Booking with RCI

[primecap]

Hi folks,
Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Can somebody please educate me on the process of booking an RCI accommodation as a DVC member? My understanding is that we can put a search in 2 years in advance. My question is if we allocate say 160 points for a 1 bedroom week and go on some sort of wait list, what happens to those points? Are they removed from your account balance into some nebulous pot with RCI? If you aren't successful on the waitlist, what happens to those points which are now 2 years old? Are they returned to you and can you still use them? Also, can you use banked points for this kind of transaction?

Also, is the $95 fee paid just for asking them to look and see what is available or is it when you formally make a bid on an RCI vacation?


Any helpful insights would be great! Thanks again.
Jim

 

[dblr]

We were going to loose some points so I banked a week into RCI and did not have to pay the $95 but so far have not had much luck getting what we want. I am thinking of trying again but we would like to try for next year after Christmas @ a ski area in either Vt. or NY so I think we will have little luck there. I do know I have till 2012 to use this banked week.

 

[Dean]

Hi folks,
Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Can somebody please educate me on the process of booking an RCI accommodation as a DVC member? My understanding is that we can put a search in 2 years in advance. My question is if we allocate say 160 points for a 1 bedroom week and go on some sort of wait list, what happens to those points? Are they removed from your account balance into some nebulous pot with RCI? If you aren't successful on the waitlist, what happens to those points which are now 2 years old? Are they returned to you and can you still use them? Also, can you use banked points for this kind of transaction?

Also, is the $95 fee paid just for asking them to look and see what is available or is it when you formally make a bid on an RCI vacation?


Any helpful insights would be great! Thanks again.
Jim

They don't take the points until you find a match Holding the points there just in case they are needed for the exchange is a risky venture. Certainly don't miss any banking deadlines. You can even make a reservation and give them instructions to cancel it and use those points if you want. This is an area that could change though.

You can search for up to 2 years prior to the check in date. When something is likely to come available varies with the option. Most weeks don't come available right away, I'd venture that most things come into RCI right at 1 year out for weeks resorts and 10 months out for points resorts but there are MANY exceptions. The $95 fee is to make sure they get paid for the exchange if it actually happens. It is refundable if you cancel with no match or do not match. Remember that you can only search for what they have for example, you cannot search for a 1 BR if the resort only has 2 BR. Also, pay attention to the check in days for a given resort.

We were going to loose some points so I banked a week into RCI and did not have to pay the $95 but so far have not had much luck getting what we want. I am thinking of trying again but we would like to try for next year after Christmas @ a ski area in either Vt. or NY so I think we will have little luck there. I do know I have till 2012 to use this banked week.

If you did not pay a fee that likely means you did not put in an ongoing search. Calling to see what they have is a poor use of the system. You should put in an ongoing search and pay the fee. Remember you have until the expiration date to exchange AND travel. I was putting in my final requests last night for a summer 2012 HI exchange.

 

[Sparkie]

So this is much different than just calling up DVC and looking for a reservation at Disney.

I was thinking I wanted to do a trip to the Grand Canyon or Gatlinburg and use DVC points on an exchange for a couple of days at a time.

So I should call now and give the reservations office the dates I am looking for or a range of dates?

How do I know how many points I should save?

Could you explain "ongoing search"?

 

[MELSMICE]

Subbing.........as I just asked the same question in a new thread, not knowing this one existed.

 

[Dean]

So this is much different than just calling up DVC and looking for a reservation at Disney.

I was thinking I wanted to do a trip to the Grand Canyon or Gatlinburg and use DVC points on an exchange for a couple of days at a time.

So I should call now and give the reservations office the dates I am looking for or a range of dates?

How do I know how many points I should save?

Could you explain "ongoing search"?

You can't do an ongoing search for anything other than a full week. Plus, almost all resorts that will allow you to book for less than a week will also charge you a housekeeping fee, often $50-75 or so. Resorts for less than a week will not be available until 10 months out or after and only at RCI points resort.

 

[Aroth28]

Could you explain "ongoing search"?

Basically, it's a waitlist of sorts. As RCI weeks are deposited they are offered to those on the "ongoing search" list. So, for example if you want a week in Hawaii but one isn't available. When you do an ongoing search and a week in Hawaii becomes available it's offered to those who have an ongoing search. It's FAR more draconian and difficult compared to DVC.