What is RCI and what do ppl mean by "trading points"?

[Tracyplus5]

Reading through posts I keep coming across these terms and I don't know what they are referring to?

 

[Chuck S]

RCI = Resort Condominiums International

These are the resorts that make up the World Passport Collection. RCI is a timeshare trading company, a basic trade is when a timeshare owner reserves a week at their home resort and uses that week to trade for a resort in another location. That is how it worked with the older traditional set week style timeshares.

With DVC, (and some other point based timeshares) member services contacts RCI on behalf of the owner and subtracts points from the owners account, rather than the owner depositing a specific week into RCI. DVC controls which room types and resorts are deposited into RCI instead, DVC also initiates the search for an RCI/World Passport Collection resort to match the your desired vacation destination. While currently a DVC owner can search online for World Passport resorts, usually the actual booking transaction has to go through DVC. It was reported that an online booking system for DVC Resorts, and eventually DVC World Passport Collection resorts, is being developed.

 

[Tracyplus5]

Thanks!

 

[woohooo]

How far in advance can you trade your points into RCI, CI, CC? Would you have a better chance of getting the week you wanted if you booked way in advance, like maybe 18 months out?