V.C.I. opens again... 9.5 rating... Great...

[Ellis2ca]

I am staying at my new (to me) beachfront Duplex "C" Villa at Vacation Clubs International (V.C.I.) in Can Cun... As some of you might know, Vacation Clubs was the first Royal Resort, 32 years ago... When it came to the end of the 30 year period, we were offered to receive the Residual Value, or to renew with them for another 30 years and we were given a 50% discount on the renewal...

Many persons had expressed doubt that the Royal Resorts would ever give us our (not guaranteed) residual value... I always expressed confidence that we would receive our residual value (see my article in the TUG experts section, Residual Value at Royal Resorts...)

Anyways.. to make a long story short... V.C.I. was renewed for another 30 years. I was given the choice to receive $34,500 cash or to pay $13,250 to renew THREE weeks (51, 52, and 52)...

I chose to pay and stay with them for another 30 years... I figured if they made my standard of living so much better from age 31 to 61, they will make my standard of living much better from age 61 to 91 also...

I ended up with ONE Beachfront "C" (duplex) Executive Villa week 51, and TWO Lagoon View "C" (duplex) Executive Villas week 52...

Part of the reason why I chose to renew was that the developers said they would renovate the club... If the developers of the Royal Resorts were Politicians, I think this would be a better world. They have always fulfilled their promises. V.C.I was closed in August, 2009 for renovations, and it reopened THIS WEEK...

So this is the first week that the NEW V.C.I. is open...

Let me tell you what it is like: it is like a beautiful OLD CAR that has been sent to the shop and fixed... and POLISHED. Everything is spic and span... Everything is shining and beautiful.

It LOOKS pretty much the same, but there are improvements that make it nicer. And there are improvements that we can't see, but that are there... and they will help it to keep its value for another 30 years again.

The most notable improvement, of course, is that both SWIMMING POOLS are now HEATED... Wow! Delicious!...

But they also installed NEW LIGHTS in the swimming pools, and it looks SPECTACULAR at night... the lights in the swimming pool change from a beautiful blue to purple, to green, and back to blue again... it REALLY is beautiful...

Another improvement is that all the elevators have been changed... I was happy with the old elevators, but I suppose the developers weren't happy with them, because they spent a lot of money to change them... the new elevators are about the same as the old ones, but bigger... they are for up to 14 persons...

ho hum... I didn't need it... but I am not complaining about it.

There is now a new PARK in the space between building 7 and 8, with a fountain and benches... I suppose it is for OLD PEOPLE to rest ??? I don't know what the PURPOSE of it is, but whatever it is, it is beautiful... and it is there...

There is also a new FOUNTAIN that runs water from one swimming pool to the other... Water comes out of one fountain, then it moves like a river to the other side, and in between it goes down small steps so that you can hear this nice "gurggling" sound of water dropping... very nice, very beautiful... again, we didn't really need it, but I am not complaining... it is beautiful, and it sounds peaceful and relaxing... again: very nice...

They also made a new sand box for very small children, with slides, etc... Not for me, but I saw small kids playing there... and they were very happy... so again, two more points for the developers...

The rest of the improvements are underground... They installed new tubes, new sewage pits... whatever... I don't see it but they tell me it's there and it was necessary, and it will be good for us... It didn't cost me any extra money from my pocket... so whatever it is, I accept, and I'm happy to get it...

According to what I have read, Vacation Clubs is the Royal Resort with the highest member satisfaction rating of all Royal Resots... 92% vs. 90% for the other clubs... It is the only Royal Resort in Can Cun that is not in the TUG top 10... (unbelievable!)

But I predict that you are going to start to see higher ratings for V.C.I. in the future. The biggest complaint was always that the SWIMMING POOLS were COLD... that complaint is now a thing of the past...

I think V.C.I. would make it to the TUG Top Ten if only NEW votes from here on would count... I used to rate it a 9... the great service is the same as always... So now I say it is nearly a 10... that means "Almost As Good as the Best Timeshare I have ever been to, anywhere on Planet Earth" (and in my opinion that would be: The Royal Mayan... a 10...)

So I rate it a 9.5

 

[JudyS]

Hi, Ellis

That sounds really good! The Royals are a true class act! I haven't stayed at VCI yet, but I have wanted to for a while. After your description, I really want to.

By the way, I was just checking out your homepage. Very interesting! I will send you a PM about it; please look for it.

 

[KarenLK]

Wondering about the wireless internet access in all units?????

 

[maciec]

We were told when we talked to a sales rep at the Royal Sands that VCI was supposed to get new beds - did they? Were any other updates made inside of the units?

Thanks!

 

[tonyg]

VCI was always my second favorite Royal. I did have 2 issues with it tho---the unheated pools (now resolved) and the calm water. It is the only Royal that I ever played a full game of tennis at.

 

[Ellis2ca]

Wondering about the wireless internet access in all units?????

I didn't bring my own portable computer, but I see a lot of people in the pools and the lobby with their computers connected to the internet, so I assume there is wireless internet access anywhere on the grounds.

We were told when we talked to a sales rep at the Royal Sands that VCI was supposed to get new beds - did they? Were any other updates made inside of the units?

I don't know if the bed are new... but everything looks new and beautiful. I was told that there are more improvements to be done in the interior of the Villas that have still not been done... they concentrated on ripping up the ground and installing the tubes and heating for the swimming pool, and all that is totally finished...

But... Yes... I stayed one night in a "B" unit (because I had not withdrawn my "C" unit from the rental pool !) and it had A NEW FAN on the ceiling of the living room! I own regular Villas and Executive Penthouse at the Royal Mayan, and the regular Villas do not have fans, and the Executive Penthouse does have fans (in the bedrooms, and in the living room) and I can tell you that many times I prefer to sleep with the FAN on low, than with air conditioning... So this is a really nice addition to the Villas at V.C.I.

VCI was always my second favorite Royal. I did have 2 issues with it tho---the unheated pools (now resolved) and the calm water.

I will tell you something else that is great about the new V.C.I.... and also about all the Royals...

The new GARDEN, which I wrote might be for "OLD PEOPLE" is in fact a ROSE GARDEN... and I found a PLAQUE which says something like "This garden is dedicated to Pilar Quintal who was the FIRST HOUSEKEEPER at V.C.I. and who worked faithfully for 25 years etc.. etc... etc... "

The extraordinary thing about this is that the garden was dedicated to PILAR QUINTAL, a HOUSEKEEPER... and it was not dedicated to Richard Sutton or to Armando Millet, or John Olson... or to any of the bosses or managers, which would be the USUAL anywhere else...

I think WHO they decided to honor and dedicate the park to SAYS SOMETHING about WHO THEY think is MORE IMPORTANT to the success of the Royal Resorts.

And I think they got their PRIORITIES right... they honored a simple employee, and not themselves, or the boss or the owner or developers. (who ALSO certainly deserve to be remembered... )

But I'm sure Richard Sutton or Armando Millet or John Olson don't NEED to be honored... they don't CARE to be HONORED and REMEMBERED... (I honor and remember them... The entire Royal Resorts is their monument...) They always thought of THE TEAM... their EMPLOYEES... and if it was up to them, I am sure they probably said: let's honor Pilar... let's honor a good employee...

- Ellis

 

[KarenLK]

The rose garden has been there for quite a few years; I remember hearing that it had not been tended to properly, and when *we* complained, they fixed it.

 

[tonyg]

Yes, I remember walking through it one year when it was in bloom. I think that was my first stay at VCI.

 

[geoffb]

I think the only plaque you will find with the name Sutton on it is the one in the Lobby dedicated to Mrs. Sutton.