My Family’s Journey To Hilton Grand Vacations

Our Journey To HGV: Our Family Outgrew Hotel Rooms

In late 2014, my family and I spent two weeks at a friend’s timeshare in Orlando, not with Hilton Grand Vacations, but with a competitor. We were genuinely impressed by the warm welcomes, spotless resort, comfortable accommodations and the friendly atmosphere among Guests. That experience planted a seed.

When we returned Scotland — with our twin girls nearly eight, me approaching 50 and my wife in her early 40s — it became clear that our old habit of squeezing into one hotel room for two weeks was no longer working for us.

And since one of our twins has Chromosome 18 disorder and significant learning challenges, having more space and privacy became essential. That holiday, with the girls in their own bedroom and us able to relax and recharge in the evenings, felt like our first real family break. No more lights out at 9 p.m. We realized this is exactly how we wanted our holidays to be.

Membership Value And Flexibility Found

To be honest, “timeshare” used to set off alarm bells for me, but after chatting with our friends and learning more, my curiosity grew. Scots have a reputation for being careful with money, which I prefer to think of as using good sense.

As a debt counsellor, I took a close look at our holiday budget and weighed costs such as annual maintenance, just as you would for a car or a house. Once I understood the numbers, we compared what we could get with our friends’ company, another Hilton brand and Hilton Grand Vacations.

In the end, HGV stood out for its flexibility and the fact that we could pass our deed on to our daughter, ensuring both twins could keep making memories together. And I can honestly say, it was the best decision our family has ever made.

Unforgettable Family Vacations Across The U.S.

Over the last decade with HGV, we’ve created memories across the map, including stays in Chicago, Carlsbad, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Miami (twice), Myrtle Beach (three times) and countless visits to Orlando. It’s been a joy to host my wife’s parents and other family members, just as our friends once did for us.

One Christmas before Covid, our Orlando holiday with the extended family at Tuscany Village, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club turned unexpectedly adventurous. Florida was hit by record lows — freezing iguanas literally dropped from trees! To top it off, a weather bomb cyclone canceled our flights home.

With Tuscany Village fully booked, HGV’s incredible staff seamlessly moved all eight of us to SeaWorld® Orlando, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club for six extra days, making what could have been a travel nightmare entirely stress-free.

When Covid hit, we couldn’t travel to the U.S. for over 18 months, but HGV was fantastic, letting us bank our accumulated points and use them through the end of 2022. As luck had it, that was easy to do.

We celebrated my wife’s 50th birthday with a week in Las Vegas (where we married in 2000), followed by two dream weeks in Hawaii with her parents. The ability for Fiona and me to give something back to her parents was a great feeling.

Then, around Halloween, our family of four embarked on an unforgettable Halloween to Carlsbad, California, where just across the street, a sprawling corn maze, eerily reminiscent of a “Scream” movie set, awaited us and set the stage for some seasonal fun.

Happy Getaway Vibes — That’s What HGV Means To Me

We have the best photos and videos providing lasting memories from all our HGV trips. That is why I have no hesitation in recommending HGV. I wish I had done it earlier in life, but I will just have to make up time!

Key Takeaways

Reasons For Joining Hilton Grand Vacations

• Hilton Grand Vacations provided the space and comfort needed for relaxing and inclusive travel, especially with a special needs child.
• HGV membership offers long-term flexibility, value and the ability to travel to diverse destinations including Las Vegas, Hawaii, Orlando and Carlsbad.
• The deeded nature of HGV membership allowed him to plan generational travel for his daughters, ensuring lasting vacation opportunities.
• From holiday emergencies to global pandemics, HGV delivered dependable and responsive service that proved its value beyond traditional travel options.
• An HGV Member describes joining Hilton Grand Vacations as “the best family decision we have ever made,” a sentiment rooted in years of memorable experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What inspires someone to join Hilton Grand Vacations?
A. Derek experienced a resort stay with friends that opened his eyes to the value of spacious, family-friendly accommodations and planted the seed for ownership.

Q. How does Hilton Grand Vacations support travelers with special needs?
A. Derek’s story highlights how HGV’s resort spaces and flexible planning enabled his family, including a daughter with a learning disability, to enjoy stress-free vacations.

Q. Is Hilton Grand Vacations a good fit for multi-generational families?
A. Yes. Derek’s family was able to host grandparents and extended relatives across various HGV resorts, creating lasting intergenerational memories.