Transferring to RCI

[emmababy]

In 2 years, my hubby and I are taking a week vacation alone!

We are tring to figure out whether to use our points to exchange onto RCI or pay cash. Any thoughts?

If we exchange and don't get anything, are our points gone forever?

 

[JimMIA]

There are three scenarios under which you might deposit DVC points into RCI:

1. You search for an exchange, find one you like, and make a reservation.
2. You don't find what you want, so you elect to deposit the necessary points and do an "ongoing search."
3. Your DVC Use Year is coming to an end, and the points will expire anyway, so you deposit them into RCI to prolong their usefullness...whatever that may be.

Regardless of WHY you deposit points into RCI, that is an irreversible transaction and those points can only be used for an RCI exchange from that point forward.

 

[Dean]

In 2 years, my hubby and I are taking a week vacation alone!

We are tring to figure out whether to use our points to exchange onto RCI or pay cash. Any thoughts?

If we exchange and don't get anything, are our points gone forever?

There is not enough info here to fully answer your questions. There are 2 exchange methods, deposit first and request first. Request first is by far the best for almost every situation. The exception is when you have points that you won't use or rent and can't bank and you're trying to extend their life AT A REDUCED VALUE. Your points are not tied up until you match for request first but are gone immediately for deposit first.

Give use more about your situation, where you want to go, how long, when, timing restrictions and any personal thoughts and we can help you decide your chances of success. Also, if you're trying to use points you wouldn't use otherwise, give us specifics there such as Use Year, number of points and which UY you're trying to use points from.

 

[PamOKW]

If I have banked points, can I deposit them into RCI? Does this need to be done prior to the final 60 days of my Use Year? I'm still so unsure of how this aspect of DVC works.

 

[Dean]

If I have banked points, can I deposit them into RCI? Does this need to be done prior to the final 60 days of my Use Year? I'm still so unsure of how this aspect of DVC works.

It can potentially be done at any time subject to RCI's deposit rules. Generally any week that starts under 45 days from the date of deposit is very limited. Generally they won't take anything under 14 days and anything that's 14-44 days is VERY limited (I'll explain if you need me to). Generally I'd try to be more than 60-90 days out. They also have to find an applicable week to deposit so it is subject to availability. Once deposited, you'll have 2 years from the date of the week to travel and up to 2 years before, if I am reading between the lines correctly (this isn't spelled out completely in DVC's info so I'm drawing from RCI info). If an exchange is taken and then later cancelled, once must travel by the end of the following calendar years (1-2 years out depending on when during the year one cancels).

 

[emmababy]

We are looking somewhere tropical, carribean. We would go Summer 2014. We were thinking Puerto Rico but there is only one option there.


I think we Would do a week. At this point, we are overwhelmed even trying to figure out where. And, we not know if we would pay cash.
Any help would be great!

 

[Dean]

We are looking somewhere tropical, carribean. We would go Summer 2014. We were thinking Puerto Rico but there is only one option there.


I think we Would do a week. At this point, we are overwhelmed even trying to figure out where. And, we not know if we would pay cash.
Any help would be great!

Summer is lower season for MX and the Caribbean. I don't know much about Club Melia PR. You will not see me recommending an All Inclusive (AI) option, just not my style. Generally the Cayman's, MX and Aruba will be the best options with a few scattered other reasonable choices. I'd say all resorts are below DVC's standard's but some more than others. Just research so you know what you are and are not getting. If you look at AI, look at the AI price AND compare to the same or similar options directly on cash specials. II is much better represented overall in the Caribbean than is RCI I believe. I'd say your chances of success for a studio or 1 BR would be great if you started the search now up to 1 year out, less for a 2 BR other than MX. Less than a week significantly reduces your choices.

 

[emmababy]

Thanks Dean! I have read lots of your posts and appreciate your expertise!

Have you been to the Cayman or Aruba personally? We got married in Mexico, so we would like somewhere new.

I want an island where we can feel safe exploring or in town. We like to do active things and would love a casino but not necessarily....

 

[Dean]

Thanks Dean! I have read lots of your posts and appreciate your expertise!

Have you been to the Cayman or Aruba personally? We got married in Mexico, so we would like somewhere new.

I want an island where we can feel safe exploring or in town. We like to do active things and would love a casino but not necessarily....

I have been to Cayman's but limited info and no direct experience with timeshares there. Indirect info would put the Morritt's Grande as a good choice as long as you don't mind being isolated. Aruba is a more active area with more restaurants and more activity overall it seems. I've seen all of the timeshare on the list but haven't stayed at them. I've been on property at all and seen rooms at about half of them. I prefer the high rise area because of restaurants and shopping options. I would avoid the AI at the Occidental Grande personally. I think all other options on the list are worth staying at other than maybe the 2 lower Divi options, but all fall short of a top DVC or Marriott resort experience. We prefer the Marriott, esp the Surf Club. We also often stay at La Cabana but it's in line with the others I mentioned and we use it when we need a day or 2 to bookend a Marriott trip.

I can't speak for safety on Cayman's but Aruba is one of the safest areas you can go, likely safer than any US city and most towns. Still, never ask for trouble, it can find you anywhere. If you're wanting to try something new but have shopping and dining options in an area that's safe and easy, Aruba is a good choice. St. Marteen and the Cayman's could also satisfy most of those options but likely not as well as Aruba. Cayman's is better snorkeling but Aruba isn't bad at all.

Since you have 2 years, you also have other options. You could talk to some of the independent exchange companies where you might have other options and/or be able to use less DVC points. You could also do a direct exchange for any number of options which might bring The Marriott's in St. Kitts, Aruba and St. Thomas along with the Starwood options of St. John and Atlantis into play.

Make sure you research well. For example, the studios at La Cabana are essentially the same size and amenities of the 1 BR and many prefer them over the 1 BR. LCB is no longer on the DVC exchange list (II only) but it's just an example of how things can work. You also might want to investigate how the resort assigns units. Do you get the unit deposited, are some units with a poor view, do you get the dumpster view as an exchanger. Will you have a car and if not, how will you handle that situation? Just realize that everything is expensive in the islands, groceries will be about double or more what you might pay at home and often of much poorer quality. Restaurants are significantly more expensive as well. I'd suggest you look at online menu's to get a feel. TUG reviews are a great place to get info, much better than trip advisors or RCI's own system, IMO.

 

[RobPickles]

I wouldnt bother with RCI.

We transferred points to RCI and they ended up getting wasted because we were never allowed to book anywhere we wanted.

We tried a huge variety of time frames and places and nothing was ever available over the course of a year and a half of searching.

Again, this was just my opinion and wanted to tell you what happened to us when we tried it.