Timeshare Girls Timeshare Advice

Be careful of Timeshare Relief or Rescue companies!

2010-12-02T09:08:00.000-08:00

Timeshare Owners... everyone has been warning you about timeshare resale scams but I want to take a minute to warn you about timeshare relief companies. On the outside, they all seem to offer a needed service... and in a very very few rare instances, they legitimately do but lets look at the whole picture even under the good situations!

First of all, they typically are preying on owners who have been trying to sell their timeshares unsuccessfully (typically, the lack of success has simply been due to either asking price, or chosen resale outlet!)They "pitch" to the timeshare owner that the timeshare is a liability, not an assett and they somehow convince an owner to pay a transfer fee (typically around $1,500.00) and then have the owner pay several years worth of maintenance fees (typically three to five) up front! And they say they are doing YOU a favor.

Let's ask ourselves a question.. if it is such a liability then why are they willing to take it off of my hands?

Another question... Why would I pay several years of maintenance fees plus the transfer fee, wind up with no vacations the next few years or no deed to a vacation and let them try to sell or rent it out and get money on top of what I gave them instead of me just paying my maintenance fees on schedule, use the timeshare while trying to sell it and not have to pay the upfront transfer fee? It makes no logically sense whatsoever!

Another question... If it is costing me too much to own it, does it really cost me less to wind up paying out the same costs of five years worth of usage all at once on top of the transfer fee?

If I bought my timeshare by a presentation that was geared emotionally rather then logically, why do I feel immune to being sold an idea like this emotionally rather then logically? Because when looking at it logically, it makes no sense whatsoever!

To be honest with you.. many transfer relief companies work like this.. They buy a list of names from a resale company of clients who paid to advertise their property but have not sold it. The resale company is happy to sell this list to the relief company because if they get you off of the back of the resale company, it is only to the benefit of the resale company. Now the transfer company either owns, or works through a negotiated deal with a transfer company. This transfer company makes no money if there are no timeshares being moved on the market. The relief company gives a PORTION of the transfer costs to the transfer company to redeed the property to a new name.. they just pocket the rest of what you pay them in the name of maintenance fees. All of those years worth of maintenance fees that you paid, will never ever make it to the HOA at all. Instead, the transfer company will place your deed into the name of an offshore company that is set up and designed to do nothing but go bankrupt. Now you just spent thousands of dollars on an emotional rollercoaster, again, the transfer company got paid to do their job and the relief company pocketed the HOA's maintenance fees for the next few years while using your property to raise their debt level enough to file bankruptcy.

The solution? There are no simple solutions but there are alternatives that are not so scammy and ill fated which do nothing but make scammers rich. Let's start with a solid, legal, good, reliable resource of information.. visit www.vacationbetter.org for information. Visit www.arda.org for even more information. Email me with questions or suggestions and I will be happy to give you my opinions. fredastemick@yahoo.com

Essential Vacations Affiliation Suspended By Vacancy Rewards

2010-11-28T08:53:00.000-08:00

Vacancy Rewards, Miami based Global Leader in Timeshare Loyalty Program discontinues affiliation with Essential Vacations claiming unethical sales practices, that fail to conform with the standards of Vacancy Rewards. Members who joined in the past 2 months required to contact Vacancy Rewards immediately to double check their membership status.

Vacancy Rewards, revealed earlier last month of its intentions to completely withdraw from its joint operations with Essential Vacations. Essential Vacations had previously enjoyedlots of benefits in the past for the cooperation it received due the reputation of Vacancy Rewards. Bert Hurstfield, CEO of Essential Vacations once exclaimed that "Our Users can holiday in luxury condominiums with all the bells and whistles for the cost that one would spend to holiday in a Motel". However it has been reported that Bert Hurstfield and his associate Vianey Archer have been unwilling to respond to the concerned partners for quite a while now. It can be said that with lack of future associations with reputable, honest, ethical and reliable companies such as Vacancy Rewards, the fate of small travel related businesses like Essential Vacations may always be at risk.

Jose Chavez and Mauro Rodriguez, the front runners of Vacancy Rewards on the other hand are known to put in their sweat and blood to make VR a streaming success. Where many hotels, resorts and even travel planners charge extreme prices, Vacancy Rewards facilitates members and vacationers by providing timeshare weeks and use their points as electronic dollars in most partner hotels and resort. Whether in North America or any other region of the world, Vacancy Rewards remains to be rated number one in the travel related industry.

Fortunately for the members who signed contracts as per the previous affiliation, Vacancy Rewards promises consistent benefits and amenities for all members and potential vacationers around the globe. Vacancy Rewards honors all previous benefits that members were entitled to. All members who recently signed up either along Essential Vacations of Vacancy Rewards are required to get in touch with the Vacancy Rewards customer service and check the position of their membership or get notified of any crucial policy changes.

Vacancy Rewards members who have already received their login and password details are advised to sign in at the Vacancy Rewards website to view their status. While members still waiting for their login details are advised to use the 'Contact Us' form available at the bottom of the Vacancy Rewards website, email us at our customer service department or call the Web Support and VIP Program Reservations Dept. using the toll free number.

What has ARDA done for me lately?

2010-11-25T12:16:00.001-08:00

well.. take a look at a recent article I had published and as I always say "Educate yourself!".

More of the story here..

South Carolina timeshare owners

2010-09-26T10:54:00.001-07:00

To all of the timeshare owners in South Carolina...

have you heard about the latest task that ARDA-ROC and ARDA-Pac (www.arda.org) are working on for you? Apparently there are hoteliers in Myrtle Beach who are trying to push legislation through to put an added tax on timeshare owners through their maintenance fees.

I have heard complaints, especially on TUG ( www.tug2.net ) that owners are complaining about paying a few dollars a year to ARDA. That money is what gives ARDA the funds to try to fight things like mentioned above. That maintenance fee tax would not affect the developer, nor ARDa, but you the consumer/owner instead. While TUG members and timeshare owners are busy complaining about the $3 or $5 dollars that they pay annually to this group, this group is in the legislative halls and hiring attorneys to help YOU!

There is nothing more disgusting then uneducated conspiracy theorists who just want anything to gripe about.. how stupid it is to gripe about the help of someone trying to protect you!

I will have more detailed updates about what is going on through the upcoming weeks on this topic. All timeshare owners in South Carolina have a responsibility to support ARDA and to make their support known. As for the rest of the country, if this proposed tax goes through, it could set a precedence in the industry throughout the country to other states. This ultimately could effect every timeshare owner out there.

Timeshare Evolution

2010-09-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

The following article on the evolution of timeshare or timesharing, was written by a friend of mine, Monica Stephens. Monica is a licensed sales agent, and owner of a brokerage where she focuses her years of timeshare experience in helping timeshare owners sell their timeshares on the resale market.. She works on a commission basis. To reach her, contact information is..

Monica Stephens
Phone: (540) 476-1350
Fax: (866) 855-8615
Email: Monica@VacationTimeshareResidential.Com

Timeshare Evolution

Timesharing first began in Europe in the 1960’s when people simply wanted a way to reduce hotel rental costs by purchasing their share in a hotel instead of renting. The costs of operating the timeshare are shared by each of the resort owners, creating vacation affordability for nearly everyone. These shared costs, are called maintenance fees. Depending upon the resort, maintenance fees are paid monthly, quarterly, or annually. Typically, maintenance fees are well below what the average consumer would pay for a comparable rental, thus saving the timeshare owner money in the long run.
In the early days of timeshare, owners owned a fixed week in a fixed unit at their resort, and this is where owners vacationed year after year. If the owners wished to vacation somewhere differently, and they weren’t able to rent out or gift their unit, or find another timeshare owner to swap with, they lost their week. Realizing timeshare owners needed more flexibility and variety; Resort Condominiums International (RCI) opened their doors in 1974 as the first company to offer timeshare exchanges. Interval International (II) followed suit soon thereafter. For a small fee, timeshare owners could join one of these companies in order to exchange their timeshare week for someone else’s week. In the beginning, there weren’t many resorts to choose from. As the timeshare industry grew, so did the exchange companies. While RCI and II are still the predominant exchange companies, numerous other exchange companies have emerged. Today there are over 6,500 resorts affiliated with RCI in over 100 different countries, and over 2,500 resorts affiliated with II in over 75 countries. Nowadays the exchange companies not only help their members exchange their week, but can also provide assistance with scheduling airfare, car rentals, and even suggest the area’s finest restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.
For those whose schedule won’t allow them the luxury of vacationing for an entire week at a time, point type ownerships are on the rise. Resort based point ownerships allow owners to book the unit size they need for the night, the week, or the month, depending on how many points they have at their disposal. And best of all, they can use their points at multiple affiliated resorts, all without having to pay exchange fees. Most resorts that offer point type ownerships are affiliated with a large resort group offering an almost endless array of destinations. Even if owners are lucky enough to visit all of the areas within the resort group, most owners can still venture to other areas by converting their points to a week, then depositing their week with an exchange company.
Because point type ownerships became so popular, even RCI has gotten in on the action. In 2000, RCI launched the world’s first global points-based exchange system. RCI aligned itself with various timeshare resorts worldwide to offer owners more flexibility and options for vacation travel. Like the resort based point ownerships, RCI point members can choose from various accommodation types, the unit size they need, and how many nights they wish to travel. These owners can choose to visit any of RCI’s affiliated resorts. However, RCI points are not limited to accommodations at timeshare resorts. The points may also be used for rental cars, cruises, hotels, golf lessons, and more. Owners can also borrow points from the following year if needed, or save their unused points for next year’s vacation.
The forms of interval ownership have also evolved over the years. When timesharing first began, there was only one type of ownership available, referred to as a lease hold or right-to-use property. People owned their timeshare for a designated period of time, typically for 20-40 years. While this practice is still in use, most timeshares in the US are deeded properties. A deeded timeshare property is considered real estate, you essentially own it forever. However, regardless of which type of ownership is owned, all owners have the ability to use their time, rent it, give it away, exchange it, and will it to their children.
In addition to fixed week ownership, many resorts now offer floating weeks. In this scenario, the owners do not own a particular week or unit; they own a season and unit size. They simply decide when they want to vacation during their designated season. This works out very well for owners at a four season resort as they can go skiing in the winter, site seeing in the fall when the leaves change, swimming and boating in the summer, and golfing in the spring. When owners tire of vacationing at the same resort, they can join an exchange company to broaden their vacation horizons.
Over the last 50 years, the timeshare industry has evolved in order to fit everyone’s needs. No longer do you have to vacation at the same resort year after year, or the same country for that matter. With so many options available to timeshare owners there’s no wonder why a large number of owners never go back to their home resort. It will be intriguing to see what may come of this industry in the next 50 years.

Travel Abroad at a Young Age Enhances Education, Career Growth and Success

2010-09-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

Boston, MA (PRWEB) September 16, 2010

Traveling overseas at a young age supports school performance, leads to successful careers and increases the likelihood of continued travel throughout one’s life, according to a survey in support of the launch of Educational Travel Week. The survey, The Impact of Early Travel Experiences, jointly endorsed by the Student Youth & Travel Association (SYTA) and Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people through educational travel, reveals the positive impact that early travel experiences have on personal and professional accomplishments and travel trends during adulthood.

Live Chat: Thursday, September 16
Trend expert Daniel Levine, director of The Avant-Guide Institute, will lead a live chat on Thursday, September 16 at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern) to discuss survey results and trends. The chat will take place at http://www.educationaltravelweek.com; participants will then click the “Live Chat” tab to join. A highly-acclaimed speaker on the subject of travel, Levine has addressed the World Travel Market, Tourism Futures and The New York Times Travel Conference, and will be the opening keynote speaker at the 2010 World Youth & Student Travel Conference conference in Beijing. Levine began his career serving the student and youth travel market, researching and writing the legendary guidebook Europe on $50-a-Day and nine other best-selling travel books, including Frommer's guides to California, Florida, London and Italy.

Educational Travel Week celebrates the transformational experience marked by exploring new destinations, cultures and ideas. The goal of the Impact of Early Travel Experiences survey was to gain a better understanding of the learning inherent in travel and the resulting life enhancement as a result. Educational travel is a sector of tourism increasingly recognized as an important way to connect teachers and students to new cultures, languages and people globally.

“By increasing awareness of the educational and cultural benefits of student and youth travel, we can further explore the long-term effects of experiential travel and support the important efforts of reputable youth travel service providers,” said SYTA President Patrick Connor.

The survey revealed three primary themes:

•Those who travel abroad before the age of 18 achieve academic and professional success.

•The majority of individuals that participated in youth travel directly credit their travel experiences as positively impacting their education and career.

•Youth travel increases the frequency of travel as an adult, as well as an increase in the number of destinations explored.

Higher Education and Careers
The survey revealed that more than 88 percent of respondents that traveled before the age of 18 received a college degree, with more than a quarter of respondents going on to receive an advanced degree. Respondents also were high performers in school, achieving impressive college grade point averages (GPAs). More than 81 percent of respondents achieved a college GPA greater of 3.0 or higher, with more than 40 percent completing college with a GPA greater than 3.6.

These achievements are not limited to educational excellence. Half of the survey respondents who traveled before the age of 18 reported a household income of more than $75K, and almost a third boasted a household income of more than $100K.

Thank You Youth Travel
Survey respondents were asked to share the lasting impact of their travel abroad experiences. Local culture immersion provided the most lasting impact according to respondents, and almost three-quarters of these respondents credit their travel experiences with positively impacting their education and career. In fact, more than 90 percent of respondents report a willingness to participate in an educational travel experience again as an adult.

While it is not surprising that more than 50 percent of respondents portray their youth travel experiences as “fun,” it is notable that 40 percent of respondents report their youth travel is best described as “engaging.”

Travel Often and Travel Far
The survey also revealed that youth travel heavily impacts travel behavior in adulthood. Survey respondents that traveled outside North America before the age of 18 continue this trend as adults. In fact, more than 43 percent of youth travelers have visited at least ten countries outside of North America, with almost 90 percent traveling to non-English speaking destinations. Travel is considered so important to these respondents, that more than 70 percent report spending at least $2,000 each year on travel, with one out of four respondents spending more than $5,000 annually.

“At Explorica, we believe that educational experiences can be found wherever and whenever you travel,” said Olle Olsson, Explorica's Founder and President. “Travel is about the learning inherent in the experience. We build our educational travel programs so teachers can apply classroom learning to real-world experiences. Educational Travel Week is a way for all those involved in travel as a teaching tool – educators, students and parents – to celebrate the richness of all travel experiences.”

Educational Travel Week
Release of the survey marks the celebration of Explorica’s Educational Travel Week. Other Educational Travel Week activities include video and photo contests that offer a chance to win two free tickets to Europe or the opportunity to win a $500 restaurants.com gift card, culturally-specific Facebook quizzes on favorite travel destinations and more.

Conducted in August/September 2010, the survey polled North American travelers over the age of 21 who had taken a trip abroad – whether through a school-sponsored tour, a family trip or other independent travel – before the age of 18.

About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, visit Explorica Educational Travel's Website, join Explorica on Facebook or follow Explorica on Twitter.

Media contact:
Scott MacKenzie
The Castle Group
617-337-9514
smackenzie(at)thecastlegrp(dot)com

The Timeshare Crusader

2010-09-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

I have come to know an expert in the field of giving expert advice to consumers of timeshares. I would encourage you to check out her blog as well. To see her blog visit http://www.timeshareinsights.com/blog.php

Her latest blog sets some very good questions out to the industry and consumers. Here is a copy of her blog yesterday for you to review.. then if you realize you want to visit her blog, be sure to tell her where you found her at..

By Lisa Ann Schreier at www.timeshareinsights.com

Some things that have been running through my brain after spending some time at THETRADESHOW the past few days:

1) Why don't timeshares have a "loyalty program" whereby at some point, say after two visits to the same resort in a year they don't try to snag you for a timeshare presentation?

2) With all the timeshares that are facing financial difficulty and even filing bankruptcy, the public is more worried than ever before. These companies need to hire someone who can speak to the owners without sounding like a salesperson. Just saying.

3) I wonder if this ever happens to a hotel property---I attempted to send a Press Release to a Chicago area publication yesterday. It kept bouncing back. After speaking personally with the editor, I sent it from my personal e-mail address and it went through with no problem. The issue was NOT the Press Release, which was not spam, it was my e-mail address. The publication had a "spam filter" for anything coming with the word "timeshare" in the address. Says a lot, doesn't it?

4) The Midwest Chapter of the National Timeshare Owners Association had to cancel their planned meeting for this Sunday due to low attendance. Only eight (8) people had signed up! What is going on here? Even if every single timeshare owner was ridiculously pleased with their timeshare, don't you think that they would want to show up for a meeting where they could learn something? I mean, I am really happy with my new iPhone 4, but that doesn't stop me from showing up to a meeting where I can learn more. Timeshare owners, please weigh in on this one.
Posted by Lisa Ann Schreier, The Timeshare Crusader at 10:25 AM

Island One Resorts files Chpt. 11 Bankruptcy

2010-09-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

Any owners out there who own at Island One? They just filed bankruptcy two days ago in Orlando. To settle nerves from the start, do not be too terribly alarmed. you own a deed and the HOA will have to continue to support the owners. It is the company that went broke, which typically refers to the developer, the sales and marketing teams, etc.
Educate yourself!

Does the Berkley Group (or others) take timeshare back?

2010-09-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

I am beginning this post with this title because it seems to be a search engine result which brings visitors to my site!

There are many developers who will take timeshares back through alternative means.. but for a timeshare owner individually to get a group to take back a timeshare, is practically impossible. For those of you asking these questions, you should be looking at a Trade in program available through various resale companies, and charitable groups. Developers do not like to accept one single deed back, but will consider the option when a company has pooled a lot of their inventory together.

I would suggest checking with groups like SellMyTimesharenow.com, Timeshare Relief, Last Resort Resales (who has charities they donate to), Holiday Equity, or other various groups you can find via research on the web. Many resale companies have contacts at companies who take in timeshares, even if they don't so a little sweet talking to an ad rep might get you where you want to be. Aside from that, your best bet is to go on and advertise and market your timeshare for sale or rent.

Hope this helps.. and if you find a company but arent sure if they are legitimate or not, as always, shoot me a note and I will find out for you if I dont already have the answer.

Tri-State Residents Enjoy Direct Flights and Discounted Rooms at Costa Rica Marriott Hotels and Resorts

2010-09-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

(PRWEB) September 13, 2010

Marriott Hotels and Resorts of Costa Rica is now offering residents of the Tri-State area an additional incentive to visit the island. From now until December 31, 2010, residents living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut enjoy savings of up to 40% off room rates at any one of Marriott’s four Costa Rica hotels. This special offer coincides with the recent launch of direct air service to San Jose, Costa Rica, from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The “Tri-State Resident Rate” starts at just $101/night – a saving of up to $80 per night.

The American Airlines direct flight service from New York’s JFK Airport is offered five times per week, making a Costa Rica vacation more convenient than ever before.

Participating properties include:

Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose
Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort
Residence Inn by Marriott San Jose Escazu
Courtyard by Marriott San Jose Escazu

A Marriott Hotel in Costa Rica is the epitome of luxury and should be experienced by everyone. Tri-State residents should take advantage of such an attractive offer before it expires, and the new direct flight option makes Costa Rica travel a breeze.

Proof of residency is required upon check-in. Minimum two-night stay is required. To book this offer, please call 1-888-236-2427 or visit www.marriott.com/costarica and request promo code N9R. Black out dates and other restrictions may apply.

About the Marriott Hotels and Resorts of Costa Rica

Marriott Hotels and Resorts of Costa Rica offer the ultimate experience in a unique destination where ecology, nature and traditions flourish. Whether playing golf at the 18-hole championship eco-golf course at the ocean resort, enjoying the urban setting of the centrally located Courtyard or taking pleasure in the breathtaking views of a spectacular coffee plantation from a colonial hacienda, these properties provide the best of Costa Rica. Offering something for everyone, Marriott Hotels and Resorts of Costa Rica combine beauty, culture, exceptional architecture and an unsurpassed level of service to deliver an authentic Costa Rican adventure. For more information please visit www.marriott.com/costarica

Myrtle Beach Snowbird Rentals on Sale by Myrtle Grand Vacations

2010-09-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

Myrtle Beach, SC (PRWEB) September 13, 2010

Myrtle Grand Vacations, LLC, a premier vacation rental management firm specializing in North Myrtle Beach vacation rentals in the Grand Strand area, offers the best deals on long-term rentals. With cooler weather settling upon our friends in the North, it's time to consider the most suitable property for your extended stay in Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Grand Vacations offers a variety of vacation rental homes, condos, townhouses and villas, perfect for migrating snowbirds. Their Myrtle Beach snowbird rentals are unmatched to other offers you'll find in the surrounding area. Book your rental today, and they'll beat any reasonable rate.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is the perfect place for a winter getaway. A temperate climate-far away from snow emergencies and icy roads-makes this area one of the most popular places to migrate during the colder part of the year. Sandy beaches and exceptional golf courses will make your stay even more memorable. Myrtle Grand Vacations offers affordable accommodations for any-sized family. Their 1 Bedroom Snowbird Specials start at just $500 per month; 2 Bedroom rates begin at $700 per month; and 3 Bedroom specials are only $900 per month. These prices all include linens. Myrtle Grand Vacations' Snowbird Specials run from October 1 through May 1, so you'll miss all the harshness of winter, and the worst fall might have to offer as well.

The customer always comes first, and with Myrtle Grand Vacations, your preferences matter. Location is a top priority for most vacationers, and Myrtle Grand Vacations offers oceanfront, second row, channel and waterway rentals to all their customers. All of their Myrtle Beach vacation rentals are distinct, so make sure you visit Myrtle Grand Vacations online at www.myrtlegrandvacations.com to see what suits your needs.

Renters expect the best in service and property maintenance, and that's exactly what you get when you rent from Myrtle Grand Vacations. Privately owned and operated by a diligent, hardworking staff, Myrtle Grand Vacations treats their Myrtle Beach rentals with care and respect. All units are professionally cleaned after each guest leaves to exceed your expectations. With more than 15 years experience in the North Myrtle Beach vacation rental industry, Myrtle Grand Vacations understands the ins and outs of property management. Taking both the homeowners and renters needs and concerns into consideration, Myrtle Grand Vacations is a vacation rental management firm practicing true Southern hospitality etiquette.

Don't waste any more time thinking about the perils of winter. Find your dream vacation home in Myrtle Beach today with Myrtle Grand Vacations. For more information, visit www.myrtlegrandvacations.com or call 877-280-8566.

Timeshare information on the net not helpful

2010-08-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

I soak through countless google alerts throughout my day. I have found repeatedly that the majority of blogs on timeshare resales are either by a timeshare resale company, or they are posts that someone put empty repeat information on just to try to get their SEO up. Very frustrating!

Pueblo Bonito Resorts in Los Cabos

2010-08-19T07:18:00.001-07:00

okay.. so this isn't really a blog about timeshare advice but! Below is a press release put out by one of my faveorite all time resort groups. The Pueblo Bonito Resorts in Mexico. They are extraordinary!! So, if you just want to rent a vacation this fall, here is a discount offer that you would enjoy!

Los Cabos, Mexico (Vocus) August 18, 2010

Viva Mexico! To celebrate Mexico’s Bicentennial of Independence (September 15-16) and the Centennial of the Revolution (November 20), Pueblo Bonito’s four Oceanfront Resorts and Spas in Los Cabos have created a special package, “Pueblo Bonito Doubles the Bicentennial,” offering guests who make reservations by October 15 a $400 coupon credit for specific items including food and beverage, cooking classes with top chefs, and spa and fitness services. Travel can take place through December 23, 2011.

“This special $400 discount package makes a trip to our Los Cabos resorts even more affordable,” says Enrique Gandara, corporate director of sales and marketing for Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas. “And, of course, our luxurious accommodations, superb amenities and personalized service will make this a most memorable vacation.”

Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas has been the recipient of many prestigious awards. Most recently, two of Pueblo Bonito’s resorts—Pacifica and Sunset Beach—were voted among the Top 20 resorts in Mexico by the readers of Travel + Leisure Magazine, with Pueblo Bonito Pacifica’s debut at number six in the rankings. Other prestigious awards include Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best List for Best Hotel Food in the Americas, Best Hotel Design in the Americas and Best Hotel Spa in Mexico, Central and South America; consistently named in Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards and on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List for the past two consecutive years.

The reservations staff at Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas can provide complete details about this package. Some restrictions apply. To make a reservation at one of the Pueblo Bonito Resorts and Spas, visit www.pueblobonito.com/specials or call 1-800-990-8250.

About Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas:
Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas offer uncommon amenities, unsurpassed service, and the warmth of a luxurious Mexican home. The collection includes four properties in Los Cabos — Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa, Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort & Spa, Pueblo Bonito Rosé Resort & Spa, and Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos; and two in Mazatlán — AAA Four-Diamond Award winning Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay Resort & Spa and Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán. For more information, visit www.pueblobonito.com or call 1-800-990-8250

Why Timeshare Owners Need Choices

2010-08-14T12:17:00.001-07:00

Todays blog post on the Timeshare Authority (www.thetimeshareauthority.com) by Jason Tremblay, CEO of SellMyTimeshareNOW.com, is a must read for any timeshare buyer or seller in the resale market.

"Educate yourself" here .... http://www.thetimeshareauthority.com/2010/08/14/why-timeshare-owners-need-choices/

Donation or Relief should not cost you anything!

2010-08-14T10:21:00.001-07:00

I was bouncing around the internet today and found an article on another blog site that I want to share with you. There are so many scam companies out there professing to offer the timeshare owner "relief".. be cautious.. you might be better off giving away your money to an "upfront ad resale company" instead.

Check this article out.. http://www.timeshareheadlines.info/?p=1850

"These timeshare relief companies often have partnerships with escrow companies that will allegedly hold the clients upfront fees until the transfer is completed. These companies normally have bank accounts in Mexico and the clients are asked to wire the money for the taxes, appraisal, or title change to the Mexican bank account. Escrow accounts do not exist in Mexico like they do in the US for property transfers. "

Timeshare isnt bad, just misunderstood!

2010-08-13T15:12:00.000-07:00

I want your family to vacation in style, luxury and in a cost effective manner. I have three children and while they were growing up, my husband and I quickly learned the problems that come along with trying to vacation with a full family on a budget and in convenient clean accomodations.

There is so much negative information out there that it is hard for the average consumer to find any real relevant information that would keep their experiences positive. Thats what this site is about so please, pull up a chair and consider these things..

Vacation ownership is one of the most highly regulated vacation products. Individual state timeshare laws govern the purchase process so educate yourself.

The only people who should purchase a timeshare are families or individuals who want to vacation in luxury, with a sound plan for the future and who can afford it. If you vacation already, then this can be a cost effective way to keep your vacation style up and not suffer future inflation rates.

Look at your current vacation expenses. Consider if you are willing to spend more or less depending on the vacations that you want to take, plan to take, or wish you could take. Weigh out the cost of the timeshare, the benefits of it and the negatives of it, along with the cost, benefits and negatives of renting hotel rooms or other accomodations.

Go see for yourself what the buzz is all about. Dont be afraid to take a sales tour at a resort, and dont be afraid to check out the alternatives! If you are not ready to purchase, you can simply state that to the sales rep. If you stay smart and strong, then you have nothing to fear. The negative talk on the internet about people who were "duped" or "scammed" in to buying a timeshare, simply were people who believed everything they were being told and let their gaurd down. See what they show you in writing and what they show you with your eyes. Fill in the words yourself, dont fall for everything.. just go for the education. Talk to friends who already own. If they have bad things to say, find out why and then think about what they have said.. does it sound like they are just angry because they "bought a lie" or because they truly were "duped".. but pull out the positive as well and understand what the good parts are.

Read all documents carefully and understand what you are being offered. If you do not understand what you are reading and being asked to sign, stop and think. Pull out your cell phone and get on the internet and look up the terms of some of the words that are in front of you that you do not understand. Educate yourself.

According to VacationBetter.org, you should "Look for signs of good property management, such as well-maintained facilities and resort amenities, good housekeeping,and friendly service. Take a look at the resort’s annual budget, which is usually available through the property’s HomeOwners Association (HOA)." good point!

Learn about and understand the exchange companies and the process for exchanging. The odds are unlikely that you will want to vacation at the same resort year after year.. verify what your options will be and the costs associated for vacations that you transfer to another resort.

Educate yourself. Educate yourself. Educate yourself.. there are many websites available with solid positive information. Soak through some of my previous posts here and research the companies and sites that I have mentioned.

Last case, email me your questions. I do not charge for free timeshare advice. And I am not being paid by anyone else for it. I just want to make sure that before you make a bad decision and bring more negative to a very solid good product, you are educated and make a decision that is right for you and your family no matter what that decision is.

Tired of Eating Pizza on a Hotel Bed? Rent a Timeshare for a Better Vacation

2010-08-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

Straight from ARDA's consumer website, www.VacationBetter.org comes yet another consumer friendly report. I suggest that all timeshare owners, or potential owners, visit VacationBetter.org for deep insight, consumer advisory's and more! Educate yourself!

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2010 – As we enter the summer vacation season, families are looking for travel savings ideas everywhere and are prepared to jam their families into small hotel rooms if the deal is right. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has a solution for the budget-conscious, weary traveler: rent a timeshare villa for your next vacation.

“Many vacationers don’t yet realize that they can rent a week or two at a fabulous resort and stay in spacious accommodations with one or more bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room – all the comforts of home,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. “While it may be the destination that gets them there, it’s the guarantee of high-quality accommodations that keeps them returning year after year.”

According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers research on the state of the timeshare industry in 2009, nearly half of timeshare purchasers rented first. Among six million-plus timeshare owners, timeshares continue to enjoy an 85 percent satisfaction rate. “Timeshare owners place value on having the space to truly rejuvenate – a benefit that comes with a timeshare vacation,” said Nusbaum. And, because of the pre-paid nature of the product, timeshare owners continue to travel despite historic lows in traditional hotel occupancy. For 2009, the timeshare industry reported an occupancy rating of nearly 80 percent.

“We have created a rental engine for consumers to take advantage of the convenience of vacationing ‘timeshare-style.’ The opportunity for consumers to spread-out with all the conveniences of home as well as enjoy a host of on-site activities and amenities has been very positive,” said Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts, home to Holiday Inn Club Vacations. “We have seen an increase in our rental activity and our guest surveys reflect high product satisfaction ratings. In addition, we have opened our channels to mini-vacation packages and specials and are beginning to use social media as a way to market directly to consumers,” Harrill continued.

There are many ways for vacationers to ensure the right timeshare rental to meet their travel needs. Rentals can be found at aggregated sites such as www.redweek.com and www.tug2.net, as well as with many timeshare developers that may be offering rental packages. “We have two to three thousand rentals on our site at any given time,” said Brian Rogers, president of the Timeshare Users Group. “We frequently encourage travelers to explore this vacation experience because renting provides the perfect “try before you buy” solution.”

ARDA’s consumer website, www.VacationBetter.org, is a resource for all timeshare information. Visit it to discover what you’ve been missing.

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About ARDA:

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has over 1,000 members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with expertise in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC). For more information, visit www.arda.org or ARDA’s consumer website at www.VacationBetter.org.

Timeshare Resales Leader Steps Up to Expand Timeshare Owner Options

2010-08-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

DOVER, NH--(Marketwire - 08/13/10) - Sell My Timeshare NOW, the global leader in timeshare resales and rentals, announces that the company is expanding its services, introducing important new options for timeshare owners.

Jason Tremblay, the company's founder and CEO, says, "Timeshare owners want and need choices in how they resell their timeshares. In addition to the owner-advertising option Sell My Timeshare NOW has always offered consumers, we are expanding our timeshare brokerage service capabilities and will begin presenting those services as an additional option when sellers contact us."

As part of the new business model, Sell My Timeshare NOW is transitioning to a sales team almost exclusively comprising licensed real estate professionals. The company is serious about de-emphasizing timeshare advertising as its primary product: beginning last March, it has been conducting in-house training at the corporate offices in Dover, New Hampshire, to help prepare employees for the required testing they will face in obtaining state real estate licenses. Tremblay says that he sees this as investing in the company by investing in its employees, and that SellMyTimeshareNOW will also be looking to hire additional licensed real estate professionals for its Orlando, Florida offices.

Sell My Timeshare NOW offers by-owner timeshare advertising sold by trained timeshare sales professionals, and its affiliate Timeshare Broker Services offers a full range of professional real estate services. In 2009, the company's websites generated 61,743 offers to buy timeshare resales and 85,949 offers to rent timeshares.

Consumers who want to resell their timeshare intervals or timeshare points through Sell My Timeshare NOW can pay a one-time advertising fee ($599) for sale-by-owner advertising and marketing that the company provides through its highly visible, well-positioned websites. The owner's timeshare ad remains on the company's websites, continuing to be marketed until it sells, with the timeshare owner benefiting from a money-back guarantee should the timeshare sell through other means.

For owners who would rather let a licensed professional handle the details of the sales transaction, Timeshare Broker Services may be the better choice. Customers of Timeshare Broker Services pay no up-front fee to advertise their timeshares but will pay the greater of either a 15 percent commission or $2,000 when the sale of their timeshare closes. Brokered timeshare sales are conducted in much the same way as the sale of traditional real estate. "Both options are good choices," according to Tremblay, but he says the company recognized the importance of making timeshare broker services more readily available to consumers, since many people simply don't feel comfortable or have the time to be involved in the sales process personally.

Tremblay describes the overall timeshare industry as being in a period of growth and redefinition and discloses that Sell My Timeshare NOW recently obtained formal legal advice from the highly respected law firm of Baker & Hostetler LLP, affirming that the business practices of Sell My Timeshare NOW and Timeshare Broker Services are in full compliance with Florida real estate brokerage laws. Sell My Timeshare NOW is counseled by Robert J. Webb, RRP of Baker Hostetler, a board certified Florida real estate lawyer with substantial experience in commercial real estate, timeshare and hospitality industry law.

About Sell My Timeshare NOW

Averaging more than 2 million pageviews per month, Sell My Timeshare NOW provides internet advertising and marketing solutions for timeshare owners seeking to sell or rent timeshare while offering timeshare buyers and timeshare renters competitively priced vacation ownership and rental opportunities. The company offers timeshare brokerage through Timeshare Broker Services. Headquartered in Dover, NH with offices in Orlando, FL, Sell My Timeshare NOW has been recognized on the Inc. 500 and 5000 Lists for two consecutive years as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S.

Contact:
Contact:Jay BadeVice President of Business Developmentjaybade@sellmytimesharenow.com 603-516-0680

A new Option for timeshare owners

2010-08-13T07:40:00.001-07:00

A NEW ASSOCIATION of licensed Real Estate brokers have formed recently in an effort to provide specialized services for owners with timeshares who want to sell. They organized, in part, to become one voice; a voice of honesty and integrity in an industry fraught with scam artists and fly-by-nights. Their mission is a simple one; to provide transparent services to timeshare owners who wish to sell collecting a commission ONLY after the timeshare is sold. The President of the non-profit corporation, Judi Kozlowski, admits “It took us a few years of trying to start to get started, but we are all on board now, and we are all headed in a united direction; That is to assist timeshare owners by first helping them find a marketable price point to list their timeshare, posting to the MLS, and then performing all advertising, dealing with buyers offers, etc. JUST LIKE REGULAR REAL ESTATE WORKS! In the end our goal is to help timeshare owners who want out, out of their timeshares and help buyers who want in, IN, dealing fairly and honestly with all the people we deal with.

One of our brokers, Saundra Mock , has specialized in timeshare resales for over 16 years and handles timeshares from just about anywhere and is knowledgeable in just about every product available.

We have other brokers who specialize in the area they are located in, or in a specific product or set of products; it just depends. The point is our association gives sellers choices that are scam free. You can find a list of our associates at www.ltrba.com . If you are seller or a buyer, you can trust an associate of the Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers Association.”

Timeshare Cancellation Attorney Offers FREE Consultation to Potential Timeshare Victims.

2010-08-13T07:31:00.000-07:00

Timeshare Cancellation Attorney
ORLANDO, FL, August 13, 2010 — MyTimeShareAttorney.com announced today that victims of timeshare misrepresentations are eligible for a Free Attorney Consultation. With all the marketing hype and high-pressure sales tactics being deployed by the timeshare industry, consumers need somewhere to get non-biased information. MyTimeshareAtorrney.com is providing Florida residents and non Florida residents who purchased timeshares located in Florida, a Free Consultation for simply filling out their online questionnaire.Attorney Susan Budowski, a Child Advocate for Abused and Neglected Children recently added Timeshare Advocacy to her law practice. “After listening to the heartbreak and sadness of couples and individuals who agreed to a “sales presentation” and ended up timeshare owners. They had no intention, plans and many, even the financial where with all to complete the transaction, yet they are now “Timeshare Owners”.

The sad fact is this is completely about money and the aggressive tactics are not only escalating, they are evolving in different masks; one focus, get you to buy before you leave their presentation.

Attorney Susan Budowski advocates, “sleep on your decision before ever signing anything. Make no mistake, no matter what they tell you, the “Deal” will be there again and again. Never sign on the first or even second presentation, the resort is NOT on fire.”

About Susan Budowski

Susan Budowski is an attorney in Orlando Florida. She has been a member of the Florida Bar since May of 2004. She has been working in Alternative Dispute Resolution since 1998. She is also an advocate for abused and neglected children as a Guardian ad litem. Ms. Budowski previously worked at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Langley Virginia where she received multiple Exceptional Performance Awards from high ranking members of the CIA including then CIA Director William Gates, who is currently the Secretary of Defense.

To learn more about Ms. Budowski’s services for timeshare victims please visit http://www.mytimeshareattorney.com

Contact: Michael Budowski

timeshare@susanbudowski.com

888.265.7900 Tel/Fax

http://www.mytimeshareattorney.com

LEADING U.S. TIMESHARE RESELLER ACQUIRES WEBSITE OF TOP CANADIAN RESALE FIRM

2010-08-12T14:48:00.001-07:00

Dover, NH – August 5, 2010 – Jason Tremblay, CEO of SellMyTimeshareNow.com, one of the world’s largest and most respected online timeshare resale and rental marketing organizations, has recently announced the acquisition of the primary asset – as well as the customers – of Canada’s leading timeshare reseller, RapidResale.ca.

“During recent months, RapidResale founder April Cummins has become more involved in sales and marketing efforts for Canadian developers and sought a company to whom she could entrust her resale business, one that would take over the management of the existing website and the servicing of its customers,” explained Tremblay. “Due to our high level of success and national recognition, April asked if we would be willing to acquire this segment of her business to ensure a high level of continuing service for her customers.”

Added Tremblay, “The six-year-old RapidResale website is already a highly trusted, well-optimized, perfectly positioned site that ranks extremely well with Canadian search engines, such as www.Google.ca. We are excited about this acquisition since it will provide our web-based company opportunities to further expand our presence in Canada. Links on our website will lead potential renters and buyers to the Canadian site, benefiting everyone involved. Our ultimate plan is for all of our sellers’ properties to be displayed on all of our websites including RapidResale.ca.”

Jay Bade, VP of business development at SellMyTimeshareNow.com was instrumental in connecting the two companies. “As we acquire the domain name, database and website content of RapidResale.ca, we will provide their existing customers with greater exposure through our family of websites.”
Founded in 2004, RapidResale.ca is the domain name for Secondary Solutions Group, an Ontario-based Canadian timeshare resales leader with a solid reputation for success and its growth into a multi-million dollar organization. The company also provides sales and marketing solutions to developers of shared-use properties. April Cummins will continue to work with Canadian timeshare developers in the sales and marketing arena and refer them to our Vacation Property Solutions, the Resort Services Division of SellMyTimeshareNow for future resales and marketing needs.”

Commented Ross Perlmutter, President/CEO of the Canadian Resort Development Association, “With more than 180 shared ownership resorts and nearly 350,000 owners in Canada, we welcome the expanded presence of SellMyTimeshareNow. They are a leading international timeshare reseller that can potentially bring great benefits to timeshare buyers and sellers on both sides of the border.”

Founded in 2003, Sell My Timeshare NOW has grown to become the leading online secondary marketplace for timeshares on a resale basis. Each month, averaging more than 2 million pageviews, the Sell My Timeshare NOW websites deliver to timeshare owners and developers over 86,000 offers valued at $88 million for timeshare rentals and 61,000 offers valued at $338 million for timeshare resales.

About Sell My Timeshare NOW
The company is the recognized global leader in online timeshare resale and rental marketing, with over $427 million in offers through its websites in 2009. The company’s flagship website, SellMyTimeshareNOW.com, provides internet advertising and marketing solutions for timeshare owners seeking to sell or rent their timeshare while offering timeshare buyers and renters competitively priced vacation ownership and rental opportunities. The company also offers success-based timeshare brokerage through Timeshare Broker Services. Headquartered in Dover, NH with offices in Orlando, FL, Sell My Timeshare NOW has over 150 employees and was recognized on the Inc. 500 and 5000 Lists for the second consecutive year as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the country. For more information, contact Jay Bade, VP of Business Development at 603-516-0680.

Media Contact:
press@sellmytimesharenow.com

Disney Vacation Club being scammed? - ShareConnectGrow Blog post - a community of resort managers and their suppliers

2010-06-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Timeshare Owners should be aware of this fraud and scam that Disney Vacation Owners are dealing with. Please read if you are a timeshare owner, no matter where you own at, so that you are aware this might happen to you!

Disney Vacation Club being scammed? - ShareConnectGrow Blog post - a community of resort managers and their suppliers

Mark Vanginhoven / Classic Promotions & Premiums - ShareConnectGrow Video - a community of resort managers and their suppliers

2010-06-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

This is an interview that I did with Mark Vanginhoven of Classic Promotions discussing some of his premium incentives available for Resort Marketing.

Mark Vanginhoven / Classic Promotions & Premiums - ShareConnectGrow Video - a community of resort managers and their suppliers

Be a happier timeshare owner!

2010-05-31T08:04:00.001-07:00

When I scour the internet, the majority of information that I find for timeshare owners is negative. You either find advertisements from companies wishing to gain your business, or you find postings and blogs by angry misled timeshare owners who simply do not offer you objective advice. The truth is, you can be happy with your timeshare ownership. Infact, you can be incredibly happy! The problem is that the happy owners see no reason usually to scour the internet looking for information and therefore, they usually do not post their happy stories.

The key to being a happy timeshare owner is to be informed and that is what my mission here is. To educate you. To give you the resources you need to become educated and knowledgeable about your timeshare so that you can make the most of it.

Sift through my previous postings, and check back often for new ones. Please remember that I do not work for, nor am I being compensated, by any of the companies I mention on this blog. My recommendations come strictly from my knowledge of the inner workings of the industry, as well as my own research and study. If you come across a company or an idea that I do not mention here, please post a comment or send me an email to let me know what you are interested in and I will be happy to post about it for you.

Virginia Vacations - Massanutten Resorts - RCI Timeshares

2010-05-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

This is where I began my timeshare career and stayed for two decades until leaving only last summer. Truly breathtaking and beautiful. Super family vacation spot! Safe to take the kids, relaxing for mom and dad, classy and yet not stuffy.