RCI - what’s the secret to booking a decent vacation?

[Princess Tess]

We had points that weren’t banked during Covid….so we now have 180 RCI points that I just can’t seem to make work - I’ve been trying for months to find something suitable but I cannot find consecutive days more than 2 nights - am I asking too much or is this just the reality of RCI?
Any experiences or guidance appreciate.
~Terry

 

[limace]

I’d go ask on the TUG timeshare forums-they are experts there.

 

[DonMacGregor]

We had points that weren’t banked during Covid….so we now have 180 RCI points that I just can’t seem to make work - I’ve been trying for months to find something suitable but I cannot find consecutive days more than 2 nights - am I asking too much or is this just the reality of RCI?
Any experiences or guidance appreciate.
~Terry

You should ask @Brian Noble. He's a pretty good resource for using the various exchanges.

 

[abdgeek]

We had points that weren’t banked during Covid….so we now have 180 RCI points that I just can’t seem to make work - I’ve been trying for months to find something suitable but I cannot find consecutive days more than 2 nights - am I asking too much or is this just the reality of RCI?
Any experiences or guidance appreciate.
~Terry

Research and persistence!! IMO, the level of success finding the RCI property that you want is directly related to the amount of work you are able to put into the process. Some properties never become available, so it’s important to know which ones those are. Below are some things that I do which have helped me book every RCI property I ever wanted for the dates I wanted over the years. This process also works with II, but your search dates have to be broader to maximize the properties that come up.

1) Decide where you want to go and for what dates
2) Review the RCI Resort Directory for the properties available to book in that location. Read online reviews and view the property websites to decide which three properties are your highest rated. I have found that Gold Crown properties are the closest to DVC properties.
3) Randomly search that location for dates near your dates to see which properties normally have availability—not every resort in the directory for that location will show up.
4) You can call DVC and have them set an ongoing search for a particular resort for specific dates or for any resort in that location for those specific dates. You can also do this yourself, if you know how, but you normally have to call DVC to cancel an ongoing search. Have them set it so that you have to approve the match and not that it will automatically take your points. Ongoing search reservations are filled first before people who don’t have an ongoing search.
5) Check the website at least twice daily for the dates and resort you want. If you see it, book it immediately online.

Since you have a limited amount of time to use your 180 points in RCI before you lose them, the challenge will be to find a resort that is exactly 180 points. I had a similar problem earlier this year when I had to cancel my RCI stay in Bali when the country didn’t reopen. I had 140 RCI points to use up and I couldn’t find a resort I wanted to stay in that was exactly that amount of points. I thought I would wind up losing about 15 points, but was able to find a Vegas timeshare for the exact number of points I had. I normally stay on the strip at the HGVC at the Flamingo when I go to Vegas, but decided to stay off the strip at the Grandview next year so that I wouldn’t lose points. If you haven’t already, try looking close to home. Sometimes those are easier to find available. Good luck with your search.

 

[Brian Noble]

@abdgeek has the right idea. There are two things I would emphasize.

First: Because you are nearing expiration, I'd worry more about finding a suitable exchange than using every last point. You may as well salvage something out of these! If I am reading the charts right, 180 points will get you a week in a 1BR anywhere, while it will only give you a Blue (off-season) non-Gold Crown (i.e. less luxurious) in a 2BR.

Second: When you search the web site in real time, you are only seeing the leftovers for Weeks inventory after deposits are matched against ongoing searches. The "good stuff" disappears very quickly, and usually to an ongoing search. However, if you place an ongoing search--especially one that is somewhat flexible--you have a good chance of matching against something that will be interesting. So placing an OGS with as many resorts/dates as you can think of will help. Do so as soon as you can, because in RCI the "age" of a search is important in deciding who gets the exchange if more than once person is looking for the same thing. Even if you just put a placeholder search in right now and edit it later, that's better than placing it later.

(Note: age matters much less in II for those reading along.)

 

[CarolynFH]

And another thing: like DVC, the farther out you book, the more success you'll have in getting what you want.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

We had points that weren’t banked during Covid….so we now have 180 RCI points that I just can’t seem to make work - I’ve been trying for months to find something suitable but I cannot find consecutive days more than 2 nights - am I asking too much or is this just the reality of RCI?
Any experiences or guidance appreciate.
~Terry

I'm with you. I banked some points into RCI. When I tried to use them, I found that I could get the same or better rates from Expedia or Travelocity because of all their junk fees.