[2007] Anyone happy with Royal Holiday?

[Blondie]

Mandy-
#1 My limited experience tells me that while many complaints have merit, many timeshare owners simply do NOT know how to utilize what they bought and they complain because the system does not work for them. It is simple- you cannot book at the last minute for top destinations. If you can plan ahead- and some folks cannot- you can pretty much get what you want. Do your homework, get organized with travel plans, and learn how to use your points to your advantage.
#2 Many complaints on those boards you reference stem from folks who paid through the nose for a points package. They have a right to complain about that. Again- you cannot go into something without being educated about the product you are buying. They clearly were not. Many folks buy and them come here looking for info on how to use what they purchased because they have no understanding of how it works.

 

[Jya-Ning]

I am curious as to how many people are able to actually use the RH points. I have read many accounts on other sites of members trying to book vacations with Royal Holiday and always being told "unavailable." What is your secret?

I don't have much experience. But this Feb, when I checked the inventory, I saw NY available for 3 (or 4 days) in several weekend upto early Nov. I saw Cape Code available also in Early June. But when I check back again at April, all gone. I only have 10k

I believe there are three level in reservation, depends on your point level. 12 month, 18 month, 2 year. If you have over 30k point, you can make reservation at 2 years. If you only have 5k or 10k, you can make reservation on 12 month.

Now, they also has several different inventories. The one they own has enough so you will be O.K. in 12 month, but they don't have many resorts in this category. The one they have long term agreement and the inventories show on time you will be O.K. in 12 month if you don't want to get at peak vacation time they have a lot, but the inventory is not that many, so you need to make the plan as early as possible. The one you have to call, probably does not regualr time to open the inventories, so if you have low point, you probably will not get it easily.

As to the travel plan on Salpal. The Scottsdale is 19k for 1 wk in X'mas and New Year, The cheapest Italy is 24k for 1 wk. Both are stdio. So it is doable.

RHC allows you to move 20% points to next year. So in Salpal's case, it is 22k which is pretty close to a trip. In my case, it is 2k which means it is useless if I have to use this. It allows you to move 100% points to next year every 3 years. And allow you to move last contract year's point into this year if you are over 50.

If I bought from developer, then anything less than 20k is pretty useless. True, you can rent from them However with their fee structure favor big point owner, it is much expensive for small point owner, unless you go to some premium location, it maybe much cheaper sometimes to rent directly or using priceline. And they don't have a lot of inventories in the premium location, so you need to be really flexible and make up your mind as soon as possible.

Jya-Ning

 

[TUGBrian]

updating this thread with a new 20/20 report on Royal Holiday vacation club (its listed as published in 09, but i just became aware of it today)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1W2HVGnNls

 

[PamMo]

Wow, that's a great video, Brian! Thanks for posting the link. I especially like the option of investing my money in a Swiss bank account for 30 years - essentially getting my membership for free. How cool is that?

I'm constantly amazed at how otherwise very smart people buy an expensive timeshare without doing ANY research. The video is a reminder that sales will make up anything to get your signature on the contract!

 

[Blondie]

I think that one circulated on these boards last year...