Find Your Dream Vacation with Frommer’s and TBS
As summer winds to an end, we’re already dreading the cold-weather blues. We know the best way to get through the winter doldrums is to plan a fun, sunny vacation to look forward to; but where to go? With so many choices out there, it’s sometimes hard to narrow our options. That’s why we’re having so much fun with Frommer’s “Dream Trip Recommender.”
What started as simple curiosity (where can we escape to this year?) has now turned into a bit of an obsession. Looking for a romantic vacation, beachside with plenty of outdoor adventure? How about a family trip to that ranks high on both luxury and fun?
Simply plug your preferences in, rate other factors (cuisine, nightlife, culture and luxury) as most or least important to you; and wait for your customized vacation destination recommendation.
Here are just a few of the fun combinations we came up with (our selections in bold):
- Family vacation on the Beach with lots of Outdoor Activities: Mexico’s Los Cabos; Hawaii’s Big Island; and Cape Cod’s Nantucket.
- Solo Adventure trip, Off the Beaten Path, Great Food & Drink: Rio de Janiero, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Cannes, France.
- Very Luxurious, Relaxation-Oriented, Spa Resort with Great Cuisine: St. Tropez, France; Puerto Rico; St. Marten, Caribbean; and Maui, Hawaii.
- Romantic vacation with Snow Sports, lots of Luxury and Excellent Dining: Vail, Colorado; Aspen, Colorado; Banff National Park, Canada; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Since we’re travel-nerds, we could have played this game for hours (full disclosure… we did); but more relevantly, we were happy to find that many of the recommendations are hotspots for vacation property ownership.
Whether you’re looking for a one-time, weeklong timeshare rental in Maui (suggested for that romantic, adventure, beachside search), or you’re looking to buy a family-friendly timeshare in Orlando (also recommended), you should have no problem securing spacious accommodations.
We can’t urge you enough – give it a try! Once you find your dream destination, contact us. We’ll check our inventory for rentals or timeshare resales in your custom locale, and we’ll help you through the whole rental or purchase process.
Top Destinations of 2012: Summer, Autumn, Winter
We found a great infographic on the “Top Destinations of 2012: Summer, Autumn & Winter.” With the unique destinations, relevant tips and adorable color palate (we’re nerds for that kind of thing), this infographic begs to be referenced again and again.
Some destinations of note:
- Kenya, Greece, Egypt, Kenya or the Bahamas in the Summer
- New York, Shanghai, Marrakesh or Tennessee in the Fall
- The Caribbean, Austria, Dubai or Boracay in the Winter
Be sure to check it out at the link above to see all the cool destinations featured, with brief explanations of why you should visit.
If you’re thinking of exploring any of these 2012 hot-spots, consider renting a timeshare. Renting a vacation property makes it easy to travel and lodge with a large group; and many can be rented for less than the cost of a hotel room for a week, despite their drastic difference in size and accommodations.
Timeshares are generally larger and more luxuriously appointed than hotel rooms of similar cost. The average hotel room is just 300-400 square feet, while the average timeshare is a more spacious 1200-1400.
Often, a hotel offers just a room with a bed and bath. If you’re lucky, there’s a small common area. Vacation ownership rentals on the other hand, are like more condos. They offer private bedrooms, large common areas, a kitchen, laundry facilities, and usually a balcony or patio offering fresh-air and scenic views.
Want to learn more? Please feel free to contact us with any questions. Happy Travels!
Infographic provided by: http://www.capeportfolios.com/
America’s Best Beaches 2012
Every year, Florida International University professor Stephen P. Leatherman (aka. “Dr. Beach“) releases his now famous list of America’s Best Beaches. Dr. Beach bases his decision on a number of factors, including: the look and feel of the sand, water quality and temperature, weather, facilities and crowds. So, which beach took the title of 2012’s Best Beach?
San Diego’s Coronado Beach has been named the nation’s top beach. Blessed by 1.5 miles of sparkling sand (made possible by Mother Nature’s hearty helping of glittery mineral mica), Coronado Beach is located on a peninsula across the bay from San Diego and boasts sunny Mediterranean weather and a “postcard backdrop.” Leatherman notes that Coronado Beach is great for skim boarding and walking, in addition to popular activities including: swimming, surfing sunbathing and beachcombing. The wide, flat beach is lined by majestic mansions and the famous Hotel del Coronado.
Interested in checking out the nation’s Best Beach for yourself? Consider a timeshare or a timeshare rental in a San Diego. We love the breathtaking Four Seasons Aviara Private Residence Club, located amid the coastal hills of Carlsbad less than an hour’s drive from Coronado Beach.
Now we know you’re still wondering – what other beaches made the cut? Is your favorite beach listed? Check out the rest of Dr. Beach’s assessment, below:
2. Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii
3. Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.
4. St. George Island State Park, Florida Panhandle
6. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.
7. Waimanalo Bay Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii
8. Cape Florida State Park near Miami
9. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.
10. Cape Hatteras in North Carolina
We’ve got timeshares for sale and rent near a number of the gorgeous locations listed above. Want to get your beach on? Give us a call – we’ll help you find a timeshare near one of the nation’s best beaches for a fraction of the retail cost.
Got a timeshare to sell? Location on or near any of these breathtaking beaches is a major selling point. So don’t wait, contact our licensed timeshare brokers today to buy or sell timeshare on one of the nation’s best beaches!
Club Interval Gold
We’ve gotten a few requests for more information about Interval International’s newest product, Club Interval Gold.
Club Interval Gold is a points-based exchange service for owners of fixed or floating-week timeshares. The progressive program combines all the membership benefits of Interval International and Interval Gold®, offering their most flexible vacation exchange experience yet.
So what exactly is Club Interval Gold, and how does it work? Interval’s chief operating officer Jeanette Marbert explains:
“Since 1994, Interval has offered members with points-based interests the ability to trade points for traditional weeks. More recently, Gold members have also been able to take advantage of ShortStay Exchange for as many vacations as their points allow,” said Marbert. “Now, Club Interval Gold offers week-owners the flexibility to convert theivr vacation time into points. They can use points to access resorts in our worldwide network, or redeem them to travel as they choose, from a weekend golf getaway to a weeklong family cruise.”
So there you have it, straight from the source. Club Interval Gold members can utilize their points to enhance their vacation exchange experiences in the following ways:
- Exchange throughout Interval’s worldwide network of approximately 2,600 resorts.
- Choose ShortStay ExchangeSM to take as many quick trips (from two to six nights each) as points allow.
- Select Interval Options® to apply points toward the purchase of a cruise, spa, or golf vacation.
- Combine deposits to increase the points balance and trade up to larger units and/or higher-season vacations.
Additional Club Interval Gold ownership benefits may include:
- Interval Travel® for rates often unavailable to the general public on cruises, hotel stays, rental cars and airline tickets.
- Attraction & Dining Discounts – Access to more than 75,000 premium discounts from Entertainment® at IntervalWorld.com.
- Getaway Discounts – $25 off the prices of all Getaway vacation rentals.
- VIP ConciergeSM – 24/7 personal concierge service.
- Hertz #1 Club Gold® – Complimentary membership that provides expedited car rentals at more than 1,000 locations in 23 countries.
“Club Interval Gold represents the ultimate in transaction flexibility and is a valuable sales tool that makes the vacation ownership product even more desirable to new purchasers and existing owners,” said David Gilbert, Interval’s executive vice president of resort sales and marketing.
SOURCES:
Top 7 Vacation Ownership Brands
People who buy vacation ownership properties on the resale market generally don’t mind spending the time to conduct some thorough research. Unlike impulse timeshare purchasers, resale buyers know they can save up to 60% off developer prices by taking the time to shop around.
Location is usually the deciding factor in a timeshare purchase. Destinations like Florida, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Mexico and Hilton Head are among the most popular timeshare destinations.
Beyond that, resale buyers are looking for reputable vacation ownership brands with long-standing traditions of hospitality excellence. The best of both worlds in vacation ownership combines beloved destinations with high-quality resorts.
Follow the links for more information on each of the timeshare vacation clubs listed below. The following vacation ownership brands are the most highly desirable timeshares on the market:
- Hilton Grand Vacations Club
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Disney Vacation Club
- Wyndham Vacation Club
- Four Seasons Private Residence Club
- Hyatt Vacation Club
- Starwood Vacation Ownership – Starwood also manages Sheraton and Westin timeshares, and Harborside at Atlantis Resort.
If you have any questions about vacation ownership with any of these exclusive brands, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
Now is the Perfect Time to Rent Aruba Timeshare
Let’s be honest, there’s never a bad time for a trip to Aruba. Still, right about now is a particularly great time to rent an Aruba timeshare.
While Aruba boasts beautiful weather year round, the island’s “high-season” runs from mid-December to mid-April. During these months (which coincide with the U.S. and Canadian winters) Aruba hotels and resorts charge their highest prices, and, being at their highest demand, Aruba timeshare rentals may be difficult to book.
As April approaches, however, vacationers from chilly locales see sunlight at the end of the tunnel; meaning fewer flock to Aruba’s sandy white shores for a breath of sea, sand and surf. For you, lone holdout, that means great deals on Aruba timeshare rentals! Because Aruba accommodations don’t have as high a demand in April, rental prices often drop dramatically.
Of course, there’s plenty of sun-bathing to be done in Aruba – but this beautiful Caribbean island has so much more than sunny days to offer. Aruba’s lush tropical landscape is rich in natural wonders. From the Ayo rock formations and Indian caves to the Arikok National park; there’s something to enchant everyone.
Tip: An Aruba timeshare rental in April is a great, super inexpensive way for a large group of friends to escape for a week; without paying for separate hotel rooms. We love: Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club and Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club.
Check Out Our Top Ten Timeshares!
Have you seen our Top Ten Timeshares of 2012 yet? We compiled a short list of our favorite timeshares for this upcoming year. Based on luxury, owner-satisfaction and location, we’re predicting great things for these properties.
Thinking about buying timeshare? Our top ten timeshares list is a great place to start! If you’re a timeshare owner who’s looking to sell, check your property against our list. If you own one of our top ten timeshares, chances are your property has great value on the timeshare resale market.
What do you think about our list? What properties would you like to see included in our list?
