Smarter to Purchase Hotel Brands and Avoid RCI Constant $ Increases?

[connect1]

We own Vacation Village (points). We never stay in our own timeshare, it is auto deposited into RCI. We have exchanged into some great resorts. Often we can get two full week vacation stays from our deposit. We have also stayed at some of the other Vacation Village properties with Extra Vacation credits from VV and have enjoyed them. Now with RCI prices climbing yet again, it is not as economical as it was originally.

We typically choose based on the location we want to go to - we are fine with 3-4 star - we're mostly paying to sleep, we may use the pool, etc. but the fancier resorts do not necessarily have a big draw for us.

My question is, would it be smarter for us to purchase into a hotel system such as Hilton, or Sheraton instead? This could give us many more resort options throughout the country and possibly the world. Are there fees to exchange within these systems? Or other fees beyond maintenance fees?

Lastly, we have points banked in RCI right now. I am thinking of not depositing our timeshare into RCI this year and instead just trading within the Vacation Village resort family. Any VV people in the thread who have done this before? Would I then just be allowed to use our specific resort or would we be allowed to open up to all VV resorts?

Thank you in advance for all your insights!

 

[jp10558]

My question is, would it be smarter for us to purchase into a hotel system such as Hilton

So I have HGVC, and they also trade with RCI. I do not have a straight RCI account. With HGVC there's a $300 a year club fee and $59 a booking IIRC for trading inside their system, and via RCI it's the same fees as you're used to as far as I can tell. I don't think those resorts make much sense if you don't want the 4 star resort system. I'm also waiting on getting a Wyndham setup, and as I understand it, they're annoying but they have more resorts - though 3 star. IDK if there's a trading fee or not with them.

TBH, I still think RCI has the biggest availability etc and widest access.

 

[montygz]

We own Vacation Village (points). We never stay in our own timeshare, it is auto deposited into RCI. We have exchanged into some great resorts. Often we can get two full week vacation stays from our deposit. We have also stayed at some of the other Vacation Village properties with Extra Vacation credits from VV and have enjoyed them. Now with RCI prices climbing yet again, it is not as economical as it was originally.

We typically choose based on the location we want to go to - we are fine with 3-4 star - we're mostly paying to sleep, we may use the pool, etc. but the fancier resorts do not necessarily have a big draw for us.

My question is, would it be smarter for us to purchase into a hotel system such as Hilton, or Sheraton instead? This could give us many more resort options throughout the country and possibly the world. Are there fees to exchange within these systems? Or other fees beyond maintenance fees?

Lastly, we have points banked in RCI right now. I am thinking of not depositing our timeshare into RCI this year and instead just trading within the Vacation Village resort family. Any VV people in the thread who have done this before? Would I then just be allowed to use our specific resort or would we be allowed to open up to all VV resorts?

Thank you in advance for all your insights!

If you own in weeks, you can exchange within Vacation Villages for less than an RCI exchange. If you want to vacation at a Vacation Villages property, that is certainly a good way to save a few bucks. This is only for weeks owners, no points owners.

 

[ScoopKona]

My question is, would it be smarter for us to purchase into a hotel system such as Hilton, or Sheraton instead? This could give us many more resort options throughout the country and possibly the world. Are there fees to exchange within these systems? Or other fees beyond maintenance fees?

Depends. My metric is, "How many weeks of vacation can I get from my single maintenance fee. And how much is the cost per night because of this."
My current answer is three weeks and we just jumped from $70/night to $100 because of the new Florida condo law.

 

[rboesl]

Vacation Village uses RCI for internal exchanges too. But, you do get a discounted exchange rate. We've done this a few times and were very happy with the other VV resorts.

Especially liked Bonaventure in Ft. Lauderdale. The location is excellent. Plenty of restaurants and grocery options near by. Within 45 minutes or so of Miami and 1.5 hours from Key West.

We also liked one in Massachusetts, can't remember the name offhand, but right across from ski resort, near the Boston Pops summer home. Lots of things to do and see within an hour's drive. Museums, live theater, and fishing.

 

[connect1]

Depends. My metric is, "How many weeks of vacation can I get from my single maintenance fee. And how much is the cost per night because of this."
My current answer is three weeks and we just jumped from $70/night to $100 because of the new Florida condo law.

Yes, the exchange value is what I need to determine. We have gotten 3 weeks in the past also, however as fees climb per exchange and other travel expenses increase it hits the vacation budget harder.

 

[dioxide45]

Especially liked Bonaventure in Ft. Lauderdale. The location is excellent. Plenty of restaurants and grocery options near by. Within 45 minutes or so of Miami and 1.5 hours from Key West.

It is probably closer to 5 hours to get to Key West. Or are you flying?

 

[connect1]

Vacation Village uses RCI for internal exchanges too. But, you do get a discounted exchange rate. We've done this a few times and were very happy with the other VV resorts.

Especially liked Bonaventure in Ft. Lauderdale. The location is excellent. Plenty of restaurants and grocery options near by. Within 45 minutes or so of Miami and 1.5 hours from Key West.

We also liked one in Massachusetts, can't remember the name offhand, but right across from ski resort, near the Boston Pops summer home. Lots of things to do and see within an hour's drive. Museums, live theater, and fishing.

Good to know about the exchange fee. We have stayed in Masnutten which is a nice resort in a scenic area while also being close to DC. Really happy to hear your review of Bonadventure too. We have considered staying in the past - knowing the proximity to KeyWest is an attraction. Was the Massachusetts stay in the Berkshires that sounds intriguing too.

 

[connect1]

It is probably closer to 5 hours to get to Key West. Or are you flying?

Good to know - a 5 hour tour may not be a bad road trip with that scenery though! As to flying it all depends on where we go, time, etc. Some of the VV resorts are within a drive from us in Michigan however when we can find reasonable airfare we go that route.

 

[connect1]

If you own in weeks, you can exchange within Vacation Villages for less than an RCI exchange. If you want to vacation at a Vacation Villages property, that is certainly a good way to save a few bucks. This is only for weeks owners, no points owners.

We own points.

 

[connect1]

So I have HGVC, and they also trade with RCI. I do not have a straight RCI account. With HGVC there's a $300 a year club fee and $59 a booking IIRC for trading inside their system, and via RCI it's the same fees as you're used to as far as I can tell. I don't think those resorts make much sense if you don't want the 4 star resort system. I'm also waiting on getting a Wyndham setup, and as I understand it, they're annoying but they have more resorts - though 3 star. IDK if there's a trading fee or not with them.

TBH, I still think RCI has the biggest availability etc and widest access.

Thank you, I will be curious to hear about your experience with the Wyndham system. My guess is they would trade through RCI and I wonder if there if there are reduced fees. RCI has lost a lot of cred with us over the years - less variety of resorts when and where we tend to look - which admittedly varies. Sometimes we still find a gem though.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Wyndham currently has NO reservation transaction fee, as long as you book online. It was waived for part of last year and all of this year. Don't know if this is now a permanent situation. But even with the transaction fee if you ran out of free ones, it was only $19 online. Far cry from $299 per reservation for a full week on RCI.

I only have 1 week remaining in RCI all others are now in Hotel systems instead. Even 2 weeks that I deposit in RCI I can convert to HICV points. Which at $64 a reservation is still better than RCI's going rates. It just gives me another avenue given that there are a number of HICV's within driving distance to me.

I do think that the hotel related point systems are the most flexible. I own Wyndham, WM, HGVC and HICV.

 

[connect1]

Wyndham currently has NO reservation transaction fee, as long as you book online. It was waived for part of last year and all of this year. Don't know if this is now a permanent situation. But even with the transaction fee if you ran out of free ones, it was only $19 online. Far cry from $299 per reservation for a full week on RCI.

I only have 1 week remaining in RCI all others are now in Hotel systems instead. Even 2 weeks that I deposit in RCI I can convert to HICV points. Which at $64 a reservation is still better than RCI's going rates. It just gives me another avenue given that there are a number of HICV's within driving distance to me.

I do think that the hotel related point systems are the most flexible. I own Wyndham, WM, HGVC and HICV.

Thank you for sharing. Which system do you prefer? Do you think would fit our style of travel (most value for buck and a variety of locales)?

 

[Sandy VDH]

I love Wyndham and WM for the flexibility, locations, and discounts (VIPP with Wyndham, WM use various Bonus time options (MM, IS, BT) ) but I HATE their sales departments, and pushy concierge/Parking pass staff. I have the most points in Wyndham. But you can only get Wyndham discounts with a developer purchase, and I don't recommend that path, unless you are planning long term and own weeks that you can PIC to jump you to a level that you get discounts with. Do your research first then decide. WM gives bonus time to everyone, but you have to decide if there is enough WM resorts in the locations that you want to go.

Research Wyndham here https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/s...g-questions-in-the-forum.355645/#post-2963796

I have HGVC (2 weeks) and HICV (1 week + 2 RCI deposits for points). I tend to rent out my HGVC more than use it, as I can yield a decent rental. I tend to use HICV for groups of friends when we go away for a weekend Wine Tour or other event. I book larger units and multiple units if I do this.

I never directly purchased any of these systems initially, I purchase weeks resale about 25 years ago and those resale weeks eventually got bought out and included in these hotel point systems. I did purchase 1 wyndham (developer) and 1 HGVC (resale) which got me VIP perks for Wyndham and Elite Perks for Hilton. It was just luck and timing I guess.

 

[moonstone]

If you own in weeks, you can exchange within Vacation Villages for less than an RCI exchange. If you want to vacation at a Vacation Villages property, that is certainly a good way to save a few bucks. This is only for weeks owners, no points owners.

We own points and also get the discounted exchange rate. We even have a special telephone number (for VV owners) at RCI to call to get those exchanges and rates. We like that many VV properties allow longer than 7 night stays now and since the exchange rate to stay 7-13 nights is the same as staying just 7 nights (but obviously costs a few more points) we often book longer stays.

~Diane

 

[montygz]

We own points and also get the discounted exchange rate. We even have a special telephone number (for VV owners) at RCI to call to get those exchanges and rates. We like that many VV properties allow longer than 7 night stays now and since the exchange rate to stay 7-13 nights is the same as staying just 7 nights (but obviously costs a few more points) we often book longer stays.

~Diane

Did you buy your points resale or from the developer?

 

[rboesl]

It is probably closer to 5 hours to get to Key West. Or are you flying?

I drove it. Took no more than 1.5 hours.

 

[rboesl]

Good to know about the exchange fee. We have stayed in Masnutten which is a nice resort in a scenic area while also being close to DC. Really happy to hear your review of Bonadventure too. We have considered staying in the past - knowing the proximity to KeyWest is an attraction. Was the Massachusetts stay in the Berkshires that sounds intriguing too.

Now that you mention it, it was VV@Berkshires. If you like small live theater and museums there's quite a variety. And during the winter the ski resort is right across the street. I'm not sure but they might do mountain biking during the summer.

 

[geerlijd]

I drove it. Took no more than 1.5 hours.

I think your confusing Key Largo with Key West. Key Largo is 1.5 hrs in good traffic, Key West is another 2 to 2.5 hrs beyond Key Largo. The drive from is primarily a beautiful 2 lane road with few passing opportunities and many people on island time.

 

[escanoe]

We own points and also get the discounted exchange rate. We even have a special telephone number (for VV owners) at RCI to call to get those exchanges and rates.

~Diane

How does one obtain this? Did you buy from the developer or retail? Are you enrolled in VV Plus or VV Premiere (my understanding is that requires a developer purchase)? I also have had a VV telephone number, but no discounted exchange fees.

In RCI Points I own both VV Grandview and Massanutten Woodstone (VV Affiliate), both of which I bought resale. I do not get any type of discounted exchange fee from that. I use those points to exchange outside of VV.

I also own VV weeks (4BR locks off into 2 units) at the Colonies in Williamsburg. I use it for all of my internal VV Trades at a $159 exchange fee through RCI. I also have the option of trading it on II, which I sometimes do.