What does it really cost to go into RCI?

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

Hello-

I am a bluegreen sampler and just stayed at my first resort last week. we were really thinking of buying into bluegreen but everyone i met at our first stay with bluegreen only had bad things to say. One couple told me that the maintance fees were around $1000 per year, another told me that they cant sell there bluegreen ownership, and so on.

We want to buy into bluegreen and mainly use it to trade into RCI, because we like international travel more than domestic. At the presentation they told me it would cost $199 to trade into rci and i would only need 7000 points per year, I thought thats not bad. When I told other bluegreen owners what i wanted to do they told me it actually costs much more than that!

So my questions are:

what does it really cost to trade into Rci?

What are the maintence fees on 7000 points?

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

Recently, I received a letter from RCI indicating exchange fees were changing and were less to book online then by calling but I'm in Hawaii on vacation and don't have the letter with me.

This is from the RCI website:

RCI Weeks Exchange fees: Domestic: $164 USD Domestic: $173 CAD
International: $199 USD International: $210 CAD
Subscription and renewal rates are as follows:
1 year = $89 USD 1-year renewal = $94 CAD
2 years = $159 USD 2-year renewal = $168 CAD
3 years = $229 USD 3- year renewal = $242 CAD
4 years = $289 USD 4-year renewal = $305 CAD
5 years = $349 USD 5-year renewal = $368 CAD
Deposit Extensions:3-month = $59 USD $62 CAD
6-month = $99 USD $105 CAD
Guest Certificates: $59 USD $62 CAD
RCI Points® Dues 1 year = $124 USD 1 year = $131 CAD
2 years = $229 USD 2 years = $242 CAD
3 years = $319 USD 3 years = $337 CAD

RCI Points® Transaction Fees
7 nights+ reservation $124 USD $131 CAD
6 night reservation $109 USD $115 CAD
5 night reservation $99 USD $105 CAD
4 night reservation $89 USD $94 CAD
3 night reservation $79 USD $83 CAD
2 night reservation $59 USD $62 CAD
1 night reservation $39 USD $41 CAD
Home Week Reservation No Charge
Home Resort Reservation $0 - $40 USD $0 - $47 CAD
Auto Saving Points $26 USD Admin Fee $27 CAD Admin Fee
Points for Deposit $26 USD $27 CAD

RCI Weeks Exchange
Confirmation or Search/Hold Request $164 USD Domestic
$199 USD International $173 CAD Domestic
$210 CAD International
Guest Certificate $59 USD $62 CAD

RCI Points Partners® Transaction Fees
Partners Res - Air & Car $49 USD $52 CAD
Partners Res - Cruise $69 USD $73 CAD
Partners Res - Hotel $29 USD $31 CAD
Partners Res - Activities $69 USD $73 CAD

Cancellations
RCI Points Cancellation Transaction fee non-refundable
RCI Weeks Cancellation
Greater than 60 days
Less than 61 days
$109 USD forfeited
Entire exchange fee forfeited
$129 CAD forfeited
Entire exchange fee forfeited
RCI Points® Partners Transaction fee non-refundable
Extra Vacation Cancellation You must contact an RCI Guide to cancel a vacation.
If you cancel within 48 hours of confirmation and if the start date of the reservation is 22 days or greater than the confirmation date - No cancellation fee.
100% Cancel fee if canceled 14 days or less before start date.
50% Cancel fee if cancelled 15 to 60 days before start date.
30% Cancel fee if cancelled 61 days or greater before start date.

Miscellaneous
Transferring RCI Points No fee. No fee.
Extend Points 14,000 pts. or more $99 USD
Less than 14,000 pts. $39.00 USD 14,000 pts. or more $104 CAD
Less than 14,000 pts. $41.00 CAD
Duplicate Directory $6.95 USD $7.35 CAD

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

you should try to contact BocaBum about a resale package. Also, it is possible that someone's maintenance fees or club dues can be $1000 but they probably have a big package.

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

I had to call RCI yesterday and while on hold heard they were running a membership deal thru month's end 5 years for $267.

If you are looking for primetime travel to Europe thru RCI you are probably going to be disappointed. The competition is quite fierce for the few units that do get deposited. They also have very few if any locations in large cities. If you are expecting London, Paris, Rome, etc at any time of year available for exchange, think again.

I see some very nice things in shoulder seasons

IF you have your heart set on Europe you may want to take a look at a few other options, either exchange companies or mini-system that has more specialization for your needs.. Royal Holiday Club would be worth a look.

FWIW Bluegreen points is not the same animal as RCI points.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

When you own a Bluegreen points package, you get a "free" RCI account that is included in your annual dues of $129.

All other exchange fees are the same.

If you own a 20,000 point Bluegreen package, your annual maintenance fees are typically $1052. Add in the $129 annual dues and the total annual fees are $1181 for 20000 points. That is $.0591/point.

If you need a strong trader, you book a 15000 point, 2 br unit at a high demand, low supply resort. That would cost $885 plus $164 = about $1050 for the exchange.

If you want to go to Orlando, you book a Big Cedar winter studio for 2000 points. Which would be $118 plus $164 = $282.

If you need a medium trader, you book an 8000 point reservation. $473 plus $164 = $637.

If you travel last minute (10-days from check in), you can use a 3000 point hots weeks exchange = $177.

So, what you can do is learn the timeshare exchange game and use the cheapest trader to get the best vacation you want.