OGS Search for Hawaii Question

[Bearvet]

My son is new to timesharing and I'm trying to help him plan his honeymoon in Hawaii in May/June 2018. He joined RCI and currently has 29 TPUs available. In April he'll have another 30-31 TPUs. They'd like to go for 2 weeks and definitely want to go to Oahu - and will take a studio or even a hotel unit if necessary..

Should he begin an OGS now for Oahu? Not sure if he can get anything there for 29 TPUs? If he combines his TPUs in April, will that cancel his current OGS and create a new one? If that's the case, should he wait until May, since his points will expire in May 2018? If he has to combine for Oahu, hopefully he'd still have enough points left for a second island - they're leaning toward Kauai, but I think Maui would be fine too.

I think he's planning far enough in advance, but I'm concerned about the TPUs and the expiration date if he has to combine. Any advice?

 

[jacknsara]

Aloha Bearvet,
Congratulations to your son and future daughter-in-law.
I’ll start with my recommendations and follow up with a description of why.
If minimal anxiety and two weeks are desired, focus both searches on other islands such as Kauai and/or Big Island where there are many RCIs resorts. You describe just enough TPUs and have enough lead time to have high confidence for two successful searches as long as your son is not expecting the top resorts.
The combination you describe would be adequate for one week in Oahu with some TPU left over. RCI’s recent policy change / reduction to the duration of combined deposits puts Oahu searches at a disadvantage since much of the inventory becomes available significantly more than 12 months out. That OGS based on the combined deposit would be initiated after most/all bulk space banking occurs. Consequently, that OGS would be waiting in line primarily for owners depositing at later than optimal RCI lead times. It might work. A match might require many weeks or months of patience.
Assuming a successful match on Oahu and sufficient residual TPU for a match on another island (by no means certain; I’d set the odds at a residual of more than 25 TPU at less than 50% and most matches require more than 25 TPU), the second search might be initiated with several months less than a year prior to departure. Consequently, that second OGS might be waiting in line for owners depositing at substantially later than optimal RCI lead times. Success might require waiting until just a week or two before departure. OTOH, it generally takes less than 20 TPU to match top resorts with only two weeks left before check in.
Of course, everything I have written is speculation. However it is based on an assessment of anecdotal data that I have.
During various periods in the past, I have screen scraped RCI online availability primarily for Hawaiian resorts of interest to me as well as a few on the mainland and stored them in an excel file; I have a semi-automated method to clean up the garbage that comes with screen scraping. I currently have over 75K rows of data. Given the worthy cause (your son’s wedding plans) and my curiosity, I took a look to see what might pop out to answer your question. Since the way I collect data does not support statistically valid analysis, I only offer commentary based on my interpretation and not the numbers behind it.
Best of luck to your son whatever he decides to try.
Jack

 

[bnoble]

RCI’s recent policy change / reduction to the duration of combined deposits puts Oahu searches at a disadvantage since much of the inventory becomes available significantly more than 12 months out.

The way around this would be to combine and then extend. It will cost more, but in this case might be worth it. But, it doesn't solve the other problem of trying to get a residual match.

 

[lily28]

I think tpu 29 or 31 is too low for Oahu without combining tpu. RCI gives me 43 tpu for an August 2017 week in a studio at Oahu, so I assume it will require more tpu to book that week.

 

[HudsHut]

To get an idea of required TPU, I'm looking at some dates in RCI.

May 2017
Kauai Wyndham 2br 30 - 31
Big Island Wyndham 2br 30

June 2017
Oahu Kuhio Banyan studio 29

March 2018
Maui Kahana Falls hotel 24
Big Island Paniolo Greens 2br 15 - 16

***
TradingPlaces.com currently has a unit on Oahu that would meet his May/June 2018 timeframe.
Sweetwater At Waikiki Banyan - Honolulu, HI

For the Oahu week, I would contact Trading Places and request
Wyndham Royal Garden
Wyndham Waikiki BeachWalk
or, for a guaranteed ocean view,
Hawaiian Princess Makaha (not in Honolulu).

Trading Places trades a week for a week, same size unit.

 

[Bearvet]

Thank you all for your help. I was able to share with my son the options available and the TPU availability. He has decided to exchange into Oahu with Trading Places, since the exact week they want is currently available. Since TPI trades week for week, he doesn't have to worry about low TPUs. He has deposited his week, now waiting it to be confirmed so he can request the exchange - fingers crossed!

While it may not be the best resort on Oahu, the location is excellent. And hey, they're in Hawaii!!

Then in April, when he can reserve another flex week at the home resort, he can deposit with RCI and request a week on another island. RCI is already showing availability on the Big Island (for 15 TPUs), so with 31 TPUs, he should be able to get something decent. They are/were leaning toward Kauai, but I think they'd be happy with Maui or the Big Island.

Thanks again for your suggestions - they were very helpful!

 

[Smiff]

Sweetwater Waikiki

Your son should be quite happy at the Sweetwater. It is on the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. It is not a big resort; more like an apartment. A big bonus is free parking for a rental car. Other timeshares charge $25 per day in Waikiki. Best car rental deals are usually from Discount Hawaii or Costco. Is is a one block walk to the open beach. The mountain view is gorgeous. The ocean view is likely to be at least partly restricted and gets a hot afternoon sun. It is also an easy walk to Kapiolani Park.

 

[Bearvet]

Quick update: Trading Places verified his deposit and he has completed the exchange! So they have a week at Sweetwater in Honolulu on the date they wanted!

I have 19 TPUs leftover from an exchange, so I offered it to him and he would pay the exchange fee, TPU extension fee and guest certificate fee for the unit that is currently available on the Big Island (Paniolo Greens 2 bedroom for 15 TPU). So for $417, they'd have their 2nd week all set and still get to keep the 31 TPUs they'll get in April for future vacations.

I told him that they don't have to decide right away, but I think they're seriously considering my offer. These may not be top resorts, but they'll be happy to be in Hawaii for 2 weeks for little money!

 

[HudsHut]

And, to get these weeks locked in, and that huge task crossed off the list, is priceless.
Congratulations.