RCI Intro?

[justme0729]

Is there somewhere I can read about how DVC members can use RCI? When I go to RCI’s website, I see that I can find hotels but it doesn’t say how many points they are. I’m wondering about how far in advance you typically have to book To have good availability, how to book, if you have to do a week minimum stay, etc.

 

[MiniMN]

I may be in the same boat, so to speak. I found one article, but not the ins and outs.

 

[ldo]

the best thing is to log onto RCI (VIA DVC WEBSITE) and do a search for a future trade to see what's available. There used to be a grid, 160 DVC points for a 1 BR in X season, etc. I only do full weeks, but it's possible to do fewer, but they're limited.
I have used RCI for 20 years. In general, planning 1+ years ahead is better, except some RCI resorts can only be booked at 10 months out--for those, be on the lookout right at 10 months. Those resorts typically cannot have an ongoing search (at least in the past). So, you can see what's available for late Jan/early Feb 2021 now.
The "nicest" RCI resorts, IMHO, are HGVC (Hiltons--many are deposited in bulk--the next bulk is usually in May for the following year). There are HGVC in NYC. We also really like Smugglers Notch (Smuggs) in VT--awesome area, tons to do, lots of kids-teen activities. Rci also has lots of nice Hilton Head resorts, if you don't insist on oceanfront (DVC-HHI is not even oceanfront). There are very nice Carib. destinations (Divi), many you need to book right at that 10 month mark. I don't recommend all inclusive, as the costs make it $$$$. Difficult/very unlikely trades include: Jan-Easter SW FL (sanibel, marco, etc. and the Keys).
It's not ideal, but you can made lemonade out of lemons if you put in the effort.
Booking at 6-8 months out--they'll be little to no good stuff, based on my experience.
TUG2.net forums are a good place to ask questions and do research. Like disboards for timeshares.

 

[justme0729]

the best thing is to log onto RCI and do a search for a future trade to see what's available. There used to be a grid, 160 DVC points for a 1 BR in X season, etc. I only do full weeks, but it's possible to do fewer, but they're limited.
I have used RCI for 20 years. In general, planning 1+ years ahead is better, except some RCI resorts can only be booked at 10 months out--for those, be on the lookout right at 10 months. Those resorts typically cannot have an ongoing search (at least in the past). So, you can see what's available for late Jan/early Feb 2021 now.
The "nicest" RCI resorts, IMHO, are HGVC (Hiltons--many are deposited in bulk--the next bulk is usually in May for the following year). There are HGVC in NYC. We also really like Smugglers Notch (Smuggs) in VT--awesome area, tons to do, lots of kids-teen activities. Rci also has lots of nice Hilton Head resorts, if you don't insist on oceanfront (DVC-HHI is not even oceanfront). There are very nice Carib. destinations (Divi), many you need to book right at that 10 month mark. I don't recommend all inclusive, as the costs make it $$$$. Difficult/very unlikely trades include: Jan-Easter SW FL (sanibel, marco, etc. and the Keys).
It's not ideal, but you can made lemonade out of lemons if you put in the effort.
Booking at 6-8 months out--they'll be little to no good stuff, based on my experience.
TUG2.net forums are a good place to ask questions and do research. Like disboards for timeshares.

Thanks so much!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You probably need to go into RCI through the DVC member website, not directly through the RCI site.

 

[MiniMN]

the best thing is to log onto RCI and do a search for a future trade to see what's available. There used to be a grid, 160 DVC points for a 1 BR in X season, etc. I only do full weeks, but it's possible to do fewer, but they're limited.
I have used RCI for 20 years. In general, planning 1+ years ahead is better, except some RCI resorts can only be booked at 10 months out--for those, be on the lookout right at 10 months. Those resorts typically cannot have an ongoing search (at least in the past). So, you can see what's available for late Jan/early Feb 2021 now.
The "nicest" RCI resorts, IMHO, are HGVC (Hiltons--many are deposited in bulk--the next bulk is usually in May for the following year). There are HGVC in NYC. We also really like Smugglers Notch (Smuggs) in VT--awesome area, tons to do, lots of kids-teen activities. Rci also has lots of nice Hilton Head resorts, if you don't insist on oceanfront (DVC-HHI is not even oceanfront). There are very nice Carib. destinations (Divi), many you need to book right at that 10 month mark. I don't recommend all inclusive, as the costs make it $$$$. Difficult/very unlikely trades include: Jan-Easter SW FL (sanibel, marco, etc. and the Keys).
It's not ideal, but you can made lemonade out of lemons if you put in the effort.
Booking at 6-8 months out--they'll be little to no good stuff, based on my experience.
TUG2.net forums are a good place to ask questions and do research. Like disboards for timeshares.

Thank you!!!

 

[Brian Noble]

he best thing is to log onto RCI and do a search for a future trade to see what's available.

The other thing to know: for many RCI resorts, you can also place an ongoing search for something that isn't available at the time. If and when it is deposited later, if there is an outstanding search for it, it will match to that search before appearing in the online list. So, in some sense, what you see online is only the "leftovers" after ongoing searches have matched. I've had good success with both approaches. Ongoing searches are better for hard-to-get/in-demand things, but sometimes you find a jewel just sitting there for the taking. And, sometimes a search doesn't ever match.

 

[ldo]

I think that for some RCI (points) resorts, you cannot get a unit via ongoing search--you have to be on the hunt for when they deposit--the earliest is at 10 months out. And the good stuff is gone in a day or two.

 

[Cindyandjp]

I have a June use year so I called yesterday, on Easter, to cancel my late April trip. I got right through without waiting. There was no fee to transfer the points although we lost 3 pts because you have to transfer in multiples of 10 pts. They offered travel insurance on the points for $99 but they were not clear about what the value would be so we passed on that. They explained how to get on the site via the Disney DVC site. You can shop with all kinds of criteria (map, points, date, location) The one big difference I notice is that many of the resorts they offer are by the week rather than by the day. We are shopping for 4-5 days so we don't have as many options available but I think we can find something that works. We really want to just find something in driving distance so we don't have to go through this whole ordeal again.
I know everyone is upset about disney canceling, but truth be told if they had stayed open we would have cancelled because we would not have felt comfortable traveling with everything going on.

 

[gharter]

Its not a perfect solution, but better than losing the points.
We just transferred our about a week ago.
Looked and looked and could not figure out how to transfer points.
Called MS and found that you must call MS to get your points transferred. Very easy process after that.
As pp mentioned, you can only transfer in groups of 10 pts.