270,000 Annual RCI Points

[tugger2020]

Hello all,

I was thinking of getting 4 timeshares that give a total of 270,000 RCI yearly (67,500 x 4).

Yearly maintenance comes out to about $1500 a year + RCI fees.

Anyways, is getting this a good deal? Is RCI points worth it? It seems mixed reviews everywhere I look. Some users are extremely happy or happy and others hate RCI with a passion.

It seems like a good deal to me as the fees to points ratio is about $.005.

If I were to get these four properties (weeks properties being converted to points with RCI), do all the points get automatically added to my account every year? Are all the points automatically added to my account and can I use them combined or do I need to pay fees to be able to use points from different timeshares? Is there anything I should be concerned with?

I know with RCI that I have to pay their yearly membership fees on top of the maintenance fees. Other than that, I understand there's a fee that I need to pay each time I use points to book a resort through RCI and this could range from $39-$139. Are there any other fees that I need to be concerned with?

Any seasoned RCI vets who can give me advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[vacationhopeful]

RCI Points have some advantages. I use HOME RESORT booking for most of my RCI reservations; but I have gotten some cherry exchanges, too. The Hilton Club in NYC, DVC exchanges, Manhatten Club in NYC, and The Renasance in Chicago .... Home Resort at 12 months is $40; all the rest were full price exchanges.

If you aren't sure what a HOME RESORT or HOME GROUP of resort is, READ and LEARN more before buying anything. Pure points are nice, but have a full platter of options is far better in timesharing.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Exchange fees are cheap for nightly stays but go up to $189 for weekly stays. I took a week's exchange and paid $139, then another one cost me $189, same resort. I don't know why.

If you are paying a lot of money to convert weeks to points, don't do it.

Even so, the price per point is tempting, so as long as you aren't paying full retail, it sounds like a great deal. But if you are paying $10K or so to do it, you should re-think your plan.

I am curious what resort but won't ask you to disclose it here.

I did get rid of four weeks last year, which were converted to RCI Points and were cheap one year, then the next year, not so cheap. Fees went up. So I am always concerned that the price today is not what the price will be next year or the year after.

 

[chriskre]

Exchange fees are cheap for nightly stays but go up to $189 for weekly stays. I took a week's exchange and paid $139, then another one cost me $189, same resort. I don't know why.

If you exchange into a points resort for a week then the fee is $139 but if you exchange into a strictly weeks resort then you pay the $189. Also might be how the week was deposited, either in RCI points or RCI weeks at a dual resort. :annoyed:

 

[tugger2020]

Exchange fees are cheap for nightly stays but go up to $189 for weekly stays. I took a week's exchange and paid $139, then another one cost me $189, same resort. I don't know why.

If you are paying a lot of money to convert weeks to points, don't do it.

Even so, the price per point is tempting, so as long as you aren't paying full retail, it sounds like a great deal. But if you are paying $10K or so to do it, you should re-think your plan.

I am curious what resort but won't ask you to disclose it here.

I did get rid of four weeks last year, which were converted to RCI Points and were cheap one year, then the next year, not so cheap. Fees went up. So I am always concerned that the price today is not what the price will be next year or the year after.

I'm paying $7500 for 4 x 1 bedroom timeshares that give a total of 270,000.

Another choice was for 3 x 1 bedroom and 1 studio timeshare for 249,000 for $5600.

I opted for the 270,000 as I figured it would be more worth it to get an additional 20,000 points a year in the long-run for roughly $2K more now. Both of the prices I said above include RCI membership charges, resort transfer fees, closing costs, conversion from weeks to points and the yearly maintenance fees for 2012 so I get the full points this year that I can bank.

I'm concerned like you are that the fee prices may not be the same in the long-run. I could still cancel at this point but it seems like a really good deal.

 

[rickandcindy23]

You are jumping into RCI Points in a big way, so it's probably not terrible to pay that much for the points, since they are so cheap. I know someone else who posted in this thread that has a better deal than that for her RCI Points, and she got hers free. It's not me. :ignore: There are a few people here who are doing the UDI thing with CMV, and they pay about .003 per point, if I remember the numbers correctly. Brucecz knows far more than I.

One of the best deals I see for RCI Points is Grandview in Vegas, and the price people pay on eBay is about $3K for the big package of like 107K points. The fees are about .0065 per point, if I remember my figures from when I considered that purchase.

I opted to keep my .011 RCI points, and I plan to Points for Deposit some weeks every year to get me enough points, and the price is much higher than your deal at about .0076 per point. That could change in price too.

Timesharing is always a gamble that the price won't go up, or there are no SA's anytime soon (or ever). But if you wait around, you won't have a vacation.

 

[tugger2020]

You are jumping into RCI Points in a big way, so it's probably not terrible to pay that much for the points, since they are so cheap. I know someone else who posted in this thread that has a better deal than that for her RCI Points, and she got hers free. It's not me. :ignore: There are a few people here who are doing the UDI thing with CMV, and they pay about .003 per point, if I remember the numbers correctly. Brucecz knows far more than I.

One of the best deals I see for RCI Points is Grandview in Vegas, and the price people pay on eBay is about $3K for the big package of like 107K points. The fees are about .0065 per point, if I remember my figures from when I considered that purchase.

I opted to keep my .011 RCI points, and I plan to Points for Deposit some weeks every year to get me enough points, and the price is much higher than your deal at about .0076 per point. That could change in price too.

Timesharing is always a gamble that the price won't go up, or there are no SA's anytime soon (or ever). But if you wait around, you won't have a vacation.

What's this UDI thing with CMV? lol...the acronyms on here are hard to keep track of.

This was the lowest maintenance fees to points ratio I could find. If someone got a really good deal or better than this, I'm all ears! Please let me know. I would have been happier if the up-front costs for this were lower or free.

Grandview was roughly the same if you could get the 122K for $686 a year but those are hard to come. I saw a few on eBay but lately people have been paying $4-5K each for them which is a bit too much for one of those.

But I was thinking I could share this with family and split the maintenance fees with them. I own my own business as well and I was considering buying these timeshares as business assets, providing it's use as a benefit for employees to use. From what I've been reading, you could deduct the up-front costs and the yearly maintenance fees. I'm still researching this.

Also, what did you mean by "I plan to Points for Deposit some weeks every year to get me enough points, and the price is much higher than your deal at about .0076 per point". Are your timeshares weeks or points?

If I purchase these timeshares and they get converted to points before I receive the deed for them, am I still having to deposit the weeks each year to get the points? Or will the points be automatically deposited each year once they are converted?

 

[ampaholic]

If it's not too late, before you pull the trigger I would suggest you examine the Un Divided Interest units at Christmas Mountain Village - you might get a better deal. I think they are giving them away for the MF's these days and If you play them right they can generate a ton of points.

I think 7 large is too too much for 270K annual points - until recently I had 229K Points that I purchased for under $1200 all in (closing costs and all).

I have offloaded about 120K points recently as I have found other ways to "leverage" my other weeks into more and more weeks so 229K was just too many.

 

[tugger2020]

If it's not too late, before you pull the trigger I would suggest you examine the UDI units at Christmas Mountain Village - you might get a better deal. I think they are giving them away for the MF's these days and If you play them right they can generate a ton of points.

I think 7 large is too too much for 270K annual points - until recently I had 229K Points that I purchased for under $1200 all in (closing costs and all).

I have offloaded about 120K points recently as I have found other ways to "leverage" my other weeks into more and more weeks so 229K was just too many.

It's definitely not too late. Do you recommend looking for these UDI units on eBay?

How many points do these units give you?

 

[chriskre]

It's definitely not too late. Do you recommend looking for these UDI units on eBay?

How many points do these units give you?

I sent you a PM about these.
The HOA is giving them away for free here on TUG.http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153205&highlight=christmas+mountain

 

[chriskre]

It's definitely not too late. Do you recommend looking for these UDI units on eBay?

How many points do these units give you?

No just take a free one from the HOA.
Sheri is helping facilitate the transfers.
Just pay $295 closing costs or something like that.

As for points there is a grid for points for deposits.
I'm not sure if this is the most recent grid but you'll have an idea.http://www.rci.com/GPN/CDA/Common/pdf/RCI_ExGridsUpdate1.pdf
It's like 36K for a red week, 24K for a white and 14K for a blue week.
I'm paying roughly $150 per week deposited plus the $24 to do the PFD transaction to give you an idea.

 

[ampaholic]

What's this UDI thing with CMV? lol...the acronyms on here are hard to keep track of.

See my last post

This was the lowest maintenance fees to points ratio I could find. If someone got a really good deal or better than this, I'm all ears! Please let me know. I would have been happier if the up-front costs for this were lower or free.

Yes, lower or free is better

Grandview was roughly the same if you could get the 122K for $686 a year but those are hard to come. I saw a few on eBay but lately people have been paying $4-5K each for them which is a bit too much for one of those.

Look into the smaller Grandview units - especially Triennials - they have better Points to cost and Points to MF ratios than the big dogs (this is also true at most other resorts).

But I was thinking I could share this with family and split the maintenance fees with them. I own my own business as well and I was considering buying these timeshares as business assets, providing it's use as a benefit for employees to use. From what I've been reading, you could deduct the up-front costs and the yearly maintenance fees. I'm still researching this.

You are describing a UDI @ CMV - you just don't know it.

Also, what did you mean by "I plan to Points for Deposit some weeks every year to get me enough points, and the price is much higher than your deal at about .0076 per point". Are your timeshares weeks or points?

Once you have a points account you can deposit certain non RCI Points weeks into it with PFD (Points for Deposit) - most consider it a last resort type of use for the weeks.

If I purchase these timeshares and they get converted to points before I receive the deed for them, am I still having to deposit the weeks each year to get the points? Or will the points be automatically deposited each year once they are converted?

Yes.

Patience grasshopper as DeniseM would say: "you need to study a lot before you jump in like this".

I would recommend much more study before purchasing a "lifetime of MF's".

 

[tugger2020]

No just take a free one from the HOA.
Sheri is helping facilitate the transfers.
Just pay $295 closing costs or something like that.

As for points there is a grid for points for deposits.
I'm not sure if this is the most recent grid but you'll have an idea.http://www.rci.com/GPN/CDA/Common/pdf/RCI_ExGridsUpdate1.pdf
It's like 36K for a red week, 24K for a white and 14K for a blue week.
I'm paying roughly $150 per week deposited plus the $24 to do the PFD transaction to give you an idea.

Thanks chriskre. I'll check this out. It does seem like a complicated system though and a bit too good to be true. How long have most people been doing this?

Do you think it is sustainable long-term?

 

[chriskre]

Thanks chriskre. I'll check this out. It does seem like a complicated system though and a bit too good to be true. How long have most people been doing this?

Do you think it is sustainable long-term?

Yes it is complicated initially but I'm sure you're a quick study.

As for how long people have been doing this, I imagine since the developer sold these as UDI's. It was originally sold this way so it's been around for a long time. It's not something that you do to your week to convert it, it's already like that on the deed when you take over it. It's not like RCI points where you convert a week you already own.

As for it being sustainable long term, I certainly hope so but I don't have a crystal ball. I think once the renovations are done on the cottages that they will have even more appeal and value than they do today. I don't see RCI saying, "no, please no more deposits". If anything, they'll say "yes, please send us more weeks so we can rent them out". :rofl:

 

[MichaelColey]

I would be careful suggesting the CMV UDI for a casual timesharer. It's kind of like suggesting a BMW S1000RR for someone looking for their first motorcycle. Sure, it looks really nice, but it's WAY more motorcycle (and timeshare) that most people can handle.

It's rather complicated to use CMV for RCI Points. First, you have to own another RCI Points property before you can even have an RCI Points account. Second, you're limited to 4 PFD deposits per year. Third, to get the full value, you're going to have to deposit at least 90 days out. Fourth, because of that, you're probably only going to be able to do 2-3 Red weeks that are 90+ days out (and the other 1-2 either Red less than 90 days or White 90+ days), for a total of about 130k RCI points. The rest (if you choose to get more weeks than that) would have to be used in other ways.

So, here's a question for you... Why are you interested in RCI Points? Are you even sure that's your best option? You're planning on jumping in, in a very big way.

 

[chriskre]

Michael is right.
It's definitely not the first TS that I'd recommend to a newbie.
Shoot it took me about 3 years just to wrap my brain around the idea of taking one of these on. Now that I own it though, it's much better than I thought it would be but not for RCI points, but for the flexibility of using it everywhere.
I'm getting good value in II and TPU's also.
I haven't even ventured into rentals yet but that's also a great perk.

 

[tugger2020]

I would be careful suggesting the CMV UDI for a casual timesharer. It's kind of like suggesting a BMW S1000RR for someone looking for their first motorcycle. Sure, it looks really nice, but it's WAY more motorcycle (and timeshare) that most people can handle.

It's rather complicated to use CMV for RCI Points. First, you have to own another RCI Points property before you can even have an RCI Points account. Second, you're limited to 4 PFD deposits per year. Third, to get the full value, you're going to have to deposit at least 90 days out. Fourth, because of that, you're probably only going to be able to do 2-3 Red weeks that are 90+ days out (and the other 1-2 either Red less than 90 days or White 90+ days), for a total of about 130k RCI points. The rest (if you choose to get more weeks than that) would have to be used in other ways.

So, here's a question for you... Why are you interested in RCI Points? Are you even sure that's your best option? You're planning on jumping in, in a very big way.

Thanks Michael. It sounds interesting but you're right. I really need to read up more before I jump into it.

I was looking at RCI, HGVC and Marriott. RCI seemed to be flexible as far as usage and with the most locations. It also had lower up-front investment costs, decent yearly maintenance fees and RCI membership costs, and the ability to stay a week or even a few days. HGVC is similar but the upfront cost was a lot more expensive and the amounts of points you get was much less it seemed.

The way we travel would be a week vacation and then a bunch of regular weekend and/or holiday weekend trips.

I was hoping to also use the RCI points for work stays when I travel on business rather than booking hotels. Maybe even use the Last Call ability to use a lower amount of points to book last minute.

 

[djyamyam]

I'm paying $7500 for 4 x 1 bedroom timeshares that give a total of 270,000.

Another choice was for 3 x 1 bedroom and 1 studio timeshare for 249,000 for $5600.

I opted for the 270,000 as I figured it would be more worth it to get an additional 20,000 points a year in the long-run for roughly $2K more now. Both of the prices I said above include RCI membership charges, resort transfer fees, closing costs, conversion from weeks to points and the yearly maintenance fees for 2012 so I get the full points this year that I can bank.

I'm concerned like you are that the fee prices may not be the same in the long-run. I could still cancel at this point but it seems like a really good deal.

Not knowing anything other than what you've described here, I'm thinking you're looking at buying Rayburn County packaged together with some South African TS for PFD. The guy that sells those has been selling those for a while. He sells them for a bit higher upfront cost but has low MF/points ratio.

 

[MichaelColey]

The way we travel would be a week vacation and then a bunch of regular weekend and/or holiday weekend trips.

I was hoping to also use the RCI points for work stays when I travel on business rather than booking hotels. Maybe even use the Last Call ability to use a lower amount of points to book last minute.

Ah, now we're getting down to the nuts and bolts of it.

The week's vacation would be no problem. That's ideal for timeshares.

Weekend and/or holiday weekend trips. That's much harder to do. Weekends and holidays are much harder to get. MANY people are tied to school schedules, so there's a lot of competition for those holiday weeks.

Timeshares for work trips will be even tougher. First, you won't find timeshares in many of the places where most people travel for business (big cities). They're mainly in resort areas (think Orlando, Las Vegas, Branson, Hawaii, etc.). Second, they often have to be booked well in advance and often can't be cancelled. Third, short stays can be more expensive than hotels, especially with RCI.

Based on what you're looking for, I might suggest Wyndham. There's usually fairly good availability, even close in. There are quite a few locations. The quality is consistently good. You can book shorter stays.

BUT DON'T BUY YET. Find a Wyndham owner and rent from them. It won't cost much more than owning, and you'll get the experience without having to make a commitment. And you'll be able to see if it's for you. If it is, then research buying resale and make the leap.

 

[tugger2020]

Not knowing anything other than what you've described here, I'm thinking you're looking at buying Rayburn County packaged together with some South African TS for PFD. The guy that sells those has been selling those for a while. He sells them for a bit higher upfront cost but has low MF/points ratio.

It's at the Club Los Claveles Resorts in Tenerife which are weeks resorts being converted to points. The purchase prices were quoted in Great British Pound (GBP) but the prices I posted were the approximate converted prices in U.S. dollars.

 

[tugger2020]

Ah, now we're getting down to the nuts and bolts of it.

The week's vacation would be no problem. That's ideal for timeshares.

Weekend and/or holiday weekend trips. That's much harder to do. Weekends and holidays are much harder to get. MANY people are tied to school schedules, so there's a lot of competition for those holiday weeks.

Timeshares for work trips will be even tougher. First, you won't find timeshares in many of the places where most people travel for business (big cities). They're mainly in resort areas (think Orlando, Las Vegas, Branson, Hawaii, etc.). Second, they often have to be booked well in advance and often can't be cancelled. Third, short stays can be more expensive than hotels, especially with RCI.

Based on what you're looking for, I might suggest Wyndham. There's usually fairly good availability, even close in. There are quite a few locations. The quality is consistently good. You can book shorter stays.

BUT DON'T BUY YET. Find a Wyndham owner and rent from them. It won't cost much more than owning, and you'll get the experience without having to make a commitment. And you'll be able to see if it's for you. If it is, then research buying resale and make the leap.

Alright I'll look into Wyndham. I thought RCI was owned by them? Are you able to trade into Wyndham with RCI points?

 

[MichaelColey]

Alright I'll look into Wyndham. I thought RCI was owned by them? Are you able to trade into Wyndham with RCI points?

RCI is owned by Wyndham, but Wyndham owners have much better access to Wyndham properties.

What size units would you typically be looking for? That's another big difference between different systems. Some are more suited to different sizes of units.

 

[tugger2020]

RCI is owned by Wyndham, but Wyndham owners have much better access to Wyndham properties.

What size units would you typically be looking for? That's another big difference between different systems. Some are more suited to different sizes of units.

Right now only a studio or 1 bedroom would be needed as no kids yet. Maybe bigger units later in life.

 

[ampaholic]

Alright I'll look into Wyndham. I thought RCI was owned by them? Are you able to trade into Wyndham with RCI points?

There are two "Wyndhams" 1. is resorts managed by Wyndham - you can buy a resale week several places. These can be exchanged in RCI or SFX or PI or Vri*ity or TPI like any other "week"
2. is the Wyndham points system. These are either a deeded week "converted" to Wyndham Points or a membership that is "just points" (I'm not sure if these trade like deeded weeks do).

I recently traded a march week on the Oregon coast for an April week at the Wyndham in Honolulu through VRI*ity - didn't use Wyndham or RCI.

Timesharing is like playing golf on quicksand - lots of different lines to the cup. and lots of different hazards as well :hysterical:

 

[tugger2020]

There are two "Wyndhams" 1. is resorts managed by Wyndham - you can buy a resale week several places. These can be exchanged in RCI or SFX or PI or Vri*ity or TPI like any other "week"
2. is the Wyndham points system. These are either a deeded week "converted" to Wyndham Points or a membership that is "just points" (I'm not sure if these trade like deeded weeks do).

I recently traded a march week on the Oregon coast for an April week at the Wyndham in Honolulu through VRI*ity - didn't use Wyndham or RCI.

Timesharing is like playing golf on quicksand - lots of different lines to the cup. and lots of different hazards as well :hysterical:

lol yet another cool site. Thanks for the heads up. I'm going to do a little more research on the different choices and see what will work best for us.