All Inclusive

Hello

We looking into all inclusive resorts using our RCI points.
We are quite new to this, and looking for any advice you can give.

A couple of questions we do have are.
1, Is there a way to use the RCI points to pay the All Inclusive fees?
2. Is there a way to use the RCI points to pay for flights?

Many Thanks in advance
Paul

1) No. The resorts want cash.
2) Not really. We understand you can get some discounts on retail airfare, cruises, etc. by buying through RCI, but the 'discount' is far less than the MF cost of the points used to get the discount.

Best 'deal' is to use timeshare points for timeshare stays and shop for cash discounts for travel expenses on other things. (IMO) 'All Inclusive' is not a good deal. Ever. You are restricted to resort restaurants instead of experiencing local businesses, and again imo, AI drinks are watered down.

Jim

I can't say I've had experience with all inclusives, but the common advice here is that you can do much better booking a package deal with flight and resort than getting a flight, basically giving away your timeshare deposit and still paying the daily all inclusive fees.

There may be a few exceptions, but generally it's not considered a good way to use your timeshare exchange.

Just the other side of the coin about all inclusives. We've never been to Mexico or the Caribbean, other than short forays into border towns. If we were inclined to go, I think we would do an all inclusive for our first visit to get a feel for the lay of the land, as it were. So while many do not prefer it, the ease of just having everything more or less organized for you is appealing to some - read me. Sorry if that's TMI - you didn't really ask for an opinion on all inclusives.

Thanks for you replies.

Personal opinions are always welcome, and tend to shed light on areas I may not have considered, so thanks for those too.

I have done some more searching on TUG's forum, and can see the def general concensus is to get AI's elsewhere.

Again thanks for your thoughts.

Have a great day

I've noticed that AI's are often a better deal as package deals from travel sites like Travelocity, Vacationstogo, and even local travel agencies than an through timeshares. Packages often include airfare 4-7 nights and AI for a fairly reasonable number. Usually it's a hotel room, but if you are eating at onsite restaurants, you don't have much need of a kitchen like in most TSs.

Jim

Often the AI rates drop substantially if you attend a sales meeting. Just saying there are ways to reduce the costs (well, as long as you don't buy a timeshare)!

I haven't really compared AI to exchange a week and paying the fees a lot, but the few I have checked it seemed that I could get the AI with airfare through a consolidator or TA for about the same price or a little more than trading a week and paying the AI fee.

I certainly would never trade my week for a week at a mandatory AI timeshare. It just isn't a good use of my timeshare deposits. If we ever decide to go AI, we will book through a travel agent that specializes in them. It will also most likely be Jamaica or DR. I see no reason to do AI in Mexico.

bjones9942 said:

Often the AI rates drop substantially if you attend a sales meeting. Just saying there are ways to reduce the costs (well, as long as you don't buy a timeshare)!

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This only works at optional AI's. At mandatory AI's you pay on check in or even before. Attending a sales meeting might get you additional perks but it isn't going to reduce the AI fee.


As far as points for airfare it depends on how cheap your points are. If you have a really good ratio of MF to points coming close to .005 (half cent per point) and had a platinum membership so you could convert half your annual points to use with points partners you could break even or be a little ahead. Unlike cruises the air search engine as well as the hotel one was decent. 80% of the time it found the cheapest available fair for the dates and times and then the points could convert to currency to pay for everything except a transaction fee if you have enough available eligible points.

I haven't tried since the last enhancement (November 15) and rci is down for maintenance now so it may have changed or become an even worse value.

Thanks for all the information.


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Paulzy123 said:

Thanks for all the information.


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When shopping for an AI resort, I usually get the best price at Trivago and cheapcaribbean, good luck.