One Plus One -- what is the value?

[SBK]

Yesterday, for the first time, I tried to use a one-plus-one week. I now have some questions about the value of those weeks.

I was offered a week close to what I wanted, but it was only $3.50 less than than that exact week was being offered for on Extra Vacations. (It is a November week at Sea Time in Ocean City.) I did not realize this until after I put the week on hold. (As you know, a one-plus-one can only be reserved over the phone, not on line.)

I called back to see what the story was, and the second Guide told me that the price for one-plus-one weeks is set at 25% below the phone-in price for Extra Vacations -- which turns out to be almost exactly the on line cost. She also said that Extra Vacations was the only inventory she could check

At this point my head began to spin. Why should I spend 15 minutes on hold and talking to a Guide to save $3.50? My time is worth a tad more than that.

After mulling things over, I decided not to settle for less than what we wanted, so I called a third time and asked the Guide to start an on-going search for exactly what we have in mind. The Guide, said that she couldn't do that. When I persisted, she did check, and found out that she could. DUH.

My question for Madge is -- What is the worth of the one-plus-one's? From this experience, the only value that I can see is that you can do an on-going search for an Extra Vacation -- and I can see that that might be valuable under some circumstances.

Thanks for any additional information.

 

[Madge]

Susan,

One-Plus-One weeks do not vary in price as much as Extra Vacations. There may be times, as you've seen, when Extra Vacations will be priced almost as low. However, there are other times where there is sizable difference. I would recommend checking both as you did.

Contrary to what it sounds like you may have been told, you may request an ongoing search using your One-Plus-One week.

 

[SBK]

Below is the section on One-Plus-Ones from the RCI FAQs on TUG.

My questions for Madge:

1) Does this section need to be updated? It seems to be saying that there is a flat fee for all Domestic One-Plus-Ones.

2) Was the guide who told me that One-Plus-Ones cost 25% of the Extra Vacation Cost correct?

3) How far in advance can we use a One-Plus-One?

4) Do you anticipate thaat we will be able to use these on line in the future?

Thanks so much for your time -- I think that a lot of us are confused by this benefit and want to be able to make the most of it.



A. What are the One-Plus-One weeks that appear in my account?


When you confirm an exchange in an area targeted for the One-Plus-One promotion, an additional vacation week at special rates is deposited into your account automatically. It appears online as a One-Plus-One week; however, it cannot be accessed online. You will need to contact an RCI Guide to confirm these. For every regular exchange confirmed into targeted areas, members may confirm an additional week into any of the same areas for $241.99 domestic (296.99 CD) and $296.99 international (351.99 CD). Availability is in the following regions:



East Coast - Virginia Beach, Virginia to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
North Interior US - Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia
Pennsylvania
Tennessee & Smoky Mtn Resorts in North Carolina and Georgia
Canada - Ontario & Quebec
East Coast - Maine to Maryland
Great Lakes Area (Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota)
Ozarks (Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma)
Texas - Inland

Southeastern Florida (Vacation Village at Bonaventure #4025 and Vacation Village at Weston #5773 only)
All International Destinations



The One-Plus-One program is not available online. You will need to contact an RCI Guide for assistance. These weeks are valid for two full years, for travel dates up to two years in advance. However, they are only valid for the areas outlined above. You do not have to confirm the same resort/area with your One-Plus-One week as you confirmed to qualify for it. And you don't have to confirm consecutive weeks. After you confirm a standard exchange in one of the targeted areas, the One-Plus-One week is deposited into your account automatically overnight. You may also confirm the extra week on the same phone call if you want - the RCI Guide can deposit it for you immediately.

 

[Madge]

SBK,

Please see my responses below:

1) Does this section need to be updated? It seems to be saying that there is a flat fee for all Domestic One-Plus-Ones.

The fee used to be a flat fee; however, now it does vary somewhat - just not as much as Extra Vacations. I will see if we can get this updated in the Ask RCI FAQ's.

2) Was the guide who told me that One-Plus-Ones cost 25% of the Extra Vacation Cost correct?

The pricing for One-Plus-One weeks does not directly correlate with Extra Vacations.

3) How far in advance can we use a One-Plus-One?

Two years

4) Do you anticipate thaat we will be able to use these on line in the future?

We are hoping to make all of the various vacation weeks available online in the future.

 

[SBK]

Thanks!!

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions before your vacation -- have a wonderful time.

(I just hope that they don't have any web site surprises while you are gone!) :whoopie:

 

[jimbiggs]

Madge,

In the past we've only been able to use the One Plus One weeks to reserve a year in advance. Has a change been made. In an above post you say we can use them two years in advance.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Sales Gimmick!

Every time I've tried to look into using one of them (the one-plus-ones) it ends up being the exact same price as the Extra Vacations. My thought is that they (the one-plus-ones) are just a huge marketing gimmick to get folks to buy weeks from RCI. I had a VC remove two of them from my account over a year ago. I have one there that they won't remove, but will soon expire, thank God.

Yvonne

 

[Madge]

Jimbiggs,

Sorry about past confusion; One-Plus-One weeks are indeed eligible up to two years in advance.

 

[Madge]

Timeshare Von,

For a time, we decided to display One-Plus-One availability and pricing together with Extra Vacations. The idea was to be sure that all options were being offered by Guides when members called.

However, this lead to a lot of confusion over just what was being offered. The Guide would search using the One-Plus-One week but then see Extra Vacations availability.

The One-Plus-One week will now only access One-Plus-One availability and pricing. This should pretty much always be less than Extra Vacations since it applies only to the targeted One-Plus-One areas.