Need help!

[EJC]

That sucks. So it's better to use your points through the actual resort networks like Worldmark and buy RCI and II for cash, correct?

I'm not sure you have any idea how much typical mtnc fees are per week. A 2-bdrm Worldmark resort in the older resorts costs 10,000 Worldmark points FOR ONE WEEK IN HIGH SEASON. In very general terms, the mtnc fee is appx 10-cents per point PLUS taxes and perhaps housekeeping. You're looking at very appx. $1200. for ONE WEEK. I also own Vacation Internationale--another point system timeshare. Their mtnc fee just went up to $8.80/point, and a 2-bdrm high season takes appx 130 points times $8.80/point = $1139. + taxes for ONE WEEK. That's what you'll pay AFTER paying for the timeshare in the first place--and the the mtnc fees go up, often each year.

 

[ThymeShare]

I'm not sure you have any idea how much typical mtnc fees are per week. A 2-bdrm Worldmark resort in the older resorts costs 10,000 Worldmark points FOR ONE WEEK IN HIGH SEASON. In very general terms, the mtnc fee is appx 10-cents per point PLUS taxes and perhaps housekeeping. You're looking at very appx. $1200. for ONE WEEK. I also own Vacation Internationale--another point system timeshare. Their mtnc fee just went up to $8.80/point, and a 2-bdrm high season takes appx 130 points times $8.80/point = $1139. + taxes for ONE WEEK. That's what you'll pay AFTER paying for the timeshare in the first place--and the the mtnc fees go up, often each year.

I see.
Do you know of any other TS that can utilize both RCI and II?

 

[EJC]

I see.
Do you know of any other TS that can utilize both RCI and II?

I have no idea which resorts can utilize both RCI and Interval. The complete resort directory for both systems is online at each exchange system's website. Another thing that comes to mind--both RCI and Interval can have LIMITS on how many units at a particular resort you can book. RCI has lots of restrictions. An example would be one Vidanta resort week in the entire system every three years--something like that. I sometimes stay at Los Tules in Puerto Vallarta. The RCI rule is one week every two years. I just booked a couple of Interval Getaway rental weeks at Villa del Palmar Cabo, and the limit there was either two weeks or three weeks in a year. Another concern is that it's much harder to find either RCI or Interval rental bargains for 2-bdrm units vs 1-bdrm or studios.

 

[StaceyM]

Hi Everyone!
I'm not to the forum and I need your PRO help as the amount of info I need to read to be versed in this will probably take forever.

We are looking to do full time TS living. I spoke to someone that does it and they could get the weeks very cheap, like 200-400/week for 2 bedroom.
(Unfortunately I don't have their contact anymore)

As far as I know they have couple of cheap off season use TS bought on eBay for $1, that they use to access RCI and II.
I also assume they use Last Minute and Getaways to get cheap weeks.

I've looked around and seems like I can get just one TS - Worldmark that will have acees to BOTH - RCI AND II. Are there any others that can access both exchanges?

Also, I'm battling a dilemma of getting a "free" timeshare, which most likely wouldn't be too desirable even if I would want to give it away for free or get something desirable and pay some money for it, so it can be sold/traded/given away later.
What would've desirable vs not desirable?

Also what's better points or property?
Any other advice you would give us?

I think you're approaching this in a way that is confusing to most of us. Try posing this question instead:

I understand there is virtually unlimited excess timeshare inventory in Orlando. I want to move to Orlando and live in timeshares, but I will have flexibility to move every week. I'm also willing to travel to Williamsburg, VA, a desert in summer, or a ski resort during mud season, if we ever get to the point where Orlando timeshare weeks are not obtainable. I know I will have to find somewhere else to live the week of Christmas and New Years. My minimum requirement is that I need a 1-BR unit at all times, but I prefer a 2-BR unit.

What is the absolute cheapest way I can do this, using last-minute bookings if needed? What are cheap properties that can pull lots of cheap weeks, and what other tools and tricks that are available?

For my answer to that revised question: Here is what I know about Interval. I know almost nothing about RCI.
1. I also know whenever I deposit a week with interval, I get a free week certificate that can be used for a week in Orlando for $300-ish. Everyone gets random free week certificates for no reason a couple of times a year. I *think* a lot of people let those expire, if you wanted to buy them for $50 or $100, you might have some takers on this board. Of course, you would pay $300 in exchange fees plus maybe $79 fee for a guest certificate, so your cost per week might be closer to $450-500. Against T&C to sell certificates, see post below
2. Getaways - I can search August in Orlando and see a ton of weeks available for $300-$400. I'm sure Arizona and Palm Springs are similar in August, and in winter, look for cold wet places no one wants to visit. Cape Cod? Rural Maine?
3. Some properties allow owners to book cheap extra weeks that can then be deposited to Interval. I'm not sure what that's called (maybe right-to-use?) but that can be a source of cheap weeks that doesn't require annual maintenance fees.

You just have to get in there and use the tools to see what is available.

As far as what property to buy, when you search for "good trader" threads, you run into TUGgers who are looking for a property that can exchange 1:1 for a nice property, not a property that produces cheap weeks that you can deposit and trade for any excess inventory at 60 days out.

I suggest looking for a property that has a known easy deedback program, or is known to not pursue collections if you default. That should cover your "What if I need to get out?" issue. After that, you're looking for the lowest price that has the lowest maintenance fees. Bonus points if the owner says they have banked points you can use, and they will pay the closing costs.

I will say there's a thread on Mt Amanzi in South Africa, where the owner pays like $200 per week per year in maintenance fees and it looking to sell for basically closing fees. Apparently they can't do collections from South Africa if you default, so minimal risk to try it out. It trades in RCI, so I don't know what you can do with a couple of weeks of unknown "trading power" weeks in RCI. At a minimum, you would get access to their last-minute inventory.

Good Luck!

 

[lotus921v]

Vegas Grandview seems to be desirable, they pop up on eBay and other places often. How much can I rent with 122k points outside of Vegas?

https://www.rci.com/static/docs/en_US/pow/help/rci-points-grids.html

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

2. Getaways - I can search August in Orlando and see a ton of weeks available for $300-$400. I'm sure Arizona and Palm Springs are similar in August, and in winter, look for cold wet places no one wants to visit. Cape Cod? Rural Maine?

With the exception of some of the major holiday weeks (Christmas-New Years, Easter, July 4th), you can pretty much always get a 2 bedroom timeshare on getaways in Orlando in the $300-$500 range, and some of them are very nice (Marriott Timeshares, Sheraton Vistana, etc.). I think the only way to accomplish what OP is trying to do within the budget he has set out is something along these lines. Having a tiny timeshare with low maintenance fees somewhere that just gets him II access so that he can buy a lot of Getaways weeks. The only thing I’m not sure of is if there’s a limit on the number of Getaways weeks you can purchase in a year.

 

[lotus921v]

So, Grandview is a separate franchise, they are not affilited with Wyndham, Marriot etc?

I have seen some Grandview TS that have first usage date in the future, like in 2025 - if I get one, can I start using the RCI and II right away, even without depositing the week to them?
Do I have to deposit the week at all to use the exchanges to buy for cash?

Grandview is RCI points only. You would need to pick up a separate heavy hitter for interval

 

[escanoe]

If one wanted to keep it simple I think you could probably stay in Massanutten RCI Last calls for every season except for peak summer. And you could probably go to Vegas and stay in last calls for those weeks.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

With the exception of some of the major holiday weeks (Christmas-New Years, Easter, July 4th), you can pretty much always get a 2 bedroom timeshare on getaways in Orlando in the $300-$500 range, and some of them are very nice (Marriott Timeshares, Sheraton Vistana, etc.). I think the only way to accomplish what OP is trying to do within the budget he has set out is something along these lines. Having a tiny timeshare with low maintenance fees somewhere that just gets him II access so that he can buy a lot of Getaways weeks. The only thing I’m not sure of is if there’s a limit on the number of Getaways weeks you can purchase in a year.

This would also give OP the potential to stay at the same hotel for weeks (or even months) at a time, as some of them (ie: Sheraton Vistana, Marriott Palms Resorts, Marriot Grande Vista) frequently have multiple consecutive weeks available.

 

[stevenh21]

Harbortown Point Marina Resort & Club in Ventura, CA, has dual affiliation with RCI and Il. It has nice facilities, is well maintained, and has reasonable maintenance fees. You can only book to your season and unit type. Prime season is weeks 21 through 37. The remainder of the year is High season. The unit types are Mariner (studio with large bathroom), Islander (studio with lockoff hotel room) and Voyager (studio, bedroom and double length patio). Both the Islander and Voyager are classified as one bedroom units with two baths and include the Mariner plan as the living room, small kitchen, dining area, and the large bath with its tub, separate shower, double sink and large closet. You can go to harbortown.com to see photos, floor plans, and the overall resort.

We traded into Harbortown occasionally for about 10 years. Then purchased a resale Islander prime week to use every year. We did that for about 16 years. The drive/ride got to be too much for wife. The last four years we alternate between trading a week into Interval International and staying at Ventura The first trade was to Marriott Newport Coast Villas in February of 2022, in a 2 bedroom unit. This had no upgrade charge for the 2BR. I'm working on a trade to Marriott Myrtle Beach, spring of 2024. We have until mid September of 24 to use the trade.

The resort HOA keeps a list of units for sale. In April they only had Mariner and Islander rooms available. The Mariner studio was $300 plus $175 closing. 2023 maintenance fees were $815. The Islander unit was $2000 and $175 closing, with 2023 maintenance of $823. The higher price is due to many more Mariner units at the resort than larger rooms.

 

[ThymeShare]

Harbortown Point Marina Resort & Club in Ventura, CA, has dual affiliation with RCI and Il. It has nice facilities, is well maintained, and has reasonable maintenance fees. You can only book to your season and unit type. Prime season is weeks 21 through 37. The remainder of the year is High season. The unit types are Mariner (studio with large bathroom), Islander (studio with lockoff hotel room) and Voyager (studio, bedroom and double length patio). Both the Islander and Voyager are classified as one bedroom units with two baths and include the Mariner plan as the living room, small kitchen, dining area, and the large bath with its tub, separate shower, double sink and large closet. You can go to harbortown.com to see photos, floor plans, and the overall resort.

We traded into Harbortown occasionally for about 10 years. Then purchased a resale Islander prime week to use every year. We did that for about 16 years. The drive/ride got to be too much for wife. The last four years we alternate between trading a week into Interval International and staying at Ventura The first trade was to Marriott Newport Coast Villas in February of 2022, in a 2 bedroom unit. This had no upgrade charge for the 2BR. I'm working on a trade to Marriott Myrtle Beach, spring of 2024. We have until mid September of 24 to use the trade.

The resort HOA keeps a list of units for sale. In April they only had Mariner and Islander rooms available. The Mariner studio was $300 plus $175 closing. 2023 maintenance fees were $815. The Islander unit was $2000 and $175 closing, with 2023 maintenance of $823. The higher price is due to many more Mariner units at the resort than larger rooms.

Thank you for the info!

 

[montygz]

I have seen resorts where you can deposit into RCI Weeks or Interval, but is there a resort in RCI points and Interval?

 

[ThymeShare]

I have seen resorts where you can deposit into RCI Weeks or Interval, but is there a resort in RCI points and Interval?

It would have to be RCI points to begin with, I don't thin RCI would affilaite themselves with II, or will they?

 

[VacationForever]

It would have to be RCI points to begin with, I don't thin RCI would affilaite themselves with II, or will they?

The affiliation does not have have anything with RCI. The resort decides. Worldmark can be deposited into RCI weeks and II, and not RCI points. I think developer-purchased Worldmark contracts may be able to join RCI points system.

 

[claraj]

The idea of FT timeshare in retirement is interesting to me as well. If you just want access to RCI/II for Getaways (I imagine you may have to own 2 since I'm not sure any properties overlap both), I wonder if owning EOY contracts and depositing them would give you access and keep maintenance fees low.

 

[stevenh21]

The idea of FT timeshare in retirement is interesting to me as well. If you just want access to RCI/II for Getaways (I imagine you may have to own 2 since I'm not sure any properties overlap both), I wonder if owning EOY contracts and depositing them would give you access and keep maintenance fees low.

See post #85.

 

[VacationForever]

The idea of FT timeshare in retirement is interesting to me as well. If you just want access to RCI/II for Getaways (I imagine you may have to own 2 since I'm not sure any properties overlap both), I wonder if owning EOY contracts and depositing them would give you access and keep maintenance fees low.

A ton of timeshares do, including Worldmark and some older properties in the Sheraton and Marriott systems.

 

[ThymeShare]

A ton of timeshares do, including Worldmark and some older properties in the Sheraton and Marriott systems.

there are 7563 Resorts in RCI and 3,200 resorts in II.
I wish there will be a hard list somewhere for both exchanges, as it seems directories are interactive by regions etc.
If there would be 2 lists I could cross check them to find out all dual partnership resorts...

 

[bnoble]

if you wanted to buy them for $50 or $100, you might have some takers on this board

This is probably a bad idea, as it would violate II's terms. They have gone after owners who've rented weeks, though they haven't done it often.

 

[StaceyM]

This is probably a bad idea, as it would violate II's terms. They have gone after owners who've rented weeks, though they haven't done it often.

I'm surprised it's against the rules to sell free week certificates. It doesn't say anywhere in the T&C that they cant be sold or transferred, and II gets an extra $79 if you transfer it to a third party using a Guest Certificate.

However, there is a line on the Certificate T&C that refers to the II Membership T&C, and I found this in the UK T&C:
"Members are expressly prohibited from selling or exchanging a Guest Certificate for cash, barter or other consideration."

So thank you for pointing out my error. I'll edit.

 

[Hindsite]

I'm surprised it's against the rules to sell free week certificates. It doesn't say anywhere in the T&C that they cant be sold or transferred, and II gets an extra $79 if you transfer it to a third party using a Guest Certificate.

However, there is a line on the Certificate T&C that refers to the II Membership T&C, and I found this in the UK T&C:
"Members are expressly prohibited from selling or exchanging a Guest Certificate for cash, barter or other consideration."

So thank you for pointing out my error. I'll edit.

They also get the exchange fee that you have to pay for the accommodation certificate, it isn't free. You can gift it to friends or family, but, as you say no form of getting anything back is allowed.
If it were allowed there would be very little inventory for members to have as speculators would snap them all up and sell them on. A week using an accom cert can be half the price of the same week as a getaway, and a getaway can be half the price of the same week via a public website.

 

[ThymeShare]

Is Massanutten Mountainside Villas in VA a good resort?
Would week 48, December 3rd - 10th be a good trader in II or RCI?