When is an RCI Timeshare Better Than DVC?

[nickspace]

When is an RCI Timeshare Better Than DVC? I want to add on to my DVC membership but in the back of my mind I am thinking maybe I should consider and RCI type timeshare. I realize I can trade DVC points for RCI but I don't want to do that.

I met a guy at Disney last week that picked up 56,000 RCI points at Vistana for $750. The original asking price was either 4 or 5K and he bought it for $750. I have heard of others deal like this before as well. It seems like many people want to get out of their timeshares to eliminate the burden of the yearly dues.

He also told me about excess inventories you can buy/rent through RCI.

So once again when is an RCI timeshare better than DVC?

 

[jade1]

Been wondering as well. Is the system jammed with RCI folks wanting ressies? How does it compare points wise-like the 56,000 you mention, what will that get you at DVC resorts?

 

[diding]

In my opinion, if you want to stay at Disney, DVC will always be better than RCI. Very difficult to use your RCI pts to stay at a Disney Resort. Right now they offer them through Extra Vacations but still ends up costing more than a couple of thousands for a week. Also, if your RCI home resort is in the Orlando /Kissimee area, you cannot trade your RCI pts to stay at Disney. If you are looking into staying somewhere else, then perhaps RCI might be better than DVC.

 

[bwvBound]

So once again when is an RCI timeshare better than DVC?

Keep in mind RCI is a timeshare exchange and vacation rental company - it is not a "brand" of timeshare on its own. Various timeshare products are affiliated with RCI in different ways with various levels of service and benefits. Some of my favorite benefits owning non-DVC timeshare:

• Day Use. Two of my non-DVC allow owners access to the resort grounds and amenities on a "day use" basis w/out having to book a room. One of properties is ~20 minute drive from our primary home and offers a great workout center, sauna and several pools. The other is a few miles farther offering golf, equestrian, tennis, pools, hiking, various classes and activities.
• Nearby Locations. I have "owner" access to many timeshare properties w/in a day's drive of home. These are great locations for weekend-getaways. Some are coastal, some are in the mountains, others have beautiful golf-course views or desert drama. Choices, lots of choices.
• Direct membership with RCI, II and other Exchange Companies. Having direct membership with RCI, II and other exchange systems provides access to each system's rental weeks, searching online inventory, etc. In my case, I find searching RCI's/II's inventory against my various timeshare deposits to return high entertainment value ... even if I'm not specifically trying to book a reservation.
• Lower costs. My DVC is an expensive product to own considering both purchase and annual dues. Most of my other timeshare properties were less costly upfront and with lower dues. In most cases, my nightly costs when using or trading these properties are lower than my DVC stays even after adding exchange fees to the total picture.
• Bonus Time. Three of my other timeshare products allows the option of booking "last minute" reservations using cash rather than the points/weeks owned. We've used this option at least 5x in the past 12 months.
• Access to a wider variety of destinations. DVC hand-picks the exchange options offered to DVC owners through RCI. My other properties find a wider variety ... even if this also means a broad definition of resort quality. It is up to me to research potential exchanges before accepting them -- all part of the adventure!
• Bonus Weeks. One of my properties earns an extra "bonus week" every time I deposit it for exchange. I'm getting two vacation weeks, sometimes three, for the one week owned.
• Upgrades. My 1BR Summer Coastal week routinely pulls 2BR or 3BR units through RCI. I'm booking larger units ... but paying dues on a smaller unit.
• Onsite RCI Office. I rarely use this feature ... but sometimes it is handy to meet face-to-face with an RCI rep to really dig into some tricky vacation planning.

Much will depend on what you are hoping to accomplish. We enjoy using DVC for booking Disney vacations ... but it would drive me nuts if it were our only timeshare. Our others work really hard for us and we love them.

 

[Brian Noble]

bwvBound has given an excellent overview.

I'd expand on that by adding that DVC points are an inefficient way to vacation in places other than DVC resorts (and, really, in places other than Walt Disney World.) But, if you do want to vacation in other palces, the "right way" to go about it is going to depend a lot on what those other places are.

Personally, I take a "portfolio" approach---I own different things for different purposes.

 

[spiceycat]

Personally, I take a "portfolio" approach---I own different things for different purposes.

well that was the ideal - but trading my offsite ones to Disney.

that say leaving my nice trader with II (it can also use RCI) - but can get 2 weeks for it with II.

my other one is a South Africia - which can be fun. It was cheap even back in late 90's - learned about it on tug. With the DVC joining RCI - never seem better trades for it in Orlando. Seeing everything except DVC's.

if you are the least bit interested in trading go join

www.tug2.net
or
www.timeshareforums.com

 

[littlestar]

I agree with Brian and what the others have said.

I like owning a collection of resorts so to speak. Our Marriott timeshare week does things for us that DVC can't. I just recently deposited my Marriott week into II and I'm using my Marriott to grab my nephew a Hawaii Marriott for his honeymoon in October. Since DVC left II, those Marriott exchanges are no longer an option.

We also own a dual affiliated resort that gives us full access to RCI. I don't trade my week in RCI (so far), but I like having access to RCI's low cost "Last Call" weeks that come up within 45 days of check-in. We booked a 1 bedroom at Sheraton Vistana last fall for $243 for the week using RCI. That was less than $35 a night for an Orlando one bedroom. I can't do that with DVC.

I like owning DVC points to book DVC when I want to. But I wouldn't want to only own DVC. I like having full access to RCI and II for cash Getaway weeks. I actually booked an Interval (II) cash Getaway week last fall in a 2 bedroom at Marriott's Grande Ocean resort for less than $400 for the week.

 

[nickspace]

Thanks everyone for that great information. Would you suggest RCI or II for my first non DVD timeshare? I am so green about this and really need some advice.

I want a minimal investment and low dues and am interested in extra inventory cash vacations very much.

Where should I buy... when... how... through who???

We live in Ohio and like Hilton Head so that is a good start.

Can any Hilton Head resorts compare with Disney's Hilton Head?

Thanks!

 

[Brian Noble]

Would you suggest RCI or II for my first non DVD timeshare?

Personally, I think this is the wrong question. RCI and II are both "exchange companies"---they don't "own" any resorts themselves, so they are not like DVC. Rather, they're just the market-maker for folks who wish to trade their time for someone else's.

Rather, you probably want to think about buying something you can *use* for your "non-WDW" vacations as a first criterion, and consider exchanging only secondarily.

Most importantly: TAKE YOUR TIME. It's very easy to buy a timeshare. It's rather hard to sell one.

 

[spiceycat]

Most importantly: TAKE YOUR TIME. It's very easy to buy a timeshare. It's rather hard to sell one.

definitely agree with that one.

also see what is happening with

www.skyauction.com - every year it cost more - but still can be cheaper than owning the timeshare.

 

[littlestar]

Thanks everyone for that great information. Would you suggest RCI or II for my first non DVD timeshare? I am so green about this and really need some advice.

I want a minimal investment and low dues and am interested in extra inventory cash vacations very much.

Where should I buy... when... how... through who???

We live in Ohio and like Hilton Head so that is a good start.

Can any Hilton Head resorts compare with Disney's Hilton Head?

Thanks!

If you like Hilton Head, Marriott has wonderful properties on Hilton Head, as good or better than DVC:

http://timeshares.marriott-vacations.com/ownership/beach-resort-detail.jsp?resort=GR&page=default
http://timeshares.marriott-vacations.com/ownership/beach-resort-detail.jsp?resort=SF&page=default
http://timeshares.marriott-vacations.com/ownership/beach-resort-detail.jsp?resort=BB&page=default

We bought a Marriott two bedroom lock off at Branson. It is an EOY (every other year) week. EOY can be a nice way to get your feet wet. I like owning a lock-off because when I divide the unit into a one bedroom and studio I get two vacations/exchanges out of it. My one bedroom Marriott deposit at Branson will usually trade for the Hilton Head 2 bedroom Marriotts as long as I'm not trying to go in the summer season. (You need to be a platinum Hilton Head Marriott owner to consistently get summer in Hilton Head - just like you need DVC Hilton Head points to book summer.)

Another Hlton Head resort I've heard good things about is Waterside by Spinnaker - it trades through RCI. It can be bought resale for very cheap. I would only buy platinum time, though.

There are so many choices, it's mind boggling. If I were just looking for something that would trade in both II and RCI, I might consider Bluegreen points or Worldmark points. Or maybe a dual affiliated resort like Sheraton Broadway Plantation or Sheraton Desert Oasis (but only platinum) and I'd definitely spend some time on the Sheraton (Starwood) board on tug before I bought.

You really need to get a feel for a system or family of resorts that would suit your family's needs. I'd definitely study tugbbs.com for a few months - all the major systems are covered.

I bought my last Marriott week resale from Holidaygroup.com - Andrea was my agent and great to work with. Someone told me not to be afraid to shoot them a low offer - I did and they took it.

I also bought a week off of Ebay, but you need to be very, very careful with Ebay. I was a nervous wreck. It worked out okay, but I don't know if I'd do it again.

 

[Dean]

A lot of great information. I also hit the exchange options from many angles. RCI weeks, RCI points, DVC, Marriott, Bluegreen points, etc. Some things to use and rent when I don't, others to trade, some to fill in the gaps. I'd take at least 6 months of active investigation to get familiar. As to which is best RCI or II, it depends. If you plan to trade to DVC RCI weeks and RCI points are your only option.

As for Vistana or some of the Villages locations, $750 is a horrible price due to the points compared to fees. I'd not consider anything that gives you less than 150 points for each $1 in yearly fees and there aren't a lot of those. OTOH, if it's something you'll use AND you get the points, that's a different discussion. My resort in RCI points is 49K points with a yearly fee of $300. The highest rated weeks actually get 60K points for the same fee but go for a higher price. Since I can generate other points by points for deposit, I didn't want to be too greedy.

For most novice timeshare owners I like something you will use then trade off times. Marriott often fits well in this formula for many. Ultimately it depends on where you want to go, your expectations, your flexibility, how much work you're willing to put into it and what your gambling mentality is. One of the best value is bluegreen as you can use their resorts, bank with II or RCI weeks and chose both the resort and week to deposit. That last one is what makes Wyndham not as good for exchanging. But there are so many options and variations that it's impossible to give one answer or one best scenario.

 

[nickspace]

What resorts offer high points with low yearly fees? There are so many to look at I don't know where to start.

 

[nickspace]

What resorts offer high points with low yearly fees? There are so many to look at I don't know where to start. I live in Ohio and am interested in something no further from Ohio than Hilton Head.

 

[Dean]

What resorts offer high points with low yearly fees? There are so many to look at I don't know where to start. I live in Ohio and am interested in something no further from Ohio than Hilton Head.

do some Ebay research. I am not aware of an option in that area of the country that has what I would consider a good points for fees ratio. There may be some but none I know of. There are only some 500 roughly resorts in RCI points of the over 4K in RCI total. And those that offer the best ratios tend to bring a premium. For RCI points it doesn't matter where you own unless you plan to use your underlying week or resort.