RCI Platinum with RCI Points, is it worth the extra money, and what value do you get from it?

[rickandcindy23]

I just renewed online for 3 years because I was in my last year of use. I have platinum now, and have had it since it was introduced. Never have gotten a complimentary upgrade, even though I always ask for it. I have purchased a few extra vacations for a small discount, but I don't see us doing that in the future because we have so many weeks that we are now using rather than exchanging.

I also got rid of most of my Grand Palms weeks that were in RCI Points. I have two EOY weeks left.

 

[escanoe]

If you place several OGSs it is not having to pay all the exchange fees in advance.

The next perk is the discount on Last Call, Extras, and GCs..

 

[tschwa2]

I agree the biggest perk is being able to do multiple OGS without the advanced fee. I currently have 5 and sometimes have as many as 10. That is $1495-3999 that isn't tied up with rci. I usually use 1-2 guest certs per year. I have a weeks account that also gets the platinum benefit and that one gets a small discount on the combine. You can also transfer points to another rci member for no fee if you are a platinum member.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Those are some good reasons to add the Platinum. I didn't even know those were perks because I have had the multiple OGS with one fee, plus I forgot that even with my home resort, Grand Palms, I have to pay for a guest certificate each time I book. Annoying, but the savings is worth it.

Thanks for the answers. I will upgrade. I think the RCI Points one being upgraded applies to the weeks account as well, right?

 

[escanoe]

I have also had good luck with the room upgrade/resort change option. It is hit and miss for harder to book reservations (it did work last summer to get a 3BR instead of a 2BR at Waterside on HHI), but it frequently works for me on local shoulder season stays.

 

[AwayWeGo]

We went Platinum 3-4 years ago.

Benefits we've used so far are 5-6 Last Call discounts plus 2-3 unit upgrades.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[TravelJoy]

We went Platinum 3-4 years ago.

Benefits we've used so far are 5-6 Last Call discounts plus 2-3 unit upgrades.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

I was considering a Grandview for RCI points just for last calls, so you find it is still a good deal? I have been reading many negative sentiment on various forums. How do you avoid the extraneous housekeeping etc...fees. And also some confusion whether weeks vs. points has different inventory for last calls if anyone can put that to rest, is it best to have both weeks & points or points sufficient to see both. Would like some opinions on this.

 

[AwayWeGo]

I was considering a Grandview for RCI points just for last calls, so you find it is still a good deal?

Works OK for us.

We avoid extra housekeeping fees by not booking partial weeks. If we want less than a full week, we book a full bargain week & only use the days/nights we want. That's cheaper than booking a partial week anyway, in addition to avoiding extra housekeeping fees.

We also avoid timeshares that impose excessive resort/amenity fees -- e.g., $25 per night per unit at HGVC/Diamond timeshares. (Sheesh.)

So far, it's a good enough deal. If that changes, we expect it won't be difficult to bail out.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[TravelJoy]

Works OK for us.

We avoid extra housekeeping fees by not booking partial weeks. If we want less than a full week, we book a full bargain week & only use the days/nights we want. That's cheaper than booking a partial week anyway, in addition to avoiding extra housekeeping fees.

We also avoid timeshares that impose excessive resort/amenity fees -- e.g., $25 per night per unit at HGVC/Diamond timeshares. (Sheesh.)

So far, it's a good enough deal. If that changes, we expect it won't be difficult to bail out.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Do you have weeks & points account, do you see any difference in availability for last call?

 

[AwayWeGo]

Points only.

-AC.

 

[kq2mtx]

I'm not positive but don't you also get an additional 2 years time to use?

 

[AwayWeGo]

I'm not positive but don't you also get an additional 2 years time to use?

I think so. Or maybe just 1 extra year (i.e., 1 year in addition to the year you get anyway).

But I also think there's a fee when rolling over a whole year's worth of unused points.

Rollover is free when the number of points being saved is less than a full year's worth. (I think.)

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[WorldT]

I think so. Or maybe just 1 extra year (i.e., 1 year in addition to the year you get anyway).

But I also think there's a fee when rolling over a whole year's worth of unused points.

Rollover is free when the number of points being saved is less than a full year's worth. (I think.)

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Rollover is free if you use at least some of the points.

 

[boyblue]

I don't do last call , primarily because we have so many points, which makes points rollover useful. We book a lot for family so the GC discount is also useful. That combination has it close but not clearly a value. How do upgrades work, are they easy to get? Are there any other perks that haven't been mentioned?

 

[iftravel]

BTW, if you also have a weeks account, do you get Platinum on weeks? Can two accounts (weeks and points) be under the same login or otherwise how do RCI know they are connected?

 

[boyblue]

I no longer have my weeks account but I believe Points & Weeks have separate logins. RCI will link the accounts once notified. I don't believe you have to link them. I linked mine so I could do points for deposit.