Travel Membership Clubs

Preferred Guest Resorts - Winner or Loser?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 22 May 2014 00:52:00 +0000

If you're looking at Preferred Guest Resorts and Best Vacations Ever as a way to save on this summer's vacation, you may want to really know what you may be getting yourself into...

If you're not familiar with Preferred Guest Resorts or Best Vacations Ever, you may want see this promo video about the company...

So, What Really is Preferred Guest Resorts?

Preferred Guest Resorts came onto my radar just a few short days ago. Before that time I have never heard of them or Best Ever Vacations (another name Preferred Guest Resorts goes by).

First of all, this membership is vague – there's just not enough information on its website. I've always said that if something is vague or secretive as to what you're actually saving, you're best to leave it alone.

From what I can tell, they've “partnered” with resorts across the world to offer you savings. From their website, you get...

“Credits that you can use toward access to hundreds of participating resorts worldwide and other vacation services including hotel, cruise and car rentals.“

So, what you have is membership site that run on credits. How much do you save? What does it cost?

Must Read: What to Look For in a Quality Travel Membership Club

Well, from what I see you won't get any of those answers until you call their customer service line and you may have to attend a presentation....

Is this still a membership you want to pursue?

Ok, What About All of Those Preferred Guest Resorts Complaints?

If you “Google” Preferred Guest Resorts, you'll see a lot of “Ripoff Reports” complaints about this company.

When you take a good look at what these Ripoff Reports say they complain about:

The sales tactics – high pressure
Bait and switched after buying their travel vouchers
Questionable marketing advertising

Do I think some of them have merit? Absolutely. Do I think that Preferred Guest Resorts could be more transparent and have better sales tactics and less deceiving advertisements? Yep. But you're not going to find any business that have a 100% approval rating.

What I Like About Preferred Guest Resorts...

With all the negative reviews of Preferred Guest Resorts, someone from corporate office of Preferred Guest Resorts does try to resolve the complaints on Ripoff Report.

That is more than what most companies do. So at least they care about how their company is being perceived by the public. Will it be enough to turn around public opinion about this company? I dunno.

What I Do Not Like About Preferred Guest Resorts...

As with a lot of travel clubs, especially the ones that aren't run that well, there's a cloud of secrecy of what you're actually saving with the membership. How can you even compare rates if you're not even given a starting point to compare from?

Why do you even have to site through a pressure sales presentation in order to buy a simple (all travel club memberships should be simple in nature) travel membership?

Should You Buy a Preferred Guest Resorts Membership?

Whether you buy or not, make sure you take the time to do your due diligence and compare travel memberships. Once you do you will see which ones are worthy of your time and which ones are better left alone.

This is why I can only recommend thistravel club – it's been going strong for over 20 years giving people just like you affordable vacations all over the world...

Happy travels!

FlexOffers

What is a Timeshare?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 10:51:00 +0000

You've seen them and you've heard about them and now your curiosity has got the better of you and now you want to know the truth behind them. But are you ready for the truth?

Ok, so what is a timeshare?

Let me give you the simplest explanation and get down to the dirty details later.

A timeshare is where you're paying for time in a vacation community like a resort. You may have one or two weeks once a year or every other year.

Now, that's the short answer. Now what's probably crossing your mind is why timeshares get such a bad rap.

The Deeper Explanation of What is a Timeshare

This is where it starts to get interesting. Let me explain...

Timeshares are vacation developments built by such well-known companies as Wyndham, Marriott, and Disney. Vacationers buy time into these developments usually at a timeshare presentation. The average price range of a timeshare is about $16k plus yearly maintenance fees.

citadelpc.com

The timeshare you buy may include one or more properties. In order to get more vacation properties, or better destinations, you'll have to pay more.

Points are used where you can exchange them for various destinations that are outside of your original properties and/or time frame.

Are You Really Saving Money?

This is the loaded question.

Here's what I mean...

Now when you go to these timeshare presentations, you're going to feel a bit out of your element and even a little bit intimidated. Sometimes they use a little (or a lot) of pressure on you to buy into their timeshare right then and there – there is no “I'll think about it later”...

The timeshare salespeople may even compare your costs of staying at a hotel and eating out vs buying into a timeshare and having home cooked meals. If you've ever been to one of these presentations, then you're probably nodding your head because you know the whole comparison spiel.

Now don't get me wrong, if you add up the costs of staying in a hotel, buying food, going out and paying for entertainment,etc... you may be saving some money by buying into their timeshare. Did you notice the emphasis on the word “may”?

However, if you're the kind of person who's looking for a place to just lay your head and don't need the amenities a resort has, then a hotel is the right fit for you – not a timeshare. In fact, if you bought a timeshare you would be losing money not saving any.

So, if you're sitting there in the timeshare presentation getting pitched, remember that you have to come out on the winning end. Don't let them tell you the way you should be vacationing and how much you spend every year on your vacations.

First of all, they don't know you. Second of all, you should know your own numbers – you should know how much you spend every year on vacations.

Now, if this seems like the salespeople are trying to talk you into a timeshare – well, you would be right. This is why a lot of people succumb to the pressure the tactics and sign on the dotted line right then and there...only to have buyer's remorse when they return home.

If you think this is where timeshares get a bad rap, well, you're halfway right.

But there's more...

Even a Hungry Man Wouldn't Eat

Let's go through a typical scenario...

So you decided to buy the timeshare and actually do use it a few times but then your life isn't so flexible as it once was.

You cant always get the vacation time off from work to use your timeshare and so some years you don't even use it but you still have to pay those maintenance fees. There are even times where you can't even book a room because everything is filled up already for the dates that you want.

Then there may be times where you want a better destination but you don't have enough points and/or the points exchanging system is so convoluted and confusing you don't want to even bother.

Add on to the fact that you begin to notice that your maintenance fees keep getting higher and higher every year even though you're not getting more destinations added to your timeshare portfolio.

Now you're growing more and more disillusioned with your timeshare and you've had enough and you're ready to get rid of the darn thing. That should be easy – right?

But here's the problem...

Timeshares aren't worth anything...in the end

It's hard getting anyone to buy your timeshare for any price close to what you paid for it. In fact, you’ll likely get pennies on the dollar for what you paid for it – if you can find a buyer.

Some timeshare owners think that they can just walk away from it, but in reality you still owe the maintenance fees and whatever else you owe on your timeshare. You'll get turned over to collections and you'll get your credit dinged.

Some owners think that they can give it to a charity but a lot of charities don’t want them because it's not worth the extra costs and headaches.

If you think that you can will it away, well you can, however, make sure your heirs want it, if not you're leaving them with a burden that depreciates, but yet has rising maintenance fees year after year.

What about those resale companies – are they legit?

Some are, but many are not.

By now you can see how a timeshare can unravel and lead to a lot of financial woes and sleepless nights for its owners that decide they don't want it anymore.

So, now you know the reasons for the bad rap in timeshares. Now, keep in mind there are people who have good experiences with timeshares and are happy about their decision to buy into one. It's when you decide to get rid of your timeshare that things start to go downhill for you.

So, Should You Buy?

Timeshares have advantages over your average hotel room. However, if you're fine spending your vacations staying at a hotel room then why put out the extra money for a timeshare and get locked into a binding contract?

But if you're one of those people who enjoy all the amenities that come with resort vacationing, then a buying a timeshare retail is one way to go but it's not the only way. There's the resale market where you can buy a timeshare for a lot less than if bought directly retail.

However, you still are going to have to pay those rising maintenance fees and be stuck with all the unpleasantness the original owner had.

A Better Alternative to Timeshares

The next timeshare alternative is to get a real vacation club – one that has prime resort vacations that you can enjoy for a small fraction of what you 'd pay for a timeshare.

Vacation clubs have become the inside secret of savvy travelers who want all the perks of a resort vacation lifestyle without the financial burden of a timeshare.

What is a timeshare?

For some people a piece of mind, but for many others a nightmare that never ends.

I recommend this vacation club. Over 20 years of happy travelers and...counting!

Sam's Club Travel – The Other Alternatives

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 01:13:00 +0000

Sam's Club Travel is no longer in existence but there are better ways to get deals on your next vacation – if you know how and where to look.

Like most people, you're probably scouring the Internet looking for ways to save money on your next planned vacation. Since Wal-Mart is a popular discount chain, Sam's Club Travel may have been on your mind as a place to start.

Perhaps you've used them in the past for your travels and now you want to see what specials they're offering nowadays. Or maybe you've heard good things about Sam's Club Travel and now you're ready to give them a try.

The bad news is that Sam's Club Travel no longer exists. A little bit over two years ago Sam's Club decided to focus on other types of products and services for their customers and eliminate their travel club department.

Although this was bad news to those that have solely used this club in the past to save on their vacations, it wasn't completely bad news to those in the "know" about other ways to save on vacations.

So what other options do you have?

Sam's Club Travel – The Better Alternatives

Sam's Club Travel was good for what it did for travelers, but it wasn't always the best ways to save on vacations. There's no worse feeling than realizing that you probably paid too much for your vacation.

=> Must Read – Before you travel to other countries, make sure you read, "Is safe to travel?"

Sam's Club Travel tapped into providing travelers with some quick deals.Nowadays if you want to be a smarter traveler, you've got to not only look at your immediate vacation plans but think about your long-term vacation plans as well.

I'm sure vacations are part of your yearly family traditions just as anything else you hold dear. You know you're going to take at least one vacation a year – every year. So why not think about how you can save indefinitely on your vacations every single year?

Not only does planning ahead save you money, but it can lessen your anxiety and frustration levels that can come with planning your family vacations.

Savvy travelers have figured this out which is why they are most likely to spend less on vacations and are able to get into high-demand resorts at prime locations.

So, what are these savvy travelers doing that you may not be doing?

Resorts without the Contracts

This has nothing to do with Sam's Club Travel and timeshares but everything to do with vacation resorts. You see, most people think of timeshares as an economical solution for long-term travel savings and they would be partly right; however, along with timeshares comes the burdens of long-term contracts, rising maintenance fees, and inflexible travel times.

If you could take all the negatives of a timeshare and make them disappear and add in all the benefits of relaxing resort vacations, economical rates, and access to pristine resorts that you can't always get with sites like Expedia and Travelocity, you've got a travel club.

Travel Clubs Often Beats Sam's Club Travel

Having seen the inside of the travel industry, the side that a lot of travelers don't get to see, I can say that most people "over-pay" for their vacations.

I can also say that a lot of people experience a high level of frustration trying to get accommodations on sites like Priceline and Expedia.

How many times did you see your vacation time not available when you tried to book your rooms on sites like Expedia? Odds are you encountered the "not available" messages more times than you care to remember when trying to book your vacations using these kinds of travel websites.

One of the major reasons why you're not able to book your rooms is that travel clubs like this one here have a strong roster of serious travelers who know that their membership has privileges – like being able to get accommodations at some of the most well-known resorts when it's often not available on sites like Expedia.

Strong travel clubs have a lot of buying power and as a result can buy up a lot of rooms before being released to sites like Priceline and Expedia. This is why it pays to be a part of a good travel club.

Not only can travel clubs give you better access to more resorts, you'll pay a lot less than if you went straight to a site like Expedia or Travelocity.

In some cases you can save upwards of 90% off of Expedia's best price. And best part is that you don't have to deal with the confinement and hassles of a timeshare.

Sam's Club Travel provided good immediate deals in its day but travel clubs gives you more flexibility, options, and better year-round deals you could never get with Sam's Club.

After doing a lot of research, this is the #1 Travel Club for over 20+ years. Click here to see how you can save on your next vacation...

Wyndham Vacation Club - Buy or Not to Buy?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 01:28:00 +0000

So, are you looking at the Wyndham Vacation Club? Want to know what this really is and if it's the right fit for you? Take a look at this...

courtesy of wyndhamvacationresorts.com

Are looking at the Club Wyndham hoping to see if this is going to be a right fit for you and the way you like to vacation?

When it comes to the Wyndham Vacation Club, two things usually come to mind for most people - timeshare and contracts.

That immediately turns off most people and for good reason...most people don't want to take on huge debt just to go on vacations.

However, there some people who see the need to join a travel membership club - even buy into timeshare because it fits their vacation lifestyle.

But is it right for you?

What You Need to Know About the Wyndham Vacation Club

So, what is Club Wyndham also known as the Wyndham Vacation Club?

There's no mystery here - it is a timeshare. Like it or not, most of the mainstream companies like Wyndham and Marriott operate timeshares often under the guise of "vacation clubs."

Good, bad, or indifferent, this is what it is.

Now, unlike most Wyndham articles you've probably run across online that either take one extreme side or another, I'm going to tell you some of the benefits and some of the cons of a Wyndham Vacation Club.

The Pros:

Experienced - Wyndham has been in the travel industry for decades, so you can rest assured they're no fly-by-night organization
Discounts - If you choose to be a Wyndham timeshare owner, you also get hotel, air, and car discounts
Better Than Hotels - Timeshares, dollar for dollar are less expensive than if you stayed at a hotel.

The Cons:

Binding Contract - It's often hard to get out of timeshare contracts with any of the money you put in. So if you decide you want out of your Wyndham contract, the likelihood is that you will lose money.
Limited Properties - You have access to over 70 properties, however, if you want access to more vacation properties you have to spend time fooling around with points, exchanging them, etc...
Costs - The average price of a Wyndham timeshare is about $16,000.00 plus the yearly maintenance fees (appx $500.00) that typically go up every year.Although less expensive than hotel stays, there are timeshare alternatives that offer a better value.

In a Nutshell, the Wyndham Vacation Club does offer better amenities than what you could get at a hotel and you get access to other travel services as well.

Wyndham has been a cornerstone in the travel market for ages so they know the value that they bring to the table for travelers who desire a timeshare.

On the flipside, if you're not interested in taking on the burden of added debt and signing a binding contract, then there are smarter travel club alternatives that can give you better value.

Travel Services USA? Worthy or Un-Worthy?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 00:29:00 +0000

If you're looking into Travel Services USA, you must take the time to do your due diligence starting with reading short piece on some things you may not have known about Travel Services USA...

Watch this short clip:

Travel Services USA - What You Need to Know

Now I'm sure you're smart enough to realize that not all discount travel clubs are scams. After all, a lot of big name hotel chains and luxury resorts have claim to their own travel clubs, which are usually timeshares in disguise.

So, what's so bad about Travel Services USA? Well, from the video you see how the couple had went through a high pressure sales presentation where the red flags about this company were starting to pop up like weeds in an unkempt garden.

Make Sure You Read: Travel Club Memberships What to Look For

First the price of travel service got slashed literally in half, leaving them to believe that Travel Services USA was beginning to "smell" like a scam.

Now, I don't know if Travel Services USA is a scam or just a badly run company, but I do know that if you go to their website the information on their travel program is very vague.

One of the rules when looking at travel clubs is to remember there needs be some concrete details of what you're getting.

Just stating that you're going to get discounts and savings when you join our discount travel club is not enough.

If a discount travel club can't tell you what you're getting for your hard-earned dollars, then you ought to really walk away...quickly.

Travel Services USA - scam or not, it doesn't tell you enough to make it even worth your time. There are much better options out there.

Accor Vacation Club - Worthy or Un-Worthy?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 23:00:00 +0000

If you've got your eyes set on the Accor Vacation Club, you may want to read this before you buy into it...

courtesy of Dreamworkers.com.au

Need a way to take more affordable vacations? Did the Accor Vacation Club come across as a solution to help you do just that?

By now you're probably wondering what exactly is the Accor Vacation Club and if it can really get you better more affordable accommodations than you can get on your own...

Well, here's the part where it really starts to get interesting...

The Accor Vacation Club in a Nutshell

The Accor Vacation Club is really a timeshare. In Accor's own words it's an "ownership" club. Knowing this fact, you are either no longer interested in the Accor Vacation Club because it's a timeshare or you're more interested in learning more about what Accor has to offer you.

If you absolutely have no interest in timeshares, make sure you read "Timeshare Alternatives."

If you're the latter, read on...

One of the good things about the Accor Vacation Club is that they have locations worldwide. One of things to look for when choosing a vacation club (although this is a timeshare and not a regular vacation club) is the amount of inventory the travel club has access to.

You want to be able to have a lot of choices to choose from. If you've ever tried to get access to a certain properties even months in advance to no avail, then you know how frustrating it is when you don't have many options to choose from.

Another thing about Accor is that there aren't too many negative reviews about it online. Here's some reviews here.

Keep in mind, that every business at one time or another will have people put up negative reviews of it.

You have to really read these reviews with an open mind and almost with a grain of salt - because anyone can post anything they want online...and they can do it anonymously. This is the how the Internet works.

Make Sure You Read: Discount Travel Clubs - The Important Things to Know

The only thing that concerns me about Accor Vacation Club is that it's still a relatively new club. It only been operating since 2000. That's over 10 years at this point, but you have to remember there are timeshares that have been in business at least twice as long.

What makes this timeshare different than the others? Good points? First of all, Accor is based in Australia. That is one major point difference than most of the mainstream timeshare companies. Depending upon where you live this could present a problem.

Accor Vacation Club Pricing

Like nearly all timeshares, Accor works off a point system. The more points you buy into the more vacations (and better vacations) you can buy into.

Now this either turns you on or turns you off. If you've had dealings with points before then you know that hassle it can become trying to wheel and deal and trade points just in order to get into prime vacation properties that you actually want to be in.

I've seen the pricing at Accor at around $25k with annual dues around $600 a year! You can refer to this post here and to Accor's Public Disclosure Statement Pdf for more info on that.

I like people to be informed and do their due diligence before joining a travel club or buying into any timeshare which is why I like to point to these outside sources.

So, now what we're left with is wondering if Accor Vacation Club is a good timeshare company?

In my experience and humble opinion, you have to be a smart traveler. It's not just a matter of dollars and cents, it's a matter of getting the best value for your money and time invested into a travel program.

If you have to spend countless hours of your time trying to fool around with points to get into good vacation properties then to me it's just not worth the headache, especially if you're paying over $25k grand just for an ok membership.

So, is Accor Vacation Club worth it? Well, I'll let you decide on that one.

Luxury Vacation Club Memberships Up as Inspirato Gets 15.5M From DAG and Millennium

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:36:00 +0000

The travel industry is still rebounding from economic turmoil but that hasn't stopped the luxury vacation business from hitting record highs.

Inspirato luxury vacation club joins a short list of luxury vacation clubs like Global Resorts Network that are doing well in the luxury vacation market.

Inspirato recently raised $15.5 million from Millennium Technology and Dag Ventures (see story here).

It’s no secret that the hospitality business has taken huge hits over the years, but it still remains that people want to go on vacation and want to get the best deals – even in the luxury vacation market.

Vacation clubs like Global Resorts Network, Inspirato, and Quintess are pretty much here to stay – as long as people want to travel.

Happy travels!

See Beautiful Banderas Bay From Your Room

Is It Safe to Travel?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 06:31:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered if it was safe to travel to Cabo San Lucas?

Have you thought about going on a safari in Tanzania and thought about your safety in the surrounding areas?

Make no mistake about it, the world is not all peaceful and tourists are not always a welcome sight.

After you read this short article you will know how to do your own research to find out the real answers on whether or not it is safe to travel to a particular destination.

I Offended My Friend!

Well, here's how it started...

I was planning a trip to the home country of one of my friends. Being the safety queen that I am I took a gander at a reliable website (I'll tell you more about that later) that lists countries (and cities/states) that tourists should be cautious of. Well lo and behold her home country was on that list! What I did next and how I did it you should never do…

I basically told her that I didn't think it was a good idea to go to her home country at this time (no, I'm not revealing the country!) because it was on a government warning list. I was hoping that she would say, “Thanks for telling me that, now I know to be cautious”…but it didn't go like that at all.

She got very offended and defensive that I would even bring up the fact (it was a fact that her country had some internal war raging at the time) that her country was on a watch list. Ok, lesson learned.

Here's what you can learn from my mistake:

It's ok to ask a native of the area about the area, but you must phrase it in a different way than I did.

Ex. Joe I'm planning a vacation in your neck of the woods, is there anything I should know as a tourist to be cautious of? Any areas I should avoid?

Now add something positive and or get them talking about their knowledge of the area:

Can you recommend some good restaurants in that area? What is the one attraction in that area I should not miss? What's the best way to get around in that area?

It's how you say what you say. Natives can be one of your best sources of information but you never want to start with negative information about their country whether or not it is true.

Nobody Loves Your Family More Than You Do

I've seen it so many times that I want to cringe.

Good meaning people go to a travel forum asking the people there if it is safe to travel to xyz.

First of all, you'll get people who themselves have traveled to that particular destination and continue to do so and of course to justify their actions they WILL tell you it is safe, although it may very well be risky.

The fact of the matter is that no one is going to care more for your family than you; definitely not some stranger on a travel forum who could really care less about your safety and the safety of your family.

Do You Really Want to Know the Truth?

Now let me ask you a personal question…

Would you be willing to change your travel destination or at the very least be more cautious and alert if you got reliable information that your vacation plans included some high crime areas? If not, then you can probably stop reading this article and go on your merry way.

Must Read: Are There Timeshare Alternatives?

If you're like the majority of smart travelers then you know that knowledge gives you an edge and what you do with that knowledge is entirely up to you.

First of all, no one can guarantee your safety...not even the people on a travel forum. Some places are riskier than other areas. You'll have to do your due diligence and weigh the risks and how likely (or not) you are to become a crime statistic. With that said, you'll find in general if you adhere to safety precautions and you're well alert, you'll be less likely to encounter trouble.

Put Your Mind at Ease in as Easy as 1-2-3!

Here are some tips when you're traveling in unfamiliar territory...

First of all, go to the U.S. Department of State - You can look up countries and get specific reliable useful information.
Do a google search and type the following: "tourist crime in _____ "(put the country, state, city, area you'll be visiting).
Here are some general safety tips from Magellan.

There you have it. You should feel a lot better about your travel plans. However, if you're still unsure of whether or not you should go to a particular destination, even after doing all this research, then maybe you just plain outright shouldn't go. It's no fun vacation if you're constantly worrrying about your safety. Find a destination that puts your mind more at ease and just enjoy yourself...the world is a great big place!

Does RoomKey.com Hold the Key to Your Traveling Heart?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:11:00 +0000

Is RoomKey.com just another dime-a-dozen travel site or something you should be paying attention to?

Shall we count the number of travel sites online that claim to better than the next site? If only we had so much more time in the day to do so. Which is why when RoomKey.com launched in January of this year it wasn't huge news.

So what's so special about RoomKey.com?

Well it was founded by companies that are in the hospitality industry (Choice Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels Group, Wyndham and Marriott).

RoomKey.com's claim to fame is the way it makes booking a room much easier and simpler than what already exists online right now. If you take a look at their website the one thing you'll notice is that it's clean and very simple looking. There are no banners, flashing lights, moving pictures, or headlines coming at you from all angles.

In other words, you're not pulled into different directions when you land on their site. If you've been to other competitor's sites then you know exactly what I mean. Your focus is entirely on one thing - booking a hotel room. In fact, it seems so darn simple that's it's even kind of scary.

RoomKey's other claim to fame is that you can book directly with each hotel that's a partner (direct connect) with RoomKey. In other words, you are connecting directly into each hotel's website. Direct connect partners of RoomKey.com will say book at.

Must Read: Family Vacation Help...

For those hotels that are not direct connect partners of RoomKey.com you can book the hotel room indirectly via Roomkey (notice it will state book it when you're looking up hotels).

To understand the difference between book at and book it, you'll have to go to the RoomKey.com's website to see what I mean. Think of "book it" as what you do when book via Expedia. They, being Expedia, are the middleman and you pay them and they in turn pay the hotel.

This is a model that some travelers have to come to despise especially when travel plans go awry. I would think that these types of issues are the main reasons RoomKey.com came into existence in the first place.

The Pros of RoomKey.com

The biggest pro of using Roomkey.com is that you can book directly with each hotel. You also get loyalty points from the hotels themselves when you book directly. When you do use the direct connect and book directly you have greater flexibility in case you need to change your travel arrangements.

RoomKey.com also lets you see reviews and ratings of each hotel...courtesy of Tripadvisor.com. This way you're not booking your hotels blindly.

The Cons of RoomKey.com

Because RoomKey.com is still fairly new, there isn't a whole lot of inventory - in other words, there are still a lot of hotel chains and independent hotels not on board with roomkey.

Although the direct connect function on RoomKey is a hot selling point there are drawbacks; one of which is that you must be aware of each hotel's policy on cancellations which can differ greatly between hotels.

Before you confirm your reservations double check the hotel's policy so it doesn't come back to bite you later.

Another con is that sometimes by using the "book it" feature where you book indirectly and RoomKey is the middleman, it isn't always a sure-fire thing that the rates will be much lower than using a site such as Expedia.

What Does the Future Hold For RoomKey?

Things seem to be looking up for room key as Sabres reservations system has added roomkeky to its system (see story http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/sabre-hospitality-solutions-first-crs-to-go-live-with-room-key )

It seems the best use of this site is its direct connect feature where you book directly with each hotel. If you choose to book indirectly via roomkey you may not be that much better off than using any other online travel site.

Let's see where this company is one year from now.

Timeshare Cure: Is This Legit?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 07 May 2012 01:35:00 +0000

I’m not here to bash Timeshare Cure or even timeshares in general. This is not a Timeshare Cure review where at the end you’re still confused as to what you should do.

What you will learn by reading this article is that you have choices when it comes to getting out of your timeshare contract…one of which may or may not be Timeshare Cure.

When I looked up Timeshare Cure in Google a few sites popped up which either gave this company “glowing” reviews or said that Timeshare Cure is one of the many ripoffs in the timeshare industry.

Timeshare Cure Reviews

One site that popped up was the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which gave this company a B+ rating. Note that Timeshare Cure is accredited by the BBB.

Now that may seem impressive on the surface but keep in mind that the BBB is a membership site and they have been known to change the rating of companies if the companies were willing to pay a price i.e.$$$ (see this 20/20 story ).

Just a side note…I’ve even been ripped off by a company (not a timeshare company) that was a BBB member – complete with the BBB plaque hanging on their wall. I’ve been wise to the tactics of BBB long before this tv report.

Other than the BBB, a few other sites popped up in my search including this one where there are several people in a row giving “glowing” testimonials of Timeshare Cure. I’m not saying that they’re fake but they do look a little “fishy” if you ask me.

To be fair I do not know if Timeshare Cure is 100% legit. And if you go to some of the timeshare forums, for example RedWeek, you’ll see a lot of the forum members are down on these types of companies which are sometimes referred to as “post card companies” or PCC’s because they charge hefty upfront fees to help you supposedly get rid of your timeshare.

A lot of forum members refer to them as scam companies because they charge these fees upfront. Which in my opinion is not really fair or "just" to lump all these companies together like that. Just because a company doesn’t operate the way you think they should it doesn’t mean they are automatically scamming people. There's nothing wrong with a company charging fees for its services as long as they fulfill their agreement.

When a company deliberately fails to do the things they said they would and take off with your money – then that’s a scam. Like I stated before I don’t know if Timeshare Cure is legit but there are things you can consider if you wish to get rid of your timeshare.

Here’s What You Can Do To Get Rid of Your Timeshare

Here is the best advice that I’ve seen so far on the topic of whether or not to use Timeshare Cure. It’s from Timeshare Users Group (TUG) forum moderator by the name of Denise (you can read in its original form here or see the original thread here:

Please consider giving it away to a private individual who can use it, before you spend a cent with a company like this. They are going to charge you $2,000 - $3,000 to "take it off your hands" and then lie to you about the tax deduction.

Why?

-You can give it away yourself for nearly no cost.
-You can control the transfer process to make sure it is truly transferred out of your name.
-You won't have to deal with companies that may or may not be Legit.
-You can transfer it to a private individual who will be happy to have it for their own use.
-You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you ended your ownership legally and ethically.

There are two places on TUG where you can give away your TS's for free (no charge for the Ads.) There are other cheap and free sites on the internet, as well.

TUG Marketplace - the only cost is your TUG membership - $15 (List it for $1 and it will automatically go in the Bargain Basement Ads.)

Bargain Deals - Totally FREE! - just write a simple post with all the pertinent info. In your post, include the following info.:
-resort name
-unit size
-season owned
-maintenance fee
-current reservations
To make it more attractive I would:

1) Pay 2011 maintenance fees and don't ask for reimbursement.

2) Pay for the title transfer (you can get a simple professional transfer for about $100) I've used this licensed document Prep. company [see this thread here]...

3) Reserve a popular holiday week for the new owner

Denise gave some really good advice if you want to get out of your timeshare. It may be better to start with her advice first and then if all else fails you may want to take your chances with a company like Timeshare Cure.

Note: You may also list your timeshare in RedWeek's Bargain Basement
and here are two more sites where you learn how to list or rent out your timeshare:
1.Timeshare Exchange
2. List of other sites (make sure you do your due diligence)

I hope you found this article helpful!

Related Articles:
4 Rules to Finding the Best Vacation Travel Club
Are There Timeshare Alternatives Available

Miss Travel: Ugly Broke Travelers Need Not Apply?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:19:00 +0000

If you're not that attractive and you have no money to travel, you very well may be out of luck. Some may even call you a two time loser... On the other hand if you've got a few curves and you're a little short on travel cash there's hope for you in a website called Miss Travel.

It's no secret that the Internet is littered with dating sites catering to every whim and freakish desire. Have you ever heard of a dating site that caters to attractive people (both men and women) who want to travel but don't have the money to...but want to "hook" up with someone who can "foot the bill?"

Take a look at the video below (and try to hold in your laughter)...

As you can see this is no ordinary dating site, in fact, I would say that it's in the realm of the absurdity due to the fact a lot of "attractive" people seem to want the benefits upfront in the form of a plane ticket.

Must Read: Family Vacation Help...

I think I forgot to mention that you have to be "attractive" to belong to this site. The good news is that you get to decide if you're attractive or not...and judging from some of the members pictures some people think that they qualify LOL!

Yes you'll see attractive members posing with their best assets often neglecting to have their face in the picture. Ahem, yes this is a dating site, but it's more for those who want a sugar daddy (or sugar momma)...and not just a plane ticket.

Interested? You can check out their website here, Miss Travel. Enjoy!

Are There Timeshare Alternatives Available?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 01:25:00 +0000

If you are shopping for an reasonably priced fresh way to travel with none of the constraints and rules of a timeshare, you will be delighted to know that there are timeshare alternatives readily available to you.

Obtaining inexpensive ways to travel in these economic conditions is not easy. Low-priced airfare rates are not as prevalent as they once were.

More travelers are turning towards ways to decrease their primary vacation expenditure – the accommodations.

The past way to reduce the cost of lodging was to sign up for a costly timeshare. Twenty years ago that was the only way to go. However, recently there are timeshare alternatives that can give you fantastic value and savings over a timeshare.

As you may already know, resorts want to fill their rooms. Unsold rooms means no money. So resorts rely upon timeshare companies to help them fill their rooms. You may be surprised to find out is that resorts also turn to vacation clubs to help them as well.

Timeshares vs Vacation Clubs: The REAL Reasons For Timeshare Alternatives

In contrast to timeshares, a top grade vacation travel club doesn't have the severe constraints and limits you would encounter in timeshares. As a matter of fact, most good travel clubs allow far better freedom and adaptability for its members.

You do not have to be bothered about buying points, exchanging points, black-out dates and long-term contracts that are the quirks of timeshares.

Increasing numbers of adept travelers are converting to vacation travel clubs as a more feasible and cost-effective choice to afford that all important family vacation.

Simply click here to learn more about using a
vacation travel club to save on your next getaway...

Quintess Luxury Vacation Club: What is the Quintess Collection and Is It Worthy of Its Costs?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:46:00 +0000

Looking for information on the Quintess vacation club? Then you've come to the right site. No fluff, no filler just enough information that cuts to the chase without overwhelming you with it.

By the time you're finished reading this you may be surprised at what you found out about the Quintess travel club. You'll either decide that this is something that is quite appealing to you or this is a vacation travel club that doesn't fit with you and your family and/or you want a club with more vacation options.

Either which you'll be much closer to narrowing down your vacation club choices.

Here's the biggest question....

So, what is the Quintess Luxury Vacation Club?
This is a destination club that was started nearly seven years ago in 2004. It gives its members access to multi-million dollar residences in over forty destinations all over the world in exchange for a one–time membership deposit and annual membership dues.

What kind of residences are included?

The Quintess Collection is made up of three clubs, (Quintess, DUO by Quintess and THE TOUR CLUB). Depending upon what kind of membership you get you can have access to top golf resorts and country clubs due to its strategic partnership with the PGA.

And of course you also have access to million dollar residences.

What will it cost me?

The starting membership will cost you in the neighborhood of $225,000.00 with annual dues starting about $17,150.00

Who is right for this membership?

It's for the traveler who enjoys staying in finer establishments and/or loves to have exclusive access to multi-million dollar residences and resorts.

By this time you either feel this right for you or it's not. When you're looking at travel clubs you have to find the best vacation travel club that fits with the way you and your family like to travel...and within your budget. That's how you decide if a travel club is worth its price in gold.

GlobeQuest Travel Club – Buy or Buyer Beware?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 08 May 2011 08:34:00 +0000

If you're seriously looking at GlobeQuest Travel Club (or frankly any travel club for that matter), there are some serious questions you really need to ask yourself so you don't become a victim of one of the thousands of travel clubs and timeshare companies that have infiltrated the Internet...(and the offline world too!).

I just happened to notice quite a buzz on the Internet about GlobeQuest Travel club, albeit some of it, if not most of it negative. And the pattern I see is that people take a marvelous vacation at one of Mexico's finest resorts only to later find themselves in a timeshare presentation. There's nothing sinister in that at all...in fact a lot of resorts do a lot promotion this way.

Now from all the research I've found I see people who felt they were compelled or "pressured" to go the presentation given by GlobeQuest. In reality, unless you're kidnapped or have a gun pointed to your head you are there on your free will.I digress...

Here are just a few postings of people who bought into a GlobeQuest travel membership but either are having second thoughts or regrets for doing so:

Customer #1
Customer #2
Customer #3

This is not a bashing of GlobeQuest nor am I taking their side. It is to help well-meaning travelers make better decisions when choosing a travel program and most importantly, to help them see the bigger picture.

For example customer #1 in this example felt that he was coerced by the alcohol given to him in the presentation to buy a travel membership.

In other examples people had buyers remorse when they got back to their hotel room after buying a membership at the presentation.

Whether you feel GlobeQuest is legitimate or a scam, in each of those above cases and many more cases just like it, potential buyers could've done some things much differently that would've made their outcome much better or at least made them feel good about their purchase.

Still thinking about a GlobeQuest membership? Here are just a few simple and practical tips to consider:

1. Prep Yourself... Before you go to a presentation make sure you commit to yourself (and your spouse) to not buy anything while at the presentation.

2. Be Fully Present... When at the presentation, make sure you're sober enough to understand what's being presented to you.

3. Give Yourself Time to Think It Through... If you like what you hear at the presentation, make a point to not sign up that very day, but to take a couple of days to think it over. Note...the salesman will tell you that the special deal is only good for that day only and you'll lose out by not signing up right then, but don't fall for it. It's better to lose out on a good "deal" than to have buyers remorse down the line. And odds are if you come back a day or two later you'll get the same deal because they'll make a special exception in your case and give you the deal anyway.

4. Compare GlobeQuest to Other Travel Sites... While you're taking time to think the deal through, this is the time where you go online and start comparing prices on sites like Priceline, Travelocity, etc... You will discover that either GlobeQuest is giving you a deal or they're not. This is also going to based upon how much you actually travel. Will GlobeQuest save you money or will it cost you more money than what you can actually get out of the membership?

5. Compare GlobeQuest to Other Travel Memberships... If you find that GlobeQuest is a steal, then you want to compare membership costs of other comparable travel clubs like Global Resorts Network. Are you paying too much for your membership at GlobeQuest or is it comparable to other travel clubs?

6. Be Cautious of Contracts In Other Countries... Signing a contract in a foreign country is like opening up a can of worms in that once let out will be very hard to undo. The reason being is that you're under the laws and jurisdiction of that country, not your own.

These simple tips may seem like a lot to do whether you're looking at GlobeQuest Travel Club or any other vacation club, but buy not adhering to these you may end up paying down the line with a travel membership that you overpaid on or worse yet get scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars which you may never ever get back.

GlobeQuest may be the best thing that ever happened to you or it may be the worse. The smarter traveler does their homework first to find out the answer.

Mayan Palace Puerto Vallarta

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:45:00 +0000

Experience Mayan Palace Puerto Vallarta!

This beautiful resort is located in one of the most exclusive areas in Marina Vallarta.

From its gorgeous landscaping to its breath-taking views and distinctively designed pools, Mayan Palace Puerto Vallarta is a must-experience resort.

Location:

Paseo de La Marina Sur No. 220 Fraccionamiento Mar

Mayan Palace Puerto Vallarta is easily accessible from Puerto Vallarta International Airport (1mile) and is only about 15 minutes from the town's center.

NOTE: There is a mandatory 3% State Country tax which is payable directly to the resort at the time of check in.

Amenities:

Telephone (All Units)
Kitchen (Some Units)
Air Conditioning (All Units)
Microwave (Some Units)

Facilities:

Swimming Pool
Auto Rental
Beach
Boating
Child Care
Children's Pool
Exercise Equipment
Grocery Store
Lake
Laundry
Elevator
Live Entertainment
Medical Facilities
Playground Area
Restaurant
Snack Bar
Tennis

Things to Do and See:

When you're not relaxing at the Mayan Palace Puerto Vallarta, you can freely roam around the historic cobblestone streets and look at amazement of the white stucco buildings. You can even pick up a few gifts in the busy, but colorful shopping district called Malecon.

Many tourists make their way to the many festivals that are held here. One of the most popular is the annual Gourmet festival that attracts chefs from all over the world.

If you like water activities, make sure you take advantage of the sailing, fishing, diving, and wind surfing that this area has to offer. If you're a nature buff, make your way to the nature tour at the bird sanctuary at the Marietas Islands. Cited by the legendary Jacques Cousteau as a natural reserve, it is also a favorite of divers for its reefs and underwater wonders.

The Mayan Palace Puerto Vallarta is not just a resort, but an adventure your whole family can enjoy!

Mayan Palace Puerto Vallarta Reviews - courtesy of tripadvisor.com

"We love the location at the Marina for the extra shopping and eateries available."

- wicked1idaho

"Mayan Place is a great place. Very clean with great food at the restaurant."

- sjholloway

"The pool is the best part! The swim up bar is fabulous."

- quacknkat

Click Here to See the Secret Club That’s Been Providing Dream Vacations to the Mayan Palace (and Other Resorts) For Families Just Like Yours For Years

What is the Best On Line Travel Discount Site?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Top Questions of the Week

Question: What is the Best On Line Travel Discount Site?

Answer:

What are you looking for a discount on? Accommodations? Car rental? Airline tickets? Travel tours? In other words, you have to decide what it is you want discounts on.

It sounds simple enough, but lets go on...

As a smart traveler, you know it doesn't make much sense to learn what is the best on line travel discount site, it you haven't gotten discounts to two of your biggest travel expenses:

1. Your Accommodations and
2. Your Airline Tickets

Save on Your Accomodations

So let's start off with your accommodations...

What types of places do you like to stay in? Resorts? RV parks? Hotels? Motels? Motels? Million dollar private homes?

There are ways to save on all those and more...but first you have to know what it is that makes you comfortable when you go on vacation.

I know you want to know what is the best on line travel discount site, but I like to stick with well-known reputable companies that can give you discounts to all the above. Here are top choices for getting discounts to your accommodations:

Priceline
Global Resorts Network
Expedia
Travelocity
Orbitz
Armed Forces Vacation Club

Airline Tickets

As you're probably aware of, the airline industry has been hit pretty hard in this economy. Really cheap airfare is not as prevalent as it once was, however, if you're willing to do a little homework you can find reasonably decent discounts on your airline tickets.

But first of all you have to know where and when you want to go and which airlines serve those destinations. Go directly to the airline websites and see what are the discounted flights.

Find out the cheapest possible rates (it might be a range) of what you'll pay by going directly to the airliner...and what are the conditions you have to meet in order to get those discounted rates (i.e. Do you have to book your flight within ten days?).

Next, you'll want to hit up the online discount travel sites mentioned above (Priceline, Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz)...

Don't go for the "bundled" packages just yet. Odds are you'll overpay in one area, just to save in another..and that's not really saving at all!

Find out the cheapest prices for airline tickets for each site.

Now that you have all your research down, you're going to see what the lowest prices you've found for your accommodations and your airline tickets. Combine this total and see if you can find a bundled package on one of the discount travel sites that beats that price.

If you really done your homework, you may see in some instances that you're much better off without the bundled packages.

So what is the best on line travel discount site? Well there isn't just one. You'll have to put in a little time and do some research. After all you're designing your dream getaway, and that in itself is worth all the effort in the world.

Happy travels!

Discount Travel Clubs: The Important Things to Look for

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 17:50:00 +0000

Discount travel clubs are practically all over the internet. But this is what you really need to know about these types of clubs so you don't get "taken"...

All you want to do is just save money...

All you want is to take more vacations...

All you want is to be able to have more choices when it comes to planning your vacations...

So this is probably where discount travel clubs enters and where your search for a truly affordable option begins.

What You Ought to Know About Discount Travel Clubs

I'll be honest with you...

What you may or may not know is that some travel clubs are no better than a travel search engine where you can book directly.

Blastphemy! Right? Being a part of the travel industry I guess you would expect that I paint a rosy picture of how everything is wonderful and that every travel club is honest and fair in its dealings with the public.

In reality, not all discount travel clubs are so great. And if you've ever been a victim of a horrible travel program, then you know where I'm coming from.

Make Sure You Read: What's the Scoop on Global Resorts Network

As a person who is looking for a decent vacation club, as you continue reading you will discover what you need to learn in order to distinguish a junk discount vacation club from one that can give you incredible special discounts on your next vacation.

As you already know, one of your biggest travel expenses are your accommodations.

Outside of doing travel activities and going sight-seeing, a lot of your time will be either spent inside your room or hanging around your lodging's attractions

This is why you should spend a bit more time deciding where you want to stay when you go on your next vacation.

Want Kind of Discounts Are You Looking For?

This is the important part where discount travel clubs come in. Some clubs particularize in discount rates to hotels, motels, private homes, and luxury resorts.

You should spend time on those clubs that offer the accommodations you want.

What you may or may not know is that timeshares disguise themselves as travel clubs too. As a savvy vacationer you know that travel clubs and timeshares are not investments.

This is the biggest reason you'll get better discounts by going with a non-timeshare travel club. Why pay more for your vacations if you don't have to?

The price ranges for a travel club can range from $200 up to $70k or more.

On the cheaper end you'll have vacation travel clubs giving you certificates you have to activate with high fees. Don't even bother with these types of clubs.

The discount clubs in the median price range (around $1k-$15k) tend to give you far better savings. These types of travel clubs usually have better rates than sites like Travelocity and Expedia.

Overall, you'll want to do your homework first and find the club that gives you the best discounts to the way you like to vacation. Cheap family vacations can be yours, but you have to choose the right discount travel club first.

Inspirato Vacation Club: Is the Inspirato Vacation Club a Good Deal?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:25:00 +0000

If you've heard of the Inspirato luxury vacation club, but wasn't quite sure what it is and how it works...and wasn't quite sure if it was worth your time and money, then you'll definitely want to read this.

So what is the Inspirato luxury vacation club?

Well if you're a savvy traveler looking into travel clubs, then you probably know pretty much how they work.

But if you happen to be new to all of this, let me just cut to chase and briefly tell you in a few sentences about them...

For simplicity sake travel clubs can basically be put into two categories: travel clubs you have equity in and travel clubs that you don't.

You would think that having equity in something is a good thing...and most instances it is, however, travel clubs including timeshares are not investments nor are they designed to make you money unless you're a timeshare property developer creating properties.

Travel clubs are designed to save you money when you vacation. This is an important point that travelers miss and it usually gets them in trouble down the road.

Which brings us to Inspirato.

Inspirato is a travel club that specifically caters to the affluent. With that in mind, it doesn't mean that you have to pay more for your vacations just because you have the money...especially when you don't have to.

This travel club was founded by Brent Handler, who co-founded Exclusive Resorts, a high-end destination club that also caters to the very wealthy.

How Inspirato Works

Just like most travel clubs, you become a member by paying a membership fee; in this instance, to become an Inspirato member you pay a one-time initiation *fee of $9,500. Memberships are good for one year and if you choose to renew your membership you’ll pay an annual renewal fee $2,500 each year.

*Note prices do change and this is the going rate as of this writing.

Here is the important part of Inspirato...

In addition to the membership costs, you'll have to pay nightly rates for a vacation home or access to luxury resort facilities. This means you can travel to the club’s properties as little or much as you want. The nightly rates for each home are dynamic, which means they can change and are not fixed priced and are based upon the market's going rate.

Side Note...you're not buying equity in properties.

And most importantly Inspirato doesn't buy these vacation homes, they lease them. This makes it less expensive for you to join.This is also what makes Inspirato stand apart from most high-end travel clubs that cater to the very affluent.

Important Things to Know About Inspirato...

Personal Vacation Advisor
You'll get access to a Personal Vacation Advisor (PVA) once you become a member. They're there to assist you in planning your vacation.

Concierge Services
With your membership you're also going to get daily housekeeping and personal concierge services.

Types of Properties
Although the portfolio of properties is limited, you do get access to top rated luxury resorts and upscale vacation homes.The current estimated market value of the homes in the Inspirato collection ranges from approximately $2.0M to over $10M. The average nightly going rate is around $800+

Overall...

Inspirato looks like a promising for those who love to vacation in higher-end homes. With its low cost membership fee this seems like a good deal for those who want to vacation like this.

However, for the traveler who likes luxury resort vacations, then you can do much better with a luxury travel club like Global Resorts.

Inspirato may just change the way the wealthy vacation...and save them money in end. Who could argue against that?

Armed Forces Vacation Club Review

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:57:00 +0000

If you're looking at the Armed Forces Vacation Club as a way for you to save money on your vacations, you may want to read this article before you join.

You may or may not be familiar with the Armed Forces Vacation Club. First of all this travel club is not endorsed or funded by the U.S. government...it is part of the travel company Wyndham Worldwide.

And if you haven't guessed it by now, it is solely open to personnel in the military, active or retired. It is also open to Department of Defense personnel and select civilians who perform military duties.

The biggest benefit of this travel club is that $369 per week accommodations. This could be at any hotel or luxury resort that Wyndham serves. As you can see this is an awesome deal considering that the Armed Forces Vacation Club currently as far as I understand, does not have any membership fees or costs.

In case you're wondering what's the catch...well it's like this...

To take advantage of that $369 rate you'll either have to go off-season or be able to travel with short notice...and we're talking 10 days or less notice.

Now if you're able to do either of those then this is the best vacation club for that. Unfortunately a lot of folks either don't like vacationing off-season or need more than ten days notice to take time off from work/school.

The other two primary options of this club are:

High Demand Travel Locations – The AFVC allows you a discount at peak-times and or high demand locations. The discounts may or may not be any better than what you may be able to get at Travelocity or Expedia.

Nightly Rentals – The AFVC allows you discounts per night if you don't want to stay an entire week. Again you'll want to compare prices at Travelocity and Expedia.

In either case, the High Demand Travel Locations and the Nightly Rentals prices can be beat in many cases by a regular vacation travel club membership.

The best use of the Armed Forces Vacation Club is for those who either don't mind off-season traveling and/or those who can travel on short notice. It's also great for those who don't travel a lot.

If you're non-military or if you're not fond of the tight restrictions the AMVC has or you're an avid traveler who travels a lot, then you can get much better rates using a discount travel club like Global Resorts. The membership will pay for itself if you travel lot.

Whether you use Armed Forces Vacation Club or a discount travel club like Global Resorts, either will get you good tremendous savings on luxury resorts at just a fraction of the cost of what everyone else is paying.

Happy travels!

Nomads Travel Club...Is There Still Hope?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:20:00 +0000

Is there a lesson to be learned with the dire news of Nomads Travel Club, or is just another bump in the road for another travel-related company?

It's no secret that the travel industry is on the rebound from a tough economy. Nomads Travel Club may very well end up like another vacation travel club that caters to high-end travel enthusiasts, Ultimate Escapes, if doesn't change what it's doing.

If you're not familiar with Nomads Travel Club, it's Detroit's oldest travel club and it happens to be on the brink of liquidation. Click here to read more...

Although travel clubs can come in a wide array of price ranges and accommodations, the clubs that seem to be toughing out this rough economy the best are the vacation travel clubs that have lower operating costs and cater to middle to high income travelers.

Nomads Travel Club may need to find a way to lower its operating costs (maybe cut out the private jet?) so it can live another day to give their members just one more dream vacation.

We wish Nomads Travel Club well!

Romantic Weekend Getaway Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 08:56:00 +0000

Do you have a lot of romantic weekend getaway ideas but just can't decide? Or are you having difficulty coming up with excellent romantic weekend getaway ideas?

Here are a few recommendations to help you finally create a romantic weekend getaway at this moment and in the foreseeable future...and save money at the same time.

Here are a few romantic weekend getaway ideas:

Manhattan Here We Come

You can spend a fabulous weekend in NYC and reside either at the Marriott Hotel on Broadway, for example, which is right near the Theatre District; or you can book a weekend at the Plaza Hotel overlooking Central Park.

Perhaps you would like to stay at the Mandarin Hotel and Spa where you can both be pampered for the weekend.

No matter what your price range is; Manhattan is more than accommodating.

Obviously, Manhattan is thought to be one of the most romantic spots in the U.S.

Whether you enjoy dinner at your hotel suite or dine out at any one of the five star-rated restaurants, the night-time is always young for lovers who search for seclusion in a city that entertains millions of tourists each year.

Whether you take a carriage ride through Central Park, enjoy an symphonic performance at Lincoln Center, or saunter along Fifth Avenue during the night time hours; NYC offers something for everyone.

You can tack on Manhattan to your list of romantic weekend getaway ideas to take into consideration.

San Francisco Take Us We're Yours

With its mountainous hills, phenomenal cuisine, and gracious people; San Francisco offers accommodations that are sure to enhance your romantic facet.

Some of the most notable hotels are the Fairmont Hotel, located in the Nob Hill community and the Mandarin Oriental, which is identified for its best views of the Bay and the city.

Sashay along Fisherman's Wharf and drop by Ghirardelli Square where you can grab some of their famous chocolate before having supper at one of the many seafood restaurants.

You'll have your pick of such noteworthy restaurants such as as McCormick and Kuleto's, where you have a panoramic view of the Bay, as well as Alcatraz island; both of which offer a stunning background.

You may want to drop by O'Neill's Irish Pub for an after-dinner drink. You just may leave your heart here after departing this fantastic city by the Bay.

How many more romantic weekend getaway ideas do you need? You very well may stop hunting because San Francisco may be just the ideal romantic destination you are looking for.

Love and Lights in Las Vegas

Time will stand still at this touristy destination. With a variety of hotels and resorts to pick from you can enjoy your stay here without having to worry about time, because you'll be enjoying every minute you're here!

With fantastic weather year round (hot, but always dry), you can dwindle away the early morning hours at your hotel's or resort's pools and spas and then enjoy the evening attending a stunning show or visit lady luck at the casino.

Whether you take a settle at the Venetian Hotel and get pleasure from a romantic ride on a gondola...

Or enjoy the Spa and Salon at the Hotel Bellagio...

Or just plain kick up your heels and relax at a luxury resort...

Las Vegas is both suitable for any budget and can be the right romantic weekend getaway idea.

The Lake Placid You Never Knew

Far away from the overpowering crowd, you will find coziness and romance at the Mirror Lake Inn.

With stunning mountain and lake views, fireplace, and very large tubs, you will find the accommodations more than satisfactory. In fact, they are quite favorable to a romantic weekend.

Among the many things you might like to do is take a stroll to the surrounding town of Lake Placid, only two miles away.

Here you will find stores along Main Street and you can stop at the Cottage for lunch.

Swimming, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking are some of the activities available at Mirror Lake Inn.

The calm and quiet atmosphere of this Inn is the perfect weekend getaway destination for couples.

And there you have it...a variety of amazing romantic weekend getaway ideas you can select from for your next romantic week-end.

Trying to save some money? Here's what you can do to stay in or near your favorite romantic destination while saving dollars on your most significant expense – your accommodations.

Uncover how much you can save on this romantic weekend getaway and all future romantic getaways by staying in a luxury resort. Simply click here to find out how a luxury travel club can help.

Vacation Travel Club: 4 Simple Rules to Finding the Best Vacation Travel Club

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 02:42:00 +0000

A vacation travel club can provide exceptional savings if you know what to look for...

The experience of vacationing with your family is one that you'll cherish for years to come. Traveling with your family not only helps bond your family together but it also provides long-lasting memories your children will never forget.

In a tough economy such as this, you may really want to watch where you put your vacation dollars. And this is where a vacation travel club comes in handy.

What you may or may not know is that vacation travel clubs are not new - they've been around for decades. It seems like these types of clubs are getting more attention due to this rough economic climate.

This economy is also breeding some less-than-honest travel companies who are more than willing to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers.
(See the top luxury travel club we recommend)

It's really important to take into account these 4 simple rules about travel membership clubs. It will save you a lot of heartache, frustration, and money.

What You Need to Know About Using a Vacation Travel Club

Rule #1: Know what you're buying into and what you're getting for your money

There are equity and non-equity vacation travel clubs.

Timeshares and private residence clubs are types of equity travel clubs. In most cases these types of clubs don't refer to themselves as timeshares due to the stigma and sometimes deserving bad reputation timeshares have. They will in most cases refer to themselves as "travel clubs."

Most people who buy into timeshares usually finance it and then it becomes just one more payment you have to keep up. Add on the maintenance fees and know you're committed to keeping up that payment as well. As you can see it is a huge commitment and burden that sometimes some families are not able to keep up even in the best of times.

Add on to the fact that timeshares have a lot of restrictions and aren't flexible enough for some travelers.

**Private Residence Clubs: A Type of Vacation Travel Club**

Private residence clubs can cost upwards of $100k or more just to buy into one. With so few members in these particular types of clubs, risk is spread out amongst fewer people. This then makes private residence clubs a very risky choice for travelers. Make sure you understand and accept the risks before buying into this type of club. (See the top luxury travel club we recommend)

The Leading Type of Vacation Travel Club

Non-equity travel clubs are the most prevalent kind you'll run to online...and are the ones where you'll get the most savings. For starters, you're not putting down a huge payment, making monthly payments and yearly payments as you would if you bought into a timeshare.

In most cases when you become a member of a non-equity travel club you'll either have a one-time fee or a yearly fee.

You're not taking on big debt (if any debt at all) because there are vacation travel clubs that can be bought into for less than $5k.

Rule #2: Know exactly what kind of accommodations you're getting for your membership

Are you getting discounted rooms at a motel or a resort? And if so what kind? Can you get discounts to cruises? Houseboats? You should also know what kind of inventory you have access to. Do you have just several properties to choose from or hundreds?

Be forewarned...if you don't have access to hundreds of properties odds are you're going to have trouble booking a vacation.

Rule #3: You should be able to book your vacation with ease and simplicity

One of the biggest complaints of some vacation travel clubs is that it's cumbersome and difficult to book a vacation.

Some travel clubs operate by mail in that they mail out info to you and you then have to mail back the vacation choices you've chosen. Some offer only a telephone number so you can talk to a customer service person only during business hours to help you book your vacation.

Any of those options would be fine back in 1997, but in this day and age, travel members should also have access to a website so they can easily plan and book their vacation at their convenience.

Rule #4: The vacation travel club should not be vague when it comes to prices

The biggest flaw some travel clubs have...which is also why some of them come under scrutiny (in most cases it’s the newer companies) is that some of them don't tell its prospective members what they're saving on and ultimately what they will be paying for their accommodations.

It's after people buy into the vacation travel club that they realize that they're not saving any money or the membership costs far outweigh the savings they'll ever get by being a member. These shady types of clubs rely on being vague so that you can't do any kind of comparison shopping before you buy into it.

Choosing the Best Vacation Travel Club

If timeshares are out and travel clubs are in...then how do you choose the best vacation travel club?

First of all you make sure you at the very least follow the four rules here. The biggest reason people get themselves into trouble with timeshares and travel clubs is that they fail to ask questions...the right kind of questions.

The Vacation Travel Club That Gives the Most Value For the Money

The club that I recommend is the luxury travel club Global Resorts Network. The lifetime membership is less than $5k. Which is pretty awesome when you consider that some travel clubs cost $10k and don't have nearly the type of inventory Global Resorts has.

What's even better is that you can look up all the resorts you'll have access to when you become a member before you ever become a member, which is unheard of.

It's very transparent...you'll know how much you'll pay per week with the membership, and in fact, you can look up the inventory and even book it from an online catalog that you'll be given access to.

After being disappointed and frankly embarrassed by all the less than honest travel clubs out there that prey on travelers, I had to find one that lived up to what it said and this club has done so for years.

If saving money is important to you as staying at top notch luxurious resorts, then you can't go wrong with Global Resorts Network.

Don't take my word for it, click here to take a look at this luxury travel club for yourself.

Whether you choose GRN or another type of vacation travel club, make sure you do your homework first so you don't have regrets later.

Happy traveling!

Luxury Family Vacations Are Really Possible in This Economy?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:58:00 +0000

You may feel that a luxury travel club has no place in this horrible economy...but you just may be incorrect.

Many travelers have trashed their timeshares (those who were fortunate to find buyers) in order to go with a more practical choice of travel via travel clubs.

Timeshares are not the only choice when it comes to finding nice lodging for your vacation. And thank goodness for that. In fact, more people who are timeshare owners later regret buying into one.

This is partly due to the inflexibility, black out dates, and annual fees that timeshares are known for. Not to mention that buying real estate in the form of a timeshare in this type of economic climate is not a Intelligent move to make.

So, with timeshares out and luxury travel clubs in, how do travel clubs make it more affordable for you and your family to travel?

First off, you're not buying a piece of property. This means that you're not putting your family in big financial debt that timeshares are notorious for. Second, you don't have to agonize about high yearly maintenance fees.

Must Read: Travel on a Budget...

If the sound of luxury travel clubs is sounding better to you, then you'll be delighted to know that these clubs are very flexible and affordable for the average family. If you ever wondered how so many families just like yours are able to take vacations at 3, 4, and 5 star resorts...multiple times a year, well this is how.

Here's what you really ought to be aware of....

Not all travel clubs are created. Some are nothing more than extravagant homes that charge you of upwards of $70k to just join; while others are really timeshares in disguise. And then there are the real luxury travel clubs. These offer a very modest price to join, have no black out dates, and offer a wide range to accommodations to select from.

For the normal family and even those in high income brackets, these types of clubs provide the best benefit all around. To learn more, visit luxury travel clubs. There you'll see the leading club smart travelers like yourself have turned to year after year.

Luxury travel clubs have become the new "norm" for travelers who want to save money without sacrificing luxury. Finally learn how you and your family can take that dream vacation you've been putting off.

Happy travels!

World Travel Club Membership vs Global Resorts Network

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:52:00 +0000

Is the World Travel Club membership a winner or a sore loser when it stacks up against Global Resorts Network? You may be in for quite a shock at the answer. These are the things no one dares to talk about in the travel industry.

If you were looking at the World Travel Club Membership or even the Global Resorts Network club, then there are some important things you've got to know.

Choosing a travel club is no easy task unless you have a little bit of knowledge as to how they work and why vacation resorts turn to these types of organizations to bring in customers.

Briefly, resorts want their rooms filled. Unoccupied rooms means no money. They're in the business of making money. So, the reason why they "partner" with these types of clubs is to simply to stay in business.

Simple enough.

So, some clubs got a bit of leeway to decide what to charge for their memberships. With everything being equal (the same resorts, decent customer service, etc...), the thing they can truly compete on is price.

Why pay more for the same resort when you don't have to? When you look at how the World Travel Club membership stack up against Global Resorts Network, it's easy to see which is the real bargain.

Here's the comparison at a glance...

World Travel Club Membership Information

Accomodation	One Time Cost	Fee Per Week
Studio	$5,000.00	$495.00
1 Bedroom	$6,000.00	$595.00
2 Bedroom	$9,000.00	$795.00

Vs.

Global Resorts Network

Accomodation	One Time Cost	Fee Per Week
Studio	$1,495 (Gold) / $2,995 (Platinum)	$398-$699 (G) / $298-$699 (P)
1 Bedroom	$1,495 (G) / $2,995 (P)	$398-$699 (G) / $298-$699 (P)
2 Bedroom	$1,495 (G) / $2,995 (P)	$398-$699 (G) / $298-$699 (P)
3 Bedroom	$1,495 (G) / $2,995 (P)	$398-$699 (G) / $298-$699 (P)

*Note* In rare exceptions may be up to $799 week in Hawaii etc.

When you look at these clubs from this standpoint, it's a no-brainer as to which travel membership club comes up on top.

Think of all the money you'll be saving by going with the club membership that offers real value without sacrificing luxury.

With the money you save you can:

Go on more excursions
Take more vacations
Take your in-laws on vacation
Take a longer vacation
Go on an exotic vacation you previously thought you couldn't afford

The list is endless.

Isn't it about time you take that vacation? Now you can.

Happy travels!

*Prices are subject to change. World Travel Club membership prices was courtesy of http://www.worldvacationsclub.com

Tips to Create Travel Photo Books

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 01:20:00 +0000

by Mark Kevin Smith

It is quite an enjoyable task creating Travel photo books, which are essentially an album that compiles the memorable moments which you have shared with your travel companions. There are certain tips which you should follow when you are creating Travel Photo Books, so that the photo book remains as a cherished reminder of the enjoyable moments which you had spent, while you were on a vacation.

1. In the first instance, you should click a lot of photos, pen down your thoughts while you were vacationing, and also retain the small mementos like ticket stubs, brochures and menus. After the trip, you must ensure that the photos as well as the mementos are collected, so that they can be utilized.

If there are a lot of people who are involved in the process of creating Travel photo books, it would be a creative and collaborative effort, and the end result would also be outstanding.

2. The next step involves the procedure of accumulating the varied materials which are necessitated for creating Travel photo books. For the purpose of creating unforgettable Travel photo books, it is essential for you to click as many photos as you can.

Must Read: Luxury Family Vacations...

This would necessitate an adequate memory card in your camera, and if you have additional ones, that would be ideal. You have to be assured of freedom to click numerous photos, so that you have a diverse range of photos from which you can select the apt ones for creating cherished Travel photo books.

In the procedure of creating impressive Travel photo books, ensure that you have the right combination of people and varied places, as well as small and larger sized items. If you have met a tour guide, for instance who was particularly remarkable, it is imperative that you would want to click a photo of the tour guide, to remember him.

Remember to pose in font of the noted monuments and important places, if you happen to visit them, though it could seem passé. These are memories which you would wish to hold onto, in the long run.

For creating Travel photo books, you should always remember to keep a notebook handy, as this would aid you in recalling integral details related with the places you have visited. It would also enable you to pen down private notes, or funny incidents which you can accumulate in the form of amusing stories and incorporate that in the Travel photo books.

3. The final step in creating Travel photo books involves the procedure of assembling all the things together. For this purpose, you can utilize numerous free of cost online templates. Alternately, if you have access to programs like Photoshop and Indesign, it would be helpful.

You should utilize the finest quality digital color printing, and when you have to bind the photo book, you could avail the services of thermal printing, or hardcover printing. You can also buy one of these machines, as they are relatively cheap, and you can thus have the choice of creating multiple photo books, at leisure, whenever you wish.

This would also ensure flexibility to edit the photo books, as per your convenience, and you can have your personally designed and memorable Travel Photo Book, to be treasured forever.

ImagineBooks makes it so easy for you to design your own personal photobook.Our free photo book software has been tried and tested by literally thousands of users around the world.

Article Source: Travel Article Library