Points and tips for RCI/II affiliates

[Caperguy]

Just wondering if there's a quick guide on how many points are needed for the various HGV affiliate locations, such as Animal Kingdom Lodge. I'm curious what points would be needed to get the 3 beds in the room. Just an example, but I know we'd be interested in one of the Disney locations, among other places.

I had other questions about the affiliates...any guide/summary anywhere? (such as how far in advance you can book, can you book online yourself, etc)

(we're still not owners, just asking a bunch and researching)

 

[Jason245]

Just wondering if there's a quick guide on how many points are needed for the various HGV affiliate locations, such as Animal Kingdom Lodge. I'm curious what points would be needed to get the 3 beds in the room. Just an example, but I know we'd be interested in one of the Disney locations, among other places.

I had other questions about the affiliates...any guide/summary anywhere? (such as how far in advance you can book, can you book online yourself, etc)

(we're still not owners, just asking a bunch and researching)

http://tug2.net/timeshare_advice/hilton-grand-vacation-club-timeshare-information.html

 

[presley]

Just wondering if there's a quick guide on how many points are needed for the various HGV affiliate locations, such as Animal Kingdom Lodge.

That isn't an affiliate. That is a Disney resort that you might be able to exchange in via RCI. Exchanges in the Disney resorts have mostly been for one bedrooms and often need to be requested over a year in advance. You don't find out if you got it until a few months before desired check in.

If you are mostly interested in DVC, you should either buy there or rent from an owner. If you are mostly interested in HGVC locations and think you'll only trade out once in a while then a Hilton contract would work. HGVC has 3 bedroom units in orlando.

 

[Caperguy]

That isn't an affiliate. That is a Disney resort that you might be able to exchange in via RCI. Exchanges in the Disney resorts have mostly been for one bedrooms and often need to be requested over a year in advance. You don't find out if you got it until a few months before desired check in.

If you are mostly interested in DVC, you should either buy there or rent from an owner. If you are mostly interested in HGVC locations and think you'll only trade out once in a while then a Hilton contract would work. HGVC has 3 bedroom units in orlando.

I was just looking at the RCI listings and saw various Disney Villas that notes 'weeks resort check-in dates', etc. Does that mean we could book up to 2 years in advance? Looks like the various Disney villas are included in RCI, not necessarily the AK Lodge that I noted above. I do see a couple that state "RCI POINTS" which would have the 10 month booking limit.

We're interested in the variety, but do want the option of the Disney on-site (easier for WDW transportation, airport transportation, etc). We did offsite and it's just not as convenient. So if these are options that can be booked regularly, that would be awesome. They also list the room types as studio, 1 bed, 2 bed, etc and 4800 points would go even further (2 bed) in RCI high season!

 

[Caperguy]

I was looking at the points required, and it seems they're on a different scale than HGV...so we just go by the chart here http://tug2.net/timeshare_advice/hilton-grand-vacation-club-timeshare-information.html

And it's weird...one listing has AK Villa saying RCI Points, the other doesn't. I guess I'd just have to call to check to know for sure?

One other thing -- if we borrow points from another year, we could get a bigger room or multiple rooms for our stay?

(Sorry for bugging people on this, I just want to ask as much as I can and read up so we know the options PRIOR to purchasing any timeshare. We're from East Coast of Canada and booking airfare as early as possible is important, and we have limited options with travel dates)

 

[presley]

They also list the room types as studio, 1 bed, 2 bed, etc and 4800 points would go even further (2 bed) in RCI high season!

If you book through the HGVC portal, you will always trade on the point chart that you mentioned above. RCI points charts and TPUs don't affect us at all. Hilton has their own trading points system and it doesn't change. Even if you book a week before check in, the chart stays the same. You don't get a discount like every other system does.

DVC has become a difficult trade to get. You can put in a search for it 2 years in advance and hold your place in line. DVC won't make a deposit until about 6 months before the check in date. So, while you need to put in your request years ahead to get a place in line, you won't know if you get it until a few months before. Some people will make a Hilton reservation and wait it out and drop it if their exchange comes through. If you pay the $15. to become a Tug member, you'll have access to the sightings forum which has a thread about DVC deposits that you can watch.

If you want to use RCI to book a larger room in Hilton for less points than using Hilton alone, it can be done, but usually only if someone cancels a reservation. As Hilton owners, we are blocked from seeing any RCI inventory that is further than 9 months out. Hilton does their bulk deposits 12 - 18 month ahead of time. By the time we get to the 9 month window where we can see, everything is already taken. People do cancel stuff though, so if you have an ongoing search set up, you may get it.

 

[Caperguy]

are other RCI properties easier to get than DVC ones? And I assume HGVC members can book their own RCI or do that waiting in line venture themselves?

A lot to consider!

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Other RCI properties are easier to book than Disney.

If you are planning to use your HGVC points to support the RCI trade, then you need to book via the HGVC portal link, and not with an RCI account you may have from another ownership..

 

[Caperguy]

"Some people will make a Hilton reservation and wait it out and drop it if their exchange comes through."

So we could put our name in for a DVC location, but also book at HGVC (Seaworld), then just cancel Seaworld if our DVC comes through? Given prices of airfare from here, booking earlier is best, so we can't wait for 4-6 months before we leave to start looking for airfare.

Also, if you borrow points from next year, I assume you can book TWO rooms through RCI.

(this is under the presumption we only have sufficient points for ONE reservation, and you don't lose any points by cancelling within the permitted time period)

thanks!

 

[presley]

"Some people will make a Hilton reservation and wait it out and drop it if their exchange comes through."

So we could put our name in for a DVC location, but also book at HGVC (Seaworld), then just cancel Seaworld if our DVC comes through? Given prices of airfare from here, booking earlier is best, so we can't wait for 4-6 months before we leave to start looking for airfare.

Also, if you borrow points from next year, I assume you can book TWO rooms through RCI.

(this is under the presumption we only have sufficient points for ONE reservation, and you don't lose any points by cancelling within the permitted time period)

thanks!

You could put in an ongoing search for DVC (you pay to set that up) and book HGVC when the booking window opens up. Remember, you will also pay to make a reservation in HGVC unless you book your exact home week. If a match comes through for DVC, you can call HGVC and cancel the reservation with them (you lose the fee you paid) and use those points towards the RCI exchange. You'll also need to pay the DVC resort $95. when you check in.

You can book 2 rooms through RCI if you have enough points and yes, you can borrow from the next year. You will pay 2 RCI exchange fees and 2 DVC $95. fees when you check in, assuming you are booking 2 rooms at DVC.

 

[alexadeparis]

"Some people will make a Hilton reservation and wait it out and drop it if their exchange comes through."

So we could put our name in for a DVC location, but also book at HGVC (Seaworld), then just cancel Seaworld if our DVC comes through? Given prices of airfare from here, booking earlier is best, so we can't wait for 4-6 months before we leave to start looking for airfare.

Also, if you borrow points from next year, I assume you can book TWO rooms through RCI.

(this is under the presumption we only have sufficient points for ONE reservation, and you don't lose any points by cancelling within the permitted time period)

thanks!

It is best if you think of DVC as a unicorn, and have a real reservation in place, because the DVC may not come through. Many people here had ongoing searches for years and were not able to get the DVC they wanted. 1 bedrooms seem to be about all that's available, and even then only at SSR or sometimes OKW. If I did not have extra points to shuffle around, I would say make a reservation within RCI for a 2 bedroom unit with your 4800 HGVC points at Vistana or Vistana Villages and be done with it.

 

[Caperguy]

good to know....

why Vistana? (compared to, say, HGVC's Parc Soleil, Seaworld or others that are close to Disney)

 

[Talent312]

IMHO, there's no reason to book Vistana over a HGVC resort. HGVC resorts are high quality and consistently ranked near the top in Trip Advisor. You may save some points by booking RCI, but the RCI booking fee is higher.

With DVC, you need to be both lucky and flexible. Ususally, its more a matter of what they have available, if anything, not what you want. Just 'cuz a resort is listed in the RCI directory does not mean it's going to have the dates or size you prefer. Try booking anything in NYC, and you'll see what I mean.
.

 

[alexadeparis]

good to know....

why Vistana? (compared to, say, HGVC's Parc Soleil, Seaworld or others that are close to Disney)

Strictly on the basis that it seems to be more plentiful than HGVC, and as an HGVC owner, don't you have to wait until 9 months out to book back into HGVC? That's what I recall. Whereas booking another resort brand you can go up to two years out?