RCI membership

[magjrl]

Can you buy an RCI membership and go onto the RCI website and buy a week at a resort if you are not a timeshare owner yourself?

 

[moonstone]

I am pretty sure (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) that you have to own a timeshare in order to join RCI. I've read about quite a few people who eventually sell or get rid of their timeshare but keep the RCI membership to use the Extra Vacation and Last Call Weeks.


~Diane

 

[Passepartout]

I don't think so, but there are some ways to rent RCI inventory Military members comes to mind. Used to be a resort in Palm Springs that sold 'leases' that were closed-ended and came with RCI bennies but that ended several years ago.

You might 'buy' one of those $1 TSs from eBay, then as soon as it transfers into your name and you get the RCI membership. Then sell-or give it away and keep paying the RCI dues. I think they'll let you take all the cash-paid Last Calls and Extra Vacations you want. Just don't let the membership lapse.

Jim

 

[magjrl]

Can you buy an RCI membership and go onto the RCI website and buy a week at a resort if you are not a timeshare owner yourself?

I’ve heard you can but have no knowledge of this myself. From what I’ve heard if you owned a timeshare and then sold it you could still keep your RCI membership as long as you continue to pay the yearly membership fee.

 

[RNCollins]

Hi @magjrl,

There is a way to have access to some of the inventory that is found in RCI without having to own a timeshare.

There are a couple of websites that offer rentals for unused timeshare weeks around the globe. The first two sites listed below are available to anyone:

Tripbeat

Our members enjoy exclusive travel benefits, including discounts on Hotels, Resorts, Car Rentals, Air and More. Tripbeat Travel Club lets you travel however and wherever you want, all at a discounted rate.

www.tripbeat.com

This site is no longer available

The Armed Forces Vacation Club is available to active duty, guard, reserve and retired US military and civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

Armed Forces Vacation Club - Official AFVC Website

AFVC offers active and retired military exclusive travel savings on resorts, car rentals & more. Free membership is one small way we thank you for your service.

www.afvclub.com

The Heroes Vacation Club is available to first responders: police officers, firefighters, EMT’s, paramedics.

Heroes Vacation Club - Official Website

Exclusive travel savings for current and former medical professionals, police officers, firefighters, teachers, government employees, and their spouses.

www.heroesvacationclub.com

The inventory for all of the above is just about the same. It is mostly off season weeks Being offered. But it is one way to stay in a timeshare without having to purchase one. And when I used the AFVC to stay at timeshares before I owned one, there was no pressure to attend a presentation.

 

[magjrl]

Thank you for the information. I was really just responding to someone who asked me about using RCI without being an owner. We are Canadians so couldn’t use these websites. And we have a points timeshare not weeks. And we like our timeshare. We paid next to nothing for it. And we use it a lot usually for last call or exchanges for highly reduced points. And it’s in Montana which is only a 4 hour drive from us. Although we mostly use it for Vegas. But I will keep your info

 

[RNCollins]

Look into the TripBeat and CondoDirect sites. They may be available to Canadians too.