Book Manhattan Club with RCI or chance SFX?

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

So, I have a couple deposited weeks with RCI that I can use to book a MC week. I also have a deposit with SFX. I'm only wanting a specific week and when you put your request in with SFX, you get the blah, blah, waiver that makes you sign your life away that you have to take the week if it matches. The week I'm looking for is sitting online on RCI. So do I book with RCI and pay the stupid $25/day amenitiy fee or actually chance SFX pulling a rabbit out of the hat in matching my request and not have to pay the daily amenity fee?

I should clarify that I put in a request with SFX after seeing the bulk MC club RCI ex-op.

I should also add the last time I tried this head to head comparsion to see who would deliver, RCI did. SFX could match the resort but not the check-in day and that was very important because it needed to span specific days.

So go with known commodity that charges additonal fees or wannabe that talks big but has had trouble delivering for me, although has for others.??

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

A bird in the hand.......
is worth $25/day to you?
Unless you're willing to gamble, take the one with RCI.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I agree. Paying $25 a day for that super location and to be sure you get the date you need or want is a no brainer. Why agonizing over if you will get it or not? JMHO. The MC is in walking distance of most everything. You answered your own question already, Gordon.

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

Book it with cancellation insurance and then try SFX. That housekeeping fee riles me no end. Especially when we know the housekeepers don't get any of it! It's just another added on RCI fee.

SFX does have a relationship at TMC. What week are you looking for?

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I think Lawren is giving you good advice - although with the insurance and what u get back, do u come out ahead of the $175 u pay MC thru RCI, I just don't know???

I think if I did not need a specific week (meaning I could give them a 2 month span) , I would use SFX - it is just that I am usually locked in to a week or two that I could go because of other commitments.

That was not helpful was it?
LOL!

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

Book it with cancellation insurance and then try SFX. That housekeeping fee riles me no end. Especially when we know the housekeepers don't get any of it! It's just another added on RCI fee.

SFX does have a relationship at TMC. What week are you looking for?

How come RCI is charging a housekeeping fee and not paying the housekeepers? Isn't that deceptive business practices? Sounds like another class action in the making.

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

How come RCI is charging a housekeeping fee and not paying the housekeepers? Isn't that deceptive business practices? Sounds like another class action in the making.

This is the official wording from RCI:

MANDATORY HOSPITALITY FEE REQUIRED FOR EACH UNIT CONFIRMED: US$15/NIGHT FOR STUDIO UNITS AND US$25/NIGHT FOR 1BR UNITS. THE FEE WILL BE COLLECTED BY CREDIT CARD AT CHECK-IN. A US$300 SECURITY DEPOSIT WILL BE COLLECTED AT CHECK-IN. CHECK OUT IS 11AM. RENTAL GUESTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE RESORT CONCIERGESERVICE TO MAKE TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS OR BOOK AREA ATTRACTION TICKETS. GUESTS SHOULD CALL 888-201-6711, OR 212-453-8855, OR RCI GUIDES CAN TRANSFER GUESTS WHO HAVE CONFIRMED THROUGH THE CALL CENTER (NORTH AMERICA ONLY). AS A GUEST OF THE MANHATTAN CLUB, YOU WILL ENJOY OUR SPECIAL DISCOUNTED VALET PARKING. UPGRADES CANNOT BE GUARANTEED AND ARE AN ADDITIONAL FEE BASED ON AVAILABILITY. RESORT HAS 1/4 YR RULE.
Only RCI charges this fee the other exchange companies do not, but then again, no other exchange company has the 1 - in - x rule either.

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

I think Lawren is giving you good advice - although with the insurance and what u get back, do u come out ahead of the $175 u pay MC thru RCI, I just don't know???

I think if I did not need a specific week (meaning I could give them a 2 month span) , I would use SFX - it is just that I am usually locked in to a week or two that I could go because of other commitments.

That was not helpful was it?
LOL!

For Week's Exchanges:

RCI Vacation Protection protects the Trading Power of your deposited week to ensure it's retained if you should need to cancel your exchange for any reason. Additionally, you'll receive a $100 USD exchange credit posted to the RCI account, valid for three months, if a vacation must be cancelled. The original exchange fee is not reimbursed under the plan.

The cost of Vacation Protection is $49 USD, and it will apply to cancellations made for any reason to one-for-one exchanges. Vacation Protection may be purchased up to 30 days after the member confirms an exchange. However, Vacation Protection cannot be purchased 14 days or less in advance of travel. Refunds may be requested up to 14 days after Vacation Protection is purchased; however, no refunds will be given if the protection is cancelled 14 days or fewer prior to the travel start date.

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

MC Daily Fees

I think that TMC is charging the daily fees at check-in for all guests, so if you exchange through SFX, you may be charged also.

Only way the daily fees are waved if you are a owner at TMC (they already paid huge MF!).

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

I think that TMC is charging the daily fees at check-in for all guests, so if you exchange through SFX, you may be charged also.

Only way the daily fees are waved if you are a owner at TMC (they already paid huge MF!).

That is not true. SFX and II do not charge these fees to incoming exchangers. We know this for fact.

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

With the date restriction that you have, I think you should go for the RCI week.

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

I like Lawren's suggestion. That gives you the best of all possible worlds for only a fairly small fee.

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

Book it with cancellation insurance and then try SFX. That housekeeping fee riles me no end. Especially when we know the housekeepers don't get any of it! It's just another added on RCI fee.

SFX does have a relationship at TMC. What week are you looking for?

I'm looking for a May non-holiday week in the 1BR. I think this might be the way to go. It's similar to the booking a hotel room and hoping for an exchange to match. I've never really used the insurance portion in worrying about trade power, but the partial return of the exchange fee is starting to come more into play for me. Insurance probably makes more sense here because I'm using a tiger that still has quite a bit of time left after if I were to cancel.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I'm looking for a May non-holiday week in the 1BR. I think this might be the way to go. It's similar to the booking a hotel room and hoping for an exchange to match. I've never really used the insurance portion in worrying about trade power, but the partial return of the exchange fee is starting to come more into play for me. Insurance probably makes more sense here because I'm using a tiger that still has quite a bit of time left after if I were to cancel.

May is prime time in NYC. A one week window isn't a very safe bet with SFX, Mark would tell you that himself. Lawren's plan is a good one. So when ya coming?

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

Book it with cancellation insurance and then try SFX.

And you have 30 days to buy that cancellation insurance, so you can book the RCI week, give SFX 29 days to find you an exchange, and then if they can't, you decide then whether to just stay with RCI, or to pay the $49 and keep having SFX look for you. If SFX finds something in 29 days, you pay the $49, cancel the RCI week and keep the $175 housekeeping, and come out $125 ahead.

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