Burned again - unit numbers deleted from confirmations

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

We all know that many RCI resorts don't have unit numbers on them. But there have been a few resorts (Smuggler's Notch, for example), that would have a unit number on the confirm. The resort reserved the right to switch your assigned unit if any problem, but as an exchanger you could generally count on getting the unit you reserved. At a place like Smuggs, it can make quite a difference.

Suddenly, none of my confirmations (including Smuggs) have unit numbers on them.

And of course I violated my own rule - PRINT and SAVE

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

I have an exchange at Bouganvillas in Puerto Vallarta, Iconnections checked on unit number for me and everything and in correspondence with them regarding internet and such they told me that most likely the room will not be what is on the RCI slip, they have right to change the units etc........so far I have not had good responses to them, nothing clear cut, the fees for Nov AI if choose to use may change between now and then...no responses back, had to send many emails, I am wondering if I should just cancel the exchange and try somewhere else. I just wanted to go there as it is one place in PV we have not been to and many folks seem to like it.....but they are owners and it appears owners are treated a lot differently than exchangers, a lot...

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

This is a frustrating part of using RCI points as they never give you the unit number.

Is this a Points exchange? If so that's probably why it's not on the confirmation.

All my confirmations say that the unit will be assigned at check-in. Of course if you try to get the front desk at some of these resorts to change your room then they tell you that you have to call RCI to get that done. Then again at smaller resorts I've had good luck getting them to change my room to a better one. I guess it helps that I mostly travel off season. I've even been able to convince Vistana Resort to move me to a remodeled room when they initially gave us an older room before the remodels were done. I think it's having the TS gods smile down on you at check-in.

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

This is a frustrating part of using RCI points as they never give you the unit number.

Is this a Points exchange? If so that's probably why it's not on the confirmation.

All my confirmations say that the unit will be assigned at check-in. Of course if you try to get the front desk at some of these resorts to change your room then they tell you that you have to call RCI to get that done. Then again at smaller resorts I've had good luck getting them to change my room to a better one. I guess it helps that I mostly travel off season. I've even been able to convince Vistana Resort to move me to a remodeled room when they initially gave us an older room before the remodels were done. I think it's having the TS gods smile down on you at check-in.

Not points. And the confirms for the resorts I am talking about had unit numbers on them the last time I checked. Some confirms never had them, and that was part of the deal going in - different!

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I don't think this is any different than I.I. You can't count on getting the unit, even if you're given a unit # on your confirmation. Having a unit number, even if you print it out, won't guarentee you'll actually get that unit.

I'm not certain how the independant exchange companies handle this but, I bet it's the same.

As a general rule (right or wrong), I've come to understands that, for room placement, it's typically owners first, then exchangers and renters get what's left over. I always appreciate getting the better locations as an owner and, of course I'm always dissapointed as an exchanger when we get the lessor views. But then again, I accept it because when I travel to my home resort, I'd be REALLY upset if an exchanger recieved a better unit view in my view catagory than me, who's paying the MF's supporting my home resort.

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

I don't use RCI. Nor do I want to hijack this thread. However, here goes.
I noticed there was no room number on the confirmation I got thru II. I called the Resort. The resort asked II to take room numbers off the confirmations. I didn't ask why. The lady I spoke to said she would see to it that I got the unit I exchanged for (which is clearly shown on the exchange information under the Exchange History tab). I replied that we understood maintenance issues might require us taking another room.

My concern, whichever exchange company one uses, is that I give a very nice fixed-week, fixed-unit IN EXCHANGE FOR the unit offered by another depositor. Frankly, I want that unit because it is what I agreed to exchange into. Might the Resort put me in a unit with a better view or location? Perhaps. They might also put me next to the dump. Having exchanged a very nice unit for another very nice unit I do expect to get THAT UNIT.

This is the way it used to be and I think the OP is raising an appropriate concern.

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

I have an exchange at Bouganvillas in Puerto Vallarta, Iconnections checked on unit number for me and everything and in correspondence with them regarding internet and such they told me that most likely the room will not be what is on the RCI slip, they have right to change the units etc........so far I have not had good responses to them, nothing clear cut, the fees for Nov AI if choose to use may change between now and then...no responses back, had to send many emails, I am wondering if I should just cancel the exchange and try somewhere else. I just wanted to go there as it is one place in PV we have not been to and many folks seem to like it.....but they are owners and it appears owners are treated a lot differently than exchangers, a lot...

Buganvilias assigns units at checkin. If you are an owner (we are) you can get a confirmed unit when you make your reservation. If you exchange (we do that as well) you get what is available. They try to accommodate you but they save the best locations and views for owners. And, if an owner uses RCI they might get a little better location by going to the member office, but there is still no guarantee of room assignment. At least that has been my experience.

That being said, it is a great resort with a wonderful location in PV. And unless you have mobility issues that keep you from leaving the resort, do not do the AI! There are too many great restaurants in PV, many a short walk from the resort.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I don't use RCI. Nor do I want to hijack this thread. However, here goes.
I noticed there was no room number on the confirmation I got thru II. I called the Resort. The resort asked II to take room numbers off the confirmations. I didn't ask why. The lady I spoke to said she would see to it that I got the unit I exchanged for (which is clearly shown on the exchange information under the Exchange History tab). I replied that we understood maintenance issues might require us taking another room.

My concern, whichever exchange company one uses, is that I give a very nice fixed-week, fixed-unit IN EXCHANGE FOR the unit offered by another depositor. Frankly, I want that unit because it is what I agreed to exchange into. Might the Resort put me in a unit with a better view or location? Perhaps. They might also put me next to the dump. Having exchanged a very nice unit for another very nice unit I do expect to get THAT UNIT.

This is the way it used to be and I think the OP is raising an appropriate concern.

The problem with this line of thought is that very few owners actually own a specific unit number. Most resorts today are of the floating type rather than the fixed week/fixed unit. Therefore, when they give up a week, they do NOT give up a specific unit.

Of the seven timeshares I own, only one is a fixed week/fixed unit, and even that one has been converted to a points based system where I give up that week to the system in exchange for points (DRI's THE Club system). So the reality is, I never give up a specific unit that you could agree to exchange into.

Most resorts, whether we like it or not, have a hierchy for room placement. Owners, exchangers and renters. While I might not like it, I understand it. When I check into one of my floating weeks, I expect that, as an owner of that resort, I'll be placed above exchangers and/or renters on the pecking order for views. The reality is that is what happens. When I stay at my home resorts, I tend to get what I ask for depending upon how many other owners are staying on their time and the pecking order amongst those owners. When I exchange, I don't always get a bad view but, I rarely get one of the prime views.

This is where owning in systems helps a timeshare owner when exchanging. The system members have higher standing than non-system members. Sometimes you can even exchange for a specific view, but rarely (probably never) a specific unit number. When exchanging within a system we've always had decent views. When exchanging outside the system, sometimes it's a decent view, sometimes it's the back of a concrete well, the parking lot or close to the dumpsters where we get to listen to trash trucks in the early morning. It's why nearly all of our timeshares are in some sort of system now or, they're timeshares we use for personal use. There is but one exception and, I'm particular about the resorts I'll exchange to with that unit. I almost always exchange into a resort we know and a shoulder or off season week. That seems to lessen the chance of a horrible room location.

[Jeanne Sz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeanne Sz]

Unit assignments disappeared from my confirmations, too

I noticed the same change to my RCI confirmations. I reserved a unit (trading a one bedroom for a two at our home resort) well over a year ago and the snail mailed confirmation letter contained a unit number near the one we own. The next two exchanges I made into the same resort, all for the same week this year, were also confirmed into units in the same block of villas in the initial confirmation letters. But when I went back in to print the confirmation letters recently, none of the 3 letters show unit information.

I did call the resort and was told all 3 units will be near each other in the same block. We check in tomorrow!

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

I noticed the same change to my RCI confirmations. I reserved a unit (trading a one bedroom for a two at our home resort) well over a year ago and the snail mailed confirmation letter contained a unit number near the one we own. The next two exchanges I made into the same resort, all for the same week this year, were also confirmed into units in the same block of villas in the initial confirmation letters. But when I went back in to print the confirmation letters recently, none of the 3 letters show unit information.

I did call the resort and was told all 3 units will be near each other in the same block. We check in tomorrow!

Hopefully most resorts will stick to the unit #s we confirmed but this seems to be a trend allowing maximum flexibility for resorts, to the detriment of exchangers.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

The problem with this line of thought is that very few owners actually own a specific unit number. Most resorts today are of the floating type rather than the fixed week/fixed unit. Therefore, when they give up a week, they do NOT give up a specific unit.

When a resort only offers - even to owners - float assignments then this is fine. But when you own a deeded unit - right down to the week - unit number - ten THAT is what you give up & what the guest that gets it in exchange should receive. It is the Wastegate type of highhanded, anti-owner management that feel they hold the right to assign what they want even in the case of depositing a fixed owners time with a week they don't even own.

No one should allow this to occur when they own a fixed week as those are often bought specifically for a good week or view or overall unit location and they as well as their renter/guest/exchanger shoulr get what they paid for. Period.

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

I don't have a problem with the resorts that assign floating units to owners on check-in doing the same for exchangers.

But if an owner deposits a specific unit, that unit should be available for exchange. Invariably, letting the resort choose to keep the nicer units for rentals, other owners, etc. and depositing the less attractive units for exchange is not fair to exchangers. It will ultimately hurt the resort owners in terms of trading power and reviews, but it will take a while to catch up. It definitely hurts the exchange system.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

When a resort only offers - even to owners - float assignments then this is fine. But when you own a deeded unit - right down to the week - unit number - ten THAT is what you give up & what the guest that gets it in exchange should receive. It is the Wastegate type of highhanded, anti-owner management that feel they hold the right to assign what they want even in the case of depositing a fixed owners time with a week they don't even own.

No one should allow this to occur when they own a fixed week as those are often bought specifically for a good week or view or overall unit location and they as well as their renter/guest/exchanger shoulr get what they paid for. Period.

As I mentioned, at this point in time, I believe very few owners actually own deeded/fixed weeks/fixed units. Most developers have moved away from this type of ownership and, most owners prefer flexability.

Many of the resorts who once sold fixed week/fixed unit deeds are now offering to convert those ownerships into their points based internal exchange programs...........for a fee. Developers have been actively churning current owners for additional profits in this manor.

Thus, there's not many resorts that can give you a fixed unit number for your exchange.

We've been making exchanges since 2000. We've averaged between 2 and 4 exchanges per year since that time. I bet I can count on one hand the number of confirmations that had a unit number of them.

I think what we're seeing is the gradual moving away from fixed week/fixed unit ownerships and a move towards the more flexable floating weeks and points based reservations systems.

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

I don't want to get into a shouting match with anyone here because everyone in this discussion is, by my estimation, rather nice people.

However, I'd like to point out that my exchange of a fixed week, fixed unit was for another fixed week, fixed unit. It was the resort that asked II not to show unit numbers on the confirmation. It has nothing to do with float weeks or point systems or anything else.

Also, which are the nicer units at the resort I exchanged into is open to debate. Some are older, but closer to the main building and fitness center and other activities. Some are newer and in a setting that may be considered more peaceful and quiet.

Finally, the resort gives exchangers the full privileges of an owner. We once attended an owner's update at this resort as exchangers.


"No one should allow this to occur when they own a fixed week as those are often bought specifically for a good week or view or overall unit location and they as well as their renter/guest/exchanger should get what they paid for. Period."

Very well said, timeos2. We bought the week and unit we did for just these reasons. Times are a'changing, though, and I suspect the rights and expectations of fixed week owners will be eroded to the point that exchanging doesn't bring the value that it used to. But, we will hear, for the umpteenth time, that if we just pay the developer another $5,000, we may buy back these rights and expectations. It will be a cold day in ---- ........

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

I recently exchanged into 2 units at the same resort. I saw the unit numbers when I made the exchange but they were not on our confirmation. When we went to checkin, we got one of the units but the other one was not available because they were redoing the bathroom. So instead of 2 units near each other, they were on separate floors on opposite sides of the building. Fortunately it was not a big building.

It worked out OK for us, and I can see why resorts need some flexibility in unit assignment. But there should be a good reason why you cannot get the unit you thought you were getting. If we were a large family with younger children, this could have been very upsetting.