First RCI Ongoing Search using TPU?

[DaveNV]

I've recently deposited a high-value week into my RCI Weeks account and got enough TPUs to feel like trying an Ongoing Search would be worth it. I haven't tried this since the TPU thing started last year, and I'm not sure what to expect.

I know what RCI shows as "available to exchange" weeks are the leftovers, but do Ongoing Searches usually generate the desired exchange? What I'm trying to get is a Washington DC area exchange, either into National Harbor or Old Town Alexandria. I want a reasonable prime time week, either early Spring (love those Potomac River cherry blossoms), or after the Summer crowds have gone home, but before the Fall storms start. A 1br unit is enough room, and travel dates are flexible. I think I have the TPUs to pull that.

For those of you who have done this: Am I likely to see that sort of thing returned from an Ongoing Search? Are my current deposits available for other exchanges, or does it "lock up" the deposit the way the old-time Ongoing Searches did? Any tips to get the best results from this? I used to live in DC, but haven't been back in twenty years. There's a lot I want to see again.

Thanks very much,
Dave

 

[jlwquilter]

I have had good luck with ongoing searches matching. Others have reported nothing but trouble and that their ongoing searches never match at all, even if a match is sitting online or they mathc once but never again. Many of these problem searches seem to have been set up during a promo though.

I recently saw a sighting for a DC week in off season for 38 TPUs so I can only imagine that high season will be more.

You can still search with a deposit that has an ongoing search tied to it. But if you go to place a hold on something or do an exchange, RCI requires you to acknowledge that the ongoing search tied to it will be cancelled. So you need to decide if the hold/exchange is worth giving up your place in the ongoing search queue.

 

[MichaelColey]

Are you looking for THIS YEAR, or NEXT YEAR? That makes a big difference, and further in advance is where ongoing searches really shine.

If you're searching for something for this year, the best inventory has likely already been deposited and claimed. You could have a 60 TPU deposit and not get a thing. (Of course there could be last minute deposits or cancellations, but you never know.)

If you're searching for something for next year (or the year after!), setting up an ongoing search now should do great. Few, if any, of the prime units have been deposited yet, and you'll have excellent priority by setting up an ongoing search this early.

If you have specific resorts that you're looking for and you're a TUG Member (best value you'll ever get out of $15!), check the Sightings forum and see what the sightings for that resort look like. Do they appear to be individual deposits (sporatic reports of single units), bulk deposits (periodic larger deposits), or some combination? How far out are they typically? That'll help you know how far in advance you have to plan.

 

[DaveNV]

Thanks to you both. Yes, I'm a TUG Member, and I'm looking for 2013 or 2014. (Actually, 2014 is actually preferred. I have enough trips already booked for this year and next, so a 2014 exchange would be fine.) I presume the 24-month search limit still applies?

I'll see if the Sightings forums has any help about how these two places are deposited. As popular as Old Town Alexandria is, I doubt there'd be many bulk deposits. National Harbor is still a bit new, so I don't know the deposit history there.

Thanks again,
Dave

 

[sandkastle4966]

Alexandria for Cherry Blossom time will be extremely difficult. What goes into RCI is what owners have not taken at the 8 month mark - which is none. There used to be some contractual requirement which I believe was to deposit at least one unit per month.....so maybe one unit for peak.

You will definitely need an early started on-going search.

National harbor is a better bet as it is not completely sold, but still very difficult for cherry blossom.

 

[scotlass]

Keep checking ongoing search

I had read somewhere on this board that the RCI ongoing search for specific resorts only was not working. I am here to verify that this is correct. I had an ongoing search going for several weeks for 3 resorts and a 3-day range of check-in days. Today I found what I was looking for by using the 'take a peek' option, not by the match from the ongoing search. Had I not read about it on this board, I would not have known to keep checking and would not have gotten the trade. Very frustrating!

 

[tschwa2]

I think putting an ongoing search will get you to the head of the line (if the search is working correctly- but you never know if it is) but I've only seen one sighting for Alexandria and that was about 3 weeks prior to check in for off season and didn't even last an hour before grabbed. I haven't seen any summer National Harbor weeks but the time frame you are requesting should have some deposits. Wyndham might drop a few units in at around 9 months but most seem to come within 3-4 months prior or less and it never seems to be more than 10 units at a time. The difference in tpu's for the 1 and 2 bedroom seem to be around 5 points or less for most dates. Units that are really short dated can go for 20 tpu but everything else has been in the 40-60 range.

 

[Laurie]

BMWguy, I picked up a Nat'l Harbor week online for first wk of cherry blossom fest (might be too early for actual blossoms, fingers crossed) about 7 months in advance, for 25 tpu's. So I think you have a good chance of that, whether by ongoing search (if it's functioning) or by regularly searching yourself. Values are always functioning of course.

I haven't tried an ongoing search since tpu's were introduced, and have read mixed experiences here. But even before tpu-time, ongoing searches for specific resorts and dates sometimes didn't pick up online deposits - I had that happen myself - so I would never rely on them solely.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Wyndham National Harbor for September 2012 is 42 TPU's, all 2 bedrooms at the resort. There are six currently on RCI.