• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Using RCI for all-inclusive options

squierjosh

Guest
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
173
Reaction score
1
My wife and her friends want to go to Mexico for their 40th birthdays. They want it to be a simple, relaxing trip, so all-inclusive would be ideal. I see a lot of all-inclusive options on RCI in Mexico, especially around Playa del Carmen, where they want to go.

However, once you calculate RCI fees, insurance, the add-on cost of the all-inclusive...is it cheaper to go through a travel agent for that kind of a trip? Some of the all-inclusive fees are outrageous (anywhere from $450 to $1200 for the week, per person), and travel agents can probably get a deal with the airfare.

Anyone use RCI for all-inclusive, or should I avoid this and use the points for something else?
 

tugger2020

newbie
Joined
Jun 18, 2012
Messages
77
Reaction score
0
My wife and her friends want to go to Mexico for their 40th birthdays. They want it to be a simple, relaxing trip, so all-inclusive would be ideal. I see a lot of all-inclusive options on RCI in Mexico, especially around Playa del Carmen, where they want to go.

However, once you calculate RCI fees, insurance, the add-on cost of the all-inclusive...is it cheaper to go through a travel agent for that kind of a trip? Some of the all-inclusive fees are outrageous (anywhere from $450 to $1200 for the week, per person), and travel agents can probably get a deal with the airfare.

Anyone use RCI for all-inclusive, or should I avoid this and use the points for something else?

My wife and I went to El Dorado Seaside Suites in Puerto Aventuras in August 2012 and it was excellent. I don't think this one specifically is in RCI but I remember seeing some of their sister hotels on there.

I recommend checking out if the all-inclusive resorts you are looking at have a first time visitor package through these exchange companies. We had to ask about it because it wasn't really mentioned up front. I noticed it mentioned in small font on the resort terms of service so I asked about it. There was a significant discount and my wife and I paid about $1200 for an all-inclusive one week trip for two to this resort.

The resort was incredible and they go out of their way to pamper you including good drinks (including alcohol) and food. The one I mentioned is also an adults only resort so no children allowed here. They have other resorts in their brand where families can go to but they have a few select ones where it's just couples or small groups of adults.

If you are looking to go here, check out dial an exchange. I'm pretty sure the company I went through to book this initially just did an exchange for me through there behind the scenes. Whichever all-inclusive you choose, it wouldn't hurt to ask if they have a first time visitor's package or something like that.

Good luck.
 

momeason

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2007
Messages
1,655
Reaction score
21
Location
Emerald Isle, NC
I would not waste my points if they want to go AI. Deals are out there.
Use your points for another vacation.
 

FlaKmunKy

newbie
Joined
May 22, 2013
Messages
113
Reaction score
0
Location
Utah
The standard all inclusive fees are not all too great at times although you can find great deals on the all inclusive packages through www.rci.com/specialoffers

My wife and her friends want to go to Mexico for their 40th birthdays. They want it to be a simple, relaxing trip, so all-inclusive would be ideal. I see a lot of all-inclusive options on RCI in Mexico, especially around Playa del Carmen, where they want to go.

However, once you calculate RCI fees, insurance, the add-on cost of the all-inclusive...is it cheaper to go through a travel agent for that kind of a trip? Some of the all-inclusive fees are outrageous (anywhere from $450 to $1200 for the week, per person), and travel agents can probably get a deal with the airfare.

Anyone use RCI for all-inclusive, or should I avoid this and use the points for something else?
 

squierjosh

Guest
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
173
Reaction score
1
Thanks for the replies. Seems like a travel agent or other service is the way to go for AI. I appreciate the responses.
 

Timeshare Von

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
7,138
Reaction score
1,837
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Resorts Owned
Wyndham (77k points at Myrtle Beach/Westwinds)
Several years ago, I booked an AI resort in Cancun for less than the AI fees through RCI and w/o a TS exchange. I think we paid $110/night for ten nights at the AI Resort, for two of us. It was a great value, booked through Hotels.com (May 2004).
 

robertr55

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
202
Reaction score
1
Location
Northern California
I recently tried to set up an AI vacation in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) for a honeymoon trip this September for one of my employees - there were some VERY nice places to choose from, and RCI only wanted 5 points for an exchange, but by the time I added up everything for RCI (my cost) it was $2679. He was able to get a deal at the same place from Fun Jet vacations for $3210, but it included round-trip airfaire (which would have been over $1000 separately) and included airport transfers, etc. The only difference would have been that I could have selected a larger room for them.

Even if I had weeks or points to burn, it still seems like there are better deals out there.
 

squierjosh

Guest
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
173
Reaction score
1
Thanks, that's what I'm learning too. Not only do you get the airfare for that price, you're not giving up your points and probably have a better selection.

I recently tried to set up an AI vacation in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) for a honeymoon trip this September for one of my employees - there were some VERY nice places to choose from, and RCI only wanted 5 points for an exchange, but by the time I added up everything for RCI (my cost) it was $2679. He was able to get a deal at the same place from Fun Jet vacations for $3210, but it included round-trip airfaire (which would have been over $1000 separately) and included airport transfers, etc. The only difference would have been that I could have selected a larger room for them.

Even if I had weeks or points to burn, it still seems like there are better deals out there.
 
Top