RCI or II

[Peterd]

We own at both DVC and an Aruba timeshare. Our RCI membership was just coming up for renewal, and wanted to know if anyone preferred II over RCI? Have any of you been able to trade into DVC with II? My in-laws said they could trade into DVC through II, but haven't had any success yet. We haven't had any problems with RCI over the years, just wanted to know if II was better, and if so why? Thanks for any info!

 

[spruce]

RCI has many, many more resorts to choose from then II. II seems to have a more upscale resort list then RCI. However, this does not mean that RCI doesn't have fine resorts, because they do. Since RCI has more to choose from, their is more room for average resorts.
The only affiliation we have with II is DVC and that's not a true II membership. We have been RCI members for years and have been quite happy with all of our trades.
What I like most about II is Marriotts owner preferance deal with II, but since I don't own a Marriott yet, it doesn't help me...spruce

 

[Dean]

RCI and II are somewhat different. Some like one or the other better. Getting DVC is unlikely with II except HH off season and occasionally OKW. It's in the II book but it's unrealistic for anyone to assume they can trade into DVC. II probably has better resorts on average but with RCI having more resorts, their top 1800 is likely comparable to those at II. RCI allows for earlier deposits which helps those of us who are planners. RCI has a better on line search option. Overall I like II better but then I own 3 Marriott weeks.

I'm assuming your Aruba week is dually affiliated and you're trying to decide which one to go with. If you're thinking you'll trade back into DVC, very unlikely with Aruba unless it was the Marriott. If you're happy with RCI, stay with them. Actually you may be able to belong to both if you want to pay 2 membership fees yearly.

 

[dvc_john]

One big advantage with II is the ability to 'request first'. You can make an exchange request, but not give up your week unless the exchange goes thru. With RCI, you must give up your week first. If you can't get the exchange you want, you're out of luck.

I also like that II has the Marriotts.

Spruce: RCI does have more resorts than II, but I question the 'many, many more'. Since your II is the DVC membership in II, are you basing that statement on the list provided by DVC? If so, that is only a partial list of some of the best II resorts.

 

[spruce]

DVC_john
My many, many more comment is based on years of following the boards over at TUG. Not ever having an II resort book may have made me unqualified to make such a statement. RCI is the largest timeshare trading company with II being the second largest. I am not certain how many more resorts are affiliated with RCI then II, mabe it's many instead of many, many. Sorry........spruce

A quick check on both II and RCI websites shows II saying they have "nearly 1900 affiliated resorts" and RCI says they have "more then 3600 affiliated resorts" So, RCI has more then 1700 more trade choices then II........spruce

 

[Peterd]

Thanks for the replies. Have any of you been able to trade into DVC at WDW through II?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Peterd
Thanks for the replies. Have any of you been able to trade into DVC at WDW through II?

Being an owner, I've never tried but have followed the saga of others over the years. Bascially OKW for Adventure, Choice and Dream Seasons along with HH Adventure are the things that show up on II. Occasionally you'll see summer OKW and HH other than summer. Sometimes there are even units to rent directly from II for say $750 for a 2 BR for a week at HH in Jan-March. I have good sources that say II gets around 2 deposits at VB a year and I'd suspect the number will be around the same for BW and likely even less for WLV and BCV. The reason is that when a BW (or other) DVC owner deposits, it's usually OKW or HH off season. Premier is never deposited by rule and Magic is rarely deposited since it's more points and rarely necessary. Since deposits follow the same banking, borrowing and home resort priorities as other ressies, you will occassionally get someone that can only deposit their home resort and at a higher cost time.

I know people who have traded in to OKW and usually it's with a top trader or very off season and frequently on short notice.

The numbers quoted by spruce or accurate and I'd call that many, many more. One caution about the request first with II is that the requested unit must be before the week of the unit you're giving up (unlike with DVC exchange) which I find rarely helpful. The exception is trading Marriott to Marriott where you can trade for weeks before and after wht you give up, this is a very useful tool.

 

[dvc_john]

Ok, I concede that based on numbers, RCI has 'many, many more' resorts than II.
However, I was wondering how they could have similiar sized directories with that difference in number of resorts, So I checked both my RCI and II books.
RCI lists hundreds of resorts as 'Other Vacation Destinations - Limited Availability'. No picture, no description, nothing listed except Name and Address. 250 such resorts listed for Africa, and nearly 300 such resorts listed for Asia. (By comparison, II has 7 Africa resorts similiarly listed, and 6 Asia resorts).
For me, I guess it's not so much the total number of resorts, but the number of resorts I would actually want to go to and be able to exchange into. I have not had any trouble exchanging my 5-star resorts to a number of Marriotts, and also to the Royals in Cancun. I've also booked many weeks at Marriotts using the getaway program.