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Palace Resort Help

WAKEB0ARD

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Location
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Let me start out by saying that I feel stupid even asking for help on this....but here goes.

In 2002, on my honeymoon, I purchased a Palace Premier Founding Membership at the Aventura/Spa Palace in Mexico. It is good for 50 weeks. I was given an Imperial Week as part of the deal which we used in 2003. I have since paid off the purchase amount but never used a single week. I also continued to pay my RCI membership fee ($149 every two years) until 2009 and never traded for a RCI week. From what I can tell, you have to submit the week and pay about $400 before you can make a RCI reservation.

My question is...What do I really have here? Does anyone have a similar "timeshare" and what good is it?

I guess I need to see what the "internet rate" for a week is compared to the "preferential rate" on the Palace website. I assume the "preferential rate" is going to be a really good deal...right? What about this $1500 resort credit I have been seeing? Do I get that too if I use one of my weeks?

Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Thanks....
 
We are newish owners of a few PR weeks, and this is what we understand. We know we have the right to use X weeks, one per year, more based on availability, paying the appropriate preferential rate (for two adults) established each year. It entitles us to a certain type of room, with certain things included (like a 25-minute massage, a basic manicure and pedicure, certain tours, and MX airport transfers). The weeks are valid at the resorts specified in contract. Our weeks have no expiration date, but sometimes they are valid for a period of 25 years. We can "sell" one or more of them to someone else, who would then inherit the privileges tied to the week(s). From our limited research, it appears the preferential rate is about $800/week less than the rate available to non-members.

If you were to use a week before the end of 2011, you would receive the $1500 resort credit. This credit can be used toward other tours, spa services, special dinners, golf, wine list upgrade, etc. There are some restrictions tied to the credit...I think only $800 can be used toward spa services. If we understand correctly, this particular promotion will expire at the end of this year; however, a different promotion (details unknown) will replace it.

We are hoping we will learn more as we use our weeks, but maybe this help you get started.
 
Thank you for your response...You mentioned that "it appears the preferential rate is about $800/week less than the rate available to non-members."

I just looked up the price for a week at the Cancun Palace in October of 2011. On the Palace Resort website, the price is $2222 without air. The preferential rate for the same time is $1980. A savings of only $242. Furthermore, I can get a package with air from LAX on Expedia for about $3000. So, I guess the only real benefit besides the $242 is the massage, mani and pedi, and the tour which is included with Palace Premier membership. I was hoping for more of a savings like the $800 you mentioned.

Thanks again for your response and thanks in advance to anyone else that can give me any more info...
 
My apologies. I was thinking of an incentive week, which we just used. We saved around $800 using that, vs. paying the normal preferential rate. Also, I just tried to logon to the Palace Resorts website, but failed; however, I have a hard copy of the 2011 preferential rates, and I believe you may have misread the rate for October...and I think your savings would be greater by $200.

IMHO, once you own the weeks and are past the rescission period, any savings you realize are great! While we will never recoup our "investment" purely from the use of our weeks, we have gotten sufficient value via the free and incentive weeks (plus the spa money) we got in the deal, we are content with our purchase. At the same time, we realize this type of timeshare is not for everyone.

BTW, I would drop the RCI membership unless/until you have a plan to trade one or more of your weeks, or, you have been purchasing last minute weeks which do not require the deposit of weeks (I am guessing you are not doing this).
 
You are correct when you said...

"I have a hard copy of the 2011 preferential rates, and I believe you may have misread the rate for October...and I think your savings would be greater by $200."

The preferential rate for October at the Cancun or Beach Palace is $1780. The website rate for a "Deluxe Resort View w/jetted tub" is $2222.50 So the savings is $442.50 I checked Kayak and the price for the same week is $2226.00.

Looks like there is a decent savings to use my preferential rate....I only have to use 24 weeks out of my 50 weeks and I will break even!

Do you know if the preferential rate includes the same category room (lowest quality) or is it an upgraded room?

Do you know if there is a posted list of the "perks" you mentioned before?
"certain things included (like a 25-minute massage, a basic manicure and pedicure, certain tours, and MX airport transfers)."

SINCE I WROTE THIS I FOUND THE FOLLOWING ON THE PALACE WEBPAGE...
"What is the “All-Inclusive Plus” plan?
All-Inclusive Plus provides the Member or guest with lodging services, meals, beverages, gratuity, taxes, theme parties, a massage, a pedicure, a manicure, and two (2) tours to be chosen between Tulum, Chichen Itza or Isla Mujeres.

Do you know if it is Two Tours for two people or One tour for two people?

I have never use the RCI membership and have not been paying to keep it current. I guess if I was going to trade a week, I would just pay for the membership for the year I was going to use it....right?
 
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With RCI if you pre-pay your all inclusive at least 30 days before check in you get special deals.Here are the prices from RCI's web site. October 2011 Pre Paid all inclusive fees for 2 for 7 days are $1099. You can exchange for the week for only 9 TPU's. You can easily deposit a decent week at most any resort with annual MF's of $600 and get 20 to 50 TPU's. So the cost for a week would be $1099 plus about $200 worth of MF's (1/3 of $600), plus $179 exchange fee for under $1500 total.

Here are the AI rates for Aventura Palace through RCI weeks:

"Urgent Information
*PREPAID MANDATORY 7 DAYS ALL INCLUSIVE PROGRAM. Adults Only (must over 18 yrs old). Fees are per room, per week in double or single occupancy. 2011 Fees: Jan01-Apr30 US$1,403 (Reg US$2,456); May01-Aug20 US$1,147 (Reg US$2,008); Aug21-Dec15 US$1,099 (Reg US$1,924);Dec16- Jan05/12 US$1,883 (Reg US$3,296). Additional Adult in same room US$668 per week. 2012 Fees: Jan01-Apr14 US$1,446 (Reg. US$2,530); Apr15- Aug18 US$1,182 (Reg. US$2,068); Aug19-Dec20 US$1,133 (Reg. US$1,982). Additional Adult US$688 in same room per week. To receive this promotional price, All Inclusive fee must beprepaid at least 30 days before check in. To prepay AI fee please contact Palace Resorts at 1866/437-5817 or email: allinclusive@palaceresorts.com *Does'nt include tour/credit.Palace owners cant exchange into Palace properties thru RCI."


PS I just noticed that as a Palace owner you CAN'T exchange into palace properties thru RCI. That is not fair. They want non Palace owners coming hoping to sell them something. What it does in reality is make it where non owners can spend an AI week there cheaper than owners can.
 
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You are correct when you said...

Looks like there is a decent savings to use my preferential rate....I only have to use 24 weeks out of my 50 weeks and I will break even!

Not bad, eh? But the nice thing is, if you want to take some friends along, they can use one of your weeks, and get the same benefits you get.

Do you know if the preferential rate includes the same category room (lowest quality) or is it an upgraded room?

You would have to check your contract to see what type of room you are entitled to, but I am guessing you would get what PR calls a "jacuzzi room", and I am assuming that is the same thing as the deluxe room with a jetted tub. HOWEVER, I believe you would get a better location than a renter. Also, you MAY be entitled to purchase a better (concierge) room when you arrive for $200, which gets you oceanfront and a few other perks; have not done this before, so I am not sure how it works, but I do know this is NOT available at all resorts.

Do you know if there is a posted list of the "perks" you mentioned before?
"certain things included (like a 25-minute massage, a basic manicure and pedicure, certain tours, and MX airport transfers)."


The website shows some of these things, but your contract should have these things itemized. IMO, that paperwork is hard to understand, since it was obviously written by someone for whom English is a second language...i.e., the word usage/terminology is a bit unusual to us...but, the info is there. If you have it, I would give it a good review.


SINCE I WROTE THIS I FOUND THE FOLLOWING ON THE PALACE WEBPAGE...
"What is the “All-Inclusive Plus” plan?
All-Inclusive Plus provides the Member or guest with lodging services, meals, beverages, gratuity, taxes, theme parties, a massage, a pedicure, a manicure, and two (2) tours to be chosen between Tulum, Chichen Itza or Isla Mujeres.

Do you know if it is Two Tours for two people or One tour for two people?

I have never use the RCI membership and have not been paying to keep it current. I guess if I was going to trade a week, I would just pay for the membership for the year I was going to use it....right?

Yes. Unless you are likely to take advantage their last call (short notice) vacations, there is no point paying for membership until you have a definite plan to trade. Of course, just because you want to trade for something, it doesn't mean you will be able to get it, but that is a different issue!

Sorry about my formatting here. Hope you can read this ok. :hi:
 
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