RCI Trade

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Has anyone tried to use their DVC for RCI yet? We were thinking of trying to trade to get a ski condo in Vt. for next New Years week, that's the only week the kids are out of school. Just trying to find out how hard or easy it is to use the RCI trade. Thanks for any help.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Glad you asked this and we are curious about the trades as well. We are thinking of using DP for skiing next Feb. as well. Hopefully someone will come along with more info.!

 

[Brian Noble]

It is not to early to put in requests for either of these. Ski weeks are very popular, and are not routinely deposited by those who own them.

Also, consider renting out your points and using the proceeds to rent the lodging you desire. This is probably a better value, and will have more availability, but it is more work.

 

[Dean]

I see little in RCI for Vermont on the weeks side. The best I see are 2 resorts checking in on Xmas day for a 1 BR or studio and neither of those are on the DVC list. It's too early to search for RCI points.

 

[CandyMandy]

We're looking in to using possibly RCI for a stay in Las Vegas this summer. I'm about to call MS and will be interested to see what the availability situation is. I know, for trades one should normally put in requests at least a year if not two out, but given the economy and the repeated news stories I'm seeing on how tourism in Vegas is really, really hurting I have quite the hard time believing everything will be booked.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am going to use my '09 BLT points and book 2 nights at Manhattan Club NYC. It will cost me 18 pts./night in a 1 bedroom. I can't use my BLT points before Sept 1, so as soon as I line up my transportation (Megabus.com), I'll try and ressie these two nights. So excited....love Manhattan!!

 

[Dean]

We're looking in to using possibly RCI for a stay in Las Vegas this summer. I'm about to call MS and will be interested to see what the availability situation is. I know, for trades one should normally put in requests at least a year if not two out, but given the economy and the repeated news stories I'm seeing on how tourism in Vegas is really, really hurting I have quite the hard time believing everything will be booked.

There is currently a fair amount of availability on the weeks side for the out of town resorts (Grandview, Cliff's), as well as Shell and Wyndham. Nothing for the Hilton's for Summer. About the same in points for 7 nights for June, not much for July for DVC RCI resorts.

 

[CandyMandy]

There is currently a fair amount of availability on the weeks side for the out of town resorts (Grandview, Cliff's), as well as Shell and Wyndham. Nothing for the Hilton's for Summer. About the same in points for 7 nights for June, not much for July for DVC RCI resorts.

Thanks Dean - I called MS today, but neither the rep I spoke with (nor the three other reps she was working with) could even get into the RCI system. They told me to call back on Tuesday. I'm suprised there is nothing at the Hiltons all summer; that is not prime travel season in Vegas!!!

 

[Dean]

Thanks Dean - I called MS today, but neither the rep I spoke with (nor the three other reps she was working with) could even get into the RCI system. They told me to call back on Tuesday. I'm suprised there is nothing at the Hiltons all summer; that is not prime travel season in Vegas!!!

I'm not sure I agree. I know it's hot but demand for LV is pretty even throughout the year with relatively minimal variations plus anytime there is decent but not great demand, the best resorts are the one's that get most of the action so they're still hard to get. Still, LV is relatively overbuilt so you likely will see somethings come through later. Keep trying and let us know what you find out when you call back.

 

[ACDSNY]

Dean, are there any RCI resorts on our DVC list in Maui or the Big Island that you would recommend? We really enjoyed the Marriott Waiohai on Kauai and would like to try for another HI trip in a year or two. With the change to RCI I don't know if any are worth trying for.

 

[Dean]

Dean, are there any RCI resorts on our DVC list in Maui or the Big Island that you would recommend? We really enjoyed the Marriott Waiohai on Kauai and would like to try for another HI trip in a year or two. With the change to RCI I don't know if any are worth trying for.

To be honest, there are only 2 resorts in HI that are on the list that I feel are a comparable exchange. These are the two components of the Hilton Complex on Oahu. I'd likely only add the KBC and possibly the Wyndham Beach Walk as a reasonable choice otherwise but they are a step down. I'm not as familiar with the resort on the Big Island to make recommendations but given they are much easier to get overall, it's hard to justify using DVC points to trade there. As with anything else, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder so any member has to decide how important it is to use points for the trip. There are certainly a few other resorts I'd stay at but not at the cost of 160 or 270 DVC points. Don't forget about direct exchanges and the independent exchange companies which will open you up to other resorts not on the DVC list and to other inventory at the resorts that are.

 

[ACDSNY]

Thanks Dean! Just checking what my options might be if I have to use up developer points from the VGC.

 

[Prinny27]

I just traded points into RCI last week for Sedona, AZ. At first it was showing no availability for any resort in that area for the week I was looking for, nor several weeks surrounding it. I figured as much as having dealt with RCI in the past it was next to impossible to get availability with any of their resorts.

However, the CM decided to 'check off' a studio designation on her computer system and that opened up two of the resorts with my choice of ten different check in dates each, all for week long stays. So if you call MS and they are coming up blank, ask the CM on the phone to designate the room booking category you are looking for, and that may open up rooms for you. HTH!

 

[tkitty]

I just traded points into RCI last week for Sedona, AZ. At first it was showing no availability for any resort in that area for the week I was looking for, nor several weeks surrounding it. I figured as much as having dealt with RCI in the past it was next to impossible to get availability with any of their resorts.

However, the CM decided to 'check off' a studio designation on her computer system and that opened up two of the resorts with my choice of ten different check in dates each, all for week long stays. So if you call MS and they are coming up blank, ask the CM on the phone to designate the room booking category you are looking for, and that may open up rooms for you. HTH!

Hi Prinny27, We just returned fron a resort in Sedona using DD points thru,I think, RCI. It was beautiful! Nice studio, (DD stayed first half with ajoining bedroom) we took over while she had to return to work. We were at The Ridge at Sedona. Room was great, with a few repairs needed... Have a great time!
While DD was there, she ended up buying into another time-share that gives her the Disney resort properties. How could she say no.

 

[CandyMandy]

I'm not sure I agree. I know it's hot but demand for LV is pretty even throughout the year with relatively minimal variations plus anytime there is decent but not great demand, the best resorts are the one's that get most of the action so they're still hard to get. Still, LV is relatively overbuilt so you likely will see somethings come through later. Keep trying and let us know what you find out when you call back.

Dean, I called MS again yesterday right when they opened. The CM I got to also said she could not get into the RCI system to check on what was available. She put me on hold and after about five minutes connected me to another CM who finally was able to get into the system (I really sense that DVC rushed to get the RCI program open before training enough staff in how to handle these reservations!!)

It took that CM about another five minutes to see if anything on the RCI list for LV was currently available for the three different dates (two in July and one in August) that I gave. Only one property was, the Wyndham, which after already having reading a lot about I felt was not even close to being a "comparable exchange." So I had her put us on a wait/search list for any of the three dates at the Hilton at the Flamingo.

I realize that this close (only about 6 months away) to the check in dates, the likelihood of something coming in is probably low (given what has been stated about RCI). But given there's no risk of "rolling the dice" (heh heh ) until late May (when the 45 days in advance cancellation penalty policy kicks in), I figured what the heck, the worst that could come from this is giving DVC and/or RCI a free $95 loan for about four months.

 

[Dean]

Dean, I called MS again yesterday right when they opened. The CM I got to also said she could not get into the RCI system to check on what was available. She put me on hold and after about five minutes connected me to another CM who finally was able to get into the system (I really sense that DVC rushed to get the RCI program open before training enough staff in how to handle these reservations!!)

It took that CM about another five minutes to see if anything on the RCI list for LV was currently available for the three different dates (two in July and one in August) that I gave. Only one property was, the Wyndham, which after already having reading a lot about I felt was not even close to being a "comparable exchange." So I had her put us on a wait/search list for any of the three dates at the Hilton at the Flamingo.

I realize that this close (only about 6 months away) to the check in dates, the likelihood of something coming in is probably low (given what has been stated about RCI). But given there's no risk of "rolling the dice" (heh heh ) until late May (when the 45 days in advance cancellation penalty policy kicks in), I figured what the heck, the worst that could come from this is giving DVC and/or RCI a free $95 loan for about four months.

RCI tends to have less availability for LV than does II in recent years from what I've seen. You may get something you may not given that you're given yourself little flexibility. The problem with Hilton is the same one with DVC, that only a small portion of the members use it for RCI. I've been looking for a friend for April and while II has tons of inventory, RCI has almost nothing other than Grandview and Cliff's which are out of town and the Wyndham and Worldmark which doesn't appear to be a great choice as you say. There's also the Shell resort which I think is the same complex as one of the Worldmark's. Interesting they didn't add the Bluegreen resort to the list, I wonder if it's because it's new or to avoid the competition. I think they'll also add the Summer Bay resort later as it's also brand new (moved and rebuilt). Still, not much for summer either in RCI in general.

Your biggest risk is if you end up getting something you can't use either due to date or lead time. Keep an eye and cancel immediately if you find you can't accept it at a later date.

 

[CandyMandy]

RCI tends to have less availability for LV than does II in recent years from what I've seen. You may get something you may not given that you're given yourself little flexibility.

My time frame is tight, but that's only because one couldn't make RCI requests through DVC until only a few weeks ago. I normally would have put this in a least a year in advance.

Your biggest risk is if you end up getting something you can't use either due to date or lead time. Keep an eye and cancel immediately if you find you can't accept it at a later date.

Dean, just to make sure I understand properly (I went through this carefully with two different MS CMs), the way my wait/request list works is as follows:

- The "system" will look for any space meeting my criteria (in this case, a two bedroom) at the specific Hilton I'm after on any of the three potenial check in days I gave (all are Sundays, that's the weekly check in day at that property).

- If a match is found for any of the dates DVC will immediately book it and mail me a confirmation.

- Now, if time drags on and I haven't gotten a match, the critical date (in terms of being able to cancel this whole search without penalty, e.g losing my search fee or points or having any points "held captive," that is set aside only for future use via RCI) is in late May, 45 days out from the earliest check in date I gave, which in mid July. So if I'm approaching that May date and no match has come through, I can contact MS and simply tell them to cancel the search. No points are lost or "held captive" and the $95 search fee is refunded.

Again, that is what two different CMs (during different calls) told me.

I only brought all that detail up relative to your point about "ending up getting something you can't use either due to date or lead time." Per the terms of my search, I can only be offered space for one of the dates I identified and in order to avoid any penalties my cancellation timetable looks early enough to avoid any lead time issues. I.e., the worst case (and unlikely) scenario there is a booking for the earliest check in date (mid-July) coming in right before my late May "no-penalty" cutoff date. Tight? Yes, but do-able (we live in a large urban area with plenty of flights to LV - I could book seats a month and a half out, and tickets for any of the entertainment we'd want while out there will still be available).

Again, in the unlikely case a match does come through, I hope it comes earlier!

 

[Dean]

My time frame is tight, but that's only because one couldn't make RCI requests through DVC until only a few weeks ago. I normally would have put this in a least a year in advance.



Dean, just to make sure I understand properly (I went through this carefully with two different MS CMs), the way my wait/request list works is as follows:

- The "system" will look for any space meeting my criteria (in this case, a two bedroom) at the specific Hilton I'm after on any of the three potenial check in days I gave (all are Sundays, that's the weekly check in day at that property).

- If a match is found for any of the dates DVC will immediately book it and mail me a confirmation.

- Now, if time drags on and I haven't gotten a match, the critical date (in terms of being able to cancel this whole search without penalty, e.g losing my search fee or points or having any points "held captive," that is set aside only for future use via RCI) is in late May, 45 days out from the earliest check in date I gave, which in mid July. So if I'm approaching that May date and no match has come through, I can contact MS and simply tell them to cancel the search. No points are lost or "held captive" and the $95 search fee is refunded.

Again, that is what two different CMs (during different calls) told me.

I only brought all that detail up relative to your point about "ending up getting something you can't use either due to date or lead time." Per the terms of my search, I can only be offered space for one of the dates I identified and in order to avoid any penalties my cancellation timetable looks early enough to avoid any lead time issues. I.e., the worst case (and unlikely) scenario there is a booking for the earliest check in date (mid-July) coming in right before my late May "no-penalty" cutoff date. Tight? Yes, but do-able (we live in a large urban area with plenty of flights to LV - I could book seats a month and a half out, and tickets for any of the entertainment we'd want while out there will still be available).

Again, in the unlikely case a match does come through, I hope it comes earlier!

You have it down correctly but there have been several times I'm aware of where people bailed in their own mind but between the time they decided to cancel and they actually let DVC know, they matched. Just don't wait to notify them (or do it by email) if you decide to cancel.

You might want to check your points as it looks like Hilton just had a big deposit with RCI on the weeks side, both 1 and 2 BR units.

 

[garnet1240]

I am going to use my '09 BLT points and book 2 nights at Manhattan Club NYC. It will cost me 18 pts./night in a 1 bedroom. I can't use my BLT points before Sept 1, so as soon as I line up my transportation (Megabus.com), I'll try and ressie these two nights. So excited....love Manhattan!!

Do you have to call MS to find out how many points per night...or is it on the member site somewhere....we were just thinking about trying to get a couple of nights in NYC as well!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Do you have to call MS to find out how many points per night...or is it on the member site somewhere....we were just thinking about trying to get a couple of nights in NYC as well!

The points for each season and accomodation are on the member website, but you don't know what resort has what types of accomodations, or seasons. So you do have to call MS to find that out. I can tell you Manhattan Club is only the high season...red..all year long, and have no studios. So 18/pt. a night for a 1 bedroom is the minimum accomodations there.