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Royal Holiday Review: Everything Owners and Prospective Buyers Should Know
Royal Holiday has been selling vacation memberships since the early 1980s, and its name tends to surface anytime people research Mexican timeshares and vacation clubs. For some families, it has delivered exactly what was promised: easier access to warm-weather resorts, cruises, and city hotels. For others, it has become a long-term financial obligation that feels very different from the carefree vacations shown in the sales presentation. This chapter takes a close, balanced look at Royal Holiday so that owners and prospective buyers can understand how the program really works and what to watch for before signing or upgrading.
- Introduction
Royal Holiday is a Mexico-based vacation club founded in 1983, with tens of thousands of members and access to more than 180 destinations around the world. It operates on a points-or-credits model rather than traditional deeded timeshare ownership. That difference is central to understanding both its appeal and its risks.
This review is written for three groups: current Royal Holiday owners trying to make sense of their membership; prospective buyers who have attended or will attend a sales presentation; and owners considering cancellation or resale. Drawing on consumer reviews, media investigations, and industry experience—including years spent working in the Mexican vacation club space—this chapter explains how Royal Holiday works, what owners tend to like, the most frequent complaints, and what those facts mean for your wallet over the next 10–30 years.
Royal Holiday offers a wide resort network, international destinations, and a long operating history. At the same time, many members report high-pressure sales tactics, confusion about contract length and costs, difficulty exiting, and very low resale values. Remember this: Royal Holiday is a long-term contract for travel services, not a flexible subscription you can cancel at will. - What Is Royal Holiday?
Company History
Royal Holiday began in 1983 under founder Pablo González Carbonell and has positioned itself as a pioneer of vacation clubs in Mexico, emphasizing “vacations for life.” It has survived industry shocks like Hurricane Wilma and the COVID-19 pandemic by repositioning its product, promoting new destinations, and investing in digital sales channels. By the mid-2020s it reported more than 80,000 members worldwide.
Royal Holiday Club Membership Program
Royal Holiday sells membership contracts that grant access to a portfolio of affiliated resorts, cruises, and hotels. Members pay an upfront purchase price for a block of credits, plus ongoing annual fees. The company markets these memberships as a way to lock in future vacations at today’s prices.
Memberships are typically written for long terms, commonly 30 years, sometimes sold as “vacations for life.” Owners receive a set number of credits per year, can sometimes roll them over, and may borrow from future years, depending on contract type. Obligations—especially annual fees—continue whether or not the member travels.
Global Resort Network
Royal Holiday promotes access to over 180 destinations worldwide, including Mexico, the Caribbean, the United States, Europe, South America, cruises, and partner hotels. Some are directly tied to Park Royal hotels; others are affiliated resorts accessed through exchange agreements.
For many owners, this breadth is a key attraction: it promises variety and the sense that membership will still be useful as travel tastes change.
Relationship With Affiliated Resorts
Royal Holiday usually does not own all of the resorts it offers. It partners with hotel brands and other vacation clubs to make inventory available. One example is Raintree Vacation Club: Royal Holiday members can reserve certain Raintree-affiliated resorts and sometimes book earlier than Raintree’s own owners.
These relationships expand choices but add layers of rules, black-out dates, and fee policies that members must navigate. - Royal Holiday Resort Locations
Royal Holiday’s footprint is strongest in Mexico and the Caribbean, then extends into the United States, Europe, and South America.
In Mexico, members frequently encounter Royal Holiday at all-inclusive properties in Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Los Cabos, Ixtapa, and other beach destinations. Sales presentations often occur on-site, highlighting upgraded rooms and VIP services. Caribbean options include Dominican Republic beach resorts—where some of the most notable complaints and media investigations began—and islands like Aruba.
In the United States and Europe, access is usually through affiliated hotels and exchange partners rather than dedicated Royal Holiday-branded resorts. South American destinations and cruises round out the portfolio, giving the impression of global reach even though availability and value can be uneven. - How Royal Holiday Membership Works
Vacation Club Model
Royal Holiday is a vacation club, not a deeded timeshare. You are purchasing a right-to-use contract that grants access to accommodations subject to availability and the club’s rules. You do not own real estate.
This model lets the company adjust its resort list, rules, and benefits over time, but usually gives members less legal leverage than deeded real estate would.
Credits System
Most memberships are structured around credits. Each year, you receive a fixed number of credits that can be used to book stays. Higher-demand seasons, larger units, and popular resorts require more credits. Some owners report buying 30,000 or 70,000 points with 30-year terms, paying tens of thousands of dollars up front.
Credits may expire after a set period—often two years if unused—though some contracts allow limited carryover or borrowing. Unused credits do not eliminate your obligation to pay annual fees.
Membership Levels
Royal Holiday offers tiers based on credits purchased and upgrade packages. Higher levels may provide more credits, access to additional resorts or room categories, and earlier booking windows.
Upgrades can be expensive. Some members report paying thousands more for additional credits or improved booking priority, only to find the benefits limited.
Reservation System
Members can request reservations through the call center, website, or mobile app. Availability depends on seasonality, booking windows, resort allotments, and restrictions.
Peak weeks at popular resorts—holidays, school breaks, high season—are often the hardest to secure, frustrating owners who were told they’d enjoy easy access to prime weeks.
Exchange Opportunities
Royal Holiday maintains exchange relationships with other vacation clubs and exchange companies. This can allow trading credits for stays at non-Royal Holiday properties or cruises, usually with additional fees and restrictions.
Travel Benefits
Royal Holiday markets ancillary benefits: discounts on car rentals, special cruise programs, occasional airfare promotions, or guest certificates. These perks can add value but can change at any time and should not justify a large upfront purchase. - What Owners Like About Royal Holiday
Variety Of Destinations
Satisfied owners often point to the variety of locations: Mexican beaches one year, a Caribbean island the next, and a city hotel after that.
International Travel Options
Royal Holiday’s emphasis on international resorts—particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean—appeals to owners who want to travel outside the United States or Canada with a familiar brand.
Flexible Vacation Opportunities
Within the credit system, some owners like choosing different unit sizes, lengths of stay, and travel dates. Shoulder seasons can stretch credits further.
Resort Selection
Many Royal Holiday-affiliated properties, especially newer or renovated Park Royal hotels, offer multiple pools, beachfront locations, kids’ clubs, and entertainment teams. For families who use their membership consistently, this can deliver a predictable standard of vacation.
Long Operating History
Royal Holiday’s history since 1983 gives some owners confidence compared with newer operations. - Common Owner Complaints
High-Pressure Sales Presentations
Across reviews and complaint boards, high-pressure tactics are a recurring theme. Travelers describe presentations lasting four to five hours, free alcohol, and strong resistance when prospects want to leave or “think about it.” Some later realize they signed while tired or emotionally swept up.
Difficulty Booking Popular Dates
Many dissatisfied owners say they cannot book the dates and resorts highlighted in the sales pitch. They’re told inventory is sold out, or they must upgrade to access better availability. Some end up paying ongoing fees while taking few or no vacations.
Increasing Membership Costs
Members must pay annual fees that tend to rise. Retired or fixed-income owners often find that what once felt affordable becomes a strain, especially when life changes reduce their ability to travel.
Maintenance And Membership Fees
Complaints include rising amounts, billing errors, and duplicate charges. Fees must be paid even if no trips are planned, and non-payment can trigger collection activity, including potential credit reporting.
Upgrade Pressure
When owners complain, they may be routed into another sales meeting where the “solution” is to purchase more credits or a higher-tier membership for thousands of dollars.
Contract Confusion
Multiple owners say they were promised one thing verbally—a 10-year contract, kids staying free, all-inclusive included—only to discover in the written contract that terms were very different: 30-year duration, extra per-person all-inclusive fees, or missing incentives. The fine print usually states that only written terms control.
Difficulty Exiting Membership
Owners facing divorce, retirement, or serious health problems describe being told they must keep paying fees with no reasonable surrender or hardship option. For many, “vacations for life” feels more like “payments for life.” - Understanding Royal Holiday Costs
Initial Purchase Price
Upfront prices vary widely, from a few thousand dollars for trial packages to tens of thousands for full memberships. Prices are negotiable, so two families at the same resort can pay very different amounts.
Annual Membership Fees
Annual fees are mandatory and must be paid whether or not you travel. They typically increase over time and are often due before the travel year begins. Failure to pay can mean loss of use, penalties, and potential collection efforts.
Club, Exchange, Reservation, And Upgrade Fees
On top of base maintenance, members can be charged club fees for account changes or guest certificates, exchange fees when using partners or cruises, and reservation fees for certain bookings, changes, or cancellations. Upgrade pitches frequently involve thousands—or even tens of thousands—of additional dollars. Prospective upgraders must do careful math on whether additional credits will genuinely improve their ability to travel. - What Many Owners Don’t Know
Royal Holiday Is A Vacation Club, Not Traditional Real Estate
Owning a Royal Holiday membership does not give you an ownership interest in a specific unit or resort. You cannot typically leverage it, rent it out freely like a condo, or rely on real estate appreciation.
Credits Are Not The Same As Property Ownership
Credits are pre-paid access for a limited term. Their value is controlled by the club’s internal charts and policies, which can be adjusted.
Membership Benefits May Change Over Time
Resort lists, partner relationships, exchange rules, and some fees can be modified. Contract documents usually reserve broad rights for the company.
Resale Values Are Often Very Low
There is little to no active resale market. Owners who paid $10,000, $30,000, or more often discover they cannot give their membership away. This is common across the industry.
Some Owners Discover Restrictions After Purchase
Members report learning later about limited booking windows, extra all-inclusive activation fees, expiration of credits, and strict cancellation policies. These details are typically in the fine print but downplayed in the sales pitch. - Wayne’s Industry Perspective
As a former timeshare executive who spent years working in Mexico and the Caribbean, I encourage consumers to focus on what is written in their contracts rather than relying on verbal promises. Understanding the membership structure is critical before making a long-term commitment.
Throughout Mexico, many vacation clubs use similar sales methods: hosted breakfasts, gifts, alcohol, hours-long presentations, and “today only” pricing. The safest counter is to slow the process down, insist on time with the documents, and walk away if that time is denied.
Most importantly, remember that credits are not ownership. You are committing to a stream of future payments in exchange for access that is always “subject to availability.” If a salesperson says something that matters to you—like a 10-year term instead of 30 years, or all-inclusive included—demand that the exact promise be written into the agreement.
Finally, recognize that a 20- or 30-year membership is a serious obligation. Life will change. Before signing, ask if you would still want this contract if you could not travel for several years, or if your children had no interest in inheriting it. - Is Royal Holiday Worth It?
Pros
Royal Holiday’s strengths: a large vacation network, international destinations, a flexible credit-based model, and a long-standing company. For travelers who use their credits every year, plan ahead, and like Mexican resort destinations, the membership can deliver enjoyable vacations at a predictable standard.
Cons
Downsides include ongoing annual fees, upgrade pressure, reservation challenges for prime dates, and very limited resale options. The emotional environment of sales presentations and frequent mismatch between verbal promises and written terms compound the risk. - Royal Holiday Resale Market
What Owners Should Expect
Owners should expect a weak resale market with low demand. Most buyers today prefer rentals or flexible travel sites over taking on long-term maintenance obligations.
Typical Resale Values And Challenges
In practice, many memberships have little to no cash resale value. Listings may sit unsold, even at nominal prices. Challenges include no deeded real estate, rising annual fees, complex rules, and widespread negative online reviews.
Alternatives To Selling
Alternatives include gifting the membership to someone who understands the obligations, using guest certificates to extract value while you still pay fees, or exploring whether the company offers any internal exit, surrender, or downgrade options—though these are often limited. - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Royal Holiday A Timeshare?
Functionally, yes. It is a points-based vacation club that operates much like a timeshare, even though it markets itself as different from traditional deeded products.
How Does The Credits System Work?
You purchase a contract that grants a set number of credits per year. You spend those credits according to charts that assign values to dates, unit sizes, and resorts. Unused credits may expire after a time; some can be rolled over or borrowed.
Can I Sell My Royal Holiday Membership?
You may be able to transfer or sell it, but should not expect to get back much, if any, of your initial purchase price. Transfer fees and company approval may apply.
Are Annual Fees Mandatory?
Yes. Annual fees are required under the contract and must generally be paid to keep the membership in good standing, regardless of whether you travel that year.
Can Royal Holiday Affect My Credit?
If you stop paying, the company may send the account to collections or report delinquency, which can impact your credit profile, depending on your jurisdiction.
What Happens If I Stop Paying?
You risk collection efforts, negative credit reporting, and potential legal action. You also lose access to your membership benefits.
Can Membership Be Inherited?
In many cases, yes, but heirs may have to pay a transfer fee and agree to assume all ongoing obligations. Some heirs decline for that reason.
Is Royal Holiday Worth Buying Resale?
Buying resale can reduce or eliminate the upfront purchase price, but you still assume annual fees and all contract restrictions. Compare this to renting comparable vacations with no long-term commitment. - Royal Holiday Cancellation Options
Understanding Your Membership
Before pursuing exit, obtain and read your full contract and any addenda. Identify the term length, cancellation provisions, transfer rules, and consequences of non-payment.
Available Exit Options
Potential paths may include negotiating directly with Royal Holiday for a surrender or hardship release, or transferring to a willing third party, subject to company approval and fees. In rare cases, consumer protection laws may help soon after purchase.
Transfer Possibilities And Resale Considerations
Transfers usually require buyer acceptance by Royal Holiday, payment of a transfer fee, and updated billing information. Given low values, paying an upfront fee to a company that promises to resell your membership is risky. Use reputable platforms and avoid anyone guaranteeing a quick, high-priced sale.
Professional Assistance
If you are deeply underwater or facing aggressive collection efforts, consulting with a consumer attorney or a reputable timeshare exit professional can be sensible. For more detailed strategies, see the chapter “How To Cancel A Royal Holiday Membership,” which walks through step-by-step options, sample letters, and red flags to avoid. - Owner Reviews And Experiences
Positive Reviews
Happy owners highlight friendly staff, well-kept resorts, and the enjoyment of regular vacations with family. Some feel they’ve gotten their money’s worth by traveling every year and using shoulder seasons.
Negative Reviews
Negative accounts center on feeling misled during sales, difficulty booking, rising fees, and resistance to any kind of exit—even in hardship cases like serious illness.
Common Themes And Lessons
Common threads include pressure to decide on the spot, verbal promises not reflected in contracts, complex rules, and frustration when life changes make ongoing fees unmanageable. Prospective buyers should never buy on the day of the presentation, should verify every important promise in writing, and should compare the total 30-year cost to simply renting comparable vacations. - Final Thoughts
Royal Holiday is neither pure scam nor pure bargain. It has brought joy to some members and severe frustration to others. It may suit disciplined travelers who understand the fine print, can plan well ahead, and are comfortable with long-term obligations. It is risky for those with uncertain health, fluctuating income, or a strong need for flexibility.
Before buying or upgrading, run the long-term math, compare with renting, and imagine how you’ll feel about those payments if you travel less in the future. If you already own and are struggling, remember that you have options—even if they are imperfect—and that doing nothing is usually the most expensive choice over time.
Call To Action
Thinking About Leaving Royal Holiday?
Before spending thousands on attorneys or exit companies, start with a FREE Timeshare Exit Review.
We’ll review your membership, explain your options, and help you determine the most effective path forward.
Reference List
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