Questions [ RCI vs Wyndham ]

[kcdivine]

I was looking at Wyndham timeshares and wondering if better to get rci Points instead. What is the pro and cons having RCI besides just having Wyndham?

 

[tschwa2]

Depending on which rci points week you get you could be paying more or less for the average MF's for a week at the resort.
RCI has more location but you will probably average just under $350 per week in additional fees above MF's but that goes down slightly the more exchanges you make over 2 per year.
Partial weeks are easier to book with Wyndham but if you run out of HK credits it will have an extra $159 per reservation for wyndham vs $50-90 for rci partial week reservations.

It really depends on where you want to go, and how many weeks or nights you are looking to book per year.

 

[Free2Roam]

Here's a recent thread that may (or may not?) help.

Why Buy Wyndham if I Own RCI?

I just attended a Wyndham timeshare presentation. Why would an RCI owner want Wyndham ownership if I can trade into them with South Africa timeshares with a $250/ year MF? I also own a resort with 122k RCI points for $850 MF. I'm thinking that it's a 2-part answer: 1) Easier to stay at Wyndham...

tugbbs.com

 

[kcdivine]

Here's a recent thread that may (or may not?) help.

Why Buy Wyndham if I Own RCI?

I just attended a Wyndham timeshare presentation. Why would an RCI owner want Wyndham ownership if I can trade into them with South Africa timeshares with a $250/ year MF? I also own a resort with 122k RCI points for $850 MF. I'm thinking that it's a 2-part answer: 1) Easier to stay at Wyndham...

tugbbs.com

Lol now I am more confused

 

[Free2Roam]

Lol now I am more confused

Oh no! Sorry about that! Feel free to ask specific questions for clarification (and hope your thread doesn't go off the rails)

 

[kcdivine]

Oh no! Sorry about that! Feel free to ask specific questions for clarification (and hope your thread doesn't go off the rails)

Just seems like rci has more fees and less basically harder to find rooms

 

[pedro47]

RCI and Wyndham are joined at the hip. IMHO.

 

[sandkastle4966]

RCI has exchange fees, and lots of resorts, but as mentioned, potentially harder to get what you want. Your total cost includes the exchange fee, plus your individual Timeshare maintenance fee (might be a little or a lot) Takes diligence, some common sense and some luck to get exactly what you want.

Wyndham has fewer resorts, typically higher maintenance fees, but generally easier to land the reservation you want - again using some common sense.

I own both fixed weeks in RCI, and Wyndham points....use them for different things.

 

[Free2Roam]

Just seems like rci has more fees and less basically harder to find rooms

If you're looking to book mostly at Wyndham resorts, Wyndham will likely be the better option for you.

Yes, RCI has lots of fees... most (except exchange fees) are avoidable depending on how you use the system. Wyndham also has fees... most of which can be avoided.

If you can't find what you want in RCI, you can place an ongoing search for weekly reservations (not for RCI Points inventory.) Wyndham doesn't currently offer any type of wait list or ongoing search, but most locations can be booked with the right planning... even most holidays.

RCI offers more locations than Wyndham. But availability is based on member deposits (individual and/or resorts.) Some resorts or resort systems automatically deposit... some do bulk deposits periodically. Some people think RCI is just leftovers or unwanted inventory. That is usually the case if you're looking at what's available online to book immediately, but with ongoing search you have a greater chance of finding what you want (for weekly reservations.) And depending on what you own in RCI Points, there are priority booking opportunities (which I use often.)

You will have RCI access thru your Club Wyndham ownership, but unless you buy direct from Wyndham, your membership will be for RCI Weeks.

I often use RCI Points to book shorter reservations, which have lower exchange fees but sometimes have housekeeping fees.

There's a lot more to RCI Points... depending on where you own and how you like to vacation. It definitely takes time to really learn how to work the system for your needs.

One thing I know, when it comes to timeshares, it's "Different Strokes for Different Folks!"

I hope this info doesn't confuse you more.

 

[kcdivine]

If you're looking to book mostly at Wyndham resorts, Wyndham will likely be the better option for you.

Yes, RCI has lots of fees... most (except exchange fees) are avoidable depending on how you use the system. Wyndham also has fees... most of which can be avoided.

If you can't find what you want in RCI, you can place an ongoing search for weekly reservations (not for RCI Points inventory.) Wyndham doesn't currently offer any type of wait list or ongoing search, but most locations can be booked with the right planning... even most holidays.

RCI offers more locations than Wyndham. But availability is based on member deposits (individual and/or resorts.) Some resorts or resort systems automatically deposit... some do bulk deposits periodically. Some people think RCI is just leftovers or unwanted inventory. That is usually the case if you're looking at what's available online to book immediately, but with ongoing search you have a greater chance of finding what you want (for weekly reservations.) And depending on what you own in RCI Points, there are priority booking opportunities (which I use often.)

You will have RCI access thru your Club Wyndham ownership, but unless you buy direct from Wyndham, your membership will be for RCI Weeks.

I often use RCI Points to book shorter reservations, which have lower exchange fees but sometimes have housekeeping fees.

There's a lot more to RCI Points... depending on where you own and how you like to vacation. It definitely takes time to really learn how to work the system for your needs.

One thing I know, when it comes to timeshares, it's "Different Strokes for Different Folks!"

I hope this info doesn't confuse you more.

I am family of 5 and do week vacations once a year but would like to do some longer weekend vacations also ( once the world gets back to normal! If that is possible?).

 

[kcdivine]

you can just buy points on rci ? Or do you need a week? Do you actually have to pick a home resort?

 

[tschwa2]

you can just buy points on rci ? Or do you need a week? Do you actually have to pick a home resort?

For the most part no. You buy a deeded week (either float or fixed) that has already been converted to rci points. There are some vacation clubs that may sell points in their club that also participate with rci points. Usually those clubs offer better value to exchange internally (lower fees) than having to pay the rci fees in addition to their annual points club on top of mf's.

 

[kcdivine]

For the most part no. You buy a deeded week (either float or fixed) that has already been converted to rci points. There are some vacation clubs that may sell points in their club that also participate with rci points. Usually those clubs offer better value to exchange internally (lower fees) than having to pay the rci fees in addition to their annual points club on top of mf's.

How are the mf fees compared to other timeshare companies. Does it really matter where your home resort is or just get the lowest mf

 

[tschwa2]

How are the mf fees compared to other timeshare companies. Does it really matter where your home resort is or just get the lowest mf

RCI doesn't set the MF's. The resort does. For the most part it doesn't matter but you do get priority exchanging back into the resort at 12 months and into the resort group at 11 months. Some people don't worry about early booking and go for lowest MF's. I personally like something that is within driving distance and something I or my extended family might want to use if I decide not to exchange through rci on a particular year.

 

[Free2Roam]

How are the mf fees compared to other timeshare companies. Does it really matter where your home resort is or just get the lowest mf

I haven't kept up lately, but there are certain resorts that have really good ratio of MFs to Point value. Grandview at Las Vegas is one of them. Certain weeks (or seasons) offer the best value. They have annual, biennial or triennial contracts. I have a triennial week there that gives 1/3 of the RCI Points value every year. Vacation Village @ Parkway in FL is another one.

I also have an annual RCI Points contract at a VRI Resort. The MF to RCI Points value isn't the best... I only keep it in RCI Points because VRI has a large Home Group and owners get priority booking at other resorts in the Group before the booking window opens up to all members. The week I own gets auto-deposited, but I book it every year as soon as my booking window opens.

Other TUGgers may chime in with more recent info on the best RCI Points resorts.

 

[kcdivine]

Is there anyway to look up to see how many points it cost to stay at certain resorts

 

[tschwa2]

Is there anyway to look up to see how many points it cost to stay at certain resorts

I can never find the current pdf but here is one from 2017 that will give you a basic idea for most points resorts. https://www.rci.com/static/docs/en_US/points-grid.pdf

 

[kcdivine]

I can never find the current pdf but here is one from 2017 that will give you a basic idea for most points resorts. https://www.rci.com/static/docs/en_US/points-grid.pdf

Ok I wonder how much has increased