Interval x-change for Cancun and Riviera Maya has become a waste of time

[jp10558]

We've taken the AI in Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen because we're not going to take a taxi into downtown for every dinner. My home base in Cabo is AI optional, but doesn't allow any transactions such as a cup of coffee, a water bottle, or a single meal. That would leave us to walking next door to the neighboring resort, gaining nothing. Some resorts in these areas may be a $40 taxi to downtown. We also stayed at an AI optional in los Cabos. When you look at the menu prices for the cash payers, they are inflated so much that it is much better to just take the AI even if you go in town for dinner once n awhile. We're not big drinkers either. Even with kids age 12-18, they have to pay adult prices and have plenty of soft drinks. And no, I don't really want a rental car in Mexico as it brings other undesirable risks to the trip.

Dang, another reason to skip Mexico I guess - if the AI is the cheaper option, and rental cars are "extra risks". I don't think I would agree to go somewhere if I knew in advance I couldn't just get a bottle of water with my card and instead need to spend $1500 a person or so up front. Are the resorts really worth it?

 

[WorldT]

Dang, another reason to skip Mexico I guess - if the AI is the cheaper option, and rental cars are "extra risks". I don't think I would agree to go somewhere if I knew in advance I couldn't just get a bottle of water with my card and instead need to spend $1500 a person or so up front. Are the resorts really worth it?

Yes, some.of them are absolutely worth it.
Driving in Mexico is not a big deal for me.
For those that don't want to drive, there are some resorts that are located in places that you don't need a rental car to get to the resort or get to restaurants/grocery stores.
E.g Westin Lagunamar.in Cancun and Cabo Azul in San Jose. There are many others.
Stayed at Cabo Azul this February, had a rental car with me but still walked to two grocery stores because they were that close.

 

[gtbguy]

The Vidanata Properties in Nuevo, no longer show additional daily fees, "they are available to purchase through the getaway program and generally will not be available for exchange".
Maybe other locations are the same.

 

[d123sr]

All the Villa Group units have full kitchens (with the exception of the 'Junior Suite' units) - we usually get our basics for breakfast and light lunches, eat with the locals 3-4 days of a week stay and take the AI option for 3 days...best of both worlds. (Villa has properties in Cancun, Los Cabos, PV and Loreto). Tafer a "sister group" also has even more locations with what seems to be a more European-style resort. We are members there as well, but have not stayed with them yet.

 

[dioxide45]

The Vidanata Properties in Nuevo, no longer show additional daily fees, "they are available to purchase through the getaway program and generally will not be available for exchange".
Maybe other locations are the same.

It should be noted though, that while II doesn't show additional fees, the base cost of the cash getaway have increased significantly. II basically opted to put the total cost into the getaway price where other exchange companies have the lower cost then you have to pay the resort fees directly to the resort. You aren't getting a bargain through II getaways into Vidanta just because they don't have add on fees.

 

[claraj]

@jp10558 I just returned from Westin Lagunamar a few days ago. It's a great non -AI resort option. The walk to the closest grocery store is maybe a 10-min walk (my 6 yr old niece had no problem doing it) and I took an Uber back with all the groceries for about $7 (I had to get an XL for my party of 5). The big bottles of water was $1-$2 and a lot cheaper than what the market at the resort was selling for. Also, the resort is directly across the street from a large shopping area (like an outdoor mall) with many restaurant and snack options including familiar ones like Starbucks, McD, Amorino gelato, etc. I've seen a lot of Gateways in II for as low as $400-500 a week for studio and 1BRs in the fall.

 

[dioxide45]

@jp10558 I just returned from Westin Lagunamar a few days ago. It's a great non -AI resort option. The walk to the closest grocery store is maybe a 10-min walk (my 6 yr old niece had no problem doing it) and I took an Uber back with all the groceries for about $7 (I had to get an XL for my party of 5). The big bottles of water was $1-$2 and a lot cheaper than what the market at the resort was selling for. Also, the resort is directly across the street from a large shopping area (like an outdoor mall) with many restaurant and snack options including familiar ones like Starbucks, McD, Amorino gelato, etc. I've seen a lot of Gateways in II for as low as $400-500 a week for studio and 1BRs in the fall.

Westin Lagunamar is the best timeshare on the planet!

 

[Coach Boon]

Does RCI have some non AI resorts in Cancun and Riviera Maya?

They do. Search with the box checked off "AI not needed" or something to that effect. The #s are limited. I found 1 in Cancun and there is at least one in Riviera Maya - Vidanta Maya. It does not have an AI. That's the one we chose. Fantastic service and it's beautifully landscaped, the beach is meh but the pools are really nice. The food is good, but you have to pay. They have a shuttle for a small fee that goes into Playa Del Carmen. You need to book a shuttle to the airport which you pay for. It's a bit too quite at night for my liking but there was some entertainment.

Good luck searching.

 

[rpennisi]

If you have DEX (Destination Exchange) tier 6, there are a number of Grand Luxxe one bedroom sleeps 6, one bedroom sleeps 4 and studios available. There is a $150 service charge. There is no All Inclusive.

PS to Coach Boon: I, earlier in this thread, wrote that Vidanta Riviera Maya has no all inclusive exchanges when it was asked what resorts in Cancun/Riviera Maya have no all inclusive charges. However, most are put off by the high service charges that are tacked onto RCI exhanges.

 

[Coach Boon]

If you have DEX (Destination Exchange) tier 6, there are a number of Grand Luxxe one bedroom sleeps 6, one bedroom sleeps 4 and studios available. There is a $150 service charge. There is no All Inclusive.

PS to Coach Boon: I, earlier in this thread, wrote that Vidanta Riviera Maya has no all inclusive exchanges when it was asked what resorts in Cancun/Riviera Maya have no all inclusive charges. However, most are put off by the high service charges that are tacked onto RCI exhanges.

Thanks rpennisi for reposting your comment on Vidanta. I missed it. We have a challenge for this coming winter as one of our sons is having his wedding in the Yucatan Pennisula - not Cancun. So we're hunting for AI or not so long as we don't have to drive to eat somewhere. At the moment, there is almost nothing available via RCI weeks to trade into.