We just added on a Hilton Head Island last year! We had never stayed there, but after reading so many great reviews, and looking for a great place to 'just get away' - we thought that Hilton Head would be perfect. We had tried to book several times but could never get anything.
Looking back, I think we may have been a little crazy having never been there before - BUT after our first two stays.... we made the right decision!
We were originally looking for a contract that we could bank, use, and borrow to use every three years or so. But a contract of that size, with our use year proved impossible to find - so we expanded our search a little...
.........................and accidentally.....
....... ended up with our largest
DVC contract
How did THAT happen?
A great price on a loaded contract was too much to turn down - we ended up paying $41.78 per point. So we were all over that!
Anyway - back to the point - as soon as our contract closed we called and booked a night for our trip to WDW after Thanksgiving - and a night on our way back.
Hilton Head is THE perfect pre-WDW and post-WDW stop over. It's not TOO far out of the way off of I-95 and it is SO relaxing!
We started planning for a summer trip with members of both of our families and wanted to book a 3BR Grand Villa over the week of 4th of July - we REALLY didn't think we would be able to get it since I think there are only 5 GV's.
We got it! Someway, somehow - we got a Grand Villa exactly at 11 months.
We booked a 1BR for the way down, and the way back. We had a lock-off (since all 1BR's are lockoffs) and we were upgraded to a dedicated 2BR on the way back. When we arrived at the room we were originally assigned it smelled exactly like a cat litter box - it was very strong.
In slow seasons, I think they do a lot of upgrading to keep guests in buildings that are already occupied so housekeeping doesn't have to go to a building to clean one room - BUT, that might just seem like what they were doing during our stay.
If you're trying to book in June, July, or August - it isn't likely that you'll get what you want at 7 months. Anything can happen - but with how small the resort is, and how loyal owners are in staying there, that doesn't leave a lot of room for availability at 7 months it seems.
If anyone would like to give us helpful hints, great things to do, or anything that you've discovered - please feel free to PM me!