RCI Timeshare Exchange Company

Len and I have had timeshares for 13 years now. The first 2 we purchased belonged to Interval International (II), but the third one was through RCI. We dropped the II program because both the RCI and II were costing us a yearly fee of around $120, and we never exchanged with II.

RCI have the most properties to choose from, exchange, or get a last minute deal.

When we purchased our 'Vacation Village at Parkway', we actually bought RCI points to use for vacationing. We paid cash for them, and it entitled us to so many points a year. They also gave us a free 'Bonus Week', for the rest of our lives. This meant that we could use our points for other vacations, and use the Bonus Week, to go to Vacation Village at Parkway. We only paid a fee for doing this. I believe it is around $249 for 7 nights, 8 days.

We have used our points over the years to have a few nights on South Beach, Miami, and other destinations. All were excellent.

So we were going to a convention in Daytona from Wednesday 16th June to Sunday 20th June. I suggested to Len that we use up some of our points and get a timeshare in St. Augustine, for a couple of nights.

I phoned RCI points, and they didn't have a timeshare at that beach. However, they would put me in contact with their RCI partner's program, and we could have a good quality hotel at this beach. I agreed and we were transferred to that department.

To cut a very long story short, for 25,000 points, we got 2 nights at the St. Augustine Beachfront Resort. There was also a $32 booking fee.

We got our confirmation and were all set.

Two weeks before we went, I pulled up the hotel on the Internet, and phoned them with a couple of questions. They told me that I had booked through Hotwire. Well, the girl got it wrong because it was Orbitz.

The hotel was dirty, grimed in dirt, wallpaper torn, bits broken off areas, and totally rundown. You can read my review on Associated Content about this.

When I got back I phoned RCI and complained about them putting us in such a hotel. The lady did listen to my complaints, and made a note not to use this hotel, for the rest of the year.

However, I think that as RCI take my money every year to do 'exchanges' they should be responsible for where they put us. To put a valued customer out to Orbitz that will find the cheapest place, puts them down in my esteem.

RCI if you want people to stay with you, then make sure that you are giving the quality of service that is expected of you. Why should I pay $124 a year just to belong, plus a $32 fee, to be put in the worst possible hotel I have ever seen, and don't forget you had 25,000 points as well.

RCI
Telephone 1-877-968-7476.