RCI resort in Hawaii

[DVCLover1004]

Hi,

I'm planning to go to Hawaii in September 2017 (Labor Day week), I'll be staying in Aulani most of the night, but would really like to go to other island, just wondering has anyone done the RCI booking before ? How does it work ? How difficult to get a 2 Bedroom using RCI at Big Island in early September ?

Thanks

 

[BillPA]

You would be better off to just rent a unit on the Big Island. I would suggest Kanaloa at Kona via Outrigger or Castle. Save your points or rent them out you will be ahead. Also check out Aloha Condos http://www.alohacondos.com/

 

[JimMIA]

A good resource for exchanges generally is the TUG Exchange Forum . Also, the TUG Sightings Forum, but you have to join TUG to view that ($15 per year...a bargain). The sightings board lists observations of exchange deposits by the larger (and smaller) timeshare systems, so sometimes you can spot something and grab it quickly. It also gives you an idea of what to expect.

Some of the frequent flyers here on the DIS DVC boards go to Hawaii pretty often, so you'll get some good info here as well.

However, DVC is weird on exchanges because you have to arrange your exchange through MS. I'm not familiar with the DVC/RCI exchanges because I've never used DVC for that purpose, but hopefully the MS folks can help.

There is a lot to see and do on Maui, Hawaii (the Big Island) and Kauai -- much more than on Oahu -- so you might consider NOT staying at Aulani and doing two exchanges to two of those islands instead. You should be able to get decent exchanges and the DVC exchange fee is nominal. Just a thought.

 

[Anal Annie]

IMO Aulani is not to be missed and a week there will fly by. Oahu (especially if it's your first time) has a lot to see between all of the touristy things like seeing Diamond Head, Chinaman's Hat, the North Shore and Pearl Harbor - plus some time for relaxing & enjoying Aulani itself. We always island hop when we go to Hawaii - it is way too far to go and too costly to GET there to not spend at least 10 days or 2 weeks in the islands. Each island is very different from the others - they each have their own personality. We love Maui (have stayed in both Wailea and Ka'anapali and have had an enjoyable time on the Big Island as well. I do not know anything about trading thru RCI tho. We usually just get a hotel room for a few days since we don't usually spend a full week in any one spot and move every 3 or 4 days. We stayed just below Kona on the Big Island in an area called Keauhou. Beautiful - had fantastic off-shore snorkeling. Did a helicopter tour over the volcano, Kilauea, as well as around the northern side of the island to see the waterfalls and valleys. Simply amazing. A lot of people rent condos (maybe thru AirBNB or something). Definitely plan to stay as long as possible and do 2 or 3 islands!!

 

[ldo]

luv, luv, luv HGVC (Hilton) on Big Island. There is a main hotel that some of the HGVC has access to. There are 3 HGVC in the same area, Bay Club, Waikoloa, Kingsland. We have been to a number of resorts on almost all of the islands. HGVC on BI is one of our favs! But, you need to read reviews, etc. BI is very different. There are some beaches, but more lava rock. If you put in a request ASAP, you have a decent chance, as Sept. is lower season.

 

[LAX]

RCI exchange is not excluded for post-4/4 members, right?

LAX

 

[bobbiwoz]

RCI exchange is not excluded for post-4/4 members, right?

LAX

Right.

 

[Brian Noble]

luv, luv, luv HGVC (Hilton) on Big Island. There is a main hotel that some of the HGVC has access to. There are 3 HGVC in the same area, Bay Club, Waikoloa, Kingsland. We have been to a number of resorts on almost all of the islands. HGVC on BI is one of our favs! But, you need to read reviews, etc. BI is very different. There are some beaches, but more lava rock. If you put in a request ASAP, you have a decent chance, as Sept. is lower season.

Unfortunately, 2017 has already come and gone at the RCI Hawaii HGVCs. They tend to bulk bank an entire year late winter or early spring the year before. and the units get snapped up quickly. There are some Bay Club units left in 2017, but none in September.

 

[Dean]

Hi,

I'm planning to go to Hawaii in September 2017 (Labor Day week), I'll be staying in Aulani most of the night, but would really like to go to other island, just wondering has anyone done the RCI booking before ? How does it work ? How difficult to get a 2 Bedroom using RCI at Big Island in early September ?

Thanks

Sept isn't bad, you should be able to get a decent unit on the Big Island in Dec if it's after the holiday weekend, less like if it includes that weekend. Just list as many options as possible. Worst case is it doesn't happen. DO put in an ongoing search and include all resorts acceptable.