Grand Mayan Timeshare Weeks to Points?

[DogMusher]

Hi everyone,

I need your expertise…

I have 2 weeks at the Grand Mayan Acapulco--a beautiful high-end property--by my husband and I are focusing on cruising recently and for the foreseeable future. We'd like to sell it, but it looks like we would get very little for it. So, I spoke with a timeshare sales rep this week, and they said we could convert our weeks to points so that we could leverage our property for other traveling options. Of course, they wanted me to pay another $4,000 - $16,000 (depending upon who I was talking to…) to buy a week of their inventory so that "I have an account with them that we might be able to use to convert my Grand Mayan weeks to points." I was also told it may be difficult to convert Mexican timeshares to the points system in general.

Can anyone help me wade my way through what's fact versus fiction?

Has anyone sold or changed a Mexican week from "weeks" to "points."

Thanks SO much for your experience and assistance!

 

[DeniseM]

Two issues:

-Using points for a cruise is not usually a good value. Often you have to give them a lot of points and pay a fee, that is nearly as much as a discounted cruise.

-You may spend a lot of money, and be no better of - the timeshare sales people in Mexico are infamous for saying whatever you want to hear to make the sale.

 

[LannyPC]

Pretty much any benefit that a TS salesman tells you is exaggerated or fiction. As well, any price that a TS salesperson quotes you is way too much.

Here is where I see the real problem with this offer. Trading any sort of points for cruises is rarely, if ever, a good deal or idea. Once you get your cruise, there are usually other charges such as port fees, taxes, cost to get to and from the port, tips for baggage handlers, gratuities on board (usually about $15/person per day), etc.

Frankly, I think a better option would be to try to rent out your weeks and then use that cash toward purchasing a cruise from the cruise line itself or a reputable travel agent.

The other thing I would caution you about is your intent to sell your Mexican timeshare. You already acknowledged that you won't get very much for them. In all honesty, you might have to give them away and possibly even offer to pay the transfer costs and next maintenance fee. And always remember, never pay anyone an upfront fee to do so.

 

[DogMusher]

Thanks for your quick response, DeniseM. The timeshare rep I spoke with was in Palm Beach Shores, but I think the same holds: they'll tell you anything to sell you one of their properties.

Do you know if it is truly possible to convert a Mexican timeshare from weeks to points?

Again, many thanks.

 

[DogMusher]

Hi LannyP,

Yes, I now do understand that trading in weeks or points for cruising is not the way to go.

I guess I'm really stuck, and the best bet is to rent it out if possible. I guess I can also hold tight for a few years until we have exhausted our cruising bug. I am lucky in that I only pay as I go with this timeshare.

Thanks so much for your advice.

 

[DeniseM]

If you only pay if you use it, then I wouldn't bother to try to rent it.

Unfortunately, the market is flooded with inexpensive rentals in Mexico, and that pushes down rental rates, even at the top resorts.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Grand Mayan & usage

Hi everyone,

I need your expertise…

I have 2 weeks at the Grand Mayan Acapulco--a beautiful high-end property--by my husband and I are focusing on cruising recently and for the foreseeable future. We'd like to sell it, but it looks like we would get very little for it. So, I spoke with a timeshare sales rep this week, and they said we could convert our weeks to points so that we could leverage our property for other traveling options. Of course, they wanted me to pay another $4,000 - $16,000 (depending upon who I was talking to…) to buy a week of their inventory so that "I have an account with them that we might be able to use to convert my Grand Mayan weeks to points." I was also told it may be difficult to convert Mexican timeshares to the points system in general.

Can anyone help me wade my way through what's fact versus fiction?

Has anyone sold or changed a Mexican week from "weeks" to "points."

Thanks SO much for your experience and assistance!

Hi Dogmusher,
I own Mayan P with pay MF on use only . I have also read most Mayan / Grupo Vidanta threads on TUG
Keep your contract with Grand Mayan but the value is in use . The transfer fee is probably 5 x MF per week (approx $5000 ) and the Vacation Fare and your MF on use only- probably would not transfer to a new owner - so not easy to sell . ( the date of and what is written in the contract determines what transfers )
I have never read of Mayan's being convertible to the RCI point system . You could pay the MF for a week and then exchange it to RCI for week TPU's and then convert that to an RCI cruise - BUT as Denise and others said, not a great value AND in your case the MF is not a annual requirement SO doing this makes no sense.

Denise is correct that there are many rental and exchange options that are close enough in dollars to your MF that advertising a FLOAT week to rent would not net you enough $ above the MF for all the work .

The one possible way of renting that could make sense is as follows ;

You live in Alaska and may know or be able to find someone who REALLY wants to be in warm weather JAN/FEB ( similar to Canadians I know ).
Your contract gives a booking window of( xx months / at least 6 ??) for the 2 registered weeks owned . If you worked out a price of MF + $ 500 per week to one renter and had payment at time of booking you would probably recoup all/some of the $ you prepayed per registered week to Grand Mayan when you signed your contract. The reservation does not have to be Acapulco - you can book any Grand Mayan location per your contract and I believe it can be changed if done prior to 30 days before check in .( date changes would require availability )
Just a thought - that might work for prime time winter in Alaska for someone who does not wish to be on line searching a warm JAN/ FEB holiday
While the rates are " pushed down" -- JAN/FEB are more difficult to get at good resorts - even in Mexico

The fact that Mayans are not AI -( all inclusive) may work in your favour since many Mexican resort are AI ;at rates that can exceed the per day rental cost .
and if you do not drink ( much ) AI may not make sense to your local Alaskan target renter who wants to fly Air Alaska to warm sunny weather .

Go find your contract and read it - to confirm booking window etc
(If netting $1000 per year is worthwhile for the time involved )

 

[wptamo]

Hiya,
MP weeks to RCI points.... I'm not sure this is what you are looking for, but here goes...I have on several occasions paid my weeks Maint fee for my Mayan Palce week. Deposited into RCI, then call RCI and ask them to do a points for deposit and get an allotment of RCI points in my points account. I then pool the points and go elsewhere , or like this year I'm going to Grand Mayan RM. it's like an upgrade without purchasing a new week.

This may not help with your need to cruise tho....
Just wanted to get that option out for you...

Best luck...

Paul

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Hiya,
MP weeks to RCI points.... I'm not sure this is what you are looking for, but here goes...I have on several occasions paid my weeks Maint fee for my Mayan Palce week. Deposited into RCI, then call RCI and ask them to do a points for deposit and get an allotment of RCI points in my points account.

Best luck...

Paul

Good to know -
My RCI acct. is weeks and Mayan is weeks so assumed all you could get is TPU's.
For any future readers - Can you post how many RCI points you received for a Mayan Palace ( & what size MP )

 

[wptamo]

Good to know -
My RCI acct. is weeks and Mayan is weeks so assumed all you could get is TPU's.
For any future readers - Can you post how many RCI points you received for a Mayan Palace ( & what size MP )

Sure.....it's a one bedroom = 45,000 points
It was an ok price when our $ was par or close to it.... I'm going to skip this year and not use/ pay....

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Currency " fluctuation " pain & RCI conversion to points rate

Sure.....it's a one bedroom = 45,000 points
It was an ok price when our $ was par or close to it.... I'm going to skip this year and not use/ pay....

Yeah - $700 USD is now north of $ 950 C$ loonies

I used my accumulated credit card points to mitigate this years pain

At least the peso is still about 12 to 1 (to C$) which is the same as a year ago
Pemex is hurting the Peso just like the tar sand wiped out the Loonie .
---------
For those more interested in Mayan conversion to RCI points system / per use week deposited

Per WPTAMO / Paul : 45,000 RCI points for MF of $ 625 -650 USD ( 2012 - 2014 time frame)
for a Mayan Palace 1 bedroom suite
My 2015'MF approx $ 675 ( some minor variation based on initial contract year)

A Grand Mayan should get you more / I believe average MF is $ 1000 + range

A much better deal than what the TS sales at Palm Beach Shores quoted the OP
and not too bad for " topping up " a RCI points acct

Has anyone who owns Mayan done a recent deposit into RCI for TPU ?
and can you post Mayan brand and suite size and what you received in TPU

 

[DogMusher]

To Everyone Who Has Responded,

I can't thank you enough for all of your hard-earned advice. I was feeling so overwhelmed, and at such a loss to find some value for my Grand Mayan weeks. You've provided the light at the end of the tunnel that I have needed so much. I really can't thank you enough!

Best,

Nancy

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Mayan Resort system

They are great resorts and I am sure you will want to visit them again.
TUG is a great source for sharing information so that we all get good vacation usage of what we own AND "pay it forward " to others .

Enjoy your cruise time

And Karen G - Thank you for moving this thread to : Mexican Timesharing

I am sure some future reader will be glad to know you can exchange Mayan thru RCI to get RCI points if you have a
points acct. or weeks/TPU's if your acct is in weeks.

Mayan / Grupo Vidanta / Vida :also works extensively with SFX and I have read on TUG their Grand Luxxe brand can be exchanged into via II / Intervals International

 

[raygo123]

The problem with Vida and TPU is that Vida assigns a week they choose. One year I received a week at RM and the next time Acapulco, one received 21 and the other 23, both a 1 bdrm MP. 2010 and 2011. I can only say what I experienced. Personally, I hope they never go to points. I have traded both weeks and points with my Wyndham points and Vida weeks, and have found the weeks easier to find something I wanted with weeks over points. That was using 154,000 Wyndham points.

Also used my Vida weeks, 2 1 bdrm to reach Wyndham gold. If Vida changed to points I would no longer qualify.
As T-Dot-Traveler mentioned, the value omes in its use, and in my case as a means to PIC with Wyndham.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

TPU - 21 to 23 for MP 1 bedroom suite / 2010 & 2011-ANY more recent deposit to RCI

The problem with Vida and TPU is that Vida assigns a week they choose. One year I received a week at RM and the next time Acapulco, one received 21 and the other 23, both a 1 bdrm MP. 2010 and 2011.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

for a MF of approx $700 for 2016 - I think TPU of 21 is not bad . Anyone have a more recent TPU number for an exchange with RCI - and please post what brand and unit size .

I also understand from a TUG 2009 era thread that you can deposit your "registered / residence " week with RCI and then use your vacation fare or similar name bonus week(s) to go to a Mayan . This probably does not get you JAN/FEB. at a Mayan but will get most other months and an exchange as well .