Has anyone ever done an RCI trade to Hawaii?

[Debs Hill]

Hi guys! Has anyone out there done an RCI trade to Hawaii? If so, where did you stay? How easy was it to get the availability you wanted? How was the resort?
Debsx

 

[Dean]

Hi guys! Has anyone out there done an RCI trade to Hawaii? If so, where did you stay? How easy was it to get the availability you wanted? How was the resort?
Debsx

We have traded to HI a number of times but not using DVC. We've traded through II, RCI & San Francisco Exchange company. For RCI, the top resorts are going to be the Wyndham, Hilton, Shell and Diamond resorts. For Maui that gives you really only one good choice at Kaanapali Beach Club, For Oahu also 2 (hilton and Wyndham). There are a few better choices for Kauai and the Big Island. We've stayed at the Marriott, Westin and KBC on Maui and both resorts on Oahu plus we own an Every other year week at Marriott's Ko'Olina. For Oahu we've stayed at the Older Marriott and what is now the Point at Poipu (Diamond). We have been on property and looked around including seeing rooms at most of the decent ones on Kauai and Maui.

My recommendation to you would be to look for other means to get to HI. Either rent your points and pay cash or look for other exchange options like private exchanges or some of the smaller independent exchange companies. Unfortunately RCI is far behind II for HI mostly due to the Westin and Marriott options.

 

[bwvBound]

We've traded to the Bay Club Waikoloa (Big Island, Nov 2002) and Wyndham's Bali Hai (Kauai, Feb 2009) through RCI. We've also traded into or booked on cash through II at Waikoloa Colony Villas (Big Island, July 2008) and the Makaha Resort and Golf Club (Oahu Feb 2008). We've enjoyed other HI stays in properties we own directly through Worldmark the Club.

I love the Waikoloa complex and both of the properties we visited. Lots to do/see if you are willing to walk the large property. A car is a must for reaching most HI activities.

Kauai is lovely -- but for our next visit we'll look for a resort located, ideally, between Poipu and Kapaa for a better location. The Wyndham properties in Princeville, in our opinion, were too far from most attractions other than visiting Hanalei, Kilauea Lighthouse/Bird Sanctuary which we would have preferred as day trips.

Makaha was a complete surprise in every respect (starting with a very last-minute booking less than 6 days from travel). The resort room was a disappointment but we really loved the property. The location is a bit remote, the general area considered "iffy" for tourist travel but we thoroughly enjoyed the secluded beaches scattered along the very north east (?) end of the main road. We remember this unexpected trip with great fondness.