RCI Points vs. FF Points

After doing much reading on this site, I am still a little unsure what will be best for me. I already own 2 weeks units, but I think points will work better, so I am looking at resale points in the future. I am just not sure if I want to buy FF or RCI. It seems that both have there advantages.

Thanks for everyone's help thus far!

Read the thread about leasing points. It appears to hold the best solution.

When you have RCI points you can make any exchange only for a week that has been deposited for exchange.

When you have FF points, you can make a reservation at any FF resort which has space during the open reservation time at FF.


So if FF has 50 open units at one of their resorts and you have RCI points, you don't have access to any of those rooms unless they are deposited for exchange. If you have FF points you can reserve any of those units.

IMHO, FF points is far better than RCI points. But since I own neither, you can ignor me if you wish.

You have 2 week units, so it will play different role when you make your decision.

To me, These are the differences
1. RCI points you can not rent out the exchanged week unless it is the underline week where your point is based on. FF you can
2. You can openly rent out FF points
3. You can buy RCI point resell which gives you on-line search ability. You can not buy FF point account resell that allow you to access RCI point inventory. You can however, buy FF points resell, then pay FF $2,395 to add RCI point access (not be able to search on-line though) or buy a FF retail contracts which gives you RCI point access.
4. You can PFD your week once you have RCI point account if your week can be PFD (in other word, your week resort is not a RCI point resort). Plus, you only encounter the fee when you PFD
If you bought FF, you can not do that, unless you willing to buy certain number of retail points (I believe min is 77k the 1st week and 49k the 2nd week, but don't know for sure, and not sure what is the qualify list). Plus, every year, you will pay for these points no matter if you use them inside FF or not. You will pay extra if you want to deposit them, plus the VC is not very well trained to handle PIC process.
5. RCI can adjust its point value. FF has more restriction on what they can adjust. In fact, they never do that once it is set.
6. You can raid RCI week using RCI point with 9000 RCI points within 45 days. You can exchange RCI week using FF deposit. At 45 days, it is 28K FF points.
7. FF points resellwise is much cheaper
8. You exchange to RCI point inventories using RCI point chart when you use RCI point account. You exchange to RCI point inventories using FF generic chart if you have FF - RCI point access.
9. FF internal exchange inventory deposit day is fixed. RCI point inventories is depended on the affliate resort's agreement.
10. You have certain idea what FF resort will be like. RCI point covers a very wide range.
11. RCI web is better than FF's web.
12. FF MF is probably a little bit above avg. RCI points MF is wide range.

You can also look at the Bluegreen. Also, there is 3 year RTU of RCI point account you can explore.

I would guess you could buy FF if you look at the resort location they have and believe you will want to visit those location most of the time.

Jya-Ning

Jya-Ning,
I always enjoy reading your posts. What do you do for a living. Lawyer, Doctor, Timeshare Salesperson??????


Joel