RCI 1 in 3/4/5 Policy Confusion

waffles77 · Apr 24, 2013

Can anyone explain how this works or what it means?

Am I unable to get multiple exchanges for the same hotel for the same trip? For example, if I take a trip with family members and we want 2 separate rooms, are we unable to do that?

Thanks!

vckempson · Apr 24, 2013

You'd be unable to do 2 separate rooms.

1 in 3 would mean you can only exchange into the resort once every 3 years. So if you booked 2 rooms that would be 2 exchanges which wouldn't work. You can do an experiment to show this. Go in and put a hold on a unit at a 1 in 3/4/5 resort. Now go back and do another search for the same resort. When you click on available units it will list but indicate that you can't have them because of the 1 in 3/4/5 rule.

Now sometimes, a resort has different homeowner's associations for different buildings or stages of the developement. If that's the case, they often each have there own 1 in 3/4/5 rule so that you can in fact get two units at the same time.

bnoble · Apr 24, 2013

It is true you can't do it online, but you often *can* call in; concurrent or consecutive reservations are informally treated as "one" exchange in many cases. In a few resorts, the Urgent Information explicitly limits or disallows this, but it can't hurt to call and find out what the policy is for the one you are considering.

PamMo · Apr 24, 2013

It depends on the resort, so it's best to check with RCI. At some 1-in-4 resorts, you can book consecutive or concurrent weeks, and they are treated like one reservation. Also, some "restricted" resorts have been known to relax their rule when there's a lot of inventory.

BevL · Apr 24, 2013

You really have to look at the information for each unit. And they can change. The Manhattan Club used to allow concurrent exchanges as an exception to the one in four rule, now they explicitly don't.

But I agree, that MOST resorts, I believe, will allow concurrent exchanges as an exception to the one in (whatever) rule.

waffles77 · Apr 24, 2013

How do you know which resorts fall under the 1 in 3/4/5 rules?

vckempson · Apr 24, 2013

When you click on "Available Units" it will detailed in a message on that page.

bnoble · Apr 24, 2013

For example the Orlando Orange Lakes have a single, joint restriction:

Policy Restrictions
1 in 3 rule applies.

Additional Information
The one in 3 year rule applies to all Holiday Inn Orange Lake Florida properties: 0670,8881, 8896 and 8897.

Chilcotin · Apr 24, 2013

In January I stayed in a 2 bedroom at HGVC Bay Club Waikoloa the first week and a 1 bedroom the second week. They weren't even booked at the same time but since they were concurrent reservations RCI considered it one exchange.

pacodemountainside · Apr 24, 2013

1/3,4,5 rule is unique to resort/Developer and have to read fine print about reservation details and if in doubt call resort

Kinda like Disney blackout in Orlando.

Also, subject to change!

waffles77 · Apr 25, 2013

Thank you for the great answers.

Does II have a similar policy?

eal · Apr 25, 2013

No other exchange company has a 1 in 3, 4, 5 policy - that's why I find it hard to believe that this is a resort-initiated policy.

bnoble · Apr 25, 2013

It is at the discretion of the resorts, but only RCI offers it as an option in their exchange system. II does not have 1-in-N rules, but does have some geographical restrictions. Specifically, the current disclosure guide says this:

Some Members may be restricted from exchanging into resorts
located within the same geographical area as the Home Resort
accommodations that are being deposited or relinquished. There are
currently such restrictions in Aruba; Barbados; Cabo San Lucas,Mexico;
Cancún, Mexico; Cyprus; Dominican Republic; Door County, Wisconsin;
Eastern British Columbia; Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Grand
Bahama Island; Grand Cayman Island; Guatemala; Hawaii (the Big
Island); Maui, Hawaii; Kauai, Hawaii; Hilton Head, South Carolina;
Lake Tahoe, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Madeira, Portugal;
Malta; Marco Island, Florida; Mazatlán, Mexico; Naples, Florida;
Okaloosa and Walton County, Florida; Kissimmee/Orlando, Florida;
Palm Desert, California; Palm Springs, California; Phuket, Thailand;
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Riviera Maya, Mexico; Riviera Nayarit,
Mexico; St. Maarten; Stateline, Nevada; Summit County, Colorado;
Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Williamsburg, Virginia. Generally,this
restriction does not apply to Members requesting an exchange to
Member Resorts under common ownership or management with the
Home Resort. Additional geographic areas may be restricted in the
future. Members affected by any future restrictions will be advised via
II’s regular publications.

twinmommy19 · Apr 26, 2013

I'm confused by these policies too. Is the restriction based on the account or the week? In other words if you owned 6 weeks, would you be able to trade in using each one time? Also - if a resort has multiple resort codes, does the policy apply for each separately?

bnoble · Apr 26, 2013

Is the restriction based on the account or the week?

Per account. So, if all six weeks are in one account, you can only exchange in once per N years. A few TUGgers have been known to maintain separate accounts to get around this, and if you have a Weeks account and access through a mini-system portal, those are treated separately as well.

if a resort has multiple resort codes, does the policy apply for each separately?

It depends. The Orange Lake example I linked to earlier applies 1-in-3 to all Orlando resorts in the group. Vistana Resort likewise groups Vistana and Vistana-Fountains. Groupo Mayan applies it to *all* of their resorts as a group, but sometimes lifts it when they are swamped with inventory. But, e.g. the HGVCs on Oahu are all in the same development and are all treated separately.

pranas · Apr 26, 2013

bnoble said:
Per account. So, if all six weeks are in one account, you can only exchange in once per N years. A few TUGgers have been known to maintain separate accounts to get around this, and if you have a Weeks account and access through a mini-system portal, those are treated separately as well..

I have two separate accounts and was not able to exchange into a resort that I had visited using the other account. And, I am not referring to the week's account one gets with a points account. If the name is the same on both accounts you may be flagged like I was.

bellesgirl · Apr 26, 2013

Does anyone know for sure how RCI counts the 1 in 4 (for example)? If I go in Nov. 2010, does that mean I cannot go until Nov. 2014 or can I go in Jan. 2014. Or can I go in 2013 because the is the 4th year (2010,2011,2012,2013)? I have heard conflicting information.

pacodemountainside · Apr 26, 2013

The 1-3,4,5 rule is not RCI. It is strictly limited to each resort.

No other exchange company recognizes!

There is no blanket policy just sales BS to get one to buy retail!

You to need to call specific resort to see how they are enforcing!

Due to excess inventory lots of flexibility!

riverside · Apr 30, 2013

Is there something internally that keeps RCI from booking you into a 1 in 4 resort or do we have to keep track of it ourselves? Also, if a resort didn't have that rule when you were there 2 years ago but then instituted it, does the 1 in 4 take effect when it was instituted or do they go back?

vckempson · May 1, 2013

Yes, the RCI system won't let you break the 1 in 4 rule. It will show the weeks as "available" but not available to you since their "records show you've stayed there" within the 1 in 4 rule.

bnoble · May 1, 2013

if a resort didn't have that rule when you were there 2 years ago but then instituted it, does the 1 in 4 take effect when it was instituted or do they go back?

They go back; I stayed in a Sheraton resort in 2010. They added 1-in-4 last yearish, and I'm blocked until the appropriate week in 2014.

Gaozhen · Apr 28, 2016

Depending on the resort you may be able to book multiple units as long as the start date is the same. We actually have 4 units for an upcoming big family trip at a resort with a 1:4 rule, but since we are all traveling together under one reservation, it was allowed.

Dean · May 1, 2016

Gaozhen said:
Depending on the resort you may be able to book multiple units as long as the start date is the same. We actually have 4 units for an upcoming big family trip at a resort with a 1:4 rule, but since we are all traveling together under one reservation, it was allowed.

The thread is 3 years old. I'd suggest it varies from one resort to another as to whether they enforce it and the specifics. Some don't allow multiple units at one time or limit how many and some limit the number of consecutive weeks one can get. Plus it's per account generally and not per person so one might be able to get in from different directions if needing to bypass the rule.

Gaozhen · May 1, 2016

Dean said:
The thread is 3 years old. I'd suggest it varies from one resort to another as to whether they enforce it and the specifics. Some don't allow multiple units at one time or limit how many and some limit the number of consecutive weeks one can get. Plus it's per account generally and not per person so one might be able to get in from different directions if needing to bypass the rule.

That's why I said "depending on the resort..."

Earlier posts said that you could not have two units at the same time, and I want readers to know to check their specific resort's rules.

moonstone · May 1, 2016

Keep in mind the 1:3 or 4 rule is for exchanges only. If you want to return to the same resort (or group of) more frequently then you'll have to rent or find an Extra Vacation or Last Call week.

We have booked/stayed 7 weeks within a 5 year time frame at the same resort that has a 1:3 rule. Only 1 of those weeks was an exchange. The other 4 years (in a row) were booked from Extras or Last Calls. The last time we went I booked 3 EV weeks and extended family vacationed with us. :whoopie:

My SiL & family spent Spring Break at Orange Lake (with a 1:3 rule) for 4 years in a row -all Extra Vacation Weeks.

~Diane

RCI 1 in 3/4/5 Policy Confusion

waffles77

vckempson

bnoble

PamMo

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

BevL

waffles77

vckempson

bnoble

Chilcotin

pacodemountainside

waffles77

eal

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bnoble

twinmommy19

bnoble

pranas

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bellesgirl

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pacodemountainside

riverside

vckempson

bnoble

Gaozhen

Dean

TUG Review Crew

Gaozhen

moonstone

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