Offered an RCI Timeshare, should we take it and how does it work?

[jdough]

We were offered by my in-laws a one week timeshare in St. George, Utah. We just have to pay the $300 up keep each year, and some other fees. The place is pretty popular for the national parks. My thing is that is the cost is close to $500 isn't that $500 we could spend on our vacation. I don't want to go to St George every year so we want to 'trade.' Orlando would be our first choice.

What are your experiences ith RCI?

How does it work, what are your fees?

Are the timeshare units in Orlando nice?

TIA
Amy

This is my first post.

 

[AJKMOM]

I have used RCI weeks given as gifts from my very generous step-mother, and every unit we stayed in was nice. Silver Lake Resort is great, right near the back entrance to Animal Kingdom. I imagine there are others in Orlando just as nice. The problem with RCI is that they don't have a lot of selection to choose from if you want to trade. We have been on waiting lists many times and not really gotten our first choice or even second when picking a place to go. Forget about any beach area, too. That is the biggest complaint.
The resorts are nice if you can get one you want.

 

[mrsstats]

My brother owns a timeshare in Orlando. He has traded with RCI for Hawaii, Vegas, San Diego, Coronado, Nashville, Williamsburg and others. The down side on top of paying the annual maintenace, you have to join RCI and then pay trading costs of about $130. to trade. On the upside, you have a place with full kitchen and usually washing machine/dryer. Save on food by eating in and go home with clean clothes.

 

[halfway there]

We have been members of RCI for over 15 years and in addition to the maintenance fee for your unit you will pay for a yearly membership for as long as you want to remain a member plus any exchange fee if you want to go some place other than your own or even a different week to your home resort.
Recently, I have been unhappy with RCI mostly due to the low quality of some of their resorts (II is better IMO) and the limited selection. They actually have more resorts than II but we can never seem to get into a good one. Now that they have sub-divided the resorts into Gold Crown etc, and since our home resort does not have that distinction we seem to get whatever is left over whereas before it was equal across the board. Also, you have to make sure that you pay the maintenance fee before you can deposit it or make any exchanges for that year. Since our week falls in March that doesn't give us much time to build up trading power since we only pay the yearly fee in Jan.
I would check to see if your resort is a Gold Crown or if it is also served by II (Interval International) and compare. You could let the RCI membership lapse and rent it yourself or exchange via these timeshare groups I have seen just recently on-line but don't know too much about.
Any other questions, I'd be glad to try and help.

 

[Lisa P.]

We love timesharing! If you want to learn how to make the most of a timeshare ownership or whether it's really for you or not, look into Timeshare Users Group - TUG. There's loads of great info about timeshare, from owners, for owners.

It's important to own a week that's very popular or high demand. That makes a huge difference in the trade power of the week - and how pleased you would be in the trade results. We've been members of RCI & II for about 4 years and prefer RCI but that's very individual. RCI is included with our Fairfield annual dues and we use our Fairfield points mostly for booking time at other FF properties but we do trade at least 1-2 weeks per year. We've been pleased with the Orlando area timeshares - plenty of good selection of Gold Crown properties, even for prime holiday weeks. The key is requesting more than a year ahead, for the best trade options.

If you join TUG ($15/first year - worth every penny), you would have access to detailed resort reviews by other owners who've exchanged in. They can give you a very good idea of the quality out there. Makes trading into a nice place much easier.

Not all timeshares require you to prepay your maint fees before depositing to RCI or II. That's decided by the resort. And even if it is required, most resorts will permit you to prepay an estimated fee so that you may deposit over a year ahead. Call the resort you are considering and ask about their policy. Hope that helps. Do look at the "Advice" articles at TUG and the free forums. Only the specific Resort Ratings & Reviews require TUG membership. Wish you well!

 

[disneymom3]

I would second Lisa P's advice as to the demand of the week. As far as what others said about low selection and no beaches etc., my in laws own two weeks at Maui in Feb and we often use a week. We have fabulous selection! We just made our reservations for V V for Dec and had A LOT of others to choose from. We have stayed in the Carribbean, Puerta Valllarta, the list goes on. The only reason we have not bought a time share is that my in laws rarely use theirs and we are able to take advantage of it through their wonderful generosity. No way could we afford the places we stay without it!

The timeshares we have stayed in in Orlando have been fabulous. We've been to Vistana and Orange Lake. Both were wonderful. The only complaint I have which is not really a complaint, just a bummer, is that when you trade a week at several of the really nice ones, you can't trade for another week there until 4 years later.

 

[Mjasp]

Lisa...Since you are a member of both RCI and II, is it true that II lets you know whats available before you bank? And if so, do they have a good selection of resorts to pick from. Also, does II offer the quirks of "bonus weeks" like RCI?

Thanks for your reply, I am in the process of buying at Vistana and will be using Vistana for a few years, so not in a rush to join either one, but if II gives "bonus weeks" it may be worth it even though I don't plan on trading.

Thanks
Joanna

 

[Tiger Fan]

We are RCI members and our home resort is in Hilton Head Island. We have always been VERY pleased with our trades into the Orlando area. We have gotten Orange Lake, Orbit One, Silver Lake to name a few. We've gone in the summer and this year at Thanksgiving. We love the options and the bonus weeks. Timesharing has worked great for us, but we have relatives that just "don't get" and we can't convince them. To each his own - Enjoy!!

Lisa

 

[Lisa P.]

...is it true that II lets you know whats available before you bank?
Yes. But you can only do a "search first" exchange request if you are searching for a check-in date that falls within certain guidelines. I don't recall the details... it's been a while since we did it. We no longer have our Marriott/II week so let our membership with II lapse.

And if so, do they have a good selection of resorts to pick from.
With both II & RCI, the variety of resorts available varies by where you want to go and when. Certainly, in some areas, the availability is quite good. If you are not restricted to travel during school breaks and major holidays, of course, the options broaden.

Also, does II offer the quirks of "bonus weeks" like RCI?
Yes. Bonus weeks are restricted and still cost something. Commonly, they may only be used in low season and cost about $199 to redeem. Also, II only gives bonus weeks, even for their most desired deposits, at certain times of the year. Just because your week is eligible (verify that it is), doesn't mean you would receive a bonus week at any time that you decide to deposit it. Early to late summer is a common time for them to offer bonus weeks (when the inventory drops off and requests increase, for the following year).

Unless you are planning to travel in offseason, don't consider the bonus week in your decision-making. Hope that helped, Joanna. Enjoy your ownership!