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CB Travel and Vacations Review of Royal Elite at Sandos Resorts
Royal Elite at Sandos Resorts

Royal Elite at Sandos Resorts review: Vacation Club Membership scam 9

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4:19 pm EST
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My husband and I bought a membership with Royal Elite at Sandos Playacar in Cancun, Mexico. We were promised all sorts of services and amenities. Nothing about the membership that was represented to us has been true. We were scammed out of thousands of dollars and have nothing to show for it but heartache. When you contract with Royal Elite you also are enrolled with RCI and Holiday Systems International (HSI), which assists with cash exchanges for your Royal Elite weeks you don't use and other travel services, such as 50% discount hotels, airfare, etc. None of it is true...HSI advertisements are also false. I get better airfare and hotel rates by booking it myself. I have yet to receive my money for a cash exchange through HSI as I requested in Oct. 2008. So...to all you unsuspecting people who stay at any of the Sandos Resorts...WARNING! Stay at another hotel. There are plenty to choose from in Cancun that don't have these con artist around. Stay away from the vultures that try to high pressure you into buying a membership. Don't be stupid as we were.

9 comments
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Ezequiel Candelario
, US
Feb 07, 2023 9:34 pm EST

Back in 2007 we purchased a time share from Royal Elite at Sandos Caracol, a month later I paid off the whole purchase price and up to this date I have not received evidence of ownership (The Deed)

I have called and talked to different people and nobody seems to care.

If this is not fraud then what it is.

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arnauld
, US
Jan 11, 2019 7:21 pm EST
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after reading all this i feel really stupid that i did not do so before signing for this deal especially since i ad my ipad with me at the meeting would have been easy but no like everyone else i just believed all the hype and sign a check six month later i want to book my next vacation and its not really going as plan
believe me all the storyas above are true that thing is a big scam if i look at what i spend already plus what i have to pay for food and beverage it would be cheaper to go with bookit.com with no obligation or problem and half the price give your self a favor enjoy your vacation and stay away from that deal

eugeniia
eugeniia
Dallas, US
Oct 28, 2014 2:45 pm EDT
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Salesperson claims that the all-inclusive fee is per couple, but in reality it is per person per night. Clients can often book the vacation cheaper online without using their timeshare, than with booking their timeshare and paying the maintenance fees and all-inclusive fees.
Claim that they can resell a previously owned timeshare for a profit and use that money to pay for the new membership at Royal Elite.
Salesperson offers extra weeks to clients for rental purposes. They claim that the rental income makes the timeshare a good financial investment, and they can use the money in the first few years to pay off the membership.
Salesperson claims that they can trade their weeks to RCI points, and use the points to pay for 100% of an airline ticket, when in reality RCI only allows for clients to use points for 33% of the cost of the ticket. http://www.timesharescam.com/

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Britt334
, US
Mar 11, 2013 1:00 pm EDT

Royal Elite is one of the worst timeshare companies in Mexico, they have a terrible reputation regarding timeshares, being that said, a Royal Elite Timeshare is not a good purchase at all. This is a forum with more Royal Elite timeshare owners who feel they were scammed by this company:

http://www.timesharescam.com/timeshare-complaints-resorts-black-list/6-royal-elite-sandos-timeshare-complaints/

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Rick297
Rick297
Tempe, US
Mar 08, 2013 1:17 pm EST

Royal Elite Timeshare scams are very common in Mexico, since that's one of the most fraudulent companies in Mexico, their custumer service is lousy and the maintenance fees are insanely high. This is a forum with more prople who were victims of a royal elite timeshare scam:

http://www.timesharescam.com/timeshare-complaints-resorts-black-list/6-royal-elite-sandos-timeshare-complaints/

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Shelly Laureen
Crossfield, CA
Jan 24, 2013 12:12 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

We brought a 10 year membership from Royal Elite. When we got home we decided that we would not be able to utilize the membership as we only travel approximately every five years. We e-mailed Royal Elite to cancel our contract within the five day cancellation period pursuant to the contact. We received a quick response from Royal Elite and the process was started. The customer service department and the financial department were very professional and efficient. We had no problems and received our full refund within a few weeks. Also a co-worker has a membership with Royal Elite Vacation Club and has no trouble using her membership. Bravo Royal Elite!

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Sherry1153
Regina, CA
Jun 14, 2012 4:31 pm EDT

Quality Control Department? Now that's funny.
Beware of the salespeople here! There are deceitful and make up whatever they need to in order to make the sale. We purchased a membership for a studio unit at Sandos Caracol in 2011. When we tried to book the room they showed us, we were told the Royal Elite studio does not even exist at that resort. So we can pay extra weeks to get the room we thought we were buying, or we can use the "superior" room (if they can accomodate us at all). In addition, the sales lady told us that we would get discounts on airfare and be able to rent our unused weeks. She also said the All Inclusive fee could not ever go over $100/day/person. All lies. Be very careful when dealing with this company!

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Suzanne H
Aston Clinton, GB
Mar 05, 2012 9:19 pm EST
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I have also experienced a very poor service. We were promised that we would be able to rent back our weeks as we could not return to Mexico for a few years. We were told so many stories, since December 2011 I have emailed, telephoned to speak with someone anyone over this, we cannot find a company to rent back our weeks, I cannot get hold of anyone from REE to exchange these either. I still have the Reps. email address who sold us the weeks in April 2011, and have emailed her - whom we trusted, and have been told a variety of stories. I cannot believe we have been taken for such a ride! Please don't be fooled by the prospect of being able to rent your weeks back, this is not the case. As soon as I have more information, I will be passing the matter over to whoever can help us to ensure that no other family is taken in by this scam!

Web Relations
Web Relations
, MX
Mar 01, 2012 9:30 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Dear Royal Elite Vacation Club Members,

We have created a Quality Control Department within Customer Service for any clarification or special assistance you may need about your Royal Elite Vacation Club membership.

We also recommend you to visit our website for information and News about your membership www.royalelite.com such as New Royal Elite Units, New Water Park and Kids Club and a Members Only Beach Club at Sandos Caracol, New Resort Sandos San Blas at Canary Islands, etc...

Please feel free to contact us:

Quality Control Department
• E-mail Address:
customerservice10@royalelite.com, customerservice11@royalelite.com, customerservice12@royalelite.com
* From Mexico: [protected]
* From Canadá/Usa: [protected]
* From everywhere: [protected] Ext. 3208, 3207, 3213

Reservations Department
* E-mail Address: reservas@royalelite.com
* From Mexico: [protected]
* From Canadá/Usa: [protected] Ext. 3203, 3204, 3205
* From everywhere: [protected] Ext. 3203, 3204, 3205

Customer Service Department
* E-mail Address: customerservice@royalelite.com
* From Mexico: [protected]
* From Canadá/Usa: [protected]
* From everywhere: [protected] Ext. 3200

Finance Department
* E-mail address: finanzas@royalelite.com
* From Mexico: [protected] Ext. 4248 / 4278
* From Canadá/Usa: [protected] Ext. 4248 / 4278
* From everywhere: [protected] Ext.3240

Sincerely,

Erick Ferrari
Customer Service Manager
Royal Elite Sandos Hotels
Tel: [protected] Ext 3200
Desde Mexico: [protected]
From USA/CAN: [protected]
customerservice1@royalelite.com
www.royalelite.com
www.sandos.com