The terms "cheap" and "vacation" don't often go together, but the Armed Forces Vacation Club manages the feat.

The club is an arrangement between the Army and Resort Condominiums International, or RCI, a "timeshare" managing company. Last year, it began offering active and reserve military ID cardholders, military retirees and DOD civilians "spaceavailable" units at selected resorts worldwide for $209 per week.

Hundreds of people have already used the club. The normal rates are $600 to $1,500 per week in season, according to John Cully, RCI national vice president.

The company recently opened the program to service members and DOD civilians overseas and has also opened a club Web site at www.afvclub.com to make it easier to book a condo.

To book a $209 vacation, check the Web site and make your selections. Then call the club's toll-free number, 1-800-724-9988. Give the vacation counselor your name, the number of people traveling with you and your service. They will also ask for the name of your military installation in your area; local Morale Welfare and Recreation/Information Tours and Travel offices receive a $20 rebate for every confirmed vacation. The company advises Guardsmen to select an installation that corresponds to their normal training activity or one that routinely supports your unit. Be prepared to give at least three choices of places you want to go and times and have a credit card handy.

Mike Overfelt, vice president of Cendant Alliance Marketing, RCI's parent company, suggests checking the Web site often because the $209 vacations depend on availability, which changes daily Typical resorts are located in Europe, Latin America and throughout the United States.

RCI is affiliated with 3,500 "time-share" resorts worldwide. Because not all resort units are used by owners or rented all the time, the company must still pay upkeep costs, but receives no revenue while units are vacant. Overfelt and Culley, both retired Army officers, suggested RCI offer these condos at cost to military members and DoD civilians.

"This way we're able to cover expenses and the service member is getting a fun, cheap vacation," Overfelt said.

Some restrictions apply. Confirmed vacations are not transferable. Pets are not allowed at any resort location.

Cully said service members and civilians must be flexible with their requests. "You're not going to get Vail (Colorado) at Christmas," he said. "Generally what's available is off-season."