Royal Resorts

[pharmacistking]

Hello

For Tuggers who have traveled to or own at Royal Resorts Cancun/Riviera Maya which properties are your favorites? and why? Looking at planning exchanges for Dec 2021.

 

[Cnatman]

I’ve stayed at RM, RI and own at RS. My favorite is the Royal Sands for the phase #1 pool, access to the beach, short walk to the grocery store and La Isla, and the shorter trip further towards the top of the 7 or downtown.

if exchanging though, I would definitely go for the Islander to avoid required all-inclusive. There are far too many good restaurants to enjoy outside the resort.

 

[jlp879]

We prefer the location and the laid back atmosphere at Royal Haciendas on the outskirts of Playa del Carmen. Sadly, exchanging days are gone, and we only rent directly from owners because we don't want to be forced to take AI as exchanging now dictates.

 

[pharmacistking]

RCI told me that one the codes was AI optional there is a code for RS and RH with optional AI and one with mandatory. Confirmed with an agent. But I guess YMMV.

 

[AnnaS]

We prefer the location and the laid back atmosphere at Royal Haciendas on the outskirts of Playa del Carmen. Sadly, exchanging days are gone, and we only rent directly from owners because we don't want to be forced to take AI as exchanging now dictates.

Hello

We visited the Royal Haciendas/toured a model during our Royal Sands stay (convinced us/or should I say hubby to go to the sales pitch). We spent the day here, pool, lunch. Loved the lay-out, the feel, amenities. One truly feels like they are in Mexico.

For Tuggers who have traveled to or own at Royal Resorts Cancun/Riviera Maya which properties are your favorites? and why? Looking at planning exchanges for Dec 2021.

We loved the location and amenities of the Royal Sands - pre AI. We traded into it when DVC was part of Interval and not AI.

Good luck. We would prefer not AI

 

[youppi]

RCI told me that one the codes was AI optional there is a code for RS and RH with optional AI and one with mandatory. Confirmed with an agent. But I guess YMMV.

The Royal Sands
https://www.rci.com/resort-directory/resortDetails?resortCode=DO31 is Optional All-Inclusive

https://www.rci.com/resort-directory/resortDetails?resortCode=D051 is Mandatory All-Inclusive

The Royal Haciendas
https://www.rci.com/resort-directory/resortDetails?resortCode=DO32 is Optional All-Inclusive

https://www.rci.com/resort-directory/resortDetails?resortCode=D047 is Mandatory All-Inclusive

 

[Cnatman]

The entries for RCI are very odd as my understanding of the AI rules at the Royal Sands would never allow an option for an exchange from a resort outside the Royals. The policy on the Royal Resorts website seems very clear as well:

• Timeshare owners with different companies outside Royal Resorts who exchange to vacation at The Royal Sands and The Royal Haciendas through an international exchange company must purchase the all-inclusive package. In the case of The Royal Cancun, exchange guests who are not Royal Resorts members will have optional access to the REFINE All-Inclusive package.

There were many discussions on this topic when the resorts implemented their AI program 6-8 years ago and the language still seems to align with the clarification given by the management. Does anyone have any information that might shed some light on this seeming discrepancy?

Perhaps RCI was able to make a deal with Royal Resorts because they were ending up with too much inventory that nobody wanted due to the AI requirement?

 

[Carta]

I really miss the days of the Tri-Towers; Mayan, Caribbean, Islander....We've been going to Islander for past 11/12 years.. We don't own; we rent from owners. But have visited all the Royals. Sands is really nice, but they added too many palapas to accommodate beach lovers. Too crowded now IMO.. Not a big fan of AI. We load up on food, snacks, and beer/booze. 168 days away!!

 

[belor]

The entries for RCI are very odd as my understanding of the AI rules at the Royal Sands would never allow an option for an exchange from a resort outside the Royals. The policy on the Royal Resorts website seems very clear as well:

• Timeshare owners with different companies outside Royal Resorts who exchange to vacation at The Royal Sands and The Royal Haciendas through an international exchange company must purchase the all-inclusive package. In the case of The Royal Cancun, exchange guests who are not Royal Resorts members will have optional access to the REFINE All-Inclusive package.

There were many discussions on this topic when the resorts implemented their AI program 6-8 years ago and the language still seems to align with the clarification given by the management. Does anyone have any information that might shed some light on this seeming discrepancy?

Perhaps RCI was able to make a deal with Royal Resorts because they were ending up with too much inventory that nobody wanted due to the AI requirement?

My understanding is that after the Royals had to close to due to Covid, they relaxed the mandatory A/I requirement for exchangers to help boost occupancy - Getting somebody in to fill an otherwise empty room and most likely spending $s is better than letting the room sit empty. I assume that as the recovery progresses, they will remove this.

-john-

 

[pauld315]

My understanding is that after the Royals had to close to due to Covid, they relaxed the mandatory A/I requirement for exchangers to help boost occupancy - Getting somebody in to fill an otherwise empty room and most likely spending $s is better than letting the room sit empty. I assume that as the recovery progresses, they will remove this.

-john-

I think you are right. You can actually book directly on their website and AI is currently optional. All of Quintana Roo has now gone to yellow on their epedemiological stoplight rating system. This allowed the resorts to go from 30 to 60% occupancy. There is a lot of speculation that northern Quintana Roo will be green sometime in October which allows them to go 100%. If you want to stay at Royal Sands without AI now is the time to book.