Anyone Own an RCI Timeshare? - questions

[savage1]

My parents own a week at a timeshare through RCI and they want to give it to me. The only string attached is that I have to pick up the yearly maintenance fee. They have owned this since I was a kid, my brother now owns the other two weeks that they had. I just don't understand how this works. Is it worth it for me to take this over from them? I know we can go anywhere we want with an exchange, and even possibly a cruise? If anyone owns one of these and can answer my questions it would be such a help. My parents are not in the best of health and I don't want to pester them.

 

[DianeV]

Well depending on the kind of week you either use it that same week every year or if its a floating week you can reserve a week you choose in advance based on availability. You would have to pay the yearly maintenance fee and any special assessments that could come up (major repairs needed etc) Maintenance fees can and do go up too so it would have to be an amount you are comfortable paying every year for a weeks stay.

Also it depends what size unit it is and the resort too if you would want to continue going there

For exchanging there is RCI and II and you would need to know which one your resort works with. You have to pay a yearly membership fee and also an exchange fee if you exchange. I have heard that in Orlando with II you are limited in exchanging into other Orlando resorts.

For the cruises I have always thought it wasnt a good deal giving up your week because you always have to pay some $$ too and there are always good deals for cruises out there

 

[kimberh]

I own a fixed week at a RCI timeshare. I can stay every year at week 42 at my resort with the cost only being my maintenance fees that my Home resort charges me. With RCI to really have great success, the earlier you deposit your week, the better booking window you will have. We have used our week for the Caribbean several times. We own a 2 bedroom, so for us to get a hard to get week in the Caribbean... and get a 2 bedroom villa it takes a 2 year window. I have great success if I use this method. I am sure if I wanted Maui, Hawaii, if would be the same. Now, to get Williamsburg, we were very pleased. I have traded my week several times. There are short time vacations on the RCI web site. Orlando has these often. It may not be at the resort you are really wanting, but there are some very nice resorts and those do not even require a week deposit just a fixed dollar for the week.

If you are going to own a FLEX week, you will have to call and optain a week from your home resort each year. Then if you want to travel with RCI, you will deposit that week, so you will try to get a very desired week. There are RCI fees per year and exchange fees each time you exchange your week. How much are their maintenance fees and where is the resort? This would have a lot do with my decision.

When we bought there was only Red, white and Blue weeks. Now, there is several shades of Red, I still happen to own the highest one. What color is the week they own?

Is the Home resort a place you would go to, or are you always going to be exchanging? Has the resort stay improved and Maintained?

 

[Ishy]

But my parents do.
I guess it depends on what the maint. fees are - I know I have seen a lot of ebay sales that are basically 0$ - but bail me out of my yearly maint contract! If you will use it, then think about what you would spend on hotel a year and see if it evens out.

My parents are older and cant really afford the fee's at this point. They can't seem to sell it either. They talk about gifting 'the children' it when they pass... but I really don't think I want, at this point, the financial responsibilities.

The other thing to consider is most are Sat-2-Sat rentals, airfare is always a bit higher then. I like to stay on site at disney too... I would like to know if an RCI'ers have ever gotten DVC exchange and how that works.

Also RCI weeks are different then RCI points. Then there are levels of the weeks too. All I know is my parents own 2 weeks, RCI goldcrown - I think they are RED weeks. They have a big book of places to go.

Have fun.

 

[rainy~daze]

But my parents do.
I guess it depends on what the maint. fees are - I know I have seen a lot of ebay sales that are basically 0$ - but bail me out of my yearly maint contract! If you will use it, then think about what you would spend on hotel a year and see if it evens out.

My parents are older and cant really afford the fee's at this point. They can't seem to sell it either. They talk about gifting 'the children' it when they pass... but I really don't think I want, at this point, the financial responsibilities.

The other thing to consider is most are Sat-2-Sat rentals, airfare is always a bit higher then. I like to stay on site at disney too... I would like to know if an RCI'ers have ever gotten DVC exchange and how that works.

Also RCI weeks are different then RCI points. Then there are levels of the weeks too. All I know is my parents own 2 weeks, RCI goldcrown - I think they are RED weeks. They have a big book of places to go.

Have fun.

RCI does not exchange with DVC, only II exchanges with DVC

 

[swilshire]

Go over to www.tug2.net and spend a couple of days reading. There is a ton of good info there. Timesharing isn't for everyone, but it's a great way to vacation.

Sheila

 

[TotoToo]

My parents own a week at a timeshare through RCI and they want to give it to me. The only string attached is that I have to pick up the yearly maintenance fee. They have owned this since I was a kid, my brother now owns the other two weeks that they had. I just don't understand how this works. Is it worth it for me to take this over from them? I know we can go anywhere we want with an exchange, and even possibly a cruise? If anyone owns one of these and can answer my questions it would be such a help. My parents are not in the best of health and I don't want to pester them.

If the annual fees are reasonable the purchase price is certainly right!

A timeshare in an area you like to visit is a valuable thing. If it isn't and you have to depend on trading to get places you want to go it can be a nightmare. Exchanging is not like reserving a hotel room and requires planning and at least a bit of good luck.

If the timeshare is in a location you'd like to use most of the time an occasional trade is possible and not an unrealistic expectation. If after the annual fee and the exchange fee (usually $140-$170) the trade is still looking good to you then you are OK. As far as cruises, etc while they are offered they usually aren't a good deal after the annual fee, the exchange fee & whatever you pay for the balance - finding a similar cruise on a travel site seems to be cheaper.

If the shoe fits its a good buy. if it doesn't, no matter how inexpensive, it's not worth it.

 

[JudyS]

My parents own a week at a timeshare through RCI and they want to give it to me. The only string attached is that I have to pick up the yearly maintenance fee. They have owned this since I was a kid, my brother now owns the other two weeks that they had. I just don't understand how this works. Is it worth it for me to take this over from them? I know we can go anywhere we want with an exchange, and even possibly a cruise? If anyone owns one of these and can answer my questions it would be such a help. My parents are not in the best of health and I don't want to pester them.

I am a timeshare addict! I own over a dozen timeshares, and really love them! I am happy to answer questions about timeshares -- anyone with questions, feel free to PM or email me.

I would need to know exactly what resort and week you own to tell you whether this timeshare is worthwhile or not. However, here are some general tips:

1) RCI is an exchange company; they don't own timeshares (at least not directly.) So, what your parents probably own is a week each year at a specific resort. (Other possibilities include a week every other year at a specific resort, a week every year that can be chosen from a group of resorts, etc.) Probably, when you parents say their timeshare is through RCI, they mean that the the resort is "affiliated" with RCI, i.e., RCI will accept their week as a deposit.

2) What RCI does is serve as a clearinghouse; you can deposit your week with them, and choose another week from the ones that other people have deposited. However, it is NOT TRUE that you can go anywhere that they have listed in their "wish book" of resort; this is a lie that timeshare salespeople tell in order to sell timeshares. RCI will offer you a much more limited selection of resorts, depending on what they have available and how desirable they consider your week to be. Most timeshare exchange companies work the same way -- they offer you only a subset of what they have available, based on how desirable they consider your week to be. However, each company has a different idea of what they consider desirable, so a week that trades poorly with one exchange company might trade well with another exchange company.

3) RCI is the biggest timeshare exchange company, but it has the highest fees and the lowest consumer satisfaction. In fact, a bunch of their members are suing them right now. This doesn't guarantee that you will be unhappy using them, but it does make it a lot more likely. However, you have many more options for using a timeshare than just depositing it with RCI; see the list in my next item.

4) When you own a timeshare, your usual choices with it are to a) use it yourself; b) rent it out; c) let a friend use it; d) arrange for a direct exchange with another timeshare user; e) exchange it through one of large exchange companies (RCI or II), which can only be done if your resort has affiliated with that company; or f) depost it with an "independent" exchange company, which does not require resorts to affiliate. In general, exchanging RCI would be my last choice for a timeshare I owned; if I had a week I didn't want to use myself, I would rather use another exchange company or rent it out. However, RCI does work OK in some circumstances.

Can you find out what your parents own, and what the fees are? That would enable me to give you better advice.

 

[JudyS]

Oops, I was posting at the same time as "TotoToo." I agree with him that cruises are almost always a poor use of a timeshare week. As for exchanges, I love doing timeshare exchanges, but many people find them exceedingly frustrating. Happiness with exchanges depends a lot on what you own, where and when you want to go, how much flexibility you have in your travel plans, and whether you enjoy "the thrill of the hunt" when it comes to getting a bargain.

 

[savage1]

I believe they own a floating week. Their home resort is at Tanglewood in the PA Poconos. We have only stayed there twice in the 30 some years they have owned it. They have tried to sell it but have had trouble with a shady reseller. I will check out the website and see if I can find out more. I'd like to take it, but I don't want more than we can handle.

 

[TotoToo]

I believe they own a floating week. Their home resort is at Tanglewood in the PA Poconos. We have only stayed there twice in the 30 some years they have owned it. They have tried to sell it but have had trouble with a shady reseller. I will check out the website and see if I can find out more. I'd like to take it, but I don't want more than we can handle.

I think that is a RTU (Right To Use) resort which means the ownership runs out after so many years. It isn't a great trader unless you have a summer week but ownership may be limited to the years remaining on the RTU. Do your homework before accepting it.

 

[spiceycat]

if the timeshare does have reasonable maintence fees - then would go with regardless.

especially if you want to travel to places like - Orlando, Williamsburg, Va or Branson - all are easy, easy trades.

also RCI has something called - last minute vacations - these are vacation you pay money for - $199 (studio), $229 1-bedroom and $249 for 2-bedroom.

these are generally a bargin - if you can expect a studio. You are NOT exchanging your week for these last minute (generally 60 days out or less)

 

[Wishing on a star]

OP, we are in your exact situation... We are inheriting my MIL's timeshare week.

(Note, weekly ownership is separate and different from Points.)

For now, we are happy...

We pay the maintenance fees at the resort.

If you have a floating week, you actually make your reservation for a particular week at your resort, THEN you can take the info and 'Bank' this week with RCI. Then, to exchange this week to reserve a week where you want to vacation, there is an exchange fee. (I think it is $169.00???)

You can bank your week up to one year in advance (earlier at some resorts...) And, you then have two years to exchange that week for your vacation. We are just now 'Banking' our week for 2009... This week will be good until 2011.

We have traded for Orlando, Destin FL, Williamsburg VA, Smokey Mountains(Pigeon Forge), Sedona AZ (VERY nice red-rock country...went to Grand Canyon), etc... etc... So far it has worked for us so far. So we are continuing to use this timeshare and RCI. We do realize that if we decide that we no longer want to do this, that we will have to decide to sell the week, for a very small amount. But, hey, my inlaws paid for the week to begin with, not us!

You will not find prime resorts available close to your travel date... They fill up fast. We made our reservations for Destin and Sedona like a year in advance. So, this is a factor. Just personally, I have no problem with this!

This is what you need to do to make up your mind...
If you parents are currently RCI members, they may have an online account... (rci.com) If not, ask them to give you the info to set one up... This way, you can go online, and actually go thru the steps of making a reservation "exchange" and see what kind of availability shows up within the next year at locations/resorts that interest you.

Keep in mind that any desireabale 'high demand' resort or location may not show availability because it stays booked up... The way to get a reservation at these resorts is to do what they call a 'Search'... It basically puts you on the waiting list for that resort. (you can have many different resorts on your search...) The only thing about Search is that you must go ahead and pay the $169.00 exchange fee when you initiate the search... So, you are paying in advance. When somebody banks a unit at a resort that you have on Search, and your name comes up, you will be contacted by phone and by email... You can go ahead and book that week as you had originally hoped... or you can pass if there is a reason that you are unsure and do not wish to book. A search does not lock you in...

When you go online and see this in operation, you will know if you are interested.

If you don't want to be bothered with maintenance fees... dealing with a large company like RCI, booking your week many months in advance... Then perhaps this type of timeshare ownership is not for you.

If you think you are interested in taking the timeshare week, go to RCI.com and look around. Of course, you have to be an RCI member to actually do anything on the site. But, you can still pull it up and check it out.

 

[ElizabethB]

My parents have two timeshares -- both floating and both red time. They trade through RCI. They've had the timeshares for many years. We have absolutely not been impressed with RCI or its services. I'd stay out of the timeshare game. RCI ranks various properties and if you have time at a lesser property, you'll never get decent trades. I think there is currently a member lawsuit going on against RCI.

My parents want to gift the timeshares to me when they die. Sorry, I don't want them. They are an unpleasant liability that goes on in perpetuity.

 

[spiceycat]

My parents have two timeshares -- both floating and both red time. They trade through RCI. They've had the timeshares for many years. We have absolutely not been impressed with RCI or its services. I'd stay out of the timeshare game. RCI ranks various properties and if you have time at a lesser property, you'll never get decent trades. I think there is currently a member lawsuit going on against RCI.

My parents want to gift the timeshares to me when they die. Sorry, I don't want them. They are an unpleasant liability that goes on in perpetuity.

orlando doesn't matter you can get an excellent trade to Orlando - williamsburg, Branson and one other place too - these places have a bunch of timeshares might be Las Vegas.

so far RCI will not get my beach week - II gives better trades for beach weeks. and could definitely use it myself.

where is their week and what week is it? never buy in Orlando.

 

[swilshire]

My parents have two timeshares -- both floating and both red time. They trade through RCI. They've had the timeshares for many years. We have absolutely not been impressed with RCI or its services. I'd stay out of the timeshare game. RCI ranks various properties and if you have time at a lesser property, you'll never get decent trades. I think there is currently a member lawsuit going on against RCI.

My parents want to gift the timeshares to me when they die. Sorry, I don't want them. They are an unpleasant liability that goes on in perpetuity.

As a happy timeshare owner since 1996, I have to disagree. Timeshares aren't for everyone, but we get wonderful vacations. Besides our short trips to Orlando and various beaches (Nantucket in May this year) we always plan one long trip in June. We used two RCI exchanges in western Canada this year, weeks in England, Scotland and Wales last year and three weeks on three islands in Hawaii the prior year. We are also members of II (RCI's competitor) and spent a week in Boston through them.

Timeshares are definitely not for everyone. We have four kids and could never vacation like we do if we were just renting. The extra bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens are a lifesaver for a big family.

If you can travel in the off-season, always eat in restaurants, and just travel as a couple, you can probably stay in a nice hotel for what we spend on timeshares. Tied to school schedules and traveling in a pack, we couldn't.

The important thing is to buy carefully and learn all the tricks. I see that I mentioned TUG in an earlier post in this thread. I have learned tons from the experts there about maximizing my weeks.

On another note, I don't totally agree with Spiceycat about never buying in Orlando. That is the common wisdom and is something to consider, because maintenance fees and taxes are high in Orlando and the trade value can be lowish, depending on the resort and season you own. On the other hand, if your goal is to actually GO to Orlando every year, it can be wise to just buy what you want to use and forget about exchanges. Maybe not the absolutely cheapest route, but simple for the novice.

Sheila

 

[kimberh]

As a happy timeshare owner since 1996, I have to disagree. Timeshares aren't for everyone, but we get wonderful vacations. Besides our short trips to Orlando and various beaches (Nantucket in May this year) we always plan one long trip in June. We used two RCI exchanges in western Canada this year, weeks in England, Scotland and Wales last year and three weeks on three islands in Hawaii the prior year. We are also members of II (RCI's competitor) and spent a week in Boston through them.

Sheila

Where did you stay in Nantucket, England, Scotland and Wales. I would love to try these locations.

 

[calgarygary]

The best advice the OP and hopefully anyone else considering buying, inheriting, etc. a timeshare is to go to a dedicated site like tug and educate yourselves. The folks over there are very helpful and even the most basic questions will usually receive an accurate, respectful reply. Some timeshares are not even worth receiving as a gift.

Although I agree with the advice about not purchasing in Orlando, I own there and Vistana Villages (in Bella and Key West phases) present the cheapest opportunities to get into the Starwood system through the resale market.

 

[churchpilot]

My parents have two timeshares -- both floating and both red time. They trade through RCI. They've had the timeshares for many years. We have absolutely not been impressed with RCI or its services. I'd stay out of the timeshare game. RCI ranks various properties and if you have time at a lesser property, you'll never get decent trades. I think there is currently a member lawsuit going on against RCI.

My parents want to gift the timeshares to me when they die. Sorry, I don't want them. They are an unpleasant liability that goes on in perpetuity.

We just dumped our timeshare last year. We used it to exchange at Vistana in 1999 and that was the ONLY pleasant experience we have ever had with RCI or timeshares. Our maintenance fees went up every year and the condition of our Gold Crown Resort deteriorated until we were out of black time and into the red. Never again. However, DVC---here we come!

 

[swilshire]

Where did you stay in Nantucket, England, Scotland and Wales. I would love to try these locations.

Tristrams Landing on Nantucket, the Osborne Club in England, and Cameron House in Scotland. The name of the place in Wales eludes me and I don't see it in the RCI catalog, so maybe it was an II week. I want to say it was Laugharne something. We just stayed there a couple of nights because it was cheaper to get a timeshare week than to rent rooms to fill in the extra nights.

We'd like to go back because it was a decent resort in a nice location. We liked Wales very much and want to return when we can stay longer.

Sheila