Archive for July, 2009

RCI TV: New Timeshare Exchange Tool

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
Sunset in Cabo San Lucas
Image via Wikipedia

RCI has just launched a great new resource that will help you greatly with planning your timeshare exchange.  It’s called RCI TV.  It’s a new and innovative technology that enhances member experience by delivering important information by way of video.

RCI TV offers an entertaining and educational network filled with stories about RCI, products and services, and travel and resort information.

It’s hosted by the likable “Dan The RCI Guy” and consists of different channels you can click on to get more information.  As of now the 5 channels consist of; 35th Anniversary, Meet RCI, New Releases, Previews and Destination Reviews.   Unless you want promotional and background information about RCI you can forego the first two channels.

The New Releases channel demonstrates how to use RCI’s new search feature, Enhanced Search.    Enhanced Search has radically changed the online experience by providing members with a broad view of real time exchange vacations available to them and the ability to search using filters to help find the exact vacation experience they want.

On the Preview channel Dan talks about new features to expect in the near future.  Some nice enhancements to come are email notifications of the status of your current search, instant confirmations, side by side comparison or two resorts at once and personal resort recommendations based on your previous exchanges.

On the Destination Reviews channel you’ll find excellent recommendations of things to do on your timeshare exchange in different vacation areas.  Each video is only about 5 minutes long, shot in HD and worthy of being on The Travel Channel.

Currently there are 14 different vacation destinations with many more to come.  The videos on Hilton Head Island and Cabo San Lucas, two places I’ve lived and worked, included most everything I would recommend to someone headed there.

There will be a new channel called “Resort Showcase” to show off different resorts in HD.  They currently have 50 resorts signed up but the channel is not live yet.  This will be a great resource to use when doing a timeshare exchange, especially now that you’re able to see availability real time.  Now, instead of seeing a few old photos of a resort you’re interested in, you’ll be able to see new HD videos of the resort.

Here’s what the president and CEO of RCI had to say:

“The response to RCI TV and our Resort Showcase channel has been overwhelmingly positive. The response in Mexico alone was so tremendous that we were asked by both developers and the Government in that great ‘vacation nation’ to develop a destination promotion along with an all-inclusive channel to help spotlight the many features that the all-inclusive resorts there have to offer.  This is just one more way that we are working to support and promote our affiliates worldwide.”

To read the whole article, click here.

When doing a timeshare exchange we need all of the help we can get and RCI TV promises to be a very useful tool.

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 21 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of getting good exchanges.

I would love to have you share your opinions and personal insights on this blog.

For 10 FREE videos on getting a better exchange in RCI and II, go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.

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Do Big Timeshare Companies Get Preference With RCI and II?

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

I was asked a question the other day about whether timeshare owners in companies like  Disney, Hyatt, Marriott, Westin, Diamond, WorldMark and Hilton get preferential treatment when exchanging through RCI or Interval International.  I feel that big companies may get some extra privileges for their owners from both RCI or II but no one knows for sure. 

What I can tell you is that when an owner wants to do a timeshare exchange out of one of these high end timeshare companies, that a specific week from a specific resort still has to be deposited with RCI or Interval International.  And that’s what determines your trading power.  Therefore,  the better the resort and week you give up, the better your exchange.

But what about big companies like Diamond and WorldMark? Although Diamond claims more than 100 resorts and WorldMark more than 50 in their chain, many of them are third rate.  So if Diamond deposits a September week from the Coconut Palm Beach Resort for one of their members, they won’t have a lot of trading power.  That is, of course, unless II gives Diamond special treatment.

I’ve found that Interval International is now focusing more than ever on quality-of the week and resort deposited.  So my suggestion is to find out if you can pick which week and which resort you want deposited in RCI or Interval International.  For instance, if you’re a Diamond member, see if you can pick a February week from their Maui Resort or something similar.

They will probably tell you that “with Diamond it doesn’t make a difference which week is deposited.”  Don’t believe it.  Be persistent.  Most likely they won’t let you pick the exact week and resort so make them put in a good one.  Again, don’t let them tell you it doesn’t matter.  The reservation clerk believes that because they have been trained that way.

If you really want to nail it, then, oh dread, go through your closing documents to see what your rights are when exchanging.  They should be in there.  I’d also ask for the policy to be emailed to you. 

You may think this a lot of work but when it comes to exchanging you want  the most power you can get.  Never let some low level Owner Services reservation person convince you that all weeks are the same when it comes to exchanging.

You should also call RCI or Interval International  to ask if all weeks from your resort club exchange equally.  They will typically tap dance around such questions but do this everytime you’re on the phone with II.  I’ve gotten some really good information from II representatives that happened to be in a good mood that day.

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 21 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of getting good exchanges. 

I would love to have you share your opinions and personal insights on this blog. 

For 10 FREE videos on getting a better exchange in RCI and II, go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.  

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The Manhattan Club: Why Their Owners Have to Reserve So Far in Advance

Friday, July 17th, 2009

I came across a question on a blog that I answered about why an owner at the Manhattan Club now had to book at least 9 months in advance to get a
reservation when they could get a room in their Hilton Club New York City timeshare with only 1 day’s notice. My answer below pertains to all timeshares, not to just the Manhattan Club.  To see the article in full go to:

http://www.travel-plan-idea.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1082

The problem with the Manhattan Club is that it’s sold out or nearly sold out. They probably sold 50 or 51 weeks of the year like all timeshares do so they are at maximum capacity, unlike hotels that work on about 65% occupancy.  You need to find out exactly what the reservation parameters are for booking in weekly increments or less than weekly increments.

Manhattan Club

Manhattan Club

Typically, you can reserve a week of time more in advance than shorter stays. You’ll also want to find out if certain members have priority, or a longer booking window. This is not an uncommon perk to offer to people that buy bigger packages. There’s nothing you can do about it, but it’s good to know.

You’ll face the same problem with Hilton Club New York City as they near sell out and will have to make your reservations further and further in advance.  Timeshare works best if you can plan 9 or more months in advance, unfortunate in your case, but get to know all of the reservation parameters for the Manhattan Club and your Hilton so you can adjust.

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 21 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of getting good exchanges.

I would love to have you share your opinions and personal insights on this blog.

For 10 FREE videos on getting a better exchange in RCI and II, go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.

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Which Exchange Company is Best to Use: RCI or II

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

I was answering a question from a timeshare owner on another blog and decided to video it. I’ve been asked many times over my 20 years in timeshare which is a better exchange company, RCI or Interval International.  Check out a real life example in the video below.

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 21 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of getting good exchanges. 

I would love to have you share your opinions and personal insights on this blog. 

For 10 FREE videos on getting a better exchange in RCI and II, go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.  

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The 2011 Open Championship and Timesharing

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

The 2009 Open Championship Golf Tournament, or what we used to call, “The British Open”, kicks off this week at Scottland’s magnificent Turnburry Golf Course.  The Open is the oldest golf tournament in existence.  It was first played on 17 October 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club, in Ayrshire, Scotland.

The inaugural tournament was restricted to professionals, and attracted a field of eight Scottish golfers,[2] who played three rounds of Prestwick’s twelve-hole course in a single day. Willie Park Senior won with a score of 174, beating the favourite, Old Tom Morris, by two strokes. The following year the tournament was opened to amateurs; eight of them joined ten professionals in the field.

Certaninly it’s too late to go to this year’s tournament, but now is the time to start planning your timeshare exchange for the 2011 tournament at Royal St George’s  in Kent, England. 

Royal St. George

Royal St. George

 

Interval International and RCI have the same  3 resorts listed in Kent nearby the Royal St. Georges Golf Course:  Broome Park Golf and Country Club, Regency Villas at Broome Park and Hever Hotel and Country Club.  The first 2 only have 2 bedroom units.  

Regency Broome Park

Regency Broome Park

The Hever Hotel has a mix of 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and hotel units.

Hever Hotel and Country Club

Hever Hotel and Country Club

The chances of getting an exchang to one of these properties during the 2011 Open Championship are slim, but worth a try.  Especially if you own a good quality timeshare.

First you must place your request soon, preferably today, exactly 2 years in advance of the event.  It is being held July 14-17, 2011.  If there is already a waiting list when you call, it will be a short one.  Next you must list all 3 resorts and tell Interval International that you’ll be willing to take a 1 bedroom, even if you give up a 2 bedroom.  To increase your chances even more, be willing to take a hotel unit if there will only be 2 of you.  Getting into these resorts on a timeshare exchange during the summer would be difficult even without the Open Championship.

Now comes the hard part-waiting.  There will be very little inventory to come out of these resort during 2011 Open Championship because the owners will be using or renting it out.   And the exchange weeks that are deposited with Interval International and RCI aren’t likely make it into their exchange pool until sometime in 2010.  But by putting in your request now you’re giving yourself a substantial leg up over the vast majority of people that will request after you.

So start your request now and remember that since it will likely be a year or more before you are confirmed, you can change your request at anytime to another timeshare resort for no charge.

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 21 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of getting good exchanges. 

I would love to have you share your opinions and personal insights on this blog. 

For 10 FREE videos on getting a better exchange in RCI and II, go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.  

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How to Get 4th of July When Exchanging With RCI or Interval International

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

The 4th of July is one of the most difficult weeks to get on exchange in either RCI or Interval International. Now that the 2009 holiday is over you should be putting in your exchange request today for 4th of July 2010. The longer you wait,  the less chances you have of getting it.

Many timeshare owners don’t get around to putting in their exchange requests until after they receive their annual HOA bill. And typically that bill arrives in January of each year. Only those owners that have very powerful trading timeshares will be able to get 4th of July 2010 if they wait until next year to put in their request.

You should never wait until you receive your HOA bill to pay it. If you really want to increase your exchange power you should always request next year’s vacation this year. And that means you’ll have to pre-pay next year’s HOAs now. Many timeshare owners are unaware that they can do this so they wait. And as a consequence, they have less likelihood of getting what they want on exchange.

Most timeshare companies will let you pre-pay you HOA’s by credit card over the phone. Or you may be able to send in a check. But doing it that way will probably delay you getting in your exchange request by several weeks while your payment is being processed. And the longer you delay putting in your request the less your chances of getting confirmed.

Another thing to consider when requesting 4th of July week is that you’ll only be giving RCI or Interval International 1 week to search for. This adds another degree of difficulty to and already difficult exchange request. To offset this you need to increase the amount of resorts you’re willing to take. A good strategy to use to do this is to request 4th of July week in several different resort areas instead of just one.

For instance, you could request 8 resorts in Vail, Colorado, 6 in Whistler, British Colombia, 10 on the California coast and 8 on the Oregon coast. By doing this you would increase your odds of getting confirmed enormously.

So get going for next year’s 4th of July holiday now.  I’ve found that the timeshare owners that typically exchange for holiday weeks are planners by nature.  And they are some of the savviest timeshare exchangers in the industry.  The best way to compete with them is to get in your request early and to give a lot of resort choices.

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 21 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of getting good exchanges. 

I would love to have you share your opinions and personal insights on this blog. 

For 10 FREE videos on getting a better exchange in RCI and II, go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.  

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Posted in Alerts-Exchanging Timeshares, How To Do A Timeshare Exchange | No Comments »