When to start the search?

[SJSH Mom Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SJSH Mom]

Sorry if this is such an elemental question....but when can I start an RCI search? We have a Wyndham TS, we want to go to Hawaii so we are planning on banking the points necessary for the trip, when can I start a search so that I can try to go about the period I want to and to the place I want to...

2. How much do I need to pay to book it?

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Sorry if this is such an elemental question....but when can I start an RCI search? We have a Wyndham TS, we want to go to Hawaii so we are planning on banking the points necessary for the trip, when can I start a search so that I can try to go about the period I want to and to the place I want to...

2. How much do I need to pay to book it?

You can start a search for a weeks unit up to two years from today so if you want to go before September 2010, start asap. For a standard points reservation, you can only book 10 months out so July 2009 is what is currently becoming available right now. If you trade for a weels unit, it will cost $164, a points trade is $124 for a week.

I'm not a Wydham expert though, so I don't really know what side you are using to trade, I think you are trading on the weeks side, though.

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

Welcome to TS4Ms.
You do not have to limit yourself to RCI as the exchange company for Hawaii. I would be inclined to use Trading Places or Hawaiian Timeshare Exchange for that. One has no annual fee, the other has a $49/per annum so one is no more expensive to use as well. You will probably be happier with your results as I am hearing about trade power issues for Wyndham generic deposits in RCI, even though an RCI account comes with your Wyndham.

You can read more about those two independent exchange companies here, as well as ask questions:

Timeshare Exchange Companies - Timeshare Forums

[funtime2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close funtime2]

SJSH - welcome to the group. There is so much to learn from the seasoned travelers on this board and they love to share information with others too.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Welcome to TS4Ms.
You do not have to limit yourself to RCI as the exchange company for Hawaii. I would be inclined to use Trading Places or Hawaiian Timeshare Exchange for that. One has no annual fee, the other has a $49/per annum so one is no more expensive to use as well. You will probably be happier with your results as I am hearing about trade power issues for Wyndham generic deposits in RCI, even though an RCI account comes with your Wyndham.

You can read more about those two independent exchange companies here, as well as ask questions:

Timeshare Exchange Companies - Timeshare Forums

The beauty of the Wyndham/RCI connection is that you can deposit a small number of points into RCI - say a RED studio for 70K points - and exchange into Hawaii 2BR....

But are u hearing that there is a quality issue with those deposits? My Wyndham trades thru II so I do not know....

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

The beauty of the Wyndham/RCI connection is that you can deposit a small number of points into RCI - say a RED studio for 70K points - and exchange into Hawaii 2BR....

But are u hearing that there is a quality issue with those deposits? My Wyndham trades thru II so I do not know....

There are a few problems with Wynfield RCI deposits. First off the trade power on the weeks stinks. Secondly the Wyn owners are my largest "clients" on the RCI ex-op board because they can't search on-line themselves if generics are deposited.

Why not do a Wyn in-house exchange and take a Pahio? If there are trade power issues a Hawaii 2BDRM is not going to be an easy exchange with RCI but is more than doable with TPI.

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

Most of the HI Wyndham resorts are high pointed resorts within the Wyndham system, and unless you are an owner who has oodles of points, it is best to try to obtain HI weeks by other means.

Philsfan gave you RCI policy and Lawren2 recommended use of the independents. Which I would recommend also. Make a WYN internal reservation, 1BR and deposit it with one of the independent exchange companies.

As a Wyndham owner you will have access to week bulk deposits which may occur in the future. In the past 28K, 42K and 70K deposits have obtained weeks at principally Kona Hawaiian resort and Mauna Loa Village and Royal Sea Cliff. When such sightings are posted you can take advantage of the Wyndham feature of search first to see if such a minimal deposit can obtain the week. With the bulk bankings many owners have gone to HI for 28K.

The real secret in wanting to travel to HI is get there by any means, and then extend your stay using the RCI 45 day window, now approx. 14 day window where many resorts become available last minute. For the really aggressive that meant reserving something that could be canceled, obtaining air fare and then booking using the 14 day window.

Lawren2 has been posting on a thread something like "HI in the next 14 days with a dog trader", and building a history of what was available at times. Take a look at that.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

RCI charge $164 for US weekly exchange. Wyndham is depended on how many free transaction you have. I usually deposit a few RCI week at once, and that is count as one transactions. If you are out of transaction, you need to pay $30. It also depends on how much points you deposit, those points you will have to pay MF, that is your cost.

You have 2 choices

If you are very very flexible, wait till 45 days or less Hawaii is really less, more like withing 21 days. If that is the case, just deposit all 28ks.

If you have certain days, you may want to try other exchange company, or if you have other back up plan, just deposit any red week you want, and try your lucky on Wyndham doing bulk deposit, it usually happens within 10 month, Sometimes, it will deposit a lot of weeks, like 3 or 4 month of weeks.

The problem is, RCI is constant change its match policy, so none can guarantee if certain deposit can work or not. But generally, if RCI is true to its own rule, 28k should be similar power, and you will not disappoint too much. It has to be Wyndham's resort, other resort you will need higher piint value.

I usually like to put deposit that I intended to use 2 years ahead. Sometimes I do put on-going search. But I usually start doing the search (calling FF-RCI VC) at 1 1/2 years.

There are some point resorts there, and if you have Plus Partnership, you may also want to watch the ex-op board, and if you saw some from point side that is not Wyndham's resort (you can not use PP on Wyndham's resort), you can use point to get it through plus partnership. They are suppose to come out at 10 month period, some will be later, but should be in that range, so if you don't really want to read the ex-op, you can just call VC start from 10 month. You have to have plus partnership for this.

Jya-Ning

[SJSH Mom Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SJSH Mom]

Hello Everyone.

Thanks for all your answers. I am very glad to have found you...I guess I am still very confused.

Yes, with Wyndham came RCI. I thought I could only deposit points into there. I did not know that I could use others....

Can anyone refer me to something more basic regarding this? I thought I read enough but I am even more confused than before...

1. We have Wyndham points...We wanted to save up the points to go to HI....I am confused on whether to keep the points in Wyndham to bank them until we have enough to go or to place them in RCI.

2. What do you mean by "exchange" exactly? I do not have weeks to exchange as far as I know...

3. RCi is via weeks.

4. TO ans my own qoriginal ques, I know that I have up to 10mo before I wanted to go to start a search and to try to reserve with Wyndham, just did not know about RCI. My RCI is with weeks...so I assume that I deposit enough points into RCI to equal a week as per their conversion system in the pwoners book.

5. So are you guys suggesting that I deposit X points into RCI to get a week and then try to exchange that week that I have with RCI with another company?

TIA for answers....

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

5. So are you guys suggesting that I deposit X points into RCI to get a week and then try to exchange that week that I have with RCI with another company?

TIA for answers....

no. The exchange you got from RCI is RCI's and can not be used to do exchange, or rent out.

You have several choices

1. To exchange with other company, you will ask them which week they take, than make a reservation from Wyndham, deposit (give the confirmation) to that exchange company.

2. You can deposit to RCI, than start an on-going search at the time you deposit, you should try to make the deposit time at least 1 1/2 month before the trip day, although you may not get anything until either 9 month period or 21 days period or within.

3. You can bank your point, and credit pool your future points, or borrow from other other if you don't have enough point, than make internal Wyndham reservation.

4. you can find owner willing to exchange their Hawaii timeshare slot with you, they will tell you which Wyndham week they want, and if both of you agree on the exchnage, you will get the Wyndham week for that owner, and make a direct exchange.

I think internal exchange is more control, you know the exact day to call, but it will cost you most point. However, if you need 3 BD +, it is the only way to go.

RCI exchange you will have chance to save most, but it is totally uncontrolled, you may not see the week you wanted deposited.

The other exchange company will be in between, since most of them does not use trading power, so at least you don't have issue as you use RCI. But you have to get real week to deposit, and they also depends on the deposit. Of them, I believe one or 2 companies actually manage some resorts in Hawaii, or have affliation there, so they will get more exchanges than RCI (per ration aspect).

Owner direct exchange will take a few works, and since Wyndham already has HI, it may not necessary.


With Hawaii get a lot of rental, and with Wyndham Hawaii's points so high, you have another choice, i.e, rent out your points, and use it to get another Hawaii rental. It needs a good valuation of the resort you plan to get.

Jya-Ning

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

Thanks for all your answers. I am very glad to have found you...I guess I am still very confused.

There is a very large learning curve. You are welcome to ask questions and read up here to learn how to use your purchase in the most cost effective manner. Many people will happily help guide you along your way.

Yes, with Wyndham came RCI. I thought I could only deposit points into there. I did not know that I could use others....

and Wyndham would prefer you never found out. Yes you can deposit with others. Since Hawaii is what you currently want I suggest reading up on Hawaiian Timeshare Exchange HTSE and Trading Places International.


Can anyone refer me to something more basic regarding this? I thought I read enough but I am even more confused than before...[/B]

For starters:
Timeshare Exchange Companies - Timeshare Forums

1. We have Wyndham points...We wanted to save up the points to go to HI....I am confused on whether to keep the points in Wyndham to bank them until we have enough to go or to place them in RCI.

Depending on WHEN you want to go to Hawaii, What island and how large a unit size you need will effect what my answer would be. There are many, many ways to skin this cat. Finding the least cost way to get ultimate happiness is the goal, sometimes this also requires a good deal of luck and skill a well.

2. What do you mean by "exchange" exactly? I do not have weeks to exchange as far as I know...

You would reserve a week within the Wyndham system and deposit that confirmed week at an independent for exchange. OR deposit wyndham generics in RCI to exchange for weeks. OR a mix of both, depending on strategy and how much you like the game of timeshare roulette RCI-style.

3. RCi is via weeks.

4. TO ans my own qoriginal ques, I know that I have up to 10mo before I wanted to go to start a search and to try to reserve with Wyndham, just did not know about RCI. My RCI is with weeks...so I assume that I deposit enough points into RCI to equal a week as per their conversion system in the pwoners book.

RCI weeks is an ENTIRELY different animal. Wit WEEKS you need to deposit a week at least 12 months in advance of the check-in date. Personally my BEST exchanges have been obtained 15 to 24 months before check-in. OR within 14 days of check-in. It really dpends an awful lot on how RCI continues to do things. In effect it can take as long as 3 YEARS to get what you want out of RCI.

5. So are you guys suggesting that I deposit X points into RCI to get a week and then try to exchange that week that I have with RCI with another company?

NO.

TIA for answers....

Please see my responses in blue[B]

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

You also would be well-served if you wandered over to the Wyndham forum here : Wyndham/Fairfield Resorts - Timeshare Forums

These are the Wyndham specialists and a very good looking bunch of folks. They will be the main source of learning the ropes for your specific ownership.

I'm the exchange junkie.

[SJSH Mom Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SJSH Mom]

I am seeing a glimpse of light....

I have read and re-read your awesome response multiple times and think I am understanding...I will venture over to the links you all have given to me and then come back...

To follow up on some ans/ques you have provided...

My in laws actually bought the timeshare and have a lot of points so the goal is to go on one or two big vacations as a family/yr. We(they) have a lot of points to play with... We will need a 3 bedroom so...I will read up on deposit my points from Wyn to the independants.... such sneaky folk these TS people are! Such awesome peers you all are esp with sharing of your abundance of knowledge that you have. Thanks for all your time.

See you in a few days(?!)
Diane

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

I have read and re-read your awesome response multiple times and think I am understanding...I will venture over to the links you all have given to me and then come back...

To follow up on some ans/ques you have provided...

My in laws actually bought the timeshare and have a lot of points so the goal is to go on one or two big vacations as a family/yr. We(they) have a lot of points to play with... We will need a 3 bedroom so...I will read up on deposit my points from Wyn to the independants.... such sneaky folk these TS people are! Such awesome peers you all are esp with sharing of your abundance of knowledge that you have. Thanks for all your time.

See you in a few days(?!)
Diane

Yes they are sneaky. More than half the fun is finding the loopholes for some of the truly timeshare addicted.


3 bedrooms are rarer than hen's teeth in Hawaii and almost anywhere other than Orlando, Williamsburg and Branson. So you will need at least 2 units a one bdrm and a 2 bdrm.

Have fun learning and check-on back any time.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

You can try internal. FF does has 3 and 4 BD president. And you will not expect it to be shown on the exchange.

The point is around 500K to 900k per week. So if you take exchange route, you may need to use 360k to get 2 units at the same time slot without using RCI, than add the cost of exchange.

Some small exchange company you may get lucky to spend much less than that, but you will need extreme lucky to get 2 units at the same week.

RCI is pure luck. If you are luck, you will get 2 units at 56k plus exchange fee, but I would not bet on it.

Jya-Ning