lodging and amenities at the resort.

Dick Taylor

You hit the nail on the head. I have decided not to make any decisions until I receive my paperwork in the mail. That way I can review the fine print and decide then. I am slightly concerned that if I do decide to get out of it, they won't let me. The person I spoke with (I have his name) said the conversation was being recorded and assured me that I could get out of it although you're not technically supposed to . . . my business was far more important, blah, blah, blah.

Jeff, I've been reading that sometimes the property they're trying to get you to buy isn't even the property you're staying at (due to some states' laws). I assume the Parc Soleil presentation is for the Parc Soleil and is at the Parc Soleil. Do you know if that's correct? Since I didn't seek this opportunity out and they had to twist my arm to even agree to this, I will not feel one bit guilty about telling them 'no'. I'm a tough cookie, I just worry about the time wasted, you know?

 

[jeff968]

Jeff, I've been reading that sometimes the property they're trying to get you to buy isn't even the property you're staying at (due to some states' laws). I assume the Parc Soleil presentation is for the Parc Soleil and is at the Parc Soleil. Do you know if that's correct? Since I didn't seek this opportunity out and they had to twist my arm to even agree to this, I will not feel one bit guilty about telling them 'no'. I'm a tough cookie, I just worry about the time wasted, you know?

MCM,
It is almost always the resort you are staying at. One time with the Marriott they put us up at Cypress Harbor as they didn't have our dates at the resort they wanted us to see (Horizons). That said, we still went to Horizons and did the tour there. They also try to get you to consider purchasing other "cheaper" resorts once they know they aren't going to make a sale on the one you are staying at. Marriott's most inexpensive resort is in NJ so they might try to sell you on that one if you say you can't afford the one you are at.
Jeff

 

[LadySiren]

Whether going to the presentation is a good or bad idea really depends on you. What I mean by that is, what's your time worth and are you likely to be swayed by heavy-handed sales pressure?

Full disclosure: I'm an HGVC owner. We own at HGVC in Vegas, but we just spent a full week at the Sea World property. Personally, I'm thrilled with my HGVC timeshare, but that's because it fits my family size (huge) and our vacation style. Our stay last month at the Sea World property was awesome - the 3bd/3ba suite we had was gorgeous.

When I bought my Hilton timeshare, I was married to the first ex-Mr. Siren. We sat through the presentation and when they brought out the heavy-handed stuff, he turned the tables on the sales guys. By refusing to be bullied, we ended up with a decent price and lots of extra goodies that made it a good deal for us (airline tickets, a 7-night hotel stay, casino money, cab fare, free meals, show tickets, no closing costs, etc).

Because of all of these things, it was worth my time to sit through the 90-minute or so presentation. However, that may not work for you. If you don't want to deal with pushy sales people or you'd prefer not to lose that time at the parks, it's probably something to skip. If you really want to try the Parc Soleil, hit up the TUG boards and see if anyone can help you get a rental there.

If you do have an iron stomach and can withstand the pressure, and you don't mind losing the 90 minutes, go for it. You get to stay in nice accommodations for a decent price and likely will get fed (well, snacks at least). Or if you're interested in buying, now's a good time (poor economy, etc). Just don't jump at their first offer...make sure you make them work for their money.

 

[Music City Mama]

After I get the paperwork and if decide I want out of this deal (I should get the paperwork within the week -- and I have until early August to book my dates which are good through next July), do you think they'll keep with their word and let me out? Or do you think it will be a MAJOR ordeal?

I seriously have no intention of buying. Right now we're on a reducing debt strategy and it's going well -- so I refuse to add any additional payments. The hotel/vacation club looks great, but it's not like I'm just dying to stay there -- I'll get over it if I don't. However, the money savings keeps beckoning to me.

 

[sgrabin]

We've been down the "timeshare" tour route before. I don't think it would be worth the 2-3 hours of pressurized suffering during the hard-sell presentation even if the room was free. There are too many good hotel/condo deals without a timeshare presentation to put your self thru that.

 

[Music City Mama]

We've been down the "timeshare" tour route before. I don't think it would be worth the 2-3 hours of pressurized suffering during the hard-sell presentation even if the room was free. There are too many good hotel/condo deals without a timeshare presentation to put your self thru that.

Ugh, you're probably right. I got my paperwork and I'm concerned. So, first of all, even though he agreed to let me book through 7/31/11, the email said through 12/31/10 -- figured it was probably an error, but the letter states the same . . . . hmmmmm.

Then, on the back, it states that " . . . As a result of state registration requirements, guests may not be eligible to purchase vacation ownership interest in the project where the sales presentation occurs . . ."

So, does that mean they're going to cart me off somewhere else to view another property?!?!

 

[Detailor]

Ugh, you're probably right. I got my paperwork and I'm concerned. So, first of all, even though he agreed to let me book through 7/31/11, the email said through 12/31/10 -- figured it was probably an error, but the letter states the same . . . . hmmmmm.

Then, on the back, it states that " . . . As a result of state registration requirements, guests may not be eligible to purchase vacation ownership interest in the project where the sales presentation occurs . . ."

So, does that mean they're going to cart me off somewhere else to view another property?!?!

The clause about purchase eligibility has to do with income minimums necessary to buy in to a particular property. That legalize allows HGVC to refuse to sell to an unqualified buyer at the resort that's being shown and offer another property. The "good news" is that their sales office is all set up for that event. In that case they'll pull out their resort collection book with pictures of the other resorts and try to sell a prospect on the virtues of a resort at Hawaii or Las Vegas or Portugal or some other HGVC location.

I'd be a lot more worried about the dates - is the December 31st date the date that you must decide by or when you must travel by? If their travel dates were misrepresented to you and don't meet your travel needs then there doesn't seem to be much to consider here. And that, of course, assumes that the telephone sales guy was honest with you about your cancellation rights (did they already charge this to your credit card?).

Just my opinion, but I think that it's worth a call to HGVC to work through what your options are and whether you can get out of this arrangement or offer you something that would work for you.

Dick Taylor

 

[Music City Mama]

The clause about purchase eligibility has to do with income minimums necessary to buy in to a particular property. That legalize allows HGVC to refuse to sell to an unqualified buyer at the resort that's being shown and offer another property. The "good news" is that their sales office is all set up for that event. In that case they'll pull out their resort collection book with pictures of the other resorts and try to sell a prospect on the virtues of a resort at Hawaii or Las Vegas or Portugal or some other HGVC location.

I'd be a lot more worried about the dates - is the December 31st date the date that you must decide by or when you must travel by? If their travel dates were misrepresented to you and don't meet your travel needs then there doesn't seem to be much to consider here. And that, of course, assumes that the telephone sales guy was honest with you about your cancellation rights (did they already charge this to your credit card?).

Evidently, their notes indicated that it was good through 7/11, their standard letter just states I must travel by 6 months from purchase date. Yes, they had already charged my card.

Just my opinion, but I think that it's worth a call to HGVC to work through what your options are and whether you can get out of this arrangement or offer you something that would work for you.

Dick Taylor

Anyhow, just wanted to report that I've canceled this (and my credit card will be refunded in a couple of days) and I feel a weight lifted off of me. I wouldn't mind staying there sometime in the future, but not at the cost of the timeshare presentation. Given how hard it was for me to get out of this on the phone just now, it really makes me wonder what I would've endured during the presentation.

to Hilton for honoring their word.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I have Done the timeshare presentation twice now at Grand vista. Both times the sales associates were a class act. i did not buy nad there was no rudeness invloved.

that said I did One tour through Hilton 2 years ago. it was an extreme hard sell/ The man was incredibly, rude. And It was the sales tactic not just him. I had to go through three managers, each of whom presented and alternate deal. each and me sign a paper saying I declined. The funny thing was I actually considered a purchase and asked to review and was told no. It was a rotten experience. And even if Hilton gave me the room for free. I would not agree to do it again!

 

[jeff968]

Maybe it is just me and I'm lucky but I've done dozen of these timeshare tours and none of them have been that bad. Sure, if my vacation budget was unlimted I would not waste my 90 minutes but since it is not and by giving 90 minutes of my time, I'm able to stretch my vacation dollar that much more and take my family to Florida every year, I'm in. As I said before, I am well versed in saying "no, thank you".

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

We did the the Hilton tour at the Parc Soleil this past December but we stayed at the Sea World HGVC. I'm a Hilton Honors Diamond member (travel ALOT) and they called the house and the wife booked it on impulse. Our package was $199.00 and I think we added a day for cheap (can't remember the rate). We were in Florida for two weeks (stayed Hilton DTD, HGVC & then Hilton Marco Island) so we had plenty of time and the presentation was like 90 minutes or so. We also got a rebate for our next hotel stay up to $100.00 (which we used and received).

We were told up front that we'd be seeing the Parc Soleil property. I'd never done one of these tours but I actually was interested in learning more about timeshares. The experience was pretty painless and there wasn't much sales pressure at all. The kids really liked the tour. I think the key was that we actually kept our kids with us (they tried to get us to leave them in some play area but we don't that anywhere). The place is gorgeous and the sales guy was very up front and honest. It may be that they didn't want to alienate me because I always stay at Hilton hotels (like 45+ weeks a year at my peak). The reality is that I'd never buy a timeshare direct - I'd always go resale because it's MUCH cheaper.

 

[jtopicz1]

Well.... If you decide to go through with the offer, you can always do a little acting to move the 2 hour tour along quicker.

First, whisper to your husband (but loud enough the salesperson can here) "Wow - this place is great - do you think we could still do it even with our bankruptcy hearing next month."

If that doesn't deter them, move along to discussing how much Cousin Vito is gonna love this place when he gets out of Prison in 2014.

Just a thought....

 

[Skubygurl]

IN case anyone reads through this post curious..we also booked this deal.

DH doesnt buy into any kind of deals (extended warranties etc) so I was floored when I heard him accept this deal -if it meant he was agreeing to take our kids to WDW I was all for it!

We got 3 nights for $199 -they did try to charge us more. We made a down pmt and they called to have us book our rooms shortly after. I said we needed more time to decide when to go. When they called again I was ready with dates and he tried to charge me too much and asked if I was the one who first agreed to the deal. Luckily I knew what the "deal" was supposed to be and got DH on the phone to handle the dispute.

DH insisted they extend the deal past 12/31/10 so we could go in 2/2011 (trip is booked) so its possible your letter was wrong but you could have had the dates changed.

We are not looking forward to the presentation but DH said he would go alone and I'll stay with the kids at the pool. He is an attorney by trade and is very good at saying no and arguing his point.
In Mexico at the timeshare we stayed at they would call us every morning really early and I would just answer the phone and before they said anything I would yell...NO Gracias!