Bought RCI points- so far not happy

Larry · #1 (**permalink**) 03-17-2010, 10:05 AM

I have owned timeshares since 1992 starting with one resort and one week and now own 14 weeks after finally buying an RCI points package on ebay. My RCI points were entered yesterday and I have been playing with it on line ever since. I have 105,000 points per year and am starting off with over 200,000 points this year so I should be able to see anything out there.

I should also point out that over the years I have gotten outstanding trades with my weeks accounts through RCI and II. I have been to great resorts all over the world including London, Rome, French Riviera as well as great resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico including Royal Resorts, Marriott, Westin,Grand Mayan resorts and Windjammer Landing in St. Lucia where I recently purchased a week after an exchange last year (resale of course).

I am totally bummed out at the absolutely lousy inventory available through points both on the weeks and points side. I also can see some very easy trades through a middle of the road weeks timeshare that I can't even see with points.

For example we go to Vacation Village at Weston every year for a family vacation for spring break because I need several units that I book one year in advance through my weeks account and never had a problem with availability any time of the year. I can't even see anything available at any of the vacation village resorts with this points account until July and can't even see anything in the beginning of December when they are giving them away as RCI getaways. I thought points could see anything available in weeks but this is ridiculous.

I know that when ever a new deposit was entered in weeks it took a couple of days before trading power improved but points are points so why am I not seeing some of the easiest RCI trades????

__________________
Larry

philsfan · #2 (**permalink**) 03-17-2010, 04:01 PM

You have to get used to the difference between a standard reservation and a points reservation. You need to be ready to use your points for a standard reservation at exactly 10 months from check-in. I was able to reserve New Years weekend at exactly the resort I wanted because I signed on at midnight 10 months from check-in. The same for our trip to Hawaii in the fall. Once you figure out which resorts are in which pool, you should do better.

Using points to reserve weeks is the same as it is on the weeks side. If you plan far enough out, you will find what you want eventually. The big problem I have is that you have to call them to start on ongoing search so it costs more and you may not see the search criteria they set up for you...it's been so long since I broke down and called them I forget if you can see it online or not.

chriskre · #3 (**permalink**) 03-17-2010, 09:55 PM

Wow

. With that amount of points I'd be living in the TS's year round. Where do you want to go?

I guess I'm in the minority because I love my RCI points but I'm also a big procrastinator and travel at the last minute with the 7500/9000 deals.

lawren2 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-18-2010, 05:22 PM

Larry,

Points takes a while to get used to. Big paradigm change from the weeks perspective.

You will not be able to see points based resorts in weeks. Ever. Those you would have to book at the 10 month mark. Points to points.

There are times when each are very valuable and you will figure that out in no time. Which is more cost effective, etc.

Feel free to e-mail me if I can help you.

djyamyam · #5 (**permalink**) 03-18-2010, 10:12 PM

Like some of the previous posts, with points, for best availability, you need to check at that 10 to 9 mth mark or shorly afterwards (for points bookings). That's for full week bookings. For anything less than full week bookings, you really need to factor in the housekeeping fees because they add up and they vary from resort to resort. For Weeks bookings, the last minute 9K & less weeks provide good value but that's also hit and miss depending on the region.

Resorts that are designated as Points resort really play havok with Weeks availability. That's where you have to have something deposited in your weeks account. Given that the points needed to book a unit at a points resort is on a fixed schedule, there are a number of times when it really doesn't make sense to book using your points and that's where you should use the spacebanked week.

One last thing to remember is that quality issue. When searching Weeks with your points account you're not going to see some of the "lower ranked" resorts, regardless of how desirable they may be.

Larry · #6 (**permalink**) 03-19-2010, 04:26 PM

OK looks like there is a definet learning curve in getting used to the system and sometimes your better off using a regular weeks deposit to get an exchange rather than points.

JLB · #7 (**permalink**) 03-19-2010, 09:23 PM

There is no learning curve with Weeks?!

chriskre · #8 (**permalink**) 03-19-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry

OK looks like there is a definet learning curve in getting used to the system and sometimes your better off using a regular weeks deposit to get an exchange rather than points.

Larry, I love your ticker.