RCI or Interval International?

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

I am currently a member of Interval International since I have two timeshares that will only trade with them. However, I have recently acquired two others that trade with both.

I am not sure which to list the new timeshares with. Is one better than the other? Is it a good idea to belong to both? Or should I stick with Interval since I am familiar with their policies?

Thanks for any advice.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Dual membership is twice as nice, but twice as costly. Unless RCI has places you have to go to that II does not- stick with II.

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

It depends

I joined RCI about 3 years ago so I could gain access to their large pool of inventory. RCI has tons of members and tons of resorts. My resorts are OK traders but not top tier. I usually travel during spring and fall. Live on the West Coast so mostly look for West Coast exchanges. Heres what I found.

1. RCI encourages early deposits to the point that a lot of good inventory is only available 18-24 months before check-in.
2. RCI has some resort that bulk space bank multiple units usually from 9-18 months out. The best resorts are gone within 1-2 days sometimes hours. An ongoing request that is somewhat flexable in time and early enough with the right trading power week to exchange would likely make for a successful exchange.
3.RCI dominates in some resort areas with resort availability and II dominates in other locations. For example RCI has most of the Door County Wisc. resorts as members while II only has a few. In Palm Springs II has all the Marriotts and the Westins and has good availability 8 months of the year while RCI has limited availability.

For the following reasons I like II better for exchanging.
1. I find better availability in the 3-8 month exchange window I prefer to plan my trips in.
2. I find better availability on the West Coast.
3. I find better availability in the nicest resorts Marriott, Westin, Hyatt.
4. I like IIs search engine. I prefer to search all destinations just to shop whats available even if I don't have any plans.
5. My blue weeks trades much better in II as its in a area II does not get much inventory in at any time even winter.

For the following reasons I like having and will retain my membership in RCI.
1. I might need to look for an occasional trade in an area RCI has more inventory.
2. I have gotten some very well priced Extra Vacations and Last Call weeks in the last year.
3. RCI has the HGVC's and probobly more inventory in Hawaii.
4. They are now offering a $49 insurance product which restores your trade power if you need to cancel and exchange. This might make it more likely I would make an exchange at 18 months before check on a gamble.

Each person is different so I don't know if the above would be important to you.

Just my opinion.
Short

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

I am currently a member of Interval International since I have two timeshares that will only trade with them. However, I have recently acquired two others that trade with both.

I am not sure which to list the new timeshares with. Is one better than the other? Is it a good idea to belong to both? Or should I stick with Interval since I am familiar with their policies?

Thanks for any advice.

It would also help us to know which resorts you have purchased and what weeks or seasons you can use....

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

Short

Thank you so much for all the information. I am still pretty new at this, and don't know anything about RCI. The resort I was thinking about listing with RCI is The Sheraton Plantation in Myrtle Beach. After reading your post, I looked at both RCI and II for what they were offering in Myrtle Beach. It appears that RCI offers a few more resorts in that area. So does that mean I am better off with RCI, or would I have a better chance of exchanging at II because they have fewer resorts in MB? Also, II has fewer gold star in that area than RCI....

I appreciate your input, you seem to have lots of experience, and knowledge in this area.

Angela

[mikey0531 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mikey0531]

I'm also interested in this thread. I use RCI now but am thinking about changing. I've never used II. Would someone please post a price comparison? I've heard that II charges to deposit your week. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Debi

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

It would also help us to know which resorts you have purchased and what weeks or seasons you can use....

lawren 2

I am thinking about the Sheraton Plantation in MB. Week 1-52 option.

My week is 26 for deeded purposes only, however, Sheraton has told me that I can request week #26 up to 24 months in advance directly through them. 12 month is advance for all other weeks.

thanks...

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

I'm also interested in this thread. I use RCI now but am thinking about changing. I've never used II. Would someone please post a price comparison? I've heard that II charges to deposit your week. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Debi

mickey....Yes II charges for making a deposit. I am not positive, but I recall paying 79.00 for the US, and 159.00 for all other locations.

Those prices might be wrong, but there is a fee involved.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Unless there has been a recent change, II does not charge for a deposit. They do charge, but when you book an exchange. The current exchange rate is $ 135 for domestic exchanges. II also seems to have frequent membership discount deals.

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

II doesn't charge for you to deposit a week. They charge for you to *affliate* a new t/s purchase, to add it to your II account. But it is free to add your new purchase to your II account if you pay for one year of dues. Hope this helps clear up any confusion out there. Oh btw I'm in both exchange systems and feel both have their pluses and minuses. Generally I'm satisfied with both and would renew II definitely and already paid up so far in advance in RCI that renewal is a moot point.

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

I'm also interested in this thread. I use RCI now but am thinking about changing. I've never used II. Would someone please post a price comparison? I've heard that II charges to deposit your week. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Debi

I just called II, and was told the following:

Yearly Fee: $84.00
Trading Fee: $135.00 domestic....$149.00 international

If you own a Marriott: Trading Fee: $89.00 to any other Marriott property

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

I like II online search much better than RCI. You can put in a much larger time window and you can search for all locations. So you can put in like all of 2007 and all locations and you will see what is available all year at all locations.

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

I like II online search much better than RCI. You can put in a much larger time window and you can search for all locations. So you can put in like all of 2007 and all locations and you will see what is available all year at all locations.

Dunk...you can?

Can you explain how you do this.

Thanks,
Angela

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

Week 26 would be good trader in either

Short

Thank you so much for all the information. I am still pretty new at this, and don't know anything about RCI. The resort I was thinking about listing with RCI is The Sheraton Plantation in Myrtle Beach. After reading your post, I looked at both RCI and II for what they were offering in Myrtle Beach. It appears that RCI offers a few more resorts in that area. So does that mean I am better off with RCI, or would I have a better chance of exchanging at II because they have fewer resorts in MB? Also, II has fewer gold star in that area than RCI....

I appreciate your input, you seem to have lots of experience, and knowledge in this area.

Angela

Angela,

If you can reserve and deposit week 26 or any peak summer week in Myrtle Beach you will have a great trading week in either exchange company.

My only concern is that the Starwood system bulk spacebanks weeks and requires you to pick from what they choose to deposit. They tend to deposit fringe red weeks and do not generally space bank weeks which include a holiday in your case 4th of July(they save these for owners who use rather than exchange).

Personally the only way to know if you like RCI is to try it. Join for 3 years, deposit one week a year ahead and you will have 3 years to shop around. RCI could have your perfect week waiting for you or not. No way for the rest of us or even you to know right now.

Short

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

Angela,

If you can reserve and deposit week 26 or any peak summer week in Myrtle Beach you will have a great trading week in either exchange company.

My only concern is that the Starwood system bulk spacebanks weeks and requires you to pick from what they choose to deposit. They tend to deposit fringe red weeks and do not generally space bank weeks which include a holiday in your case 4th of July(they save these for owners who use rather than exchange).

Personally the only way to know if you like RCI is to try it. Join for 3 years, deposit one week a year ahead and you will have 3 years to shop around. RCI could have your perfect week waiting for you or not. No way for the rest of us or even you to know right now.

Short

Short....Thank you again for all your help. I agree with you, its best to give RCI a try and see if I am happy with them. Between the information given to me on this site, and me calling both companies, I got a lot of information today.

I now have a much better understanding of the options available to me from both RCI, and II. Know all I have to do start planning.

Thanks again
Angela