RCI vs Interval

[Mjkre]

I have a somewhat unique perspective. We do not own DVC points. We were gifted both an RCI and II time share. We can never use the RCI or II weeks we were given because of our schedule. So we try and trade. With II, we could trade with relative ease. If they did not have the exact resort you wanted, at least they had a nice substitute in the immediate area on the dates you wanted. Including trading into SSR the one year we tried. With RCI, we have never and I mean never, been able to trade into a location that we want, in the season we want it. Not even looking for a specific week, we have tried to find anything over a several month period in the location we want. Nothing is ever available. Of those that show up out of the location where I am searching, they all look 2-3 stars. I would love it if Disney switched back to II.

 

[Dean]

This discussion kind of brings up a question I have about RCI. I own at DVC, my mom owns at Marriott. We both use our home resorts every year and don't trade/exchange because we bought where we want to vacation. However, my mom has been making very good use of the "Getaways" feature of Interval International that comes with the II membership which is required if you're a Marriott owner. Basically the Getaways mean you can buy for cash weeks that II has in inventory that they can't get rid of otherwise (particularly off-season stuff at really nice resorts we've gotten for $200-$500/week).
Do we as DVC members have access to RCI for any features of their services other than the exchanges? Just curious, cause it'd be nice to use but I didn't see an RCI fee in my maintenance fees so I'm guessing not. But it'd be nice to have that suspicion confirmed. Thanks.

As noted, DVC members do not have access to RCI directly and that prevents a lot of potential benefits of RCI. Marriott does not require II membership unless you're trading your week and now, if you join their points program, the II access is free. There are a few other negatives and an upfront cost to doing so but it is worth it for some though not for others. There are many places to rent weeks including some directly from timeshare inventory. There are also a number of independent exchange companies one can use that may be cheaper, have additional options and in many cases, do not have a yearly membership fee.

I have a somewhat unique perspective. We do not own DVC points. We were gifted both an RCI and II time share. We can never use the RCI or II weeks we were given because of our schedule. So we try and trade. With II, we could trade with relative ease. If they did not have the exact resort you wanted, at least they had a nice substitute in the immediate area on the dates you wanted. Including trading into SSR the one year we tried. With RCI, we have never and I mean never, been able to trade into a location that we want, in the season we want it. Not even looking for a specific week, we have tried to find anything over a several month period in the location we want. Nothing is ever available. Of those that show up out of the location where I am searching, they all look 2-3 stars. I would love it if Disney switched back to II.

I've found RCI easier to trade overall but you have to start earlier and you must do ongoing searches even more with RCI than II.

 

[kmsimone]

Have tried two times to trade throuth RCI. Two times unsuccessful. I would not purchase DVC with the intention of trading through RCI.

 

[JimMIA]

Have tried two times to trade throuth RCI. Two times unsuccessful. I would not purchase DVC with the intention of trading through RCI.

Three comments: One is that when folks like Dean and Brian talk about exchanging through RCI, for the most part they are NOT talking about exchanging DVC through DVC MS/RCI. They're talking about exchanging other timeshare systems directly through RCI.

Second, exchanging generally -- in any system -- involves a learning curve and more planning and work than making normal DVC reservations. You have to understand the various options for getting an exchange, the seasons of the resorts you're trying to exchange into, and a lot of other factors. If you call MS and don't get a match, you need to find out what other avenues are available.

And finally, the most BASIC thing everyone should understand about DVC is NOT to buy DVC for the "perks." DVC is a very good timeshare, and it has some very nice side-benefits. But those benefits can and do change frequently, so it's foolhardy to purchase DVC to get one or several of those "perks." Anyone who purchases DVC should do so to use their points at DVC resorts -- that's where the real value of DVC is, and that's the only thing that is guaranteed with DVC.

 

[Brian Noble]

With RCI, we have never and I mean never, been able to trade into a location that we want, in the season we want it.

It is entirely possible that this is due to the week you are using in trade, rather than any particular feature of the exchange system itself. I have two weeks that are dual-enrolled, and they perform well in both systems.

 

[taaren]

Marriott does not require II membership unless you're trading your week and now, if you join their points program, the II access is free. There are a few other negatives and an upfront cost to doing so but it is worth it for some though not for others. There are many places to rent weeks including some directly from timeshare inventory. There are also a number of independent exchange companies one can use that may be cheaper, have additional options and in many cases, do not have a yearly membership fee.
.

Ah, I remember why my mom paid for the II membership now. We own a Platinum Season Week at a Ski-In Ski-Out resort in a 2 bedroom, and we use it to ski every year. She bought before the points option was available, but we wouldn't want points anyway because we want to ski at Mountainside every year, especially now that the kids are of an age to appreciate the familiarity and routine. However, in the first few years (before the grandkids came along) we had a smaller party so we would split the 2 bedroom into a 1-bedroom week and then a lock-off week. In order to make the split either into half weeks or into the separate units you had to buy into II, so as far as we were concerned it was a requirement to use the property with any amount of flexibility. That being said the membership was a couple of hundred for 5 years at the time, not exactly breaking the bank. However, it has more than paid for itself with the getaway privileges and ability to divide our week into two smaller units.
I'm glad DVC doesn't have RCI individual membership built-in if that would mean higher maintenance fees since they're already pretty darn flexible.
Thanks for the explanation of membership types guys!

 

[rocketriter]

We trade *very* occasionally, either because a destination is available that appeals to us or we want to burn off unused points. But it's a side dish, not the main course, which is an inexpensive way to get great suites onsite at the parks. Even for burning off unused points, we prefer to rent the points rather than use them for trading.

 

[Dean]

Ah, I remember why my mom paid for the II membership now. We own a Platinum Season Week at a Ski-In Ski-Out resort in a 2 bedroom, and we use it to ski every year. She bought before the points option was available, but we wouldn't want points anyway because we want to ski at Mountainside every year, especially now that the kids are of an age to appreciate the familiarity and routine. However, in the first few years (before the grandkids came along) we had a smaller party so we would split the 2 bedroom into a 1-bedroom week and then a lock-off week. In order to make the split either into half weeks or into the separate units you had to buy into II, so as far as we were concerned it was a requirement to use the property with any amount of flexibility. That being said the membership was a couple of hundred for 5 years at the time, not exactly breaking the bank. However, it has more than paid for itself with the getaway privileges and ability to divide our week into two smaller units.
I'm glad DVC doesn't have RCI individual membership built-in if that would mean higher maintenance fees since they're already pretty darn flexible.
Thanks for the explanation of membership types guys!

The other benefits of points may still be worthwhile for them, esp if they bought from Marriott directly initially.

 

[metzger01]

Most of the RCI resorts are in no way comparable to DVC. That is why their has been more success in exchanges of DVC weeks thru RCI. Anyone would be very fortunate to be able to trade out of RCI into DVC. RCI's ranking system is horrible. They rank both Old Key West and Silver Lakes Resort as 4 star resorts. We were very disappointed with a recent Silver Lakes stay. RCI also ranks Westgate Vacation Villas as 2 star, and the Westgate resort is way above anything that Silver Lakes offer, and is in fact, their 2 bedroom villas are comparable to Old Key West, and the lobby and grounds are very nice. I would much rather have II, no question about it.

 

[Dean]

Most of the RCI resorts are in no way comparable to DVC. That is why their has been more success in exchanges of DVC weeks thru RCI. Anyone would be very fortunate to be able to trade out of RCI into DVC. RCI's ranking system is horrible. They rank both Old Key West and Silver Lakes Resort as 4 star resorts. We were very disappointed with a recent Silver Lakes stay. RCI also ranks Westgate Vacation Villas as 2 star, and the Westgate resort is way above anything that Silver Lakes offer, and is in fact, their 2 bedroom villas are comparable to Old Key West, and the lobby and grounds are very nice. I would much rather have II, no question about it.

The star rankings on RCI are by members, not RCI themselves. RCI rates resorts as Gold Crown, Silver Crown, RCI Hospitality and no or standard rating (in that order). They use specific criteria but those ratings do not necessarily translate into one resort is better than another. I know many Silver crown I'd consider better than many GC. Plus, IMO, there is even more variability within GC. Likely the reason Westgate is rated lower by the members is because of their attitude, aggression in pursuing guests for sales tours and the way they treat their members, esp those who are looking to sell. The quote I've seen attributed to Westgate is "Wastegate Resorts - When you want to deal with the worst, we're the best!"

In general, DVC is better than most resorts in II and RCI. If you took Marriott and Westin out of II, the 2 are fairly comparable other than total numbers. Overall I prefer II but it's because of Marriott and Westin mostly. RCI is a better fit for DVC because of the RCI points option and the better rental options offered. RCI has some very nice resorts also.

 

[JimMIA]

Anyone would be very fortunate to be able to trade out of RCI into DVC.

I'm sure we'll never get any kind of accurate data, but from some of the recent anecdotal reports, quite a few people have been successful trading into DVC via RCI. I've even seen reports of people being able to pull DVC with Wyndham -- which is a relatively weak trader.

And if I'm not mistaken, there have also been reports of DVC doing deposits 10 months out from arrival...three months prior to DVC non-home resort owners being able to book.

 

[mkarizona]

You are absolutely correct Jim. I traded a Wyndham/Fairfield TS for AKV at 10 months. It had the least trading power of any of my RCI deposits and there was still no problem trading into DVC.

 

[tkitty]

My DD had used her Interval(?)to trade RCI into DVC (?) for herself and us in'09. It was a great deal for us. (ok, I may be mixed up on what company it was- she has 2) But she just told me that her timeshare will no longer trade with RCI after this year. Or checking out the family suites at the values.

 

[CarolAnnC]

This thread has been bumped up from almost 11 months ago, therefore it is being closed. Thank you.