What is HSI sold at Grand Mayan?

[mishpat]

Friend just returned from a week at Grand Mayan. Gave up their ownership in a Massachusetts, USA t/s for points, promises, and membership in HSI, a so called competition to Interval and RCI. Never heard of it? Has anyone?

 

[Kenrabs]

I think it was one that was brought up at Playa Del Sol's presentation. Have never heard anything more about it outside of the presentation which isn't a good sign. They make it sound great with both II and RCI resorts in their book, but if people don't use it to deposit then it doesn't matter how many resorts are affiliated with it.

 

[taffy19]

He most likely paid an arm and a leg for it if he bought direct from the developer. If he bought less than five days ago, he has the right to rescind the contract as that is law in Mexico. I hope he didn't sign a waiver because then he won't find the rescission notice in his package but he can still rescind. Here is a good link where you or your friend can read more information.

Here is another link too. If he is happy with his purchase, I would buy it again but pay a lot less by buying it from another owner.

PS. Many Mexican resorts deal with HSI and people seem to be happy with them. I have never used them as we are not members of HSI.

 

[Snappy Sam]

HSI

When we went to a presentation at the Velas Vallarta they also offered membership with HSI. We researched it a bit and could find very little information outside of what was said during the presentation.

 

[KarenLK]

It is also being pushed at Sheraton Buganvilias.
I have a Burn Week to use but I doubt it is of any use.

 

[pittle]

I have a membership to HSI. I got my first one at the Sheraton when they made it sound so wonderful. We were totally disappointed and I did not renew.

We received another membership when we bought a month at a small resort last year. When looking at the packet, I saw MP & GM listed. When I talked to someone at HSI, they said they were now an option for MP/GM owners. I have not done much with this, but have the "Burn" weeks that is similar to RCI & SFX last minute weeks. You can also just buy a week somewhere without an exchange.

From talking to the gal at HSI in March, there are several options through them. When you "give" them a week, you can get

• cash Maintenance Fee minus $50
• plane tickets - basically MF minus $50
• use for a cruise
• exchange

It seems like there was another option or two.

We thought that we would renew next year for three years and give it a chance with our new resort because we have the month with low MF at the new place for 50 years and can take weeks off of the "back end". Since we won't be traveling in 50 years, we can give it a chance. We have been extremely busy this year, so I have not pursued it, but now that things have settled down, I will be planning vacations for 2009 soon.

You can still use RCI with MP/GM.

 

[pianodinosaur]

Question for Pittle

Pittle:

You are correct. It turns out that the Grand Mayan TS sales people at the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya told me that Wyndham owned El Grupo Maya when in fact there was some other kind of marketing arrangement going on.

Question: Does it really make much of a difference if we stay at the Grand Mayan or the Mayan Palace? They both share the same property. We have only stayed at the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya and the room was superb. However, I did not hear any complaints from the Mayan Palace guests either. The resort transfer fees at Mayan Palace are much less than at the Grand Mayan but ownership at the Grand Mayan seems to let you stay at the Mayan Palace whereas ownership at the Mayan Palace does not let you stay at the Grand Mayan. I would be very interested to know your thoughts on this matter.

 

[pittle]

When we go to the Mayan Riviera and we take our kids, we go to the Grand Mayan because they love the huge deck and plunge pool. When it is just the 2 of us, the regular Mayan Palace is just fine. By the end of a day at the pool or beach, we are happy with they regular Mayan Palce - that is why we still own 4 of them.

I have also checkedt with a a VERY reliable Mayan Palace/Grand Mayan source about the Wyndam/Grupo Mayan relationship - "Wyndam does not own Grupo Mayan...but they do own RCI. And they don't own in Mexico. It's a joint venture where GM weeks are put into the RCI inventory via the rental program. Or something like that. But bottom line is they are 2 separate entities in a joint program for rentals only!"

 

[JoeMid]

They claim to be the third largest exchange company quickly catching up with RCI and II. Here's an old thread.

 

[pammex]

!I am a member of HSI but have yet to use. You can exchange a week through them, they will search for travel arrangements cheaper flights etc. ( I did utilize that service once), but all they could find at time I wanted was what I found myself, although they did respond and direct me to same site.

I own a few timeshares so my use of them is limited already vacation 10-12 weeks per year, but think they would be good option for those who only own one timeshare as they have burn weeks ( cheap but only 60 days out booking), then they have other offers 6 months out, would work out to be around the cost of a maintenance fee, possibly slightly lower or higher but no yearly MF committement.

So I think for some it could be a good option.....you can also place a request for an area or such and they will offer you resorts for your requested timeframe. I have done that but though was offered some deals I got an exchange for cheap and was giving away as a wedding gift, so ended up not utilizing their offers.

Their owners site has immense offers so may take some time to actually realize all the benefits etc.

Wish I could be more help. Good luck