Royals going downhill ?

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

The Royal Resorts have been one of the best resort chains in Mexico, but that may all be coming to an end. In late summer of 2013 they will be going all-inclusive--mandatory for exchangers---at the Sands and Haciendas. In 2014 the RTU on the Mayan expires and it appears again that the full residuals will not be paid---perhaps not even 1/2. This news also seems to have reversed what was the beginning of a comeback in resale prices. Not sure about all the details on the AI for the Tri-Royals and the Royal Cancun, but it certainly reduces my chances of ever going back again.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

The Royals haven't had a good team since the 80's.

oh

sorry

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

The Royal Resorts have been one of the best resort chains in Mexico, but that may all be coming to an end. In late summer of 2013 they will be going all-inclusive--mandatory for exchangers---at the Sands and Haciendas. In 2014 the RTU on the Mayan expires and it appears again that the full residuals will not be paid---perhaps not even 1/2. This news also seems to have reversed what was the beginning of a comeback in resale prices. Not sure about all the details on the AI for the Tri-Royals and the Royal Cancun, but it certainly reduces my chances of ever going back again.

Horrible news, I have a number of friends who love both sands and Haciendas, they will never go AI

[Ridewithme38 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ridewithme38]

Horrible news, I have a number of friends who love both sands and Haciendas, they will never go AI

Depending on how expensive the AI Fees are....I think this may end up being a positive for resale, you don't have to pay the AI Fee's if your an owner, so picking up a cheap ownership saves you and your 'guests' from having to pay those fees

If you own and the AI fees, are high, you can rent while advertising, "Love the Royal resorts, But hate the AI fee, RENT FROM ME, and the AI Fee is Optional!"

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

Resale prices plummet to near all time lows

The latest Royal Ebay auction ended at $ 1,501.02 on a week 48 6th floor Ocean View Royal Islander. Free closing and transfer fee paid by seller. Since the news of all inclusive and the rumored payout of 25-40% for the residuals on the Royal Mayan RTU ending, prices have fallen back to near the lows in the past few years. I suspect that the advent of all-inclusive will hurt trade value and the less than half payout of the Mayan residual along with MF's soon hitting four figures will continue to drag resale prices down and maybe even to new lows. The chances of our returning to Cancun have diminished further and the advent of the AI has highly influenced my decision to shut down my Cancun Dining Guide website this month.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Cancun is one area that food is good and cheap but if they offered an OPTIONAL AI for lets say 3 days I may take that, Keep in mind when drinks are included people are happy all day long but I find those plastic cups end up all over the place and make the resorts look dirty.

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

How much is the M/Fs at the tri-Royals these days? If it is reasonable, may not be a bad idea to pick up a cheap week at one of these resorts for a desirable week. It should be easy to rent for the years you can not use and the contracts should all end soon. Unlike the other timeshares and RTUs, at least you don't have a long term obligation and you get some money back at the end.

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

True, but I think it's $ 934 now and renting them out for that or more than that is getting harder.

the $934 looks like the Islander, I think the Carribean is $ 922.

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

Depending on how expensive the AI Fees are....I think this may end up being a positive for resale, you don't have to pay the AI Fee's if your an owner, so picking up a cheap ownership saves you and your 'guests' from having to pay those fees

If you own and the AI fees, are high, you can rent while advertising, "Love the Royal resorts, But hate the AI fee, RENT FROM ME, and the AI Fee is Optional!"

Really? AI will only mandatory for exchangers?

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

Yup, but it's going to be confusing and I would not be surprised if they either dump the whole idea or make it universal AI.

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

There now

I am there now and what they told me is AI will be only for renters booking with a travel agent or some other on line booking service. For owners, and their renters/friends and family, and exchangers thru the exchange company it will be optional. It is still the same fantastic welcoming service here. We had a wonderful week. Leave today

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

So many stories, looks like we may have to wait for it in writing from the Royals themselves.

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

So many stories, looks like we may have to wait for it in writing from the Royals themselves. Just saw a May rental for around $ 650 on Ebay (2bd).

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

I hope you are right and that the AI is optional. Access to the Royals is one of the primary reasons I joined II.

I am there now and what they told me is AI will be only for renters booking with a travel agent or some other on line booking service. For owners, and their renters/friends and family, and exchangers thru the exchange company it will be optional. It is still the same fantastic welcoming service here. We had a wonderful week. Leave today

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

I am there now and what they told me is AI will be only for renters booking with a travel agent or some other on line booking service. For owners, and their renters/friends and family, and exchangers thru the exchange company it will be optional. It is still the same fantastic welcoming service here. We had a wonderful week. Leave today

Unless they have alot of guests booking through travel agents or travel sites, I would think it would be difficult to run a partial AI operation. If they are headed in this direction, I would suspect that they would expand the AI to other guests. I would never select an AI resort to exchange into. Resort AI fees are way too high, and you would have to drink alcohol all day to make it cost effective. (Of course, that may appeal to some people.) Also, I have seen instances where you could reserve an AI resort through an online travel site for less cost without giving up your week and paying an exchange fees.

If they extended the AI to exchangers, I would think it would impact exchange values. I doubt that I am alone in refusing to consider exchanges into AI resorts. Plus, as Big Frank said, they are plenty of inexpensive eating options in Cancun.