I’ve had the pleasure of traveling throughout my career, so living out of a suitcase is a familiar concept to me. Between all the flights I’ve caught, rooms I’ve checked in and out of and trains I’ve boarded, you’d think I’d welcome the opportunity to just stay put at home for a bit. And I do, but my definition of home is a little different than some. 

 

Hilton Grand Vacations — At Home Around The World

For me, home can be wherever Hilton Grand Vacations has a resort. Hilton Grand Vacations is Hilton’s exclusive timeshare brand. And, as a Hilton Grand Vacations Member, you aren’t limited to a single location or resort. Now you’ve got furnished living quarters in destinations all over the world.

And you can hang your hat in another home in literally hundreds of locations — from Orlando and Las Vegas to the U.K, Japan and the Caribbean.

Exploring Vacation Home Options

There was a time before my family became Hilton Grand Vacations Members where we considered buying a second home. The missus and I traveled to a few cities, and we found a town we liked not too many states away from our main home.

We thought, “What if we had a little place here to call home?” So  we looked at a few options and opened up the discussion.

When it comes down to it, at least for our family, we realized we don’t actually want a second home or a vacation property. We just want to see a change of scenery from time to time for a week or so and then get back to our headquarters.

In having a second “headquarters,” we began to think how much of a chore it would be. In the back of our minds on a free weekend, we could imagine a little inner voice saying, “Hey, you’re paying for a second home. Why aren’t you staying in it this weekend? Why are you just relaxing from a busy week on the couch?”

So, what started as a fun idea would become an expensive and stressful item on the to-do list. Something that would not happen with timeshare. The benefits of timeshare ownership over a second home don’t just end at a more stress-free approach to vacationing.  

 

The Realities Of Owning A Second Home

When I pulled up a spreadsheet and started to navigate the items that get added to your world with a second home, I realized it’s more involved than just signing a mortgage.

Not counting the trips to the town you’d be looking at for this second home to see the house you want to buy before signing on the dotted line, you’ve got to account for an army of expenses scratching at your door. There’s the initial cost of the home along with the down payment, renovations, homeowner’s insurance, utilities, furnishings, maintenance and possible home owner’s association dues.

Then, there are the concerns of who will watch the property when you aren’t there. What will you do if there is a break-in? Also, how often are you really going to be there between work and other responsibilities. Will you need to keep a car there and, if so, how do you arrange that?

Before you know it, you’ve sunk major time, energy and expenses into what was supposed to be a source of relaxation, a place to go on vacation.

We Discovered Hilton Grand Vacations

That’s where Hilton Grand Vacations comes in. When comparing timeshare ownership to the purchase of a second home, my wife and I found the former to be significantly more affordable.

With Hilton Grand Vacations there is an initial contract and yearly maintenance costs, but they are a fraction of the cost of maintaining a second home. Plus, the flexibility built into the program with rollover points is so helpful when the end of the year creeps up and you haven’t enjoyed as many vacation adventures as you would’ve liked.

While a second home is a financial investment you hope to profit from if and when you decide to sell, that investment does bring with it the risk of property value volatility, constant upkeep and exponentially more investment than does a typical Hilton Grand Vacations contract.

 

Why The Benefits Of Timeshare Suits Us

For me, I see my Hilton Grand Vacations membership as a source of happy memories. Which is why we initially wanted a second home to begin with. While it’s not a financial investment in the way a home can be, it is a return on your investment in the form of family memories and experiences, all at a fraction of the liability of a second home.

Plus, instead of revolving all your vacations around your second home, you can find your “second home” on West 57th Street in New York City a block from Central Park, in Carlsbad 30 minutes from the San Diego Bay and countless spots in between or beyond.

Many articles are written about the top regrets we have before we die. What consistently makes the top five list from hospice patients revolves around wishing they had spent more time with loved ones and had cultivated stronger relationships. Hilton Grand Vacations opens the door to those possibilities in a sustainably cost-effective way that lends a helping hand on the road to building lasting memories.

Todd isn’t the only Member happy with his decision to join Hilton Grand Vacations. Read Kiana’s story about why she become a Member.