RCI & VEP?? (x-posted)

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

OK, I understand that the VEP is tied to my RCI membership. I also understand that I can have my account tie to another one of my resort ownerships so that a resort I no longer own affects my VEP.

Trouble is, I really don't know what is best for me . . . in terms of trading and possible Last Call and Extra Vacations . . . and whether or not one works against the other.

My account was established in the early 80's with Split Rock Resort (#0369) in the Poconos. I no longer own there, haven't for a few years now. I currently own at the following RCI member resorts:

Fairfield Flagstaff (GC)
Lifetime in Hawaii (SC)
Fairfield Williamsburg - Kingsgate (recently knocked from GC to SC but hopefully will be back as a GC soon!)

I would appreciate some advice from those who have a good working knowledge of RCI's VEP, so that I make the correct choice with RCI.

Thanks.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Yvonne
It does not just depend on the resort you own. VEP and trading power also depends on the time frame you own.

EX: Cape Cod summer will have a higher VEP and trading power than in the winter months.

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

Thanks Frank for the additional info. Since I own shoulder time at both of the FF resorts (wk #13 at Flagstaff and #18 at Kingsgate) I would guess that my Lifetime in Hawaii might be better . . . unless unit size matters . . . and in that case, RCI only recognizes LIH as a studio even though I've always gotten a 1BR unit, even this past year (06) when I exchanged it with RCI. The FF units are 2BR and 3BR lockoff respectively.

Any additional input or advice??

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Ever hear the term Size matters? A studio will not trade the same as a 3 bedroom will but with RCI it is not that much off. If it were II it would make a big difference.

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

Yvonne
It does not just depend on the resort you own. VEP and trading power also depends on the time frame you own.

EX: Cape Cod summer will have a higher VEP and trading power than in the winter months.

This doesn't sound right to me. I thought that trade power and VEP were two different things. Trade power refers to supply and demand, while VEP refers to resort quality. My belief is that demand has no effect on VEP, and that the VEP level of a resort is the same year 'round.

So, a Branson Gold Crown might have high VEP, but low trade power. A plain resort in Honolulu (a high demand area) might have low VEP but high trade power. A plain resort on Cape Cod would have low VEP all year, but would have high trade power for July and low trade power for January.

Yvonne, I don't see any advantage in raising the VEP level associated with your RCI account. It might keep you from seeing low VEP Last Call resorts and Extra Vacations. I don't think it will raise your trade power in any way.

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

Thank you everyone, for your input and feedback. Between here and TUG I think I have a pretty decent idea of what to do (and not do) . . . and will probably just leave my membership with RCI alone in regards to my "home resort" identifier in my membership number.

Have a great weekend!