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newbie - considering buying rci points

mrv

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I'm new to timeshares. After doing some online research, I'm considering buying rci points resale. My plan was to buy as many points as I could for a cheap as possible (.05ea.), with as low a MF as possible (.007) without regard for the home resort. I plan on rarely if ever returning to the same resort twice. My limitation is that I'll have to travel during peak times (Presidents week, etc.) for my vacations. After reading some of your comments, I'm concerned that the resorts I prefer won't be available at the 10 mo. window in the rci exchange system. My family prefers Florida (especially Orlando) and Mexico for vacations. Should I be concerned that no matter how many points I have, I'll have difficulty using them where I want and when I have the opportunity to?
 

BocaBum99

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Good Plan.

If Orlando is on your list of targeted areas for booking reservations, you will be okay. RCI Points always has good availability in Orlando.

The numbers you are considering are good ones. If you can achieve it, you will be fine. And, after trying it for a couple of years, you will probably get most of your capital out and you can try something else later if it doesn't work out to your expectations.

I would also encourage you to consider some of the other mini-point systems such as Fairfield, WorldMark, Bluegreen, Sunterra and others. If any of these resort systems have resorts that you like, you may do better buying one of those alternatives.
 

boyblue

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You have definitely done your homework. My wife & I are RCI Points members & it has worked well for us.

We did look at systems like Worldmark, Fairfield, Bluegreen. Truthfully we were mistakenly intimidated by their prices. I say mistakenly because they actually tend to hold their value better than other timeshares. As a matter of fact I would depreciate them over 10 years as opposed to 5 years for the stand alone resorts.

In the end the decision was out of our hands. It turns out that no single system had a good selection of resorts where we want to go (Northern U.S. & Canada). Your case is different; the mini systems are well represented in Florida & Mexico. I would strongly encourage you to look at them closely. Imagine no exchange fees.

As far as value, when done right some if the Mini's can give you a per night rate equal to or lower than RCI Points.
 

rickandcindy23

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Wyndham Founder; Disney OKW & SSR; Marriott's Willow Ridge,Shadow Ridge,Grand Chateau;Val Chatelle; Hono Koa OF (3); SBR(LOTS), SDO a few; Grand Palms; WKORV-OF (2),Westin Desert Willow.
There is great availability in the ten month window. I check RCI points all the time. There are always HGVC units in Orlando, ready and waiting. I can get anything in Hawaii, anytime as well. Mexico is also easy to get. You will have no problems at all.

I don't do math well, but we paid $3K (including closing costs, first year MF's and one year of RCI) for 92,800 points and our MF's this year were $671. These were Australia weeks--two. I think we are over 7/10 of a cent??? :confused: Anyway, we used our points for airfare this time because it saved us $200 per ticket, plus we already paid for the points, so better to use them than lose them. :whoopie:
 

Dustijam

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mrv :wave:

For RCI I just ran the 10 month window on Orlando for Feb 17, 07 which is Prez week, and came up with 14 hits. (See list below for resorts)

Where in Mexico or other area are you thinking, what prime dates, and I can see what comes up.

Maybe Boca can check Bluegreen. Anyone else have any other mini system to compare?

RCI Points Standard Reservation Window 2/17/07 7 days
The Gardens
Club Sevilla
Celebrity Orlando World
Kingston Reef
Silver Lake
Barefoot in the Keys at Old Town
Vistana
Summer Bay
Vacation Village at Parkway
Alhambra at Poinciana
Westgate Vacation Villa
Villas at Summer Bay
The Houses at Summer Bay
Celebration World Resort
 

mrv

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Thanks for the feedback. I guess I'll stay on the path I'm heading.

The next plan would be resorts on the west coast of Mexico. Visited Los Cabos in Feb. and very much enjoyed it.

Every Feb for a vacation is the family plan as it stands now.
 

Jya-Ning

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Dustijam said:
Maybe Boca can check Bluegreen. Anyone else have any other mini system to compare?
Inside mini-system, the inventory are different, but if they trade through RCI point or week system, they should see the same (Barring Trading Power and VEP for week system).

Certainly interest to see the inventory inside the Mini-system
For 2/17/07

For FF in Orlando, they have 4 resorts
Cypress Palm
159 units (2Bd to 1 Bd)
Star Island
169 units (3 to 1 Bd)
Bonnet Creek
97 units (3 Bd to 1 Bd)
International Resort Club
20 units (2Bd)

Very few are less than one week available.

For Mexico they have several but are affliate/associate resorts. The one in west
El Moro Tower El Cid Mazatlan
70 units (2 to hotel stdio)
Marina El Cid Hotel Yacht Club
89 units (1 to stdio)

Jya-Ning
 

Dustijam

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Not many Mexican resorts in points. Only 1 studio for 10 month window and that was at the Costa Real Cabo San Lucas.

Under the RCI weeks search between 2/1 to 2/28/07 these 10 west coast resorts came up. (31 came up searching for Mexican “all resorts”) With the weeks search in points you can start 2 years out, so this search for Feb 07 is already "late".

Resort Name Mayan Sea Garden Acapulco
Location Acapulco, GRO , MEXICO
Check-in date 2/2/07 - 2/25/07
Points 25,000 - 49,500
Resort Name Mayan Palace Acapulco
Location Acapulco, GRO , MEXICO
Check-in date 2/2/07 - 2/25/07
Points 37,000
Resort Name Mayan Palace Puerto Penasco
Location Puerto Penasco, SON , MEXICO
Check-in date 2/2/07 - 2/25/07
Points 14,500 - 32,500
Resort Name Rosarito Beach Vacation Suites
Location Playas de Rosarito, BCN , MEXICO
Check-in date 2/2/07 - 2/23/07
Points 14,500
Resort Name Royal Aloha Torreblanca/RAVC
Location Acapulco, GRO , MEXICO
Check-in date 2/12/07
Points 32,500
Resort Name The Grand Mayan Acapulco
Location Acapulco, GRO , MEXICO
Check-in date 2/2/07 - 2/25/07
Points 25,000
Resort Name La Concha Beach Resort
Location La Paz, BCS , MEXICO
Check-in date 2/24/07
Points 22,000
Resort Name Playa del Secreto
Location Acapulco, GRO , MEXICO
Check-in date 2/3/07 - 2/10/07
Points 22,000
Resort Name Royal Host Club/La Paz
Location La Paz, BCS , MEXICO
Check-in date 2/9/07 - 2/23/07
Points 39,000
Resort Name WIVC Torreblanca
Location Acapulco, GRO , MEXICO
Check-in date 2/3/07 - 2/24/07
Points 27,500 - 39,000
 
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