I am well aware of Park Royal and Royal Holiday and the way they market. Anyone visiting Cozumel, or other Mexican resorts should be warned about this before they go. There are numerous cases of customers from Crusie ships that also get scammed. Go to Squeaky Wheel complaints and put in Royal Holiday in their search box. Also visit other complaint sites about Royal Holiday. Warn anyone you know who is planning a vacation to these areas. It is sad, but they take money from families who need it for other things. They don't care. They make deals with travel sites like BookIt to get more victims to attend the presentations, serve alcohol, and offer free gifts. The same story is told over and over.
The Mexican government needs to do something to regulate this. There is a five day "cooling off" period, but countless stories document that Royal Holiday either does not put it in the contract, or honor it if it is invoked. In the United States this has to be in the contract, and initialed that the customer was warned.
Again, beware.
It is important to warn anyone and everyone about BookIt, Royal Park, Royal Holiday, and everyone involved in the scam.
Research these companies before doing business with them.
The pressure these scammers put on people who attend the presentations have been well planned. If you visit Royal Holiday's web site you can see this is a large company. They have studied sales techniques, the psychology of consumers, and are well prepared. On the other hand, the vacationer is in an unfamiliar foreign place. They are often celebrating something, very off guard. They are shown packages with inflated prices, given deals, and offered special incentives only available if they sign today. If they put the full amount on a credit card they are offered even greater discounts. But, you have to agree then and there. You are told it is a one time offer. When ever you are told this it is a lie. What do you think the people who come in "tomorrow" or next week will be offered.
The important thing is DO NOT agree to attend ANY presentations by vacation sales organizations while on vacation. I have never met or personally corresponded with anyone happy with these agreements. They have employees posing as happy customers, and will have their employees post lies about happiness with the company, but this is part of the scam. If you know anyone who is planning a vacation warn them to only do what they went there for in the first place, relax and have fun. Do not make any decision committing to spending large amounts of money while on vacation. These packages cost an average of $23,000.00 with annual dues of an average of $750.00 and the contracts are usually for thirty years. You are spending all this before you ever make one reservation, which you will not get. The resorts already have your money so they will give priority to new cash paying customers, not you. These new cash payers are also potential timeshare, or vacation package purchasers. That is why you read all kinds of stories about members of these clubs not ever getting the vacations they request. Royal Holiday already has their money. They want fresh "meat".
Again, just say no.
I am so embarrassed that I fell into this. I can't believe I was so gullible. All I have to say in my defense is they showed a beautiful product. The Park Royal in Cozumel is so well done after the renovation. They promised we could return without any deduction of points for five years and bring friends and family only paying the food fee. When asked why, they said it was marketing, they get new customers this way. I guess they don't get new customers this way, because I have never heard of anyone there on that program. All the red bracelet guests were new members. I asked all members I saw, if they had been there before, and all were new. Now I know why, existing members were told no availability. That is one reason I put in a search for Royal Holiday in Yahoo, and found all the complaints. They REFUSED to let me cancel. My dream vacation has turned into a nightmare. How can these people be so evil. They must know the anxiety and pain they are causing. My wife can not sleep. She is worried sick. I am getting an ulcer. If any Royal Holiday employees read these complaints, if you are decent at all, do something for us. Act like a human being.
I don't understand why none of the news media have picked up on this in the U.S.A. I heard they did an expose on this in Canada. I also don't see how the credit card companies justify doing business with these companies that have a long history of selling contracts without providing services and under fraudulent means. The fact they lie and say there is "no reconsideration period" in their contracts is blatantly ILLEGAL! I know I told Mastercard about the Mexican Law, I sent a copy of it with my fraud claim. Yet, Visa and MasterCard and others still do business with them. I was told if I put the full amount on my credit card they would give me over $2,000.00 off my thirty year premium plan, so it was around $27,000.00. They called my credit card company for me and waited for me to get an increase in my limit to do the deal. My credit card company should have told me there is an alert out against these types of contracts, do not sign until you investigate, research the company for complaints on the INTERNET. Instead, they gave me the increase, and never said a word. Now I know all the credit card companies have had fraud complaints because of Royal Holiday. I do not know why they are not responsible for protecting their card customers? Why don't the travel agents who book trips in the resorts where Royal Holiday have offices and are allowed to solicit business provide basic information about the history of this company, and the risks of signing long term contracts in a foreign country? We were in La La Land, on our dream vacation, not being scammers ourselves, never thinking people would lie to us to that extent. We are wiser now, but face it, BASICALLY HONEST, HARD WORKING, MORAL people don't think the way con artist do, and trust people. The businesses that are benefiting from our business with them should protect us.
This is the same problem I am having.
I am so glad I saw this. My wife was trying to talk me into going there next month and looking at the condos. Thank you everyone!
I had to sell my house in Baja for less than I paid four years ago because of the down turn in the market. I needed to pay off the loan and quit throwing good money after bad. My advice, if you want to spend time in Mexico, rent. It is much easier to leave when you want to, and cheaper too. The tax consequences on any gain is very high. My advice, invest the money you save each month while renting then when you leave you will have a little next egg to help get you through.
