RCI vs. II

[bsheets326 Member Find all posts View Profile Close bsheets326]

I own a fairly large number of FF points and several non-FF weeks that I trade through RCI. Unfortunatley I'm unable to control my impulses, and I am considering a weeks purchase that would trade through II. Can any of the II users give me some advice. How important is the 5-star rating vs. the number of bedrooms? I have seen mixed opinions regarding this issue on the various forums. I am planning on buying a red season week, and I assume that will be just as important for trading power. Am I approaching this the right way? I feel like a TS newbie again.
I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks,
Brent

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I own weeks that trade with both. Some of my weeks do better with II.

With II If you want 1 bedrooms exchanges than buy a 1 bedroom at times you can get upgraded. The 5 star rating will get you the 5 star edition book. The non 5 star book has the same resort but you will not know the rating. I have done slightly better with my 5 star resort but not by much. If you want gold then buy a Marriott and the door will open up.

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

II pays attention to both star rating, and size. You can't request a 2 bedroom in an ongoing search if you only have a 1 bedroom deposit. And my standard resort sees a whole world of places I never knew were there with my 5*s... that works great for me for ski locations, but may not be what you want...

[cirkus Member Find all posts View Profile Close cirkus]

I'll let others more experienced answer your II question, but I just want to make sure you realize you won't be able to use your FF points to trade into II since your FF external exchange company is now RCI. The only way to do that is to have a 2nd FF account with points from a II afiliated ts.
Bill

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

I am planning on buying a red season week, and I assume that will be just as important for trading power. Am I approaching this the right way? I feel like a TS newbie again. I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks, Brent

...and, of course you know, Red does not equal Red. Red is really when kids are out of school, very few others are truly Red.

[bsheets326 Member Find all posts View Profile Close bsheets326]

Thanks for all the tips. I tend to keep my FF points separate, and I rarely deposit them in RCI, since I can usually find a FF resort that meets my needs for at least one week a year. I have trader weeks for my RCI trades. I plan to purchase at least a 2 BR for II trades, and it will most likely be in the summer months. I would like to purchase a Marriott, but the initial cost and MFs may be prohibitive. I appreciate the info you have all provided.

Brent

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

II pays attention to both star rating, and size. You can't request a 2 bedroom in an ongoing search if you only have a 1 bedroom deposit. And my standard resort sees a whole world of places I never knew were there with my 5*s... that works great for me for ski locations, but may not be what you want...

Avery, thank you for this information and because of it and the negative RCI information that exchanges are getting harder to get, I listed our independent resort with II yesterday so should have a much better choice now.

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

I own a fairly large number of FF points and several non-FF weeks that I trade through RCI. Unfortunatley I'm unable to control my impulses, and I am considering a weeks purchase that would trade through II. Can any of the II users give me some advice. How important is the 5-star rating vs. the number of bedrooms? I have seen mixed opinions regarding this issue on the various forums. I am planning on buying a red season week, and I assume that will be just as important for trading power. Am I approaching this the right way? I feel like a TS newbie again.
I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks,
Brent

Brent,

Don't know if it applies to you as I do not know which part of the US you live in.

One way to crossover from RCI to II resorts is by use of the independant trading companies. For FF owners SFX , TPI and DAE have their attractions.

Means reserving a FF unit and turning that into the independant exchange.

This works well for travel to the Western US and MX, HI, Europe and Australiasia. Not so for the Eastern US.

But you probably know this.

[bsheets326 Member Find all posts View Profile Close bsheets326]

basham,
I have seen other FF users do that and exchange through SFX. I may give that a try as well.
thanks!