HELP: Veteran Owners - Virgin Users!

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

Hi guys we currently own 3 time share.

Grandview Resorts in Vegas (since 2012 RCI affiliated, we own 49,000 points)
Silverleaf Resorts in Chicago ( since 2015 NOT RCI affiliated)
Diamond Resorts in Hawaii (since 2016 - NOT RCI affiliated)

We have barely used our Silverleaf (Went to Chicago property to look and once in Texas) but since purchase we have never used the Vegas one by staying at the property or using points through RCI.

My husband works from home and I am a stay at home mom. We have a 2yr old now and I am 6months pregnant with our 2nd. Our travels have always been spontaneous even since having our son. When I have looked at RCI for last minute getaways I am unable to find anything available for the locations we prefer or its they require way more points than our 49,000. Last year we went to France and Ireland through Travelzoo deals. This year we have already gone to China - also through with a Travelzoo deal.

Clearly RCI has value or it would not have so many opt-in properties, so many members and would not have made it so long. What am I doing wrong? If feels like we are paying for nothing. How do you guys use your Timeshare(s) and RCI to realize the intended ROI?

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

There is no ROI for timeshares, you have to work a bit to make things work for you. Hang around, ask questions and check out the old threads here.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

If look at the RCI points guide here - https://www.rci.com/static/docs/en_US/points-grid.pdf you can get an idea of what 49kpoints will get you in different areas of the world. The best way to get what you want is to check exactly 10 months from when you want to travel. That doesn’t really fit with your last minute lifestyle but you will get what you want when you want to go if you plan ahead.

In the past you could also set up ongoing searches for weeks inventory using your points account. It’s been a few years since I had points so that may not be true any longer.

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

If you are spontaneous, you should get a good bang for the buck with 49,000 points, but if you are looking for prime locations at prime time, those exchanges are snapped up by people who have put in ongoing searches. Those weeks never make it to online exchange. For example, you probably won’t see Summer beach weeks on the east coast in July unless there is a cancellation. So there is some planning required to be successful with RCI.

Are the Silverleaf and Diamond properties affiliated with Interval International? If so, you can try them, but there is a member fee each year.

Do Silverleaf and/or Diamond have internal exchange programs? If so, you might be able to find something you can use there.

Good luck. There are a lot of exchange experts here. Stick around, and ask lots of questions.

[M. Henley Class President Find all posts View Profile Close M. Henley]

JLB says:

I'm surprised that one of the experts that has posted has not mentioned that Silverleaf doesn't exist any more. Holiday Inn Club Vacation bought them, so the OP may be able to get something from HICV.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Hell Melvin, We forgot more about timeshares than most people know. Silverleaf was never much to talk about, so it's no surprise no one cares about them being bought out. You still talking to the ridge runner ?