El Cid Vacations Club
reviews and complaints

I have been a member of El Cid for almost 20 years. When I purchased my membership I was guaranteed an ocean view. The last few times we hav visited I have had to basically argue this point every time at check in. I have actually witnessed the people at the check in desk “upsell” customers who bought their week of vacation from Costco and give them an ocean view, while giving their members the left overs. They promise things they do not deliver on. I would recommend NOT purchasing.

The contract I signed does not able me to do the things the sales presentation said I could do. Total rip off. The whole pitch was on how easy international travel was and all the resorts I'd have access to and all the discounts. The reality is the resorts either aren't available or are not anywhere near I'm trying to go. And the hotel exchange they sold me on? Not the way it works at all. All these huge discounts I was promised since I had "pre-paid 20 years of vacations" is all a lie. I can get the same deal on expedia that the fees add up to. This is a total fraud and I want my money back. I will shout it from the rooftops what a rip off this is.

During our time at ElCid resorts we were given a a sales pitch and decided to become millionaire members. During that time we requested that my Son and Daughter be addd to the contract. This was never done and now El cid wants to change me 300.00 to add them, when it should have been done at the time of the contract. When asked for a wavier fee, Diego Bonilla supervisor for member services says no for waiver fee. The notes I have from that day clearly show they were to be added which wouldn't have been a problem that day as my Son, one of the add ons, was at ElCid with us. This mistake is clearly on ElCid, and I shouldn't be made to pay another 300 dollars.

We are El Cid Platinum Club members. We have always received excellent care until now. Our reservation was made in June of 2022 for November 2022. I had unplanned but necessary back surgery. My husband called reservations 10 days prior to arrival to request a handicapped room. They did not say that they could not accommodate us. When we arrived they gave us our original reservation saying they could not change the reservation. I hurt my back the first day there. We went back to reservations and told them what happened and requested a room change to a handicapped room. They did change our room as requested. When we got home and check our points we discovered that we were charged 163,334 points for the change to a handicapped accessible room. We called the El Cid support number. They said reservations are made for a studio, one bedroom, etc, but they cannot be made for a handicapped room. No one told us that when we called to request a handicapped room. They also said that it cost points to changes room reservations with less than 90 days. I did not know I was having surgery more than 90 days ahead. It should not cost us points to change our reservation to a room that is handicapped.

We have been over 20 years in the Vacation Timeshare Owners.

About 10 years ago we bought 500000 El Cid Time Share Points. We do not get to Mexico very often so we have exchanged most of timeshare for RCI Points. Every singe year my wife has trouble with El Cid Customer Service Employees and their inability to help and always blaming RCI. My wife has to call El Cid who tell us to contact RCI. RCI says its not them and my wife calls El Cid she bounces back and forth. Almost always it is El Cid that ends up wrong. This is every year, either not the right point numbers, no point etc... again the problem is almost always with EL Cid. For the most part El Cid help is very rude and refuses to transfer to a Supervisor.

While we still enjoy timesharing it is not worth all the El Cid incompetence and unwillingness to help.

Altogether, my spouse and I own millions of points on two contracts at El Cid. This post is not about the service received at El Cid. The staff at their resorts is incredibly caring. Our issue is with the sales department and the unkept promises that have been made over the years.

Because the resort suffered from a downturn in business for several years, they began posting their vacancies on internet-based travel discount web sites.

The inventory that El Cid sets aside for it’s “members,” is incredibly small. Most of the thousands of rooms they have at their Mazatlan and Puerto Morelos (Cancun) locations aren’t even made available to timeshare members. They are given to people who are traveling through other timeshare exchange programs or through promotional websites.

Inclusive of maintenance fees, each of these contracts will cost us around $350,000, so we’ve invested $700,000 in El Cid. When we call to make reservations, they are always “full.” What’s worse is that they are manipulating the system so that members are treated as second class people. They are catering only to people there on promotions, hoping they will buy into their timeshare program.

We highly recommend you not buy a timeshare here. You are much better off being in control where you make a reservation. Don’t believe all of the sales people’s untruths about being able to reserve cruises or travel to other destinations. You can get MUCH better pricing for other vacations on your own.

Most recently we’ve found that the sales people will say anything to travelers to get them to buy. Almost everything they tell you is not true. They keep coming up with stories and offers that will disappoint you. Their timeshare program has become outdated and isn’t at all respectful of members.

Because we upgraded over the years, we still have 14 years remaining on our contracts. Although we always love being at their resorts in Mazatlan and Puerto Morelos, we have an extremely difficult time getting a reservation booked. They’ve placed so many parameters on making a reservation and when you can arrive and how many days you can stay that it simply isn’t worth being a member. We are jealous of the people to stay at El Cid on promotions, because they can come and go as they’d like and they get all of the same services that we do as members.

Also, avoid their Cozumel property. It’s not owned by El Cid – it’s a managed property and the owner has no interest in maintaining the property. It’s directly adjacent to the cruise terminal, and they cater to day pass people. We had to move seven rooms before we found one that didn’t smell bad.

Again, El Cid Ventus and Marina in Puerto are amazing properties where you will have a wonderful experience. El Cid Ha will also eventually become wonderful if they can figure out how to control the mosquitos.

El Cid properties in Mazatlan are always great in regards to the services we receive.

Visited El Cid July 2021 And purchase a contract which was told had to be 20 years. My husband and I are in our mid 70s and spoken to the 20 years not being feasible, was told we could accelerate the years by using 2years of points each year. the customer service Rep says no only 1 year of points will be allowed. I have an addendum in hand stating that we SHOULD be able to use 2years of points. We will be in our 90s at their rate.

Also we were given papers to be signed up for RCI, they never enrolled us with

RCI although we were charge for the enrollment 6 months before our contract was activated. We were Never enrolled in RCI and later told we must join ICE instead. Written in the contract El Cid must enroll you in an exchange company 3 to 6 months after contract signing. I have tried repeatedly to cancel this contract, it is not what I signed-up for, which constitutes a BREACH. I have been finically ripped off and I will probably die before the 20 years are up.

El Cid has NO affiliation with RCI yet it is still listed on their website

I really want the RCI deal stated in our contract.

Like I stated NOT WHAT I SIGN-UP FOR BEWARE

Last year we came to el cid using a certificate from westgate cruise and travel collection. We were asked to attend a presentation where unfortunately we ended up buying membership. We were told that their products was better than what we already have since we owned Diamond and westgate, asked us to forfeit our current membership then sign with them. We spent the whole day there signing papers also we were offered drinks while trying to make us sign contracts. It all seems ok at the time , we were offered a voucher with 14 all inclusive bracelets after purchase and we were told that we can come back using the bracelets no string attached. We were also told in the event that we wanted to remain at the platinum level our price would be locked. No one ever give us an orientation of the product like they said and we had to call to set up the account later. Now we came on our first trip. We have been harrassed, threatened to attend a member update. They said if we don't attend their member update we will pay a big fine. They said that this was explained to us at the time of booking and documented which is a complete lie. I ask them to review the recording since all conversation are recorded for fact check and they wouldn't. We told them that we would attend on our time but they refused to compromise and want to be in charge of when they schedule the appointment at times that are inconvenient to us. This the most stressful situation I have ever experienced with a timeshare compagny. I hope someone can hold these people accountable. Threat , intimidation, abuse of power, bullying by these people and harassment are to be taken seriously

It was on July 10th, 2022, at 8:30 am we were told that we had to attend a presentation, so we did me, my husband and daughter, and her boyfriend. When we attend, we already had a timeshare? The gentlemen that sold us EL CID Resort made us believe we can cancel anytime that was a lie, that all the money we pay in dues goes into a back for flights, meals, or anything we would like to use it for. My husband kept asking for the paperwork and they gave it to us in 5 days so we couldn’t cancel. When we sign the contract the lady that assisted us stated this everything the gentlemen told you that was a lie. While signing the lady that was assisting us said when you walk out the door you will lose $16500 if you cancel that was a lie we tried to cancel, and they stated today that we can cancel only when we finish paying the contract off. EL CID is a joke I will be out $66,000.00 and the loss of my other timeshare. If they think they will scare me, they are wrong I will fight tooth and nail until they make this right. How do they sleep at night? This company will look you in the face and lie to you. They will play hell getting any more money from me. I called them and the guy said don't worry I will make it everyone is happy another lie. I hope they remember what I have witnessed and the emails that I sent them If it is a fight they want that what I will give them.

My husband and I purchased a membership back in October of 2021. We have paid $30,000 so far. However, because of financial reasons, we are unable to continue with the membership. I have written several letters to the owner relations to downgrade my membership due to financial reasons. My husband is out of work and I am the only one supporting our family at this time and I do not want to loose $30,000. Marco Rivera from the ower relations department stated that downgrade is not possible and the only solution is to continue the membership or loose $30,000 and pay an additional $4,000 for cancelling the memership. This company is not for members. They are not human. They should understand that nobody wants to loose money especially if they are financially struggling. What else can I do?

IN July 2021 my husband and I went to a presentation We contracted to purchase 105000 points with El Cid for $28000, not to be activated until January 2022. Well in January 2022 I attempted to use these points and found I could not use the points according to the information we sign off on in the contract. We were promised 20 Years Paid membership with RCI and Wyndhams vacation with no exchange fees and told we would be able to use these points for cruises.

El Cid has no affiliation with RCI so what I was told in the contract is fraudulent

and deceptive.

Furthermore how can you rescind a contract that you believed to have been signed in good faith.

Since El Cid cannot stand up to a written contract how can they be trusted at all

El Cid needs to refund all monies paid

I was told at the presentation I would be able to use my allotted points to book a cruise Now I am told that is not the case also I was told RCI was a part of the package This is no longer the case If my contract speaks to something I expect to receive it This was a expensive transaction for these people to be reneging on Stay away from El Cid if they believe they can change a contract after the fact

We are being held hostage by el cid vacation club. We bought timeshare in nov 2019. We've already paid over $29,000 in payments and maintenance fees. Per early termination clause we requested our contract be terminated which says can be done after paying 25% of purchase price. We've paid 28%, not asking for refund, have not used any points. Been requesting termination since december 2020. They are dragging their feet with termination, making offers, etc. Keep telling them no, terminate the contract. We are being told we have to pay an additional $9900+ to terminate. We are unable to travel and are being held hostage. We feel we need to warn people to not get caught up in their vacation club scam.

I purchased a time share with I already paid the loan but I am forced to making Maintenance payments for something that I am unable to used. I am paying a product that I am not using. I need to exit the program. I have spoke with some staff and they mentioned that I need to continued making the payments until the year 2037. Imagine how much money they are taking away from me. I just need to end the contract.

These people are nothing but criminals, fast talking scam artist, and bottom of the barrel when it comes to providing any kind of service. Using our timeshare is not feasible for us so for more than eight months I am in trying to work with them to pay out the termination obligation and be done with them. More than a dozen times they have referred me to their legal Department where the phone either rings with no answer or someone tells you they're out to lunch and will contact you. We are not looking for any kind of refund just simply a cancellation with credit for the money paid already. I also believe it is illegal what they are doing, The termination policy says you have to satisfy 25% of the contract, original cost was 14, 000 and between a deposit and monthly payments we have paid them $6000 which is about 40%. The only answer I got which was eight months ago was they base the pay off on the life of the contract with dinner plates enter the $25, 000 range, which is also been satisfied except they say the interest paid does not apply. Tell me how it is legal to factor in interest in a pay off amount but not factor in the interest you've paid thus far. Truly bottom of the barrel.

El Cid ripped us of for about $60, 000.00 We went to El Cid Moro Beach for vacation and of course we got suckered into their presentation. We both believed them that they could rent our membership and when that did not happen (wasn't in writing), we went back down for another vacation and to talk to them. They said since it wasn't in writing they did not remember it, but if we would upgrade and write a new contract and stipulate that they would rent, then it would pay off our contract . They said they would rent out several weeks of ours during Holy Week to locals and that there was great demand for those weeks. We were such suckers, but thought since it was in writing, surely they would honor it. When they didn't rent it I called them and said they were not getting another dime from us. We were paying them about $1300.00 per month on the contract and maintenance fees. They said we couldn't get out of the contract and I told them "too bad, you're not getting any more money because you lied to us". So we basically walked away from it after investing about 60, 000.00. This was a huge loss! It was in 2013 and Manuel and Rui were the sales people.

Doing business with Timeshare sales people is a huge mistake. They ripped us off and I would like to sue them to recap some of our money. O yes a refund would be nice but not holding my breath.

Many, many times over the last weeks and months we have spoken with, written to, and sent tracked letters to, various people who have not been able or willing to be truthful and take responsibility for the lies, misrepresentations, omissions of the salesmen who induced us to make this purchase.
Stories have changed the further away we got from the date of purchase. The free cruise for six to Hawaii? Not true. We had agreed to the port fees and taxes, yes. What we didn't agree to was a discounted cruise. Sales also promised us a free cruise for two for the next 20 years. That, too, turned out to be nothing but a sales pitch with the sole objective to get us to close the deal.
There was a window to cancel and get a full refund. Then there was a window for a 25% refund. Now all windows are closed and there is no possibility of cancellation. Or a full refund, you are telling us.
You know all these things because we have told you repeatedly the lies we found out about, and yet are giving us a hard time about canceling. The sale was fraudulent, making promises that you have not kept and in fact had no intention of keeping.
You are dishonest and lie about the benefits available to owners. We don't imagine that we are the only ones to have been scammed by you in the past.
The sale was done fraudulently and as such is invalid.

All El Cid resorts are fraudulent and scheme off innocent people. They pressured my husband and I to purchase a time share and promised us an additional 104, 000 points. They also promised, in writing, that they would "rent out" the purchased time share and pay us $25, 000 on May 10, 2014. Surely enough, we never received the promised payment or the additional points. This company operates based on lies and deceit, and they have no value for integrity and honesty. I hope you read this message before you get scammed by El Cid. They should be put out of business!