Regarding point based timeshares

[godspeed1208]

I just don't think timeshares are going to accomplish what you hope it will. RCI's exchange fees recently were increased to $209 USD. Those increase pretty much yearly. I am not aware of timeshares in India, Malaysia, Indonesia and China, though some may exist. There are rural TSs in Australia. Booking timeshares at the best of times, require getting a reservation close to a year before you want to use it. Unlike hotels that you can book and move into next week- or even sooner.

I really don't want to rain on your parade, but from your description of what you want to do, I don't see owning a timeshare working for you at this time. I'd look at renting one (if you can find one to rent) and see how it works.

The basic TUG wisdom is to buy where you want to go, and that will be difficult in your situation.

Best wishes, and I hope you can find a solution that works for you.

Jim

In my country it's $168 sgd for asian countries but waiting or planning for a year? wow that is a long time to wait. Maybe it's easier to get hotels/resorts in asia as not many use TS? i need to check on this things more before i decide. can't really find much to rent on my side of the country.

can someone check the availability of resorts in chennai(india) ,singapore, thailand(bangkok) and tell me if there's one available now ? haha

 

[godspeed1208]

You use the term hotels so make sure you understand the difference between hotels and timeshares.
Check the rci directory to see if there are TIMESHARES in locations you will use; not HOTELS. Timeshares are different than hotels. Hilton (as an example) has both hotels and timeshares, but they are separate from each other. You might be able to use RCI Points to get into some hotels, but it would be more expensive than just purchasing those stays with cash.
The current RCI exchange fee is $209 US for online exchanges. In addition, you pay a yearly membership fee. In addition, you pay the maintenance fees each year for whatever timeshare you buy (remember, you buy a timeshare and then use it as a basis to get your points in RCI). Those maintenance fees and RCI dues recur each year and the exchange fee is per exhange. Timeshares can be a very inexpensive way to travel, but you need to understand what you are getting. In addition, they work best for people who can plan a year or more in advance. The inventory is not like that of hotels; the inventory depends on another person depositing the week you want. If it's a popular spot in a popular time, you may never see the week (or nights) that you want. Exchanging is a bit of a gamble; sometimes you get exactly what you want, and sometimes not. In the latter case, you then adjust to another location or time and keep trying. No guarantees.

Sue

Hi , yes i used the term hotel more as there isn't much resorts in Singapore(even if they call is a resort it's really not) so i'm used to that sorry when you say the inventory depends on person depositing the week i want.. does that work for TS that are in points too?

I was under the impression that i could book and use whenever i want or a slot is available as long i have enough points? Please correct me if i'm wrong. The thing i am more concern is the MF,Membership, special assessments, tax fees(and it's in usd and mine is sgd currency) etc and if i could get a slot now.

 

[Passepartout]

can someone check the availability of resorts in chennai(india) ,singapore, thailand(bangkok) and tell me if there's one available now ? haha

None in Chennai, quite a few in Goa, Hyderabad and other places in India. None in Singapore, 2 hotel towers in Bangkok, a few in Phuket and other places in Thailand.

 

[godspeed1208]

None in Chennai, quite a few in Goa, Hyderabad and other places in India. None in Singapore, 2 hotel towers in Bangkok, a few in Phuket and other places in Thailand.

none is chennai and singapore wow that's bad news for me haha. atleast now i know what to expect. Anyway there is only 1 in chennai and 3 in singapore if i'm not wrong. very limited choices i will have. thanks for checking it for me appreciate it alot

p.s: Funny thing it's friday today and time 12.00pm now, no hotel will be fully booked here in sg. Only happens on a sat. I find this a little strange on how RCI system works. Using some online hotel booking sites i can find those mentioned hotels/resorts from RCI. Looks like RCI does not want us to be able to book a slot

 

[sue1947]

Hi , yes i used the term hotel more as there isn't much resorts in Singapore(even if they call is a resort it's really not) so i'm used to that sorry when you say the inventory depends on person depositing the week i want.. does that work for TS that are in points too?

I was under the impression that i could book and use whenever i want or a slot is available as long i have enough points? Please correct me if i'm wrong. The thing i am more concern is the MF,Membership, special assessments, tax fees(and it's in usd and mine is sgd currency) etc and if i could get a slot now.

RCI is an exchange company. They don't own any resorts. Their inventory depends on somebody else deciding to deposit that week in that resort. Mostly that is owners, sometimes it's unsold inventory by the developers. If there are a lot of resorts in a specific area, then you might be able to count on there being something available. Sounds like that isn't the case in your locations.

Wyndham (or part of it) operates a timeshare point system that owns a variety of resorts. Owners in that system can book at THEIR resorts if there is availability under certain rules. If it's a popular spot, that availability may be gone a year in advance. If it's not a popular spot, you might be able to book in a week in advance.

Note that Wyndham also owns motels. They are not the same as the timeshares; different inventory with completely different access run by different companies. RCI is also part of the greater Wyndham ownership. But again, different companies with different inventory and different rules for access. You might be able to use your Wyndham timeshare points to access Wyndham motels, but not directly. It's like using your airline miles to book motels. Two separate entities have to make a business deal to allow that usage and it's not something you can count on. Sometimes, motels are deposited into the exchange companies. These typically end up in RCI Extra Vacations and are usually excess inventory that the owners want to use up. Again, not something to count on and not worth paying extra via the cost for the RCI points and the membership fees.

Sue

 

[godspeed1208]

RCI is an exchange company. They don't own any resorts. Their inventory depends on somebody else deciding to deposit that week in that resort. Mostly that is owners, sometimes it's unsold inventory by the developers. If there are a lot of resorts in a specific area, then you might be able to count on there being something available. Sounds like that isn't the case in your locations.

Wyndham (or part of it) operates a timeshare point system that owns a variety of resorts. Owners in that system can book at THEIR resorts if there is availability under certain rules. If it's a popular spot, that availability may be gone a year in advance. If it's not a popular spot, you might be able to book in a week in advance.

Note that Wyndham also owns motels. They are not the same as the timeshares; different inventory with completely different access run by different companies. RCI is also part of the greater Wyndham ownership. But again, different companies with different inventory and different rules for access. You might be able to use your Wyndham timeshare points to access Wyndham motels, but not directly. It's like using your airline miles to book motels. Two separate entities have to make a business deal to allow that usage and it's not something you can count on. Sometimes, motels are deposited into the exchange companies. These typically end up in RCI Extra Vacations and are usually excess inventory that the owners want to use up. Again, not something to count on and not worth paying extra via the cost for the RCI points and the membership fees.

Sue

Oh ok i see what you mean.. does this work the same way for RCI points based timeshares too, where someone must have deposited their week(s) in the location/resort/hotel i want to book them?

 

[Passepartout]

Sue, correct me if I'm wrong, but Wyndham or Worldmark don't operate in Singapore, India, Malaysia, China or Thailand where the OP is interested in.

He seems to have had the misconception that RCI Points could be used like currency to book hotels in areas of Asia where he likes to travel. Hopefully he will wake up to the fact that timeshare has at best, limited utility for his needs. The simple (to us) fact that TS requires a bit of advance planning and isn't applicable for immediate use, seemed to be a shocker.

Glad he asked here first before stumbling blindly into some shark's salesroom where he'd be promised the moon.

Jim

 

[Passepartout]

Oh ok i see what you mean.. does this work the same way for RCI points based timeshares too, where someone must have deposited their week(s) in the location/resort/hotel i want to book them?

Pretty much. Inventory (rooms available to book) either are unsold and vacant by the developer, or have been deposited by an owner. Points, or weeks- it's the same.

 

[godspeed1208]

i think i'm getting the clearly picture now. I can only book a resort/hotel if that resort/hotel has been deposited by a TS owner in RCI website let it be a week or points TS i own...

 

[godspeed1208]

Glad he asked here first before stumbling blindly into some shark's salesroom where he'd be promised the moon.

Jim

Yes i'm glad i asked around before going ahead without knowing what to expect. They sure made it look like you could book any resort/hotel that is listed in rci.com if you had enough points to do it

 

[Sandy VDH]

It is all about supply and demand. You can demand all you want, but if no one has provided the specific dates you want, you will have no supply at all.

They do gloss over that part.

 

[godspeed1208]

It is all about supply and demand. You can demand all you want, but if no one has provided the specific dates you want, you will have no supply at all.

They do gloss over that part.

yes looks like it too so far from asking around.

 

[sue1947]

Oh ok i see what you mean.. does this work the same way for RCI points based timeshares too, where someone must have deposited their week(s) in the location/resort/hotel i want to book them?

RCI Points or RCI Weeks or Interval International or any of the other exchange companies. They all depend on somebody depositing the week or nights that you want before they are available to book.

I used Wyndham as an example because they are part of the same company umbrella with RCI. The same idea applies to Hilton motels vs Hilton timeshares or Marriott motels vs Marriott timeshares (which trade in II and not RCI). My impression is that you think RCI Points operates like motels and I wanted to get across the idea that they are completely different. Whatever brand of timeshare you look at, the same idea applies. They are owned by individuals who can decide to use their time or deposit their time into an exchange company or rent their time out to others. RCI can only access that time (Points or Weeks) if the owner deposits with them. So the pool of rooms you can access is much smaller vs booking into a motel/hotel. In the latter case, there might be 100+ rooms to choose from so more of a chance to book last minute. With timeshares, there may only be 2 or 3 units available that their owners decided not to use or rent so not much of a chance to get it last minute.

For your situation (based on your posts) timeshares are not the answer.

Sue

 

[godspeed1208]

RCI Points or RCI Weeks or Interval International or any of the other exchange companies. They all depend on somebody depositing the week or nights that you want before they are available to book.

I used Wyndham as an example because they are part of the same company umbrella with RCI. The same idea applies to Hilton motels vs Hilton timeshares or Marriott motels vs Marriott timeshares (which trade in II and not RCI). My impression is that you think RCI Points operates like motels and I wanted to get across the idea that they are completely different. Whatever brand of timeshare you look at, the same idea applies. They are owned by individuals who can decide to use their time or deposit their time into an exchange company or rent their time out to others. RCI can only access that time (Points or Weeks) if the owner deposits with them. So the pool of rooms you can access is much smaller vs booking into a motel/hotel. In the latter case, there might be 100+ rooms to choose from so more of a chance to book last minute. With timeshares, there may only be 2 or 3 units available that their owners decided not to use or rent so not much of a chance to get it last minute.

For your situation (based on your posts) timeshares are not the answer.

Sue

Hi yes i don't think timeshares are suited for me. Unless i plan on going for vacations and even than depends if i could find a slot at that time. so maybe for now i'm just going to refrain from getting one. Thank you for explain things out to me.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Another difference between timeshares and hotels is that Timeshares often have a minimum stay. I know Hilton Grand Vacation club has a 3 night minimum. That works great for a long weekend or vacation, but may not work well if you were hoping to leverage membership for business trips.

I am not as familiar with the other programs, but assume they have similar requirements.