RCI exchange question

[DeeCee735]

I thought we could look to exchange out up to 2 years ahead? I was just looking at the "DVC redirected" RCI website at New Orleans and it only goes through 2014. What am I missing?

Any info is appreciated.

 

[JimMIA]

Which resorts are you looking at?

 

[DeeCee735]

The only two in New Orleans. One is the Quarter House. I don't recall the name of the other.

 

[RobDoc]

DVC Members may bank points and then have 2 years to find an exchange. RCI members may bank their weeks a year in advance and then have up to 2 years after their banked week to use the exchange (for a total of 3 years to use the banked week).

At this time DVC members are able to look at banked weeks thru the end of 2014 but RCI members are able to bank weeks as late as 2 weeks before the arrival date. At this time there is little inventory beyond a year ahead - it would be wise to place an ongoing search for specific resorts/specific date beyond what you are currently able to see.

Those RCI members with the points system have a different utilization that may provide more options. Hopefully someone more familiar with RCI points than I can shed more light on those opportunities.

 

[DeeCee735]

DVC Members may bank points and then have 2 years to find an exchange. RCI members may bank their weeks a year in advance and then have up to 2 years after their banked week to use the exchange (for a total of 3 years to use the banked week).

At this time DVC members are able to look at banked weeks thru the end of 2014 but RCI members are able to bank weeks as late as 2 weeks before the arrival date. At this time there is little inventory beyond a year ahead - it would be wise to place an ongoing search for specific resorts/specific date beyond what you are currently able to see.

Those RCI members with the points system have a different utilization that may provide more options. Hopefully someone more familiar with RCI points than I can shed more light on those opportunities.

Thank you. So, if I am understanding you correctly (if not please clarify for me), my best bet is to put 160 points (one bedroom) into RCI as an exchange and let them run an ongoing search?

 

[JimMIA]

The only two in New Orleans. One is the Quarter House. I don't recall the name of the other.

Not sure why DVC can't see beyond 2014. The Wyndham weeks side shows the following inventory available into 2015, with most resorts having multiple checkin dates between summer 2014 and the dates listed:

Hotel de la Monnaie - thru 1/16/2015
Hotel Storyville -- thru 6/5/2015
Jean Lafitte House -- thru 8/7/2015
Maison Pierre Lafitte -- thru 6/19/2015
Mardi Gras Manor -- thru 8/22/2015
Plaza Suite Hotel Resort -- thru 6/19/2015
Courtyards -- thru 1/2/2015

Keep in mind that RCI has another set of inventory -- Points. Only a subset of RCI resorts are Points resorts. Depending on the resort, you may be able to book in the points inventory using DVC, and possibly for less than a full week.

I did not see Quarter House looking in RCI Weeks. It might be a Points resort, and if it is, I would not be able to see it.

If you only have two choices via DVC/RCI, I'd research both and do an ongoing search for your preference -- or, if either would be satisfactory, list both on your search. If you can use a range of dates, rather than one particular week, I think you greatly improve your chances.

Good luck.

 

[DeeCee735]

Thank you. To be honest my biggest problem is committing 160 points (which I'd have to borrow) to banking into RCI without a commitment on where and when we're going.

 

[JimMIA]

Those RCI members with the points system have a different utilization that may provide more options. Hopefully someone more familiar with RCI points than I can shed more light on those opportunities.

I'm gonna take a stab at this, and then hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along and correct any inaccuracies.

"Points" means different things to different people.

Timeshare systems may be either fixed weeks, points based like DVC, or some kind of blend. Usually, those timeshare systems which use points (DVC, Wyndham, HGVC, et al) exchange in RCI on a "fixed grid" -- meaning so many points for a certain sized unit in a certain season.

To RCI however, "Points" means something completely different. RCI has two different systems of exchange with separate inventories -- Weeks and Points. The difference has nothing to do with the system you are using to exchange (e.g. whether you are exchanging a fixed week or DVC points) -- it has to do with the resort you are exchanging INTO.

Some RCI-affiliated resorts are Weeks only, some are Points only, and some are both.

RCI Weeks, oddly enough, provides exchanges only for 7-night stays, mostly starting on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights.

Points resorts may offer weekly stays, partial weeks stays, and in some cases nightly stays.

Likewise, some timeshare systems exchange only into RCI Weeks, some exchange only into RCI Points, and some exchange into either.

I believe the <600 RCI resorts available to DVC owners are mostly weeks, some points, and a few which allow nightly stays. Through Wyndham, I have access to Weeks inventory only.

If that doesn't confuse you, nothing will. And that's the easy part!

 

[Dean]

I'm gonna take a stab at this, and then hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along and correct any inaccuracies.

"Points" means different things to different people.

Timeshare systems may be either fixed weeks, points based like DVC, or some kind of blend. Usually, those timeshare systems which use points (DVC, Wyndham, HGVC, et al) exchange in RCI on a "fixed grid" -- meaning so many points for a certain sized unit in a certain season.

To RCI however, "Points" means something completely different. RCI has two different systems of exchange with separate inventories -- Weeks and Points. The difference has nothing to do with the system you are using to exchange (e.g. whether you are exchanging a fixed week or DVC points) -- it has to do with the resort you are exchanging INTO.

Some RCI-affiliated resorts are Weeks only, some are Points only, and some are both.

RCI Weeks, oddly enough, provides exchanges only for 7-night stays, mostly starting on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights.

Points resorts may offer weekly stays, partial weeks stays, and in some cases nightly stays.

Likewise, some timeshare systems exchange only into RCI Weeks, some exchange only into RCI Points, and some exchange into either.

I believe the <600 RCI resorts available to DVC owners are mostly weeks, some points, and a few which allow nightly stays. Through Wyndham, I have access to Weeks inventory only.

If that doesn't confuse you, nothing will. And that's the easy part!

Even many points resorts only do 1 week deposits starting on weekends.

OP, you can do an ongoing search without depositing your 160 points but they will take them if you match. If you have to borrow, they will either get your permission as part of the request process OR call you when you match. Do not borrow hoping for the match and do not miss any banking deadlines waiting on them. I'd put in an ongoing search for what you want, just be sure to change or cancel if your plans change. Most RCI points inventory is available at 10 months out but never before that.

 

[IndyDavid]

I have 160 points I banked in RCI that expire at 12/31/2013 (checkin must be by this day).

It does not look like we will be able to use them, do you know of the best way to "rent" these to someone else?

Thanks,
David

 

[JimMIA]

I have 160 points I banked in RCI that expire at 12/31/2013 (checkin must be by this day).

It does not look like we will be able to use them, do you know of the best way to "rent" these to someone else?

Thanks,
David

Renting an RCI exchange is prohibited, and if detected, can result in cancellation of the reservation and forfeiture of the points without any notification to anyone. The vacationing family shows up and has no place to stay. Don't do it -- you don't want to ruin someone's vacation.

If you can, you might consider extending the points for another year, or look for a drive-to location you might want to visit for a week or less. There should be availability somewhere close by, even though it's late in the game.

Other than that, you're probably going to lose the points.

 

[IndyDavid]

This is the first time we had banked points to RCI.

They will not extend the expiration date.

We are looking at closer locations but limited inventory and poor reviews are making it hard to find a fit.

Thanks again for letting me know about not renting to others.

Have a good day,
David

 

[Dean]

I have 160 points I banked in RCI that expire at 12/31/2013 (checkin must be by this day).

It does not look like we will be able to use them, do you know of the best way to "rent" these to someone else?

Thanks,
David

RCI will allow you to collect the exchange fee and guest cert fee but nothing else. Select as many options as you can that will fit your situation and put in an ongoing request. You may or may not get something.

 

[bakerworld]

Is it true that the alliance with DVC doesn't give you access to the Full RCI unless you pay the RCI membership fee? My sister banks her TS's with RCI every year. She looked at our DVC RCI and said we had limited access to mid level resorts.

 

[chalee94]

Is it true that the alliance with DVC doesn't give you access to the Full RCI unless you pay the RCI membership fee? My sister banks her TS's with RCI every year. She looked at our DVC RCI and said we had limited access to mid level resorts.

DVC owners are not members of RCI at all. DVC has the membership.

To be a full member of RCI, you'd need to buy another timeshare.

 

[Dean]

Is it true that the alliance with DVC doesn't give you access to the Full RCI unless you pay the RCI membership fee? My sister banks her TS's with RCI every year. She looked at our DVC RCI and said we had limited access to mid level resorts.

Even if you were to join RCI independently, you couldn't use the additional features of RCI using DVC. Some of the rules are also different such as you don't have the 24 hr cancelation option. You also don't have access to getaways or the ability to trade up in unit size.

 

[JimMIA]

Is it true that the alliance with DVC doesn't give you access to the Full RCI unless you pay the RCI membership fee? My sister banks her TS's with RCI every year. She looked at our DVC RCI and said we had limited access to mid level resorts.

As Charles and Dean have said, DVC's version of RCI is not an individual RCI membership, and therefore does not carry the same benefits your sister enjoys. It's sort of an RCI Lite.

DVC members have access only to about 600 of the more than 3,200 RCI resorts, and that access is only through DVC, not directly. Disney timeshare salesmen will tell you each of those resorts were handpicked for their exceptional quality. I don't know who selected the resorts, but I'm confident that was not exactly the selection process!

I don't know those 600 resorts well enough to compare them, but I think it's pretty standard in ANY timeshare exchange that you are going to be trading down most of the time. You're not likely to get an exchange to one of the world's premier timeshares in absolute prime season with ANYbody's system.

However, despite the limitation to only about 20% of RCI's resorts, for any particular vacation you'll only be looking for one good match. If you are able to find one you like for the time period you need, you're good.

RCI is a totally different animal from making a simple DVC reservation, so there's a learning curve. If you learn how to use the system properly, you stand a much better chance of getting what you want than someone who just looks for available inventory and then wastes their time ranting about the system they never made any effort to learn.

Since you don't have an individual membership, you can't take advantage of some worthwhile RCI features like Extra Vacations and Last Calls (discounted cash reservations). Those programs often offer some real bargains -- one frequent poster here got a full week in a 2-bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek (very nice resort) for less than $400 including all fees.

 

[Dean]

DVC members have access only to about 600 of the more than 3,200 RCI resorts, and that access is only through DVC, not directly. Disney timeshare salesmen will tell you each of those resorts were handpicked for their exceptional quality. I don't know who selected the resorts, but I'm confident that was not exactly the selection process!

My info I've accumulated over time on this matter would suggest that DVC has made an effort to offer the top resort in each area excluding resorts that are in the Orlando area, along with generally excluding resorts that are new or that have consistently limited availability. In addition they've also excluded a few resorts over the years for other factors such as the way exchangers (specifically DVC exchangers) are treated. Obviously not every locations has a top rated, high end resort so getting global coverage can create quite the jigsaw puzzle. Even with the comparative limitations we've recently discussed, DVC is still a high end timeshare with a rental liquidity that's impossible to match with any other system and most individual resorts. Those facts, along with the inherent limitations of exchanging combined with the additional negatives of the DVC-RCI system, make it difficult to make an "even" exchange and almost impossible to up-trade.

I don't know those 600 resorts well enough to compare them, but I think it's pretty standard in ANY timeshare exchange that you are going to be trading down most of the time. You're not likely to get an exchange to one of the world's premier timeshares in absolute prime season with ANYbody's system.

I'd agree if we're only talking using DVC for exchanges. I try to make every exchange (non DVC, I don't trade DVC for these reasons) I do an up-trade in unit size, resort quality/value and week demand. With the RCI points and RCI TPU on the weeks side, we've seen some shift in this area and some blurring of these issues though. I'd say that historically I've been successful that essentially every RCI or II trade was an up-trade in one area, most in 2 areas and a fair number in all 3 areas. It is my opinion that an even trade is not an even trade due to the exchange costs, lost of flexibility, potentially negative unit assignments the and inherent risks involved.

 

[DeeCee735]

RCI is a totally different animal from making a simple DVC reservation, so there's a learning curve. If you learn how to use the system properly, you stand a much better chance of getting what you want than someone who just looks for available inventory and then wastes their time ranting about the system they never made any effort to learn.

Can you point me to a good source for learning how to use the system, other than the info given by DVC? I am only somewhat familiar with RCI as a DVC member, but would like to maximize our chances of trade outs in the future.
Any info is very appreciated...

 

[Dean]

Can you point me to a good source for learning how to use the system, other than the info given by DVC? I am only somewhat familiar with RCI as a DVC member, but would like to maximize our chances of trade outs in the future.
Any info is very appreciated...

TUG @ www.tug2.net would be my suggestion.