RCI points and weeks accounts clarification

[traveldaddy]

I tried to read through all of the RCI threads, and I think I understand, but I was hoping someone may be able to confirm I have this correct.

Context:
I have a Wyndham points timeshare, that includes RCI. I think it is called a corporate account with RCI.

I also have some TS weeks at resorts that are RCI afiliated, but I am not currently a RCI member/these weeks are not setup on a RCI account.

I am thinking of bidding on a RCI points TS on ebay.

So questions are:

If I acquire a RCI points TS, I will need to setup a new RCI points account. As part of the account setup for the points, I think I can get the weeks setup for 'free' (actually part of same account setup fee) - Correct?

I can't setup the weeks with the Wyndham corporate RCI account (i.e. I do have to pay for a RCI account to get either weeks or the points account setup) - Correct?

In terms of fees, I would pay one account fee ($124/year or less if longer term is taken) and it would cover both the weeks and points account, - Correct?

The weeks are every other year, alternating years, so I am trying to figure out if it worth acquiring the points account and getting the other two alternating weeks covered in the same account fees, or if I should not even sign up with RCI at all and stay as is. I want to make sure I understand the costs to setup and maintain the RCI account. I recognize that there are also exchanges fees on top when/if you do an exchange, which is what I am debating - do I really need an RCI account at all??? I will have the Wynhdam if I really need to go the RCI route (or rent) for something different.

Thanks in advance

Craig

 

[Tommart]

Response to one Question and a Comment

Craig,
I'm unfamiliar with Wyndham, so I will not respond in regards to those questions.

I initially owned two Weeks timeshares and recently purchased a Points timeshare. I now have two RCI accounts with different user names and passwords. The Weeks account stayed the same, but RCI refunded the weeks membership fee. So one could say I have a free "weeks" RCI account.

By the way, the two accounts are not connected, if I look at my upcoming RCI reservations in Points I do not see my Weeks reservations, and vice versa.

I have one comment. It depends on your weeks timeshare (where and when) and how you use it on whether you need an RCI Weeks account for a bi-annual week.

Massanutten is overbuilt and availability is rarely a concern. As a result, I deposit my weeks almost every year, even though I now need to pay an additional $139 to make a reservation. But it gives me flexibility, options and tpu savings.

Next month, I'm staying at Massanutten the same week that I own (week 24), but I am paying 7 tpu less than my Woodstone deposit. We also stay at Massanutten during Labor Day week and one year we stayed for 13 tpu less than my deposit, and one year we stayed with a $199 last call for no tpu. The past two years and next year, I stay at Regal Vistas during week 3 and ski for 12 tpu less than my Woodstone deposit. All these are 2-bedrooms, but I need to pay $139 to make the reservation.

Next year I already made a week 24 reservation at Virginia Beach (using Points), so we will not be going to Massanutten next June.

The point I'm trying to make is depending on your weeks timeshare, you may be able to deposit it and turn it into 2 or more weeks at your or some other resort, or go at a different time of the year. It also gives you the option to pay for last call or extra vacations which do not require tpu.

Tommart

 

[uscav8r]

I tried to read through all of the RCI threads, and I think I understand, but I was hoping someone may be able to confirm I have this correct.

Context:
I have a Wyndham points timeshare, that includes RCI. I think it is called a corporate account with RCI.

I also have some TS weeks at resorts that are RCI afiliated, but I am not currently a RCI member/these weeks are not setup on a RCI account.

I am thinking of bidding on a RCI points TS on ebay.

So questions are:

If I acquire a RCI points TS, I will need to setup a new RCI points account. As part of the account setup for the points, I think I can get the weeks setup for 'free' (actually part of same account setup fee) - Correct?

I can't setup the weeks with the Wyndham corporate RCI account (i.e. I do have to pay for a RCI account to get either weeks or the points account setup) - Correct?

In terms of fees, I would pay one account fee ($124/year or less if longer term is taken) and it would cover both the weeks and points account, - Correct?

The weeks are every other year, alternating years, so I am trying to figure out if it worth acquiring the points account and getting the other two alternating weeks covered in the same account fees, or if I should not even sign up with RCI at all and stay as is. I want to make sure I understand the costs to setup and maintain the RCI account. I recognize that there are also exchanges fees on top when/if you do an exchange, which is what I am debating - do I really need an RCI account at all??? I will have the Wynhdam if I really need to go the RCI route (or rent) for something different.

Thanks in advance

Craig

Your Wyndham account gets you two RCI accounts, but they are reached through different portals.

There is the Wyndham RCI portal which you access via the Wyndham site. This is where your Wyndham points deposits go. If you do not have Nightly Stays, then reservations must be made by the week, but this the currency is Wyndham points on deposit with RCI. Note: this is not a formal Weeks or Points account.

You ALSO have a separate Weeks account (already paid for through your Wyndham fees) which is accessed directly on the RCI site. You can deposit your existing RCI-affiliated TS weeks to this account.

No reservations or TPU can be commingled with the Wyndham RCI account. In fact, if logged onto one site, you'll never know if you have something going on in the other.

Call Wyndham RCI if you don't know your Weeks account number; give them your Wyndham number, and ask for associated Weeks account number. I know it is confusing, and it won't get much better when the RCI agent needs to jump into 2 or 3 systems to verify who you are. They will then tell you up to three "member numbers" of which only 1 is pertinent to setting up the RCI Weeks login info.

AFAIK buying new resorts with RCI points cannot be commingled with either of the previous two accounts (definitely cannot for Wyndham RCI, probably not for RCI Weeks). This will likely require you to pay for another points-specific RCI membership.


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[traveldaddy]

Thank you all. That really helps.

I did not understand that the Wyndham account has the Wyndham RCI account and a RCI weeks account. I thought it was just the Wyndham account through the portal.

I have some non Wyndham weeks at places I was expecting to use the resort, and was trying to grapple with setting up a RCI or II account and when. If it is included with the Wyndham account already, well that pretty much makes the decision between II and RCI.

So once I get the RCI weeks account #, I can then just get the weeks added to it.

I presume there wil be a charge for adding the weeks to the account, so I should do them all at once to minimize costs, is that correct?

Thanks again for info, it is very helpful

Craig

 

[Tommart]

My Opinion

Craig,
Based on Chris' response, I would not buy an RCI Points account. Stay with Wyndham and RCI Weeks.

Your next step is to get your RCI.com account working. And you still can buy Last Call or Extra Vacations which do not require deposits.

There is no monetary cost to deposit your week for tpu. However, you get maximum tpu 9 months before the check in date and the tpu amount declines the closer the deposit is made to the check in date.

There is a deposit calculator on the RCI webpage which shows how much tpu you will get.

The tpu are good for two years from the end of the month of your check in date. So if you deposit a year early, the tpu are good for 3 years.

You can extend the life of tpu for two additional years for a fee. I think its $105.

Tommart

 

[traveldaddy]

I apologize, I may be mixing up the terminology and confusing the question.

I was trying to ask if, once I get the RCI weeks account number setup (that comes with Wyndham account but is a separate 'weeks' account), I will need to get my other non-Wyndham TS weeks added/associated to that RCI week account number.

I think RCI charges to add/associate a new TS week to a current weeks account, do they not?

If they do, if I add all of my non-Wyndham TS weeks to the account at the same time, it will be only one fee for the RCI account change/add, correct?

Or is it possible to get the other TS weeks added as part of the initial RCI weeks account setup even though it is through Wyndham account?

I am trying to save on the RCI account setup, and do understand that I do not need a points account since the Wyndham account already has an associated RCI weeks account (hat tip to Chris on that I believe )

Also, I really do appreciate the help and for everyone being patient with me.

Craig

 

[tschwa2]

RCI does not charge to add on new ownerships. So you can add all of yours now or do some now and others you don't plan on exchanging another time. They may ask for verification of ownership. I think they try to verify with the resort but if for some reason they can't then you would have to send in paperwork. All the names have to be the same for all of the units in the account.

 

[traveldaddy]

Okay, I was confused .....again.

I get it.

Thank you.

Craig