RCI cancelled my confirmation 1 week b4 trip

[barngirl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barngirl]

Has anybody had this problem? I had 2 rooms booked and confirmed at a resort in Mexico. I had very carefully researched and picked out this resort for a very special family vacation. One of the only reasons that I considered it was that it had the most reasonable all inclusive rates during spring break. Because the rates were quite reasonable, I invited my mother in law and her boyfriend to come along, I thought it would be a great time for Grandma and the kids to spend together. My mother in law was so excited by the idea, that she started to cry. I ended up paying a little extra for the flights so we could pick the mother in law up in her town and fly down and back with them, as they are getting on in years, and I just thought it was safer. So I am all set to go, flights are booked, transfers are booked, went and bought new bathing suits for the family, the old guys have bought their travel medical insurance, then RCI phones me today and tells me my confirmations have been cancelled, because the hotel is doing maintenance on the rooms, so we have to pick a different resort one week before we are supposed to travel during spring break. The next cheapest resort they offered me was more than 40% more than the one I had booked. Do I have any rights in this situation? Need help!

[itchyfeet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close itchyfeet]

Are there any resorts available that aren't AI. We find it is just as much fun and much more economical to shop at the the Mexican market and prepare most of the meals at our condo. What resort/city were you scheduled for?

[catwgirl Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close catwgirl]

If it were me, I would look for something that is not all inclusive. You will save a ton of money, even if you eat every meal out. Tell us which city in Mexico you are headed for, and folks on this board can make some suggestions.

[itchyfeet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close itchyfeet]

Two great minds with similar plans!

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Try using Priceline and book a NON AI, also what part are you going to, The Velas AI are some of the best in Mexico but you might be able to call them direct and get a better last minute deal

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Ask for an RCI cancellation specialist - they have a separate department to deal with issues like this. I agree with the others about skipping AI if you can get in somewhere else. You didn't mention where you are flying into, but the Grand Mayan/Mayan Palace resorts are a bit hit with our members. And they are fairly large, so might have cancellations available last minute.

Let us know where you're going so we can help with more suggestions.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

They canceled my exchange about 2 or 3 weeks before it was to start last year. They got me another unit at another resort before the week was over. I canceled my membership a couple of months later

[barngirl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barngirl]

Wow, thanks for all of the quick responses. When it is just my husband and I we usually do go to non AI, but considering that we are bringing my elderly in laws, and my bottomless pit of a 16 year old son, we thought AI would be nice. (that way the inlaws would not feel like they had to pay for anything)

We are sea garden members, and the Mayan Palace page always says that we can not exchange into there, so I am not sure that we can even go there.

I had also read on another forum that the beach is not swimable, and the one thing that my mother in law (with severe reumatoid arthritis wants to do is soak in the salt water.

[barngirl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barngirl]

oh, we are going to the Mayan Riviera area.

[barngirl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barngirl]

and Bigfrank, the Velas look very nice, but WAY out of our price range. We were paying 108 dollars a day for adults, and 54 dollars a day for the giant 6'4" bottomless pit of a 16 year old.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

What about asking RCI to get the resort to waive the 18+ rule for your 16 y.o. for this place (prices quoted are from Last Call but they would prob waive it and give it to you as an exchange). The AI prices are noted below are are discounted - somewhat comparable to what you were expecting, a bit higher but maybe you can RCI to do something for you, like give you back your banked week(s) or something.

[RCI Gold Crown -
El Dorado Seaside Suites (#6289)
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Kilómetro 95 Carretera Cancún-Tulum
Kantenah, Quintana Roo 77710
Mexico
984-8751910
All Inclusive Cancun Vacations - All Inclusive Mexico Vacations - Riviera Maya Resorts - Karisma Hotels

All Inclusive - Mandatory




How you got here
Location
Mexico | Yucatan Peninsula | Riviera Maya Area

Check-In Day of the Week

Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 5
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price
Studio 2 (2) No Kitchen 22-Mar-2010 29-Mar-2010 USD 234.00
Studio 2 (2) No Kitchen 26-Mar-2010 02-Apr-2010 USD 234.00
Studio 2 (2) No Kitchen 27-Mar-2010 03-Apr-2010 USD 234.00
Studio 2 (2) No Kitchen 28-Mar-2010 04-Apr-2010 USD 234.00
Studio 2 (2) No Kitchen 29-Mar-2010 05-Apr-2010 USD 234.00

Urgent Information
MANDATORY ALL INCLUSIVE PROGRAM. ADULTS ONLY(MUST BE OVER 18 YEARS OLD). FEES ARE PER ROOM, PER NIGHT IN DOUBLE OR SINGLE OCCUPANCY. 2009 FEES: AUG29-DEC17 US$194 (REG.RATE US$270); DEC18-DEC31 US$308 (REG. RATE US$430). 2010 FEES: JAN01-MAY27 US$260 (REG. RATE US$364); MAY28-AUG26 US$214 (REG. RATE US$300); AUG27-DEC17 US$200 (REG. RATE US$280). RESORT ENFORCES 1/4 RULE,NO MULTIPLE OR CONSECUTIVEWEEKS ALLOWED! RESTRICTIONS CHECKED BY NAME & RCI I.D. VIOLATIONS WILL BE APPLIED THE REGULAR ALL INCLUSIVE RATE. PROGRAM INCLUDES ALL MEALS & BEVERAGES. TO PREPAY AI CALL US:1 800 466 9552 OR MEX: 01998 8872 8030 EXT. 7844 *EXOTIC OWNERS CAN NOT EXCHANGE INTO EXOTIC PROPERTIES THRU RCI (IDs 7598, 6290, 6291 & 6292). 2% STATE LODGING TAX & VISITOR ENTRY FEE OF US$15 PER PERSON WILL BE APPLIED.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Try to get into the Gran Melia in Cancun IMO it is the best there, There is also the Sol Meila in Cozumel which is just a short ferry ride from Playa del Carman

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

This place has decent AI fees. I don't see your dates online, but RCI might be able to find it for you/

[RCI Gold Crown -
Hacienda Tres Ríos (#A475)
Be the first to write a review
Km.54 Carretera Federal
Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo 77710
Mexico
98-48772400
Sunset World RCI Member

All Inclusive - Mandatory


MAP RESORT

Additional Information
Family resort with mandatory all-inclusiveprogram; fees are per person per day plus 12% tax and services and vary by season. 2010 Fees: Jan03-Apr09, Jul3-Aug20 & Dec18-Dec31 US$127; Apr10-Jul2 & Aug21- Dec17 US$109; 2011 Fees: Jan1-Apr29, Jul2-Aug19 & Dec17-Jan06 US$127; Apr30-Jul01 & Aug20-Dec16 US$109. Teens age 13-17 US$79;kids 6-12 US$45.50; all rates quoted for 2009, 2010, and 2011. Minimum 2 adults per room required; minorsunder age 25 must be accompanied by parentin the same room. Studio Max 4/Pri 2 have 1 king bed or 2 queens, 1 sofa bed, and 1 bathroom. 1BR Max 6/Pri 4 have 1 king bed, 2 sofa beds, 2 bathrooms, and 1 jacuzzi. 2BR Max 8/Pri 6 have 1 king bed, 2 queens,3 sofa beds, 3 bathrooms, and 1 jacuzzi. Some restaurants enforce a dress code, including long pants, shirt, and closed shoes.


Here's another:

[RCI Gold Crown -
ISLA MUJERES PALACE *PP-AI* (#C144)
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CARRETERA GARRAFON KM 4.5
ISLA MUJERES, Quintana Roo 77400
Mexico
52998/9992020

All Inclusive - Mandatory




Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 1
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 28-Mar-2010 04-Apr-2010 USD 161.99

Urgent Information
This is another id for A495 Isla Mujeres Palace, which is a gold crown resort set up. **Mandatory 7 Day All Inclusive Package** **At least a passenger must be 21 years old** 2% state lodging tax applies. **To receive promotional price, the all inclusive fee must be prepaid in advance** FEES PER ROOM/WEEK IN DOUBLE/SINGLE OCC, 2009 FEES: AUG23-DEC17 US$999 (REGULAR=US$1,747)ADDITIONAL PERSON IN THE SAME ROOM US$632 & CHILDREN 4-17 YRS OLD US$316 PER WEEK 2010 FEES: JAN01-APR10 US$1,359 (REGULAR=US$2,346), APR11- AUG21 US$1,108 (REGULAR=US$1,907) ADDITIONAL PERSON IN THE SAME ROOM US$657 & CHILDREN 4-17 YRS OLD US$329 PER WEEK. PALACE OWNERS CANT EXCHANGE INTO PALACE PROPERTIES THRU RCI TOURS PACKAGE IS NOT INCLUDED. .

Again, I think RCI should work with the resort to waive the 1 in 4 if it would otherwise apply. But this is a Last Call, not an exchange, so might not count and at $161 per unit might be worth getting your exchange weeks back

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Just wondering what resort was it that they canceled on you?

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

Do I have any rights in this situation? Need help!

No, you don't have any specific rights, and yes this has happened to me 5x times now with RCI - all European exchanges.

They'll offer you space as available into any other RCI resort you'd accept that they have in exchange inventory, but usually won't offer you anything beyond that - aside from your exchange fees (until they take them back for replacements if you accept, or a refund if you don't), plus your original week will go back into your spacebank until you use it for a replacement or a future exchange. And they'll waive trade power issues and might waive 1-in-4 rules that are discretionary on their part, but probably won't compensate you with the difference in additional costs that you might incur.

I'm also dealing with a new RCI cancellation I just got the call about this morning. (I just posted about it OY - on the other bbs, in European forum.) I'm probably going to go out of pocket for alternative accommodations, because I had also chosen a specific resort and have flights booked. But mine's all of 2.5 months in advance - easier to deal with than 1 week!

Hopefully they'll be able to offer you another resort you're just as happy with and doesn't cost you more - sometimes folks get something they like even better, but sometimes not. You're getting lots of good suggestions here, I hope it works out for you. I know how frustrating this is.