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Author
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Topic: SA timeshares - better value for trading or deposting into RCI Points?
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BocaBum99
TUG MemberPosts: 1474
From:
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 07-28-2004 09:08
    
I was wondering if SA timeshares have better trading value as weeks or in points. I'd like your perspective on this topic based on your experiences.I have been doing research to buy SA timeshares to supplement an RCI points account through points for deposit. I have been looking at the prices and levies for various properties focusing a lot of attention on annual $MF/point.
One of the things that concerned me was the endemic 10-15% inflation rates across the board for maintenance fees. I don't know how long that will last, but eventually it will get to the point where SA is no longer a value relative to the alternatives. From a strict points valuation perspective over a 5 year planning period and assuming 10% inflation for SA and 3% for Australia, Australia looks very attractive relative to SA. So, for a long term bet, it seems Australia provides a much better value even though short term SA is better. Has anyone else concluded something similar or different than this? I was wondering if the straight weeks exchange value for SA properties are superior to Australia. My impression is that it is. I haven't done the assessment for weeks, so your expertise in this area would be helpful. Any thoughts on this matter?
IP: Logged |
philemer
Moderator
TUG VolunteerPosts: 2558
From: Idaho-God's Country.
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 07-28-2004 12:28
I've done a lot of reading and I don't think I've seen anyone who uses their Aussie week as a "weeks" trader. Usually they are already converted to "points" and that's how folks use them. A SA week converted to points may or may not get you a better trade than by just using the week. It depends on how many "points" you could get, which depends on "color", # of BRs and "status" (GC, RID or Standard). My 'guess' is that you could pull some better resorts with "points" than you could using it as a "week". Phil You might try posting the Aussie vs. SA "weeks" question on the Exchanging forum. ------------------
Be careful of what you wish for... IP: Logged |
king1
TUG MemberPosts: 986
From: Auburn, IL USA , Qunu Lodge Pearly Shells, Silversands(6)
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 07-28-2004 14:16
Some time back this question, or a similar one, came up and prompted me to total the point values of all my trades for the year(about a dozen). The exact figures are gone from my rapidly failing memory, but I think the value of my exchanges was about 340K, while the deposits used only had a generic point value of around 220K. If that condition still holds true, the use of SA weeks as weeks gives much more value than converting them to points. However, everything changes, and I'm afraid that SA weeks won't give that large an advantage now unless you are trading into very specific areas and times. For example, you can probably still get 2BR GC red weeks in Mexico or Orlando for a 1BR white SA worth 18K-- a tremendous increase in point value. Just remember that all the info I'm giving you is history, and I wouldn't even hazard a guess about the future. IP: Logged |
michelle
TUG MemberPosts: 586
From: Springfield, VA
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 07-30-2004 16:45
To add to the previous posts...Currently, most SA's trade the same in Weeks, or to me more accurate, they trade in more or less 3 groups, with the top resorts pulling better but fewer resorts, and the "worst" resorts pulling worse, but possibly more, resorts - all regardless of the size of the unit. So, currently, my feeling is that if you own a 3 bedroom Gold Crown resort, you would be doing better with Points. However, with a standard, small unit, you would do better with Weeks, since you could get a bigger unit than what you deposit. Also, with the generic point values that all SA's get, the bigger the unit, the more the points. Resort quality (GC/RID/Standard) plays a smaller role here. ( I seem to remember that a 3 bed RID gets more points than a 2 bed GC) IP: Logged |
Diane
TUG MemberPosts: 713
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 08-01-2004 11:30
King1 -- I am very impressed with your approach to analyzing the question of points v. weeks and would like to do the same with my exhanges. However, I have not paid enough attention to the points discussions to know where to start. Where would I find the points values for my four SA weeks, and for the exchanges? We have done 27 exchanges, all in the US with a concentration in the west.Thanks much, Diane IP: Logged |
king1
TUG MemberPosts: 986
From: Auburn, IL USA , Qunu Lodge Pearly Shells, Silversands(6)
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 08-01-2004 11:47
Diane,
Here's the chart I use, and I hope that this link will get it to you. It uses Acrobat Reader and may require more than this. I'm pretty much computer challenged, but I'm sure someone else here can correct me if I'm wrong.
http://www.rci.com/GPN2/CDA/Common/pdf/RCIWeeksResortsExchangeGrids.pdf IP: Logged |
Diane
TUG MemberPosts: 713
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 08-02-2004 05:39
King1,It came through just fine. Thank you. In trying to find out the point values of the SA resorts we own all I could come up with were the values on this chart. I called RCI Points and learned that two of our SA resorts are points resorts and therefore I could not use the Points for Deposit program for them. RCI Points could not give me the values for these points resorts as they are set by South Africa and, according to the VC, vary widely. For the two SA resorts we own that are strictly weeks resorts the VC gave me the values from your chart. So, I guess the best I can do is use the chart for values on both ends of the equation, though it will leave out the cost of converting two weeks to points as well as any variation in their points value from the chart. Have I analyzed this correctly so far? Diane IP: Logged |
JeffV
TUG MemberPosts: 3835
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 08-02-2004 07:05
Don't believe what the VCs told you. I don't think there are any SA resorts in RCI Points. They are in SA points which has nothing to do with RCI Points and often confuses the VCs. I would send an email to feedback@RCI.com and put TUG in the subject line and ask the question again. I have a feeling you will get a different answer.------------------
All my postings, except those showing changes in the reviews on the Western US section are my personal views and have nothing to do with my volunteer efforts. The latest reviews can always be found at the Western U.S. Review Index Page. IP: Logged |
king1
TUG MemberPosts: 986
From: Auburn, IL USA , Qunu Lodge Pearly Shells, Silversands(6)
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 08-02-2004 07:29
It has always been my understanding that there aren't any SA resorts in RCI points, but have no firm evidence of that. Perhaps an email to Tony at tletizia@rci.co.za would give you the most accurate and up to date info. He usually responds promptly and is very knowledgeable.IP: Logged |
philemer
Moderator
TUG VolunteerPosts: 2558
From: Idaho-God's Country.
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 08-02-2004 17:51
quote:
Originally posted by Diane:
King1,It came through just fine. Thank you. In trying to find out the point values of the SA resorts we own all I could come up with were the values on this chart. I called RCI Points and learned that two of our SA resorts are points resorts and therefore I could not use the Points for Deposit program for them. RCI Points could not give me the values for these points resorts as they are set by South Africa and, according to the VC, vary widely. For the two SA resorts we own that are strictly weeks resorts the VC gave me the values from your chart. So, I guess the best I can do is use the chart for values on both ends of the equation, though it will leave out the cost of converting two weeks to points as well as any variation in their points value from the chart. Have I analyzed this correctly so far? Diane
There are no SA resorts that are RCI Points resorts. Madge has stated this many times. The VG was wrong. Call another VG until you get a knowledgable one. Use the chart king1 linked you to.
Phil ------------------
Be careful of what you wish for... IP: Logged |
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