Need recommendation for strong RCI trader

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

Hi. Seeing the flood of DVCs and having no access to them since my timeshares are with II, we're nosing around for a strong RCI trader that will grab a dvc. Ideally, it would be cheap to buy, own, and would see everything. It's a tall order, but I'm really hoping to figure out what I should be looking for on Ebay, etc. Many thanks, Carol

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

First, the caveat: buying something with such a narrow exchange purpose in mind is a fool's errand, and will almost certainly lead to disappointment.

Now that that's out of the way, the obvious places to look are:

• Carolinas coastal, June/July
• Southern FL gulf coast, February/March
• Southern CA coastal (preferably summer)
• President's week ski-in/ski-out in the Rockies

Maybe add panhandle FL June/July to that list as well, but I don't know about that.

A few others might work (summer in the upper midwest, summer rockies, certain SA weeks/resorts), but they're more hit and miss: some do, some don't.

You might have less risk with a mini-system that allows you to bank specific weeks. That way, if circumstances change, you can switch up your trade bait within the system. Note that Wyndham FairShare Plus is not such a mini-system---Wyndham picks the week, not you.

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

don't spend too much, before you know it RCI will make it a 1 in 4....

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

think few timeshares and high demand.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I heard Week 41 at Orange Lake is as good as it gets.

Along Lawren's line, SW FL Weeks 1-16, focusing on 5-10. Some of the older, soldout resorts have their own resale programs. Those weeks are hard to come by, but you can. I can give some suggestions without getting into the really expensive ($20K resale) Sanibels and HGVCs.

All that said, I am seeing all there is to be seen with a lowly Branson Gold Crown Summer week, which you could probably pick up for a buck on eBay.

[jmatias Member Find all posts View Profile Close jmatias]

I've also been looking for an RCI trader and it's like II... look for the high demand areas like summer so cal. summer cape, etc.

But you also hear of those traders that seem to defy the logic, like JLB's branson week ( wanna share which resort )

I find RCI so much more confusing to use than II. But its all part of the game I guess.

Jen

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Any of the better ones peak summer.

Another thing to remember trading-power-wise is that nothing is permanent. What is hot today may be not next year.

So, go with something that has endured, not likely to change. As I have followed SW FL in January (any of snowbird season) for more than ten years, I would go with it.

But you also hear of those traders that seem to defy the logic, like JLB's branson week ( wanna share which resort )

[jamstew Member Find all posts View Profile Close jamstew]

Are there any particular SW FL resorts you'd recommend? I'd definitely love to own in that area, not just to exchange but for personal use.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

What do you like?

Fancy Schmancy, or . . .

Many SW FL resorts were developed, or converted from existing hotels/motels, before any of those in Orlando ever got started.

Many are way passed their inflated developer pricing.

Here is the way I have ranked them (I haven't done anything with these rankings in awhile). These are not precise and very subjective.

Plantation House at South Seas Resort
South Seas Club @ South Seas
Tortuga Beach Club
Hyatt Coconut Plantation
Plantation Bay Villas at South Seas Resort
Harbourview Villas at South Seas Resort
Sanibel Beach Club II
Charter Club of Marco
Vanderbilt Beach and Harbour Club
Sanibel Cottages
Cottages at South Seas Plantation
Eagles Nest
Sanibel Beach Club I
Plantation Beach Club @ South Seas
Casa Ybel Beach and Racquet Club
Seawatch on the Beach
Lighthouse Resort and Club
Hurricane House
Club Regency
Shell Island Beach Club
Surf Club
Lovers Key Beach Club & Resort
Lahaina Inn
Doral Owners @ South Seas
Marina Village at Snug Harbor
Charter Club Resort on Naples Bay
Mariners Boathouse
Surfrider Beach Club
Bel-Air Beach Club
Caribbean Beach Club
Beach Club of Marco
Beach Club I
Bonita Resort and Club
Lehigh Resort Club
Gulf Pointe of Naples
Englewood Beach and Yacht Club
Fishermen’s Village
Island Towers
Sunrise Bay
Royal Beach Club
Tropical Sands
Windward Passage
Sandrift Resort
Caribe Beach Resort
Kahlua Beach Club
Sea Oats Beach Club
White Sands
Charlotte Bay Resort and Club
Estero Island Beach Club
Golf Villas of Bonita Springs
Marco Resort and Club

In Snowbird season you can expect prices around $20K at the nicer places, and $2K-$3K at the lesser places.

I also have kept track of the resorts I see, or usetasee, as available during Snowbird Season:

Lehigh Resort Club
Charlotte Bay Resort & Club
Fishermen's Village Resort Club
Marco Resort & Club
Sea Oats Beach Club
Estero Island Beach Club
Bonita Resort & Club
Lahaina Inn
Royal Beach Club
Kahlua Beach Club
Marina Village at Snug Harbor
Sunrise Bay Resort and Club
Tropical Sands
Englewood Beach Club and Resort
Windward Passage Resort
White Sands Resort Club
Mariner’s Boathouse

Any more, these have gotten very rare . . . the ones I have been seeing recently are Tropical Sands, Marco Resort and Club, Estero Island Beach Club, Sea Oats, Englewood Beach & Yacht Club, Charlotte Bay and Resort Club, and Fishermen's Village.

Why don't you do some googling, maybe see what ones you can find for sale, and I can tell you more about specific ones. There are some lesser ones we are fond of and some we would rather stay at home.

Are there any particular SW FL resorts you'd recommend? I'd definitely love to own in that area, not just to exchange but for personal use.

[jamstew Member Find all posts View Profile Close jamstew]

What do you like?

Fancy Schmancy, or . . .

Many SW FL resorts were developed, or converted from existing hotels/motels, before any of those in Orlando ever got started.

Many are way passed their inflated developer pricing.

Here is the way I have ranked them (I haven't done anything with these rankings in awhile). These are not precise and very subjective.

Plantation House at South Seas Resort
South Seas Club @ South Seas
Tortuga Beach Club
Hyatt Coconut Plantation
Plantation Bay Villas at South Seas Resort
Harbourview Villas at South Seas Resort
Sanibel Beach Club II
Charter Club of Marco
Vanderbilt Beach and Harbour Club
Sanibel Cottages
Cottages at South Seas Plantation
Eagles Nest
Sanibel Beach Club I
Plantation Beach Club @ South Seas
Casa Ybel Beach and Racquet Club
Seawatch on the Beach
Lighthouse Resort and Club
Hurricane House
Club Regency
Shell Island Beach Club
Surf Club
Lovers Key Beach Club & Resort
Lahaina Inn
Doral Owners @ South Seas
Marina Village at Snug Harbor
Charter Club Resort on Naples Bay
Mariners Boathouse
Surfrider Beach Club
Bel-Air Beach Club
Caribbean Beach Club
Beach Club of Marco
Beach Club I
Bonita Resort and Club
Lehigh Resort Club
Gulf Pointe of Naples
Englewood Beach and Yacht Club
Fishermen’s Village
Island Towers
Sunrise Bay
Royal Beach Club
Tropical Sands
Windward Passage
Sandrift Resort
Caribe Beach Resort
Kahlua Beach Club
Sea Oats Beach Club
White Sands
Charlotte Bay Resort and Club
Estero Island Beach Club
Golf Villas of Bonita Springs
Marco Resort and Club

In Snowbird season you can expect prices around $20K at the nicer places, and $2K-$3K at the lesser places.

I also have kept track of the resorts I see, or usetasee, as available during Snowbird Season:

Lehigh Resort Club
Charlotte Bay Resort & Club
Fishermen's Village Resort Club
Marco Resort & Club
Sea Oats Beach Club
Estero Island Beach Club
Bonita Resort & Club
Lahaina Inn
Royal Beach Club
Kahlua Beach Club
Marina Village at Snug Harbor
Sunrise Bay Resort and Club
Tropical Sands
Englewood Beach Club and Resort
Windward Passage Resort
White Sands Resort Club
Mariner’s Boathouse

Any more, these have gotten very rare . . . the ones I have been seeing recently are Tropical Sands, Marco Resort and Club, Estero Island Beach Club, Sea Oats, Englewood Beach & Yacht Club, Charlotte Bay and Resort Club, and Fishermen's Village.

Why don't you do some googling, maybe see what ones you can find for sale, and I can tell you more about specific ones. There are some lesser ones we are fond of and some we would rather stay at home.

Wow, that's a lot! I can narrow it down some. As long as it's clean and beachfront, I'm not really picky, but I am cheap so would only be interested in the lesser places. In fact, I generally prefer smaller and less fancy schmantzy. I've stayed at Lahaina, and if I had been in the part on the beach side of the road, it would have been okay. I've been to, but not stayed on, Sanibel, and it's hard to get an impression of it from driving down the main road...not to mention the traffic! For personal use, I'm not particularly interested in snowbird season, although I understand that would be the best for trading purposes. I usually do a Disney week in early May and would like to have something to add a second week in the same trip, but I'm flexible on that. Is late April still snowbird season? Good food nearby would be a big plus since I don't cook, and I'd prefer not to have to drive any more than necessary.

I'll take a look at some of the resorts you listed. I've been looking at what's available, and as you mentioned, there doesn't appear to be much out there, certainly not for cheap. I thought if I could narrow down the resorts, it would be a lot easier.

Jamie

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I spent about an hour looking at resale sites and there's not much in Snowbird Season. The nicer resorts are really high, as well as some of the lesser ones.

Unit 203 at Bonita Resort & Club was available through their own site. Most of their resales are handled in-house. I would not take 203 in a trade, cuz it's a parking lot view, but . . .

There's a real estate office on site at Lahaina, so you could call her. That's where they have the welcome breakfast.

A little further north, try Sea Oats and Englewood Beach and Yacht Club. They have their own resales, too. One call to Sea Oats should take care of it.

Bel Air Beach Club is nice. Beach Club I looked nice on their site.

[jamstew Member Find all posts View Profile Close jamstew]

I spent about an hour looking at resale sites and there's not much in Snowbird Season. The nicer resorts are really high, as well as some of the lesser ones.

Unit 203 at Bonita Resort & Club was available through their own site. Most of their resales are handled in-house. I would not take 203 in a trade, cuz it's a parking lot view, but . . .

There's a real estate office on site at Lahaina, so you could call her. That's where they have the welcome breakfast.

A little further north, try Sea Oats and Englewood Beach and Yacht Club. They have their own resales, too. One call to Sea Oats should take care of it.

Bel Air Beach Club is nice. Beach Club I looked nice on their site.

That is so nice of you! I'll keep a look out and make some calls.

Jamie

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Because it is such a small resort, with very little going to RCI to begin with, and because it is not a particularly fancy place, I don't say much about Bonita R & C.

But, we really like it. We have the beach on one side, the bay and pontoon boats on the other, and golf with Rapmarks and Conch Man.

As I've said before, the last time we were there, we checked in on a Jan 30. The Unit and Week we had been trading into, and our favorite unit, was on the board for $2000.

The first business day, Tuesday, bright and early I went downstairs to tell them we wanted it . . . and someone had already bought it.

Friends we had made from staying there several years had their next-door unit for sale, for two weeks, @ $4000 each. They already had buyers, but would have deferred to us. We did not take them.

That's the way most of the little plain Jane SW FL Snowbird Weeks go, to someone already familiar with the place/owners.

One thing BR&C does is let owners have Week 52 for $500. They let us one year because we were owner-like that time of year. So, if we owned Week 1, we would have 2 consecutive weeks there.

That's something to ask resorts about, how they handle Week 52.

I know I already said it, but another one we really like is Bel Air Beach Club. It's small, beachfront, nicely remodeled. Everything but a hot tub. They do their own resales, too.

[jamstew Member Find all posts View Profile Close jamstew]

Because it is such a small resort, with very little going to RCI to begin with, and because it is not a particularly fancy place, I don't say much about Bonita R & C.

But, we really like it. We have the beach on one side, the bay and pontoon boats on the other, and golf with Rapmarks and Conch Man.

As I've said before, the last time we were there, we checked in on a Jan 30. The Unit and Week we had been trading into, and our favorite unit, was on the board for $2000.

The first business day, Tuesday, bright and early I went downstairs to tell them we wanted it . . . and someone had already bought it.

Friends we had made from staying there several years had their next-door unit for sale, for two weeks, @ $4000 each. They already had buyers, but would have deferred to us. We did not take them.

That's the way most of the little plain Jane SW FL Snowbird Weeks go, to someone already familiar with the place/owners.

One thing BR&C does is let owners have Week 52 for $500. They let us one year because we were owner-like that time of year. So, if we owned Week 1, we would have 2 consecutive weeks there.

That's something to ask resorts about, how they handle Week 52.

I know I already said it, but another one we really like is Bel Air Beach Club. It's small, beachfront, nicely remodeled. Everything but a hot tub. They do their own resales, too.

Both resorts look like a really good locations. A friend and I are staying at the Pink Shell Resort in May, which is just a little north of Bel Air, so I'll definitely take a look at it. Judging from the picture on RCI, it doesn't look like many units face the beach, although you might have a beach view from the units on the sides. Is that right? I see that Bonita is across the street from the beach, which I generally don't like but would consider. Is there a view? Is there easy beach access? The only beach I've been to down there is Barefoot Beach, which I loved, and is a little further south I think.

Jamie

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

I am curious as to how Wyndham 28K, 63K, 77K deposits pull the DVC weeks in RCI....anyone 'test-drive' these?