RCI or II Trading Power For Vistana Beach Club

[sgt1010]

Hello All,
I just recently purchased a 2 BR at Vistana Beach Club, it was a reale so it is not part of the Starwood system. I am wondering which week would give me the best trading power. I have floating weeks, 5-35, 40-47 and 51-52. As soon as the deed arrives I will join either RCI or II. I am wondering which week I should book for 2013 that will give me the greatest trading power. Looking to go to Orlando in 2014, not really sure if we would like to try and get a disney property or not. Any info would be graetly appreciated.

[ArtsieAng]

Welcome to TS4M's!

II has weeks 52, and 5 thru 14 as the highest demand weeks.....I would think that Xmas, Pres Wk or Spring Break would be your best weeks. Holiday weeks usually have a higher demand.

Other than grabbing a Disney, II would most likely be a better bet for you since you would get the Starwood preference. Also, you should check to make sure that you would receive enough TPU's from RCI for your unit to allow you to trade into a Disney.

Good luck!

[chriskre]

I don't own in Starwood but do see that RCI seems to undervalue this resort with respect to the number of trading power that they assign. If you can choose your week to deposit you may improve your chances of getting enough trade power without having to use two years worth of points and then have to pay a combine fee of $109 in addition. For example many weeks are only 14 to 21 points assigned for some of those weeks. It will take high 20's to 30's or maybe more to book a Disney unit.

In II you have the great starwood to starwood preference which can get you some great stuff.
I am sure the starwood experts will be along very soon with better advice.
Welcome to the forum.

[ArtsieAng]

From my own personal experience, Starwood will choose which week (within the season that is owned) that will be deposited into either exchange company. In both II and RCI, Starwood has averaged out the trading power, so that it no longer makes a difference which week is deposited.

With II, Starwood gives you more of a season, and resort grading, opposed to an actual week. You place a request, and Starwood only deposits a week for you, after the request has been filled by II. Of course, you do receive the Starwood preference which is a huge plus, IMO.

With RCI, your week gets deposited up front, but the trading value is averaged out over the entire season. No upgrade/more points for holiday weeks, or higher demand weeks within a particular season.

I don't own in Starwood but do see that RCI seems to undervalue this resort with respect to the number of trading power that they assign. If you can choose your week to deposit you may improve your chances of getting enough trade power without having to use two years worth of points and then have to pay a combine fee of $109 in addition. For example many weeks are only 14 to 21 points assigned for some of those weeks. It will take high 20's to 30's or maybe more to book a Disney unit.

In II you have the great starwood to starwood preference which can get you some great stuff.
I am sure the starwood experts will be along very soon with better advice.
Welcome to the forum.

[sgt1010]

Just researched SFX and my resort is in their directory. Has anyone had any history with them? What I have read on here seems to be all positive if your resort is affiliated.

What I was was told by Starwood is that since I am buying a resale I am not part of the Starwood vacation system, don't know how this will work. Will have to see.

[ArtsieAng]

That is correct.....You are not part of the Starwood StarOptions plan. So, you cannot trade your week within the Starwood Vacation Network.
However, when exchanging your week with RCI, or II, Starwood will treat your week the same as a Star Option wk. Unfortunately, you will have the same restrictions when it comes to choosing, or depositing a week into II, or RCI.

SFX is a different story, as far as I know.......If you are interested in depositing a week in SFX, or any other exchange co outside of RCI & II.....You should book the highest demand week in your season that you can get, and then on your own, deposit it into SFX, etc. I do not believe that Starwood will interfere with your deposit, outside of deposits into RCI & II.

Just researched SFX and my resort is in their directory. Has anyone had any history with them? What I have read on here seems to be all positive if your resort is affiliated.

What I was was told by Starwood is that since I am buying a resale I am not part of the Starwood vacation system, don't know how this will work. Will have to see.

[chriskre]

Just researched SFX and my resort is in their directory. Has anyone had any history with them? What I have read on here seems to be all positive if your resort is affiliated.

What I was was told by Starwood is that since I am buying a resale I am not part of the Starwood vacation system, don't know how this will work. Will have to see.

SFX can work for some if you want to go to the places that they are strong jn. Examples are London, New York, mexico and California.

As for being part of Starwood they are referring to having staroption points that do not transfer on resale at many of their resorts. Because of this the value of many resale weeks have tanked. In order to trade into another starwood resort you will need to trade thru interval international and pay a fee to join and another fee to exchange.

[chriskre]

I seem to be posting at the same time as Angela. Sorry to repeat the same info.

[sgt1010]

So basically having the prime float season is no advantage with RCI or II. Looks like I will take a closer look at SFX. Thanks for the info.

[sgt1010]

The value has tanked, I purchased mine for a dollar. MF are a little on the high side but what I would spend to rent would be higher. With a family of 5 a hotel room is not an option. We love the area of Jensen Beach so we will use the home resort most of the time.