RCI Points member - is it worth it anymore?

[Greggorio21 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Greggorio21]

Hello all,

I have another newbie post regarding RCI Points this time. I made a post a couple weeks back, explaining my unfortunate experience in Mexico where my wife and I were sweet-talked into a $15k timeshare purchase in Playa Del Carmen for the next 25 years. Yeah....we were suckers.

Fast forward to now.....

We were not able to use our timeshare last year and basically wasted our primary week at the resort, but accumulated an extra 35k RCI points. We now have a total of 70k points. I understand the basic premise of the points system, but for someone like me who does not travel often.....is it worth paying the annual dues and continuing the membership?

We basically purchased the RCI membership along with our HSI membership at the resort not really knowing what each one did (part of the grande sales pitch). I am thinking of bagging the RCI membership and simply keeping the HSI membership.

What the heck can I do with all these points???? RCI does not buy them back, correct?

Help!

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

I see that you're from Philly, do you like Atlantic City? I booked at the last minute and I spent 4 nights there in December for 6500 points + $164 exchange fee. Right on the boardwalk for about $60 per night. I booked a week and left after 4 nights.

There are also timeshares nearby in Brigantine, Delaware, Ocean City, MD, the Poconos, the Catskills and Williamsburg, Va. All of them are in driving distance and most of them offer the ability to take a long weekend close to home for a very affordable price if you can travel outside of the summer months.

The ideas above are all about using points to reserve weeks units. You could also use the same approach to reserve only a couple of days at any points resort that is close by. There are less of them in your area but there are some.

You can't sell your points and RCI won't take them back. Why not make the best of it.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

What the heck can I do with all these points???? RCI does not buy them back, correct?

Help!

Go on vacation.

[Greggorio21 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Greggorio21]

Thanks guys!

I just fear that I will not come close to using 70k points before Feb 2011 (when they expire) and want to make the best of its value. Are other RCI members typically interested in buying points at a competitive cost? For instance, is it unheard of to sell my points to another RCI Points member....for example...25k points for $500?

Just thinking out loud really....

Points are also good for applying towards airfare correct?

Appreciate the feedback

And yes I'm a Philly guy, but don't spend much time or money in AC anymore these days....

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

If you can't go, send friends or family. SOMEONE has a special occasion coming up in the next year. They could maybe be future renters of the MX weeks...

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

You aren't allowed to sell RCI points. But even if you were, $500 for 25K points would be a poor deal for someone. You can buy points right from RCI for that amount ($.02/point), and many resorts sell points for .015/point or even .01/point for points soon to expire. You would have to sell them for a penny per point or less for someone to be interested, if you were actually allowed to sell them.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Points are also good for applying towards airfare correct?

Yes but for most people, it is a better deal to book the airfare yourself by the time RCI gets done adding fees. They also limit (severely in my opinion) the number of points you can use for points partner reservations. It's capped at 25 percent of your yearly total.

[Dancingfish Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dancingfish]

I thought that as long as you used some of your points you could carry them over from year to year??

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

I thought that as long as you used some of your points you could carry them over from year to year??

True, but I discovered recently that using points for weeks reservations does not qualify you to carry points over for no charge. I don't know if using points partners would do it. Standard reservations definitely do, in fact it was part of the confirmation process to indicate whether you wanted to move your remaining points into the next use year.