Which is a better exchange value - points or weeks

[Corinne1123]

If someone owned HGVC for example and wanted to exchange into the RCI system, it would be based on season and no. of bedrooms and the points would be deducted from your balance. (i,e, platinum vs. gold) It's a direct exchange for the required points. However, if you owned a week at an RCI TS, you would do an exchange, but it seems that the number of bedrooms available and even the season is flexible. I know people that own timeshares that say they own a one bedroom week and can easily get a two bedroom unit at some locations, same season, without any problems. How does this work? Which is the better option?

 

[philsfan]

If someone owned HGVC for example and wanted to exchange into the RCI system, it would be based on season and no. of bedrooms and the points would be deducted from your balance. (i,e, platinum vs. gold) It's a direct exchange for the required points. However, if you owned a week at an RCI TS, you would do an exchange, but it seems that the number of bedrooms available and even the season is flexible. I know people that own timeshares that say they own a one bedroom week and can easily get a two bedroom unit at some locations, same season, without any problems. How does this work? Which is the better option?

It's all about the trade power assigned by RCI for your deposit in the case of RCI Weeks. Since trade power is not a published value, you have to rely on word of mouth. If you are buying resale and the current owner happens to have a week deposited with RCI, you could ask for access to the account to verify the numbers before you buy. Until this year, even using that strategy was iffy but now there are actual numbers reported that you can compare with others who have strong traders to be more sure. Even then, trade power can change over time based on the whim of RCI.

With points, there is less of a question of whether what you own can get you where you want to go when you want to be there. Point values vary greatly, though. A 2 bdr in Hawaii can be 108K points. I have two 2 bdr points units that combined only get me 92K. So, for me to go to that Hawaii resort, I would need to trade the equivalent of almost 2.2 of my points timeshares for one in Hawaii.

Dollar for dollar, it is far cheaper for me to exchange for Hawaii using a weeks exchange than it will ever be using a standard points reservation. Since my trade power (so far) will get me the same Hawaii resort for only 1 weeks unit in exchange, that is a better route for me.

However, if my weeks unit did not have the trade power needed to make that trade, at least with points I would have the option of deciding to use 2.2 units worth of points to go where I wanted to go. With weeks, I would just be out of luck.

 

[Egret1986]

Great explanation!

It's all about the trade power assigned by RCI for your deposit in the case of RCI Weeks. Since trade power is not a published value, you have to rely on word of mouth. If you are buying resale and the current owner happens to have a week deposited with RCI, you could ask for access to the account to verify the numbers before you buy. Until this year, even using that strategy was iffy but now there are actual numbers reported that you can compare with others who have strong traders to be more sure. Even then, trade power can change over time based on the whim of RCI.

With points, there is less of a question of whether what you own can get you where you want to go when you want to be there. Point values vary greatly, though. A 2 bdr in Hawaii can be 108K points. I have two 2 bdr points units that combined only get me 92K. So, for me to go to that Hawaii resort, I would need to trade the equivalent of almost 2.2 of my points timeshares for one in Hawaii.

Dollar for dollar, it is far cheaper for me to exchange for Hawaii using a weeks exchange than it will ever be using a standard points reservation. Since my trade power (so far) will get me the same Hawaii resort for only 1 weeks unit in exchange, that is a better route for me.

However, if my weeks unit did not have the trade power needed to make that trade, at least with points I would have the option of deciding to use 2.2 units worth of points to go where I wanted to go. With weeks, I would just be out of luck.

It depends, and Philsfan summed it up perfectly!

To me the best deal with RCI Points is the last minute Weeks exchanges (getting several vacations for one maintenance fee+exchange fee for each).

However, as stated, the points required for some of the Standard Points exchanges are high, high, high; but I do have an option to get into those resorts, where I might not with using one of my Weeks (which definitely would be less costly).

Ex. I was able to get a 2BR Easter Week DVC exchange recently. I don't currently have anything deposited into my Weeks account. But even if I had, I don't think I would have gotten that exchange. Therefore, I didn't mind utilizing slightly under two weeks worth of points.

I feel that I have gotten so many 7500 point or less vacations in the last year that I could afford to splurge on that one and absolutely needed those dates and was only interested in a Disney vacation if I could be onsite this time.

 

[Corinne1123]

Points vs weeks exchange

Thank you for your replies. So what I'm getting is that weeks gives you more options to get into better TSs if you find a match, but with points you would have to spend more points than you have in some cases or deposit more than one week.

Can you borrow from next year's time? or do you have to own more than one week in this case?

One of the reasons I"m considering HGVC is that you can borrow next year's points for a bigger vacation like Hawaii and can still exchange into RCI at other times and has a high exchange value. You almost need more than one type of timeshare to cover all the bases. What would be a high value timeshare - I'm in the northeast and would hesitate to buy where I couldn't stay frequently.

Also, I'm not familiar with the last minute weeks exchanges - how does that work?

 

[Egret1986]

Personally, for me, the opposite has been true

Thank you for your replies. So what I'm getting is that weeks gives you more options to get into better TSs if you find a match, but with points you would have to spend more points than you have in some cases or deposit more than one week.

I have more options with Points to get into better TSs because there is no trade power restrictions. Weeks are all about trade power. If you don't have enough trade power, then you're not going to get into "better" timeshares (at least not during prime season). Whereas, if there's AVAILABILITY and I can swing the points, I can get into any resort, during any season, and into the size unit I want or need.

However, the number of points needed may be more than what one of my weeks is allotted. Yes, I can use points leftover from the previous year or borrow points from the next use year. I can even rent points from RCI for $.02 per point.

 

[Egret1986]

I've been in Points for about two years, and have mostly gotten away from Weeks

You almost need more than one type of timeshare to cover all the bases. What would be a high value timeshare - I'm in the northeast and would hesitate to buy where I couldn't stay frequently.

Also, I'm not familiar with the last minute weeks exchanges - how does that work?

I've been in Weeks for 25+ years, but haven't deposited any Weeks for exchange since I joined Points. I only own Weeks resorts now that I will either use or rent. The trade power mysteries associated with Weeks makes Points better for me now. If you read some recent threads, RCI has apparently tweaked the trade power of many weeks and many folks are very upset because they have been told and it is in writing that trade power is determined when the week is deposited. Even if RCI was sticking by that, there still is that great mystery as to how trade power is determined and all the factors involved.

If I had known that I had a Week that I could have deposited with RCI that would have pulled the DVC unit I got for Easter week, that would have been a much cheaper exchange for me than using 115,000 points to get it. My yearly allotment is 127,000, so it took just under two weeks worth of points to get this exchange. Using a Weeks resort would have been a much better deal; however, there is no way to have known if I ever would have been able to pull it. I did not want to deposit a Prime Summer beach week to try to get the exchange and then find out that it didn't have enough trade power to pull the 2BR DVC Easter week. That would have cost me because then I couldn't personally use or rent that week. It would have been a gamble and I'm not a gambler.

I really like points for the flexibility and if I had to choose one or the other; I would definitely go with points. There are many different point systems and I am only familiar with RCI points. I've thought about Wyndham, but there seems to be a real learning curve there to wring out the most from their system, so I'm happy with RCI because I understand it and am getting some really great exchanges.

 

[Egret1986]

You can search RCI Weeks using Points within 45 days of check-in for reduced Points

Also, I'm not familiar with the last minute weeks exchanges - how does that work?

Between 12:30 am and 1:00 am ET (and sometimes other times), RCI will put last minute availabilities up. The amount of points needed are greatly reduced (6,000 to 9,000 points). If you have the ability to travel last minute, this is a great way to get several vacations out of the points from one week of ownership. I can get about six vacations for the cost of one week's maintenance fee + the exchange fee for each exchange. It's a real bargain.

Putting almost two weeks worth of points into the DVC exchange wasn't a big deal because I got several last minute vacations that more than made up the difference and it all worked out to my advantage points-wise.

Last minute exchanges are available for Weeks also; however, it is a week-for-week exchange.

 

[Carolinian]

If you ask this on a Points board, the answers are going to be skewed to points. For a more balanced set of responses, why not ask this on the Exchanging board?

 

[alwysonvac]

Also keep in mind that HGVC members have access to both the RCI Weeks program and the RCI Points Program http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=746186&postcount=19

Here's an old post on the strategies for using HGVC clubpoints vs RCI points when you own both. I'm assuming one could have a similar strategy for RCI weeks vs RCI points.

Just remember that points required by HGVC to book RCI are fixed by season and size of unit. They do not vary by resort, where as points required by RCI points vary by resort. That makes some deals, especially for the really high point cost, better using HGVC points and some exchanges better using RCI points. Look at the point value. You can see page 169 of your HGVC Members guide for the point values.

For instance I used my HGVC for a Manhattan Club Studio, only 2400 HGVC points, but 72,000 RCI Points. I also used 4800 HGVC points for the 1 BR Residences at the Crane in Barbados 86,500. But I did not use 7000 HGVC for the 2BR at The Landings at Seven Coves, instead I used my RCI points and paid 36,000.

So pick and choose your currency. Either RCI points or HGVC points.

Higher point values are better to use HGVC with and lower point values are better using your RCI points available. Just keep track of how many HGVC points you have, as you can't see them anywhere, you have to call HGVC to find out how many you have left.

 

[gjw007]

There is no right or wrong answer as it depends on what you own and what you wish to do. Let me give two extremes. For simplicity, the exchanges are all back to the resort that is owned and that all the times are red (high demand). I'm using Orlando as my base but it applies to other areas.

You own the most demanded week at the resort. With either a points ownership or weeks ownership, you can exchange for any week during the year. With the weeks ownership, you can exchange for another week whether you were able to upgrade to a larger unit or downgrade to a smaller unit. With the point-based system, you can exchange any time of the year and if you go during a low demand period, you can spend several more days. If you go to a smaller unit, you may be able to go an additional week or more.

The other extreme, you own the least demanded week. With your weeks unit, you can exchange to any week during the year (if it will let you) and maybe even do an upgrade (I did this with a 2-bedroom unit at Orange Lake for week 50 and exchanged for a 3-bedroom unit at Orange Lake for week 52). Again, you are limited to one exchange but it will be for a week. With a points based system, you can exchange equally only during the low periods meaning that your choices for the same cost in points as you get for your week are more limited. If you are willing to downgrade a unit, you will find that more weeks open up to you. You probably do not have enough points allocated to your week to get a week during the busy season without carrying over from the previous years, borrowing, or renting out points.

Doing external exchanges adds another layer as you really don't know how good an exchange it. As far as points, these are artificial numbers as well as a resort that has a lower point requirement may be better than a resort with a higher point requirement. These numbers are essential what is negotiated between the resort and in this case I am using, RCI.

Again, the answer to your question is that it depends on what you own and how you plan to use it. In general, you are probably better off with a point-based unit if you own during the high period but better off with weeks, if you can make the exchange, if you own a low demand week. You have a problem with low demand weeks in both points and weeks.

 

[tombo]

Thank you for your replies. So what I'm getting is that weeks gives you more options to get into better TSs if you find a match, but with points you would have to spend more points than you have in some cases or deposit more than one week.

Can you borrow from next year's time? or do you have to own more than one week in this case?

One of the reasons I"m considering HGVC is that you can borrow next year's points for a bigger vacation like Hawaii and can still exchange into RCI at other times and has a high exchange value. You almost need more than one type of timeshare to cover all the bases. What would be a high value timeshare - I'm in the northeast and would hesitate to buy where I couldn't stay frequently.

Also, I'm not familiar with the last minute weeks exchanges - how does that work?

I notice that you are considering buying HGVC which is a great group of resorts. I hope that you are buying an HGVC resale purchase and not considering from the developer. There will be many discussions on whether points are better, or whether weeks are better, but the far majority here will tell you to buy resale, not retail. You will save 50% or more off of the developer's price, and you will own the same thing either way.

Buy resale and save a lot of money. E-bay is usually the cheapest place to buy. You can read many different threads here detailing how to buy on e-bay, and feel free to ask any questions about which sellers you should buy from, what procedures you use, and what is a good resale price.

There are many threads like this to read here to help yourself become more familiar with resales.
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102560

Good luck and you are taking the first step to becoming a timeshare owner with all of the good and bad that comes with ownership. Welcome.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Thank you for your replies. So what I'm getting is that weeks gives you more options to get into better TSs if you find a match, but with points you would have to spend more points than you have in some cases or deposit more than one week.

Since Alwaysonvac already quoted me, I will not repeat my earlier comments. However one thing you have to realize specifically with HGVC is there are NO free upgrades. Other programs do allow deposits into RCI of small point weeks and then upgrades from Studio to 2 BR units are permitted. I also own Wyndham and so this frequently.

Can you borrow from next year's time? or do you have to own more than one week in this case?

In HGVC points you can borrow and you can also bank or rescue(move this years into next year). So in HGVC you in theory can have access to 3 years on points in 1 year; Bank last year, current year, and Borrowed from next year.

One of the reasons I"m considering HGVC is that you can borrow next year's points for a bigger vacation like Hawaii and can still exchange into RCI at other times and has a high exchange value. You almost need more than one type of timeshare to cover all the bases. What would be a high value timeshare - I'm in the northeast and would hesitate to buy where I couldn't stay frequently.

I own both HGVC and Wyndham and I find they work well together. Wyndham has strengths and HGVC has strengths, but they both also have their weaknesses. See my earlier post on the pros and cons of each system.
Wyndham might be a good second choice as there are units in the NE and more units in the E, in general.

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=686655&postcount=5

Also, I'm not familiar with the last minute weeks exchanges - how does that work?

Last minute will NOT work for HGVC, as there are NO free upgrades. I do not believe that they will provide you weeks inventory at the discounted points value that they offer to points accounts owners. As I said in HGVC there are no free upgrades. You need a seperate points account from a Non-HGVC points resort to have access to last minute inventory at reduced point values.

 

[Corinne1123]

I thought there were two ways to access additional points or reduced rates: 1 through HGVC "Last Call" and 1 through RCI "Open Season". Is this true or not for HGVC owners?
I thought I read a threat where someone reserved a week at Hawaii and then used last call to get a reduction on the points.

Also, Tombo mentioned using ebay to buy Hilton, but it seems that there is no price break for Hilton on ebay, so maybe I am better off using a broker?

I'm still trying to decide if Hilton is right for me: I like the fact that Hilton is more 'resortlike' than some other timeshares. I like Orlando, but don't plan on going regularly so wouldn't buy a fixed week, I would like to go to Hawaii at least once, not big on Vegas, but some of the affiliates look very nice as well (Mexico, Sanibel Island, some Caribbean.) Hilton is high but not as high as some others point systems.

I have two teen children so I need summer/spring break, but they may not opt to go as they get older, so I'm thinking of buying one bedroom platinum.