If you belong to RCI, would you please tell me of your experience with trading weeks/resorts? I have been told both:

1. It's best to reserve a week in a different resort at least two years in advance.
2. It is best to try and take a last-minute trip and book your resort then.

I am a part of the Sunterra group, which allows me some flexible freedom to pick and choose among their resorts. There are also some other RCI resorts which I am interested in booking, and have experienced some difficulties.

Thanks in advance for any replies you might leave me.

Happy Trails,
Paul

Nobody uses RCI?

*curious*

Hello Paul,
We have a timeshare with RCI. Basically, your wxchange capabilities vary depending on whether you own a desirable unit, where you want to exchange to and when. RCI has an easy website to navigate, you can have THEM do a search, which I don't like, or do one yourself intermittently, because units become available daily. If you want a popular destination, start searching as far in advance as possible. I have used their website solely and have had pretty good luck when I check back often. It does take time though. We also have a timeshare with Interval, I like the RCI website better.
Hope I have answered your question.
A.M.

Dear A.M.

Thank you so very much for your reply. I have visted their website, but have not found many openings. I have all of my travel plans arranged for 2002, but I am currently looking for the following year. I will keep checking per your advice.

Happy Trails,
Paul

Keep trying. A lot of people do not bank their weeks more than a year in advance (some even less) since you usually have to pay your maintenance fee before you can bank. Plus, some of the vacation clubs (like mine) don't let you reserve more than a year in advance. I've had success with both on-going searches and searching on the website. You can have it both ways. If you enter an ongoing search, when you check the status on the website there is a way to "change your search". This will do an immediate search, but you don't have to save the results. Without the ongoing search, I was always afraid I might be losing good units to someone who did have a search entered.

As a member of RCI for many years it is best to bank your week ASAP, then start looking or do an on going search. I like to talk to a VC because we are retired an our time slots can be longer than the 10 wk. they allow on line. A lot depends on when others bank. Usually the maint. fees are due around the first of the year and then you'll start seeing more areas/units open up. Another great place to ask these questions is on the Timeshare Users Group BBS @ www.tug2.net Is was set up for timeshare users to share and exchange their ideas, experience and reviews of many of the RCI and II (and other exchange co.) units/resorts. Anyone can log in for most of the information, but there is a "member" only section...The first page tells you about TUG and how and why it was started. Hope to see you on the board.

to the top

What is this "topper"? Does this mean the discussion is over??? Please explain?

Topping or TOT (to the top) is just someone posting to bring the thread to the top so it may get more answers.

As for RCI - our family has traded more than 25 weeks over the years. Mostly in Europe but also in Oregon and Hawaii. It has always gone without a hitch. My Mom prefers to talk to agents since she thinks she gets special treatment (they look for openings for us etc.) I am not sure that is so but we have almost always been able to get what we want when we want. But 2 years ahead is probably too far since as the others have said many folks don't bank their weeks until early in the calendar year.