Any good experiences with HICV and RCI

[Mongoose]

With the inability to transfer my HICV points to IHG, I've been doing a lot of looking at RCI. The selections seem very slim. Does anyone one if HICV access to RCI resorts is more limited than standard RCI accounts? Anyone have a good experience?

 

[tony_i]

With the inability to transfer my HICV points to IHG, I've been doing a lot of looking at RCI. The selections seem very slim. Does anyone one if HICV access to RCI resorts is more limited than standard RCI accounts? Anyone have a good experience?

I have had a great experience with my HICV’s RCI account. The point exchange is very fair and sometimes even better.
The under 20k exchanges are great too, but best resorts only show up 45 days out.
I have completed some great exchanges. Unfortunately, you are not able to transfer points from HICV into RCI. You first need to find an exchange and then your points are deducted from HICV, so it does not work for extending their expiration by banking in RCI. You also can not purchase RCI’s insurance for our points exchanges. I have written a couple of posts with these restrictions and info on how it works.

To give you an example of some of my exchanges.

15k points for a 3 bedroom in WM reunion last week of may in 2019.
68k or so for HGVC Washington DC 1B for 4 in August (5 nights).
154k for HGVC Kohala suites in Hawaii, 2b in June 2021.
Other notables 15k: HICV in canyon lake TX 2b (x3), WM in hunt TX 2b, vacation village in fl, one in destin this past June.

If you follow the sightings forum here, you will see all the good options in RCI that become available. RCI has the option to create and save searches to make it quicker to search, and a favorite resorts tab.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[bizaro86]

To get full value out of RCI, you need to put a request in prior to them getting inventory. What is showing online is the "leftovers" after the ongoing requests have been filled.

I recently got 2 weeks in a two bedroom at the Hilton Kings Land on the big island for July 2021. The step in quality covers the extra costs, imo.

 

[tschwa2]

You have full inventory access to rci with HICV. You just have to plan early but not necesarily expect a match right away and be willing to jump on something if you see it or match with a search. There are 3.8 million rci members and most have deposited average weeks but most are looking for the creme of the crop in exchange. So the good stuff either gets taken by ongoing searches sometimes started 18-24 months in advance or if it makes it to online availability could get taken within minutes so unless you are constantly searching you might miss it. Average and sub average inventory can sit for weeks or months without anyone jumping on it.

 

[Mongoose]

To get full value out of RCI, you need to put a request in prior to them getting inventory. What is showing online is the "leftovers" after the ongoing requests have been filled.

I recently got 2 weeks in a two bedroom at the Hilton Kings Land on the big island for July 2021. The step in quality covers the extra costs, imo.

Ok. I feel stupid. How do you put in a request? Online or phone.

 

[Tank]

Ok. I feel stupid. How do you put in a request? Online or phone.

can do it online but by phone they are very helpful.
Dave

 

[bizaro86]

Ok. I feel stupid. How do you put in a request? Online or phone.

I always do it online.

You log in to RCI (under the "plan and reserve your vacation" tab at HICV)

It's a little tricky to find the way of placing an ongoing search on the HICV version of the RCI website. I always do it the following way:

1) Hover over "RCI Vacations" in the top row (there is a binoculars icon) and select "Advanced Search" from the drop down menu. This will bring up the ability to search their current inventory.

2) You need to search for something they don't have. I usually select the "Resort ID" tab, and enter 7978 (which is the code for Kings Land) in the box and the dates Dec 25-31st for dates. Because Kings Land for New Years will never be available!

3) A message will come up saying "Sorry, we didn't find any matches for your criteria." Right below that is a link that says "Add Ongoing Search Request." Click that link.

4) That brings up a screen to enter either regions or resort IDs to search by. You can enter multiple regions and multiple resort IDs, with different dates for each all on the same search. But whatever unit size you select at the bottom of the page will apply to all of your choices. Make your choices and click continue.

5) If they have a current match it will come up, otherwise you'll get a box that says no results are found, and you click the "Add Ongoing Search" button.

6) You enter in your credit card information and complete the process. You have to pay the exchange fee in advance.

7) If your search matches, they will send you an email. You have a day or two to decide whether to take the match.

 

[silentg]

you can also exchange HICV within their website. The have some really nice resorts.

 

[Mongoose]

Thanks! I have put in my ongoing search. What happens if I never get a match? Do I get a credit for the $239?

 

[bizaro86]

Thanks! I have put in my ongoing search. What happens if I never get a match? Do I get a credit for the $239?

Yes. They give you a credit toward your next exchange.

 

[Mongoose]

I put in my ongoing search for 10 different resorts over a three week period in Hawaii (next May-June). Its only been about 4 days. I have not gotten any hits yet, but a couple of Wyndham locations on the big Island are now available. One is the Kona Hawaiian Resort and the other is the Royal Sea Cliff. Any thoughts on these two resorts. II has them both reviewed at 8.6 out of 10, but the pictures make them look a little old.

 

[Tank]

You also have to check for units that opened up using points for as many days that you want. Those will not show up on the search, only weeks show up.
I just made reservations for 11 nights in Maui and 9 nights in Honolulu end of may to the beginning of June.
I just checked in nightly.
Dave

 

[Mongoose]

You also have to check for units that opened up using points for as many days that you want. Those will not show up on the search, only weeks show up.
I just made reservations for 11 nights in Maui and 9 nights in Honolulu end of may to the beginning of June.
I just checked in nightly.
Dave

When you do an ongoing search with RCI, will it search both Points and Weeks?

 

[Tank]

When you do an ongoing search with RCI, will it search both Points and Weeks?

no, only weeks show up in the search they create. I needed to check the web sight to see those hits.
So you create your own window that you want to go including flexibility time.
I go to my start up page than check the search time I created and point nights show up.
I did get a match from them but the days were not good. Same resort showed up with points for as many days as I wanted starting / stopping any day. I made a 8 night reservation and a 11 night reservation at 2 different islands in May. 4 different islands were available.
Dave

 

[Mongoose]

no, only weeks show up in the search they create. I needed to check the web sight to see those hits.
So you create your own window that you want to go including flexibility time.
I go to my start up page than check the search time I created and point nights show up.
I did get a match from them but the days were not good. Same resort showed up with points for as many days as I wanted starting / stopping any day. I made a 8 night reservation and a 11 night reservation at 2 different islands in May. 4 different islands were available.
Dave

Which resorts?

 

[Mongoose]

no, only weeks show up in the search they create. I needed to check the web sight to see those hits.
So you create your own window that you want to go including flexibility time.
I go to my start up page than check the search time I created and point nights show up.
I did get a match from them but the days were not good. Same resort showed up with points for as many days as I wanted starting / stopping any day. I made a 8 night reservation and a 11 night reservation at 2 different islands in May. 4 different islands were available.
Dave

Are you a weeks or points owner?

 

[Tank]

I’m a points owner.
Not all resorts offer pick your day options, many are just weeks. Hit and miss, I’m pretty new with RCI reservations But this was my observation.

on your search I wouldn’t limit yourself , let the offers come. You can turn them down.
I have 17 choices For the last 2 weeks of may at 4 islands. Some of those only have a couple days here or there. My reservation below, overlapped for a reason. If inter island hopping is not allowed they have 11 nights in Maui. Right now you can fly from Maui to Honolulu but not Honolulu to Maui due to c19 so that problem is planned out
I would put your own search in for the range you want and see what pops up. Check back daily.
Dave
Ps upgrade option only works with week reservations

 

[Mongoose]

I’m a points owner.
Not all resorts offer pick your day options, many are just weeks. Hit and miss, I’m pretty new with RCI reservations But this was my observation.

on your search I wouldn’t limit yourself , let the offers come. You can turn them down.
I have 17 choices For the last 2 weeks of may at 4 islands. Some of those only have a couple days here or there. My reservation below, overlapped for a reason. If inter island hopping is not allowed they have 11 nights in Maui. Right now you can fly from Maui to Honolulu but not Honolulu to Maui due to c19 so that problem is planned out
I would put your own search in for the range you want and see what pops up. Check back daily.
Dave
Ps upgrade option only works with week reservations

View attachment 26988

Thanks Tank. Have you stayed at the Shell location before? If so, how is it? My wife is a little spoiled

 

[Tank]

Thanks Tank. Have you stayed at the Shell location before? If so, how is it? My wife is a little spoiled

You know it’s Hawaii , 4 star rating and trip adviser has nice reviews. My kids will Uber around and it does have a nice beach close by. I haven’t been there for 30 years. Something better shows up I’m not afraid to cancel this booking and rebook a upgrade.
A lady I was looking to rent from told me this
( fare price on a Hilton stay by the way if she is spoiled , Pm me about that)

Thanks for sending me the confirmation. I am familiar with this resort: we used to be Shell owners. The main problem with this resort is that it is on the far west end of the Waikiki area, even farther west than the Hilton Hawaiian Village. So your son and his fiancee will have to take taxis or buses to the main part of Waikiki , as it is quite a long walk. The resort is nice enough, but some units looked a little "tired".

Don’t know why that copy and paint did that but I’m not retyping it
Dave

 

[SeeMe]

Shell’s units in the Ilikai are not bad and some have great water views. I’m a shell owner and have stayed there. Another good choice is The Imperial Vacation Club. It’s an older timeshare which has been updated the last few years and some of the views are not the greatest but the location is Amazing at the foot of Lewers Street. It abour a 2 minute walk to the beach, it across the street, and in the heart of everything. You can find it on RCI. Also in the Big Island there is the Kona Coast Resort II which is very nice. On Maui have stayed in the Kaanapali Beach Club, the Maui Beach Club, the Papakea Resort, Kaanapali Shires and the Westin Ocean Resort Villas....like Westin the best.
but have to keep in mind sometimes the rooms dont matter as you are not in them that much especially your first few times in the Islands.

 

[raiderfan]

I put in my ongoing search for 10 different resorts over a three week period in Hawaii (next May-June). Its only been about 4 days. I have not gotten any hits yet, but a couple of Wyndham locations on the big Island are now available. One is the Kona Hawaiian Resort and the other is the Royal Sea Cliff. Any thoughts on these two resorts. II has them both reviewed at 8.6 out of 10, but the pictures make them look a little old.

do you have to pay the 239 for each of the 10?

 

[Mongoose]

do you have to pay the 239 for each of the 10?

No. The 239 covers the ongoing search for multiple sites and days. I actually have 20 options listed over 18 months for different trips. My understanding is that when you open the ongoing search that provides a date/time stamp for where you sit in the list.

 

[TamaraQT]

What is the HICV internal exchange fee? If someone owns a 2 bedroom HICV Williamsburg and wants to exchange into HICV Orange Lake?

 

[Bmatrose]

What is the HICV internal exchange fee? If someone owns a 2 bedroom HICV Williamsburg and wants to exchange into HICV Orange Lake?

they do not have internal exchange. Only points owners can go where they want

 

[tschwa2]

What is the HICV internal exchange fee? If someone owns a 2 bedroom HICV Williamsburg and wants to exchange into HICV Orange Lake?

$239 per exchange through rci ( no discounts and no internal exchanges outside of rci for deeded non points owners).