Have u rented a week thru RCI's rental channels because no RCI exchange available?

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Hi I am starting a new poll regarding RCI rentals.

In 2005/2006 have you rented a week through one of RCI's rental channels because you could not get the RCI exchange that you wanted?

Yes I rented a similar week via RCI's rental program because I could not get the exchange I wanted for the same time.

Yes and No (both) I travel so much that I had to combine both strategies to get what I wanted. I rented and exchanged for weeks that I wanted.

No I was able to get the week(s) I wanted via RCI exchange.

No I could not find the week via RCI exchange nor RCI's rental program.

I use RCI rentals instead of exchanging because they are cheaper than exchanging for what I want.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

John in order to start the poll you should have added it when you first started the thread. You might be able to still do so by editing your first post. Just look near where it says manage attachments. Just below that you will see add poll. Put a check in the box and when you hit reply you can type your questions.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Frank I was still working on it and not sure why it posted the way it did. I think I fixed it now. vote away.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

I use both strategies.

We do travel a lot so I use both strategies. I have more weeks than I need but I am able to bring friends and family along many times. I do take advantage of the rentals because they are great deals many times...as they are much cheaper than maintenance fees/taxes plus exchange fees.

I have done this several times over the last several years including last Christmas/new years and this spring break.

I was just able to get an RCI rental last minute for cheap for this Spring Break and it was very similar to what I wanted (resort was just as nice but just down the road from where I wanted). I was not able to get an exchange for the date earlier when I searched starting several months ago but I only searched on-line for it....I did not have an ongoing search.

So I have no idea if the week I got was available via exchange because when I saw it on the rental site I snagged it as I knew it would not last but a few minutes on the last minute rental site.

On the other hand I have planned my RCI exchanges for this summer's very hard to get weeks over a year and a half ago.....I doubt I would be able to get the rentals I wanted at the really peak times so I locked in what I had when they came up and am very happy I was able to do this with RCI exchange.

So basically I just adapt to the changes that RCI is putting forth and making th best of it.

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

John, I don't know how to vote but this is what happened to us. I wanted to go to Las Vegas and my BH called RCI to request an exchange but they talked him into renting a week instead rather than exchanging!

I want to travel less because of our old cat so I canceled it immediately and we got our exchange eventually at the HGVC.

How should I vote?

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

I would say you were able to get the week you wanted via RCI exchange.

John, I don't know how to vote but this is what happened to us. I wanted to go to Las Vegas and my BH called RCI to request an exchange but they talked him into renting a week instead rather than exchanging!

I want to travel less because of our old cat so I canceled it immediately and we got our exchange eventually at the HGVC.

How should I vote?

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

OK, I voted ..

No - which seems to be the right answer.

Thanks.

[reddiablosv Member Find all posts View Profile Close reddiablosv]

I rented the last two weeks of summer at the EVR at Poipu Point in Kauai for myself and a friend from snap travel. These were both two bedroom units. Nothing was available for exchange. With my Amex discount my total rental cost was about 1/3 less than an owner's annual MF!!!! Not bad for the last two weeks of summer vacation! ....... I know, there are certainly some RCI members that would have loved to exchange for these units, but even worse, I am willing to bet there are some EVR PP point owners that would have wanted these units!!!! I couldn't change RCI's behavior, maybe the lawsuit will? But, the opportunity was there. Ben

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

John, I don't know how to vote but this is what happened to us. I wanted to go to Las Vegas and my BH called RCI to request an exchange but they talked him into renting a week instead rather than exchanging!

UNBELIEVABLE....called for an exchange and Rented a week instead....sounds like 'bait and switch' to me..

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

Yes, I agree and my BH fell for it too but, since I read the forums, I did not.

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

Good poll, but needs another answer

One more answer is needed....

No, I did not find the week I wanted in the exchange spacebank, but I did see that RCI was offering the exact week in their rental program. I was unwilling to rent it as this is not what my membership in RCI was meant for.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

That is a good point.....I don't know how to change it even if I could.

One more answer is needed....

No, I did not find the week I wanted in the exchange spacebank, but I did see that RCI was offering the exact week in their rental program. I was unwilling to rent it as this is not what my membership in RCI was meant for.

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

Another possible answer...

I had the experience of not finding the exchange I wanted in the spacebank and starting an ongoing search as it was more than a year from the desired travel date. I discovered multiple weeks available from RCI for rent at LESS THAN THE MAINT FEE for the resort (Sheraton Mountain Vista). I killed the ongoing search and booked 2 back-to-back weeks at the resort at that price.

So my answer would be: Yes I rented a similar week via RCI's rental program as I could not get the exchange I wanted AND it was cheaper than exchanging for what I want.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

It is interesting that Timeshareforums.com has over 1100 members yet only 25 people have voted on this poll.....

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

I don't know how to answer this poll. By RCI rental channels do you also mean their MFVs (Most Favored Vacationers), i.e., gubmit employees and hired guns?