Hiltongrandvacations Avis 

My wife and I have owned a timeshare at Elara by Hilton Grand Vacations since 2012, and it was paid in full many years ago. Despite owning it for well over a decade, this was actually our first time staying at the property. Prior to this trip, I had spent at least ten years attempting to explore options for exiting or disposing of my ownership interest. During that time, I contacted Hilton Grand Vacations on numerous occasions seeking assistance or information. Unfortunately, I rarely, if ever, received meaningful responses. Looking back, my efforts to get help with exiting were met with silence.
From the moment we arrived at Elara in Feb. 2026, (this was the first time since we purchased in 2012 that we even set foot on this property) it became apparent that sales opportunities were a significant focus. Before we even reached our room, we were approached by no fewer than three different individuals encouraging us to schedule what was described as an "Owner Update" meeting. The presentation was framed as an informational update for owners, which sounded reasonable enough, so we agreed to attend.
What followed was a sharp departure from the 'informational update' we were promised.
The actual "owner update" lasted less than five minutes before we were handed off to a sales representative whose primary objective appeared to be selling us an upgraded ownership package. This quickly evolved into an extremely lengthy and high-pressure sales presentation that consumed approximately five hours of our vacation time.
Throughout the process, there seemed to be a continuous cycle of sales representatives, managers, and finance personnel presenting increasingly aggressive offers and incentives designed to overcome every objection we raised. The atmosphere felt less like an informational meeting and more like a prolonged negotiation where "no" was repeatedly challenged rather than respected. In fact, when I mentioned retirement was in our near future and did not want to take on more debt, it felt like a green light for them to push even harder. They made it sound like I would not be able to live without getting this timeshare once I retired.
At no point during the oral presentation was the strict, short deadline for cancellation explained to us. During my discussions after the sale, there was no meaningful explanation of the cancellation timeline, how it worked, or any effort to assist in resolving the situation. The focus seemed entirely on enforcing the contract rather than addressing the concerns of a long-time owner who immediately regretted the purchase.
I understand that sales presentations are part of the timeshare industry and that businesses are entitled to market their products. However, there is a substantial difference between presenting options and subjecting customers to hours of relentless sales pressure. For owners who attend these meetings expecting a simple update, it is important to understand that the experience may involve significant time commitments and persistent efforts to secure an upgrade purchase.
Based on my personal experience, I would strongly caution anyone considering attending an "Owner Update" presentation to be prepared for a highly intensive sales process. I would also encourage prospective buyers to speak directly with long-term timeshare owners before making any purchase decisions. Existing owners can often provide valuable insight into the realities of ownership that may not be fully discussed during sales presentations.
Unfortunately, my experience with both Hilton Grand Vacations and Elara left me feeling disappointed, pressured, and ultimately regretful. What should have been a relaxing vacation became dominated by a sales process that consumed hours of our time and resulted in a financial commitment I attempted to reverse almost immediately. For that reason, I cannot recommend Hilton Grand Vacations or the Elara ownership program based on my experience.
Run away!

Russ and Leona Shinert

Felt Trapped by Pushy Sales Tactics — Grateful My Son Was With Me

I recently went to a Hilton Grand Vacations presentation while on vacation, with my adult son by my side. I wasn’t looking to sign anything — just interested in hearing about what they offered and whether it could be a good fit for future travel.

At first it seemed harmless, but when we asked how much longer it would last, the saleswoman’s whole attitude changed. She became curt and even a little rude. It was very uncomfortable. Later, we were passed off to a final sales rep who was extremely polished and persistent — she kept pushing, even after we had made it very clear we weren’t signing anything.

The whole experience felt more like a high-pressure sales gauntlet than an informational session. I’m very grateful my son was there to help keep things grounded — I might have been more vulnerable to the pressure without him.

Important note: If anyone reading this ends up stuck in a contract and feels they were misled, you legally have the right to cancel within 30 days.

I recently attended a Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare presentation with my mom, mainly to support her. We were open to learning and curious about the value, and I was genuinely interested in crunching the numbers to compare HGV to simply booking vacations on our own.

Early in the presentation, I checked my phone briefly to verify some information. Simultaneously, my brother texted my mom asking how much longer it would take, so mom asked the salesperson. We weren’t rude, just needed to inform family. At that point, the sales rep’s attitude shifted dramatically. She became unexpectedly cold and rude, which was both surprising and unnecessary.

Eventually, we were handed off to a final closer who was very skilled at her job — persistent, polished, and hard to say no to — but we had already decided not to sign anything. Even after saying “no” multiple times, they kept sweetening the deal with bonus points and “last chance” offers to create pressure. It was a textbook high-pressure sales funnel.

If you plan to attend, know this: the presentation is designed to wear you down. It’s not about helping you make a logical choice — it’s about pushing you into an emotional decision. Bring someone grounded with you, and don’t go in unprepared. I’m very glad I was there to support my mom — I honestly think the outcome could’ve been different otherwise.

One more thing: If you or someone you know ends up stuck in a timeshare contract and feels misled, there is a way out. A former Wyndham employee once called in to Dave Ramsey’s show and revealed a strategy that works: have an attorney draft a letter to the company’s escalations department, clearly outlining the misrepresentation or pressure used in the sales presentation. Companies tend to respond when things are put in legal terms and handled properly. There are also timeshare exit companies you can hire.

Dear reader,it’s the 23 rd December 2023 and my wife and I are leaving the Santa Barbara resort in Gulf Del Sur Tenerife tomorrow Xmas Eve.

I was a senior manager at this resort some 40 years ago,so my return is a sentimental journey,which we thoroughly enjoyed.

We are been here for the past 23 nights and when the staff realised that I had history with this resort,they welcomed us with open arms,as they do to all guests.

This and all HGV resorts worldwide are of the very highest standards ,so I was surprised to read many negative reviews from past clients/ owners, which I thought was an unfair reflection of this company.

I therefore expressed my concerns to the European Vice President and suggested that she invited the many thousands of clients/ guests & owner to redress this imbalance by writing their positive opinions and give honest feedback.

The reason I felt it unfair was because it’s just human nature to complain about holiday accommodation etc,but the silent happy majority are ignored because they have not express their satisfaction of Hilton Grand Vacation.

Therefore HGV in my ex professional ( now retired) opinion is for the seasoned descending client and their resorts of a quality and comparable to 5 star standards and having worked in this industry for the past 40 years,I can unreservedly recommend Hilton Grand Vacation and I hope the many many more thousands of client do the same.