In 2004, Debra L. purchased a three-day package stay in Las Vegas at the Flamingo, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club, with no intention of becoming a Member. Now, 18 years later, Debra’s an Elite Plus Owner with more than 75 stays with Hilton Grand Vacations.
“I thought timeshare wasn't for me,” Debra said. “I even brought my daughter with me to the sales presentation to make sure I didn’t buy anything. I’ve been a proud Owner since,” she recalled with a laugh.
For Debra, the benefits of Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare complement her travel style and add bonus perks.
In January 2022, Debra and her daughter attended the inaugural Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Lake Nona, Florida, an experience offered as an additional perk with HGV Ultimate Access*. “We came to Orlando to visit the Walt Disney World® parks, but when we learned about the tournament and the concerts, we immediately signed up,” she said. "I’m an ‘experiences person.’ I love to travel and try new things. I’ve never attended a golf tournament before, so I decided to try it out."
Just as Hilton Grand Vacations offers more than a room, HGV Ultimate Access hosts more than events; these experiences are tailored to Members and Guests like Debra, who love trying new things and want to elevate their vacation. Read on for Debra’s Hilton Grand Vacations Owner review and how Hilton Grand Vacations checks all her boxes: unique experiences, flexibility and family-friendly getaways.
Flexibility to Travel Your Way
Debra has always prioritized travel. When she retired, her gift to herself was to upgrade her membership, which she uses frequently.
“I use my Elite Plus membership a lot because it works well with how I travel. My family and I love cruises, so I thought I wouldn’t use timeshare, but it’s been the opposite; vacation ownership works with the cruises I love to take. If I’m leaving for a cruise from Port Canaveral, I’ll stay at Tuscany Village, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club, before and after,” she explained.
And she isn’t limited to domestic destinations. “When I cruise out of the country, I convert my ClubPoints to stay at Hilton hotels because I only stay at Hilton,” Debra said. “I like the standards that Hilton has, the quality of the staff, and how you can find that same quality worldwide.” With her membership, she’s stayed at destinations across the United States and around the world, including Dubai and Beijing, making her Points work for her.
What Debra loves most about owning with Hilton Grand Vacations is the flexibility. “A lot of people don’t understand vacation ownership and wonder why I don’t spend that money on a beach home. Hilton Grand Vacations is like owning my own vacation home, but I can go all over the world,” she said. And now, with HGV Ultimate Access, Debra can try out experiences, such as private concerts and custom tastings, that she wouldn’t otherwise.
Trips for the Whole Family
The key reason Debra needs flexible vacations is so she can travel with her daughter and grandson. “My HGV membership has brought my family and me a lot of time spent together, through travel and experiences like the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions,” Debra said.
She and her family started traveling together when her grandson was just a year old, so some of Debra’s favorite resorts are in the top family-friendly destinations, including Orlando, Florida, and Oahu, Hawaii.
“My grandson travels with us so that we can spend time together and learn about the world,” she explained. Together, they’ve enjoyed experiential travel, like taking an observation cruise in Alaska or hiking a volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island.
Travel isn’t just for her grandson, however. Her daughter also enjoys family vacations through workcations, the newest travel trend of combining work and leisure.
“My family and I realized it’s easy to come to Orlando and stay at one of the resorts. My daughter can work during the first half of the day, and in the second half, we’re able to do something fun, like go to a park or attend an event. She even had a meeting in the morning, and then we took the shuttle to the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions,” Debra shared with enthusiasm.
"Because my daughter can work from anywhere, we’re able to take longer vacations together."
Debra’s final thoughts? “With Hilton Grand Vacations, your entire experience — from the resorts to the events — is built around vacations. HGV wants you to have a memorable vacation,” she said.
Read “Family, Friends and Flexibility: Why One Couple Chose Hilton Grand Vacations Timeshare,” to discover why multi-generational families love vacation ownership.
*To attend HGV Ultimate Access events (valued between $500-$1500), Guests must attend a Membership Portfolio Review or Timeshare Presentation after the event, during their same stay. If you do not attend the Membership Review or Timeshare Presentation, the retail value of the event may be charged to your credit card. HGV Ultimate Access events are subject to availability, nontransferable and subject to change without notice. Experience fee applies, minimum of $99 per event, to be paid at time of booking. Offer dates may change due to event availability. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other promotion.