My input would be how horrible the HGVC to RCI trade system works. I called HGVC about 6 months ago and asked to trade into Myrtle Beach, SC ANY TIME within June, July, or August of this summer and was told nothing was available. I said okay, how bout anywhere on the South Carolina coast -- response: Nothing available. Okay, how about the North Carolina coast and South Carolina coast -- response: Nothing available.
You have to be kidding me. I don't know why HGVC has such limited RCI availability. I was always told we have great trading power...... does us no good if nothing is ever available.
HGVC Trades great in RCI IF and that is a big IF there is availability in RCI. HGVC can't made units available if they are not there to begin with.
Now you said you were looking for Myrtle beach any time june july or aug and you are looking six months out. Are you kidding me. Very few of those units ever get deposited into RCI. People use them. If they are deposited they go as soon as they are deposited because people have on going searches. I have access to Wyndham but do not own at MB. Even searching at 11 months out, which is 2 months later than owner priority in MB, there are often NO units at the 11 month mark as owners all want summer MB. Now there is no hope that any of the units ever make the RCI deposit light of day.
So I think you have to search farther out and make a deposit to search on. You will likely never find summer beach availabiltiy sitting in RCI. HGVC window with points is 9 months at most. However RCIs window is 18 to 12 months in advance. Different windows. You need to adjust your timeframe when thinking about bookings via RCI.
Now if there is availability in RCI you will get it. I have picked up Manhatten Club for a studio 2400 HGVC points. It was available in RCI.
I have used HGVC for mainly Hawaii bookings, but also South Beach. I have only ever done 1 RCI trade mentioned above.
I have used SFX to trade into the Hilton NYC. I have used studio Wyndham deposits for both 2 BRs in HGVC Vegas and Orlando when bulk deposits were made and units were easy to obtain. Now this cost me far less then the 7000 points MF charges would be. Even with the RCI exchange fee the units cost me under $300 for a week. So it is better for me to use RCI in these cases.
I find RCI works best for long planning 2 yrs to 1 yr out, or last minute, next 30 to 60 days. HGVC is better from 9 to 3 months out. Different windows for trading.