Same number of points for fewer nights when exchanging into Wyndham --

[Janann]

This is somewhat related to the following thread:

RCI points exchange error

Normally the exchange into a 1br through RCI is 3400 points but for some reason this one is for 4800 points. Does anyone know or is it just an error? Normally a 2br would be 4800 points

tugbbs.com

Today I was looking at an RCI exchange for Wyndham La Cascada in San Antonio, TX. I noticed that the stay was only three nights in a one bedroom, but it had the usual number of points for 7 nights, which is 3,400 HGVC points. Also, the exchange fee of $239 was the normal 7 night amount. I contacted RCI through their online chat and asked if this was correct. They said yes, because the unit is coming from the weeks inventory rather than points inventory. The points and fee do not adjust downward in this situation.

On the thread noted above there is mention on post #9 of Wyndham's Bonnet Creek (Disney World) with a similar points situation.

So what is going on with Wyndham's deposits into HGVC? The points requirement that they are now posting is more than double the usual amount per night if you only stay 3 nights. This is definitely something new, and I hope that it fails when they can't get enough nights booked at this price.

@Cyberc What do you think?

 

[silentg]

3 and 5 night options are good, but agree that they should not be the same amount TPU as a 7 night stay.

 

[Janann]

3 and 5 night options are good, but agree that they should not be the same amount TPU as a 7 night stay.

Not TPU -- I'm only talking about HGVC points.

 

[silentg]

Yes I know but on RCI I’ve seen 3 and 5 night stays for same amount as a 7 night stay.

 

[bnoble]

If the market works the way it should, those TPU values should eventually go down. For corporate portals (not just HGVC, but all of them) I don't know, b/c those don't fluctuate as much in response to supply/demand.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Those 3 and 5 nights stays are the same point value as 7 night stays and they are midweek stays, they usually omit the weekend.

I too would have expected a lower point / price for less than 7 days, it was for that reason I bailed on any of them.

 

[tschwa2]

That is because RCI has introduced those 3,4 and 5 night stays into RCI weeks inventory. There is no separate agreement for Hilton inventory into shorter stay weeks inventory. So the exchange fee remains $239 and the crossover grid is the same for a full week. If you exchange into actual points inventory through rci both the exchange fee and the HGVC points would be lower. Most of the 3,4, and 5 night stays are Wyndham stays and AI and Mexican resorts. These resorts deposit the smaller (usually non weekend) chunks specifically with a specific start date and end date and usually fall under a separate RCI resort number vs the regular number for the resort.

 

[Janann]

That is because RCI has introduced those 3,4 and 5 night stays into RCI weeks inventory. There is no separate agreement for Hilton inventory into shorter stay weeks inventory. So the exchange fee remains $239 and the crossover grid is the same for a full week. If you exchange into actual points inventory through rci both the exchange fee and the HGVC points would be lower. Most of the 3,4, and 5 night stays are Wyndham stays and AI and Mexican resorts. These resorts deposit the smaller (usually non weekend) chunks specifically with a specific start date and end date and usually fall under a separate RCI resort number vs the regular number for the resort.

I'm just hoping it doesn't become a pattern. It is essentially an increase on the price of an exchange and a devaluation of HGVC points.

 

[Tamaradarann]

I'm just hoping it doesn't become a pattern. It is essentially an increase on the price of an exchange and a devaluation of HGVC points.

I totally agree with you. I believe that you should bring this up to HGVC via input@HGVC.com. If HGVC can't make a deal with RCI for exchange value and cost adjustments they shouldn't offer it to HGVC owners. After all since HGVC is a points system they could easily exchange 3 or 5 nights at an HGVC resort for the Wyndham 3 or 5 night stay. If they feel that they must offer this ridiculously bad value exchange they should add a note that this is an unusual exchange situation that does not represent the normal exchange point value and exchange fee.

 

[flindberg]

Can you please say more? How would one access the correct portal on RCI's website?
"If you exchange into actual points inventory through rci both the exchange fee and the HGVC points would be lower."

 

[Talent312]

If nothing else, there should be a warning, either on HGVC's site or the RCI landing page.
Not only send an e-mail, but anyone who calls in a booking should mention it.
.

 

[Cyberc]

I have seen the same for 3 or 5 nights units. The points requirements are the same as if I booked 7 nights.

 

[tschwa2]

You should be able to see that it is a bad deal without someone else pointing it out or filtering away from your eyes. In general I like having more options even if it isn't something I would not do. If you want a short stay in those resorts but don't want to pay, just ignore them and look for rci points inventory or only look at full weeks. In a way this is no different than being offered Vacation Village at Parkway 1 BR for the same number of points and exchange fee as DVC when you could get a straight rental for less than $300. It's a bad deal Don't use your HGVC points to book it as an exchange.

It's not a separate portal to RCI. There are both weeks and points inventory available to HGVC. Sometimes the only way you can tell (especially if you are booking 7 nights) is by the exchange fee. To make it easier to know for these short stays in rci weeks inventory they put them under different resort codes.

Wyndham Austin - 3 Nights #DM41

Wyndham Austin - 5 Nights #DM42
vs the regular RCI listing
Wyndham Austin #DI56

 

[Talent312]

I considered booking one these short-weeks for a full-week fee, 'due to location.
But after reading the resorts' reviews, I thought, "It's not a great place, so no."
.

 

[Janann]

If nothing else, there should be a warning, either on HGVC's site or the RCI landing page.
Not only send an e-mail, but anyone who calls in a booking should mention it.

Agreed. It is a very rare situation to be buying something where the price is exactly the same whether you buy 3 units, 5 units or 7 units.

 

[escanoe]

Agreed. It is a very rare situation to be buying something where the price is exactly the same whether you buy 3 units, 5 units or 7 units.

It is not unusual for more nights (7 nights via RCI Weeks) to cost less in points and even more often it will have lower total costs when you figure in cleaning fees (often charged on points stays less than 7 days).