Joining RCI w/o owning a timeshare

[SIDA! Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SIDA!]

Stupid question, but is it possible to join RCI or II without owning an actual timeshare for the sole purpose of taking advantage of various last call/getaway type offers? Or does each member have to own a timeshare to get access to these deals?

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

RCI, and to a much lesser degree II, makes most, if not all, of those rentals availibile to non-members through a variety of channels. Sometimes, their price to non-members is even cheaper than to members. One does not have to own a timeshare or be a member of anything to take advantage of most of those rentals, although a few are membership based, with free membership, like one for members of the armed forces or defense contractors, etc, and one for present or past government employees. Even those do not make a member prove they have the qualification that is nominally required.

It is these rental to the public programs which have been highly controversial within timesharing as they undermine the ownership / exchange model of timeshare. The Seasons chain of timeshares in Europe had a great special issue of their newsletter that used to be availible online where they told their members they were dumping RCI and moving to II and explaining in detail why, firing a withering broadside at RCI over the rentals to the public and over the unfair relationship between Weeks and Points. At the Timeshare Stripped Bare conference in the UK earlier this year, there was also criticism of this RCI policy with one major timeshare developer telling the meeting that these rental policies were seriously hurting not only new sales but also member retention.

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

General public doesn't have access to those through II or RCI. But, they do have sites where "some" of the inventory is offered (usually slightly higher than what you'd see on RCI or II's site). Endless Vacation Rentals (RCI/Wyndham) and Condo Direct (II) come to mind. You won't see Marriott or Sheraton/Westin rentals on those sites, though.

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

The actual answer is simple . . . YES!

Subscribers can refer non-subscribers for Long Term Guest Certificates. They are reasonable.

Subscribers who have unloaded their ownerships can continue their subscriptions as long as they want, and pay. For instance, former Point at Poipu owners.

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...rtificate.html

Subj: Re: TUG--Non Member RCI Benefits (KMM2798782I10L0KM)
Date: 2/18/08 5:21:07 PM Central Standard Time

The Guest Pass program is still available. The Partial Guest Pass is
offered in both five and ten-year increments. A five-year Partial Guest
Pass is $149US/$157CD. A ten-year Partial Guest Pass is $249US/ . By
purchasing a Partial Guest Pass, there is no need to charge the
$59US/$52CD Guest Certificate fee every time a confirmation is made for
the guest, and transactions are unlimited. A separate Partial Guest
Pass must be purchased for each guest.

Members who no longer own at an RCI-affiliated resort may continue their
subscriptions to use Extra Vacations and Last Call. However, they must
have been a qualifying member who did own at an affiliated resort
previously, and their membership must have remained active.

& another one to further clarify it:

"In an attempt to further increase our ability to provide innovative
customer service, RCI is now offering members a Partial Guest Pass. The
Partial Guest Pass allows guests access to Extra Vacations as needed,
without requiring member authorization each time. Guests may also have
access to members' one-for-one exchanges, but only after the member
authorizes the use of a specific deposit. Specifically, members must
still call to authorize a guest to use a deposited week.

The Partial Guest Pass is offered in both five and ten-year increments.
A five-year Partial Guest Pass is $149 USD/$157 CD. A ten-year Partial
Guest Pass is $249 USD/$263 CD. By purchasing a Partial Guest Pass,
there is no need to charge the $59 US/$52 CD Guest Certificate fee every
time a confirmation is made for the guest, and transactions are
unlimited. A separate Partial Guest Pass must be purchased for each
guest. Please note that there are no spousal privileges. Partial Guest
Passes may be removed (cancelled) by the member only, but this program
does not offer refunds."

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

I have a friend who owns no timeshare who bought a three year membership in RCI

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

RCI = Rents Condos Instead

[SIDA! Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SIDA!]

So, is there a recommended course of action for someone like me that is looking to take advantage of renting units cheaply? I am still very new to the entire timeshare concept, but my basic understanding of this aspect of the industry is this:

If I want to rent a condo I can do it fairly inexpensively by waiting until a short period before my travel date and booking a unit. Obviously, inventory will be limited and for the most part it will not be top of the line resorts/buildings. Also, I am most likely to find inventory during off-season at the various resorts in the system.

Finally, it will be possible from time to time to snag a really good quality resort should an owner have a last minute cancellation and I have the good fortune of checking the system and grabbing it before it is snagged by someone else.

Assuming that this is generally correct, what is the recommended course of action for someone in my shoes because there is a myriad of different sites to visit.

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

You can bypass RCI and use craigslist. Bargains galore from folks stuck with TSs they cannot unload.

Hey, I shouldn't talk about me like that!



Funny, folks asking how to get started . . . folks asking how to get rid of em.

Well, not funny funny.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Sorry.. I missed this post previously.

I'm actually in the process of developing a vacation club product for this sole purpose. It's been tricky, since I'm pushing the fulfillment company to offer the product for free (the company which handles the administration and reservations for a vacation club is referred to as a Fulfillment Company).

Most Fulfillment companies makes their money from the annual membership fee (normally $200 to $300). Others tag on a commission on the rental. It is usually the marketing agent that pockets the sale price (most range from $3,900 to $5,900).

I'm just about there, so keep your fingers crossed.. They are a little worried that if I offer the product for free- they'll risk losing other vendors- plus I'm pushing them for a monthly membership with no cancellation fee. I've offered a similar free product before as a closing gift to clients (Interval's Leisure Time Passport) but always on an annual renewal basis.

Hopefully I'll complete this within the next month.

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

I'm actually in the process of developing a vacation club product for this sole purpose.

Really? For the purpose of non-timeshare owners joining RCI?

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

For the purpose of allowing "members" to have direct access to low priced resort inventory that is comprised of feeds from numerous industry sources (The private club membership creates a relationship where the inventory feeds are not being made available to the general public, which is a very important distinction).

The primary difference between what I am designing and all the existing non-deeded travel clubs who utilize timeshare and exchange inventory- is that I'll have eliminated the marketing company component.

It is the marketing and sales people who generate all the complaints about travel clubs- by charging too much and by stretching the truth about accessibility. Or by offering fake "trade in" promotions, etc.. In your stomping grounds, Branson, there have been numerous complaints over the gifting and tour process as well as the various clubs attempts to eliminate consumer right of rescission periods.

In this industry, the resorts themselves are fantastic.. It's just the manner in which they are sold that is shameful..

My goal was to create a product that gives people access to these resorts with no expensive purchase price, no obligation or forced maintenance fee, no cancellation penalty, a low monthly service fee less than $20- (doubtful I can get them to agree to $10. but I'm trying)- and the ability for members to pay very low prices for the vacations they actually use..

Will people still buy and rent timeshares directly? Of course!

I'm simply creating a better version of an industry transition product. A no obligation introduction for the newbie, and a cost efficient product for the elderly demographic who still want to use timeshare resorts but no longer want to worry about ownership or the potential of passing on a financial burden to their heirs.

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

RCI.com/join

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

RCI.com/join

diverts to: https://secure.ed4.net/ctr/affiliate2/login.cfm?aff=007

RCI is the largest resort exchange network in the world - with thousands of affiliated resorts in over 100 countries and more than 3 million members. If you purchase your timeshare at an RCI affiliated resort, you have the ability to become an RCI Subscribing Member - greatly expanding your vacation ownership options.

Interested in a last-minute getaway? A nearby, drive-to vacation? Or an exotic locale? An RCI membership can make it all possible.

The vacation experience you're looking for begins now.

Step 2 to enroll: Resort Information




Resort Name Click here to search for your resort

Resort ID

Ownership Type Fixed: The permanent assignment of a specific unit and week at your Home Resort

Float: A variable assignment of a unit and/or week at your Home Resort during each year of your vacation ownership

(Optional)

Ownership Frequency Annual Bi-Annual Tri-Annual (Optional)

Time Division Red White Blue (Optional)

Unit Name/Number (Optional)

Unit Type Hotel Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4 Bedroom (Optional)

Maximum Occupancy The maximum number of persons that a resort unit may accommodate. (Optional)

Private Occupancy The number of guests a unit will accommodate, allowing for two adults
per separate sleeping area with a private bathroom. (Optional)

Ownership Week Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 (Fixed Only) (Optional)


Number of Weeks Owned