Last Minute Exchanges

SamH · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 06:51 PM

I am a long time RCI member and a relatively new II member. Even though RCI is larger, it seems to me that II gets more units to exchange during the thirty days before check in than RCI. My experience has been searching for ski vacations in Colorado and Utah this year. RCI inventory did not seem to change while II was always adding resorts that would usually be booked the same day. Is that typical of the two systems? If so, any idea why?

Thanks.

Sam

readyalready · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 12:20 AM

I don't think I agree. Maybe it depends on where you are trying to go and the amount of relative resorts there. I have had great luck with RCI last minute in Florida and Mexico, though back when the overnight releases were more predictable. In both systems, the good stuff can go in minutes.

As a CO ski local, if you are still looking I would try the resorts directly. I saw an ad in the paper today for spring break skiing at Keystone that offered 2 bedroom units at $199/night and one bedrooms some amount less. Copper Mountain has also been doing deep discounts, friends stayed in a 2 bed on site for $199 over New Years. While it is nice to use up an AC or deposit if you have extras, your fees could be similar just renting direct, especially if you don't need a full week.

tabbyc · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 01:50 AM

For years I have been able to go to Southern California, Arizona, Hawaii and Las Vegas in prime time through cancellations within 45 days and I booked ten to twenty weeks a year at the last moment.

For the last couple years, RCI has virtually no availabilities and I look online at least three times a day. They rent them out through Group RCI affiliates and even sell them as premiums through marketing companies.

Instant exchange (45 days or less) is not even a term used by RCI anymore but used to be just like flexchange (60 days or less) in Interval which still exists.

Interval still has availabilities because they don't rent out mass inventory to the public. For someone who is used to vacationing spur of the moment through both systems for over twenty years the changes and differences between exchange companies are quite easy to see.

buff · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 08:46 AM

Tabby is right on the money. Great post

nlbrown · #5 (**permalink**) 03-27-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabbyc

For years I have been able to go to Southern California, Arizona, Hawaii and Las Vegas in prime time through cancellations within 45 days and I booked ten to twenty weeks a year at the last moment.

For the last couple years, RCI has virtually no availabilities and I look online at least three times a day. They rent them out through Group RCI affiliates and even sell them as premiums through marketing companies.

Instant exchange (45 days or less) is not even a term used by RCI anymore but used to be just like flexchange (60 days or less) in Interval which still exists.

Interval still has availabilities because they don't rent out mass inventory to the public. For someone who is used to vacationing spur of the moment through both systems for over twenty years the changes and differences between exchange companies are quite easy to see.

I don't understand why do they do this? Why are they not allowing them for us last minute vacationers? We own in RCI ... we should be allowed to use what they have? Very frustrating!!!

Tfish · #6 (**permalink**) 04-15-2009, 08:51 PM

I agree.

Mike

regatta333 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-15-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buff

Tabby is right on the money. Great post

I agree. I used to enjoy searching. Now, the searches are only turning up the same resorts, which appear to be everything that can not be readily rented. In the past couple of years, my exchanges have been through ongoing searches and even these are getting chancier.

I've had ongoing searches placed 2 years out for 3 years running for about a dozen different resorts in Italy during shoulder season. I see many of these resorts available through extra vacations, but I have never gotten a hit on a single one.

tabbyc · #8 (**permalink**) 04-16-2009, 12:50 PM

I have been told that ongoing searches are discontinued 45 days before check-in and are only continued to 30 days before check-in if you call RCI and request it.

The availabilities of cancellations, late deposits, excess and bulk inventories used to go straight to the website after that.

People have told me they have had on-going searches for Hawaii for years and were never notified and did not know you can get to Hawaii much easier in the short term.

elena · #9 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 11:19 AM

Tabby is right. I also used to be able to get last minute stuff with RCI but no more.

Carolinian · #10 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 11:33 AM

Some posters OY have noticed that for those with Points accounts, they can see much more 45 day window inventory in the Weeks system than Weeks members can. Apparently RCI thinks the last minute inventory in our Weeks system is for Points and rentals, not for us.

Talk to you HOA. Ask them to at least dual affialiate with II, if not jump ship entirely. The value of off season weeks depends on these last minute exchanges being availible, and RCI is stabbing their own resorts in the back with their policies. Also ask them to educate their members about using the independent exchange companies.