Usage of RCI Incentive Vacation

[raptor]

Has anyone that received the 7 day free RCI vacation as an incentive with an add on (we purchased through a special event at the Doorway to Dreams event in Chicago) found it difficult to find eligible dates/locations in 2010? I am not real picky about where we use the free week, but am not finding anything availabe in 2010 at this point with my certificate?

 

[wdw4life]

I've found it extremely difficult. I started just looking for anything and so far have had no luck.

 

[The Red Head]

I haven't received my vouchers yet for my VGC purchase. But I am really worried that I am going to have a hard time getting to book anything.

 

[raptor]

In addition to the difficulty to find anything, the RCI website is horrible. You have to select a month and location for each query which causes you to query dozens of times only to find nothing available. I wish you could enter a month you wish to travel and it would list locations available, or enter a location and it would list dates available. Website is very unfriendly with what seems to be extremely limited availability. Anyone know if availability opens up for dates that are closer (2009) versus (2010). You would think that the further out you book the better choices you would have. I am wondering now if a location has not reached a certain capacity within a certain timeframe, if they would open up more rooms available for the free stay. But again, I haven't tried too many 2009 dates yet simply due to the website being so time consuming to research.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

We booked ours a while ago, finally settling for Branson in December 2009. The only other thing we found and considered was Puerto Vallarta, but you had to purchase an all-inclusive package for the resort. We didn't want to put that much money (package plus airfare) for this trip unless it was somewhere really exciting. The choices were beyond disappointing, and we had the same complaints about difficulty with searching the website. We even called to see if they could provide us with a list of availability in a given time, and they said they use the exact same website to assist over the phone. Yikes--what a waste of time. Good luck, everybody! Report back if you get something good!

 

[Lisa P.]

I wish you could enter a month you wish to travel and it would list locations available, or enter a location and it would list dates available.

I don't know if you're using a different web interface that I use with a regular RCI account. But when I search online, I go to the search page and scroll down to the bottom. There is a place to enter your desired date range and/or destination.

Anyone know if availability opens up for dates that are closer (2009) versus (2010). You would think that the further out you book the better choices you would have. I am wondering now if a location has not reached a certain capacity within a certain timeframe, if they would open up more rooms available for the free stay.

Opens up? RCI is an exchange company not a timeshare management company or hotel chain. They only have availability when other owners or timeshare management companies make deposits. When you get within 60 (45?) days of check-in, they do begin to relax trade power requirements and developer vouchers are more likely to be able to snag a good deposit. By 2 weeks prior to check-in, all available inventory may be confirmed by anyone. But the best deposits are normally already taken looooong before then so you're really just seeking after vacation cancellations by other RCI members at that time. You'll have the best success rate with RCI by seeking something 14-24 months out. II was only a little closer, perhaps 11-24 months out. Exchanging (for good stuff) takes patience, usually getting your request in as early as possible then waiting for months, with uncertainty. Many timeshare owners are unable to make deposits more than 10-13 months out and you want your request already sitting high on the list when they appear. HTH.

 

[hjgaus]

We booked ours a while ago, finally settling for Branson in December 2009. The only other thing we found and considered was Puerto Vallarta, but you had to purchase an all-inclusive package for the resort. We didn't want to put that much money (package plus airfare) for this trip unless it was somewhere really exciting. The choices were beyond disappointing, and we had the same complaints about difficulty with searching the website. We even called to see if they could provide us with a list of availability in a given time, and they said they use the exact same website to assist over the phone. Yikes--what a waste of time. Good luck, everybody! Report back if you get something good!

We received ours 2 weeks ago for GCV purchase and also noticed our choices were limited. So we decided to stay local and reserve within 6 months then that opened up more choices. We made ressies with upgrades at The Bluegreen Club 36 in Las Vegas for the weekend after Thanksgiving. Did this online by myself.
It's new,fairly decent (checked an tripadvisor.com for reviews) and only a 3-4 hour drive for us.

Edlyn
Chino Hills CA.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I don't know if you're using a different web interface that I use with a regular RCI account. But when I search online, I go to the search page and scroll down to the bottom. There is a place to enter your desired date range and/or destination.


Opens up? RCI is an exchange company not a timeshare management company or hotel chain. They only have availability when other owners or timeshare management companies make deposits. When you get within 60 (45?) days of check-in, they do begin to relax trade power requirements and developer vouchers are more likely to be able to snag a good deposit. By 2 weeks prior to check-in, all available inventory may be confirmed by anyone. But the best deposits are normally already taken looooong before then so you're really just seeking after vacation cancellations by other RCI members at that time. You'll have the best success rate with RCI by seeking something 14-24 months out. II was only a little closer, perhaps 11-24 months out. Exchanging (for good stuff) takes patience, usually getting your request in as early as possible then waiting for months, with uncertainty. Many timeshare owners are unable to make deposits more than 10-13 months out and you want your request already sitting high on the list when they appear. HTH.

This is completely different than making an actual RCI exchange. The vouchers can only be redeemed through a special website and the choices are extremely limited. These are really the bottom of the barrel choices. I'm NOT saying the resorts are bad--just that the offerings are definately off season and not in demand.

It looks like some choices have opened up (and some have disappeared) since the first of us started to redeem, but I don't think anyone can really count on more choices at any particular time. Somewhere on either the voucher or the website I do recall it saying the voucher was not good for travel during peak times (like summer.)

 

[jaurban]

I too was very disappointed. Also, as we have to use the voucher essentially within 18 months, that takes me to September 2010. I can't take any more vacation time that year - I am using our incentive cruise in November 2010 and we have a Disney trip also planned earlier that year. Also, can't take DD out of school a second time, as we will do that for the cruise. Thus, left with summer, and there is really very little there. I almost took Mexico for this August, and now with the flu, I am very glad I did not (we also have a baby). I think my certificate might go unused as there is really only one week this August that is left for us to travel in. (I will try my sister in law - they have no young kids, so could travel alone at any time - once DB returns from Iraq next March or so. But, you have to pay extra for some choices, and I do not want them to do that.)

 

[The Red Head]

2 things

1st how long did it take people to get your RCI voucher once you mailed back your paperwork. I haven't recived my vouchers yet, but we had to rewrite the contrcat, so it took longer to get everything done than I thought.

2nd, we have finally booked the Grand Wailea in Hawaii, for next year. We did not need a voucher for that we just did that through MS. It took awhile to get that one done, but it is and I am very excited about that stay. We also received our confirmation paper about our stay in the Pirate Suite at the Disneyland Hotel.