Many AI's in RCI Caribbean availibility

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

68%

140 Resorts (8009 available units)

All-Inclusive Available [5414]
All-Inclusive Not Required [2595]

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Perhaps somebody can correct me, but from my research so far it is more expensive to get an AI TS paying the AI fee, flights and room rental. So far I have seen it is better to go with the pre-packaged deals through companies like selloffvacations and tripcentral.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Perhaps somebody can correct me, but from my research so far it is more expensive to get an AI TS paying the AI fee, flights and room rental. So far I have seen it is better to go with the pre-packaged deals through companies like selloffvacations and tripcentral.

Absolutely true in the majority of cases.

I am tracking this as I initially joined Rent Condos Instead because they had more caribbean properties to exchange into. I no longer need to rely on them, thank goodness, as the choices are going downhill in a hurry if you don't want to pay inflated TPU + steep AI fees.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Guess I will have to figure out something else to do with my two banked DAE weeks. I had purposely put them there because they seem to have lots of stuff in Dominican and Jamaica. Once I started looking into the AI fees, they are more than an actual package!

Absolutely true in the majority of cases.

I am tracking this as I initially joined Rent Condos Instead because they had more caribbean properties to exchange into. I no longer need to rely on them, thank goodness, as the choices are going downhill in a hurry if you don't want to pay inflated TPU + steep AI fees.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

The DR is heavily AI. From what I have read in some European travel articles, many of the DR resorts are in areas where it may be risky to go off property generally, so AI in those may not be a bad idea. If I were to go to the DR, I would try to research an area safe enough to get outside the resort.

The sad thing is that in most of the Caribeean, there is no such need for AI, yet with RCI AI seems to be spreading like kudzu in those places, too.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Having been to the DR before, this is one of the reasons I chose it. Having also done the AI, I also know how much I enjoy that as well! I would agree, that in areas like that the AI is important, as you might not want to go off resort for stuff like groceries. When we travelled to the city of Higuey it was amazing some of the stuff we saw, like children shaving pigs hooves, etc. I guess I was just surprised at how expensive the AI portion was. Means the Airlines must be making next to NOTHING, or at least getting some kind of kick back from the resorts.

The DR is heavily AI. From what I have read in some European travel articles, many of the DR resorts are in areas where it may be risky to go off property generally, so AI in those may not be a bad idea. If I were to go to the DR, I would try to research an area safe enough to get outside the resort.

The sad thing is that in most of the Caribeean, there is no such need for AI, yet with RCI AI seems to be spreading like kudzu in those places, too.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I suspect a lot of these resorts are happy to give the accommodations away as long as they are getting that AI. The marketer then probably pops a couple $100 on.

Which is why I get truly annoyed at RCI and their steep TPU to trade in. That is not how it works in the travel industry.

I believe DAE can or could get Barbados and Grand Cayman and those are not AI

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Yeah, I may try swinging that by the group of friends going with me. They all wanted an all-inclusive, but will see. I may just go to Barbados and the Grand Cayman myself! to them! Either that or I will use them to go to Spruce Meadows (that is if SFX can not help me there).

I suspect a lot of these resorts are happy to give the accommodations away as long as they are getting that AI. The marketer then probably pops a couple $100 on.

Which is why I get truly annoyed at RCI and their steep TPU to trade in. That is not how it works in the travel industry.

I believe DAE can or could get Barbados and Grand Cayman and those are not AI

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

go for it! I guess I am prejudiced as you would have to drag me kicking and screaming to the DR or Jamaica. If I want to be locked onto a campus for my vacation I'll take a cruise.

Also check Puerto Rico from DAE. I believe I've seen that too. Rarely but I've seen it. I would be surprised if they didn't get SXM there are SO many properties there.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

still at 68%

144 Resorts (8046 available units)

All-Inclusive Available [5424]
All-Inclusive Not Required [2622]

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

69% of Caribbean All Inclusive Mandatory or Optional

145 Resorts (8359 available units)

All-Inclusive Available [5762]
All-Inclusive Not Required [2597]

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

.0725

Very nearly 3/4 of available units in the Caribbean from RCI are All Inclusive Mandatory or Optional this morning.

137 Resorts (7942 available units)
All-Inclusive Available [5432]
All-Inclusive Not Required [2511]

I bet the percentage is much higher if we look at it from the resort level as opposed to units.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Back down to 67%

142 Resorts (8041 available units)


All-Inclusive Available [5374]
All-Inclusive Not Required [2667]

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

138 Resorts (8377 available units)

All-Inclusive Available [5802]
All-Inclusive Not Required [2575]

69.26% AI.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

136 Resorts (8297 available units)

All-Inclusive Available [5757]
All-Inclusive Not Required [2539]

69.38% AI