Grand Velas - any current owners here?

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

Are there any more decent deals for owners on the AI that can be passed on to guests/renters, or did those go high enough not to be worth it? Used to be owners could accelerate/rent their weeks with a decent AI rate?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Emmy owns there

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

Emmy owns there

Still? I will PM her. Thought she sold.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Still? I will PM her. Thought she sold.

Maybe she did. I do not know

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Are there any more decent deals for owners on the AI that can be passed on to guests/renters, or did those go high enough not to be worth it? Used to be owners could accelerate/rent their weeks with a decent AI rate?

We owned there many years and when you sell, the mandatory A-I fee stays with the contract and goes to the new owner. You have to be careful what contract number you buy. We were charter members and had some additional discounts that the later contracts do not have. We sold our contract last year to a hotel guest who went on a tour so we are no longer in the loop of any changes they may have made since then.

We met several timeshare owners at the Grand Velas this year and they didn't mention any changes. I know that your guests receive the same discount for the meal plan if you have the owner pay it when they check in. I also believe the owner can do the same thing too for a renter but you would have to ask the resort for sure. We have never rented our unit but we know people who have done that but not to strangers.

Again, double check the mandatory A-I fees with the resort because there are different fees for the later contracts or, at least, used to be. It may have changed this year. All our friends at the Grand Velas have owned too since it was built so paid the same. I don't remember if it was $104 or $108 per person per day.

PS. Yes, you can accelerate as we did this several times. Here are some pictures too that I took after our first or so visit. It is a beautiful resort. The new one near Cancun is so much larger but they say that it is beautiful too. We haven't been there and we prefer the smaller resorts.

PPS. I also remember now that the Charter members have a free upgrade, if there is room. Our friends did this one year and ended up in a 2 BR suite with their friends. They showed it to us and it was very large and luxurious. I took pictures of this too. This was one couple we met again this year and will next year too.

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

Wow Emmy. The place is gorgeous.

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

Well the holiday week I would need to join A's family would cost me $480 pp/pd.. NOT HAPPENING. They pay less through a travel agent.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

That must be through RCI. The mandatory A-I fees are here (see first three listings). Casa Velas is included too since Pam did a review of the sister resort today and both Grand Velas are listed.

Grand Velas owners can do an internal exchange to the new Grand Velas resort but they would charge you the RCI mandatory A-I fees minus the maintenance fee for that week so that is the discount. It was too expensive for us so we have never done it.

I have been looking for a special there as I would like to see the resort but they don't have them. They have them in Nuevo Vallarta every so often through Costco and even through the hotel but not in the new resort.

The RCI mandatory A-I fees are ridiculous. The Christmas and New Year's week is even worse but they seem to get it from what I hear.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

JFYI I was looking to go to this resort trading my week with RCI. I called the resort directly and found I could do better with them if I booked with them not using my week. No mater which way you go the resort is great and high end along with that it has the most expensive meal plans out there.

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

I know what the resort charges direct, still out of my budget but less than through RCI!

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

I just returned from 9 days at Velas Vallarta then 5 days at Casa Velas. Both were wonderful but Casa Velas was truly superb. Costly yes, but it was pretty full actually. I have yet to stay at grand Velas but am scheduled to go there for a week in July. Very excited.

Keep an eye out for specials I believe all of the Velas resorts are having specials for easter Week which is usually unheard of...good luck!

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

I just returned from 9 days at Velas Vallarta then 5 days at Casa Velas. Both were wonderful but Casa Velas was truly superb. Costly yes, but it was pretty full actually. I have yet to stay at grand Velas but am scheduled to go there for a week in July. Very excited.

Keep an eye out for specials I believe all of the Velas resorts are having specials for easter Week which is usually unheard of...good luck!

IF I were to go at all it would be the week b/t xmas and New Years - highest $ of the year. Not feelin' it...

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

Yes that is truly a very high season/cost time frame. If I hear of any specials for then I will be sure to let you know..

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

Yes that is truly a very high season/cost time frame. If I hear of any specials for then I will be sure to let you know..

Thanks, B.