Buying a Mandatory AI

[AlbertaTravel]

I presently own a TS in Puerto Vallarta that is not AI. I save about 300US per week by owning a one bedroom plus I can bank and get free upgrades etc. I look at eBay occasionally to see if there are any more for sale at my TS. What I see are quite a few AI Mandatory for sale. I have checked some out and the AI is pretty much the same as on a travel site. So why would anyone by a TS AI. I would like to know if I'm missing something.

 

[DeniseM]

From what I can gather, people who like to drink top shelf liquor on vacation, like AI, [at resorts where top shelf liquor is included in AI.]

 

[LannyPC]

So why would anyone by a TS AI. I would like to know if I'm missing something.

Probably for the same reason why anyone would buy a worthless TS in Mexico. People get lured into a sales presentation with some questionable gift. Then after hours of interrogation, pressure, sugar-coating, and what have you, people come out of there owning a TS that they really do not want, need, or understand. :annoyed:

 

[AlbertaTravel]

Probably for the same reason why anyone would buy a worthless TS in Mexico. People get lured into a sales presentation with some questionable gift. Then after hours of interrogation, pressure, sugar-coating, and what have you, people come out of there owning a TS that they really do not want, need, or understand. :annoyed:

So I get the feeling those of us that own TS in Mexico are getting slammed with this one!!!

 

[buceo]

So I get the feeling those of us that own TS in Mexico are getting slammed with this one!!!

Yes you are are, very annoying and quite common here to slam a country. In addition my "Mexican" timeshares have real value. Anyway, to the OPs question. AI vacationing is very popular, many won't vacation any other way these days. The resort certainly likes the prepaid meal/drink plans. While it is about consumption it is also about convenience and planning or even better not having to plan anything. Some families with children really like going AI. Our resort chain added it and it's been very divisive among the owners, some really hate the program (though it is optional for owners).

 

[AlbertaTravel]

Yes you are are, very annoying and quite common here to slam a country. In addition my "Mexican" timeshares have real value. Anyway, to the OPs question. AI vacationing is very popular, many won't vacation any other way these days. The resort certainly likes the prepaid meal/drink plans. While it is about consumption it is also about convenience and planning or even better not having to plan anything. Some families with children really like going AI. Our resort chain added it and it's been very divisive among the owners, some really hate the program (though it is optional for owners).

I think my question is misunderstood. I have travelled AI a couple of times. What I mean is are there any advantages to owning a TS that is AI mandatory. Is the AI less expensive to make it worthwhile to pay a MF or are there different perks owners have. For instance Velas Vallarta is a TS that is mandatory AI. What reason would a person buy it.

 

[Seaport104]

I think my question is misunderstood. I have travelled AI a couple of times. What I mean is are there any advantages to owning a TS that is AI mandatory. Is the AI less expensive to make it worthwhile to pay a MF or are there different perks owners have. For instance Velas Vallarta is a TS that is mandatory AI. What reason would a person buy it.

I own Mexico timeshares that is mandatory AI and from my perspective, here are the reasons why I love it-

- You save from travel booking sites if you compare the higher level rooms versus the regular rooms offered. So if I am booking a regular room and pay my AI fees, it is about the same as the travel agencies. But if you compare the higher level rooms (oceanfront, 1BR/2BR suites, etc) via travel sites vs using my ownership + AI, lots of savings.

- My Mexico contract provides me 1 child free AI, 50% of children after the 1 free, 30% off teens and 15% of the adults in the same room after 2.

- I have RCI points with my contract that I get in addition to using my weeks/days there.

- Maintenance fee is fixed, no increases that you get with regular timeshares. Some do not even have maintenance fees.

- I have access to owner only facilities, extra discounts and miscellaneous perks such as a welcome gift at my room of bottle of alchohol and chocolate covered strawberries.

Mexico timeshares get a bad reputation but I personally love mine. And with any system, you need to learn the ins and outs to see if it fits your needs and whether you will maximize it.

Happy New Year!!

 

[Seaport104]

From what I can gather, people who like to drink top shelf liquor on vacation, like AI.

Not true for all or most. I rent my Mexico weeks out and all of them to families. A few to couples and top shelf liquor have not been the primary want.

Some families love AI, since moms too do not have to worry about cooking for children while on vacation and/or having to count $$ every time they order.

also, in Mexico, the AI rooms are not that much more than booking a regular timeshare for the week and you have the added convenience.

My husband and I hardly drink (had 1 beer for New Years and that was enough for me) and don't even care or know what is top shelf liquor and I still like AI.

 

[DeniseM]

My comment about "top shelf liquor" was not meant to be a slight. Top shelf liquors are the most expensive brands. If you drink top shelf liquor, AI can actually be a good value, because AI can be less expensive than paying cash for expensive liquor [at resorts where top shelf liquor is included in AI.].

In most other cases, "pay as your go," is cheaper.

 

[jlp879]

I think my question is misunderstood. I have travelled AI a couple of times. What I mean is are there any advantages to owning a TS that is AI mandatory. Is the AI less expensive to make it worthwhile to pay a MF or are there different perks owners have. For instance Velas Vallarta is a TS that is mandatory AI. What reason would a person buy it.

My understanding of Velas Vallarta is that the AI plan is mandatory for exchangers but not for owners. So as an owner, you have a choice to take it or not, but as an exchanger, you must. Also, the owner's get a preferential rate for the AI, should you wish to take it.

Also, at Velas Vallarta, I believe they offer a discount if all-inclusive is paid in advance at time of reservation.

So, if you do like the idea of AI vacations, some of the AI resorts would be good deals if you were an owner. I don't see very much value into exchanging into them though, so I guess having an AI mandatory resort may limit their trading power.

 

[timesharejunkie4]

My comment about "top shelf liquor" was not meant to be a slight. Top shelf liquors are the most expensive brands. If you drink top shelf liquor, AI can actually be a good value, because AI can be less expensive than paying cash for expensive liquor.

In most other cases, "pay as your go," is cheaper.

I don't look at your statement as a slight but do feel it is incorrect. I don't know how many AI's include top shelf liquor but can tell you that some I know of do NOT include top shelf liquor. A blanket statement like yours can be very misleading. I find your remark "pay as you go is cheaper' to be very true unless you choose to drink a lot of liquor, regardless of the shelf it is on.

To the OP, I can't think of any reason to buy an AI timeshare, especially on PV with its great food and endless options!

 

[DeniseM]

I'm sorry if you found my statement misleading - I will clarify it.

 

[LannyPC]

I own Mexico timeshares that is mandatory AI and from my perspective, here are the reasons why I love it-

Mexico timeshares get a bad reputation but I personally love mine. And with any system, you need to learn the ins and outs to see if it fits your needs and whether you will maximize it.

I think the issue that the OP brings up is resorts where AI is mandatory. Obviously no one (or very few people) like to be told that they have to pay an additional AI fee. From what I've seen on RCI's website, many of the AI mandatory resorts have unreasonably high AI fees. I don't know what the (mandatory) AI fees are at the resort where you vacation but I've seen some as high as $100/person/day!

As for the other point about Mexico TSs getting a bad rap, yes, many are not great to "own", but if an "owner" studies the ins and outs and "owning one seems to fit his budget, circumstances, and travel preferences, then great, "own" one.

 

[geist1223]

AI must be popular. There are more and more of them. We own one Mexican TS that is mandatory AI. There are no MF's. As a member our daily charge is less than what a person pays booking through an RCI Trade or that book directly into the hotel side. The Resort has two Restaurants in addition to the Buffets. We get to eat at the Restaurants as many nights as we want. When the Staff sees that
we are Members we get a different Menu and different Liqour. There is a Members only Bar. The Resort Hosts two parties each week for Members only with a special Menu and entertainment. Also the Resorts covers one activity per
week for Members - whale watching trip, ziplining, snorkling, etc. Also there is a nice Breakfast Buffet by the pool and Beach for Members only. We have seen them escort nonmembers out.

Technically we own only 1 week every odd year. But they added 21 days every year
and an additional 30 weeks we can deposit into RCI that do not reduce or come out of our other time.

We pay less than $100 per day and we get a substantial discount if we pay 150 days in advance of our stay.

 

[Seaport104]

I think the issue that the OP brings up is resorts where AI is mandatory. Obviously no one (or very few people) like to be told that they have to pay an additional AI fee. From what I've seen on RCI's website, many of the AI mandatory resorts have unreasonably high AI fees. I don't know what the (mandatory) AI fees are at the resort where you vacation but I've seen some as high as $100/person/day!

Yes, for RCI exchangers it doesn't make sense after you add up the RCI exchange fee and the cost of points/TPU's/week but for owners who own it is cheaper than booking through travel sites assuming you are booking the upgraded rooms (in addition to the owner perks).

For example, when I go to Riviera Maya in april or May, I have a 1BR oceanfront penthouse room and I pay $154 per day (AI for 2 adults) and I have 24 hour room service, convenience of food whenever I want, fantastic service, owner only facilities. Even if I book a non-AI week using one of my weeks through interval or RCI, the underlying cost of the exchange exceeds what I pay of the week and not to mention I can check in any day of the week and go for less than 7 nights.

My maintenance fee is $499 a year (fixed) but I get 115,000 RCI points to use for exchanges on top of my resort weeks/days.I have another one where the I have to pay a yearly fee but it gets credited to my AI stay and rolls over until I use it.

Most of them have a similar setup where you get weeks or points to use in RCI or II without using resort weeks and some do not have maintenance fees. It just depends on the resort's program and whether it fits the buyer's needs.

I'm happy with my Mexico timeshares and now lots of other owners that are.