Many AI's in RCI Caribbean availibility

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

When I lived in the states, I frequently searched availibility in the Caribbean outside the DR. Out of curiousity, I did so today and was surprised at the high percentage of what was there being AI, something that used to be not that common in the Caribbean. Much of it was in resorts that do not even appear in my last printed directory.

Of 8,937 weeks availible in the entire RCI system in the Caribbean, 4,501 were in the DR, leaving 4,436 non-DR weeks. Nearly one third that 4,436, or 1,449 weeks were in all-inclusives, and that is not even including the TradeWinds Cruise Club weeks, which are effectively AI.

One wonders if some of these new ''resorts'' RCI lists are developers giving their weeks to RCI and then making their profit on the AI, instead of a timeshare owner owning there and depositing.

Given the prevalence of AI in the DR, one of the only strongholds of AI in the old days, I am certain a strong majority of RCI inventory in the whole Caribbean, including the DR in now AI, probably around 75%.

Welcome to the Brave New World of RCI.

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

a little over 55%

All-Inclusive Available [4455]
All-Inclusive Not Required [3385]

The All Inclusive available would of course include resorts where it is not mandatory but you could get it. Like Windjammer.

[odaddy Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close odaddy]

AIs and fees have gone up big time, I was at a Wyndham sales office chatting with a bunch of sales people, they said since wyndham bought the palace resorts in Mexico, Ais and Ai fees on RCI have really gone up, I did not realize Wyndham bought the Palaces?

[glypnirsgirl Member Find all posts View Profile Close glypnirsgirl]

The AI fees are ridiculously expensive. I agree that many of those resorts are making their profit on the mandatory AI.

I didn't know that Wyndham had bought the Palaces, either.

elaine

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

Four Palace Resorts in Mexico Join Wyndham Hotels and Resorts | Wyndham Worldwide

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

up to 61% of total caribbean exchanges are AI either mandatory or available.

7023 total exchanges
4252 AI

No wonder I post less and less ex-ops for the caribbean.

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

I think if you're going to the DR, you want it to be all inclusive.

I doubt most American tummies can stomach the third world bugs that make their way into many of the non-resort restaurants.

I know when I go to the DR, I love going to the AI but they're not TS's just regular hotel resorts but they only charge locals around $40-$50 a day for all inclusive or a day pass. Not a bad deal if you want to spend the day at the beach drinking Dominican Rum Macoris all day.

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

one DR resort I visited told me that it cost them ~$4.00 pppd for food for A-I.

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

Up to 65% AI Mandatory or available

The sad thing is they want some hefty TPU on quite a few of these + AI fees.

140 Resorts (7819 available units)

All-Inclusive Available [5084]
All-Inclusive Not Required [2735]

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

one DR resort I visited told me that it cost them ~$4.00 pppd for food for A-I.

I think you'd want to be a drinker to take full advantage of the AI otherwise probably not worth it moneywise but there is something to be said for "safe" food in the islands.

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

I think you'd want to be a drinker to take full advantage of the AI otherwise probably not worth it moneywise but there is something to be said for "safe" food in the islands.

or be someone who orders food like BigFrank does. The last time we were all stuffed at appetizers.

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

I think you'd want to be a drinker to take full advantage of the AI otherwise probably not worth it moneywise but there is something to be said for "safe" food in the islands.

I have never been on a Caribbean island where safe food was an issue, although I have never been to the DR and that might be an exception and my only experience in Haiti was an Air France refueling stop. Mexico, on the other hand, I learned the hard way that safe food is indeed an issue.

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

I have never been on a Caribbean island where safe food was an issue, although I have never been to the DR and that might be an exception and my only experience in Haiti was an Air France refueling stop. Mexico, on the other hand, I learned the hard way that safe food is indeed an issue.

Well one mistake in the DR and there goes your vacation, so it's definitely not worth it if your stomach is not used to it.

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

146 Resorts (8149 available units)

66% of resorts available are AI mandatory or available

All-Inclusive Available [5380]
All-Inclusive Not Required [2769]

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

still 66%

143 Resorts (7975 available units)

All-Inclusive Available [5299]
All-Inclusive Not Required [2676]