New Exchange program with RCI

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

Do you have to be in Travellers Plus to access the new RCI exchange feature off the Bluegreen website?

I have tried a couple of times, and it takes me to the RCI log in page, but then comes up with "User/Customer does not exist"

I am not in Travellers Plus, but nowhere does it says that you have to be.

I had thought this is now for everyone to exchange their points in RCI without reserving and depositing a week?

Any ideas?

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

I have tried a couple of times, and it takes me to the RCI log in page, but then comes up with "User/Customer does not exist"

I get the same message. You have to be a member with RCI, which we are, but our RCI membership and BG membership names are different (hubby's name with BG and mine with RCI), which I'm pretty sure is our problem. I should get around to doing something about that sometime.

If your ownership with BG is very old, it doesn't come with RCI, but otherwise you should have an RCI membership through BG, however if you bought resale it can take some pestering to get it activated.

[chap19150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close chap19150]

I get the same message. You have to be a member with RCI, which we are, but our RCI membership and BG membership names are different (hubby's name with BG and mine with RCI), which I'm pretty sure is our problem. I should get around to doing something about that sometime.

If your ownership with BG is very old, it doesn't come with RCI, but otherwise you should have an RCI membership through BG, however if you bought resale it can take some pestering to get it activated.

I'm in the same situation as you. Is there a way to combine the 2 RCI accounts?

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

Not sure that's the problem. I have been paying the RCI membership through Bluegreen for about 5 years, so I definitely have an RCI weeks account, in fact I an log into the RCI website directly.

I guess I will have to call Bluegreen and find out, I generally try to avoid that..

Can anyone chime in that has actually gotten this to work? Would be interested to see how it works..

[smithiekid Member Find all posts View Profile Close smithiekid]

We are members of travelers Plus and can access the new RCI points, this was generated by BG automaticly when the change over occured.

We did find this a little ironic since our RCI weeks account (through BG ) is infact RCI Europe and when these nightly stays first started we were unable to access them due to the fact RCI Europe works different than RCI USA and RCI Europe could or did not know how to give us a points account without buying a new TS. (the same went for BG)

So IMHO I would say yes you have to be a member of Travelers Plus in order to have the use of the nightly stays, our RCI Weeks account still works as it always did (that is as much use as a choc fireguard) with RCI Europe

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

Not sure that's the problem. I have been paying the RCI membership through Bluegreen for about 5 years, so I definitely have an RCI weeks account, in fact I an log into the RCI website directly.

I guess I will have to call Bluegreen and find out, I generally try to avoid that..

Can anyone chime in that has actually gotten this to work? Would be interested to see how it works..

What seems to have happened (as least to me) is this.

I can log into my BGVC RCI week account by going to www.rci.com just like I always could.
I can deposit other ownerships and trade there using the 'new' RCI TPU system.

Then I log into My Bluegreen Vacation Club website Welcome to Bluegreen Online where I normally would go to look for BGVC weeks to reserve.


After I log in, I scroll along the top orange bar to "Using the Club" - under the dropdown, I pick "Making exchanges" and then in the middle of the next page, is a button marked "Get started now"

This brings me to a different RCI page where my account number is the same as my BGVC member number - and this is where I can exchange using my points directly in RCI.

So, you have your "old" BGVC RCI account and a new one accessed thru the owner site.

HTH

[smithiekid Member Find all posts View Profile Close smithiekid]

very interesting going through the using club method my account comes up with zero points in it going thro travellers plus shows all my points

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

Success!!

Bluegreen referred me to RCI, who had to re-set my weeks membership somehow to link to the Bluegreen points exchange program. I believe they change the account number.

Anyway, I'm in...

It is interesting to see the wide range of Bluegreen points that it takes to book a 2 BR summer week. Anywhere from 7000 to 18,000 points from what I have seen so far.

It is a little different than a normal exchange search through weeks. It may show available units, but you then have to check how many BG points it will take.

Still though, it may prove easier to exchange with RCI, we'll see....

[ab98 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ab98]

Still confused ...

Just been trying to catch up on how this new RCI process is to work - is there a guide anywhere I could read? Everything I've seen on the BG or RCI websites so far is very high level.
It seems to me that (once you finally work out how to get into the system and it is showing correct points available on BG) you can do an exchange if something is available when you want to go, but what happens if there isn't? How do I bank points and is there a process (like in the old days) where RCI would earn their fee and come back when something you want becomes available? Does the buying power of points still devalue the longer they remain outside RCI or is this now removed? How do I prevent my annual points from becoming saved points - I would have in the past converted to RCI but, as above, how do I bank them. Sorry, so many questions ...

[soxfan65@msn.com Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close soxfan65@msn.com]

Dont forget the fees !!

Not only do you have to use 7000 to 12000 BG points for a weeks reservation but also the $179 exchange fee , ($79 for a weekend) and daily housekeeping fees.Im not ready to book my RCI trip anytime soon.. I'll stick with BG resorts for now..

[Timeshare junkie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Timeshare junkie]

They have pretty much closed all the loop holes with RCI.

For expiring points we are now pretty much forced to use II or SFX.

I've had pretty good luck with both.

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

Just been trying to catch up on how this new RCI process is to work - is there a guide anywhere I could read? Everything I've seen on the BG or RCI websites so far is very high level.

go to the bluegreen website https://bluegreenowner.com/

click on the tab "Using the Club" then "making exchanges"

On this page is the portal to RCI but on the bottom click "Still have questions? Visit our Exchange FAQ's page "

And it will take you to these answers/questions
Making Exchanges
1. How do I make an exchange?
2. Am I limited to the amount of nights I can book an exchange?
3. Is there a fee associated with making exchanges?
4. How do I check availability at an RCI resort?
5. How far in advance should I try to book an exchange?
6. Are there any secrets to getting the exchange I want?
7. When I book a reservation on the RCI website, how long will it take for the Points to be deducted from my Bluegreen account?
8. I'm not ready to make a reservation with RCI today. How can I transfer my Points to RCI?
9. What additional RCI benefit is available to Traveler Plus members?

It seems to me that (once you finally work out how to get into the system and it is showing correct points available on BG) you can do an exchange if something is available when you want to go, but what happens if there isn't?

I believe you can put in a search with RCI as u could before, but I have not tried this yet. WAIT - just went to the RCI website and online at least, you CAN NOT put in an ongoing search....not good

How do I bank points and is there a process (like in the old days) where RCI would earn their fee and come back when something you want becomes available?

You can no longer bank a week with RCI but you can use this years points to do an exchange 2 years in advance.

Does the buying power of points still devalue the longer they remain outside RCI or is this now removed? How do I prevent my annual points from becoming saved points - I would have in the past converted to RCI but, as above, how do I bank them. Sorry, so many questions ...

You can no longer bank a week with RCI - in order to prevent your points from becoming saved, you would need to book a week to deposit in another exchange company such as II, TPI, DAE, SFX
With any exchange company, the closer to check-in that u deposit, the less "trade power" you will get. You can use saved points in RCI but only in the next 45 days so that of course is very restrictive.

It is now to you advantage to be able to plan ahead and anticipate your yearly point usage. RCI will no longer be a "good deal" for using left over points and the cost is high to do an exchange.
On the other hand, if you REALLY want a particular resort thru RCI, you will now be able to get it as long as you have the points and it is available for exchange - as there is no longer a mysterious trade value - a studio/1BR/2BR in Paris is 11,000/13,000/22,000 BG points + exchange fee.

It does seem that the question of an ongoing search with RCI using BGVC pts. needs to be addressed.

HTH

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

Not only do you have to use 7000 to 12000 BG points for a weeks reservation but also the $179 exchange fee , ($79 for a weekend) and daily housekeeping fees.I'm not ready to book my RCI trip anytime soon.. I'll stick with BG resorts for now..

Yes, there is a fee to exchange outside the group - with any exchange company not just RCI.

For weekly RCI exchanges, there is only the $179 exchange fee. Certain resorts charge additional fees (as do some BGVC resorts)

Yes, there are different fees for RCI Nightly Stays ranging from $79? to $139? plus a housekeeping fee that varies from resort to resort but that is the price you pay for this flexibility.

Of course you can just use your points in the club, but it is nice to have other options as well. As a Traveler Plus member, I can access Shell Vacation Club properties and a new soon-to-be-announced group for a low $19 exchange fee.
I like to have choices.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Looking forward to the announcement of the soon-to-be-announced group. Any speculations as to who it will be? I like you want more choices (glad I found the RCI last call side of things).

Still have yet to see the ability to book select connections online though as indicated in the last colorful places magazine I received.

Of course you can just use your points in the club, but it is nice to have other options as well. As a Traveler Plus member, I can access Shell Vacation Club properties and a new soon-to-be-announced group for a low $19 exchange fee.
I like to have choices.

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

Looking forward to the announcement of the soon-to-be-announced group. Any speculations as to who it will be? I like you want more choices (glad I found the RCI last call side of things).

Still have yet to see the ability to book select connections online though as indicated in the last colorful places magazine I received.

Nope and not yet....