RCI Points Resort

[drbeetee]

I just became an RCI points member recently, and I have a question. While I was looking for extra vacations and last calls I was noticing that even with the point resorts most of the check in options were Saturday and Monday. In fact when I wanted to do a midweek check-in it really limited my options a ton. Can someone explain to me is this a normal occurrence, or was this by happenstance. The reason why I ask is because I felt like one of the big perks to RCI points is that you could travel mid week or whenever you wanted for more "short stays". Thanks you guys for your help.

 

[tschwa2]

RCI points was an overlay over a weeks system. Even though you can check out most days not every "resort" has a cleaning staff on site every day. In those instances the points resorts only have certain days you can check in. The points system isn't as flexible as they make it seem. Most have additional housekeeping fees of $45-85 for stays less than 7 or when checking in/out during a non traditional check in day (Fr/Sa/Su for most places). When you add this on to the exchange cost and points it makes the short stays less of a bargain in many cases and in some cases local hotels may be less expensive and since you often don't need a full kitchen and laundry facilities of a one or two night stay, a hotel may be more attractive.

Very few resorts overall in the RCI system have zero weeks owners. The newer Wyndham resorts and a few others. Wyndham saves the flexibility for those in their mini system not for those trading in through RCI. So you will see mostly traditional weeks available in the last call and extra vacations. If you don't want to stay the full week you can pay the full fee and then contact the resort and let them know when you will be arriving but you won't receive any discounts for doing so.

 

[vacationhopeful]

The Wyndham reservation system "fosters" a weeks system mentality. Try doing a Wed-Wed reservation and YOU still will end up with a SPLIT WEEK reservation with 2 HKs charged and the warning "May have to move units".

The only accomocation is IF you don't change units, YOU can try and call the 1-800 number and ASK for the HKs to be refunded. Yes, YOU get to spend YOUR time and still might not get the HKs or the actual money you paid for the extra HKs .... just add that to you list of THINGs you need to do.

 

[kwelty]

I like RCI points because of their Instant Exchanges. By clicking on the Points Range- 10,000 and under you can see the bargains.

 

[Passepartout]

To the best of my knowledge, Last Calls and Extra Vacations are ALWAYS 7 night reservations. The per-night, short stays are at the per-night, full point value price. Nothing stops you, however, from booking a 7 night Last Call, that checks in, say on Saturday, and not actually checking in until Tuesday for 3 nights. Just notify the desk of your intention to arrive late.

Jim

 

[MichaelColey]

In fact when I wanted to do a midweek check-in it really limited my options a ton. Can someone explain to me is this a normal occurrence, or was this by happenstance. The reason why I ask is because I felt like one of the big perks to RCI points is that you could travel mid week or whenever you wanted for more "short stays".

That's been my experience as well. Most of the inventory is really "weeks", with Fri/Sat/Sun check-in dates. Very little is available for other check-ins or shorter stays. I was underwhelmed by the daily inventory I saw when I first sighted up for RCI Points.

That said, RCI Weeks can still be a useful tool in the timeshare arsenal. Once in a while, you CAN find a short stay that works (although many times a full week in RCI Weeks is cheaper). Sometimes you can find resorts that aren't in RCI Weeks. And sometimes (especially smaller units) it may be cheaper than RCI Weeks.

 

[GTStone]

Points exchanges

I think most resorts will have weekend checkins as a norm, so that's where they start. However, I find sometimes its ok to reserve a full week, even when I won't be there the whole time, because the cost in points is so low.

I do find mid-week checkins available at some locations, but its really a trial and error situation.

 

[drbeetee]

RCI points

I thought it was more like the Wyndham system! I could have done more research before I took the timeshare on, but no regrets! I'm glad that its w triennial that doesn't have to be paid for a while. Has anyone seen any midweek check ins on RCI points at all? The reason why I wanted to be in this system was short stays and mid week check ins. I will do the 3-4 day check in if need be and pay the whole week. I just want to be able to maximize this system to the best of my ability. Thanks for all the help? Michael I know you have some special tricks, you are a very knowledgeable guy.

 

[AwayWeGo]

I Resemble That Remark.

I find sometimes its ok to reserve a full week, even when I won't be there the whole time, because the cost in points is so low.

For sure.

Same goes for Last Call & sometimes for Extra Vacation Getaways -- cost for the full week can be way less than the points value of a partial-week reservation.

I do find mid-week checkins available at some locations, but its really a trial and error situation.

We snagged Tuesday through Tuesday reservations via low-cost Extra Vacation Getaway 1 time. Who'd a-thunk?

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

 

[chriskre]

I thought it was more like the Wyndham system! I could have done more research before I took the timeshare on, but no regrets! I'm glad that its w triennial that doesn't have to be paid for a while. Has anyone seen any midweek check ins on RCI points at all? The reason why I wanted to be in this system was short stays and mid week check ins. I will do the 3-4 day check in if need be and pay the whole week. I just want to be able to maximize this system to the best of my ability. .

Yes there are midweek check ins in some resorts but as others have said they are now enforcing the housekeeping fees.

Last year I got two Wyndham short stays in RCI points and didn't get charged the housekeeping fees. I did another in a VRI resort and they charged me the full housekeeping fees. If the front desk doesn't pick it up then you may get away with it. The smaller resorts have usually just one person doing the check ins so they end up charging you.

There is some inventory that can differ at the same resort via weeks vs points.
Many times the bigger units will be RCI points and nothing in weeks in the exact same resort. I think they deposit some inventory separately. Possibly depending on if it's owned by a weeks or points owner.

A triennial is not a big investment in RCI points. I have two of them and they have been a great back up when other systems fail to get a match. Compare the inventory between weeks and points before you book. You may be surprised at what you see.

 

[ampaholic]

Like one other poster said - yes you can check in midweek for full points value plus housekeeping fees.

We are booked for a Thursday check in in Oregon in a couple weeks with a Friday check out (while traveling to the coast). It cost 4500 points, $39 exchange fee and $45 housekeeping for the one night stay, but local hotels that are as nice are $135 - $175 per night and not 2 bedrooms.

If we were staying a full week at Whispering Woods II we wouldn't get the $45 housekeeping fee for a Thur - Thur stay - just full points cost and the $139 exchange fee.

I think it is only the last call and extra vacations that are mostly Fri, Sat, Sun check in.

 

[AwayWeGo]

I Resemble That Remark.

Like one other poster said - yes you can check in midweek for full points value plus housekeeping fees.

I was semi-surprised that the Tuesday-to-Tuesday Grandview At Las Vegas Extra Vacation Getaway week we snagged did not involve any extra money for housekeeping.

I think it is only the last call and extra vacations that are mostly Fri, Sat, Sun check in.

That's my impression also -- & it's why I found it unusual to get a Tuesday check-in week via Extra Vacation Getaway.

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

 

[eakhat]

When timeshares have points-based units, we are able to check in on any day of the week--based on availabiity. We have used this several times. When we visited Vancouver Island, we stayed in two timeshares in different parts of the island for 3-4 days each. In our home state, we used points to extend a one week vacation into 10 days so we could take advantage of two full weekends and a check out on Monday to avoid Sunday traffic. In several instances we have used partial weeks to stay in cities where we want to stay for less than a week i.e., New York, New Orleans; some with weekend check in and some not.

 

[ctrayer]

When you click on Availability in RCI you can pull up a calendar for your check-in range and you will see what days are available for check-in and check-out. Many times there are mid-week but as many have said, it is sometimes cheaper to book the whole week and check-in when you want. I have done this a few times.

 

[FlaKmunKy]

Honestly it really just depends on the areas your looking at going to. You can only do these few day reservations through stuff from the points inventory. There is quite a bit out there in the points system (but it really does depend on the area your looking at)

One tip is when you are searching instead of looking at all number of nights available constrict the search down to look for 2-5 night reservations (or whatever your looking for, just not 7 night stays) and then no weeks inventory will pop up so you wont have to sort through that, only points inventory will pop up.

 

[MichaelColey]

Awesome tip!