Would Love Some Advice For RCI Exchange

[4Pluto]

Last Spring, I made reservations for the last week of March 2011 at AKV and VWL. This week I learn from my brother (see if you can tell where this thread is going) that they don't want to go to WDW again this year. I really did try to explain that the best strategy is to make that decision a year or more in advance, but now I"ve been asked to see if I can find another destination for spring vacation (hopefully using my points and not my piggy bank. . .)

I think the "only" criteria are:
1. Warm (preferably beach)
2. Able to sleep 7 (ugh)
3. Not too distant (from Chicago). In other words, not Hawaii and not India, but Americas and Europe are mostly fair game.

Any advice on the best strategy with only 6 months to work with?

Thanks in advance for any sage advice.

 

[DisneyAlly]

I called last month to try for an RCI exchange for the HGVC at South Beach Miami for Easter week but as I had expected, I was told there was no availability. However, the CM mentioned several other Florida destinations that were open for that week. I am sorry I can't remember the resorts names. There were several beach area timeshares. I think she mentioned a resort in Captiva island.

 

[4Pluto]

Thanks for the heads up.

In addition to any advice about possible availability, I probably need more basic advice. Like:

Whether I should try to deposit my reserved week and hope for a trade, or just call MS periodically to see what might be available (and how often before I become the office pest)?

If I call MS, should I narrow down the geography or can I ask what is available anywhere during the week I need reservations?

Can we do a search online for availability (or do I need to find an RCI member and get them to look)?

Is there any strategy that someone would recommend for 6 months of less requests?

Ok. that's too many questions. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Melynny]

As for having an RCI member check, that may not be the best. Each RCI member's deposits can pull, draw or see different resorts to trade into. So even if a RCI member has different deposits, each one of those may have different trades available. Additionally, I am not sure, but I think that DVC may restrict some of the resorts that DVC may be able to trade into. That is, I think they may only allow trades into the "gold crown" levels of the resorts in RCI. ( even RCI does this to some extent) Some of my nicer resorts that are considered stronger traders only pull nicer resorts than my "weaker" traders. This is because DVC is considered a higher level timeshare and RCI wants you to be happy with your trade, so they try to match you with something that you are used to.

So if you ask what is available, you may not even be able to trade into that because it is restricted. I personally hate that RCI restricts stronger trades in to some weaker resorts, sometimes that is all that is available and I am curious enough about the resort to take a chance.

Ok. so I just did a search, I found 15, 2 br units available at 9 resorts in Florida, I did not search All US. 2 of those were NOT in the Orlando area. Holly Bluff Marina: Houseboats, and Vacation villas in Titusville. I don't have the strongest traders, but I have 3 resorts with red 2 br and several deposits that are white studios and 1br. Maybe someone else can check, but bottom line, it would be best to have Member Services check for you. If it's anything like the RCI search, they can put in the week, and just search for anything "Beach". Good luck! The joys of Families!

Editing to add, I just searched ALL US for BEACH 2 BR for the week that you wanted. There were several, but not that many that were "Warm". Some that looked interesting to me, were Surfside Beach South Carolina, Galveston Texas, and Wisconsin Dells (indoor waterparks?? not sure why that came up") Hope that helps, there is not much to meet that critera.

 

[4Pluto]

Thanks so much for searching RCI. Sounds like I should try MS to see what they can bring up. And that means trying to tie down DB and DSIL as to what they would be happy with if I find something!

(And that's not even checking with my parents as to their wishes. See, if everyone would just stick to WDW this wouldn't happen!)