Hilton Grand Vacations vs Marriott Vacation Club: two titans of the timeshare industry. Both vacation clubs offer luxurious resorts in the world’s best vacation destinations. But which one is right for you? Let’s break down the differences between these two timeshare companies and discover what amazing vacations await you.
Meet the Vacation Clubs
Hilton Grand Vacations and the Marriott Vacation Club are two of the largest timeshare companies in the world. Both have the backing of two of the biggest names in hotels and offer spacious accommodations and world-class resort amenities. Still, if you’re not immersed in the hospitality industry like we are, it can be tough to tell the difference at a glance. Let’s give you a proper introduction.
Hilton Grand Vacations
Hilton Grand Vacations, or HGV for short, is the timeshare branch of Hilton Worldwide. Launched in 1992 with 24 properties, HGV now manages over 200 resorts worldwide! The majority of these resorts are in the United States, but they have a robust portfolio of properties in Canada, the Caribbean, the U.K., Europe, and Japan.
Part of the reason for Hilton’s massive portfolio is its acquisition of other, smaller vacation clubs. Bluegreen Vacations, Diamond Resorts, and Embarc Resorts are all subsidiaries of Hilton Grand Vacations, though Bluegreen and Diamond remain somewhat independent.
Marriott Vacation Club
The Marriott Vacation Club (MVC) is Marriott Vacations Worldwide’s timeshare division, comprising over 90 resorts worldwide. These resorts are spread across Marriott’s portfolio of brands, which include big names like Sheraton, Westin, and even the Ritz-Carlton.
The MVC has fewer properties in its portfolio than Hilton, but it has resorts in destinations like Australia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Their portfolio expands considerably when you take Marriott Bonvoy into account, granting access to 9,600 properties worldwide.
Hilton Grand Vacations vs Marriott Vacation Club: At a Glance
| Hilton Grand Vacations | Marriott Vacation Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Resorts | 200+ | 90+ |
| Subsidiaries | Embarc Resorts Bluegreen Vacations Diamond Resorts | Sheraton Vacation Club Westin Vacation Club Ritz-Carlton Club |
| Vacation Exchange | RCI | Interval International |
| Rewards | Hilton Honors | Marriott Bonvoy |
So, What’s the Difference?
All of that information is cool, but when it comes to comparing Hilton Grand Vacations and Marriott Vacation Club, it’s not particularly meaningful. If we’re going to compare these vacation clubs, we can’t just look at brands or even the number of resorts. We need to get granular. So let’s zoom in a little.
Hilton Grand Vacations vs Marriott Vacation Club: Rooms and Amenities
Obviously, the first place we want to look is where you’re staying. Timeshares are vacation homes, after all. So how do Hilton and Marriott’s rooms stack up compared to one another? If we’re being honest, they’re pretty much neck and neck.
Timeshare accommodations are pretty standardized: they range from studios to multi-bedroom villas, and usually include fully equipped kitchens (or kitchenettes, if space is tight), full baths, and outdoor seating. There are some exceptions for city-center timeshares, such as Marriott’s Pulse collection, but you can expect condo-style suites at most timeshares you encounter. Beyond that, the differences are largely aesthetic and vary between resorts, even within the same vacation club.
Amenities also vary: most resorts in both clubs will have a pool, a fitness center, and a place to grab quick meals. Beyond that, things vary: some timeshares are attached to larger resorts with casinos and multiple dining options. Some have spas, others have movie theaters or kids’ clubs. Whether you choose Hilton or Marriott, you’ll get comfortable accommodations and amenities well-suited to the destination. So if that’s the case, let’s take a look at those destinations.
Picking a Destination
When we say that Hilton has over 200 resorts, and Marriott has over 90, there’s an asterisk. Many of those resorts are connected to one of their subsidiary brands. For instance, The Marquee in New Orleans is a Bluegreen Vacations resort. Bluegreen is a subsidiary of Hilton Grand Vacations, but if you can’t just use your HGV timeshare to stay there. You need either a Bluegreen Vacations timeshare or an HGV Max membership. HGV Max is Hilton’s unified timeshare program that consolidates all of its vacation ownership resorts and the Hilton Honors rewards program. Marriott Vacation Club has a similar program in Abound, which consolidates its brands and integrates with Marriott Bonvoy.
So what does this mean, in practice? In short, if you buy points directly from Hilton or Marriott, you’re automatically enrolled in these programs and can stay at any of the timeshare properties in their portfolio. However, if you buy points on the resale market, you can only stay at resorts in the same ‘network’ as your home resort. Your home resort, in this case, is the property you own a stake in.
So if you go to our marketplace and buy points at The Marquee, you can use those points to stay at Christmas Mountain Village, but not at SeaWorld. That’s because both the Marquee and Christmas Mountain are Bluegreen resorts, while Hilton Grand Vacations SeaWorld falls under the Hilton name. Timeshare companies do this to incentivize buying directly from them, since buying on the resale market is usually 30-50% cheaper than retail.
Choose the Home Resort You Like the Most
Here at Timeshares Only, we’re in the resale market. It’s one of the best ways to get into vacation ownership, and it can save you thousands of dollars. Even without the expanded list of destinations, it’s a really good value. Still, it does mean you need to be selective. This is generally a good practice with timeshare ownership: your home resort should be a place you intend to visit often. It’ll be the easiest place to get a reservation, too, since booking windows are longer for owners.
Once you’ve narrowed down your options to a few home resorts, check what other properties are in that vacation club’s portfolio. It’s best to view these as an extra benefit, rather than the main reason you’re getting a timeshare. While you’re at it, you should take a look at vacation exchange options too.
Hilton Grand Vacations vs Marriott Vacation Club: Vacation Exchanges
Now we’re getting into more tangible differences between the two vacation clubs. A vacation exchange, for the uninitiated, allows timeshare owners to convert their fixed weeks or points into points they can use at affiliated resorts. Vacation exchanges let you use your timeshare at other vacation clubs, or on things like tours, flights, and cruises.
There are two major vacation exchange networks: RCI and Interval International (II). RCI is a partner of Hilton Grand Vacations, as well as Westgate Resorts and Holiday Inn Vacations. Interval International is a Marriott subsidiary and partners with the Hyatt Vacation Club and Disney Vacation Club.
Since II is a Marriott subsidiary, Marriott Vacation Club owners who buy directly get a complimentary Interval International membership. Owners who buy from the secondary market can sign up for Interval International for an additional fee. They also receive reduced exchange fees and longer booking windows when exchanging between Marriott-affiliated resorts, which can help offset not being eligible for Abound.
Hilton doesn’t have any special status in RCI. You’ll need to pay to join and pay any exchange fees. You’re also subject to regular booking windows.
Taking all of this together, Marriott has fewer resorts but more flexible vacation exchange options. Meanwhile, Hilton offers more resorts, but has more limited exchange options.
Hilton Grand Vacations vs Marriott Vacation Club: Rewards Programs
Both Hilton Grand Vacations and Marriott Vacation Club are connected to their parent companies’ rewards programs. You receive points for staying at your timeshare, and if you bought your points from the developer, you can convert your timeshare points into rewards points. This isn’t the best use of your timeshare points, but it is a good perk. But what exactly can you use these points for?
One of the most advertised perks of these programs, especially for timeshare ownership, is access to Hilton or Marriott’s entire hotel portfolio. This greatly expands your vacation options, but it isn’t as simple as using your timeshare for a stay at any resort you like. To get those non-timeshare stays, you need points, and it’s not a good idea to convert your timeshare points to rewards points unless they’d expire otherwise.
You earn points whenever you book a stay at an affiliate resort through official channels, such as your owner’s portal. In addition, you can earn points through branded credit cards, dining programs, rideshares, or by attending timeshare presentations. You can then use these points to book hotel stays, just as you would with cash. It’s even possible to combine points and cash when paying for a room.
If we’re looking strictly at point value and hotel availability, Marriott Bonvoy has an edge. While the Marriott Vacation Club has fewer resorts than HGV, more resorts accept Marriott Bonvoy points. Bonvoy points are also worth more than Hilton Honors points, meaning you’ll need fewer of them to book a stay. However, Hilton offers perks such as room upgrades at a lower status level than Marriott’s, which can make a difference if you’re earning elite status through a credit card.
FAQs
Buy Your Timeshare with Timeshares Only
Timeshare resales are the best way to get into vacation ownership, and can save you 30-50% compared to a developer purchase. So if you’re looking to join Hilton Grand Vacations or the Marriott Vacation Club, let us help. Timeshares Only is one of the most trusted names in the timeshare industry, and our marketplace has ads for resort locations around the world. So whether you’re looking at Hawaii, Myrtle Beach, or the French countryside, you’re bound to find a resort you love.
Need help getting started? Contact us! Give us a call at 1-800-610-2734, or email us at [email protected] to get started!
