RCI Points
Flexibility and Freedom
Resort Condominiums International (RCI) has been at the forefront of the Timeshare exchange industry since the 1970s.
As the original exchange system evolved, many members were concerned that they were not always getting the best from their ownership. People who owned peak season weeks in the highest "Gold Crown" standard resorts often found their exchange accommodation, although far superior to a mainstream holiday resort, to be of a lower quality than that of their home resort.
In response to this lack of fairness, RCI introduced a new and innovative system called RCI Points. Rather than depositing a week into the Spacebank and making an exchange, owners were instead given a yearly allocation of points that corresponded to the size and quality of their ownership.
If, for example, you owned a two-bedroom, Gold Crown apartment in the Canary Islands - which incidentally commands year round Red Time - you could expect a points value of between 70-90,000 points. A Blue Time studio apartment in Portugal however could carry as little as 10,000 points a year.
So now, those with the best ownership could get the most from the exchange system. If an owner wanted three weeks in a one-bedroom apartment they simply paid the points value for the resort chosen. Any points left over could be saved until the following year or put towards products such as travel insurance, car hire, weekend city breaks and until recently flights.
This system has become extremely popular with Timeshare owners worldwide, with more and more moving across every year to take advantage of its enhanced fairness and flexibility.
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To read a testimonial in full, simply click it
This was the best move I made
"Overall, points is a much more flexible, adaptable and generally better method"
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I originally owned 2 weeks at Paradise Club, Tenerife on a normal "swap" basis where I banked my weeks and booked elsewhere as I chose.
However when my personal circumstances changed and this system no longer worked for me, I chose to change to RCI Points.
This was the best move I made since the points are extremely flexible. I can have several holidays a year if I choose or blow all the points on one amazing holiday. It is possible to use the points to get accommodation from studio to two bedrooms plus - regardless of one's original holding.
Overall, points is a much more flexible, adaptable and generally better method of Timeshare ownership.
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"Knowledge that the accommodation is always good"
"Opportunities to take more weeks holiday"
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Flexibility - e.g. have had 3 holidays (4 weeks) in one year - Florida x 2 weeks, 2 separate weeks in Great Britain.
Opportunities to take more weeks holiday.
Points partners... cottages, car hire, air flight.
Knowledge that accommodation is always good.
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Thank you for making us feel so much at home
"We are certainly pleased we chose to come to Hollywood Mirage this year"
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We would like to thank you for making us feel so much at home at Hollywood Mirage and for making our exchange holiday a very memorable one.
The entire staff (maintenance, catering, cleaning, reception) etc. are all most helpful, polite and good humoured.
The Sales Office team, especially Dave (Gilmour), have been thorough and are very dedicated to their work. Brian and I feel as if we have acquired another friend in Dave.
We are certainly pleased we chose to come to Hollywood Mirage this year and hope to have many happy return visits.
Thanking you all.
Best wishes.
Ann and Brian Johnson
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Impressed by the way work is done
"The resorts are beautiful and great to stay at"
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The resorts are beautiful and very great to stay at. We are impressed by the way that the work is done for all the efforts in the person of Yolanda. She gave us the best way how things are supposed to be sold and all the things were perfectly explained in the red area of the years.
Right now because of the crisis there is no possibility but when our personal crisis in jobs is over we will be in contact again.
With kind regards
Corien Offenhaus
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The points system is a great idea
"We decided to purchase"
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The points system is a great idea! We decided to purchase after a lengthy and informative discussion with Andy.
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You gave us excellent service
"Thank you for the completion of our transfer from standard Timeshare weeks to points"
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Hi Gerry,
Just a short mail to thank you for the completion of our transfer from standard Timeshare weeks to points. We received the information package this week which we both think is beautifully presented by RCI (by the way).
We also received the most beautiful pink gerbera from you, which coincidentally was the ‘signature' flower for our wedding last year - you must be psychic! ‘Daisy' now shows herself off very proudly outside our front door.
Finally we are of course looking forward to showing off your amazing sales skills by disposing of our Beverley Hills Heights and Hollywood Mirage Club weeks in the very near future.
You gave us an excellent service whilst we were on Tenerife, we look forward to that continuing.
Regards
Bob and Caroline Howard
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We have found the RCI Points staff very helpful
"We expect to have many more holidays with RCI points over the next few years"
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This year we have booked 2 weeks at Anfi Beach Club for 4 people in June and a week in Victoria, Vancouver Island in September for 2 people and we have some points left over for a possible short late break in the UK later in the year.
We have found the RCI Points staff very helpful, and although we are anxious as to the way costs for management and maintenance fees continue to rise, we expect to have many more holidays with RCI points over the next few years.
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"The system provides flexibility"
"I can well recommend joining the points system"
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We have been Timeshare owners for 12 years and use the points system without any problems.
The system provides flexibility and ability to take several holidays each year.
Since buying at Hollywood Mirage 3 years ago this has given us more buying power and ability to go where we want on holiday.
I can well recommend joining the points system.
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A fantastic apartment
"We have decided to sell our remaining week"
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My sister and I inherited three weeks of Timeshare when our parents both passed away.
Quite early on we realized that we would struggle to use all three weeks and thus offloaded two, keeping the prime week at the Hollywood Mirage.
This is a fantastic apartment and ideal for those that want a week away in the sun or to exchange for a week anywhere in the world through RCI.
This type of holiday no longer suites either my sisters or my family's requirements and thus we have decided to sell our remaining week.
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Enjoyed exchanges through RCI
"The quality of accommodation has always been very high"
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Bought in Dec 1991, apt 1201. Met Emlyn at Beverly Hills Heights then too! We have been back over many years and also enjoyed exchanges through RCI to Florida three times, Vegas and mainland Spain. The quality of accommodation has always been very high and good value. We now own four weeks at Hollywood Mirage Club and utilise the weeks fully. We purchased all our weeks through Resort Properties Resales.
Mr Callow
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It works perfectly
"We feel it is the way forward"
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We have owned time share for 18 years and have absolutely no complaints at all. We have exchanged weeks easily and can honestly say it works perfectly.
The standards are excellent and the choice over the years has improved greatly. We changed to points in 2007 and that has given us flexibility.
We feel it is the way forward. We like the choice in hotels, car hire, and cruises through points partners.
I use the website all the time but if stuck the staff at RCI on the telephone are courteous and helpful.
We feel if you have any spare cash invest it with time share - you will not be disappointed.
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Better holiday value
"the points system is far more flexible and gives us much better holiday value"
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In our experience over many years as weeks and latterly points members, we believe that the points system is far more flexible and gives us much better holiday value than the weeks system.
Our visit to Florida in 2005 was a prime example. We were able to have 2 x 2 bedroom apartments for 2 weeks for the whole family of ten at a Gold Crown resort with our points and still have some points left over for 2006.
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For all the Family
"We bought a studio week 52 in August 2008 for high points value"
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We bought a studio week 52 in August 2008 for high points value.
We have been able to book a 2 bedroom apartment in the Hollywood Mirage Club week 20 which has enabled us to bring out our son, daughter in law and 2 grandsons.
We have also successfully booked week 34 in a 2 bed in the Hollywood Mirage Club 2009.
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Advantages of Points
"I have no hesitation in recommending the advantages of Points over Weeks"
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My wife and I are long established owners at Palm Beach, Beverly Hills Club and Hollywood Mirage, owning a total of six weeks.
Over the years, we have often found it difficult to take sufficient holidays to be able to use all of our weeks and have on occasion forfeited weeks because they were out of time.
The introduction of the points system, to which we transferred our weeks in September 2001, has allowed us increased flexibility particularly with the ability to use points towards the cost of travel.
The last occasion was October/November last year when we used our points allocation to purchase our flights to Perth Australia to visit our daughter and her family there.
I have no hesitation in recommending the advantages of Points over Weeks on the assumption that the weeks are given a high points value at the time of transfer.
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Transformed our holiday
"All in all we have not found a downside to being in the points system"
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We have found that joining the points system has transformed our holiday options from the old weeks system which we found too rigid.
1. All resorts are valued for each week (i.e.) week 1 could be 40,000pts where week 52 would be 80,000pts with fluctuations throughout the year based on popularity of a particular week.
2. We are flexible with our needs to have vacations and can pick slightly less popular times (when there are no children's holidays!). by choosing less popular times we can enjoy 6 or 7 weeks a year on an ownership of 4 weeks.
3. The points system also rewards late bookings with up to 50% discounts for booking 15 days or less before the holiday. With booking "online" this is easy and tickets can often be picked up at the airport on departure.
All in all we have not found a downside to being in the points system and would recommend it to those who can be flexible in their choice of holiday dates.
Charles Swan and Brenda Swan
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Members for nine years
"Another benefit of points membership is that we can take advantage of extra deals"
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RCI points members for nine years. Took membership in the UK at a Gold Crown resort. Currently have 77,000 points available annually. These can be used at any RCI resort either ‘points' or ‘weeks' resorts.
Typically, this allows us to have 2 holidays each year at resorts elsewhere in the world such as Gran Canaria, Tenerife, etc.
Another benefit of points membership is that we can take advantage of extra deals such as ‘Bonus weeks', last minute deals, etc. These can be purchased using points but can be supplemented with cash.
In general, points gives much greater flexibility than ‘weeks' as you get the opportunity to carry forward unused points also to bring forward points from the next year.
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Very polite and helpful
"We are very happy with the points system and have never encountered any problems"
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Under the old system there was insufficient credit for desirable property and desirable time of year.
The points system gives us flexibility of time and destinations to visit (e.g. cruises, flights, car hire).
We are very happy with the points system and have never encountered any problems using the system. Booking Personnel are always very polite and helpful.
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Flexibility
"The main benefit of the system is its flexibility"
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I have been a points member for about 5 years I have 53,000 points I do not use all of my points in any one year and a benefit of the system is the facility to carry unused points over to following years.
The main benefit of the system is its flexibility - I can book holidays at very short notice (and save points in the process) or I can book many months ahead if I want to.
Another benefit is the ability to transfer holidays into another person's name this means that I can utilise my points for other family members of friends with payment for a guest certificate.
I have been impressed with the quality of resort in the RCI portfolio and also their affiliated resorts, The "Key Count" destinations are reasonably accurate - something unusual in holiday brochures!!
The RCI.com website is fairly useful though could be made a little more comprehensive it is certainly adequate from checking out resort availability though it is always worth a phone call if you can't find what you want.
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Well managed accommodation
"Resort Properties have given us great flexibility to suit our needs"
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Whilst on holiday in Madeira three years ago we won a promotion holiday in Tenerife with Resort Properties which we took in November 2007.
We had misgivings about time share but after our experience and much thought - we bought into the points system and used some of them the following year November 2008.
Our experience of Resort Properties efficiency and the professional way we have been dealt with we decided to change to two set weeks in November at Hollywood Mirage to an apartment of our choice.
This change was easily done leaving us enough points this year to bring out our family for a fabulous week which has well suited the three generations - a time in April we shall all remember.
Also enough points to give some to a friend to use in England this October. We are now looking forward to enjoying a week of luxury in the Paradiso Club followed by our two weeks in November.
Next year we look forward to taking two friends to Malta for a week. Resort Properties have given us great flexibility to suit our needs in very high quality well managed accommodation.
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Works well for us
"we have found the system works well for us, having made lots of exchanges"
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With reference to your telephone call regarding RCI points, we have found the system works well for us, having made lots of exchanges.
We have been able to exchange into the UK during school holidays enabling us to holiday with children and grandchildren in three bedroom accommodation which we were never able to do on the weeks system.
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Very easy to use
"we get more holidays per year with points than with the week"
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Twelve years ago we purchased a week at a resort in Malta which gave us the opportunity to exchange for a week in another resort. Five years on we decided to move to the points system.
We find this is much more flexible and very easy to use, a little like having money in a bank, you draw out just the amount you need for the holiday e.g. 100,000 points you draw out 40,000 for a holiday leaving you 60,000 points.
Very easy we get more holidays per year with points than with the week. You can use points for so many different things e.g. car hire and flights.
One of the best things is ‘late deals', ring last minute get a great deal, just use a few points. You can leave and use next year or borrow from next year. If you use wisely you can get several holidays a year.
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My first investment
"I am very pleased with our purchase and instinctively feel it is correct for me and my family"
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As a ‘newbie' to timeshare I was very cautious when making my first investment. It is a bit like when you buy your first car or house. You don't want to make a mistake.
The Resort Properties sales team based at the Hollywood Mirage gave me a ‘deal' to allow me to put my toe in the water at minimum perceived risk and expenditure whilst allowing me to make my first investment.
With our 25th wedding anniversary at the end of the year we can now start planning something special. I am very pleased with our purchase and instinctively feel it is correct for me and my family.
I have purchased something I am happy to use myself or use through the world wide RCI points scheme. We are all now looking forward to many more quality holidays.
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Locations excellent
"Worldwide accommodation, locations excellent, all staff friendly and helpful"
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Resort Properties - Excellent accommodation, value for money, more than one week, exchange for number of points.
Worldwide accommodation, locations excellent, all staff friendly and helpful, family have usage.
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Excellent holidays
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We changed our 3 weeks - Red Time August - to Points - 206,000 - about 6 years ago, and we have been very pleased with the decision.
Our 2 fixed weeks in Tenerife gave us excellent holidays, especially as my wife and I are teachers, and could only go on holiday in August. At first my wife retired, then myself 3 years ago, the flexibility of points has given us 5 or 6 weeks' holidays each year in high-class resorts. We were also able to put all our points together last year to take our extended family of 10 on holiday together at the same time for two weeks.
We have found that if you have a flexible timescale - e.g. any 2 consecutive weeks in June - and a fairly wide area e.g. Algarve, and book reasonably well in advance, then we have been allocated Gold Crown Resorts.
This year we have booked 2 weeks at Anfi Beach Club for 4 people in June, and a week in Victoria, Vancouver Island in September for 2 people, and we have some points left over for a possible short late break in the UK later in the year.
We have found the RCI Points Staff very helpful, and although we are anxious as to the way costs for management and maintenance fees continue to rise, we expect to have many more holidays with RCI Points over the next few years.
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Advise other members
"would advise other members in our situation to make use of the points system"
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We have been owners for some 15 years with RCI on a weekly basis. Approx 15 years ago we changed to the points system. Whilst we only have 1 week valued at 64,500 points we have found this to be sufficient for our needs.
Being retired we do not have to travel at peak times and have been able to exchange the points to gain some two to four weeks holiday per year. The majority of the time we have found the accommodation and destinations to have been good quality and adequate for our needs.
In conclusion we have found the points system beneficial to our use and would advise other members in our situation to make use of the points system.
Stuart and Christine Hoyle
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On the Internet
"by judicial using and planning we can get 3 weeks holiday a year"
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We have been using points since the start and have found by judicial using and planning we can get 3 weeks holiday a year - sometimes using the borrowing facility.
Most of booking is done on the Internet, but find the office very helpful when needed.
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Members for 25 years
"We have always been happy with the quality of the units"
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Me and my wife have been coming to Tenerife, for over 25 years and bought in Beverly Hills Club in 1985.
Transfered up into The Heights into 2 bedroom duplex, so that we could bring the family.
We have always been happy with the quality of the units and the upkeep of the resort. We have now moved our membership into the RCI points system. Owning a 1 bedroom deluxe in the Hollywood Mirage.
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Another great advantage
"This system is excellent we have just returned from the USA"
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We currently own six weeks with the Hollywood Mirage at one point having three of the weeks up for sale until we came across the RCI points system and changed all our weeks to points.
We have found the points system far more flexible than having weeks, you are able to upgrade with ease, and we have on several occasions upgraded to a larger unit in Madeira and the USA.
It does mean you use more of your points but you are able to plan in advance the use of all your points. You are of course allowed to carry over as you are with weeks.
Another great advantage with the points system which we have used on three occasions are the points partners where you change your points for car hire, flights, etc.
This system is excellent we have just returned from the USA where we used our Interval International weeks for the holiday and 39,000 points from RCI for the four weeks' car hire.
We have not once regretted changing our weeks into points. We have praised the system and recommended it to other timeshare owners we have met. If or when Interval International adopts the same system we would have no hesitation changing our American weeks to points.
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Points are the way to go
"We feel that points are the way to go"
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We have used the points system as follows:-
2000, Club Olympus Tenerife, 1 week.
2001, Anfi Beach Club, 3 weeks.
2003, (using points from 02, 03 & 04 plus cash) Hawaiian Cruise Celebrity Cruises, also including nights in hotels in Vancouver and Waikiki before & after respectively.
2005, Hollywood Mirage, 2 weeks home resort different weeks.
2005, Tenerife Sun Club, 2 weeks Home resort different weeks.
We have found the system works well generally, in that you can spend your points on the size of apartment you require, at the time of year you choose, without having to match up what you own with what you wish to book.
We have not used the facility of spending a few days in a resort instead of a full week; this is mainly because we are retired and so can spare the time to stay for a week, but also because not all resorts offer this option.
One disappointment has been that not all flights can be paid for in points - only scheduled ones. We feel that points are the way to go, and RCI seems to be focussing on them rather than the weeks system.
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Size of apartment we want
"We like the system it works for us very well"
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The points system is very flexible.
Lets us book the size of apartment we want from 1 bedroom to 2 bedroom with points we have gone to Arizona, Oak tree plantation in Orlando, 3 visits to Costa del Sol to name a few.
We like the system it works for us very well and as you can see we do use as much as we can. We do recommend the system, much better than banking weeks. It was a good move.
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To read a testimonial in full, simply click it
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