HGVC Club Points vs RCI Points

[icul8rg8r]

Quick question, that I'm sure someone must know the answer to! To trade within HGVC, it seems to take more points than to trade within RCI. Has anyone successfully been able to trade their HGVC Club Points for another (or even their "home") HGVC and/or affiliate resort using RCI?

 

[Talent312]

Its happened.
Enuff that HGVC clamped down on it in the last few years with
the 1-in-4 rule (per resort), but AFAIK, affiliates are still fair game.

But ya' never know that you can't do somethin' unless you try.
"Hmm, I wonder if I can put my hand on the stove? ... Bad idea!"

 

[itradehilton]

We did just that thing last year. The 1 in 4 rule was clearly spelled out to us. We had some points sitting in RCI so we went to our home resort for a week for a lot less points.

 

[jehb2]

I routinely trade back into one of my home resort via RCI.

 

[alwysonvac]

From what I've seen in RCI...
The Orlando and Vegas HGVC resorts are generally available for RCI exchanges. (Only exception is the new Parc resport has less availability in RCI)
The Grand Pacific Resorts are generally available mostly during non-peak season (Only exception is the new Marbrisa resort has less availability in RCI).

You might find these old threads helpful
Booking Hilton resorts through RCI vs. Internal - http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130546
True Hilton vs. Hilton affilliate - http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134337

 

[travelguy]

As has been stated in the above posts, we have done this many times in the past also. It can provide nice savings in HGVC points.

You can kinda get around the 1-in-4 with a separate RCI account (for non-HGVC RCI property) in addition to trading RCI through your HGVC account.

I'm not positive, but I believe the HGVC 1-in-4 is by resort and not by resort area (Ex: HGVC LV Strip resort only and not for all HGVCs in LV).

 

[linsj]

Note: A studio through RCI costs more points than through HGVC--at least when I've checked.

Don't forget to factor in the RCI exchange fee, which is higher than booking through HGVC. It may or may not be worth the points savings.

 

[pianodinosaur]

We use RCI when we want to go somewhere other than Orlando, Las
Vegas or Hawaii. We have found RCI exchanged to be the most cost effective use of our points.

 

[Purseval]

We used RCI to get a 2br for 4800 points at Sea World that would have cost us 7000 HGVC points

 

[Sandy VDH]

I have actually used by HGVC to booked into the Hilton Club NYC. This is not available as a regular HGVC exchange, but even if I did have access it was a high point value. Available via RCI it was a bargin.

I have also booked Kingsland, as this was far less points via RCI than via HGVC, as it is a premium points resort in HGVC.

You just have to consider all components, less points perhaps but higher transactions charge via RCI, so consider that. But be opportunistic if something does pop up that favors RCI over HGVC.