Is Ocean Landings Resort Part of RCI? Strategy to join RCI?

[CericRushmore]

Hi, looking for some expert advice from the folks here. We are planning on traveling for 2 years. We currently own 3 weeks at Ocean Landings Resort and deposit the weeks to Interval International. With II, we have heavily used the certificates and getaways and will continue to do so.

1. Is Ocean Landings Resort part of RCI? There is an RCI page https://www.rci.com/pre-rci/us/en/resort-directory/resortdetails?resortCode=DS86 and I saw some reviews of people trading in via RCI. I've never heard from the resort that we could join RCI though.

2. If Ocean Landings Resort is part of RCI as well as II, can I take one of my units and deposit it with RCI to get an RCI membership. Then after a year, deposit that unit back to II, but keep paying the RCI member dues?

3. My assumption is that being part of RCI would give us more timeshare options to rent weeks (similar to getaways or certificates with II). We are mainly interested in the leftover inventory that is discounted as we will need to make the budget go far since we will be traveling for 2 years.

4. Are there any other timeshare strategies we should consider. We don't have an interest in purchasing more weeks. I did look at
tripbeat, Platinum Interchange, Sky Auction, Trading Places International, Trading Places Maoui, Extra Holidays - but most of them seem to really not be that good of a deal (other than Sky Auction which I'm not sure I really trust.

 

[hajjah]

I'm just seeing your post. I currently own 3 weeks at OLR, but I've owned 5 over the years. I only purchased these hotel units to exchange into Marriotts due to the low maintenance fees. Well, I remember when they were around $179 back in 2012. They are currently $333.00. I'm still getting the bang for my bucks as long as I can trade with II to stay at Marriott resorts.

I just used a friend's RCI account to search for Ocean Landings. They do exchange with RCI. I'm actually shocked to see a hotel unit available for the first week in November at

1,509.99​

USD!!!​

Have you ever been to this resort? Whenever we travel to Orlando, we usually drive to OLR to use their beach for free. This is a place though where I would never stay. I've used the gym while my family is on the beach.

Oh, I was with RCI for about 20 years and canceled maybe 4 years ago. There weren't enough gold crown resorts to my liking.

 

[WorldT]

Hi, looking for some expert advice from the folks here. We are planning on traveling for 2 years. We currently own 3 weeks at Ocean Landings Resort and deposit the weeks to Interval International. With II, we have heavily used the certificates and getaways and will continue to do so.

1. Is Ocean Landings Resort part of RCI? There is an RCI page https://www.rci.com/pre-rci/us/en/resort-directory/resortdetails?resortCode=DS86 and I saw some reviews of people trading in via RCI. I've never heard from the resort that we could join RCI though.

2. If Ocean Landings Resort is part of RCI as well as II, can I take one of my units and deposit it with RCI to get an RCI membership. Then after a year, deposit that unit back to II, but keep paying the RCI member dues?

3. My assumption is that being part of RCI would give us more timeshare options to rent weeks (similar to getaways or certificates with II). We are mainly interested in the leftover inventory that is discounted as we will need to make the budget go far since we will be traveling for 2 years.

4. Are there any other timeshare strategies we should consider. We don't have an interest in purchasing more weeks. I did look at
tripbeat, Platinum Interchange, Sky Auction, Trading Places International, Trading Places Maoui, Extra Holidays - but most of them seem to really not be that good of a deal (other than Sky Auction which I'm not sure I really trust.

Yes to question #1.
Yes to question #2.
You can alternate the exchange company you want to deposit with. If you have a lock off, you can deposit one side with one company and the other side with another company.

 

[rapmarks]

I have stayed at this resort. I would only stay in building C or D. And only if I couldn’t get in another resort

 

[hajjah]

I think it may be a good idea for you to also exchange with RCI. They have more getaways and last call weeks. Btw, OLR is only about a 50 minute drive from Orlando.

 

[escanoe]

You can also sign up for RCi with your ownership information, have access to their “last call” and “extra” rentals without ever having to deposit. However, I would deposit at least once to check out trading in their system.

 

[hajjah]

One additional thought. If you are a Marriott Bonvoy member, using your OLR weeks at Marriott resorts via Interval International gets 7 nights. This is why I use my OLR units by only staying in Marriotts. I have lifetime platinum status with Marriott, which is the main reason why I left RCI. My 3 hotel OLR units get me 21 nights yearly and always in 2-3 bedroom units in Marriott resorts. This is a winner for me with the lowest maintenance fees.

 

[Kikster1961]

I think it may be a good idea for you to also exchange with RCI. They have more getaways and last call weeks. Btw, OLR is only about a 50 minute drive from Orlando.

I am recently having access to RCI. I don't know the realities of reserving when and what I want. Is availability for a particular resort/property shown real time? Are there waiting lists. How far out can you reservce. I have yet to get my sign in info to create and account. Thank you for your information!

 

[hajjah]

Sorry, I'm just seeing this message. I left RCI about 5 years ago, but have access to a family member's account. I only recall using RCI for last minute exchanges and those under 10,000 points. What is usually available is in real time. You can reserve up to 1 or 2 years in advance, depending on your resort. Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[CericRushmore]

You can also sign up for RCi with your ownership information, have access to their “last call” and “extra” rentals without ever having to deposit. However, I would deposit at least once to check out trading in their system.

This is what I'm interested in.

 

[CericRushmore]

I'm just seeing your post. I currently own 3 weeks at OLR, but I've owned 5 over the years. I only purchased these hotel units to exchange into Marriotts due to the low maintenance fees. Well, I remember when they were around $179 back in 2012. They are currently $333.00. I'm still getting the bang for my bucks as long as I can trade with II to stay at Marriott resorts.

I just used a friend's RCI account to search for Ocean Landings. They do exchange with RCI. I'm actually shocked to see a hotel unit available for the first week in November at

1,509.99​

USD!!!​

Have you ever been to this resort? Whenever we travel to Orlando, we usually drive to OLR to use their beach for free. This is a place though where I would never stay. I've used the gym while my family is on the beach.

Oh, I was with RCI for about 20 years and canceled maybe 4 years ago. There weren't enough gold crown resorts to my liking.

We timeshares here growing up in the off beach units. I've also getawayed I to the beach unit 7 years ago and we traded in for a beach unit this December.

 

[CericRushmore]

Yes to question #1.
Yes to question #2.
You can alternate the exchange company you want to deposit with. If you have a lock off, you can deposit one side with one company and the other side with another company.

Ok, so it sounds like we can enroll one week with RCI and even leave it enrolled with II. We usually trade into MVC in flexchange, so I'd probably never deposit with RCI and just use their last call rent a week feature. Thanks!

 

[hajjah]

If you enroll one week with RCI, that could be a win-win. They do have more availability in Last Calls and extra vacations sometimes cheaper than II.

 

[CericRushmore]

Ocean Landings said that they are part of Interval, not RCI. Ocean Landings is listed on RCI's website though and I was able to join yesterday with a 3 year membership and list Ocean Landings. I haven't received any emails from RCI yet though, so I'm not sure if this will go through or not. Will update once I hear back.

 

[CericRushmore]

OK, just got an email that said "Your new RCI membership has been established." So, not sure how this worked exactly, but I guess either Ocean Landings is wrong or RCI accepts people from any resort listed in their resort directory even if RCI can't take a deposit. Once I have online access, maybe I will have more info.

 

[CericRushmore]

So, still haven't been able to register online. RCI chat support says that they need to verify with the timeshare resort that the week is enrolled. Looking at the Google Reviews of Ocean Landings, people are saying they stayed at Ocean Landings with RCI and management responded to those reviews. Sort of weird that Ocean Landings told me they have no affiliation with RCI. I figure I'll give it a few more days and then call RCI to see what I should do.

 

[CericRushmore]

Good news. RCI Email Support was able to flip a switch so that I could enroll. I'm still not sure I could actually deposit a week with RCI, but that is mostly fine by me as we mainly wanted to get access to the last calls.

 

[CericRushmore]

Oh boy, got an email yesterday saying that the resort couldn't confirm my resort ownership and to contact RCI or they will cancel the account along with confirmed reservations (we already booked 5 weeks through their Extra Vacations.

I emailed RCI our deed, but haven't heard back yet. I seem to be in some sot of weird loop. RCI has an Ocean Landings page and reviews on TripAdvisor indicate that people booked through RCI. RCI has weeks for rent. https://www.rci.com/pan-weeks-dashb...th=false&isDateRange=true&whichTab=availUnits

Ocean Landings tells me they don't do anything with RCI and are with Interval. So, are these Ocean Landing units through some other rental program that isn't the normal exchange program. Were they grandfathered in from before?? Something else?

Does Tugs have an tier 2 RCI contact that I can email to get some more personalized help?

 

[dioxide45]

If it doesn't work out and the main goal is access to Extra Vacations, look into one of the RCI based travel clubs. You can access All Resort Store for free with an AARP membership. Other ones are free as well.

 

[CericRushmore]

If it doesn't work out and the main goal is access to Extra Vacations, look into one of the RCI based travel clubs. You can access All Resort Store for free with an AARP membership. Other ones are free as well.

I appreciate the idea. We are already AARP members and had signed up for All Resort Store before. It looks like they have a subset of RCI Extra Vacations with a "similar" price. The UX isn't nearly as good though.

I feel like you know everything. I'm guessing you don't know if TUGS has an RCI Contact for tier 2 cases?

 

[dioxide45]

I appreciate the idea. We are already AARP members and had signed up for All Resort Store before. It looks like they have a subset of RCI Extra Vacations with a "similar" price. The UX isn't nearly as good though.

I feel like you know everything. I'm guessing you don't know if TUGS has an RCI Contact for tier 2 cases?

I am not aware of a contact for RCI like TUG has for II.

What is UX?

 

[CericRushmore]

I am not aware of a contact for RCI like TUG has for II.

What is UX?

UX - User Experience.

 

[rapmarks]

I am not aware of a contact for RCI like TUG has for II.

What is UX?

Remember Bootleg?

 

[CericRushmore]

I have an update, just heard from RCI. "We show that #DS86 Ocean Landings Resort & Racquet Club is affiliated with and part of the Global Exchange Vacation Club (GEVC). However, we recommend contacting GEVC directly to inquire about your exchange options with RCI."

I had never heard of GEVC. What I gather is they own some timeshares and I think Ocean Landings sold them a few hundred units a few years back for pretty much free if they would take over the maintenance. There are a few GEVC posts here, but mostly people asking if they should rescind. Their website is pretty sparse and doesn't say much.

Unless I'm mistaken, it doesn't really seem like GEVC can help us in any way since we own a week and don't want to buy into a points club. Thoughts?

 

[dioxide45]

I have an update, just heard from RCI. "We show that #DS86 Ocean Landings Resort & Racquet Club is affiliated with and part of the Global Exchange Vacation Club (GEVC). However, we recommend contacting GEVC directly to inquire about your exchange options with RCI."

I had never heard of GEVC. What I gather is they own some timeshares and I think Ocean Landings sold them a few hundred units a few years back for pretty much free if they would take over the maintenance. There are a few GEVC posts here, but mostly people asking if they should rescind. Their website is pretty sparse and doesn't say much.

Unless I'm mistaken, it doesn't really seem like GEVC can help us in any way since we own a week and don't want to buy into a points club. Thoughts?

I doubt GEVC can help since you don't belong to that. As you mentioned, these vacation clubs own inventory at a number of different resorts to make available to their members. Kind of like MROP.