I'm debating over renewing my RCI membership

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

currently runs thru March 2008. I still have an on-going search that's been in the system for 13 months now with nary a match. So I'm a tad miffed at them. I am constantly seeing no availability for first quarter 2007 in Caribbean and SW Florida.

There won't be a spring break week here in NY in 2008 because of the separation between Passover and Easter.

So I'm thinking of convincing the menfolk that live with me to go back to Hawaii summer 2008. I can use my Desert Breezes to exchange thru Trading Places as that's a preferred resort with them and do a free internal trade thru PSE to Pono Kai with my Havasu Dunes week.

The only kink in this line of thought is I would have to rent my Cape Winds week for 2007 as we will be in England during our use week. I've never done a rental before....

Any thoughts/encouragement are appreciated. I'll have to decide what I'm going to do by the end of July and I could use some food for thought on this.

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

What would you do with all your spare time if you didn't renew?

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

If you drop RCI, who will do the RCI sighting for me? LOL

Glad to hear you enjoy your vacation.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

Go for the drop

If you don't need it, and there is no extra cost to reactive the membership, go for it. It is a good time, you can try see other exchange company to see if they can get you a week of your Cape Winds week. Some of them allow you to just poke around for free. And IMHO rent out don't need to post advetisement until 3 to 4 month out. You may like them enough then that is a consideration to reactive RCI membership. But that will be a nice headacke.

Jya-Ning

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

I think you should renew - if you don't we won't see all those great sightings and wish we had your timeshares to search.

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

Lawren


I was thinking the same thing and just using the other exchange company’s or direct trades. The way RCI had dropped my trading power and they raised their prices this year, made me very upset with them.

I am just a little nervous about trying something new.

Lawren, I feel you know so much about exchanging resorts that you & timesharefourms will benefit no matter what you decide.

In the end, just do what you feel is best for you

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

Ken,
I feel the same as you - nervous about trying something new.

But I joined SFX and deposited a week with them. I am going to see how it goes. The advantage for me with II and RCI is being able to trade a year or more out....I can use my FF miles to book flights.

I purchased Island Park Village specifically to trade with RCI - to get resorts such as the Grand Mayans, Morritt Grand and other Caribbean destinations II doesn't have....but now these resorts have 1 in 4 and 1 in FIVE rules thru RCI - the attraction is getting less and less. Unless I decide to go to Europe more often I am also ambivilant about keeping RCI.

Out of 10 TS owned, I use II (and now SFX) for 9.....

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

I blow hot and cold with both the major exchange companies. Right now I'm neutral, just too busy to plan or even think about vacations.

Good luck whatever you decide, Lawren!

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

I know my ex-op disease will probably take effect and I won't be able to hold out...... now united has upped the FF award seats for business class by 25% and I'm NOT flying to Hawaii in coach ever again.

and then this morning I nabbed a really nice extra vacation.

I'd probably stopping bitchin' and moaning if RCI would just match my search. I've never waited this long for an exchange. Another month and booking FF seats will be out the window. Once that week is exchanged we will see how much resolve I have.

Ken what do you mean their costs went up again? For membership? The good news is I have VRI 3 years for price of 2 if I make up my mind to re-up.

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

Ken what do you mean their costs went up again? For membership? The good news is I have VRI 3 years for price of 2 if I make up my mind to re-up.

No not for membership, but for trading. But i will probably keep using RCI. I am just upset with them because my trading power went down.

Lawren when will you be in Hawaii? We will be there in September.

What resort did you pick up this morning on last call?

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

No not for membership, but for trading. But i will probably keep using RCI. I am just upset with them because my trading power went down.

Lawren when will you be in Hawaii? We will be there in September.

What resort did you pick up this morning on last call?

You could do well with SFX. I'm sure they'd take Powell. I'm lucky that I even have alternatives for 2 of mine and last I looked Trading Places will take Cape Winds too. Trading Places is very limited in scope though, especially since we have no desire to return to Mexico and yes I'm aggravated with RCI. It could be a LOT of people are realizing they do better renting those areas out at there prime times too.

So I was thinking Hawaii for 2008.....maybe. It would have to be Hawaii if I sample TP or they seem to get some nice inventory at Idaho Park Village too. I wonder if they'll take Havasu Dunes?

I picked up Gurney's Montauk as an EV check-in next Friday. I will give it to DH as his birthday present.

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

I picked up Gurney's Montauk as an EV check-in next Friday. I will give it to DH as his birthday present.

What is "EV"?
...and it is a nice time of year to be out here!

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

You could do well with SFX. I'm sure they'd take Powell. luc :

I will probably stay with RCI since I have already paid for a few more years.
Though I am wondering what SFX could do for me? but for the mean time things will stay the way they are.

Pat, "EV" means extra vacation. With RCI

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

Lawren,

I think RCI policies and customer service are the pits, not to mention costs that keep going up while what we get back continues to go down. And they've cancelled 2 overseas confirmations for no good reason, which cost me $$ and lots more work, which has made me pretty mad, because they could have and should have just rented me a replacement week at the same resorts, at no cost to me.

But I've tried SFX and DAE, and for me and my vacation preferences, RCI still delivers way more choice and quantity. There's no comparison, I mean like 10x-100x more choice and quantity. Or more. So until/unless things even out for me, or I give up on timesharing, guess I'll have to stick with RCI.

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

I just wanted to say that with all the various threads regarding RCI these days, I feel very out of the loop......

I have never had a timeshare listed with RCI. I don't really know anything about them, except what I read here. I don't know if that is a good or a bad thing?