I'm debating over renewing my RCI membership

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

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?

good

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

good

hahahah, LOL.....oh, OK then........

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

RCI for last 3 years.

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?

About 4 years ago after reading all the posts on Tug about RCI(this was before the furvor over Rentals and while the SA craze was still raging) I decided I needed to test the system myself to see what it was like. I had access to RCI through HGVC but could not do online searches so I never knew what I was missing. I bought a couple inexpensive weeks and joined RCI in Feb of 03. The weeks were dual affiliated so I joined II at the same time.

So was it worth it? Yes and No.

I learned by doing. Tuggers come with different vacation styles, different weeks to trade and different wants and needs. I don't think you can fully understand if RCI is worth it to you individually unless you test it out yourself.

What did I find?

Deposit early, request exchanges early, do ongoing searches.

You snooze you lose. Good weeks don't just sit long around waiting to be taken. Even the 45 day window has intense pressure from SA's and low season weeks looking for exchanges and good weeks disappear quickly.

RCI has some hidden jems in the Extra Vacations for reasonable prices. Prices adjust both up and down periodically based on supply so checking often is a must. You might pick up a week that you thought was overpriced for a very good price.

Does my non-RCI account have a place in my future.

Absolutely. However not for exchanges. I found I do not like to do ongoing searches, make exchanges over 7 months in advance, or actually even travel for 7 days at a time. Availability from 2-6 months in advance is poor at best.

I'm leaning more toward rentals for shorter stays and maybe an occasional 7 day exchange or rental. For the right price I will buy and LC or EV and check in late or leave early if it fits my travel plans.

And as we all know RCI has the best rentals.

I'll let others sue RCI over rental while I just keep on keeping on.

Short

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

We never join class action lawsuits either. RCI doesn't even want our business because we still haven't received the new RCI book. Our subscription doesn't run out until July 2011 so we don't have to decide yet.

If the last calls and extra vacations are beneficial to you, I would keep it, Lawren. From what I saw today, I would definitely keep it too.

I had a quick look what they would offer us under extra vacations and found a week for rent at Laguna Shores (0248) for May 4 for $1,054.49. I am familiar with this resort and that seems to be the going rate.

I also found some timeshares in Hawaii and at Lake Tahoe anywhere from $494.99 - $1,413.99. Some may be a very good deal if you happen to be on the Islands already but there are similar sources too and you don't have to be a member.

I found quite a few Puerto Vallarta resorts for the next four weeks dirt cheap. Buganvilias is one of them which is not a mandatory A-I resort and I also saw the Mayan Palace, Grand Velas, Velas Vallarta and the Casa Velas Boutique Hotel which is not a timeshare. We have had lunch there and had a look around. It is owned by the same family who owns Velas Vallarta and the Grand Velas too. It is not on the ocean but it is a very nice resort on the golf course and it has a beach club too. There is a shuttle from here to Velas Vallarta and to the beach club too.

There were others too (Club Regina and Los Tules & Marival Vacation Club in NV and more yet) but I am not familiar with these resorts but have read that they are nice too.

I wonder if so much availability has something to do with people not wanting to fly? Hawaii was very quiet too the week before and after Easter, we noticed.

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

Lawren,

I have been so aggravated with RCI over so many things. And I, too, have considered not renewing my membership that expires 12/07. But the reality is that RCI has better "local" availability for us Northeasterners than the other companies, and I like the access to inexpensive driveable long weekends/etc... I don't count on RCI for our "bigger trips," though I do have a week booked at Club Tahoe for next year's Spring Break (but if I can trade into somewhere better through SFX I will cancel it...). And I must admit there have been some attractive bulk bankings of late that I would hate to miss out on should they ever jibe with our vacation schedules...

Still, if I had to drop one company, RCI would certainly be the first to go, no hesitation....

Avery

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

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

Lawren,

Are you sure 'bout that? Last year we (in our part of Long Island, anyway) had a similar split holiday, we got a 5 day weekend for Easter at the end of March and over a week (yup all eight days at least) for Passover at the end of April (probably an easier week to get a match as it is shoulder season)...

Avery