RCI ongoing search strategy for 2 or 3 bedrooms?

[JulieAB]

Is there some sort of way to prioritize your ongoing search for the biggest unit size? In the case of a bulk space bank, I would prefer the bigger unit (even with the higher TPU cost), but would take something smaller if that was all there was.

I'm afraid if I put in a search for a 3 bedroom, since they're so rare, I'd miss out on any opportunities for a 2 bedroom. The only way I can think to do this is run two ongoing searches with different unit sizes with different deposits?

 

[jdunn1]

Hi Julie. From another post you just wrote, you are looking for a 3 bedroom DVC. Honestly, I would have to tell you that Cindy somehow gets all those desposits. Not sure what she does, but I think she has a good routine for picking up prime units on the points side, which if you are a weeks only member (like me) you do not have access to. I specifically remember a 3 bedroom 4th of July 2011 OKW deposit some time ago in POINTS, not weeks. I think that was the best 3 bedroom DVC deposit ever. I do not think a tugger got that exchange because I never heard anyone post about it, but it was there in points. For a few months, I had access to points because of a Worldmark mistake.

For what it is worth, I have had a search for a 3 bedroom DVC for over a year and so far, not one match. However, I guess RCI works by seniority in terms of who has been waiting the longest for an exchange. I have to be near to the top of the list for next year, I would suspect. We'll see though. Just as you mentioned, I also have a concurent search for a 2 bedroom running at the same time. Every once in a while when I call RCI for a status update (which really isn't necessary but I still do it) the rep tries to get me to cancel the 3 bedroom search beacause they are so rare and the rep insists that even if I have a request for a 2 bedroom, I would be offered a 3 bedroom, if it ever came up. I don't want to take that chance, so I have two searches for basically the same thing running all the time.

I've had really good luck getting a 3 bedroom in RCI outside of DVC.

Also, and you have to take this as no credibility, but on Thursday, I called RCI and the rep told me, unsolicited that one of the things RCI "has" to do now is give priority to portal users (i.e. WM and Hilton and I would assume Wyndham) becaue of coding issues portal users were being locked out of the greatest bulk deposits and all the lesser RCI owners were combining units and grabing units they really didn't really have a preference for. The rep told me that since I am a WM only RCI member to start expecting much better exchanges into DVC, not with the next bulk deposit but with the second bulk deposit.

Now, I have no idea if the RCI rep was accurate in telling me this and I certainely didn't call him to talk about this, he just started telling me this stuff as we were going over my trade requests. WM owners have to call RCI to do anything, including something so simple as seeing what units are in our trade requests.

I certainely hope WM owners get their #1 trade priority back soon. WM owners had this for a long time and I personally know of one WM owner getting a couple 3 bedroom RCI deposits, including Animal Kingdom, and this was about a year and half ago.

For now, I would suggest getting in touch with Cindy and asking her how she is getting the 3 bedroom deposits. I am sure other tuggers are getting them too, but Cindy has posted about them, including one exchange she got for this coming May.

Good luck and keep two searches going because odds are stacked so much against you for getting a 3 bedroom, that unless you would take any week and any resort throught the year, you will likely never get one. Sad, but true. The 3 bedroom DVC units are certainely special and worth the wait, but the two bedrooms are pretty neat, too.

-Jim

 

[JulieAB]

Thanks for your thorough and quick response! Yes, I'm thinking mainly of DVC, but also for our Hawaii trip (would like a 2 bedroom, but would take a 1 bedroom, etc).

I don't have any sort of priority, and because of the rarity, I know I'd need some sort of ongoing search if I'd ever have a chance at a 3 bedroom in DVC. I figure we don't see more on sightings because they're taken by the ongoing requests!

You said you've had your search for a year, is it wide open to multiple resorts/dates? Has your 3 bedroom matched you to any 2 bedrooms that you threw back?

 

[bnoble]

Yes, the only way to do this reliably is to have two ongoing searches, one for 2BR or larger, one for 3BR or larger.

For some resorts (e.g. the Orlando HGVCs) it would be fine to run just one ongoing search for a 3BR, but pick up a 2BR if the 3's don't get deposited, because the 2s last for a little while. For DVC, there is no way I'd try it---the 2BRs don't last long, and the 3BRs are simply too rare.

 

[JulieAB]

Yes, the only way to do this reliably is to have two ongoing searches, one for 2BR or larger, one for 3BR or larger.

For some resorts (e.g. the Orlando HGVCs) it would be fine to run just one ongoing search for a 3BR, but pick up a 2BR if the 3's don't get deposited, because the 2s last for a little while. For DVC, there is no way I'd try it---the 2BRs don't last long, and the 3BRs are simply too rare.

But the strategy to get the 2 bedroom with HGVC would be to just find it yourself, right? The ongoing search for 3 bedroom wouldn't suggest a 2 bedroom, right? That's where I'm lacking, I just don't have the time to diligently check. So the ongoing search is usually my only hope. :annoyed:

 

[jdunn1]

Hi Julie. If you want a 3 bedroom HGVC Orlando, I think you will have good luck with an ongoing search. Those resorts have a 1 in 4 trade restriction so anyone who trades into a HGVC resort, can't trade back in for four years. The trade restriction in resort specific, not brand specific so if you trade into Sea World, you can't trade back in to Sea World for four years, but you could trade into International Drive or the newest HGVC resort, Parc something or other.

Hope that helps -- and guess what, this was my 400th post!

But the strategy to get the 2 bedroom with HGVC would be to just find it yourself, right? The ongoing search for 3 bedroom wouldn't suggest a 2 bedroom, right? That's where I'm lacking, I just don't have the time to diligently check. So the ongoing search is usually my only hope. :annoyed:

 

[bnoble]

But the strategy to get the 2 bedroom with HGVC would be to just find it yourself, right? The ongoing search for 3 bedroom wouldn't suggest a 2 bedroom, right? That's where I'm lacking, I just don't have the time to diligently check. So the ongoing search is usually my only hope.

Correct. But, with HGVC, the 2BRs are plentiful once the semi-annual bulk goes in, for at least several days. With DVC I would not risk it.

Honestly, I think the Grand Villas are pipe dreams, unless you are *completely* flexible about when you go.