RCI vs Interval - Now and Then

[NJDave]

I was thinking about when I got into timeshares back in 2001, how RCI had the better resorts (or at least some key resorts that made it a "must to join" for me).

Then - Myrtle Beach (Shore Crest and Seawatch), Vegas (Hilton), Hawaii (Hilton, Shearwater, Embassy), Orlando (Disney, Marriotts, and Vistana), Carribean (Royals and Morritts) Florida beaches - (Oceanwalk? i.e. not much). Almost all of these were RCI.

Now - Myrtle Beach (Oceanwatch), Vegas (Hiltons, Marriott), Orlando (Disney, Marriotts, Vistana Villages), Hawaii (Starwoods, Hilton, Marriotts), Carribean (Royals and Westin in Cancun, Atlantis, St Johns Westin, and Marriotts in St Kitts and St Thomas), Florida beaches (Marriotts in Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale, and Marco Island).

RCI only has the Hiltons in Hawaii and most recently Disney. Otherwise, I don't see any resorts that I want that I can't get in Interval. I look back and conclude that Interval is much better and it is due to the moves that Marriott and Starwood have made over the past 8 years. I think this trend is going to continue.

Any thoughts?

 

[lprstn]

I disagree totally. I have both II and RCI and I get awesome trades with RCI. Just because a resort doesn't have a hotel name behind it doesn't mean its not beautiful, well kept, and has lots of amenitites. I have stayed at some of these (Hilton's, Marriott's and Disney's) and seen my room and/or the grounds in disrepair, heck I even took pictures of it. Not to mention that I get to go just about anywhere I put in a request for (by using ongoing searches with RCI) with RCI and with II it was hit or miss for me.

Now, I do love having both systems as they offer pluses in different areas, for instance when I want to go to VA beach, I only use II, as I don't like the VA beach offerings that RCI has. If I want to go to Hawaii, I use RCI as I seem to get some great places at a reasonable deposit amount.

So, in conclusion for me, I'd say II is really no better than RCI, they are both trading companies, however, if I want to get more trades, be able to do my searches further out, and get upgraded when I do my ongoing searches from a studio to a 2 bedroom, I have better success with RCI. If I want to trade into the Royal's in Mexico where I don't have to use 'AI' if I want a specific type of accomodation at VA beach, and don't want an upgrade than I will use II. If I had to chose, I'd say I get more bang for my buck with RCI...hence why 95% of my trades have been with them.

 

[Lee B]

If the recession continues for awhile (and it probably will), I foresee more owners in Marriott and Starwood bailing than those in lower cost places. The managements will have a hard time keeping up appearances when their fee revenue falls dramatically. They either will have to cut back amenities or deteriorate and lose their franchise brands or both. It could get ugly.

The good news for exchangers is that it won't matter if they don't own there but only trade in. So choose your exchange company each year or so based on what is available from each at the time.

If you own in a branded luxury TS resort, plan a strategy.

FWIW, my RCI membership expires at the end of this month. I'll so miss the Endless Vacation magazine.

 

[bnoble]

Having searched both, frequently, during the last couple years, I find myself using II for "specialty" things, but RCI for "everyday exchanging." For most of the exchanges I've been looking for RCI has either more inventory (vs. little to none with II) or they are similar. There a few exceptions.

For example, Michigan and Wisconsin summer have been a lot easier for me to find in RCI than II. Likewise mid-atlantic coastal summer. True, Marriott's resorts on, say, HHI are nicer than most of RCI's affilates, but they never seem to be deposited for peak time, and when they are, they don't make it out of the internal preference period.

Big exceptions are Orlando and Williamsburg, where II has plentiful inventory at resorts that are generally nicer. With DVC's move, that may even the score some for Orlando.

It's important to note though that I'm working with some constraints that many people might not have. I am bound to the school calendar. With a family, for the most part, I try not to book too many destinations that I *have* to fly to, because I need to buy four tickets, not just two. I'm also looking at "fun places to go" with the kids. Someone in a different set of circumstances might well find that II's available inventory is better matched to their needs.

In the end, I've been really happy with the trades I get in both systems. But, with DVC's move, I'm seriously considering dropping my II membership, and sticking with my "free" RCI account through my Wyndham ownership.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I was thinking about when I got into timeshares back in 2001, how RCI had the better resorts (or at least some key resorts that made it a "must to join" for me).

Then - Myrtle Beach (Shore Crest and Seawatch), Vegas (Hilton), Hawaii (Hilton, Shearwater, Embassy), Orlando (Disney, Marriotts, and Vistana), Carribean (Royals and Morritts) Florida beaches - (Oceanwalk? i.e. not much). Almost all of these were RCI.

Now - Myrtle Beach (Oceanwatch), Vegas (Hiltons, Marriott), Orlando (Disney, Marriotts, Vistana Villages), Hawaii (Starwoods, Hilton, Marriotts), Carribean (Royals and Westin in Cancun, Atlantis, St Johns Westin, and Marriotts in St Kitts and St Thomas), Florida beaches (Marriotts in Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale, and Marco Island).

RCI only has the Hiltons in Hawaii and most recently Disney. Otherwise, I don't see any resorts that I want that I can't get in Interval. I look back and conclude that Interval is much better and it is due to the moves that Marriott and Starwood have made over the past 8 years. I think this trend is going to continue.

Any thoughts?

I could argue for both RCI and II.

I love that RCI has lots of availability online, all the time. I also know that my RCI exchanges will happen, because I have yet to be disappointed, and I have been trading four week in RCI for many, many years. I find the best stuff online and post those here on TUG under sightings, on occasion. II has virtually nothing online ahead of next month for Hawaii. That bugs me.

On the other hand, I love II because I like to get my bonus week for my prime summer NC weeks, and we use those bonus weeks for great trades, including the week I grabbed a few days ago for my son, a 2 bedroom at Grand Timber Lodge in Breck, which is ski-in, ski-out, and it is a beautiful place. He is there today, enjoying the snow with his friends. It was a great 30th birthday present. Allso, gotta love those Marriott and Vistana Villages exchanges in Orlando.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Brian,
You could try the Marriotts for Orlando. I know you have Wyndham points and probably like the Wyndham in Orlando, but the Marriotts are pretty nice.

RCI has too many 1-in-4 rules for resorts in Orlando.

 

[pcgirl54]

My trading experience

I belong to both for many years. Own both a brand name plus a July Cape Cod week.

I am so happy with the new RCI search feature because I can pick an area then a resort with availabilty to 2010 without all the input frustrations of the past. L

Always done well with RCI trades and the resorts they have-Anna Maria Island, The Royals Cancun,SS Plantation ,OBX, Marco Island, Monarch HHI and Sedona. RCI also has Bermuda which is on my list.

With II we mainly trade to HHI Marriotts. The only trades outside Marriott were Harborside Atlantis and Westin Maui which were outstanding. II does not have Bermuda but has other brand names I enjoy.

II does not have decent things outside of 6-7 months. RCI has great things further out.

 

[melschey]

I was thinking about when I got into timeshares back in 2001, how RCI had the better resorts (or at least some key resorts that made it a "must to join" for me).

Then - Myrtle Beach (Shore Crest and Seawatch), Vegas (Hilton), Hawaii (Hilton, Shearwater, Embassy), Orlando (Disney, Marriotts, and Vistana), Carribean (Royals and Morritts) Florida beaches - (Oceanwalk? i.e. not much). Almost all of these were RCI.

Now - Myrtle Beach (Oceanwatch), Vegas (Hiltons, Marriott), Orlando (Disney, Marriotts, Vistana Villages), Hawaii (Starwoods, Hilton, Marriotts), Carribean (Royals and Westin in Cancun, Atlantis, St Johns Westin, and Marriotts in St Kitts and St Thomas), Florida beaches (Marriotts in Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale, and Marco Island).

RCI only has the Hiltons in Hawaii and most recently Disney. Otherwise, I don't see any resorts that I want that I can't get in Interval. I look back and conclude that Interval is much better and it is due to the moves that Marriott and Starwood have made over the past 8 years. I think this trend is going to continue.

Any thoughts?

We belong to both. RCI used to be our favorite, but now we mainly use II. A lot has to do with the geographic area you prefer to vacation in. It seems that we get a lot better exchanges with II where we prefer to vacation. With other people it could be the opposite.

I also like to search online with out depositing first. With RCI you have to deposit first and then hope you can find something before you can search on-line.

We keep RCI for Last Call vacations and do find excellent bargains there.

 

[bnoble]

RCI has too many 1-in-4 rules for resorts in Orlando.

But, it's also got a nice set of resorts---and is adding a few more on the 1st. I am thinking about keeping II, and it would only be for Orlando and a few other specific locations.

 

[dakotafamily]

Do you think Disney in RCI will be available to both RCI Points and RCI Weeks?
I asked RCI Points last week as we are both weeks and points members and they said they wouldn't know until it is announced which I figured anyway

 

[bnoble]

Those who know won't tell. Those who tell don't know.

I've got a guess, though.

I'm fairly sure DVC will be "Points resorts"---otherwise, Points owners would use the generic Florida crossover grid, and that would really under-value DVC. But, there are plenty of resorts "in Points" whose inventory nevertheless goes into Weeks. Bonnet Creek and the other Wyndham UDI resorts come to mind as examples. Because Points can search Weeks, but not the other way around, there's really no benefit to Disney to negotiate to have their inventory only be Points-side---it just limits their potential audience. There's also little benefit to RCI, as the Points side carries lower transaction fees. And, you know that all of this was negotiated, as the Rat and Rent Condos International both have lawyers with brains.

So, my bet is that the DVC resorts will be "RCI Points" resorts, but have inventory deposited in Weeks.

We'll know in a couple weeks, either way.

 

[funtime]

I use both but like II better - probably because of the Marriotts. I also have used several II "getaways" for last minute trips. Funtime

 

[JudyS]

I get good trades with both, but generally prefer II. I find them much easier to work with, their bonus weeks are actually usable, their fees are lower, and they have a lot of high quality resorts.