Holidays Away or Not

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Of our RCI Weeks to be used in 2011, Plantation Island at Ormond Beach (above Daytona) was booked for 16-23 Dec. The exchange fee is already paid. We were thinking of reserving a couple more weeks for staying in Florida through New Years. Now the children and grand children think we are ruining the holiday season, as if they can't have a gathering without us being here.

With not being able to travel for much of the past couple of years, we have nine RCI weeks to use in 2012. On top of that, we haven't used any Wyndham points in 2011. That could result in more RCI deposits.

What's your opinion? Do you think we are being mean, going away for Christmas and New Years?

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Robert

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

Mean? NO.

I assume your kids are grown, or close enuf to make their own plans. In my opinion, you have earned the right to do as you please, and if that includes an extended holiday, so be it. Maybe they are simply jealous?

I am very supportive of using up those weeks!!

I myself am considering skipping The Family Christmas in Houston this year. Torn, as we would "all" be there if I went, and that hasn't happened in a very long time, maybe a decade.

Would they miss me terribly? Doubt it, but I assume they would miss me at least a little. I've had enuf non-family Christmases that it's not an issue For Me to not go, and no one is pressuring. It's a major hike for me and not a lot of time off with the new job.

Holiday Dilemmas. Prob'ly a new thread for that ...

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

Sounds like typical kids - they think you would ruin their holiday if you don't do what they want, but overlook the fact that you won't be doing what you want.

Go to Florida and have fun. It's the holidays for you, too. If they will miss you too much, they can follow you to Florida.

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

It is a personal decision that only the OP can make. I don't know their family.

Holiday family gatherings are a very big thing for our family and we enjoy them immensely. This Christmas will be one of our best because we will have all our immediate family, 9 of us ( son, DIL, 3 grandkids, daughter, and SIL ), together at our home for 5 days. This summer we had them all plus 2 other grandkids so there were 11 of us at our home for a couple weeks. These times together are far more important than any trips we take. We are a very close family.

We also never travel during holiday periods but part of that is because we can go whenever we want and we don't like holiday crowds.

Having said all of this, I will not pass judgment on the OP's decision. Every person has to decide what is best for them based on their preferences and situation. There is no right or wrong in this situation.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

I have to agree with John. We have always tried to do family togetherness. We will most likely NOT go to FL afterall.

Now, what can be done with the booked TS? Can I ask for the exchange fee and give it away? Or would that be considered renting in some form?

May this be posted in the Freebies section?

Anyone interested in the week, please contact me.

A guest certificate will have to be obtained.

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Robert

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

I have to agree with John. We have always tried to do family togetherness. We will most likely NOT go to FL afterall.

Now, what can be done with the booked TS? Can I ask for the exchange fee and give it away? Or would that be considered renting in some form?

May this be posted in the Freebies section?

Anyone interested in the week, please contact me.

A guest certificate will have to be obtained.

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Robert

The bottom line is that YOU have to be comfortable, not anyone else.U

My DD suggested we go away for Thanksgiving next year - I said as long as my 83 year old dad is around, I will not be doing that.

Yes, you are allowed to get your exchange fee back.

I hope you and Carol have a happy holiday and book some great weeks for the New Year - in fact New Years REALLY doesn't count as a holiday, right? - maybe you can be in FL for New Years???

I have an II bonus week I will not be using - let me know if you need/want it.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

The bottom line is that YOU have to be comfortable, not anyone else.

My DD suggested we go away for Thanksgiving next year - I said as long as my 83 year old dad is around, I will not be doing that.


Yes, you are allowed to get your exchange fee back.

I hope you and Carol have a happy holiday and book some great weeks for the New Year - in fact New Years REALLY doesn't count as a holiday, right? - maybe you can be in FL for New Years???

I have an II bonus week I will not be using - let me know if you need/want it.

I agree with John and Pat. Robert will have to make that decision and he has already which is good.

On the other hand, it is not fair if the children make you feel guilty if you don't do exactly what they want you to do. They should know better. JMHO.

I wish you happy traveling next year since you have all the weeks sitting there and waiting for you.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I make it a point to never post my travel plans on a public BBS.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Thanks everyone.

If we get someone to take the resort, we'll book close to home so we may all be together and use up weeks.

I'm thinking of looking for presidential suites to use up our 2011 Wyndham points before they expire.

On that subject... rolling points into the Wyndham VISA card, is this worthwhile?

I'm about up to my ears in RCI Weeks that must be used in 2012.
9 exchanges at $200 per is not a bad deal if you can just GO and not come back for doctoring every couple weeks. Tired of packing and riding.

Would be nice to stay in Kona for a month or two.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

I make it a point to never post my travel plans on a public BBS.

Good point. Never know who is waiting to pounce.

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

.. rolling points into the Wyndham VISA card, is this worthwhile?

:

No, it should be looked upon as a last resort if you can not use points any other way and want to obtain some small reduced value from them.

Coping with an excess of weeks and points can happen and be challenging.

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

No, it should be looked upon as a last resort if you can not use points any other way and want to obtain some small reduced value from them.

Not sure, I have not really look into it since the new RCI exchange ratio comes out.

The chance of get the money worth through RCI exchanger is very small now, although there are still some. But I would guess in avg you may get less than 3/4 of your MF value. Which will be awfully close to the reward program.

If you roll into the reward point, and sometimes within their hotel discount period, you may get close or better than that value.

It will need some close look to see where and when you plan to spend your vacation

Jya-Ning

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

I make it a point to never post my travel plans on a public BBS.

Thanks for the reminder

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

Robert, this may help you...

Remember that under the new (1 year old now) RCI TPU system you don't have to worry about 'losing' weeks or rushing to use them up when it's not convenient to you. Yes, you pay for it, but that can still be a smart way to go vs. losing weeks and the paid MFs on those weeks or taking vacations that you really don't want or giving weeks away.

If you find yourself bumping up against expiration dates in 2012, consider paying the $99 combine fee and combining your oldest weeks into one bigger deposit line. This would push out the expiration date 2 years from the combine date and give you time to whittle away at the TPU pile in a time frame that better matches your travel desires.

It doesn't help you with your current booked vacation (I assume you didn't buy the exchange protection insurance) but at least you may not feel so up against a wall for your 2012 planning/use situation.

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

generic Wyndham point deposited week can not be combined though. It can be extended, but it will be per week deposited.

Jya-Ning