How easy is it to exchange to other sites/accommodations?

[Dean]

I thought harborside was still included?

Regardless, was illustrating a point on my experience in trading out. It was 5 years ago.

No and the larger point is that RCI doesn't have the quality resorts comparatively that II did mostly because it doesn't have Marriott or Westin. That's not to say there aren't nice resorts and some that are not in II, but the numbers just aren't there overall. Digging further the chances of getting a top resort during a high demand time is very low, not just using DVC, but with anything. There certainly are options and times that if you get them are good choices but the chances are simply not good enough to justify buying with this purpose in mind. Was your Harborside exchange week a lower season like mid April to mid June or mid August to mid Dec?

 

[intertile]

No and the larger point is that RCI doesn't have the quality resorts comparatively that II did mostly because it doesn't have Marriott or Westin. That's not to say there aren't nice resorts and some that are not in II, but the numbers just aren't there overall. Digging further the chances of getting a top resort during a high demand time is very low, not just using DVC, but with anything. There certainly are options and times that if you get them are good choices but the chances are simply not good enough to justify buying with this purpose in mind. Was your Harborside exchange week a lower season like mid April to mid June or mid August to mid Dec?

It was in mid March. Again, I may have just gotten lucky. I haven't done RCI exchanges yet. The DCL exchange that I've done twice I had no issue with.

 

[Dean]

It was in mid March. Again, I may have just gotten lucky. I haven't done RCI exchanges yet. The DCL exchange that I've done twice I had no issue with.

Week 17 usually starts the slow season for the Caribbean, that's later April. Weeks 51, 52 & Feb to mid March is usually the higher times. I do think it was a little easier with II than RCI for this situation. There are reasons why but I won't go into my thoughts on why unless someone is specifically interested.

 

[disneynutz]

Week 17 usually starts the slow season for the Caribbean, that's later April. Weeks 51, 52 & Feb to mid March is usually the higher times. I do think it was a little easier with II than RCI for this situation. There are reasons why but I won't go into my thoughts on why unless someone is specifically interested.

We are always interested in what Dean's thoughts are!

Please share.

Bill

 

[Dean]

We are always interested in what Dean's thoughts are!

Please share.

Bill

OK, I was hoping not to bore the general group. I'll try to keep it very simple so those that know the systems ins and outs, please bear with my simplicity and generalizations.

Both II (Interval International) and RCI (Resorts Condominium International) work from the same basic roadmap. That of a mathematical formula that is a mixture of demand of a given location, week and individual resorts combined with unit size and lead time to deposit. They all generalize some to avoid micromanaging but less so now than they used to. RCI and II emphasize different component's of the formula. Both gave DVC (and a few others) special deals.

II's lead issue has historically been resort quality. For sake of discussion basically that those with similar ratings could only exchange with each other. Say you wanted a 9.5 rated resort, you might have to be 8.6 or higher to make the exchange and move the numbers down from there. That means they'd let a deposit sit there rather than giving it to you if you didn't meet criteria. Not that much different than the upgrade categories for first class airline tickets or for standby. Overall II had more better resorts that DVC members would be interested in, it's less clear if they were truly available mostly because of the internal Marriott (and Westin) trading system and their priorities. One could argue that II was better on paper but that the overall availability of good resorts in reasonable times was similar and I have raised that possibility previously myself.

RCI has always emphasized lead time to deposit and inherent demand of the exact week and resort and been less about resort quality itself. While the Function of RCI points is different, the principles are essentially the same for this issue other than it's an automatic deposit for most so the lead time is removed from the equation.

It is my opinion that II was better for the membership using the current RCI situation and the way II worked at the end. However, I think DVC fits in better with II due to the points system and both are reasonable. I'm also of the opinion that it'd be better for many if they could join RCI (or II) individually rather than having a corporate membership but it'd be worse for the casual exchanger (say 1 or 2 times every 5-10 years).