Royal Holiday Reviews

Limited Vacation Options. My family vacations exclusively in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, but the options available through Royal Holiday have become increasingly limited and expensive: Our favorite hotel in Puerto Rico no longer participates in the Royal Holiday program. The remaining participating hotel in Puerto Rico requires a significant number of points, and the additional costs are prohibitively high. On top of that, the dates available for Royal Holiday participants are extremely limited. In Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, it is almost always more economical for us to use a family member's discount rates than to use Royal Holiday points, which also require additional fees and costs.

An individual claiming to own a travel company in Mexico contacted me with a generous offer to purchase my Royal Holiday timeshare. This person had all of my Royal Holiday account information, including my account number, telephone number, and email address.

A "lawyer" in Texas prepared a contract, which was forwarded to me. A person claiming to be an employee of Royal Holiday called me, stating that she was aware of the sale and sent me a document on Royal Holiday letterhead to complete. I wired the required one percent of the sale price to this individual. I was later informed by the "lawyer" that the sales proceeds were in his account, and I paid a Capital Gains Tax to "Mexico" and a penalty to "Mexico Customs" for transferring more than $10,000 across the border.

The purchaser of my Royal Holiday shares contractually promised to reimburse me for all expenses. However, the "lawyer" never had the sales proceeds, and all the recipients of my funds vanished. This scam was only possible because Royal Holiday failed to protect my personal information, allowing it to fall into the hands of scammers.

False Promises and Misrepresentation. A major reason I initially purchased the Royal Holiday timeshare was the promise of five years of unlimited free accommodations at resorts in Cancun, Cozumel, Acapulco, Ixtapa, Huatulco, or the Dominican Republic. This inducement was a significant factor in my decision to proceed with the purchase. However, much later, after reading the fine print, I discovered that this offer of unlimited free accommodations was entirely false. I was scammed and misled by Royal Holiday’s sales team.

Conclusion. Royal Holiday has failed to deliver on its promises and has caused me significant financial and emotional harm. The restrictive points system, limited vacation options, negligence in protecting personal information, and false promises have made my experience with this company a nightmare. I strongly urge others to be cautious when dealing with Royal Holiday and to thoroughly investigate their claims before making any commitments. I hope that by sharing my experience, I can prevent others from going through the same ordeal.

We're there with nowhere to stay and Customer Service says we'll return your credits, ok and where are we suppose to stay? The answer was nothing we can do. Around 2022 we booked for Atlantic City the rep says the hotel was with a casino and near all the casinos. We got there and the hotel which was some type of Condo did not have a casino and the casinos driving were 20 minutes away the closest one the Nugget. I called and they tried the we oriented correctly statement and I informed them that I had made the reservation while driving and my dashcam was on and I recorded everything and you can hear clearly when the Rep said it had a casino. They told me they were going to have a supervisor look for their recording of the call. She never called me back and someone from quality called me about a month later and refunded half the credits which was Ok with me.

In 2024 they come out with an annual maintenance fee of $765. I used my credits in 2024 to stay in Florida and the place wasn't worth $100 for a week stay and I used my points plus paid the $765 fee, horrible. In April 2024 I went to Vegas stayed at the Marriot on the strip for 1 week and paid $320, on I think 37th floor penthouse, with a kitchen, jacuzzi, near everything. I went to Canada also in 2024 stayed in a Hotel near everything with a casino to my surprise for $350 for a week.

The last trip was to PR for 4 days $238 for a room in Tropical Hotel. I had all these stays and adding everything up still cheaper than the maintenance fee and use of points in RH. Today I get a call from RH and the Rep threatened me saying, and I quote "well your credit will be damaged if you don't pay your maintenance". I paid RH in full about $25,000 and they threatened me to ruin my credit because I don't want to use them anymore?

I hung up quickly, called my lawyer who told me and I quote "Let them, they fall under the timeshare category and maintenance is NOT legal to ruin your credit. They're going to lose more than the maintenance fee if it comes to that." I have had many other issues with them since 2015. They have changed, it use to be a great company but I do not know what happened around that time that is total garbage. Do not fall into their trap. DON'T BUY THEIR PACKAGES. It's not worth it anymore. The hotels they use now are awful.

The promise of two free weeks in the Bahamas at the renowned Atlantis Resort was the hook. However, when we traveled to redeem this trip, we were met with a completely different reality. Rather than staying at Atlantis with its promised complimentary perks, we were placed in a different property that lacked all the advertised benefits. Worse, accessing Atlantis came with additional charges, forcing us to limit our time at the resort to a single day—far from the luxurious getaway we envisioned when we made our purchase.

Using the timeshare points we paid for has been no better. We frequently find no availability during holidays or school breaks, the times when we most want to travel. Despite promises of flexibility and affordability, we are often forced to choose between subpar accommodations or not traveling at all. The idea of seamless vacations and no rising costs was just a sales tactic—reality has been quite the opposite.

To add to the frustration, maintenance fees have steadily climbed each year, leaving us paying more and more for a service we barely use. With two kids in college, this financial strain feels unbearable. The thought of passing this timeshare and its accompanying costs onto our children weighs heavily on us. Frankly, the idea of them inheriting this burden is something we dread.

In an effort to break free from this ongoing cycle of disappointment, we turned to Timeshare Resale Market, paying nearly $2,300 in hopes of selling the timeshare and cutting our losses. But even this has led to more frustration, as months later, we’re still wondering if anyone would even want to buy a timeshare that has caused us so much regret.

The emotional and financial toll this timeshare has taken on our family is impossible to measure. This money could have gone toward experiences that truly bring joy and value to our lives, rather than being wasted on a product that has consistently failed to deliver on its promises. If you’re considering purchasing a timeshare with Royal Holiday Vacation Club, we urge you to think long and hard. What seems like an appealing opportunity can quickly turn into a heavy financial and emotional burden you’ll struggle to escape.

- Confirmed wheelchair accessible and it is NOT, rough and dangerous pathways, stairs everywhere and many without railing.

- Called for cart once and had to wait an hour, had to walk across resort to complain and to get wheelchair (and even go the whole way without stairs). They said that they sent it to the room and not the pool but they never asked for room number… Had to call multiple times. Happened again next day and was told they are busy but when we went by the lobby the other cart was not in use and staff was standing around. The whole site is under construction and there was only one pool for the whole resort, many people upset. Heavy construction equipment working within 16’ of children's sleep over area in the sand… Cancer causing kerosene allowed into the sand in the same area…. Just seen a guy pissing in the same area with staff around doing nothing. Equipment exhaust blowing into eating areas and loud noises all day, angle grinders cutting tile endlessly for example.

- Restaurants closed and others with reduced hours.

- Broken hand rail

- Asked to meet Royal staff and was stood up, my wife is disabled and has hard time travelling around and standing so this was a piss off. The royal staff ‘always’ trying to up sell the package. Asked to come to special breakfast at a specific time for what sounded like a meeting, no one arrived and the breakfast was nothing special, just regular breakfast for everyone… I don’t appreciate being told where and when to eat.

- Little bugs in the room

- Fan makes ticking noise in ceiling.

- Booked 8 months in advance and could not get a bathtub, was told “members” can’t upgrade room and that we had to upgrade “at the resort at time of check in” but everything is obviously booked months in advance.

- Can connect to wifi but the internet doesn’t work here. 2 staff members have admitted the the internet and then a 3rd staffer tells us it is great.

- Room service didn’t bring us our food and told us where to go to get it then it wasn’t there and then we were told it would be there in 5 minutes… 50 minutes later it came.

- Wife tried to get the website to order room service a second time and they told her that she ‘had’ to do it online, she explained the internet didn’t work and was put on hold for an 45 minutes before she hung up, I had to go to royal vacation office to order food.

- Twice the staff hung up the phone on use while we were talking to them, each time we were not even raging, just thought they heard everything they wanted to and the conversation was done.

- Needed a PIN number to get room service but no one gave it to us and couldn’t figure out that they needed to when we inquired.

- Sales staff told us they would make it right ‘if’ we upgraded package.

- They convinced us to come to a meeting to explain our great benefits and how to use them, but actually it was just a large list of rules and regulations setting us up for a sales pitch for a membership upgrade.

Do not waste your time and money with the royal club, they are a greedy failure. They tried to explain that they are losing money due to construction but then had the nerve to say they are building several new resorts and renovating several other resorts. We were told that the princess resort we have booked February/march is Not under construction but I guess we will see when we get there.

- To compensate us for all this trouble a staffer offered us free room service, we paid for “all inclusive” so it is already paid for!!

- Children in the only adults pool…

- This was our first vacation to the royal ‘flagship’ resort and it was garbage, we are not happy at all, total waste of money.

We admitted that even with our perfect credit at risk, we were just going to stop paying. Well it just so happened that if we paid $10,000 they would allow us to get out of our contract. If we decided to keep using the membership, all we had to do was pay the maintenance fees but if we chose to stop, we could. We decided to stop. I get collection calls at least once a week. I explained that we signed to opt out and I was told “It doesn’t work that way.” I sent a copy of the signed letter, from Royal Holiday, and was still told that didn’t cancel our contract and the collection calls will continue. I will do everything I can to stop someone else from making the mistake we did.

Financial Burden and Value Discrepancy. The ongoing financial strain has been one of the most disappointing aspects of our timeshare. The annual fees continue to rise, which is particularly frustrating given our declining ability to use the timeshare. With the cost of flights skyrocketing, we find ourselves weighing the financial burden of these fees against the reality that we cannot afford to travel. Instead, we often find greater value in planning our own trips when we can get away, frequently staying with friends and family, which offers a much more personal and comfortable experience.

Declining Quality and Maintenance Issues. The condition of the properties has been another significant disappointment. On our visits, we encountered various maintenance issues—from properties under construction, which diminished our experience due to construction noise and limited amenities, to the Hawaiian property that was simply in disrepair. We were embarrassed to take our parents there as a gift; the unit had a musty smell, worn upholstery with visible tears, and overall cleanliness was marginal at best. The hard beds and the lack of attention to detail have made our stays far from enjoyable.

Health Concerns and Accessibility. As we age, health concerns have become a significant factor in our lives. Both my partner and I have faced serious medical issues, including heart surgeries and cancer treatments. The stress of managing our health while also caring for aging parents has made it increasingly difficult to plan trips. Our focus has shifted towards enjoying time at home with our grandchildren, and the inability to afford flights for our children and grandchildren adds to the burden. The thought of navigating the timeshare system during this period has only added stress to an already challenging situation.

Pressure and Deceptive Practices. One of the most unpleasant aspects of our experience with Royal Holiday has been the aggressive sales tactics employed during timeshare presentations. What was promised as a "quick" meeting often turned into long, high-pressure sessions that lasted well beyond the advertised two hours. We were bombarded with offers of free gifts, room upgrades, and attraction tickets, all while feeling an immense pressure to purchase or upgrade. The relentless sales pitches were exhausting, and we often left these meetings feeling more drained than when we entered. Additionally, we were misled about the possibility of selling or renting our timeshare. The vague promises made during the sales pitch have proven to be untrue, leaving us with a sense of entrapment rather than an enjoyable vacation experience.

Legacy or Burden? What was once sold to us as a legacy for our children has become a significant burden. Instead of a cherished family asset, it has turned into a financial albatross that weighs heavily on our shoulders. The incessant phone calls during our vacations, pressuring us to attend yet another meeting, only add to our frustration and sense of being trapped in a cycle we cannot escape. We would strongly advise anyone considering a timeshare with Royal Holiday Vacation Club to think twice. The allure of easy vacations and low maintenance fees is overshadowed by mounting costs, declining property conditions, aggressive sales tactics, and significant health and family considerations. Save yourself the heartache and financial strain—look for alternatives that prioritize your family's needs and well-being.

I kept getting the standard line of "per your contract you can only roll over a certain % of unused points to the next year"! I am so sorry a hurricane hit and the resort is closed! I am doing Myrtle Beach now, which I really don't want. But better than nothing. Why can't an exception be made due to the hurricane? COME ON, it is only around 9,000 points I am losing Royal Holiday. Have a heart! You could transfer them to next year for me to use or loose! But you won't. And nobody will let me talk/email/chat with a supervisor either! I have asked and asked.

Not the resort's fault they are closed. Not mine. Not Royal Holiday's. But what kind of customer service do you have RH, if you can't even roll the unused points left from moving my reservation from one resort to another??? Not "costing" you anything! You just don't want to help a member out! You really do not care. I knew you wouldn't help me, before I tried fighting it. Now I just can't wait to get away from you.

I am going to do the "point acceleration" option that I found out about now. Buy two years' worth of points each year, and knock a year off at the back end of my contract period. Thus, my 8 years left will only take me 4 years to SUFFER through if I pay double each of those 4 years. And I will JUST TO GET AWAY FROM YOU and to BE DONE WITH THE NIGHTMARE of belonging to Royal Holiday. So, buyer beware!

RUN.... RUN.... RUN.... away. Do not even consider listening to any lie they tell you!

There were no taxis due to the Red Alert, so there was no option of leaving to another Hotel. Reception was leaving us with the only choice of paying $480. Either that or stay on the street? Again, Cancun was on Red Alert meaning you have to stay where you are. For being Royal Holiday (Royal Tier) members, they did not meet our expectations. Also, all the restaurants were closed except the buffet, no liquor, and the price of $480 would not be adjusted - which makes no sense. When we finally got in touch with Royal Holiday by phone, we were charged credits and $128. With a Red Alert and no services (only buffet) and all the trouble, we should've received a complimentary night.

Also, instead of keeping us in the same room, we had to move to another room (which also makes no sense, because there is no one checking in since cancun is on red alert, so not sure why we couldn't just stay in our original jr. suite). It took an extra hour to check in, check in is at 3, our room was not ready until past 4. I am 6 months pregnant, and we were put on the 4th floor Rm 3401. The elevators were out of order, and I had to walk up 4 flights of wet stairs. I am EXTREMELY disappointed. Usually I have great reviews of the Royal Holiday hotels, but when it comes to emergency situations - don't expect much from them. We also asked reception for towels, the lady at reception told us the towels are by the pool? There is a Hurricane, how are there towels by the pool? Was also charged $50 for transpo to the airport because it was before 8am - RIDICULOUS. One extra night cost more than the entire 5 day trip!

I'm posting this in case someone else might come to the same realization. In the future I plan on mailing a check. But only a bank check that does not have access to my checking account. I've been using this club for about 15 years. Yes there have been some oopses. But for the most part I've enjoyed the properties that I have stayed at around the world. I plan to continue. And yes, the salespeople are pushy and NOT very trustworthy.