Exchanging w/o Electricity surcharge

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

We booked two weeks in French Polynesia, Club Bali Hai Moorea (RCI #0782) for 14-21 Nov 2009 & 28 Nov-5 Dec 2009. The electricity surcharge is $225 per week in addition to the $199 exchange fee. We might want to stay here for about six consecutive weeks.

I googled the resort name and it looks like owners & their guests do not have to pay the electricity surcharge. If the MF is not too high I might want to get extra weeks from owners and save the $225 electricity + $199 RCI exchange fee.

I couldn't find the resort listed on EBay which is an easy way to see the MF listed for TS sales. Does anyone have suggestions on other places to see MF per resorts online?

Alternatively, finding a non-RCI exchange company that doesn't require us to pay electricity would be nice.

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

Check out this link...no way of telling how old it is though. It states Maintenance fee: 396.00/yr

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

...no way of telling how old it is though. It states Maintenance fee: 396.00/yr

I was thinking about one several years ago and it was quoted as much more than that or I probably would have bought. You've certainly seen their site Moorea Vacation Specials

2008 SEASONAL SPECIAL --- Save now!

You could save 25% off the already low internet rate on
Overwater Bungalows and Beachfront Bungalows!

Check out these 2008 Seasonal Special Rates!
Overwater Bungalows - 161.00 Euros
Breakfast included


Beachfront Bungalows - 148.00 EurosOne Bedroom sleeps 4,Breakfast included
Special discounted US Dollar rates available! Email reservations@clubbalihai.pf for details

[babymakesfour Member Find all posts View Profile Close babymakesfour]

How do we find out which resorts charge electricity fees?

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

When you do an exchange or such it usually tells you if there is an electricity surcharge...

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

Chraging exchangers an electricity surcharge, but not owners is just dishonest, and they should be given ''1's'' on the report card to RCI in response. They need some payback for cheating exchangers.

The flat rate utility surcharges are the most dishonest, especially when charged only to exchangers. Those which are metered and also apply to owners are more acceptable.

At some resorts, utitlity and other charges may vary between exchange companies. By exchnaging through DAE, I have sometimes escaped charges that were levied against RCI exchangers.

[babymakesfour Member Find all posts View Profile Close babymakesfour]

When you do an exchange or such it usually tells you if there is an electricity surcharge...

Okay, thank you

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

I was worried when we went to Scotland about the electricity charge. I seriously kept our unit (house) in the dark all week, and didn't use the baseboard except in the bedroom (when we were in it!) And in the end we paid $25.00!! haha had we known it was going to be so cheap I would have used heat in the other rooms!!

[allenh91801 Member Find all posts View Profile Close allenh91801]

What a great vacation that would be! 6 weeks in absolute paradise. NO tv, no radios, no internet....

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

We booked two weeks in French Polynesia, Club Bali Hai Moorea (RCI #0782) for 14-21 Nov 2009 & 28 Nov-5 Dec 2009. The electricity surcharge is $225 per week in addition to the $199 exchange fee. We might want to stay here for about six consecutive weeks.

I googled the resort name and it looks like owners & their guests do not have to pay the electricity surcharge. If the MF is not too high I might want to get extra weeks from owners and save the $225 electricity + $199 RCI exchange fee.

I couldn't find the resort listed on EBay which is an easy way to see the MF listed for TS sales. Does anyone have suggestions on other places to see MF per resorts online?

Alternatively, finding a non-RCI exchange company that doesn't require us to pay electricity would be nice.

I sent a email to an owner listing Club Bali Hai for rent and sale. This is her reply:

I am not sure if you read the description on Vacation Timeshare Rentals but this resort is advertised as part of a private Vacation Club and not a timeshare. You must become a Private Member in order to gain access to these prices 52 weeks of the year.

With this said, I do have access to unlimited live guest weeks that I am able to rent out but unfortunately there is nothing available for the Club Bali Hai Moorea during your requested time. You would have to become a member to gain access to the Registry of Resorts.

Members do NOT pay additional electrical surcharges at this resort.

If you purchased this membership, you will have two options:

Platinum 100 Year - $2995.00
unlimited weeks per year
unlimited hot weeks at $298/wk
unlimited specials
unlimited Guest Weeks
discounts on air, hotel, cruise, car


Gold 3 Year - $1495.00
3 weeks per year
unlimited hot weeks $398/wk
unlimited specials
NO guest weeks
discounts on air, hotel, cruise, car

To answer your question, there is no need to accelerate because, if you have the money you simply pay the one-time membership fee and then book up to 52 weeks of the year each and every year for 100 years! You will never pay more than $799/wk at any of the 5000+ destinations.

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Does anyone have more information about the program she is referring to? It sounds like MF are not required? That you only pay $799 when you use a week. Since I only found availability in RCI Points Weeks reservation the cost per week is:

$199 RCI exchange fee
$225 Electricity Surcharge (which RCI said could increase)
15,000 RCI points (so I had to pay avMF, deposit to weeks then $26 to convert the week to points.

then there is a local tax about $2 per person per day (not sure if that is the same for club members)

Also, I am wondering if Club Bali Hai might be similar to Pono Kai in Kauai, Hawaii where about 5 different timeshare programs use different buildings (Bluegreen, Vacation Internationale, Pacific Fantasy, Private owners who rent etc)