For anyone who thinks RCI exchanges are only "leftovers"

[CO skier]

Tripadvisor people who would stay at WM Mission Valley clearly must not stay at Shadow Ridge. They would give it a 10 if they are giving that a 3.7.

Arithmetic is not your strong suit. 5 times as many "TripAdvisor people" reviews for Shadow Ridge (1,472) versus WM Mission Valley (289). If there was the slightest validity to your one-man opinion, they would not have such similar quality ratings.

 

[CO skier]

Good to know. Strange. I have had Moab on OGS forever and never a hit.

Book it now through RCI Extra Vacations for much less than the cost of maintenance fees plus an exchange fee.

 

[Pennytx]

Examples:
3 bedroom house at Summer Bay in Orlando
2/2 at Marriott Myrtle Beach in June
2/2 wilderness Club in Branson at Thanksgiving
2/2 National Harbor Wyndham during Cherry Blossom
Coskier is correct … you just have to watch what’s out there …. ℹ check daily

 

[jackio]

In the past couple of years we have exchanged for Grand Waikikian 1BR (October), Bonnet Creek 2 BR (January), National Harbor 2 BR (August) and District Club in DC (April, weekend of the Cherry Blossom festival). I have 3 2BR units booked for this coming August in Surfside Beach, and we will be at Club Wyndham Anaheim this April.
We get a lot of value in our RCI membership, especially I have units that have low MF and get a high TPU.

 

[chosshaul]

Book when? If they each keep booking their own systems, the desirable properties will still be booked. All of the desirable HGVC properties will be booked. Go take a peek 7 months in in popular resorts during peek times. You won’t find much.

Examples:
3 bedroom house at Summer Bay in Orlando
2/2 at Marriott Myrtle Beach in June
2/2 wilderness Club in Branson at Thanksgiving
2/2 National Harbor Wyndham during Cherry Blossom
Coskier is correct … you just have to watch what’s out there …. ℹ check daily

Interesting that some Marriotts are in RCI. Is this a hotel? I have seen some AC Marriott hotels in there as well.

I just scored a great cash deal for a 3-bedroom at WM reunion which is a 4 star property. I know Orlando is easy to get rentals on RCI but I was very excited to find a nice 3-bedroom property in a proper resort. I only go to the theme parks for 1-2 days now since they are so expensive, but I still really enjoy just hanging out and enjoying the weather, the day trips, and all the things to do there.

All in all, I really like most of the WM properties so I always look for those in RCI.

 

[davidvel]

Arithmetic is not your strong suit. 5 times as many "TripAdvisor people" reviews for Shadow Ridge (1,472) versus WM Mission Valley (289). If there was the slightest validity to your one-man opinion, they would not have such similar quality ratings.

What does math have to do with it? How does the number of reviews tell us what type of people would stay at WM MV and think it is 3.7 out of 5?

That being said, I am sure people who stay there think it is 3.7 out of 5 stars. My guess is many of the people who stayed at MRD would not think WM MV is 3.7 out of 5 if they stayed there. If you consider it a high quality resort almost equal to MRD that is great.

 

[wmgjr]

We just spent a week at Indian Palms 2 BR timeshare at Indio, CA on an RCI exchange. The place was very sparsely occupied. Weather could've been better, but in January, you take what you get.

Do you have pics of interior?

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Good to know. Strange. I have had Moab on OGS forever and never a hit.

Hi @CalGalTraveler
OGS is likely programmed to find exchanges.

As @CO skier has pointed out - there is lots of good inventory in Extra Vacations.
and some EV listings are 6-12+ months out.

I have also found that it is often best to start searching with neither box checked [in my RCI weeks account.]
There are times when my TPU + exchange fee is a better deal but there are also times when the Extra Vacations
"cash price" is the better deal.

[ Note ;RCI sale pricing on either category can be a factor]

 

[Passepartout]

Do you have pics of interior?

I don't. Sorry.

 

[jp10558]

You might want to check out the Armed Forces Vacation Club. Each of those RCI rates can be deeply discounted if you become a Premium Member (which costs a few bucks but it's worth it if you travel a bit). According to the afvclub rules, you need to yourself be a veteran or have a parent or a child (one generation up or down) be "military" (so you qualify).

But, to be honest, I'm a Marine Corps veteran and they (the club, the resorts) never asked me for any kind of documentation. Clearly, they're businesses and just want to do business. I don't think they care too much if you meet those alleged qualifications.

I won't pretend to be military related when I'm not. One of my uncles was in the air force and wouldn't approve of lying about that sort of thing. Probably just me but starts to feel too close to "stolen valor" for my liking. And on the TS side, I feel like it's only right to own a TS in RCI to contribute to keeping these resorts open.

 

[Ianneyan]

During the last 3 years with HGVC points I’ve exchanged into the Hilton Club NY, the Quarterhouse in New Orleans and HGVC Sunrise Lodge in Park City, all thru OGS hits. Definitely maximized our points and allowed for more cost effective travel!

 

[jp10558]

You’d like to think developers would be mad about this. It’s a great excuse to NOT buy. Granted you already need to be a member of RCI to see those deals, but as the saying goes, fool me once…..

Yea, I think it's the same with Massanutten for instance - I can almost always get Regal Vistas for around $700 or less. I'm pretty sure the MFs are double that or more. They do add a "can only use 2 weeks per 12 month period" but I'm pretty sure that's by RCI account and might be new for the Extra Vacations.

From what I gather, it's a smaller percentage of owners who want to go back to the same place every year, forget about multiple times a year. What I have to wonder about these sorts of things is does this really help sell more weeks? If you own, can you then buy "unlimited" Extra Vacation weeks?

This would make it more challenging if you wanted to have a more than 2 unit family reunion say, but I somehow doubt that'll sell a lot of weeks either.

Do all the Extra Vacations and Last Calls come out of deposited RCI inventory that RCI doesn't think will go for an exchange?

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Yea, I think it's the same with Massanutten for instance - I can almost always get Regal Vistas for around $700 or less.......

Do all the Extra Vacations and Last Calls come out of deposited RCI inventory that RCI doesn't think will go for an exchange?

My opinion is that EV [& LC] is primarily developer inventory.
Wynham - Worldmark - Vacation Village properties are a significant category.; but I have also seen small independent resorts listed.

if you view RCI with the Exchange & EV filters off you can see that many intervals are listed as both simultaneously.

 

[timeshare trader]

Which makes what is happening with limited Interval availability even more puzzling.

Interval is lost.... The request first method sounds great but, the RCI method requiring deposit first fuels their robust inventory. I just finished a ski in ski out vacation in Colorado over new years and have a beach front Cape week on hold for Summer.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am still not a big fan of RCI and no one can convince me otherwise. I have certain areas where I want to be, a certain level of accommodation I want to have for vacations, and 1) owning is better than taking whatever the resort will give you via exchange (Hono Koa oceanfront is better and only 4 units of 27 have that), and 2) II has better resort quality (Marriott/ Westin/ Hyatt, etc.

The extra fees for Hilton (Bluegreen and Diamond) are a huge turnoff and I won't stay in any of those resorts, not through II or RCI. Maybe the Big Island's Hiltons will be okay but nothing else. Orlando Hiltons? No way.

I wish I could have my RCI account still searching for inventory less than 60 days out. You know your ongoing search is a waste at <60 days out? That is unfortunate. It makes me look constantly for the inventory I need in February.

 

[jp10558]

I am still not a big fan of RCI and no one can convince me otherwise. I have certain areas where I want to be, a certain level of accommodation I want to have for vacations, and 1) owning is better than taking whatever the resort will give you via exchange (Hono Koa oceanfront is better and only 4 units of 27 have that), and 2) II has better resort quality (Marriott/ Westin/ Hyatt, etc.

Sure, but with II there's (as you even posted a thread about) such opaqueness that you just won't see stuff. You won't know if it's because you don't have enough trading power, a glitch on deposit, or II just doesn't have any inventory. And availability and inventory with II is just a tiny fraction of RCI with my I guess ?mid level? traders. I can get Marriotts in Branson, Orlando, Ocean Pointe and HHI. At least with an OGS. That's not the problem, the problem is I just have no way to know if I'm wasting my time trying to get a Marriott on Hawaii or a Hyatt at Key West. (I mean, I know I am now, but it's non obvious for sure.) RCI I just look - oh, I don't have enough points. I "see" everything. They also have a lot of quality of life filters II doesn't for searching.

I do agree the Marriotts I've gotten have been good, but you can't assume II is a great resort - I'll still call your attention to Villa Roma.

The extra fees for Hilton (Bluegreen and Diamond) are a huge turnoff and I won't stay in any of those resorts, not through II or RCI.

I do hate that, but I just add them in to the entire price and make my choice based on that. It still often makes sense for me.

Maybe the Big Island's Hiltons will be okay but nothing else. Orlando Hiltons? No way.

No, I wouldn't pay it in Orlando because they just have cheaper options. I guess enough do for them not to change the policies.

 

[timeshare trader]

I won't pretend to be military related when I'm not. One of my uncles was in the air force and wouldn't approve of lying about that sort of thing. Probably just me but starts to feel too close to "stolen valor" for my liking. And on the TS side, I feel like it's only right to own a TS in RCI to contribute to keeping these resorts open.

At one point it was actually affiialted with the military. It no longer is. There is no back end validation to prove you are military. just a great name to market!

 

[rickandcindy23]

Hiltons in Orlando, I would take one for last-minute, less TPU's, and then pay the extra fees. I like the Hiltons.

II is all about watching the Sightings to see what I can and cannot see. It's important to check sightings against what you can see.

 

[Pennytx]

Hiltons in Orlando, I would take one for last-minute, less TPU's, and then pay the extra fees. I like the Hiltons.

II is all about watching the Sightings to see what I can and cannot see. It's important to check sightings against what you can see.

I’ll give a great example right now
I’m in Myrtle Beach at Anderson. Hilton … lovely resort … zero activities….parking is one/two blocks across the street …resort fee
Tomorrow I move to Wyndham Seawatch
Parking on site tons of activities … zero resort fee. Both booked via RCI

 

[Pennytx]

I would never book Hilton in Myrtle Beach ever again after this.

 

[jp10558]

I would never book Hilton in Myrtle Beach ever again after this.

I stayed at Ocean Enclave once and I wouldn't book it via RCI. As an "owner stay" (actually a promo for a presentation) there was free self parking and $20 Valet - at least 2 years ago. The units were nice, and the ocean-front let you just look out the window at the beach. It was also connected to the boardwalk. That said - I also found it a bit annoying with the elevators and limited loading / unloading locations so you waited to turn in on Saturday. And I only recall a pool and hot tub so not that many amenities. I have yet to be impressed with the amenities at a HGVC to be honest - I don't think I've ever felt like "I really need to go back here". Which is another reason I'm considering getting out and just eating the "wasted" $400 Aspire Hilton resort credit.

I guess for me HGVC units are nice but I sleep, eat/cook, and am on my computer in the unit. I'm more interested in value and location. HGVC also has the issue that most places a 2BR is bookable during the club window are also built up and so I can easily get a unit in some TS close enough for less total money. I'm not even sure you avoid resort fees on club bookings - I don't remember any, but I'm not 100%.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Maui Lea at Maui Hill and Sands of Kahana are top resorts in RCI. They are both 3 star, decent, not anywhere near Marriott or Westin quality, and I can get Marriott and Westin in II. SOK is due for an update, and the problems they have with mice and bugs have to be addressed. Soleil saying "bugs and rodents are what we live with on Maui," then why do we not see bugs or mice at Westin/ Marriott like we do at SOK and HOK?

Maui is a terrible example of RCI inventory, not that II has Marriott/ Westin inventory sitting online for much of the time. Ongoing searches have worked in the past. Sometimes I grab inventory online, and it does take exceptional trading power to get some of the inventory. It's made worse by II downgrade of trading power in recent months.