RCI exchanges question

[Cboyfanjoe]

I recently sat through a bluegreen resort timeshare presentation obviously for special deal on a room. We never intended to buy, but during the presentation the fast talking presenter said you can exchange through RCI for any Sandals resort. Now, if you've ever been to a Sandals resort you know they are top notch and aren't cheap by any means. Now most RCI resorts I've looked at are average to good and trading DVC points for an RCI exchange is not recommended, but if it's true about Sandals that would be an excellent value for your DVC points. Now my question is, does anyone know if this is true? I hope it is true because if so, I'm going lol!

 

[Dean]

I recently sat through a bluegreen resort timeshare presentation obviously for special deal on a room. We never intended to buy, but during the presentation the fast talking presenter said you can exchange through RCI for any Sandals resort. Now, if you've ever been to a Sandals resort you know they are top notch and aren't cheap by any means. Now most RCI resorts I've looked at are average to good and trading DVC points for an RCI exchange is not recommended, but if it's true about Sandals that would be an excellent value for your DVC points. Now my question is, does anyone know if this is true? I hope it is true because if so, I'm going lol!

There are a couple but the one I know a fair amount about is only a small subsection of the resort. There are many AI resorts esp in MX & the Caribbean, plus there is an additional fee, often as much or more than just getting the reservation directly. I've seen it over $4K for a couple at some AI's. I think the only one currently available through RCI is Sandal's Ocho Rios though I'm pretty sure they've changed the name now. It was the former Club Ortanique. The current AI fee there is $968 a week for one with a minimum of 2 people. I show no current availability at any time in RCI points, didn't check the weeks side but it's rare there's availability in weeks that's not available to RCI points. I know I've seen Sandal's Antigua in the past but it was likely cash inventory and not actually timeshare units. It's not listed in RCI or II that I can see or if it is, it's under a different name that didn't catch my eye as being the same resort.

So half truth's at best. BG also has some cash exchange options that are not a good deal, actually even worse than using DVC for such items, esp if you had to pay retail prices to buy in. For example, you get 4¢ a point to use for cruises but fees are over 5¢ a point. When I first joined BG with 72K points, I could pay my fees with points and have around 20K left over every year but now it's only 2¢ a point to pay maint fees. While I love BG from it's value standpoint, resale or acquired cheaply, it's value is in using it for the resorts as is every timeshare system I know of. I am not aware of a system that is favorable for cash discounts or items for that reason alone. I am aware of such situations in the past but they all seem to be changed for the detriment after a few years.

 

[Cboyfanjoe]

Thx for the info! I figured it was prob too good to be true. So to make sure I am understanding this correctly: if I did/could exchange my dvc points through RCI for a sandals if it were available it would just be for the room only and it would be $1900 for my wife and I to go. I'm assuming that would be for the all inclusive food and drinks?

 

[Dean]

Thx for the info! I figured it was prob too good to be true. So to make sure I am understanding this correctly: if I did/could exchange my dvc points through RCI for a sandals if it were available it would just be for the room only and it would be $1900 for my wife and I to go. I'm assuming that would be for the all inclusive food and drinks?

As I look at it more and read a couple of reviews, the AI fee may be $968 for 2 rather than pp, many list it per person, sorry for any confusion. Most AI's are actually a lot more expensive than that, I've seen them over $4K for 2 people and routinely a lot more than this even at the higher number. The other issue is that many require the bedroom occupancy no matter the number staying. For example they might require you pay for 4 people for a 2 BR even if it was just the 2 of you. Some do that, most don't, but you don't want to be caught off guard. The other area to think about is the quality and coverage of the AI. For this resort that is likely another plus, it's one of the few AI's I've looked at that interest me. I generally like the nice resorts with meal plans but not AI's. AI's generally don't include motorized options, some do up charges for certain items like lobster and often the food is mediocre. More than anything else one must investigate such resort options to be sure what you're getting.

 

[bwvBound]

The only Sandals resort I see in RCI is the Grande Ocho Rios Beach:
http://ai.rci.com/displayResort?id=4040

 

[Dean]

The only Sandals resort I see in RCI is the Grande Ocho Rios Beach:
http://ai.rci.com/displayResort?id=4040

I know the Antigua one was listed a back last winter when we were discussing AI's and it's listed on TUG under the resort listing. Since RCI often gets cash inventory, I wonder if that was the case for the Antigua Sandals, esp since there is no number listed under the TUG review listing. The resort you referenced is now called Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort (4040).

 

[Cboyfanjoe]

Just checked a week in that resort through sandals website and w out airfare it's $3126 for 2 people. So assuming it's $968 for 2 people, which seems to be case looking at the RCI page, I would say its a decent value for your 160 dvc points (your getting a $2158 value for 160 pts)if that's still the current exchange value. I know it used to be, but I've never traded out so idk. Now, if it's $968 per person it's prob not worth it to use the points.

 

[Dean]

Just checked a week in that resort through sandals website and w out airfare it's $3126 for 2 people. So assuming it's $968 for 2 people, which seems to be case looking at the RCI page, I would say its a decent value for your 160 dvc points (your getting a $2158 value for 160 pts)if that's still the current exchange value. I know it used to be, but I've never traded out so idk. Now, if it's $968 per person it's prob not worth it to use the points.

It's one of the few AI's I've seen that likely is a reasonable option. There is currently no inventory there for all of RCI looking in my regular RCI points account. IIRC the timeshare portion there is very small so the chances of getting it are very small. For a 1 BR I'd put the "cost" at $3000, I came to that by figuring $12-13 pp plus the AI fee. So roughly break even compared to cash assuming that there are no discounts or specials which there always are.

 

[Dean]

I just got an email offer of 65% off a sandal's stay from a company I deal with (membership required). It was for one of 3 Sandal's resorts. Unfortunately I couldn't gleam final costs from the info provided and certainly didn't want to bother them just out of curiosity.

 

[TLCP]

We went to Sandals at Ocho Rios for our honeymoon, and had such a terrible experience that Sandals agreed to comp us another trip. The second trip was at Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau, and we had a much better experience. As with any resort, do your homework ahead of time, and don't just assume it will be all you expect.

 

[TLCP]

We also found through Member Services that you must transfer a minimum of 80 points from your DVC membership into the RCI program for any transaction. So if you've already banked the minimum 80 points, but then find an RCI resort you want to book for 82 points you are required to deposit another 80 point minimum into RCI from your Disney points. Also, points banked into RCI cannot be returned into the Disney system so make sure that's what you want to do before you do it!