If you bank points into RCI...can you get them back?

[december14disney]

My fiance and I were considering banking 160 points into RCI to use for our July 2010 honeymoon. We were going to research and then give member services a list of locations in order that appeal to us. My question is....if they are not finding anything etc etc...can we get these points back? Like what happens if they dont ever find anything? Is this a bad idea to use for the big honeymoon? We probably should just have a disneymoon ...huh? Thoughts and help please! Thanks!

 

[Starr W.]

My fiance and I were considering banking 160 points into RCI to use for our July 2010 honeymoon. We were going to research and then give member services a list of locations in order that appeal to us. My question is....if they are not finding anything etc etc...can we get these points back? Like what happens if they dont ever find anything? Is this a bad idea to use for the big honeymoon? We probably should just have a disneymoon ...huh? Thoughts and help please! Thanks!

If you deposit them they can not be taken back out.

If you are looking for a specific week in a specific area, trading is not a good idea. When trading you have to cast your net wide, be it vacation area and or timeframe.

Or you have a specific area and have a cash back up plan that is refundable to book airfare and wait to the see if you can get your match last minute(talking month out). You need to have pretty good nerves to pull this off.

Dean and Brian will probably add on to this, they've been doing this a lot longer than I have.

I don't trade my DVC points, I have 2 other timeshares( one that trades on II and one on RCI).

 

[Dean]

My fiance and I were considering banking 160 points into RCI to use for our July 2010 honeymoon. We were going to research and then give member services a list of locations in order that appeal to us. My question is....if they are not finding anything etc etc...can we get these points back? Like what happens if they dont ever find anything? Is this a bad idea to use for the big honeymoon? We probably should just have a disneymoon ...huh? Thoughts and help please! Thanks!

Most requests are search first so they will not take your points, or even commit them, until a match is found. If I were you I'd do the research and get MS started ASAP. You can always add to or change your requests later. If you cancel before a match is found, you are whole getting all your points AND your exchange fee back. They will use the best points but in most cases they will use points from the UY where the exchange lies. In your case, either 2009 or 2010, depending on your UY. They will not give you the choice to use up points now and you cannot use multiple years points unless they can be banked or borrowed into the UY in question.

 

[december14disney]

Most requests are search first so they will not take your points, or even commit them, until a match is found. If I were you I'd do the research and get MS started ASAP. You can always add to or change your requests later. If you cancel before a match is found, you are whole getting all your points AND your exchange fee back. They will use the best points but in most cases they will use points from the UY where the exchange lies. In your case, either 2009 or 2010, depending on your UY. They will not give you the choice to use up points now and you cannot use multiple years points unless they can be banked or borrowed into the UY in question.

So...are you saying it doesnt hurt to get them on a hunt for something? If I read that right...I get them on the hunt and if they dont find something say...by my banking deadline I can cancel my request no harm done?

 

[Dean]

So...are you saying it doesnt hurt to get them on a hunt for something? If I read that right...I get them on the hunt and if they dont find something say...by my banking deadline I can cancel my request no harm done?

It only hurts if they find what you want. I would not leave points sitting there just in case. I'd bank them and let them worry about it later if they find something. In most cases it would not be this UY but the next one anyway.

 

[CalicoKitty2000]

I exchanged developer points today into Cabo San Lucas. They told me that they would not commit the points until RCI confirmed the reservation. They can search for you when you call them without commiting points, and you can ask them if they will commit them if you waitlist. I found good availability in Cabo San Lucas in May, but also asked about Cancun and didn't find any resorts I thought were worth a trade. Just give them a call with you dates and ask them to do a search in your areas of interest and see what comes up, that won't hurt your points at all.

 

[Dean]

I exchanged developer points today into Cabo San Lucas. They told me that they would not commit the points until RCI confirmed the reservation. They can search for you when you call them without commiting points, and you can ask them if they will commit them if you waitlist. I found good availability in Cabo San Lucas in May, but also asked about Cancun and didn't find any resorts I thought were worth a trade. Just give them a call with you dates and ask them to do a search in your areas of interest and see what comes up, that won't hurt your points at all.

Which resort? We're there in 2010, Jan staying at the Grand Mayan.

 

[CalicoKitty2000]

Which resort? We're there in 2010, Jan staying at the Grand Mayan.

We are staying at the Pueblo Bonita at Sunset Beach, it looks really nice and has good reviews in trip advisor. Where did you stay?

 

[december14disney]

We are staying at the Pueblo Bonita at Sunset Beach, it looks really nice and has good reviews in trip advisor. Where did you stay?

How long did it take for them to find that for you? Were you REALLY broad with your options as far as time and location? Is the place 100% booked and everything or are you still "pending"?

 

[JudyS]

Most requests are search first so they will not take your points, or even commit them, until a match is found....

Dean, if they find a match, do they automatically confirm and take your points? Or, do you have a chance to change your mind and turn down the match?

Which resort? We're there in 2010, Jan staying at the Grand Mayan.

Ooo, sounds like we will just miss you, Dean! We will be at the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya in February, 2010. Do you own there, or did you trade in? I lucked out and got an RCI trade with my weakest trader.

 

[Dean]

We are staying at the Pueblo Bonita at Sunset Beach, it looks really nice and has good reviews in trip advisor. Where did you stay?

Nice option, it was on my list for Jan, 2010. And even though I have 2 weeks back to back, I would prefer some variety. If I can get one of the Pureblo resorts, will likely end up with 3 weeks of resevation over a 2 week period so I can expeirnce both cities. There is a shuttle to the other ones so you can take the shuttle then walk to town.

How long did it take for them to find that for you? Were you REALLY broad with your options as far as time and location? Is the place 100% booked and everything or are you still "pending"?

May is an easy time to get something for MX. May, June, and Sept to mid Dec outside the holidays are easy to get. My two weeks (one 1 BR and one 2 BR) at the Grand Mayan cost me 6000 Bluegreen points and two Intl Exchange fees for Jan, about $650 total cost. Generally for off time exchanges, I'd buy something to exchange in RCI (or II esp for Marriott's) or look for cheap rentals. Or look for a friend who can get them for you.

 

[JudyS]

... My two weeks (one 1 BR and one 2 BR) at the Grand Mayan cost me 6000 Bluegreen points and two Intl Exchange fees for Jan, about $650 total cost. ...

Good deal! (You must have read my mind; you posted your answer at the same time as I was posting my question! )

 

[Dean]

Dean, if they find a match, do they automatically confirm and take your points? Or, do you have a chance to change your mind and turn down the match?

Assuming it works like it did with II, they will auto confirm and take your points once an exact match is found. Unlike RCI (and II) directly, you do not have 24 hours to change your mind. We actually will be there through the first weekend of Feb so likely just miss you. Currently we'll leave either the 4th or 5th depending on air fair costs. If I get a different unit, I'm going to try to do so that finishes the 7th to give a couple of extra days.

The Mayan resorts are easy to trade into likely because of the 1 in 5 rule and their reputation for great resorts, poor customer service to exchangers.

 

[CalicoKitty2000]

How long did it take for them to find that for you? Were you REALLY broad with your options as far as time and location? Is the place 100% booked and everything or are you still "pending"?

I called one day and they said they couldn't trade me yet (new member - RCI problem), but they could tell me what availability they had. I told them that I wanted to go to Cabo San Lucas in May or June and I was not interested in All Inclusive resorts. They gave me a list of 4 or 5 resorts that had availibility with about 5 minutes of searching. I researched them, picked the one I liked, called back the next day. It probably took about 15 minutes to book it. She gave me an RCI confirmation number, so I assume I'm all booked. She said I would get a Disney confirmation letter in 7-14 days. I asked if I am for sure booked so I could make my flights and she said yes.

But... I think May is a slow time for Cabo... so maybe that is why it was so easy.