What does it take to trade into Tradewinds Cruise Club in RCI?

[heathpack]

TUG Brian posted yesterday about encouraging TUG direct exchanges. I am considering offering something in exchange for a Tradewinds exchange. However, I am not sure what it takes to trade into Tradewinds (ie what is a reasonable offer on my end?). Is a nice studio in decent season enough?

(I am aware there are additional fees for Tradewinds.)

Thanks if you know.

 

[bnoble]

Tradewinds TPUs are usually very low, and there are substantial mandatory AI fees added to them. This still turns out to be cheaper than booking with TW directly.

 

[dioxide45]

Perhaps Some Tradewinds members can wiegh in on the value they may place on a direct exchange. Perhaps @Sandy VDH can weigh in?

 

[Sandy VDH]

If you have never been on a tradewinds your better bet might be to do a member referral, than from trading with a member directly. Also some locations might be cheaper via RCI than via a TW member, unless they have points that are expiring, and they are willing to give them at below costs. Problem is they will likely be cruising class only and not Luxury class or Flagship, and they will be in limited locations with specific inventory.

So if you want a specific location, cabin or sail date, and you can't find that in RCI then either a direct exchange, referral, or rental from a current owner is the only possibility.

It is a unique experience and one that I love, having done 39 tradewinds sails to date.

 

[heathpack]

My assumption is that I’d be trading an II exchange (or something I own of medium to lower value like a Marriott Mountainside Park City summer studio week) for an RCI exchange.

Renting from a member is great, but I have timeshare weeks to use and also the whole point of this thread was that TUGBrian is trying to encourage direct exchanges between TUGgers.

So in considering timeshare exchanges that I can’t get with what I own (soon to be only Marriotts and DVCs, with the DVC off the table), the only thing in RCI that I wish I had access to is a Tradewinds exchange. Of course the very best luxury boats and prime sailing dates would be optimal, but we’d probably be fine with an entry level boat is a nice but not prime season. But I can’t justify renting when I have timeshare weeks to use.

 

[DRIless]

In the past, on the phone with RCI, I've been offered Tradewinds cruises for only a bonus week type exchange fee.