RCI Properties - Can We Choose From All or Just...

[Tink316]

the ones on the web site that indicate RCI Points?

I know there are no guarantees and that RCI exchanges are hard to come by, but trying to book something for my brother... and his schedule, unlike most of us, is very flexible.

Sooooo...I'm looking at the RCI web site in the areas I'd be interest in booking for him. Want to have an idea of properties available and what they are like before calling MS.

I noticed that some have RCI Points in bold -- and there are far fewer of these properties. Again, not a problem - but just wondering if I should be limiting my review to those properties only.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
T

 

[JimMIA]

The only way you can determine which RCI properties are available with DVC points is to go through the DVC Member website.

There's a link for RCI exchanges, but it just gives you the resorts participating with DVC and some info about each. To actually book an exhange you have to call member services.

Just FYI, RCI claims to have 6,500+ resorts. With the duplicates taken out, I've heard that number is actually closer to 4,000. Of those...only about 600 are available on DVC points. So looking on the big RCI site really doesn't help you much.

There are two ways to arrange an exchange through DVC. The first is to call the MS/RCI reps and check availability. If what you want is available, you deposit the points, pay the $95 fee, and book the reservation.

If it's NOT available (which will be most of the time), there is another option, but you need to understand it. It's called an "ongoing search."

With an "ongoing search," you deposit the required number of points into RCI and pay the $95 fee. Your points and the $95 are gone forever, but the points remain active for two years (I think?). You set up search parameters -- resort, type of villa, dates, etc -- and your request basically goes on an electronic waitlist. As avaiability is deposited by the various timeshare systems, it is first compared to existing ongoing searches. If you match, the exchange is automatically booked. Only after no matches are made do the deposits become for regular availability to other RCI members through the normal procedures. Even with an ongoing search, you still may not get a match and may lose the points and fee.

 

[JimMIA]

Understand that I've greatly simplified the process. There is a LOT more to it -- trading power, seasons, etc, etc.

Also, before you do an RCI exchange, be sure you understand what options are available -- if any -- if your brother needs to cancel or change dates.

 

[Dean]

the ones on the web site that indicate RCI Points?

I know there are no guarantees and that RCI exchanges are hard to come by, but trying to book something for my brother... and his schedule, unlike most of us, is very flexible.

Sooooo...I'm looking at the RCI web site in the areas I'd be interest in booking for him. Want to have an idea of properties available and what they are like before calling MS.

I noticed that some have RCI Points in bold -- and there are far fewer of these properties. Again, not a problem - but just wondering if I should be limiting my review to those properties only.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
T

To add to the info Jim has given you and assuming you're looking at the RCI list you access through the DVC website, here are a few thoughts. Those that are NOT listed as RCI points are ONLY available for full weeks and only for days that start on the start days listed, usually Fri, Sat or Sun. If they are listed as RCI points, they may still be only available for a full week but MAY or MAY NOT also be available for shorter periods. IF they are available for shorter periods, there usually is an extra housekeeping fee. For places with Mandatory All Inclusive (MX, DR esp) there can be some quite hefty fees.

Where, when are you looking at? I'd be happy to check availability for RCI online independently and I'm sure others would as well. That might help you to make better decisions along the way.

 

[Tink316]

To add to the info Jim has given you and assuming you're looking at the RCI list you access through the DVC website, here are a few thoughts. Those that are NOT listed as RCI points are ONLY available for full weeks and only for days that start on the start days listed, usually Fri, Sat or Sun. If they are listed as RCI points, they may still be only available for a full week but MAY or MAY NOT also be available for shorter periods. IF they are available for shorter periods, there usually is an extra housekeeping fee. For places with Mandatory All Inclusive (MX, DR esp) there can be some quite hefty fees.

Where, when are you looking at? I'd be happy to check availability for RCI online independently and I'm sure others would as well. That might help you to make better decisions along the way.

Thanks for all the great info Jim and Dean. Ideally it would be Jan 21-28 or Jan 28-Feb 4... Like I mentioned, my brother can be flexible, but I'm trying to do this as birthday present for him, thus the dates I'm providing. I'm pretty much interested in any place in Caribbean - ideally not Mandatory all-inclusive only because my brother loves to try a variety of restaurants when he travels - I don't think he'd be happy with having to eat most meals at the same place for a week.

Again, I understand the possibilities of actually finding a place is slim, but I wanted to try. If all else fails, the man will be vacationing at WDW - I'll get him to my way of thinking and enjoying one of these years!

Thanks

 

[Dean]

Thanks for all the great info Jim and Dean. Ideally it would be Jan 21-28 or Jan 28-Feb 4... Like I mentioned, my brother can be flexible, but I'm trying to do this as birthday present for him, thus the dates I'm providing. I'm pretty much interested in any place in Caribbean - ideally not Mandatory all-inclusive only because my brother loves to try a variety of restaurants when he travels - I don't think he'd be happy with having to eat most meals at the same place for a week.

Again, I understand the possibilities of actually finding a place is slim, but I wanted to try. If all else fails, the man will be vacationing at WDW - I'll get him to my way of thinking and enjoying one of these years!

Thanks

Those weeks for MX and Caribbean will be VERY difficult for non AI, this is prime time. Weeks 5 & 7 tend to be the most in demand of all and you're butting up against week 5 and for Sunday unit, it is week 5. I looked in RCI but did not cross reference to the DVC list. I didn't see anything of interest to me if I were traveling during that time. Most were AI resorts in the usual AI places (MX, DR) and the rest tended to be low rated resorts. There were a few in Jamaica but I didn't go through them to be sure they were not AI. If you wanted something for 2013 and put in a request now, you'd have a better chance of success.

 

[Tink316]

Thanks, Dean! I really appreciate the help... This just gives me more ammunition to get him to Disney. The man has never been and thinks he'll just hate it. I mean who can go to WDW and hate it?? I mean it isn't called the Happies Place on Earth for no reason ...

Thanks again!

T

 

[Dean]

Thanks, Dean! I really appreciate the help... This just gives me more ammunition to get him to Disney. The man has never been and thinks he'll just hate it. I mean who can go to WDW and hate it?? I mean it isn't called the Happies Place on Earth for no reason ...

Thanks again!

T

I'm glad to help if I can. I find most DVC related people are planning on too short notice and aren't flexible enough. That's fine if you know what you're getting into but often their the ones you see complaining that they've tried exchanging and it never works out. I can't think of a time when I didn't get what I wanted exchanging with II or RCI but I plan ahead, I make contingencies, I maximize my chances in every way possible and I am reasonably flexible or at least know what I'm not. Having said that, I may get up every day at 5 am for a month to see if what I want pops up on short notice. I've done that twice for HH to get a 2 BR at a top Marriott to match the other units we already had and I've done it once for HI where I retraded a Marriott Maui Ocean club studio for a 1 BR for my daughter and SIL for a delayed honeymoon. The extra exchange fee was worth it. She's a Lucky Duck. I'm explaining to her about unit assignments and not to be upset if she gets a parking deck view and she calls me from the lanai 5th floor Ocean Front.