• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Newbie question [RCI via Wyndham] [merged]

dis5150

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
66
Location
Arkansas
I am a Wyndham Discovery points owner, (due to not finding this site in time to rescind!). I have no plans to buy anything until I have used up all my Discovery points, which will be at least next summer. But in the meantime, I am trying to learn all I can about the whole TS process. I have watched ebay and the Marketplace here, just seeing what things go for, etc. I have some questions about RCI. I have read everything I can on here and on their website, but I still do not understand how the points work.

1. How do Wyndham points convert in RCI? Do you have to book a week somewhere, then deposit it? Or do you just deposit points...? (this is just for my knowledge - I know I can't deposit Discovery points).

2. When someone advertises in the Marketplace that they have RCI points for sale, what does that mean? I thought RCI was just an exchange company?

When we buy, it will most likely be Wyndham, as Orlando, Nashville and Branson would be where we would mostly vacation. Possibly use points near Disneyland also. My thinking is that a points based system would work best for us.

Thanks in advance for any help un-confusing me! :)
 

markb53

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
930
Reaction score
253
Points
274
Location
Northern California
Resorts Owned
CWA
Panama City Beach
Worldmark
I am a Wyndham Discovery points owner, (due to not finding this site in time to rescind!). I have no plans to buy anything until I have used up all my Discovery points, which will be at least next summer. But in the meantime, I am trying to learn all I can about the whole TS process. I have watched ebay and the Marketplace here, just seeing what things go for, etc. I have some questions about RCI. I have read everything I can on here and on their website, but I still do not understand how the points work.

1. How do Wyndham points convert in RCI? Do you have to book a week somewhere, then deposit it? Or do you just deposit points...? (this is just for my knowledge - I know I can't deposit Discovery points).

2. When someone advertises in the Marketplace that they have RCI points for sale, what does that mean? I thought RCI was just an exchange company?

When we buy, it will most likely be Wyndham, as Orlando, Nashville and Branson would be where we would mostly vacation. Possibly use points near Disneyland also. My thinking is that a points based system would work best for us.

Thanks in advance for any help un-confusing me! :)

Below is the RCI exchange points chart. The process is to go to the RCI portal on the Wyndham website and find something you want. Then go back to Wyndham and deposit the necessary points. Wait 24 hours for them to show up in RCI. Then go to RCI.com and book the reservation and pay the $209.00 fee and sometimes a housekeeping at checkin. The best use on Wyndham points are in the Wyndham system.

Your question 2 could have 2 answers, I believe.
1) RCI members (non Wyndham RCI members) transfer points
2) some small independent timeshares express there ownership in RCI points not by number of bedroom and number of weeks.


Worldwide External Exchange Points Chart
DemandUnit Size
Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR or More
Prime90,000126,000205,000300,000
High77,000105,000165,000232,000
Value52,00077,000126,000159,000
Quiet35,00063,00077,000112,000



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 

JudyS

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
4,166
Reaction score
211
Points
448
Location
Ann Arbor, MI
I am a Wyndham Discovery points owner, (due to not finding this site in time to rescind!). ...

2. When someone advertises in the Marketplace that they have RCI points for sale, what does that mean? I thought RCI was just an exchange company? ...
I don't know about Wyndham Discovery points specifically, but usually discovery packages from most major timeshare companies aren't all that bad a deal. I've never seen one that was good enough for me to actually buy it, but it's not a major financial mistake. I would guess most discovery packages are comparable to renting the same nights from the timeshare developer.

As for the second question, most of the "RCI Points" listings in the TUG Marketplace are for ownership of weeks that have been converted to RCI Points. A few of the listings are for a one-time transfer of RCI Points from the seller's account to the buyer's account.
 

dis5150

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
66
Location
Arkansas
I don't know about Wyndham Discovery points specifically, but usually discovery packages from most major timeshare companies aren't all that bad a deal. I've never seen one that was good enough for me to actually buy it, but it's not a major financial mistake. I would guess most discovery packages are comparable to renting the same nights from the timeshare developer.

As for the second question, most of the "RCI Points" listings in the TUG Marketplace are for ownership of weeks that have been converted to RCI Points. A few of the listings are for a one-time transfer of RCI Points from the seller's account to the buyer's account.

Yes, I don't think we got a "bad" deal on the points. I am getting every penny's worth out of them!

So, some people's timeshare companies converted to RCI points and now they just use them in RCI? Do they have to pay the fee to exchange? I am just wondering as some of the deals seem pretty good, but I have no idea what you could actually do with the points? And would it cost extra to use them?
 

ronparise

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2011
Messages
12,664
Reaction score
2,134
Points
548
Just to clarify

Wyndham points do not convert to RCI points As Mark said in his post, you deposit Wyndham points to RCI and through the Wyndham portal you will see the available RCI weeks denominated in Wyndham points.

Regarding RCI points: When you see RCI points for sale what is being sold is a week at some resort that has been converted to RCI points. If you own such a week you can reserve that week, but if you dont do that in a timely manner, your week will become points. and you can use those points to exchange within the RCI points inventory and yes you will pay an exchange fee

FYI I own a lot of Wyndham points. And at one time I also had a small RCI points account. I bought it for access to the last minute discounts offered in that system. Turned out for me that the dicounnted inventory didnt live up to my expectations...so I allowed my points to expire and revert back to just weeks and I now exchange those weeks within the rci weeks system. I know that there are a lot of very satisfied RCI points owners here on TUG... Im not one of them.

Given your stated travel needs, my advice for what its worth, is to stick with Wyndham
 

dis5150

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
66
Location
Arkansas
Below is the RCI exchange points chart. The process is to go to the RCI portal on the Wyndham website and find something you want. Then go back to Wyndham and deposit the necessary points. Wait 24 hours for them to show up in RCI. Then go to RCI.com and book the reservation and pay the $209.00 fee and sometimes a housekeeping at checkin. The best use on Wyndham points are in the Wyndham system.

Your question 2 could have 2 answers, I believe.
1) RCI members (non Wyndham RCI members) transfer points
2) some small independent timeshares express there ownership in RCI points not by number of bedroom and number of weeks.


Worldwide External Exchange Points Chart
DemandUnit Size
Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR or More
Prime90,000126,000205,000300,000
High77,000105,000165,000232,000
Value52,00077,000126,000159,000
Quiet35,00063,00077,000112,000



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Thanks for that info! Since I just have Discovery Points, I don't have access to the full Wyndham website (didn't know there was an RCI Portal). I do understand that the best use of Wyndham points is at Wyndham, I was just wondering, because in the future, if we do buy Wyndham points (resale!) we might want to exchange at some point for DVC.
 

dis5150

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
66
Location
Arkansas
Just to clarify

Wyndham points do not convert to RCI points As Mark said in his post, you deposit Wyndham points to RCI and through the Wyndham portal you will see the available RCI weeks denominated in Wyndham points.

Regarding RCI points: When you see RCI points for sale what is being sold is a week at some resort that has been converted to RCI points. If you own such a week you can reserve that week, but if you dont do that in a timely manner, your week will become points. and you can use those points to exchange within the RCI points inventory and yes you will pay an exchange fee

FYI I own a lot of Wyndham points. And at one time I also had a small RCI points account. I bought it for access to the last minute discounts offered in that system. Turned out for me that the dicounnted inventory didnt live up to my expectations...so I allowed my points to expire and revert back to just weeks and I now exchange those weeks within the rci weeks system. I know that there are a lot of very satisfied RCI points owners here on TUG... Im not one of them.

Given your stated travel needs, my advice for what its worth, is to stick with Wyndham

I don't think RCI points would work for me if that is how the system works. Yes, I think we will be buying (resale!) Wyndham points when we are ready to buy. Thanks so much for your input. :)
 

JudyS

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
4,166
Reaction score
211
Points
448
Location
Ann Arbor, MI
...
Regarding RCI points: When you see RCI points for sale what is being sold is a week at some resort that has been converted to RCI points. If you own such a week you can reserve that week, but if you dont do that in a timely manner, your week will become points. and you can use those points to exchange within the RCI points inventory and yes you will pay an exchange fee

FYI I own a lot of Wyndham points. And at one time I also had a small RCI points account. I bought it for access to the last minute discounts offered in that system. Turned out for me that the dicounnted inventory didnt live up to my expectations...so I allowed my points to expire and revert back to just weeks and I now exchange those weeks within the rci weeks system...
Ditto what Ron said. If you own a week that has been converted to RCI Points, you have three options: 1) use RCI Points for exchanges; 2) use your underlying week (what RCI Points calls your "Home Week"); or 3) cancel your RCI Points contract and your week becomes just a plain ol' week again. (I don't know of any resorts that *require* you to keep your week in RCI Points, but it's possible they exist, so in a few rare cases, option 3 might not be available.)

By the way, as long as your RCI Points contract is active, you will be required to pay fees to RCI, even if you just use your underlying week and never book anything else as an exchange. Also, if your week is a part of RCI Points, your resort will probably show your week as deposited with RCI, even if you reserve your home week. This means you won't be able to trade your week in another trading company, and even renting it out may be difficult because if the renter contacts the resort, the resort may say the week has been deposited in RCI Points.

I actually use RCI Points a lot and am happy with it, but it's only worth owning if you will exchange via RCI Points. There are some resorts that have much better availability in RCI Points than in RCI Weeks, and their point cost may be more reasonable in RCI Points, too. The Disney Vacation Club is a prime example of this.
 

Xcalibur

Guest
Joined
Dec 31, 2012
Messages
196
Reaction score
8
Points
178
Ditto what Ron said. If you own a week that has been converted to RCI Points, you have three options: 1) use RCI Points for exchanges; 2) use your underlying week (what RCI Points calls your "Home Week"); or 3) cancel your RCI Points contract and your week becomes just a plain ol' week again. (I don't know of any resorts that *require* you to keep your week in RCI Points, but it's possible they exist, so in a few rare cases, option 3 might not be available.)

By the way, as long as your RCI Points contract is active, you will be required to pay fees to RCI, even if you just use your underlying week and never book anything else as an exchange. Also, if your week is a part of RCI Points, your resort will probably show your week as deposited with RCI, even if you reserve your home week. This means you won't be able to trade your week in another trading company, and even renting it out may be difficult because if the renter contacts the resort, the resort may say the week has been deposited in RCI Points.

I actually use RCI Points a lot and am happy with it, but it's only worth owning if you will exchange via RCI Points. There are some resorts that have much better availability in RCI Points than in RCI Weeks, and their point cost may be more reasonable in RCI Points, too. The Disney Vacation Club is a prime example of this.

So you can have both a weeks and points account? What are the advantages of a weeks account?

Thanks
 

dis5150

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
66
Location
Arkansas
Ditto what Ron said. If you own a week that has been converted to RCI Points, you have three options: 1) use RCI Points for exchanges; 2) use your underlying week (what RCI Points calls your "Home Week"); or 3) cancel your RCI Points contract and your week becomes just a plain ol' week again. (I don't know of any resorts that *require* you to keep your week in RCI Points, but it's possible they exist, so in a few rare cases, option 3 might not be available.)

By the way, as long as your RCI Points contract is active, you will be required to pay fees to RCI, even if you just use your underlying week and never book anything else as an exchange. Also, if your week is a part of RCI Points, your resort will probably show your week as deposited with RCI, even if you reserve your home week. This means you won't be able to trade your week in another trading company, and even renting it out may be difficult because if the renter contacts the resort, the resort may say the week has been deposited in RCI Points.

I actually use RCI Points a lot and am happy with it, but it's only worth owning if you will exchange via RCI Points. There are some resorts that have much better availability in RCI Points than in RCI Weeks, and their point cost may be more reasonable in RCI Points, too. The Disney Vacation Club is a prime example of this.

So would you say that when I am ready to buy, my best bet would be buying Wyndham points, then if I want to exchange into DVC, deposit some points into RCI?
 

Myxdvz

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2011
Messages
502
Reaction score
0
Points
126
Location
Chicago, IL
So would you say that when I am ready to buy, my best bet would be buying Wyndham points, then if I want to exchange into DVC, deposit some points into RCI?

A lot of us are doing this right now... But don't buy FOR DVC. It's a nice benefit of having Wyndham points, but know that DVC might not be with RCI in the future. They used to be with II when we bought DVC.

You deposit points into RCI whenever you want to do an exchange. Or, for a lot of people, if they have unused points at the end of the year. Instead of losing them, most deposit them to RCI (for the cost of 1 RT).
 

TimMikel

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2015
Messages
21
Reaction score
9
Points
114
Location
Central Illinois
Resorts Owned
Lake Forest Resort and Club; Windward Passage Resort; Redington Ambassador; Sea Club V
I had both RCI Weeks and Points accounts at one time. You only pay one membership fee, but you have to have both a weeks resort and a points resort ownership. I believe the RCI system works very well since the class action and I have been able to exchange very well in both systems. I do feel like the fees are too high, though. I liked the flexibility of partial weeks with RCI points (like Wyndham does). Overall though, I felt the weeks system met my needs better. I no longer own at an RCI points resort, but do at Wyndham. I still like both weeks and points for my home resort as well as exchanges.
 

dis5150

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
66
Location
Arkansas
A lot of us are doing this right now... But don't buy FOR DVC. It's a nice benefit of having Wyndham points, but know that DVC might not be with RCI in the future. They used to be with II when we bought DVC.

You deposit points into RCI whenever you want to do an exchange. Or, for a lot of people, if they have unused points at the end of the year. Instead of losing them, most deposit them to RCI (for the cost of 1 RT).

Yes, I hear you. :) We like the Wyndham resorts and would be very happy with just staying in them. I was just thinking that at some time in the future we might want to stay on Disney property (marathon weekends, etc.) and exchanging points would be cheaper than paying Disney prices (since I would be paying for the Wyndham points, regardless).

I did hear that they used to be with II. I would just look at it as an added bonus that is possible at this time with Wyndham points. :)

Thanks everyone for the input. I think I understand it better now, but probably won't have a full grasp of it until I can actually log into the real Wyndham website. Discovery points website is very limited as to what they let you view.
 

Jay6821

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2014
Messages
15
Reaction score
3
Points
113
Location
Michigan
I bought a Discovery Package when I started with Wyndham. I feel it was a decent value, and I discovered that I was able to stretch the value of my points. Last summer we went to Sedona and then Las Vegas using some of our Discovery points. Because I booked only a couple of weeks in advance, I was able to get a 25% discount on my vacation. That allowed me to stretch my points.

Consequently, I enough points left over to spend 4 days in Myrtle Beach next month, before driving to Atlanta to see my daughter. (I did have to purchase some extra points to fill out the 4 days, but that was only about $50). So with my Discovery point purchase, I will have spent about several days in 3 different Wyndham properties,for about $1,300 or so. (BTW, I bought the Discovery package while we were staying for free for a week at Wyndham Palm Aire when my wife won a drawing at conference she was at)!

I like Wyndham enough that I have since purchased 189,000 points on eBay for about $400. I will buy more resale points in the next few years when my wife and I can downsize our work responsibilities a bit and have more vacation time.
 

elleny76

newbie
Joined
Sep 23, 2014
Messages
641
Reaction score
30
Points
88
Location
NYC
DVC and RCI

Hi!.. New here. I own Wyndham and trying to see if I can book a DVC through RCI but when I search "resorts" in RCI 18 DVC comes to the list but none available..(?) looking for September(value week) anyone knows how to find any week in RCI? are they ever available? tx:eek:
 

elleny76

newbie
Joined
Sep 23, 2014
Messages
641
Reaction score
30
Points
88
Location
NYC
RCI..bookings

I till confused. I transferred 50k to RCI from my wyndham. I am looking for a week in value _week in DVC. The issue is there is no information of dates for booking at all... how can I do to get a studio in a value season from RCI to DVC? I am so confused!:bawl:
 

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,668
Reaction score
9,088
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
You have to put in an Ongoing Search with RCI - like wait listing - you won't see DVC exchanges just sitting in the online inventory.

A gentle request: please don't keep creating new posts with the same question. If you have additional questions, please post them in this thread, instead of starting a new one.
 

ailin

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2005
Messages
333
Reaction score
50
Points
388
I till confused. I transferred 50k to RCI from my wyndham. I am looking for a week in value _week in DVC. The issue is there is no information of dates for booking at all... how can I do to get a studio in a value season from RCI to DVC? I am so confused!:bawl:

Are you going through the Wyndham portal (Wyndham website -> My Membership -> RCI External Exchanges)?

Sarasota Springs does sometimes show up online, and occasionally Old Key West, but as Denise said an Ongoing Search is the way to go. Studios are rarely deposited. A 1 bedroom in September will probably be 63K.
 

elleny76

newbie
Joined
Sep 23, 2014
Messages
641
Reaction score
30
Points
88
Location
NYC
Denise....totally... !:) TX.... To: AILIN..thanks so much. I called RCI and they went step by step with me..(nice people) yes 1 bed 77k in September.
 
Last edited:

ailin

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2005
Messages
333
Reaction score
50
Points
388
Denise....totally... !:) TX.... To: AILIN..thanks so much. I called RCI and they went step by step with me..(nice people) yes 1 bed 77k in September.

I am seeing 63K for other resorts in Orlando for September. Wyndham goes by area and not by resort, so DVC should be the same. Just for future reference, you can deposit the points after you get the match (it's held for 3 days, the RCI point transfer only takes 1 day).
 

dis5150

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
66
Location
Arkansas
I bought a Discovery Package when I started with Wyndham. I feel it was a decent value, and I discovered that I was able to stretch the value of my points. Last summer we went to Sedona and then Las Vegas using some of our Discovery points. Because I booked only a couple of weeks in advance, I was able to get a 25% discount on my vacation. That allowed me to stretch my points.

Consequently, I enough points left over to spend 4 days in Myrtle Beach next month, before driving to Atlanta to see my daughter. (I did have to purchase some extra points to fill out the 4 days, but that was only about $50). So with my Discovery point purchase, I will have spent about several days in 3 different Wyndham properties,for about $1,300 or so. (BTW, I bought the Discovery package while we were staying for free for a week at Wyndham Palm Aire when my wife won a drawing at conference she was at)!

I like Wyndham enough that I have since purchased 189,000 points on eBay for about $400. I will buy more resale points in the next few years when my wife and I can downsize our work responsibilities a bit and have more vacation time.

I too feel like we are getting a lot of use out of our Discovery package. We have a whole family trip to Bonnet Creek in September for 4 nights in a 3 bdrm deluxe, DD and I are going back in November for the W&D Half Marathon and spending 5 nights in a 1 bdrm deluxe. I will still have 122,000 points left that DH and I will probably use up in Branson over several 3-4 night trips before they expire next September. Or DD and I might do the Princess Half marathon in February and spend another 5 nights at Bonnet Creek.

I wouldn't recommend someone buying the Discovery Package, but since we did get suckered into shelling out the money, at least, I feel, that we are getting our money's worth of vacations out of it. We haven't vacationed this much, ever! :whoopie:

We will be looking for some Wyndham points after we use these up.
 

antjmar

newbie
Joined
Feb 18, 2011
Messages
900
Reaction score
36
Points
188
Location
CT
Hi!.. New here. I own Wyndham and trying to see if I can book a DVC through RCI but when I search "resorts" in RCI 18 DVC comes to the list but none available..(?) looking for September(value week) anyone knows how to find any week in RCI? are they ever available? tx:eek:

I saw availability for sept 2015 this morning! They are all 1 bedroom units. They are out there but an OGS is your best bet.
 

staceyeileen

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2012
Messages
499
Reaction score
36
Points
138
Location
FL
I too feel like we are getting a lot of use out of our Discovery package. We have a whole family trip to Bonnet Creek in September for 4 nights in a 3 bdrm deluxe, DD and I are going back in November for the W&D Half Marathon and spending 5 nights in a 1 bdrm deluxe. I will still have 122,000 points left that DH and I will probably use up in Branson over several 3-4 night trips before they expire next September. Or DD and I might do the Princess Half marathon in February and spend another 5 nights at Bonnet Creek.

Do people with discovery packages have a certain number of housekeeping points to use, or is that not applicable with discovery packages? I ask because if you owned Wyn points and continued with that kind of travel pattern you may find that you'll be hit with HK fees due to the short stays, particularly the 4 nights in a 3 BR!
 

dis5150

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
Points
66
Location
Arkansas
Do people with discovery packages have a certain number of housekeeping points to use, or is that not applicable with discovery packages? I ask because if you owned Wyn points and continued with that kind of travel pattern you may find that you'll be hit with HK fees due to the short stays, particularly the 4 nights in a 3 BR!

Discovery package has unlimited HK credits. Also unlimited calls in to make reservations. Can't book online, have to call. And still have to pay the guest fee for family or friends to use. Can't rent the points.

Wyndham weasels don't tell you about how HK points will work differently when you buy real points. Had to find out everything I know from TUG users. Thank goodness for TUG! :)
 
Last edited:

jj155112

TUG Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2015
Messages
29
Reaction score
1
Points
113
Location
Arkansas
Resorts Owned
Wyndham CWA 317,000 (84k developer, 233k resale)
yeah the sales people leave out all the details about the little charges they hit you with when you do anything! I have a discovery now and was going to buy from developer a couple weeks ago before I found this site and rescinded. It is crazy how much of the details they fail to mention.
 
Last edited:
Top