Which is better? [RCI or II]

[Jill turner]

Which is better RCI or II

 

[Panina]

I always preferred II to RCI. I find they have more higher end timeshares, their fees are lower and at times they give you bonus week certificates where you can get a week without depositing your week (more limited selection than if you traded your week). Be aware II is a week for week trade of similar value.

RCI gives you a certain amount of TPU's (a number value). If the week you are depositing has a high value you might be able to get 2 weeks for your week with two trading fees. If your week has low value you will probably have limited choices or have to combine two weeks of points (there is an additional fee) to get more choices.

 

[Jill turner]

Which is better RCI or II

Thx for info and advice

 

[Passepartout]

@Jill turner there isn't a legit 'one is better than the other'. Yes, II seems to have more hotel-branded units. OTOH RCI has more overall. Some are higher end- (Disney I'm lookin' at you) and some are more independent type places- that tend to be (IMO) better located because they were there first. We bought into an RCI affiliated resort that is in RCI Points (a different 'currency' than the above mentioned TPUs. We have traveled the world using those points and because we have a good size unit, get enough of those points to easily get into 2+ weeks in a unit that fits the two of us.

Jim

 

[Janann]

The comments above assume that the RCI or II membership is through a personal account. I have corporate access with HGVC to RCI, and with Disney to II. I don't get bonus weeks, incentives to deposit, and I don't speak TPU. The corporate access works differently than personal access.

 

[bnoble]

The one that is better is the one that gives you more access to the vacations you want at a price you can afford. That's going to be different for different people.

OTOH RCI has more overall. Some are higher end- (Disney I'm lookin' at you) and some are more independent type places-

Side note: Disney moved from RCI to Interval a few years ago. However, I assume they might move back eventually.

I have found myself using II more often lately for my independent deposits, but that's partly because it is more new-to-me---I had an old account that I reactivated when DVC moved, and have been doing a lot of "Ooh! I've never been there before!" since.

It's also partly because, in the divorce, my ex got the existing RCI account and its unused deposits and I got the existing II account!

 

[JeffC]

A lot will depend on what you’re trading. Does your resort trade in both? What is the value each system assigns to your deposit? Are you looking to buy a week for trading? Bringing a week or points to a system that doesn’t value it is recipe for disappointment .

 

[Jill turner]

A lot will depend on what you’re trading. Does your resort trade in both? What is the value each system assigns to your deposit? Are you looking to buy a week for trading? Bringing a week or points to a system that doesn’t value it is recipe for disappointment .

I have 3 weeks in Maui and 1 in Las Vegas all are floating weeks and both are gold properties. Just to trade occasionally.

 

[GTLINZ]

I have had access to both systems and prefer Interval due to access to Marriott/Westin/Sheraton. I have used Interval for getaways and trading far more than RCI even though I have had a lot more total years of membership with RCI.

But it really does depend on where you want to travel and what timeshare brands you are comfortable with.

 

[jp10558]

I have video on this:

TL;DW: There's more than just exchanging, and UI, method to use, way it works, cash stays and more also matter IMHO. The Video IMNSHO helps because getting a feel for how (at least I) actually use the sites explains a lot more than people typing "I like II" or "I like RCI".

 

[montygz]

The best one is always the one you will use. You can get good exchanges out and deals out of both, if you take the time to learn how to use them and be persistent.

 

[PeakSeason]

@Jill turner

I agree with montygz, the “best” is the one you use consistently and I’ve had amazing success with both RCI and Interval.

I much prefer the look and feel of RCI, but even then, it leaves a little to be desired. II feels clunkier and I don’t like having to guess what my trading power might be when I’m trying to plan out my exchanges.

The thing I like the most about II is the resorts are higher quality. I love having access to Marriott, Westin, Disney, Hyatt, and Four Seasons. But for me, not every trip calls for these type of resorts.

I love RCI for access to old Florida beach-motel resorts on the Gulf of America during snowbird season, historic French Quarter resorts in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, charming Green mountain resorts in Vermont during Leaf Change season, and of course one of my favorites, iconic NYC boutique hotels on Billionaires Row during Christmas season.

Buying high-powered RCI traders has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my travel journey so far. I bought a 122,000 point Grandview Las Vegas and a 178,000 point Regal Vistas at Massanutten and between the two of them I’ve saved $18,788.21 on my 2025 RCI trips alone.

Anytime I book a trip, I always try to book the same room directly with the hotel and make note of the retail price. Here are my results for 2025 (RCI only):

New Orleans, LA (The Quarter House)
• January 31st - February 7th
• Retail: $6,756.50
• $515.31 (29,000 points)

Anna Maria Island, FL (Smuggler Cove Resort)
• May 17th - May 24th
• Retail: $1,997.16
• $425.80 (17,000 points)

Anna Maria Island, FL (Smuggler Cove Resort)
• June 21st - June 28th
• Retail: $1,997.16
• $478.01 (24,000 points)

Manhattan, NYC (Hilton West 57th Street)
• July 18th - July 21st
• Retail: $2,671.63
• $523.70 (36,140 points)

Stowe, VT (Smugglers Notch Resort)
• October 5th - October 9th
• Retail: $1,364.98
• $455.69 (31,680 points)

Lincoln, NH (InnSeason Resorts Pollard Brook)
• October 8th - October 15th
• Retail: $1,850.00
• $498.00 (43,000 points)

Manhattan, NYC (Hilton West 57th Street)
• December 14th - December 21st
• Retail: $5,864.69
• $817.40 (69,500 points)

• Total Retail Price: $22,502.12
• Total Actual Price Paid: $3,713.91
• Savings: $18,788.21

 

[PeakSeason]

For comparison, I just checked my Interval stats for 2025-2026:

Boston, MA (Marriott Custom House)
• September 19th - September 26th
• Retail: $4,458.93
• $976.62

Orlando, FL (Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge)
- January 18th - January 25th
- Retail: $7,108.90
- $886.00

Hilton Head, SC (Marriott Grande Ocean)
- February 28th - March 7th
- Retail: $6,756.50
- $916.00

Kauai, HI (Marriott Waiohai)
- March 21st - March 28th
- Retail: $6,155.25
- $1,643.00

Oahu, HI (Marriott Ko Olina)
- March 28th - April 2nd
- Retail: $6,289.73
- $1,223.00

• Total Retail Price: $30,769.31
• Total Actual Price Paid: $5,644.62
• Savings: $25,124.69

 

[Jill turner]

Thankyou for the information

 

[missyrcrews]

I think it also depends on where you want to travel. I live in New England, and tend to trade for locations that I can drive to in one day. RCI has many more resorts that fit this criteria. I don't care about water parks, fancy bathrooms, etc...so the fact that II might have the Marriotts doesn't really matter to me. I want a clean comfortable room that I can drive to in a reasonable amount of time. II sometimes can do this, but RCI almost always can for me.

 

[sponger76]

@Jill turner there isn't a legit 'one is better than the other'. Yes, II seems to have more hotel-branded units. OTOH RCI has more overall. Some are higher end- (Disney I'm lookin' at you) and some are more independent type places- that tend to be (IMO) better located because they were there first.

Mostly agree, except for the fact that Disney is no longer in RCI, they moved to II. They could switch back again at some point, but we don't know if or when that might actually happen.