Calling all RCI experts/experienced users!!

[GraceLuvsWDW]

My boyfriend has a timeshare that is traded on RCI. We are trying to find out about "exchanging" it for an Orlando timeshare but I am completely unaware of how to do this. I have some questions and would appreciate any info anyone can give me!

1. How much does it cost to exchange your timeshare on RCI?
2. Do we have to pay the dues, then deposit his week, in order to find out what's available in Orlando?
3. What are the chances nothing (good) would be available in Orlando-we have not chosen dates yet but always travel in the offseason.
4. Would his timeshare trade day for day for any timeshare listed on RCI or are the shares "weighted" by how nice they are?
5. Are there any other fees I should know about?
6. Is RCI the only network we are allowed to exchange on? His timeshare is #1004-Silverleaf's Holiday Hills on RCI.

Thanks in advance! I would really like to take advantage of this exchange if it's cost effective, nice accommodations, etc. I welcome any info or feedback from anyone with experience in this.

 

[spiceycat]

Orlando has too many timeshares - so that is not a problem.

depends upon his timeshare if he needs to join RCI - some come with a membership fee.

go sign up - then if he needs to join it will tell him.

www.rci.com

the fee is generally $139 to exchange (might be more - they do change fees)

join for 5 years - so don't remember the cost for one year.

would go with these

hilton grand vacation club at seaworld
hilton grand vacation club at ID
sheraton vistana resort
cypress points (there are several of these)
orbit one
cypress harbour (this is a marriott)
royal palms (marriott)
sabal palms (marriott)
grand beach
silver lake

if you want close to Disney - then Sheraton vistana resort or cypress point - close to DD, silver lake or orbit one - close to disney's AK.

 

[Brian Noble]

The current RCI fees are listed here:

http://www.rci.com/CDA/Common/Documents/weeks_fees.pdf

If you are considering joining, you should carefully read the Weeks membership guide:

http://www.rci.com/CDA/Common/Documents/DisclosureGuideWeeks.pdf

To see availability, you must join *and* deposit a week. The deposit generally cannot be undone. This is not just general availability, but filtered by your home resort's quality and the trading power of your specific week. For example, a ski week in Utah or a summer week in a top Hilton Head resort will trade a lot better than "mud season" in the central US.

But, as Pat mentions, Orlando is chock-full of nice timeshares, so if you are traveling in the offseasons, chances of getting a high-quality exchange are pretty good.

Finally, you will want to compare the costs of exchange (carrying cost + exchange fee + membership fee) to the costs of renting the same week from an owner. In some cases, it's cheaper to rent, and save your week for something else, unless you have more weeks of timeshare than you can use.

 

[mickeymommy3]

We were able to exchange a studio in Las Vegas for a 3 Bedroom at Summer Bay resort. We asked for the exchange a year out, we had several options to choose from. I believe the exchange rate was $139 and we had to be current on our RCI dues for this year and the next year that we were booking the exchange in.

 

[charlielinda]

We have exchanged into Orlando (always Gold Crown) for about eight vacations. You can always find a good (great) timeshare in the Orlando area. Don't worry about that at all. We have stayed at Polynesian Isles (8), Vistana (9), Orange Lake (8), Silver Lake (7), Vaction Villages (8) though parking was difficult and others and always been very happy.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Thanks everyone!

We did join RCI and I have been looking through the Getaway weeks and the Last Call vacations. Lots of good deals there! We haven't banked his week yet so we don't know what trading power it will yield yet.

I have another question:
If we are planning a last minute trip for 5 days can we pay the steeply discounted rate on Last Call Vacations for a week and then only stay for the 5 days and check out early? I don't see why they would have a problem with that if we pay for the whole week!?

Some of those deals are $350 a week for Gold Crown resorts! Am I missing anything here? Are there other fees I don't know about?

Thanks!

 

[spiceycat]

the last call can be $199 for a studio for a week.

you are not missing anything.

they do charge what is listed - something there is tax - but unless you want insurance - nothing else.

if you can wait would go with last call - extra vacations can be expensive.

how long you stay is completely up to you.

use to stay lots of time for 5 days. that is not a problem.

 

[Brian Noble]

If we are planning a last minute trip for 5 days can we pay the steeply discounted rate on Last Call Vacations for a week and then only stay for the 5 days and check out early?

Sure can. I booked one as a long-weekend for spring skiing in Michigan---I used it just three nights, but it was still a good deal.

 

[BillyM]

you dont have to have any banked weeks to use the last call deals that is what we if you book less than 6 week out you get real good deals we are staying at silver lake for 250 a week so back your other week and just pay that it will cost you almost that to exchange it

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Extra Vacations (in the off season) and Last Calls are great deals!
We've gotten Hilton Grand Vac. Club @ Sea World once: 2br in Sept for only $404 incl. tax!!
We own @ Summer Bay (Kissimmee/Clermont) and it's nice to be able to buy extra weeks when we have extended family coming too.
Also, I have traded our 1BR lockout for a 2BR at our home resort. For a small trade fee, we had sooo much extra space.
I try to stick with the Gold Crown resorts. jmho.

hth!

 

[Brian Noble]

One word of caution: if you can only travel in peak times, Last Call and Extra Vacation are less useful---there are still weeks, but they aren't as much of a bargain.

 

[littlestar]

We booked a Last Call for Sheraton Vistana a few weeks ago and only used three days of it - so yes, you can do that. Last Call is quite nice for off season travel.