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Massanutten & VV Divorce, RCI Exchange Fee Update

escanoe

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Vacation Village: Woodstone at Massanutten and Grandview (RCI Points) & the Colonies
Got this from Massanutten today.

I have my worries about this, but it beats them not doing anything, for sure.


It's time to unlock new travel possibilities with a NEW discount offer!
Because you have taken advantage of the Vacation Village Resorts® RCI Weeks internal exchange discount program recently, we are excited to share that the Resort and RCI® have partnered together to offer qualifying owners an exclusive limited-time RCI Weeks discount exchange program, and that means you! You previously enjoyed traveling to only Vacation Village resorts such as those in Williamsburg, Las Vegas, or Orlando at a discounted RCI Weeks exchange rate, but for the duration of this new program you have the choice of any RCI property, at any destination.
Beginning February 1, 2025 until December 31, 2025 take advantage of a discounted RCI Weeks exchange rate of $189 for exchanges within the RCI network.
The RCI Weeks discounted exchange rate will be $219 for 2026, with the discount program ending on December 31, 2026.
A valid RCI membership will be required to utilize this discount. The discount will be applied to your RCI account, and booking may be made online or by calling the RCI Call Center at 844.874.5792.
Photos around Massanutten Resort
Massanutten actively strives to help its owners get the most value out of their ownership, including negotiating for special discounted exchanges through RCI.  Timeshare vacation properties partner together with one another and RCI to create reservation sub-groups like Vacation Village Resorts. The agreement between Great Eastern (Massanutten’s parent company), Vacation Village Resorts, and RCI has reached its end date. Current discounts will end on February 1, 2025.

Great news! Our owners that exchange via the RCI Weeks program can continue to take advantage of discounted internal exchanges to Massanutten Resort® and Wilderness Presidential Resort® properties at a discounted rate of $159. Owners can also take advantage of Bonus Weeks back to Massanutten Resort and Wilderness Presidential Resort without giving up their deposit for the standard RCI Weeks exchange fee. This means more opportunities to rediscover everything we have to offer all year long.

As we eagerly explore new arrangements through RCI and beyond to benefit our owners, please stay tuned to the Owners Website and My Massanutten emails for opportunities to provide feedback on your most desirable types of resorts and destinations, so that we can prioritize the partnerships that meet the travel needs of our owners.
We are thankful for you, our owner, and maintain our ongoing commitment to bringing value to your ownership and creating new opportunities for remarkable memories. Check out the latest My Massanutten Owners Newsletter to explore Resort updates and ways to get the most out of your ownership.
 

iftravel

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The Colonies at Williamsburg
Got this from Massanutten today.

I have my worries about this, but it beats them not doing anything, for sure.


It's time to unlock new travel possibilities with a NEW discount offer!
Because you have taken advantage of the Vacation Village Resorts® RCI Weeks internal exchange discount program recently, we are excited to share that the Resort and RCI® have partnered together to offer qualifying owners an exclusive limited-time RCI Weeks discount exchange program, and that means you! You previously enjoyed traveling to only Vacation Village resorts such as those in Williamsburg, Las Vegas, or Orlando at a discounted RCI Weeks exchange rate, but for the duration of this new program you have the choice of any RCI property, at any destination.
Beginning February 1, 2025 until December 31, 2025 take advantage of a discounted RCI Weeks exchange rate of $189 for exchanges within the RCI network.
The RCI Weeks discounted exchange rate will be $219 for 2026, with the discount program ending on December 31, 2026.
A valid RCI membership will be required to utilize this discount. The discount will be applied to your RCI account, and booking may be made online or by calling the RCI Call Center at 844.874.5792.
Photos around Massanutten Resort
Massanutten actively strives to help its owners get the most value out of their ownership, including negotiating for special discounted exchanges through RCI.  Timeshare vacation properties partner together with one another and RCI to create reservation sub-groups like Vacation Village Resorts. The agreement between Great Eastern (Massanutten’s parent company), Vacation Village Resorts, and RCI has reached its end date. Current discounts will end on February 1, 2025.

Great news! Our owners that exchange via the RCI Weeks program can continue to take advantage of discounted internal exchanges to Massanutten Resort® and Wilderness Presidential Resort® properties at a discounted rate of $159. Owners can also take advantage of Bonus Weeks back to Massanutten Resort and Wilderness Presidential Resort without giving up their deposit for the standard RCI Weeks exchange fee. This means more opportunities to rediscover everything we have to offer all year long.

As we eagerly explore new arrangements through RCI and beyond to benefit our owners, please stay tuned to the Owners Website and My Massanutten emails for opportunities to provide feedback on your most desirable types of resorts and destinations, so that we can prioritize the partnerships that meet the travel needs of our owners.
We are thankful for you, our owner, and maintain our ongoing commitment to bringing value to your ownership and creating new opportunities for remarkable memories. Check out the latest My Massanutten Owners Newsletter to explore Resort updates and ways to get the most out of your ownership.
Not bad for a year of discounted exchange to any RCI resorts. Guess you could adopt another free VV if you go to some VV resorts a lot.
 

tschwa2

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and for now you can still book VV at a discount. I am considering a 2 BR for Nov 2026 at one of the properties.
 

escanoe

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Not bad for a year of discounted exchange to any RCI resorts. Guess you could adopt another free VV if you go to some VV resorts a lot.

My challenge/worry here is while I own a fair amount at Massanutten (4 BR RCI Points + a week at Mountainside Villas), 80%+ of my trading in to stay at Massanutten is currently done using VV ownerships (TPUs from the Colonies).

I may need to change up my game.
 

iftravel

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My challenge/worry here is while I own a fair amount at Massanutten (4 BR RCI Points + a week at Mountainside Villas), 80%+ of my trading in to stay at Massanutten is currently done using VV ownerships (TPUs from the Colonies).

I may need to change up my game.
Guess you can continue to do it as a Massanutten owner?

Quoted

“Great news! Our owners that exchange via the RCI Weeks program can continue to take advantage of discounted internal exchangesto Massanutten Resort® and Wilderness Presidential Resort® properties at a discounted rate of $159. Owners can also take advantage of Bonus Weeks back to Massanutten Resort and Wilderness Presidential Resort without giving up their deposit for the standard RCI Weeks exchange fee. This means more opportunities to rediscover everything we have to offer all year long.
 

tschwa2

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Guess you can continue to do it as a Massanutten owner?

Quoted

“Great news! Our owners that exchange via the RCI Weeks program can continue to take advantage of discounted internal exchangesto Massanutten Resort® and Wilderness Presidential Resort® properties at a discounted rate of $159. Owners can also take advantage of Bonus Weeks back to Massanutten Resort and Wilderness Presidential Resort without giving up their deposit for the standard RCI Weeks exchange fee. This means more opportunities to rediscover everything we have to offer all year long.
RCI points even at Massanutten, don't get the discount and the regular Massautten bonus weeks use the regular exchange fees. That leaves @escanoe with a single non lockoff Mounside villa to use with the Massanutten weeks discount.
 

escanoe

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I read this a few times trying to sort it out in my mind. It could be read the way you are saying. Or it might just apply to your Massanutten deposits in your RCI weeks account.

I have learned it is not worth asking around to find out what vague language promising future benefits related to timeshare ownership means.

Best to assume the worst, then log on when it goes live and see what really works.

Guess you can continue to do it as a Massanutten owner?

Quoted

“Great news! Our owners that exchange via the RCI Weeks program can continue to take advantage of discounted internal exchangesto Massanutten Resort® and Wilderness Presidential Resort® properties at a discounted rate of $159. Owners can also take advantage of Bonus Weeks back to Massanutten Resort and Wilderness Presidential Resort without giving up their deposit for the standard RCI Weeks exchange fee. This means more opportunities to rediscover everything we have to offer all year long.
 
Last edited:

escanoe

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Your description is how I expect it to work.

I currently get 25 TPUs for my Mountainside Vilas Week 52 — if I deposit in RCI. That is probably enough TPUs to do me at Massanutten a year. But not sure I want to trade it that way. I may just go to using certs and Last Call for Massanutten. My guess is, on balance, this change will produce even more of a glut of Massanutten inventory in RCI.

RCI points, even at Massanutten, don't get the discount and the regular Massautten bonus weeks use the regular exchange fees. That leaves @escanoe with a single non lockoff Mounside villa to use with the Massanutten weeks discount.
 
Last edited:

tschwa2

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All they need to do is cut the resort fee in half (instead of raising it each year) and demand would increase. I haven't been in 2 years but would stay 3-4 times per year if the fees were lower.
 

escanoe

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All they need to do is cut the resort fee in half (instead of raising it each year) and demand would increase. I haven't been in 2 years but would stay 3-4 times per year if the fees were lower.
I hear you. But another part of me thinks the resort fee simply drives down the TPUs or RCI rental fees. (And you can get a pro-rated refund if not staying the whole week.)

I really don't get the pricing on some of these. Booking in TPUs with the discounted exchange fee often makes sense for me.

But it really doesn't make sense to pay maintenance fees to get TPUs when they are priced like this.

1734124236356.png


The regular exchange fee is $399. TPUs are only worth $4 each? If you have a platinum account, there is a 10% discount off booking with cash.

This is for a Mountainside Villas unit for the Friday before MLK Jr. weekend. The division had been out of inventory, so this was a cancellation or last minute deposit.
 

escanoe

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Here is what Massanutten posted on Facebook. They say only 4% of Massanutten owners made exchanges into VV.
 

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