TS renting in all-inclusive: all-inclusive fees?

[oldmimbler]

Hi fellow Tuggers,

Since I ain't a good candidate for timeshare ownership (I generally travel alone and need nothing more than a crashpad with private bathroom/AC), I'm looking for renting a TS for family vacation in Mexico, somewhere on the beach - basically whatever has the cheapest price for the required value.

While going through the listings, I see that some resorts are listed as all-inclusive, and some mention there is "all-inclusive fee". Nothing else is usually stated, and the fee amount isn't listed. Thus, the questions:

- I assume in such cases the fee will be extra and is never included into the listing price itself unless the listing states it is included, is this correct?
- Is this fee mandatory, or is it only required if you're interested in "all-inclusive" component, and thus can go without this fee (obviously paying for restaurants, etc)
- Are there any variations within the fee? For example, none of us drinks, and booze is usually a larger component of this fee;
- What kind of amount it is? I understand it varies, but are we talking about 100 peso/day? 500? 5000?

Thank you in advance.

 

[tschwa2]

- I assume in such cases the fee will be extra and is never included into the listing price itself unless the listing states it is included, is this correct?
YES
- Is this fee mandatory, or is it only required if you're interested in "all-inclusive" component, and thus can go without this fee (obviously paying for restaurants, etc)
Depends on the resort. Some are optional All Inclusive and some are mandatory All inclusive. At most optional all inclusive you can pay as you go at the restaurants. At others if you choose not to participate in the all inclusive program, you would not be able to use any of the bars or restaurants onsite and would have to go elsewhere to eat and drink.
- Are there any variations within the fee? For example, none of us drinks, and booze is usually a larger component of this fee;
- What kind of amount it is? I understand it varies, but are we talking about 100 peso/day? 500? 5000?
The fees can vary quite a bit. At some resorts it could be as low as $45 per person per night or as high as $300-$400 per person per night. Those are USD not pesos. In some cases even at the same resort your AI fee might be different levels of AI. Anyone that you rent from should be able to quote you the AI fee and if it is mandatory or not and what specifically is included. At some resorts the AI fee for non members renting from a member might be the same but their could be additional inclusions if you are renting from a higher level member at that resort.


Thank you in advance.

 

[oldmimbler]

Thank you for valuable information. Would have to stay away from mandatory all-inclusive then. Surprised the fees are so high; even USD45/person/night seem to be quite a lot considering the average restaurant cost in Mexico. And for 400/day I can't even imagine what they serve there; unlimited Cobe beef and 50yo Lagavulin perhaps could justify this, but even then I'd doubt it.

 

[dioxide45]

You need to initiate the booking process to see the fees. If you are looking on RCI or II, the fees are provided but you have to pretend you are booking to get through the flow to see them. You will see these fees long before you get to the point of putting in a credit card number.

In most cases you will find you are better to just book through a travel agency at an all inclusive resort and have airfare included for about the same price.

 

[rpennisi]

All Vidanta resorts are non all inclusive.

 

[oldmimbler]

You need to initiate the booking process to see the fees. If you are looking on RCI or II, the fees are provided but you have to pretend you are booking to get through the flow to see them. You will see these fees long before you get to the point of putting in a credit card number.

This is correct, but I though there is a way to have them added to the cost, so I can simply sort out by "total cost" and start reviewing them starting from the cheapest.

In most cases you will find you are better to just book through a travel agency at an all inclusive resort and have airfare included for about the same price.

Would check it out. Haven't used travel agencies for a while for airfares, but then I always fly Volaris to Mexico since its the only airline which flies there direct from San Jose.

 

[dioxide45]

This is correct, but I though there is a way to have them added to the cost, so I can simply sort out by "total cost" and start reviewing them starting from the cheapest.



Would check it out. Haven't used travel agencies for a while for airfares, but then I always fly Volaris to Mexico since its the only airline which flies there direct from San Jose.

You may not find a lot of providers that provide charter air from San Jose. We research Vacation Express quite a bit and most of their gateway cities for charter air are in the midwest or northeast. Check out sites like Vacation Express, United Vacation, Southwest Vacations, Apple and others. You can book land only and then buy your own air.

 

[ilene13]

If you rent a unit from an owner of any of the Royal Resorts—- Royal Cancun, Royal Haciendas, Royal Islander and Royal Sands you do not have to take the mandatory AI that an exchanger would. Look on Redweek.com

 

[oldmimbler]

If you rent a unit from an owner of any of the Royal Resorts—- Royal Cancun, Royal Haciendas, Royal Islander and Royal Sands you do not have to take the mandatory AI that an exchanger would. Look on Redweek.com

Thank you. By "you do not have to take the mandatory AI" do you mean this is because AI is included into owner-renting price, or it just makes the AI non-mandatory (i.e. I don't have to take them)?

 

[tschwa2]

Thank you. By "you do not have to take the mandatory AI" do you mean this is because AI is included into owner-renting price, or it just makes the AI non-mandatory (i.e. I don't have to take them)?

Meaning you don't have to take them. AI wouldn't be included in any timeshare prices because the AI portion would be paid directly to the resort and not to the owner.

 

[ilene13]

Thank you. By "you do not have to take the mandatory AI" do you mean this is because AI is included into owner-renting price, or it just makes the AI non-mandatory (i.e. I don't have to take them)?

If someone rents from the Royal Resorts or exchanges in they must take AI. Owners do not have to take it, therefore their renters do not.

 

[Passepartout]

Meaning you don't have to take them. AI wouldn't be included in any timeshare prices because the AI portion would be paid directly to the resort and not to the owner.

I find that I can often do better for the type of accommodations you are looking for- along with airfare from www.cheapcaribbean.com

 

[easyrider]

Many of our friends are using VRBO to stay at nice properties along the oceans in Mexico. It really depends on your comfort level and communication skills.

Bill

 

[oldmimbler]

Never used VRBO - the attraction of a resort is to let family roam on their own, so it has to be large enough (only I speak Spanish). And on my own, Casita de Juanita is more than enough