Royal Sands came through for 07/09

[AnnaS]

I have something to be excited about today. I was checking the status of my points to see if my exchange came through and I saw hardly any points left - I almost forgot about the exchange.

I called MS and sure enough I got the week I wanted at the Royal Sands. I hope now that my sil also gets it. We put in for it at the same time. The CM was so excited for me - almost more than me. She said she has been there twice and raved about it. She told me names of excursions she has done/recommended. She named a rest. or two. She told me not to rent a car and that for a peso or two, we can take public transportation. She went on to explain the unit and other things/helpful hints.

 

[Disneyhappy]

I have something to be excited about today. I was checking the status of my points to see if my exchange came through and I saw hardly any points left - I almost forgot about the exchange.

I called MS and sure enough I got the week I wanted at the Royal Sands. I hope now that my sil also gets it. We put in for it at the same time. The CM was so excited for me - almost more than me. She said she has been there twice and raved about it. She told me names of excursions she has done/recommended. She named a rest. or two. She told me not to rent a car and that for a peso or two, we can take public transportation. She went on to explain the unit and other things/helpful hints.

Congratulations! I am assuming that Royal Sands is in Mexico based on the "peso" reference. Where exactly is it located? We went ot Riviera Maya this past January (won the trip) and fell in love. The beaches are gorgeous! We talked about trying to trade our DVC points to return but we didn't get beyond the "talking" part. I wasn't even sure their was an exchange in Mexico.
Again, congratulations and good luck trying to figure out a way to make the time fly by before next summer!

 

[Laxmom]

Congrats!! The Royals are all supposed to be really nice resorts from what I have heard!! Enjoy your trip!

 

[Dean]

Congratulations! I am assuming that Royal Sands is in Mexico based on the "peso" reference. Where exactly is it located? We went ot Riviera Maya this past January (won the trip) and fell in love. The beaches are gorgeous! We talked about trying to trade our DVC points to return but we didn't get beyond the "talking" part. I wasn't even sure their was an exchange in Mexico.
Again, congratulations and good luck trying to figure out a way to make the time fly by before next summer!

The Royal Sands is in the Hotel Zone on the island in Cancun. It's somewhat closer to the action than are the other Royals resorts. It's nicer and fancier but it is a huge resort which turns some off. It should be fairly easy to trade into with a good trader and requested far in advance but units tend to trickle in because they can be deposited up to 2 years out unlike most resorts. The newest Royal (Royal Hacienda) in Playa del Carmen is on the DVC exchange list now as well though I suspect it'll be more difficult to exchange in to.

 

[maciec]

I have something to be excited about today. I was checking the status of my points to see if my exchange came through and I saw hardly any points left - I almost forgot about the exchange.

I called MS and sure enough I got the week I wanted at the Royal Sands. I hope now that my sil also gets it. We put in for it at the same time. The CM was so excited for me - almost more than me. She said she has been there twice and raved about it. She told me names of excursions she has done/recommended. She named a rest. or two. She told me not to rent a car and that for a peso or two, we can take public transportation. She went on to explain the unit and other things/helpful hints.

Yeah! We're going to the Sands too, but in October (week of Halloween). We got a 1 bedroom. This is the first time we have stayed in Cancun. We have stayed in Playa del Carmen and loved it.

Please post a trip report when you get back!

 

[AnnaS]

Thanks,

We are excited. Just something a little different (except DCL) after owning DVC for almost 8 years.

 

[disfanforlife]

Wow, that is soooo nice to here. Even though I know from everything I have heard here it is not the "best" - it is still something that my husband and I want to do in the future. Can't wait to here how your trip goes. Have a great time!

 

[Princess Tink]

I've traded for the Royal Caribbean before (2 yrs ago) and loved every minute of it....actually, we're serously thinking about trading in with our Developer pts that we got when we added on. We felt the Royal Resorts were worth the trade, for us!

 

[Mamiamjo]

I have something to be excited about today. I was checking the status of my points to see if my exchange came through and I saw hardly any points left - I almost forgot about the exchange.

I called MS and sure enough I got the week I wanted at the Royal Sands. I hope now that my sil also gets it. We put in for it at the same time. The CM was so excited for me - almost more than me. She said she has been there twice and raved about it. She told me names of excursions she has done/recommended. She named a rest. or two. She told me not to rent a car and that for a peso or two, we can take public transportation. She went on to explain the unit and other things/helpful hints.

Congratulations!
Which week did you get?
We own at The Royal Sands in July and love it!

 

[AnnaS]

Congratulations!
Which week did you get?
We own at The Royal Sands in July and love it!

We have July 18. I really, really hope it comes through for my sil - she also owns dvc.

What week do you own? Will you be there next year?

 

[Mamiamjo]

We have July 18. I really, really hope it comes through for my sil - she also owns dvc.

What week do you own? Will you be there next year?

We own week 26 which is 4th of July week (most years) so we won't be there at the same time. If you don't get the same week for your SIL, you could probably rent a week from mexicondo or Redweek.
Good Luck, You will LOVE the Royal Sands

 

[REL1203]

I have something to be excited about today. I was checking the status of my points to see if my exchange came through and I saw hardly any points left - I almost forgot about the exchange.

I called MS and sure enough I got the week I wanted at the Royal Sands. I hope now that my sil also gets it. We put in for it at the same time. The CM was so excited for me - almost more than me. She said she has been there twice and raved about it. She told me names of excursions she has done/recommended. She named a rest. or two. She told me not to rent a car and that for a peso or two, we can take public transportation. She went on to explain the unit and other things/helpful hints.

If you dont mind me asking, how many points did it cost you, how long are you staying, and what type of room? When are you going? How long ago did you put in the request?

 

[AnnaS]

We own week 26 which is 4th of July week (most years) so we won't be there at the same time. If you don't get the same week for your SIL, you could probably rent a week from mexicondo or Redweek.
Good Luck, You will LOVE the Royal Sands

If you have any helpful hints/suggestions/restaurants/ excursion tips like the very nice CM did, please feel free to pm me. Would love to have an idea.

Thanks.

 

[AnnaS]

If you dont mind me asking, how many points did it cost you, how long are you staying, and what type of room? When are you going? How long ago did you put in the request?

This was 270 points for a 2 BDR - I was told it's on the fifth floor with a whole description including balcony, etc.

We just put a request in end of summer (8/07) and it just came through the past week (4/08) - I check my points on-line periodically and did not the past week. As soon as I saw points missing on Wed. - I knew and I called MS. It's for one week and we are going July 18, 2009.

I only gave them one week and I believe one resort - only because my sil put in for the same exact search but a 1 BDR - which I probably should have done like Dean suggested because there is a very good chance one gets a 2 BDR for the cost of the 1 BDR points (more 2 BDR).

 

[maciec]

I put my request in for the Sands and 2 Aruba resorts. We said "anytime in October 2008" and asked for a 1 bedroom. We put our request in, in August 2007 I think and it took about a week for me to notice that my points were gone. I called and they told me that we got it. We are going 10/25-11/1. Oh, and it cost us 140 points.

On a side note, we bought AKV in October and our guide had MS reallocate our points so that we were able to use our developer points vs. our regular points.

 

[JLitfin]

You are going to just love the Sands, we stayed there a couple of years ago and had such a good time.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[Laxmom]

OT, sorry, but Jlitfin, where are you staying in Aruba? We went last year and loved it! Can't wait to go back!

 

[Dean]

OT, sorry, but Jlitfin, where are you staying in Aruba? We went last year and loved it! Can't wait to go back!

I'm not Jlitfin but we'll be there in Jan. 1 night at La Cabana, a week at the Aruba Surf Club and finishing with 3 nights back at La Cabana in a newly upgraded room. ASC as a trade using my Marriott trader and all La Cabana nights using my Bluegreen points. I've got my air fare done and just trying to decide about a rental car or not and evaluating restaurant recommendations.