Have any Royal owners heard AI rumours for renters and exchangers? [merged]

[X-ring]

To contrast, I had a fabulous lunch downtown Cancun for $8 USD, including beverage.

Sounds like a place I'd like ... please share name and location!

Also, what was included in this fabulous $8 lunch?

 

[Phydeaux]

I could post the names of these restaraunts, but then when I return next year, I wont be the only tourist there, and their prices certainly won't be 96 & 108 p, will they?


Do what I did and continualy advise other tourists do: Explore. Get off the beaten tourista path, and explore. That's how I found these restaraunts, and other gems.

A large percentage of tourists compare notes on their favorite restaraunts, such as Fred's & Laguna Grill in Cancun, and John Greys and Yaxche in Playa. Those are exactly the kind of places you'll never find me.

 

[X-ring]

I could post the names of these restaraunts, but then when I return next year, I wont be the only tourist there, and their prices certainly won't be 96 & 108 p, will they?

Oh Phydeaux! ... you are such a little tease, aren't you?

Yeah, yeah that's the ticket!

 

[Phydeaux]

Oh Phydeaux! ... you are such a little tease, aren't you?

Yeah, yeah that's the ticket!

OK X, you win. Here's the exact location of the Cancun restaurant:

86"10'04.97" N 86"49'40.32" W

After you get this one, I'll provide the Playa restaurant location.

 

[siesta]

OK X, you win. Here's the exact location of the Cancun restaurant:

86"10'04.97" N 86"49'40.32" W

After you get this one, I'll provide the Playa restaurant location.

those coordinates are a random location in the Arctic Ocean ...?

 

[Phydeaux]

those coordinates are a random location in the Arctic Ocean ...

Nice try. Incorrect.

Next...

 

[siesta]

Nice try. Incorrect.

Next...

Latitude at Cancun airport:
* North 21° 02.100
Longitude at Cancun airport:
* West 086° 53.200

So how can the cancun restaraunt be N86 and W86?

http://cancunmap.com/where-is-cancun.html

Keep in mind, its out of 90 degrees, 86 North would be far up there ... Above Canada

 

[Phydeaux]

Latitude at Cancun airport:
* North 21° 02.100
Longitude at Cancun airport:
* West 086° 53.200

So how can the cancun restaraunt be N86 and W86?

http://cancunmap.com/where-is-cancun.html

Keep in mind, its out of 90 degrees, 86 North would be far up there ... Above Canada

Very good Siesta! You caught a typo! The coordinates should be:

21°10'04.97" N 86°49'40.32" W

 

[X-ring]

OK X, you win. Here's the exact location of the Cancun restaurant:

86"10'04.97" N 86"49'40.32" W

After you get this one, I'll provide the Playa restaurant location.

Oh Phydeaux you little devil (tee hee) ... you make me feel like Bugs Bunny (in drag) being romanced by Yosemite Sam! (giggle, giggle)

Back to my original question, what was included in that "fabulous lunch including beverage" for $8?

TIA

 

[Phydeaux]

Royal Resorts implements AI, mandatory for non-members

http://www.royalresorts.com/packages/?hq_e=el&hq_m=1595339&hq_l=4&hq_v=6e2020dc6a

"...members will be offered an optional special all-inclusive package at a discounted price. Non-members will have their room, food and beverages and other services built into a mandatory all-inclusive package sold at the market rate. Non-members will not have access to the special all-inclusive package for members..."

And there you have it. Think this will change the Royals as we've known them?

 

[kenie]

I will be very curious to see what the pricing structure of the mandatory AI packages looks like.
My initial reaction is that it will severely impact members who want to rent their units out. I don't think it will make sense for families to rent at the Royals anymore.
It may lead to an uptick in people who purchase resales since the mandatory package won't apply to them.. We own at the Mayan but trade into the Sands and the Haciendas. Since our membership is up next year, and WE LIKE THE ROYALS, DAMNIT, we will have to talk about picking up a new unit(resale of course ).

At least we will have the option to partake of the different packages, butI don't see how they can compete with the better all-inclusive resorts... They don't have the amenities.

 

[BoaterMike]

Yep, there it is. Ironically minutes before receiving the email I completed an exchange in to RC for an AC for my daughter. Fortunately it's prior to the implementation period.

Mike

 

[kenie]

Well, at least we'll have 2013 to decide if staying with the Royals is worth it.
Hopefully the new format will be a success, but if it's not, at least we won't be tied in .....

With all the surveys they have sent out about the fate of the Mayan, they sure did keep this close to the cuff...

 

[lily28]

I just happy that my exchange to the Royal Mayan for 7/12 is not affected.

 

[yumdrey]

Ok, so I should visit royal sands before 10/23/12.
Going to interval site right now to make an exchange...

 

[eddiemoral]

Royal Resorts going all Inclusive....

Just got this email today. Seems Royal Resorts will require non-members an all-inclusive fee (not mandatory to members, but available to purchase as an option)


"Dear Member,

Over the past year, we have been looking for different ways to make your experience at Royal Resorts even better. We are very proud of the product we currently offer, and we are aware of the excellent level of satisfaction among our members. However, Royal Resorts has always strived to go one step further and we believe we can still do more to make your Royal Resorts vacation unforgettable.

Royal Resorts is pleased to share news about an upcoming program designed to help guests customize their vacations. We understand that each person is different and therefore we want to offer every guest the possibility of choosing the elements that will truly make their vacation unique.

Through this program, guests will have the opportunity to create customized vacation packages via add-ons such as spa services, tours, water sports, green fees and food and beverages at Royal Resorts restaurants, all of them at preferential rates.

Because we want to provide greater benefits to our members, we have established some differences between the programs that members and non-members will have access to. The most significant difference is the fact that members will be offered an optional special all-inclusive package at a discounted price. Non-members will have their room, food and beverages and other services built into a mandatory all-inclusive package sold at the market rate. Non-members will not have access to the special all-inclusive package for members. This will help maintain our resorts efficiently and improve occupancy, thus providing a platform for further discounts and benefits to members; it´s not only about saving you money, but also about giving something back to you for being one of our extremely valuable members.

This program is scheduled to be launched at The Royal Sands and The Royal Haciendas in Week 43, October 27, 2012 with the intention of rolling it out to others in 2013. We will be sending more information on this program in the near future but we wanted you to be the first ones to read about it. We hope you are as excited as we are about this upcoming program and that you will find great value in it.

For further details on how the program will work and what it entails, please refer to the FAQ section below.

Sincerely,
Royal Resorts Management"


http://www.royalresorts.com/packages/?hq_e=el&hq_m=1595344&hq_l=4&hq_v=be2900f3d9

 

[BoaterMike]

I'm interested in seeing what they do with restaurants especially at RH. Los Murales will probably be considered a specialty restaurant. That makes the pickings pretty slim. Surely they have to expand the offerings of the pool bars.

And, at the Sands, there's not much of a choice without Hacienda Sisal, Captain's Cove and the Tri-Royals offerings.
Mike

 

[tschwa2]

This is from the FAQ's from the link.

8. Which criteria determine whether the packages are optional?
All members registered in the membership agreement will have optional access regardless of how they are staying at the resort, e.g. a Royal Resorts member who exchanges or rents at Royal Resorts will have optional access to all packages.
Family and friends staying as guests of a member in their unit(s) will have optional access to all packages.

This makes it seem as though rentals from an owner would still have the option to not participate, unless this only applies if the owner is also occupying the unit at the same time. Many resorts consider anyone occupying your unit your "guest" whether you rented to them or gifted the unit to a friend or family member. It will make exchanges less desirable for non members and may make it easier for members to exchanged their fixed week for other weeks.

 

[SDMiller]

TUG Trades????

I wonder if this will effect us TUGgers that trade with each other - would these reservations be considerd "owners"??

If not, then our Royal Resort trades are over Too bad we really enjoyed the Royal Haciendas and the RC these past years.

I can't believe they are doing this, I would think this would increase the annual maintence fees for owners.

SD

 

[DosMasCervesos]

Correct, my thought is that if I rent my unit to someone and they pay me directly and I fill out the guest form, then they are a "guest or friend" and thus do not have to participate in the AI. The transaction between me and the renter is private -- all the Royals needs to know is I have a guest staying there.

If that isn't the case, then I'll be quite disappointed.

 

[BoaterMike]

I can't believe they are doing this, I would think this would increase the annual maintence fees for owners.

SD

I hope not. But I guess it could if the occupancy rate increased enough above and beyond the existing capacity and expense level for maintenance.

Mike

 

[tschwa2]

I don't see how going to a mandatory AI is going to increase occupancy. There are tons of AI's in Cancun and I would think having a quality non mandatory AI (with the option to go AI if desired)would be much more desirable.

Unless the AI is very reasonable I think it will kill the exchange desirability.

 

[Kel]

I just booked my frequent flyer seats for January 2013 to CUN with the intention of placing a request for the Royal Haciendas as soon as I can assign my non-Royal timeshare week. My husband and I don't like all inclusives and we don't eat and drink enough to make it cost effective. I hope the rates aren't too high or we'll be crossing the Royal Haciendas and the Royal Sands off our exchange list forever. And that would be a bummer.

 

[siesta]

Even if the AI fee is reasonable, exchange occupancy will drop, who wants it to be mandatory to eat at the resort with all the great food around?

 

[SDMiller]

I hear and feel for you Kel - for we ususally book our flights with miles and stays a year ahead of time. Fortunately we are not planning to go to Cancun or Playa del Carmen in 2013, but were considering for 2014.

If so, we will try for the Westin timeshare.

SD