RCI points rentals?

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

We are new to RCI points. We booked a week at the Wyndham Cozumel. When contacting the resort for more information on an upgrade to an oceanfront/oceanview we were told that RCI rooms are pool or gardenview and we would have to pay quite a lot to upgrade. Are all RCI exchanges the lowest room category? This is our first exchange but it doesn't make me very happy. Before joining RCI when we vacationed we always chose an oceanfront room. Are we now going to have to be happy with the lowest cost room in the resort, when we go through RCI? I thought that RCI members had clout. It seems just the opposite. With the additional cost of airfare, RCI fees and all-inclusive charges, this vacation will end up costing us more than we have paid before joining RCI and getting a basic room on top of everything else! What advantage is there to being a member? So many cities that we've looked at vacationing in don't have RCI hotels. Please, some good news for being an RCI points member. Thanks, Jean

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

RCI members do not have clout. Exchangers can hope for equal treatment but many times it falls short of that. Owners are given priority at many resorts and I would think cash paying customers are likely given priority at all-inclusives.

If you bought your RCI points with the idea that you will use them for all-inclusive resorts, that was probably not the best way to approach it. I have never traded for an all-inclusive so I am not the best to answer you but when I have investigated, I found the same situation that you have found. I have heard that some AI's offer lower rates than what you can get off the street but I think you have to be willing to search for those deals.

Do you ever travel without staying at an all-inclusive? If so, I think you will be happy with exchanges into most RCI resorts when you compare them to hotel rooms.

Are you saying that there are no RCI all-inclusive resorts in the cities you want to travel to, or no resorts at all? Where do you want you travel in future?

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

RCI rentals

Thanks for replying. I guess my post was confusing! Sorry. We did not buy into RCI for just all-inclusives, it just happens that our first rental through them happened to be at an all-inclusive. We were pretty limited in where we could book because we joined late in the year and there wasn't much available. Mexico and the Dominican Republic seemed to be our only options. So we booked at Wyndham Cozumel because they were a lot cheaper for the all-inclusive fees than most.This is when I was surprised that RCI members get the lowest cost room. I have a son in Charlotte NC and tried to vacation there-no RCI rentals in the area. I have a son going to the Santa Monica area- no RCI rentals in that area. Also, have 2 sons going to Ireland next year- nothing in Ireland available, only Extra Vacations. So, as you can see, we haven't had much luck. Hoping that will change. Thanks,Jean

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

I agree with philsfan, points are not best used at All Inclusive resorts. I am an owner at an A.I resort and get certain privleges such as best rooms/views, best dining etc but I would never considering using the points I get from my resort for another A.I resort. There are much better deals for A.I's on Expedia, Travelocity etc.
With RCI there are some excellent non A.I properties to visit, anywhere in the world. Also you can book a long weekend break for as little as 9,000 points + less than a $100 at a local resort which makes for a very cheap holiday. As your new to this, be sure spend some time on the RCI website and do plenty of reading and I'm sure your initial feelings might change.

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

I want to clear up some terminology.

"RCI Rentals" would include their websites for non-members, their Last Calls and Extra Vacations. When you are using Points, those aren't considered 'rentals', they are considered exchanges. Hope that helps some.

Ireland - a very difficult trade. You might check DAElive.com to see if they have any Ireland availability when you wish to go. The other option would be to start an 'ongoing search' thru RCI. You would have to pay the exchange fee upfront (I think Int'l is now $199?)

Good luck!

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Thanks for replying. I guess my post was confusing! Sorry. We did not buy into RCI for just all-inclusives, it just happens that our first rental through them happened to be at an all-inclusive. We were pretty limited in where we could book because we joined late in the year and there wasn't much available. Mexico and the Dominican Republic seemed to be our only options. So we booked at Wyndham Cozumel because they were a lot cheaper for the all-inclusive fees than most.This is when I was surprised that RCI members get the lowest cost room. I have a son in Charlotte NC and tried to vacation there-no RCI rentals in the area. I have a son going to the Santa Monica area- no RCI rentals in that area. Also, have 2 sons going to Ireland next year- nothing in Ireland available, only Extra Vacations. So, as you can see, we haven't had much luck. Hoping that will change. Thanks,Jean

Do you use the RCI website to look for exchange possibilities or are you calling them to do it?

If you bought your RCI points from the sales people at your home resort, you should not have felt any pressure to schedule anything before the end of the year. If you bought them on the resale market, then it's possible your points were about to expire. The 'My Account' page on the RCI website will show your 'Use Year Dates'. Only points assigned in December, 2007 will expire before the end of the year, so maybe you felt unncecessary pressure to book something. Or maybe you just wanted to take a vacation!

When you want to make a standard reservation, it's best to plan as close to 303 days away from your desired check-in as possible. That is when the 'standard reservation' inventory first becomes available.

When you want to reserve using the 'weeks' reservation, it's best to plan 12 to 24 months ahead. People deposit as they pay their maintenance fee's for the most part. If you have a search in place for where you want to go next summer, when those deposits are made, one of them will be held for you.

Whether to search using standard or weeks depends on what resorts you are trying to get. The online resort directory will indicate if a resort is a points resort or not. If not, use the weeks reservation and start your search earlier. If so, stay up until midnight on the day your check-in should become available on the standard reservation search and see if anything shows up for where you want to go.

Lake Lure looks to be the closest to Charlotte for an RCI timeshare in NC. Oxnard and Laguna Beach are the closest to Santa Monica. There is availability in Ireland in January, October and November, 2010.