? for owners of RCI weeks and points both

[sunshine4]

We have 1 Orange Lake week 22 TPU's If we also buy RCI points are we going to have that many more exchange available to us? We usually do exchange for say Hawaii. Not sure if it worth doing or to just continue to buy last calls for extra weeks. We go to Fl for winter months so getting last calls is not a problem. Would it be more beneficial to get an II week?

 

[ampaholic]

I have both weeks and points with RCI - but as I tried to ferret out your actual question my brain fell out onto my desk.

What does II have to do with RCI Points and Weeks?

 

[sunshine4]

Sorry I was moving on. Since I do not own points now, if getting points will not give me many more exchange options than I have now, possibly II may be a better choice to get more access to exchanges. I am just not sure which way to go.

 

[Mel]

Your best option will depend on what exchanges you want. RCI points isn't really going to get you many more options, particularly since you can now combine points from multiple weeks (or leftover points).

II would get you access to resorts that are only affiliated with them, but there are other ways to access those resorts, such as through some of the smaller independant exchange companies - some of them deal in pretty much all resorts affiliated with both RCI and II. Why pay to purchase another week, plus another membership fee, and maintenance on another week, when you could trade what you already own through one of the other companies? And for some locations, one of the smaller companies may be a specialist, which would increase your chance of getting those exchanges.

 

[MichaelColey]

I find far more inventory available in RCI Weeks than RCI Points, and usually at a better cost to me (factoring in MFs and exchange fees). There are places where RCI Points makes more sense (if you are okay with studios, need partial weeks, etc.) but I wouldn't get it just for more inventory.

I like timeshares that are dual-affiliated with both RCI Weeks and II, but that are not in RCI Points. That gives the ultimate flexibility, because you can either deposit your week in RCI Weeks, or in II, or using PFD to deposit it into RCI Points (assuming you have an RCI Points account). I bought a triennial Grandview that had been converted to Points with MFs around $110/year just to be able to have an RCI Points account and be able to PFD weeks.

 

[sunshine4]

Sorry, what does PFD mean?

 

[MichaelColey]

PFD = Points For Deposit. Basically, you can take a week that would normally go into RCI Weeks and get points for it (based on a generic grid). You're limited to four PFD deposits per year per resort.

 

[DeniseM]

RCI is not the best exchange company for Hawaii. For Hawaii, I'd buy a low cost Marriott or Starwood II trader.

RCI isn't affiliated with Marriott or Starwood (Westin.)

Here's an example of a good II trader:

Sheraton Desert Oasis
2 Bdm. Lock-off - Gold Plus (1-52 floating week)
Each side trades as a 1 bdm.
Resale Cost - $1,000 all in
Maintenance fees -

Sheraton Desert Oasis
EOY Lg. 1 Bdm. - $332.27
EOY 2 Bdm. L/O - $474.20
Sm. 1 Bdm. - $529.91
Lg. 1 Bdm. - $624.54
2 Bdm. L/O - $908.41​

Can be traded for one of the 3 Starwood Hawaii Resorts (Maui - Maui - Kauai) as long as you are flexible and aren't locked into holiday weeks.

 

[sunshine4]

Michael-Oh got the PFD explanation. However I cannot do that with Orange Lake. They block it.

Thanks Denise that was very helpful.

 

[ampaholic]

You might consider an MROP membership. As far as I know you can reserve a desirable week deposit it with RCI Weeks or RCI Points (PFD) or II or VRI*ety or P.I. or SFX or Hawaii Exchange (certain weeks) or Redweek or rent it out or use it.

Very versatile and as a bonus - MROP has a reasonable exit plan.

 

[wandering gnome]

Could you elaborate on MROP exit plan?

 

[ampaholic]

Only occasionally do you see a resale MROP membership on eBay or the TUG marketplace.

This is because a member can "relinquish" their membership for a small fee (under $200) if the MF's are up to date.

Now days MROP has turned the sales and management of day to day operations over to VRI and VRI is mostly interested in selling only "MROP memberships converted to RCI Points" which is a horrible idea.

The sales person will sell you a "strait" (no RCI involvement) MROP week if you insist. You can choose between a strait RED membership and a "rotater" (rotates red/white/blue) - but they are pricey. Call 1-800-440-9950 if you must buy retail.

A resale MROP is a better way to go :whoopie: