RCI for dummies?

[bluenosemickey]

If there's a resource for FAQ regarding RCI here on the DIS could someone direct me, thanks

I have never considered using RCI before, but we are taking a cruise in 2012 and plan to skip WDW completely I know! But we've been 11 times since Xmas 2006! So I think we should consider a break. Sooooo we are planning on a few days prior to our cruise and wondered if we could utilize RCI for something in Florida.

We are looking at 3 nights in a beach front area, preferably on the gulf coast. However, any really nice beach area would be fine. We have been to vero beach before, and would consider going back there on points. But I would really like to see if there's anything we can do through RCI on the gulf.

I don't know how RCI works, how far in advance you can book and what the cancellation options are.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bluenosemickey]

Anyone used RCI for Florida?????

 

[Dean]

If there's a resource for FAQ regarding RCI here on the DIS could someone direct me, thanks

I have never considered using RCI before, but we are taking a cruise in 2012 and plan to skip WDW completely I know! But we've been 11 times since Xmas 2006! So I think we should consider a break. Sooooo we are planning on a few days prior to our cruise and wondered if we could utilize RCI for something in Florida.

We are looking at 3 nights in a beach front area, preferably on the gulf coast. However, any really nice beach area would be fine. We have been to vero beach before, and would consider going back there on points. But I would really like to see if there's anything we can do through RCI on the gulf.

I don't know how RCI works, how far in advance you can book and what the cancellation options are.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I don't use DVC to trade as I feel it's far too valuable and expensive for that. However, like a few others, I have quite a lot of experience with RCI and exchanging. You've already done a lot, deciding what you want, when you want (I presume) and how long. Then you just go to the DVC website and pull up the RCI destinations. Look through the ones that interest you and make sure they are RCI points resorts since that's the only one's you can get less than a week. There's no good way to search for them, you'll just have to look through the listings. Realize that almost all resorts charge a housekeeping fee for less than 7 nights. So DVC points plus exchange fee plus housekeeping fee usually of $40-75 per reservation. You can't do a WL for shorter stays and they normally come on board exactly 10 months out. If you were looking at full weeks, I'd consider under 12 months as short notice.

Your best bet is VB or HH using DVC points, your second best bet (if you don't have to be beach front) is BVTC for Club Intrawest. The next best after that is a direct exchange with another timeshare owner for HH, MB, FL Coast, etc.

 

[DizGirl20]

OP - I am also considering looking into RCI trades - did you find out any more additional info you care to share? Thanks!

 

[bluenosemickey]

No, this thread is it. But based on what I suspected and what Dean posted, it's not really what I should do for only 2-3 nights. If I was looking for a full week I'd do a little more research. I'll keep my points for later use and book something with cash.

 

[Dean]

While it's NEVER a good idea to buy DVC with the intent of trading, if one owns and wants to trade, there are some options that are reasonable. Ignoring the points that are limited or will be lost, if one takes the top resorts during peak times, plans ahead and "shoots for the moon", there is potential value. However, the chances of being successful for this approach are not very good. Still, if one takes a number of those choices and combines them, the chance of getting something improves a fair amount.

Also, sometimes one finds themselves in a position where the only way to do something is as an exchange. In those situations it might be worth it to you even if it isn't to me. Anyone can literally do what they want with their points.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Another thing you may consider is renting your points. Then, take the cash from that and book wherever you want to stay. You can make about $10 - $12 per point, which should easily cover a 3-day stay somewhere on the coast. Just a thought!

 

[bluenosemickey]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll hold on to my points and I'm sure I can find some use for them in the future We often have friends and family come with us and have had to rent points to upsize our room. It's one less thing to have complex arrangements for. I think I'll just get myself a good cash deal and look forward to spending those extra points in the future!

 

[starry_solo]

Perhaps you should research which resort you want to stay at and then contact them to see if they have a list of owners that want to rent their week/days (or see if anyone is willing to sell). I used to work for a timeshare management company affiliated with RCI and they had a list of people who wanted to sell their properties.

You can use that list and see if any of them are willing to rent their properties for a few days, etc.

 

[bbn1122]

Your points are your points. If you want to use them for a cruise or RCI exchange I say go ahead.

We just join DVC and I am definitely going to give it a try in the next 2 years. I figure we will go DVC 2 out of 3 stays. But it all still new to me. We are also very flexible on where we like to go. Any place new would be fun!
Life is too short to worry about the small stuff. I look at as not going or going during primetime when you have to use 2 or 3 times the amount of points for a stay.

Do I understand correctly that RCI or exchanges into other resorts is a new thing, like in the past 5 years or so? It seems from reading the threads that if someone who has been with DVC for along time is only into using their points for DVC resorts.

 

[Dean]

Do I understand correctly that RCI or exchanges into other resorts is a new thing, like in the past 5 years or so? It seems from reading the threads that if someone who has been with DVC for along time is only into using their points for DVC resorts.

Yes and No. DVC was with RCI for the first couple of years and moved to II in the mid 90's then back to RCI a couple of years ago. While II has better options overall, RCI is a better fit for DVC at this time.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Remember when booking RCI you have to pay the exchange fee of $95 plus a cleaning fee which can be $65 - $125 per stay depending on the resort.

 

[Dean]

Remember when booking RCI you have to pay the exchange fee of $95 plus a cleaning fee which can be $65 - $125 per stay depending on the resort.

You only pay a cleaning fee for stays of less than 7 days and only the amount charged by the resort. Most are more reasonable than the numbers you quote, more in the $40-75 range depending on unit size. Normally maint fees are set up assuming 1 cleaning per week and anything over is extra costs and needs to be covered. Unfortunately, some resorts with chronic vacancies have seen this as a money making venture unto itself.

 

[aclov]

Early this year I had exchanged a week for Aruba for Sept., I wanted to go somewhere different for my birthday. When I called I listed about 3 specific resorts and about a week later a match was found and paid the $95 exchange fee and 160 pts for the week. Due to a new job, I had to cancel yesterday and ended up booking a long weekend at Boardwalk. I have until Dec. 31st, 2012 to book that week again at any RCI location but will have to pay the $95 fee again.

I've only done one other exchange a few years back to Hawaii through Interval International. I wouldn't consider doing it very often but for me it works as its giving me other vacation options.

 

[hockeymom944]

Does Club Intrawest (through Buena Vista Trading) also charge a cleaning fee for stays less than a week? I booked a 3 night stay in Whistler for next month and have reviewed my paperwork and there is no mention of it. Nor did member services inform me of a charge. Just don't want a suprise at check-in. I did not even know I would be charged a cleaning fee when trading into RCI for short stays.

 

[murcor]

If there's a resource for FAQ regarding RCI here on the DIS could someone direct me, thanks

I have never considered using RCI before, but we are taking a cruise in 2012 and plan to skip WDW completely

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Same here

 

[Dean]

I figure we will go DVC 2 out of 3 stays.

Once one owns already, the scenario is different to a degree, assuming one owns more points than they'll use at DVC resorts. Thus my remarks are more applicable to those looking to buy in or to add on. When looking at exchanges it seems most are looking at the 160 for a 1 BR but I think the 270 for a 2 BR is more applicable overall because many need a 2 BR and many resorts don't have smaller units but the principles hold for a 1 BR as well, just the numbers are different. Another assumption that I tend to make is that over the life of the contract people will exchange more than they think they will but for sake of discussion we'll use the number of exchanging 1/3 of the time with the above additional assumptions in mind. It really doesn't matter how many points one will buy otherwise for this purpose, only what price they pay, what the dues are and how many points they would use in exchanging. I'll use fairly broad round numbers for simplicity. I'll also say that every single person I'm aware of that has decided to branch out from DVC and go the other route (cash or other timeshares) for non DVC trips, is glad they did and feel they've done better than if they had simply used DVC. I'm sure there will be exceptions but I am not currently aware of any that went this way with knowledge.

Advantages of using DVC to exchange are the lack of membership fee and $95 (reduced) exchange fee. The disadvantages (or advantages of using other means) are numerous and I've listed recently in another thread so I won't go into them unless someone asks.

That would leave us with an additional purchase of 90 points (270 for 2 BR every 3 yrs). Roughly $8-9K for BLT or $4500 for SSR as examples and yearly fees of around $325-450 or around $1000-1300 every 3 years. If one averaged $1800-2000 cash for a rental every 3 years, you'd come out far ahead of exchanging DVC over time for most options. Even looking at a 2 BR for Maui, something very unlikely to come through using DVC, you'd still come out about even to ahead using cash for such options. Other timeshare options and costs are dramatically varied. Unfortunately most timeshares are not set up to use every 3 years so for many, cash may be the best. However, there is an economy of scale and if one wants DVC plus something to use most every year, about the cheapest would be a good RCI points options or a mini points system that charges dues on points alone. A good trading Marriott can be around $1000-1500 and give as much as 3 trades a year (lockoff plus bonus week) but with a yearly II fee and a per exchange fee. My own RCI points account can currently be bought for under $1000 inclusive, yearly fees around $350 plus the RCI account and exchange fees of around $250 combined yearly, giving about 1 exchange per year.

To me the best option for once every 3 years is cash, the second best is to find an every other or every 3rd year timeshare and trade through an independent exchange company thus little or no membership fees and only one exchange fee every 2-3 years. The other best options will give more weeks at a lower per week/per exchange fees but more total.

I have until Dec. 31st, 2012 to book that week again at any RCI location but will have to pay the $95 fee again.

You have until the end of 2012 to book AND travel. As you noted, a new exchange fee. And no guarantee you'll get anything you want.

Does Club Intrawest (through Buena Vista Trading) also charge a cleaning fee for stays less than a week? I booked a 3 night stay in Whistler for next month and have reviewed my paperwork and there is no mention of it. Nor did member services inform me of a charge. Just don't want a suprise at check-in. I did not even know I would be charged a cleaning fee when trading into RCI for short stays.

I don't think the exchanges through BVTC involve cleaning fees, if they do, I am not aware of it. For RCI under 7 nights, it's up to the resort and almost all do.