Ever thought of trading your timeshare week for a cruise, or using your RCI points toward a week long adventure at sea? As many of you may already know, RCI owners are able to book cruises through RCI timeshare exchange by applying unused points, borrowing points from a future year, or banking and trading a weeks time share. RCI will generally use the option for cruise vacations as a selling point for their program, but are they really a good deal? This article will explore the ways to book a cruise through RCI, and look at whether or not trading your timeshare for a cruise is a worth it.
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1. Direct Exchange

The most basic way or exchanging your timeshare is through owner to owner. This requires finding another timeshare owner willing to exchange their week for yours. Each of you would notify the respected resort and notify them of the other owner using your week. A great way to find interested parties is to use sites like Craigslist, Timeshare Forums and Timex.

Some resorts offer and exchange program. If your resort is one it gives you the option to exchange your week for another week at a different location within the resorts group of resorts. Many timeshare management companies will offer this benefit as part of there management services.

3. Timeshare Exchange Company

Timeshare exchange companies allow you to “bank” your week with them in exchange you get to choose from there inventory of weeks that other timeshare owners have banked. Also resorts will bank there unsold timeshare weeks with Exchange companies to increase there inventory. Your week and room size will determine your trading power with the exchange company. The most popular exchange companies are II (Interval International, RCI (Resort Condominiums International), Marriott and Disney.

There are people who make a sport of attending timeshare presentations just for the freebies offered. Depending on what resort you visit, you can walk away with a free weekend stay, color television, show tickets, or some extra cash in your pocket. Gifts range from the mediocre to the extreme - kid’s bike to a week-long trip including airfare - and these gifts are offered as a way to lure potential buyers into sitting through a presentation. Timeshare salespeople know that once they have you through the door they have your attention, and many consumers are simply not prepared for the types of sales tactics these people will employ, which translates into sales and commission made for the salesperson.
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One way to get the most out of your timeshare is to take advantage of the many special offers your time share exchange company makes available to owners. A great way to get the most for your money is to utilize your exchange group’s available last-minute trip deals. The downside to these deals is that travel can not usually be booked more than a month or two in advance, but the upside is that you will stay in gold star resorts, in amazing locations, for a fraction of the regular cost. Interested in making your timeshare work for you? See the checklist below for more information on booking RCI Escapes.
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Vacationing on a budget this year? Here are some tips on how to stretch your dollar, while still being able to relax, unwind and enjoy your timeshare trip. With a little foresight and planning, your travel plans do not have to put you in the poor house. Check out the list below to find out how you can be successful at timesharing on a budget.
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