RCI Or II

[charcoalmana]

I know this is almost a apples vs. orange question. But what's your view on the two ?
RCI VS. II

 

[Bill4728]

There are lots of posts with this subject

Try this one: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76620
or this one http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62724

 

[RIMike]

I know this is almost a apples vs. orange question. But what's your view on the two ?
RCI VS. II

Here is what I have gathered over my two years of TSing from being on Tug2 and Redweek. As a general rule II has fewer, but nicer properties. RCI has more properties, but lower overall quality. This I have gathered from reading RCI and II threads and from the rankings on the site.

But That does not mean that RCI does not have high quality resorts, because they do. In some areas RCI has the highest rated resorts, but that is an exception to the rule.

From on here, I would guess that II people are happier with their experiences than are RCI. But you are right...it is Apples and Oranges. It depends on which is more important to you? Higher Quality or more choices.

 

[rhonda]

I have accounts in both -- but far prefer II for the following reasons:

• I can search online using "search first" vs "deposit first"
• 59-day "anything goes" window vs RCI's 45-day window
• Lower renewal fee and exchange fees
• II's search feature supports wide open queries over long date ranges. I like to ask, "show me everything for the next year-or-so" and II allows it.

Of course, part of your decision may be determined by your specific TS' affiliations?

 

[lprstn]

Well I belong to both and disagree with II having all the quality resorts, WRONG, I have seen some really low rating resorts on II as well as RCI. I also, have stayed at great resorts owned by both II and RCI.

The basic facts are: go to www.intervalworld.com and www.rci.com and compare resorts and locations for yourself...only you can really be the judge of what works for you.

Also

- RCI has more resorts than II
- RCI is better for longer ongoing searches to up to 2 years out
- II has a lot of the hotel chain resorts but RCI also has a few
- RCI has Last Chance weeks for $199-219 and Extra Vacations for up to 1 year, whereas II's prices on Getaways seem to be a little higher in price
- I personally have had better experiences with RCI's customer service than II (ok those RCI haters out there don't through lemons at me )

Personally I like owning at a resort that allows me membership to both, that way I have a lot of variety...in my case I don't pay individual fees to either II or RCI as I get "free" II account through Sheraton Vistana, and a "free" RCI account through Wyndam. Didn't plan it that way, but I sure love it that way.

Don't get me wrong I like both and have had great vacations using both, but to be honest I get more from my RCI account. I mainly use my II acount for Getaways.

 

[teepeeca]

Right now, I don't like either II or RCI. I tend to get "what I want", "when I want", from the "secondary" exchange companies. (Of course, I usually want to get Hawaii; the California coast; and the Oregon coast in the summertime.)

Tony

 

[beanb41]

I dont use either namely because of the annual fees it costs to belong. I would prefer that the annual fees were done away with as the independants do. Annual fees are a carryover from the days when RCI and II controlled the universe. The worm has turned fortunately.

 

[RIMike]

Well I belong to both and disagree with II having all the quality resorts, WRONG, I have seen some really low rating resorts on II as well as RCI. I also, have stayed at great resorts owned by both II and RCI.

The basic facts are: go to www.intervalworld.com and www.rci.com and compare resorts and locations for yourself...only you can really be the judge of what works for you.

Also

- RCI has more resorts than II
- RCI is better for longer ongoing searches to up to 2 years out
- II has a lot of the hotel chain resorts but RCI also has a few
- RCI has Last Chance weeks for $199-219 and Extra Vacations for up to 1 year, whereas II's prices on Getaways seem to be a little higher in price
- I personally have had better experiences with RCI's customer service than II (ok those RCI haters out there don't through lemons at me )

Personally I like owning at a resort that allows me membership to both, that way I have a lot of variety...in my case I don't pay individual fees to either II or RCI as I get "free" II account through Sheraton Vistana, and a "free" RCI account through Wyndam. Didn't plan it that way, but I sure love it that way.

Don't get me wrong I like both and have had great vacations using both, but to be honest I get more from my RCI account. I mainly use my II acount for Getaways.

Here is the problem with your assessment of what I said...they do not have ALL the best resorts. But II does have MANY more highly rated ones. I also will eventually get and RCI membership through a purchase...but consistently II people tend to be happier...if not for any reason than the 59 day window and/or the Getaways. And if you are going to quote, quote it correctly...because I went out of my way to say RCI has some very highly Ranked resorts...just not as many as II.
RIMike
P.S.: I also go where I want when I want.

 

[lprstn]

Here is the problem with your assessment of what I said...they do not have ALL the best resorts. But II does have MANY more highly rated ones. I also will eventually get and RCI membership through a purchase...but consistently II people tend to be happier...if not for any reason than the 59 day window and/or the Getaways. And if you are going to quote, quote it correctly...because I went out of my way to say RCI has some very highly Ranked resorts...just not as many as II.
RIMike
P.S.: I also go where I want when I want.

Great for you...I wasn't downing either. They just have different aspects, and for me, I benefit from having both, however trade more with RCI.

 

[RIMike]

Do not think we are far apart

Great for you...I wasn't downing either. They just have different aspects, and for me, I benefit from having both, however trade more with RCI.

I do no think we are far apart. Right now I have II and am very happy with the trades, quality and service I receive. But RCI and II, being the largest companies in the business, I want access to the other inventory of TS's for exchanging. I am in the process of buying an RCI affiliated unit now. Eventually I will also get a Wyndham unit that trades with RCI and then also a Marriott Unit that trades through II. That way I will be covered for all my exchanging needs.


Next trips: Fairmont Hot Springs, Canada August '08
Marriott Ft Lauderdale, Beach Towers on an AC, Sept. '08
San Martin Suites, Buenos Aires, Nov. '08
Marriott Grande Vista, Orlando (between Christmas &
New Years), '08
RIMike

 

[bnoble]

I personally have had better experiences with RCI's customer service than II

I believe that's because you call the FairShare Plus RCI office. They are gnerally quite competent, and if you have a Wyndham RCI account, that's who you have to talk to, because Wyn has some features in RCI (like search first and generic deposits) that most RCI reps won't know what to do with.

I'm guessing if you had to call the 'regular' RCI number you'd find it much more hit-or-miss.

I have a Wyndham RCI account, and a couple of dual-affiliated weeks. I'd add a few more differences:

* II's bonus weeks (ACs) are actually worth something. RCI has discontinued them (and they were just about useless anyway.)
* II has internal preference periods and regional blocks. RCI has 1-in-X rules.

I like having access to both, because they both have different geographical strengths and weaknesses.

 

[hotcoffee]

Here is an unsolicited, unscientific, and probably useless assessment of the apples and oranges RCI/II comparisons. I like to read user reviews of various resorts even if I don't necessarily intend to ever go to them. In most cases, it seems to me that whenever I read consistently bad reviews about a "resort", the exchange company is more often RCI than II. I wonder if that is because RCI is affiliated with more resorts than II.(?)

 

[Carolinian]

You should also consider independent exchange companies, some of which will take just about any deposit, while one or two are very selective about what they take:

www.sfx-resorts.com
www.daelive.com
www.htse.net
www.platinuminterchange.com
www.tradingplaces.com

 

[tombo]

Because of geographical differences and the fact that I own places that are in II and places that are in RCI, I have to have access to both. I mainly use both of them to bank weeks that I can't use or weeks that don't rent. Overall RCI has locations most anywhere you want to travel where II has limited locations in several areas. Overall II does have more of the nicest resorts and has the edge right now, especially if you require the 5 star destinations. If Marriott ever pulls out of II as they have been threatening to do for years, RCI will become the definitive choice in my opinion.

 

[hotcoffee]

Because of geographical differences and the fact that I own places that are in II and places that are in RCI, I have to have access to both. I mainly use both of them to bank weeks that I can't use or weeks that don't rent. Overall RCI has locations most anywhere you want to travel where II has limited locations in several areas. Overall II does have more of the nicest resorts and has the edge right now, especially if you require the 5 star destinations. If Marriott ever pulls out of II as they have been threatening to do for years, RCI will become the definitive choice in my opinion.

Because I have a Marriott, I joined II. The biggest disappointment I have with II so far is the lack of Caribbean resorts. RCI has 232 Caribbean locations, with at least some on nearly all of the islands. II is very limited. I'd like to visit St. Lucia sometime, but II seems to have nothing there.

I do like the fact that resorts that are II-affiliated seem to get more consistently good reviews from customers. It would be a bummer for sure to trade into a nice location only to discover that the resort is little more than a flea-bag hotel. Based upon some of the so-called "resorts" that I have seen reviews for, RCI would do itself a favor if it more closely scrutinized some of its affiliated resorts and dropped a few.