recommend RCI Trade to Caribbean

[emmababy]

Next Summer, hubby and i are getting away just us. We have a waitlist for Sandals Jamaica. Any others? Want a true resort feel with abilities v to do activities. No Mexico please !

 

[emmababy]

Anyone??? Looked at St Marteen, Aruba, Grand Cayman options....

 

[abdgeek]

Anyone??? Looked at St Marteen, Aruba, Grand Cayman options....

I've been looking at Aruba for a while to trade into, but it keeps losing out to ABD, DCL and other trips. I would suggest reading the reviews for the RCI properties you're interested in on tripadvisor. That's what I do before I book any of the RCI properties. I also go to their website to see what additional info they have. You can also research frommers.com for the city/island you want to go to. They have maps of the islands and most of them show where the major hotel/timeshares are located. You can also read up on what there is to do and how you would get around. Good luck.

 

[Shellandscott]

We stayed at Morritts on Grand Cayman. It was 2004, so the resort could have changed. You need to rent a car. Loved it. Short drive to Rum Point, about 30 minutes to Georgetown.

 

[Shellandscott]

BTW. Sandals has a Mandatory AI fee Adult Fee: US $842.00 per person per week. That is alot of $$$ above your Disney deposit to pay. I would rent my points and pay OOP for an AI vacation. IMHO.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I don't know anything about RCI but we were just on a cruise and St Maarten was absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to get back there

 

[emmababy]

We stayed at Morritts on Grand Cayman. It was 2004, so the resort could have changed. You need to rent a car. Loved it. Short drive to Rum Point, about 30 minutes to Georgetown.

How did you like it? That's one on our list...

 

[emmababy]

BTW. Sandals has a Mandatory AI fee Adult Fee: US $842.00 per person per week. That is alot of $$$ above your Disney deposit to pay. I would rent my points and pay OOP for an AI vacation. IMHO.

We wait listed Sadals in Jamaica, only $800 total. But I doubt it comes through...

We are debating DIvi in Aruba, morritts in Grand cayman, st Maarten...the punta cana are nice but all inclusive fees are high..


I want a luxury place where a cabana boy is waiting on me! Most options aren't of that caliber...

 

[dbs1228]

I did not like Jamaica - I was a travel agent for years and went 3 times 2 times on a cruise and once to Sandal's Dunns River for my 30th birthday- it was fun but..... I LOVE Aruba my favorite Island by far! Caymans I only did on a cruise but really liked the Island for the day. Been to St Martin/St Marteen for a weeks stay and also loved it but still prefer Aruba just saying.....

 

[emmababy]

I did not like Jamaica - I was a travel agent for years and went 3 times 2 times on a cruise and once to Sandal's Dunns River for my 30th birthday- it was fun but..... I LOVE Aruba my favorite Island by far! Caymans I only did on a cruise but really liked the Island for the day. Been to St Martin/St Marteen for a weeks stay and also loved it but still prefer Aruba just saying.....

Thanks for your feedback! Did you ever go to Puerto Rico? We were debating that if no RCI comes through, since we wouldnt need passports and all that...

 

[dbs1228]

Thanks for your feedback! Did you ever go to Puerto Rico? We were debating that if no RCI comes through, since we wouldnt need passports and all that...

Yes Puerto Rico has some nice beaches but seemed very expensive. Good luck in your search!

 

[emmababy]

Yes Puerto Rico has some nice beaches but seemed very expensive. Good luck in your search!

Thanks! Seems cheaper to fly to PR than the others...but they don't have all inclusive, so I weigh thAt. I think I would feel safer in PR, since its a US territory. But will miss duty free shopping, lol!

 

[Shellandscott]

We wait listed Sadals in Jamaica, only $800 total. But I doubt it comes through...

We are debating DIvi in Aruba, morritts in Grand cayman, st Maarten...the punta cana are nice but all inclusive fees are high..


I want a luxury place where a cabana boy is waiting on me! Most options aren't of that caliber...

We loved Grand Cayman, but it is not AI and food was expensive there. But it is the Caribbean.

We went to Aruba in 2001 stayed at Divi Village, nice condo like resort. Walked over to Divi Dutch something and that was a dive. Keep in mind Aruba is a early to bed island, roll up the streets at 7pm except the casino.

Look at the RCI page to see the reviews of St. Martin resorts. I found not many that got good reviews. Also I think you may need to rent a car to see the island. Friends of our said when they went a few years ago the hotel staff warned them about people pulling you over and robbing you.

I am curious about the AI fee, is it possible that RCI charges less to DVC? I thought the AI fee was a set fee????? I got my numbers directly off the RCI resort page.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Thanks! Seems cheaper to fly to PR than the others...but they don't have all inclusive, so I weigh thAt. I think I would feel safer in PR, since its a US territory. But will miss duty free shopping, lol!

After cruising to St Maarten, St Thomas, and Nassau, I can tell you I felt the SAFEST at St. Maarten. The Duty Free shopping there was the cheapest I've ever seen it. Sure you would need passports, but ever since we got ours, it's been so much easier at airport security lines....regardless of airport. Plus they are good for 10 years. Airfare to St. Maarten is by far more expensive and like I said I don't know anything about RCI but if you can trade there I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Here is a link of a beach by the airport. I took this video from my smartphone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsbogO9woLU&feature=share&list=FLulQj9L2_E1WHdH6wZCkskw

We are Disney people, and for a change we found this to be one place we could appreciate more than Disney. Someday will have to look into RCI exchanges. We even stayed at OKW before the cruise and didn't want to have to leave Disney.

 

[emmababy]

We loved Grand Cayman, but it is not AI and food was expensive there. But it is the Caribbean.

We went to Aruba in 2001 stayed at Divi Village, nice condo like resort. Walked over to Divi Dutch something and that was a dive. Keep in mind Aruba is a early to bed island, roll up the streets at 7pm except the casino.

Look at the RCI page to see the reviews of St. Martin resorts. I found not many that got good reviews. Also I think you may need to rent a car to see the island. Friends of our said when they went a few years ago the hotel staff warned them about people pulling you over and robbing you.

I am curious about the AI fee, is it possible that RCI charges less to DVC? I thought the AI fee was a set fee????? I got my numbers directly off the RCI resort page.

Didn't know Aruba is a early to bed island, that's no good. Yes the AI fee is cheaper than if you book directly the resort. I compared it over a few.

I really want luxury and none of the non AI options look luxe at all. This is our first time away in 10 years no kids, so I need to be pampered!

 

[emmababy]

After cruising to St Maarten, St Thomas, and Nassau, I can tell you I felt the SAFEST at St. Maarten. The Duty Free shopping there was the cheapest I've ever seen it. Sure you would need passports, but ever since we got ours, it's been so much easier at airport security lines....regardless of airport. Plus they are good for 10 years. Airfare to St. Maarten is by far more expensive and like I said I don't know anything about RCI but if you can trade there I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Here is a link of a beach by the airport. I took this video from my smartphone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsbogO9woLU&feature=share&list=FLulQj9L2_E1WHdH6wZCkskw

We are Disney people, and for a change we found this to be one place we could appreciate more than Disney. Someday will have to look into RCI exchanges. We even stayed at OKW before the cruise and didn't want to have to leave Disney.

Holy crap I about pooped my pants watching that plane!

 

[luckyman_apd]

Holy crap I about pooped my pants watching that plane!

While that was truly awesome (and the whole reason we visited that beach) St Maarten was beautiful. Aruba and Barbados are two other islands I want to try but you won't be disappointed if you choose St Maarten. That was me that said Wheeeeew! At the end of the video.