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[merged] Newbie question about a timeshare resale we're considering buying [RCI pts]

wzhao6898

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Can I use RCI points for marriott and/or hyatt hotel stays?

Hi there,

We're getting very close to buying a timeshare (1br 1bath, red, 27900 points with $286 MF per year). We are first time buyers, is this considered a good deal?

Can we use RCI points for marriott or hyatt, or other hotel stays (NOT marriott resorts)?
Thanks in advance!

David
 

DeniseM

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Hi and welcome to TUG!

Not Marriott - Marriott is with Interval International - not RCI.
 

wzhao6898

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Hi there,

We've been to a couple of timeshare sales presentations, one in Las Vegas, the other one with Hilton vacation club. We want to start slow with lowest MF possible, and don't want to buy retail.
We found this deal (if it's deal): 27900 RCI points with $286 MF, red week floating at a resort in Texas for $800 (plus closing cost and RCI memebership), which we don't think we'll be going there every year, or ever, but just get us started. We figure we can always buy more points as needed once we have a RCI membership.
Is this a good deal? Any rule of thumb to determine if a timeshare is deal?
Thanks,

David
 

tschwa2

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Yes- sort of. RCI gets some hotel inventory from Hyatt and a few others in limited locations- a couple of places in Florida, San Antonio, Chicago, Newport Beach, CA and maybe 3 or 4 other places. These are for full 7 day stays only. Points amounts are generally 50,000+ points plus exchange fee. In this case you would be spending 2 years MF's, 2 years RCI points membership plus a $189 transaction fee ($1001 total)

They also have points partners which allows you to use 33% of your annual points alottment or 25,000 per year (whichever is greater). There is a $25 fee for each hotel booking. 25,000 points would give you a discount of $235 toward the booking of a hotel. The hotel inventory is through RCI travel and is similar to expedia prices and inventory. No AAA discounts, or similar discounts allowed. This inventory includes Marriotts, Hiltons, etc.So basically if you pay $120 for RCI points membership and $25 transaction fee and your $286 MF ($431.00 total) you would get $235 off a standard reservation and have 4,000 RCI points left over.

Neither one seems particularly appealing and are more a fall back if you aren't able to use your points in any other way.
 
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aliikai2

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I think you are trying to buy an apple and get a couple of oranges

RCI points are best used for RCI resorts. $800 plus closing is about $800 more that this is worth. Check Ebay for points packages.
Then trying to use Timeshare points for Hotel stays is going to make you pull out your hair:doh: :wall: .

While you can use 25% of your points, in your case about 9000 towards hotel stays, the value isn't there. Those types of uses are for someone that is going to lose their points and just wants to get something.

If you are truly looking for a Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott hotel points, you will need to by retail from one of them, or get all their affinity cards and spend a ton on them.

I would take some time here reading about all the various systems and in about 6 months or when you can answer most of your own questions you will be ready to buy a timeshare.

Buying is easy, getting rid of one like you are looking at is next to impossible along with being expensive.

fwiw,
Greg

Thanks, how about Hyatt or hiltion hotels? What do you think of the timeshare deal?
Thanks,
 
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hixsonvol

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(long time lurker, first time poster)


If you're looking at rayburn, you will not probably find a better long term deal on mf's increases and assessments for small points packages if you're looking at your long term return on initial investment. (we bought at rayburn for that reason)

However, that's not a lot of points to do much with in RCI, especially if you will ever need a 2 bedroom. That's kind of in the 1 bedroom points range, location/season dependent of course. Just having those 24k points for the 9k instant exchanges might be a dissapointment for you.

If you're looking for something more along the hotel systems, I'm sure others can help with the Hilton, Marriott systems etc.:)
 

Passepartout

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Welcome all to TUG! I concur. 28K RCI points is just not enough to do anything with. Time was that there were more of the (at the time 7500 point) last minute-45 day out- weeks. Now there are less of them and they only discount to 9000 at 30 days from move in. RCI rents the good ones leaving pretty poor pickin's. The one discussed by the OP is overpriced and not usable as a trader. You would have to pay 2 years MF AND 2 years RCI membership fees to get one mediocre 1 BR exchange.

In short, buy where you want to go- most of the time. And where other people want to go to ensure good trade- and rental value when you don't want- or can't go there yourself.

Carefully evaluate what you see on eBay or the TUG Bargains or Marketplace. There are some jewels there, but there are some dirt clods too. IMO, the above is one of the latter.

Consider buying one that is in a mini system. One that has multiple resorts and no internal exchange fees. Preferable with a home resort that you can drive to and has activities nearby that you and your family enjoy.

Good Luck!

Jim Ricks
 

wzhao6898

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Welcome all to TUG! I concur. 28K RCI points is just not enough to do anything with. Time was that there were more of the (at the time 7500 point) last minute-45 day out- weeks. Now there are less of them and they only discount to 9000 at 30 days from move in. RCI rents the good ones leaving pretty poor pickin's. The one discussed by the OP is overpriced and not usable as a trader. You would have to pay 2 years MF AND 2 years RCI membership fees to get one mediocre 1 BR exchange.

In short, buy where you want to go- most of the time. And where other people want to go to ensure good trade- and rental value when you don't want- or can't go there yourself.

Carefully evaluate what you see on eBay or the TUG Bargains or Marketplace. There are some jewels there, but there are some dirt clods too. IMO, the above is one of the latter.

Consider buying one that is in a mini system. One that has multiple resorts and no internal exchange fees. Preferable with a home resort that you can drive to and has activities nearby that you and your family enjoy.

Good Luck!

Jim Ricks
Thank you all for your inputs, and I know now that hotel stays are not cost effective.
However, that's not a lot of points to do much with in RCI, especially if you will ever need a 2 bedroom.
I understand that 28000 points is not enough, but we figure we can also buy points off ebay for about 1 cent per point or less. This way we can keep the annual cost down. We don't plan on going to the resort every year, or ever.
Carefully evaluate what you see on eBay or the TUG Bargains or Marketplace. There are some jewels there, but there are some dirt clods too. IMO, the above is one of the latter.
So where we should buy timeshare from? We certainly don't want to pay retail for it. Any good resale market places out there?
Carefully evaluate what you see on eBay or the TUG Bargains or Marketplace. There are some jewels there, but there are some dirt clods too. IMO, the above is one of the latter.
Any suggestions on mini systems? Is Grandview one of them (we went to Grandview Las Vegas sales presentation).
Thanks very much!

David
 

admiralsteve

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Looking for timeshare expert

We own 8 weeks at various resorts including 2 marriott resorts. We are looking for professional advice on maximizing our use of these, possibly selling some and acquiring others. We are willing to pay expert advice. If you, or someone you know, has deep experience with a wide variety of timeshare issues we would like to discuss our needs with you.
you can send an email to me at shaase@insuretrust.com - with your back ground if interested.
Thanks
 

DeniseM

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admiralsteve - Your post is an open-invitation to scammers. Your BEST resource for accurate timesharing info. is the forums on TUG. You can find out anything you want to know for FREE - just ask!

You are now going to be contacted by "professionals" who want to charge you an high upfront fee for their expertise - don't do it - they are scammers.
 
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