Royal Islander???

[michamato]

Hi

I need help deciding if I should buy into a Royal Resort. I saw one that I liked for a good price, I think at the Royal Islander.

I had a contract for Aruba Surf Club Marriot and it got bought back today. Now I have some time to think about other options, not sure what to do.

WE have 3 small children, do not need to travel within the school calendar, but this Islander I saw was Presidents week, which would be huge for us.

Anyone out there own the Islander or any other royals that can give me some advice?


Thanks

 

[Rcam12]

we own at the Royal Sands and love it... I know you will be please with owning anything that is Royal Resorts property. The Islander is nice and in a good lacation to 2 other Royal resorts...

 

[michamato]

What week do you own? I looked at the Royal Sands but they don't have anything in my timeframe, well I guess I could be more flexible.
Have you ever traded with interval?
Thank you for your help!!

we own at the Royal Sands and love it... I know you will be please with owning anything that is Royal Resorts property. The Islander is nice and in a good lacation to 2 other Royal resorts...

 

[jschmidt]

We currently own two week at the Royal Mayan. We owned at Club International de Cancun for 30 years (also a Royal Resort). We have been very happy with both. We traded a couple of times but weren't happy with the trades because they came no where close to the quality of the Royal Resorts. You'll see a lot of the same people there every year and become good friends with many. It will become your second home!

I don't think you can go wrong - if the price is right!

 

[alfie]

good deal

I am a Royal Resorts member at both the Royal Mayan and the Royal Caribbean, we are next door, neighbours to the Royal Islander. We have been going to these resorts for over 25 years. My children visit us, and our grandchildren. I can say that this is the best investment I have ever made, in terms of family value, and vacation time well spent. It is close to home in terms of travel time, and in fact inexpensive. Aruba, is beautiful, but, far away, and much more expensive. Think not of yourself, in these terms, my daughter brings along her friends, a beer in Cancun is half the price of a beer in Aruba. The Mayan people in Cancun are super. The service is perfect. We are very happy with the royals.

 

[tonyg]

Hi

I need help deciding if I should buy into a Royal Resort. I saw one that I liked for a good price, I think at the Royal Islander.

...but this Islander I saw was Presidents week, which would be huge for us.

Anyone out there own the Islander or any other royals that can give me some advice?


Thanks

Depends on what you call a good price. Week 7 at the Royals is one of the 3 most valuable weeks there. Price also depends on the unit location. Go to: www.mexicondo.com and look for their write up on pricing at the Royals.

 

[buceo]

Have you been there? Seems worth a rental week before buying or rent with an option to buy it. There is enough to pick from in the resale market that it'd help to actually look around and see what you prefer.

The Yucatan is a great place to be and to get to from the states. It's a very well run company with a great staff. Their buildings held up through Hurricane Wilma. We're sure glad we own there. We own President's week and weeks on either side.

 

[pjrose]

We've owned at the Royal Caribbean since pre-construction in 1988; initially got 2 units, then got 2 more at resale, sold one on TUG, and bought an Islander on eBay. We are very happy with the Royals, and everyone we know is too. Just read the reviews.

One of the advantages that sets ownership at the Royals apart from other places is that you have a specific location for a specific week - no having to put in for a particular time frame, not knowing if you'll get it, and not knowing where you'll be.

The Royals are extremely flexible about what you do with your villa. We have done all of this:
- bought through the developers
- bought through eBay
- sold through TUG
- rented the whole thing and also just part (lockoff or suite) through TUG, Mexicondo, and Owners' Manual
- Traded internally
- traded through Interval and gotten bonus weeks in addition to other five stars in exchange
- deposited into a rental pool
- and, of course, used our weeks.

We don't regret it, and you probably won't either. It's a great place for kids - ours have gone from infants to teens there, and we and the kids have made lifelong friends with other families.

 

[michamato]

Thanks for all the replys and the website links. I didn't even know where to start!!!!! What great information!!!
Worth taking a trip down there to check out soon.

I like both Cancun and Aruba, and from Boston both are almost the same flight time. I guess the next thing to look at is cost. Marriots in Aruba seem to be right around the same price as the Royal Sands.

I am going to do some research and see what our next step would be. I was also thinking about an eoy which I see every once in a while on resale

 

[jayk77]

royal islander

We own at the royal islander and think it is great. It is nice having three top ten resorts sitting right next to each other. Each is a little different and it is great walking through the properties, or going to the different restaurants on site.

 

[michamato]

I am becoming very interested with the Royals now. I guess the next question is which one.
I found a week 7 in the Islander for around 14K. But that expires sooner and it is an older resort than the Sands.
If I were to buy, should I go for the better week? Or should I go for a certain resort????

I am looking to spend under 15K- and my weeks are pretty much flexible. I would not like to have a summer week, because we do other things, but I wouldn't mind an October week. And of course, Presidents week is good, but I bet the flights are more expensive and it is crowded.


I would consider an eoy too, to keep price in check.. We own at Saratoga Springs in Disney so I have that one I go once a year to.

 

[Blondie]

Just remember that your needs will change as your kids grow, regardless of whether you are tied to any school calendar. Furthermore, flights anywhere during Pres. week will likely be astronomical unless you find a great deal. And then, resorts are overcrowded during that very high-season week. Float weeks work well for this reason. You have built in flexibility and can travel during different times as your needs change. (I speak as a teacher who has had to travel during peak times...)

 

[michamato]

I have float weeks (points) for Disney and love them. I think the Royals are always a certain week? And I agree about Presidents day, plus with the New England winters that can be a hard and anxious escape for us, always thinking about the weather.

 

[buceo]

...but I bet the flights are more expensive and it is crowded.

I don't find a fixed royal resort week all that "fixed", prime season weeks rent very well, months in advance, well above MFs, so either exchange or even better rent it and rent elsewhere. So winter weeks cost more, but are worth more in the rental market. When using your week, you can start looking for flights 11 months out, that makes finding a reasonable airfare a good bet.

 

[pjrose]

I am becoming very interested with the Royals now. I guess the next question is which one.
I found a week 7 in the Islander for around 14K. But that expires sooner and it is an older resort than the Sands.
If I were to buy, should I go for the better week? Or should I go for a certain resort????

The age of the resorts isn't too important, as they're well maintained and upgraded. Expiration is an important consideration; the first Royal (VCI) just expired, and the members had an option to buy back in for another 30 years at a good price. There's no way to tell, though, whether that will happen at the Mayan, Caribbean, Islander, and, eventually, Sands.

The villas are basically the same at all four of these resorts - very minor differences in layout, and different colors/furniture in each, but nothing major.

The Tri-Royals have a somewhat different "feel" than the Sands. The Sands' lobby and view straight out to the sea is fantastic - but how much time do you spend in the lobby looking at the view? The Tri-Royals have curvier pool areas with more landscaping; these features provide differrent areas to sit and swim, and somewhat more of a private feel for individual groups. The Sands' Phase I pool is gigantic, with chairs lined up in rows - a very different feeling. The Tri-Royals have more restaurants, the Sands is closer to a mall and many restaurants and bars. The Sands has a lunch buffet, the Caribbean has Italian night. The Sands has a bigger mini-market and activity center. There are many, many more differences, none of which would likely make a big difference in your enjoyment.

Regardless of all of the above, you can use all the facilities of each resort, and can take the free shuttle between the tri-Royals, Sands, and VCI, as well as a low-cost bus to the Haciendas.

So, which resort and which time period to get? You can't go wrong with Islander or Sands, and with small kids the much longer time period of the Sans is important. Of course the Sands will cost you more.......

Blondie's point about needs changing is a good one - we originally bought winter weeks pre-kids, and wondered why anyone would want to go to Cancun in July. That was fine for awhile, but eventually we had kids, they went to school, we started exchanging for July, and eventually bought in June and July. We sold one of the winter weeks, and rent the other one (New Year's) at a good price.

I'd say keep an eye on prices - look at completed sales on eBay for awhile. Another poster suggested the chart in the Owners Manual - interesting, though I believe it lists asking prices and doesn't reflect whether the sales were completed or the final price. Other places to look are mexicondo.com and redweek.com. If you email me off the list I'll suggest some other sources.

Definitely you need to go down there - maybe you can get a getaway on Interval, or find a good price on a rental for an off-week?

 

[KarenLK]

I have owned at VCI since 1985 or so and have spent most of my Easter vacations there since then. I bought at the Sands pre-construction and sold it a few years ago. It is beautiful, but very much like a hotel in size. There are not enough elevators to accommodate the number of guests and you will do a lot of walking when there. I found the resort to have a "cold" feel and I believe many feel the same as I do, even 7 years later. I own a fall week at the Caribbean which I will use for the first time this year, and have stayed twice on exchanges at the Mayan. I felt more at home at the Mayan than I ever did at the Sands.
The great advantage that the Sands has is its nearness to the main road and the mall which is just a short walk down Kukulkan Blvd. The advantage at the Tri-Royals is the at-home feeling you will have and the variety of pools and restaurants within the complex. The Sands is a bit closer to downtown than the Tri-Royals. Don't forget about VCI, as the units are quite nice there and very close to downtown.

 

[michamato]

I want to thank everyone for their responses, and keep them coming, I love to hear opinions good and bad.
I am a bit worried about buying in 2007 something that will expire in 2018. It is anyones guess what they will do when that time comes.
I am looking at week 41 or 42 which would be in October that seems like a good time, and because it is still hurricane season, maybe the resort wouldn't be too crowded.

 

[KarenLK]

VCI was renewed for another 30 years, so I imagine it will be the same at the Tri-Royals.

 

[michamato]

I am seeing very competitive prices on sell my timeshare now. Has anyone used them? There a bunch for sale, and prices are all over the place.
It is hard to make a decision on which place to buy into.

 

[buceo]

...It is hard to make a decision on which place to buy into.

That's part of the fun. I'd still go first, it'll be an easier/better decsion then. Personally if I didn't have sun on my balcony while having my morning coffee I'd be very disappointed. I think the unit's location can be very important. I'd get a top floor too. Everybody has personal preferences and if you shop around you'll find yours.

 

[michamato]

I think week 16 would be best for me for the time being. I see a few different resorts in my price range that would be good. Some of them say Floating unit? How does that work, I thought they were all fixed units? Or is it if you have a top floor you would get a top floor but not necessarily the same unit???

so many questions.....also my choices that I see right now (not that I will buynow) but I have been known to do that, is Royal caribbean and Royal sands??? They both have week 16.

I am also a bit worried about the party seen. I think I read maybe even in this post that it is not a party place. I would hope that was the case here.

 

[KarenLK]

There are no floating units at the Royals. Be sure that you don't buy at the Royal Sunset or Royal lagoon...they have floaters.

 

[kathyth12]

We bought at the Islander in 1998. We started with one week in May and added a second week soon afterward. Subsequently we also bought at both the Sands and the Haciendas. We never rent our units out or exchange them to go anywhere else. We have always used every one of our weeks. We just love the Royals! I love each of the resorts for different reasons, but the Islander is my favorite. Maybe because it was our first. I love it because it smaller and more intimate than the other two, but that it is connected to the Caribbean and Mayan, so there are so many options for pools and restaurants. We see the same happy faces every year on their staff and some have become like family. The grounds are lovely - even my husband commented this year that he had never seen them quite as beautiful. Everything is immaculately maintained. We see improvements to the resort and the villas every year. If anything breaks or needs replacing, it is fixed or replaced immediately. We can't say enough good things about our years at the Islander or at the other Royals.

The trust at the Islander ends in 2023, not 2018 (that's the Caribbean). At that point the trust will be extended, as they did at VCI, or the resort will be sold and we will get some residual from the sale. We aren't concerned. At that point we will have had 25 years of wonderful vacations at the Islander!

 

[maja651]

We own at the Islander and at the Sands. We love them both. They are both every different though, and it almost feels like a completly different vacation going to Islander versus the Sands.

So many people have mentioned the differences in this post, but I will summarize the differences that matter to us!

Pros:
Islander
1. One of the Tri-Royals (love to be able to just walk over to the Mayan and Carribean so easily. You can pick a different pool area every day which makes the vacation seem more flexible and interesting).
2. More Homey feel - as others have mentioned, it does have more of a homey feel to it. I even think the staff at the Isalnder is nicer.
3. Looks more tropical with the curvy shaped pool, landscaping, etc.
4. Better Pool bar food menu
5. Closer to Captain's Cove

Sands
1. Close to main road, easy access to bus stop (no huge hill like the Islander has)
2. Close (walking distance) to the malls, restaurants, etc.
3. Beach access at Phase I is same level as pool - a HUGE benefit in our eyes.
4. While the Phase I pool area is huge and somewhat sterile looking, you can always walk over to phase II and get the tri-Royals curvy pool area feeling.
5. Grocery store is much nicer and has a lot more items.
6. There is a sports bar at the Sands.
7. Coffee shop at the Sands

Cons:
Islander
1. Beach access is 4 levels lower than pool - you cannot see the pool if you are on the beach
2. Islander beach is a lot more rocky and narrow than the Sands (this could change in time, but for now, it is what it is)
3. Islander is situated on a huge hill that is a challenge to walk up in the humidity and heat. (However, there is a free shuttle you can catch every 15 minutes down at the bottom of the hill at Captain's Cove, so this is kind of a wash).
4. Islander is futher away from the "action" of Cancun. Not really walkng distance to anything.
5. Laundry area at the Islander is very small compared to the Sands.

Sands:
1. Phase I has a very non-private, sterile feel to it.
2. Pool bar menus are not as good as Islander menus.
3. Staff is not as nice as tri-Royals. (They are ok, don't get me wrong, but the front desk at the Sands has always been an area of concern for us...they can be the rudist people you have ever met).


I think you mentioned week 16 as well. We own weeks 16 and 17 and go almost every year during those times. In fact, we already have our plane tickets for next year! We love going during those weeks. It is usually warm, but not oo hot, and very little rain. Good week to pick!

Michelle

 

[michamato]

I wish I could just make a decision. Seems like whichever I choice can't be wrong???

I am very excited about the possibity of owning the Royals.