A week’s stay at a timeshare for under $400 with RCI or Interval International

[Clifbell]

In order to keep my costs down living in timeshares all year round, I use both RCI and Interval international for special deals. Usually this means that I book timeshares within two months of my stay. This is when timeshares that have excess capacity lower their prices.

I will be doing a separate blog about “Cliff can’t plan” in a few months where I will stay in “last minute specials” for a month and document my travels including reviews of where I stay. This is just a background of how I will be doing this. It is very exciting because both RCI and Interval International have a lot of places in different locations than my timeshare companies (Marriott, Worldmark, and Hilton). Below is a summary of the costs and the video where I describe in more detail how I do this.

Summary of RCI and Interval International using standard pricing for timeshare owners

• RCI “Last Call”
  • As low as $269 for a studio
  • As low as $294 for a one bedroom
  • As low as $319 for a two Bedroom
• Interval International
  • “Last call” Price for a studio as low as $332
  • “Last call” price for a one bedroom as low as $342
  • “Last call” price for a two bedroom as low as $472
  • Low demand index as low as $372 for a one bedroom

How to rent a timeshare for under $400

 

[rapmarks]

I recall Rci adding taxes to last call and extra vacations. Are they still doing that?

 

[bnoble]

Yes, and I think it varies based on location (you are essentially paying whatever the local lodging taxes are, IIRC).

 

[Clifbell]

I recall Rci adding taxes to last cell and extra vacations. Are they still doing that?

Yes, they RCI charges tax. I believe it is state tax since California seems to charge a lot. California shows 11%. Vegas was 13%. I think this is related to state and local taxes.

 

[Jan M.]

RCI periodically runs sales on the Last Call weeks. I've seen two bedroom units for $269 plus tax.

We have an II account with one of our timeshares. In regards to both selection and price so far I've yet to see anything in the Getaway Weeks that impressed me. However I keep thinking I'm not looking often enough or in a wide enough range of locations.

 

[b2bailey]

Not sure when you began this project, but 2020 was not a true representation of the places/prices that are typically available.

 

[Clifbell]

Not sure when you began this project, but 2020 was not a true representation of the places/prices that are typically available.

I've been watching this since 2018... I have been planning my escape from reality for some time .

 

[Clifbell]

RCI periodically runs sales on the Last Call weeks. I've seen two bedroom units for $269 plus tax.

We have an II account with one of our timeshares. In regards to both selection and price so far I've yet to see anything in the Getaway Weeks that impressed me. However I keep thinking I'm not looking often enough or in a wide enough range of locations.

I've been watching RCI for three years and II for two years. The reason the demand index was so helpful is that I knew right away when the off-peak season was well in advance so I could plan ahead and then wait for the rates to drop as the time got closer... That has helped out a lot. But next year will be a good test assuming the pandemic is halted... Then things will be over-crowded so it will be a really good year to learn..

 

[mdurette]

I have occasionally thought about TS being used for short term housing needs. From a financial point of view the cost of getaways, last call, extra vacations could be cheaper than paying rent in a traditional apartment.

Tripbeat is also another great lower cost option for RCI inventory sometimes even cheaper.

 

[Clifbell]

I have occasionally thought about TS being used for short term housing needs. From a financial point of view the cost of getaways, last call, extra vacations could be cheaper than paying rent in a traditional apartment.

Tripbeat is also another great lower cost option for RCI inventory sometimes even cheaper.

Thanks .... I will look at tripbeat... I have access to https://gpxvacations.com/resorts/ as part of my Hilton ownership in Marbrisa. I have never used it, but will looking at them as an option.

My timeshare budget is $1452/month for staying full time in timeshares per my budget video. By Summer of next year, I will report back on how much I actually spent.

Cliff

 

[VanX]

You can book up to 21 nights using RCI points with one booking fee under $400.

We often book longer than 7 nights for a single RCI booking fee.

 

[JudyS]

I've found it hard to locate RCI points stays of over 7 nights. Any tips on doing this, VanX?

 

[VanX]

I've found it hard to locate RCI points stays of over 7 nights. Any tips on doing this, VanX?

No real tricks so it might just be a matter of a regional difference here in the PNW Canada & Washington State at the various resorts.

In our RCI weeks account there is no option for longer or shorter trips than a week but it seems to be quite common locally with our points membership.

I don’t use date ranges in my searches and I only search by region. Maybe that is one less filter narrowing it down?

 

[tschwa2]

I've found it hard to locate RCI points stays of over 7 nights. Any tips on doing this, VanX?

You need to get to points inventory when it is first released. If it is your home resort group you can do this at 11 months prior to check in. If it isn't part of your home resort then check at exactly 10 months. The larger the resort, (with the majority of rci points owners vs non converted weeks) the easier it is. Off season is easier than prime. The larger Vacation Village affiliates are fairly easy even if you aren't online at midnight at 10 or 11 months.

 

[dioxide45]

You can book up to 21 nights using RCI points with one booking fee under $400.

We often book longer than 7 nights for a single RCI booking fee.

Is that $400 just the exchange fee? What about the underlying MFs?

 

[VanX]

Is that $400 just the exchange fee? What about the underlying MFs?

Our RCI booking fee for our Canadian points account is $350 CAD for a week or more, up to 21 days. I think that’s about $279 or $299USD. We usually book a 2 bedroom if we can. Less than a week is often less than $200 CAD booking fee. $150 or $180 CAD is common for a long weekend in Whistler.

Resort maintenance fees are over and above that RCI booking fee. Each resort charges differently and people get different point values.

We happen to get 200k points a year with a 25 year RTU Mexico resort membership (over 10 years remaining) and the maintenance fee also happens to be a booking credit for our home resort. So really it’s just a pre-payment & their is no maintenance fee. The booking credit doesn’t expire so it will just build up each year. Our MF is $521 a year and we visit the resort each year.

We bought the points membership used & it came with a substantial built up booking credit and a free use week, so essentially to us it was free to us and enjoying discounted travel.

We also bought a used membership with a weeks RCI account so we would have both weeks and points. We get 8 weeks a year to use with RCI at 10TPU each. Not exactly sure how it works as this year we somehow ended up with double the RCI TPU’s.

It was a real bargain of a membership at $2k with 24 years remaining and 295 weeks in the membership. So we have 11 weeks a year use & able to be split between RCI and the resort.

This weeks one has no annual resort maintenance fee and there are 6 referrals which we earn $250 per in booking credits, doubles if our referrals buy in along with extra free use nights provided based on the room class they become members for.

We’ve added 4 beneficiaries to the weeks membership and have agreements for their use of the membership for a cost of $2500USD each.

So on this membership we are really ahead over the cost we paid. We’ve also already had 2 referrals but in so we have free use nights for 2021 and booking credits available.

There’s deals to be had out there and if you develop a good circle of friends you can have others you share in the use as well to help offset your travel costs.

Our goal was to get as close to having free Mexico travel as possible since I retire at 55 in May 2021 and we are pretty much there now, plus enjoying RCI around North America.

 

[tschwa2]

Is that $400 just the exchange fee? What about the underlying MFs?

The exchange fee for 21 days is about $299, which would be about $100 per week in addition to the MF's for those weeks. It's nice not to have to move every week and it brings down the overall cost of the exchange vs booking weekly stays through RCI at $249 exchange fee only per week.

 

[JudyS]

tschwa2 and VanX, thanks for the tips!

VanX, I'm not sure how exactly how your membership works, but it sounds like a real deal. Can you share the name(s) of the resort(s) you own?

tshwa2, does one look 10 months before the first week one wants to stay, or 10 months before the third week one wants to stay?

 

[VanX]

It isn’t so much about where you buy as it does matter form what you buy when looking for a RTU in Mexico.

Many people buy poorly and there’s a lot of frogs for sale to sort through before you find a sweet deal.

Don’t buy unseen just as you wouldn’t offer on or buy a car without seeing it first. If an owner or sales person won’t share the original membership contract agreement with you then walk away.

You have to be able to do your research to find the diamond in the rough. I sorted through hundreds to get to a short list dozen to then deep dive. Look for what you need.
Had the owner kept RCI current and is selling it also for the same price? Points amount is at what you want. Learn the resorts transfer fee. Can easily exceed $1k. Confirm resort will transfer the membership RCI agreement with the membership in the same fee.

Owners and sales people won’t know membership contract particulars very well or they wouldn’t be selling it. They won’t be able to tell if there is a resort credit or not. Don’t ask directly or you’ll see the price become non negotiable. Buy at a low price where there is member strife as that often applies to current status and not the old contracts from 2000- 2012.

Many 25 year memberships in Mexico on resale read as 2 weeks use allowed per year which may be true or they could referral weeks or bonus weeks. All sellers & sales people I worked with only knew what the good deal was that I bought after all details came through in the final sales agreement after offer and acceptance had already happened.

My 200k points a year flow to RCI from the resort for free but in some contracts there is a $199USD fee to transfer points to RCI.

I could go on and on. Again it’s not so much about which resort as it is about the contract membership terms and conditions as well as benefits documents asssociated to what’s for sale. Without the contract and benefit documents buy nothing.

 

[Clifbell]

You can book up to 21 nights using RCI points with one booking fee under $400.

We often book longer than 7 nights for a single RCI booking fee.

That is a good idea to spread the fees across multiple bookings... I will happily leverage your experience .... Thank you.

 

[Clifbell]

Our RCI booking fee for our Canadian points account is $350 CAD for a week or more, up to 21 days. I think that’s about $279 or $299USD. We usually book a 2 bedroom if we can. Less than a week is often less than $200 CAD booking fee. $150 or $180 CAD is common for a long weekend in Whistler.

Resort maintenance fees are over and above that RCI booking fee. Each resort charges differently and people get different point values.

We happen to get 200k points a year with a 25 year RTU Mexico resort membership (over 10 years remaining) and the maintenance fee also happens to be a booking credit for our home resort. So really it’s just a pre-payment & their is no maintenance fee. The booking credit doesn’t expire so it will just build up each year. Our MF is $521 a year and we visit the resort each year.

We bought the points membership used & it came with a substantial built up booking credit and a free use week, so essentially to us it was free to us and enjoying discounted travel.

We also bought a used membership with a weeks RCI account so we would have both weeks and points. We get 8 weeks a year to use with RCI at 10TPU each. Not exactly sure how it works as this year we somehow ended up with double the RCI TPU’s.

It was a real bargain of a membership at $2k with 24 years remaining and 295 weeks in the membership. So we have 11 weeks a year use & able to be split between RCI and the resort.

This weeks one has no annual resort maintenance fee and there are 6 referrals which we earn $250 per in booking credits, doubles if our referrals buy in along with extra free use nights provided based on the room class they become members for.

We’ve added 4 beneficiaries to the weeks membership and have agreements for their use of the membership for a cost of $2500USD each.

So on this membership we are really ahead over the cost we paid. We’ve also already had 2 referrals but in so we have free use nights for 2021 and booking credits available.

There’s deals to be had out there and if you develop a good circle of friends you can have others you share in the use as well to help offset your travel costs.

Our goal was to get as close to having free Mexico travel as possible since I retire at 55 in May 2021 and we are pretty much there now, plus enjoying RCI around North America.

VanX ... This is amazing... I am learning so much being a member of TUG. I've enjoyed using RCI and I am going to enjoy it more now thanks to your comment!!!

 

[MonicaOnVacation]

I have occasionally thought about TS being used for short term housing needs. From a financial point of view the cost of getaways, last call, extra vacations could be cheaper than paying rent in a traditional apartment.

Tripbeat is also another great lower cost option for RCI inventory sometimes even cheaper.

Tripbeat looks fantastic, thank much for sharing I had not heard of that.

 

[tschwa2]

tschwa2 and VanX, thanks for the tips!

VanX, I'm not sure how exactly how your membership works, but it sounds like a real deal. Can you share the name(s) of the resort(s) you own?

tshwa2, does one look 10 months before the first week one wants to stay, or 10 months before the third week one wants to stay?

10 months before the start of week 1. It will let you book up to 21 days as long as they are still available.

 

[JudyS]

Thanks, tschwa.

...We also bought a used membership with a weeks RCI account so we would have both weeks and points. We get 8 weeks a year to use with RCI at 10TPU each. Not exactly sure how it works as this year we somehow ended up with double the RCI TPU’s.

It was a real bargain of a membership at $2k with 24 years remaining and 295 weeks in the membership. ...

I've never heard of a timeshare like that! Is it also in Mexico? What is the annual MF?

 

[VanX]

Thanks, tschwa.
I've never heard of a timeshare like that! Is it also in Mexico? What is the annual MF?

[/QUOTE]

Hi,

It’s $521USD a year and the same amount as a credit can be used in the year it’s paid. Due by mid January.

Never expires. Well at least until the 25 year membership ends or before off the total nights in the membership are consumed.

Have to manage it to make sure you don’t leave any money behind by expiring the contract.