Okay, you guys are all keeping 9,000-point secrets!

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

So I have been searching late at night for last-minute RCI points exchanges to Hawaii. I have wondered why these exchanges within the 45-day window are showing up as regular points amounts. Some say 9,000 and others say 80,000, for the same time periods.

So for kicks, I selected a week that was 80,000 points just now and found out that it really is 9,000 points. I would only have to pay 9,000 points, if I actually wanted the week.

Okay now, tell the truth, how many of you knew this already?

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

Not us....fixed weeks owners here...but congrats...so when do you fly out to Hawaii?

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

I didn't know

Cindy, I wasn't aware. I do searches most nights after midnight and had noticed the increased point value requirements for available weeks within the 45 day limit. When I had talked with an RCI guide, she had said that instant vacations had been paired back the same way as it had been with Last Call and that only reservations 2 weeks out now fell into the discounted point range.

If what you're saying is the case, then I'll take a closer look because I wasn't prepared to do the higher point value reservation .

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

Points? What's that?

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

Cindy, I wasn't aware. I do searches most nights after midnight and had noticed the increased point value requirements for available weeks within the 45 day limit. When I had talked with an RCI guide, she had said that instant vacations had been paired back the same way as it had been with Last Call and that only reservations 2 weeks out now fell into the discounted point range....

Oh, my! If that's true, that's awful!

I haven't been searching the 45 day window lately, but I'll have to keep your suggestion in mind, Cindy. Thanks!!

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

I did a search on the RCI Points site and found this:

Search Results
Use it as the ideal service assistant to get the answers you need when you need them . . . online!

How do I get a vacation for only 9,000 Points?
You can maximize the value of your Points when requesting a Weeks Resort Exchange 45-days or less in advance of confirming your exchange. You'll be able to confirm your vacation for the Points value equivalent to the region's lowest season (red, white or blue time) and smallest unit size, or 9,000 Points, whichever is less.

If this is their policy, and it is still on their site, why do they suddenly only show two weeks in Hawaii searches? Why are they witholding listings from us? It makes no sense, unless they are renting.

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

You're right

I just went into my account and did a 45 day search. Some of the available weeks show as 45K or 60K requirement but when I put it on hold, it came in at 6K or 7.5K. So you're right. There must be a glitch in the system (that's no surprise, we're talking RCI website ). So it looks like the 45 day window is there but doesn't show up properly

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

I could get weeks for almost three weeks out last night, for 9,000 points.

My searches for Hawaii pulled less than Orlando, where I could pull for 45 days ahead for 7,500 points.

I think they choose not to release weeks ahead of time. Last night at 11:00 p.m., mountain time, there were 27 resorts in weeks and 13 in points in Hawaii. That was amazing to see. If you had a low-cost RCI trader, you could grab a week fairly easily in that 2-3 week window. I used a blue week. Using my blue week, I would only pay $569 total with exchange fee to get a GC timeshare on Hawaii! Points are one penny a piece, so I could have had a Maui Lea at Maui Hill (check-in 9/16) two bedroom and a Waikoloa Bay Hilton (check-in 9/9) two bedroom for a total of 15,000 points+exchange fees of $200= less than $350 for both weeks.

We just got back from Hawaii, but I see this would be the way to go. I saw a Shearwater week a few nights ago and a Hilton Hawaiian Village. Put those two together for two exchanges and you have a great trip. Airfare is cheaper than it was all summer, even last-minute airfare.

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

We just got back from Hawaii, but I see this would be the way to go. I saw a Shearwater week a few nights ago and a Hilton Hawaiian Village. Put those two together for two exchanges and you have a great trip. Airfare is cheaper than it was all summer, even last-minute airfare.

I'm assuming that you would do a week for week exchange on the Shearwater because you can't get it for instant exchange because it's a Points resort. HHV on an instant exchange would be definitely be a good deal! If you can make it work and get there, that would be awesome! Too bad, we can't get away quite as easily or have as good airline access! (Oh yeah, having more holidays would be a requirement )