RCI Points

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

We just received a newsletter from our timeshare board that they going to offer a switch to RCI points. We were given a contact number.
I need to know some questions to ask before I make the call.

The situation, we own a flex week that does not include the 12 prime weeks of summer. WE have to call 9 months in advance for our week, which is usually red, but early June or September. Doesn't trade well, but i have managed some really good ones thanks to Lawren and putting in searches.

I guess it depends on how much they charge us and how many points we would get. They said it would eliminate the need to call in, so i image the points would be an average of all the off season weaks. That could be pretty low.
So what would be the advang
tages and disadvantages of going to RCI Points.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

To get an idea of what your points might be you can go here:
http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...-pfd-grid.html

Both weeks and points have their great moments. The last minute grab of weeks with points is a wonderful concept. I love grabbing stuff for between 7.5k and 9k plus an exchange fee. There are other examples of points being the hands down winner such as having the ultimate trade power, if you have enough points you can get anything in RCI weeks or points.

I went to Villa L'Auberge for 42k points this spring. Tell me that wasn't a bargain.

Also if you use Points for a points resort you don't have the 1-in-x rules to deal with.

It will really come down to how many points you would get and how much they will charge you for the privilege of converting to see if this is worthwhile for your needs.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

Lawren, this last minute grab of points. could you explain that.
Also with points, you can go for a partial week or is that only within a system, like bluegreen?

When i look at the grid, I see the discrepancy between points neded for red, white,a nd blue. My guess is tht the flex week owners will be given somewhere inthe middle, whereas I have always managed to book and bank red weeks, so this is going to take some thinking as to see what is better.

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

I agree with Lawren.
I have both a weeks timeshare and a points timeshare, there are much more posibilities to get the best resorts with points. One drawback though is you can only book a points resort up to 10 months in advance so if you want top resorts at the height of the season you need to get on the computer 10 months from your chosen time as they go quick.
I also booked back to back weeks for my kids to go Skiing at Blue Mountain, On, Canada. 5 weeks prior to them going, total points 24K, you can't beat that.
Bottom line is you need to find out how many points you will get offered and then make your decision.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Lawren, this last minute grab of points. could you explain that.
Also with points, you can go for a partial week or is that only within a system, like bluegreen?

When i look at the grid, I see the discrepancy between points neded for red, white,a nd blue. My guess is tht the flex week owners will be given somewhere inthe middle, whereas I have always managed to book and bank red weeks, so this is going to take some thinking as to see what is better.

Pat,

It is sort of how in weeks anything can see Last Minute availability. Within ~45 days a weeks resort will cost between 7.5 and 9k points to book.

Points resorts themselves are never discounted in points.

You can only book partial weeks at Points resorts.

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

From what I have heard, with a floating week, you will get a point average considering the whole period, which is likely to represent substantially less trading power than reserving the type of week you usually do.

The big danger of your resort going to points with floating weeks is that RCI is likely to get in touch with management at the very first opportunity and book the very type of weeks you usually do, so they will probably all disppear the first day booking is open.

You will probably be asked to pay a substantial ''conversion fee''

Does your resort have a developer controlled board? If so, this would explain this move, as they will try to rake in money selling you your week over again, and may use high pressure and misrepresentation to do so. If it has a homeowner controlled board, I would be on the horn to all board members asking them just what the heck they were doing making such a decision without running it by the membership first. Summer season members would be fools to join, and the deal is not good for only an average number of points for floating week members. Yet enough would join to let RCI be the thousand pound gorrilla on grabbing all of the best weeks when they come open.

Faced with that choice, I would be looking to sell my week and buy something else. These days, you can buy some really nice timeshares for a lot less than that conversion fee is likely to cost you. Even if you wanted points, you are likely to find a points week for sale for a lot less than the usual conversion fee. That is the comparision I would make. What you can buy in either weeks or points versus the conversion fee.

We just received a newsletter from our timeshare board that they going to offer a switch to RCI points. We were given a contact number.
I need to know some questions to ask before I make the call.

The situation, we own a flex week that does not include the 12 prime weeks of summer. WE have to call 9 months in advance for our week, which is usually red, but early June or September. Doesn't trade well, but i have managed some really good ones thanks to Lawren and putting in searches.

I guess it depends on how much they charge us and how many points we would get. They said it would eliminate the need to call in, so i image the points would be an average of all the off season weaks. That could be pretty low.
So what would be the advang
tages and disadvantages of going to RCI Points.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

If it was me, the decision would be made strictly on the cost. First, what is the conversion fee. It can range from a few hundred dollars to $3K or more. At the upper end, converting a non-prime week doesn't make any sense. You would essentially by buying your timeshare again. Then you have to consider whether the amount of points you receive is worth the maintenance fees you are paying. If you are paying $500/yr for 35K points, that's not a good place to be, there are lots of points resorts that offer better ratios if you really want to get into RCI points.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Good advice

Faced with that choice, I would be looking to sell my week and buy something else. These days, you can buy some really nice timeshares for a lot less than that conversion fee is likely to cost you. Even if you wanted points, you are likely to find a points week for sale for a lot less than the usual conversion fee. That is the comparision I would make. What you can buy in either weeks or points versus the conversion fee.

We agree!!! Carolinian makes a very valid argument that IF you want RCI Points you are most likely better off buying them at a low cost points based resort or maybe on a points lease for FAR less than converting your current membership to RCI Points. Unless they do the conversion for $500 or less look elsewhere to get into the system.

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

Just more agreement here on not converting for more than $500.

My resort offered to convert my points for $2500. I turned around and bought a nice points package that works for me for cheap on ebay with a triennial package and get 25K points a year with $200 maintenance per year or 75K for the 3 years which they give me trienially at a maintenance of $600.

Honestly with all those great 7000 point deals on RCI I am on vacation almost every month for a price of about $250 to $300 a week average including points cost maintenance and exchange fees. (Not including margaritas, beer and fishing bait costs).

Lots of 2 bedroom opportunities for 7000K lately, so I get about 10 weeks extra vacations if I plan it right every 3 years with my cheap triennial points package I bought on ebay.

Add my weeks resort that I convert to points when I don't use it as they will let you do if your resort doesn't have weeks and I have 38,000 more points to use yearly.

I can't find enough time to get in all the vacations.

I say buy a points package elsewhere and keep your week or sell it.

Good luck to you.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

Our board is owner controlled, developer long gone.
The newsletter said they have contracted with MVPService to do resales at the resort. They are offering "workshops" on the benefits. There has been no sale staff at the resort for 10 or more years.
That was a good point,tRCI will get all the June and Sept weeks and we will have nothing left.I have owned it long enough that I can walk away if I need to.
We are not being compelled to do the switch, but I think all the H|OA owned weeks will be switched to RCI points. I haven't been to the resort for several years. In fact many owners have never been there, so how can they get the sales spiel? several years ago I mentioned RCI Points and the manager said that some of the fixed weeks owners would lose out if we switched.
How many RCoints do you need to get a nice reosrt in season or shoulder season?

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

Rapmarks,

The points honestly are all over the place when it comes to shoulder seasons in my opinion. I know in my resort on the beach it is 38,000 for a 2 bedroom but if you book closer to check in then it is 7000 points for the same room. Also 28,000 for a 1 bedroom and 17,000 for a studio but all are 7000 points closer to check in. Kind of like Last call inventory but only available in the weeks/points account area.

Honestly I usually use my RCI points for picking up opportunities more than booking far in advance as it just makes more sense to me to use it that way and then exchange my week for nicer places.

I'm sure others can give you better ideas of how they use thier points.
I know you can get DVC resorts with about 46,000 points. Except of course if your points happen to be in an Orlando timeshare, which mine happens to be.

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

I own 1 week, in a 2 bedroom, at the Grandview in Las Vegas. I went last year and they tried to get me to buy into their 'New' points program. For another $9,000 I would get 98,000 points + a couple of other freebies.
I told them where to go. I mean I can go into RCI 'Last Call' and get inventory at The Grandview for $271 for a 1 bedroom and $308 for a 2 bedroom for at least 50 weeks of the year. Why would I want to pay another $9,000. also RCI phoned me 4 times last year offering Grandview owners a week there for $175.
The bottom line is if you already own at a 'weeks' resort, unless it's for free, don't switch!!!!!

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

I am tending to agree with "unless it is free" line, I think my top number would be $200. But by hiring an outside company, the rsort is setting us up to pay big bucks.

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

The only glitch with buying points elsewhere exists when you are interested in returning to your home resort. My resort allows points owners to see exchanges at the 12 month mark, before the rest of the population can see them at the 10 month mark. I assume other resorts also have this "home resort preference". If the OP were interested primarily in getting back into his home resort during prime season, and it was difficult for standard, non-resort, points owners to see these weeks typically, then it might be worth the conversion fee.

The jury is still out on what happens when you combine home resort points with non-home resort points when making a 12 months out points exchange, as I haven't found anyone who has experience with that yet!