Travel Membership Clubs

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.

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:

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

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!

To learn more about discounts to luxury resorts like the Mayan Palace Puerto Vallarta, visit:
http://budurl.com/TravelClub

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.

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 what you may or may not know is that numerous travel clubs are no better than a travel search engine where you book directly. Now you can 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, the biggest travel cost is going to be your rental 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 in when you go on vacation. Why make yourself uncomfortable in a place you rather not be at?

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.

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-5k) 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.

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.

See how easy it is to look up your favorite resort or your favorite destination in the resort registry before you become a member. (Use the secret code located at the bottom of the page).

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.

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.

travel on a budget

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.

*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.

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

Is a Blonde Resort Really a Blonde Idea?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:47:00 +0000

Finding a new niche in traveling is nothing new...but has a travel company gone too far by building a "blondes only" resort?

Ok, let's look at it closely.

The island resort will be staffed entirely by blondes...the guests don't have to be blonde to go there.

Ahhh! A sigh of relief for some.

But is there really a need for a travel resort like this? By, the way you can read about the blonde resort here. If tourists want to be pampered in blonde-ness, why not just go to place like Sweeden where most people are blonde and find a beach or spa down there?

It definitely may come out cheaper, not to mention you get an to go to a beautiful country to get your blonde fix.

No, no, no! That would ruin the novelty of a blonde island resort...wouldn't it?

Would you want to go to an blonde-only resort?

Family Vacation Help: 3 Things You Can Do Right Now to Get the Family Vacation Help You Need

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:47:00 +0000

Family vacation help? Is it really possible to take your family on a remarkable, unforgettable vacation without putting your finances in turmoil? You won't believe the answer.

If there was ever a time your family's life where you all needed a vacation...this may be it. Not only do you have the pressures of being a mom or dad, but also the pressure from holding down a job or two. Add to the fact that you may be dealing with a boss you don't like.

Don't forget your kids have pressure too! From dealing with peer-pressure and the need to belong, to dealing with the hormonal changes they will have to go through if they're not already. Add to the mix the need to perform well on tests and make you proud of them. It's a heavy load to take on as a kid.

Which is why you and your family need to take time away from the "mean streets" of life. But the question remains as to how exactly to get the family vacation help you need so your dream vacation can become a reality.

Let's start with these three things:

1. Do a family budget. If you don't have a budget by now, you should really do one right now. This will allow you to see where you "stand" financially as a family. Although a vacation is a luxury, it is at times one of those much needed luxuries! However, you don't want to add on extra debt to you family's load if it doesn't fit within your budget.

2. Do you have disposable income? Now that you've done your budget, you will see what and if you have any money available that you can set aside for your family vacation. If you don't then you'll have to find more ways to cut your expenses and/or find a way to pick up some more hours at work or find a side job.

See what things you can cut so you can have money for your vacation. Can you cut down on your cell phone bill? Can you get less Cable or Satelite channels to reduce your monthly bill?

It can be done. Get your whole family working together on this one. Your family will appreciate the vacation more when they all have to work together in order to make it happen.

3. Be travel smart. Find a way to save on one the biggest expenses of a vacation...the accommodations. Don't do what a lot of other people do...(and later regret) and that's go running towards timeshares. In this unstable economy and bad real estate market it would be like committing slow financial suicide.

And even in the best of times timeshares wouldn't necessarily be a viable solution...especially when you have more cost-efficient travel clubs available. Some travel clubs are a fraction of the cost of a timeshare without the extra mountain load of debt timeshares are known for. Which is why we love travel clubs. We recommend this one.

If you can imagine strolling hand-in-hand with your loved one on a white sandy beach, or skiing on the snowy-white slopes of Aspen, or seeing the laughter on your children's faces as they splash down from a enormous water slide...then you have the capacity to make it a reality for your family.

The best family vacation help will come from you. And the first step is seeing what you can afford and then choosing the best travel club that's within your means. And it's all uphill from there.

Global Resorts Network: What's the Scoop on Global Resorts Network?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 02:24:00 +0000

Global Resorts Network

Top Recommended Travel Club

What Is It?: So, what is Global Resorts Network©?

Well its travel service division has been around over 20 years! (yes, we like longevity in this industry!)

In 1999, it developed an Internet reservation and customer service system providing members with access to its world-wide inventories of accommodation.

Why We Like It: Global Resorts Network offers tremendous value without compromising luxury.

The Costs: GRN has 2 membership levels, Platinum and Gold.

The Platinum Plan is $2,995

You get unlimited access to the online catalog of resorts so you can plan your dream vacation at your convenience. You also get unlimited vacations a year. Typical 1-3 Bedroom prices range from $298/wk to $699/wk. Access to all resorts offered.

The Gold Plan is $1,495

You get unlimited access to the online catalog of resorts for 36 months. Enjoy 3 weeks of vacation per year. Typical 1-3 bedroom prices range from $398-$699/wk per week. Access to all resorts offered.

Like anything else, prices are subject to change.

All resorts are 3, 4, and 5 star rated.

Luxurious resorts, flexibility, and affordability make Global Resorts Network our top recommended travel club membership.

NOTE: GRN is not a timeshare, or a social club. It strictly provides luxury resort memberships along with one-stop shop planning of vacations...including offering air flights and car rental discounts.

To learn more about Global Resorts Network or to browse the registry (use "resorts" as login and "lookfor" as the password), Click here

If you are a satisfied or unsatisfied member of Global Resorts Network, post your experiences here:

Prestige Travel Club: What's the Scoop on Prestige Travel Club?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 01:18:00 +0000

Prestige Travel Club

Prestige Travel Club (aka Passport to Travel Club and Passport Prestige Travel Club) reportedly offers its members discounts to cruises, resorts, and hotels (limited to 1 cruise per year and other limitations) for a one-time fee of $99. All you have to pay are the processing fees and taxes.

Side Note: I've seen the travel club pricing at $29, $99, and even one website had it priced at $149. Not sure of why the inconsistency in pricing.

It sounds a little too good to be true...and maybe it is. How can a company stay in business offering so much for just a one-time fee? Well, the answer lies in all the processing fees that you are charged when you actually book a vacation (cruise, hotel, resort) through them.

Some Prestige Travel Club members report that after paying all the processing fees that you end up paying just as much as if you had booked the vacation directly yourself without the Prestige membership.

Although Prestige Travel Club mentions well-known companies in its advertising, you can't actually look up any kind of resorts (or anything else for that matter) to see what's actually available to you before you become a member.

Not sure it it gets any easier to plan a vacation after you become a member.

Lack of transparency and inconsistent pricing may be a concern for consumers looking into this travel club.

Use your own good judgment.

We Recommended This Travel Club....

Are you a satisfied or unsatisfied member of the Passport to Travel Club? Post your experiences here:

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

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:01:00 +0000

Who's right for a travel membership club?

Well, if you've been frustrated before trying to put together a nice vacation...then you're the right candidate. Your last vacation may have been a pure headache to pull together so it's no wonder that this time around you want to plan your vacation with much more ease and comfort.

It's true that most avid vacationers like yourself work themselves into a frenzy trying to put all the important pieces together to plan a memorable vacation. By the time everything's set in place, you need a vacation to recover from planning your vacation!

It shouldn't have to be so difficult to design a fantastic vacation. In fact, this is why travel membership clubs have grown significantly in popularity over the past few years.

If time and convenience are important to you, then it's a no-brainer that you would consider a travel membership club.

The question then becomes, "Which travel club do I choose?"

How to Choose a Travel Membership Club

You have a few options out there, but the simple truth is that you want these important criteria in the back of your mind as you choose your travel membership club:

1. The travel membership club should have been around for at least a five years. Every so often a new travel club opens up, only to go aground a short time later. The biggest blame for this is inexperience. A vacation club that has been around at least five years has at least gained the experience, the connections, and know-how of the travel industry.

2. Make sure the travel club is not a timeshare in disguise (unless that's what you want). The word "timeshare" has a stigma to it and some companies will go to great lengths to not mention the "t" word. It's only when you read in between the lines and the fine print that you realize what you are really getting into.

3. Make sure your travel club offers real resorts...including those with 5 star ratings. You don't want a travel club that only gives you discounts to hotels and motels. You want to feel like you're on vacation and nothing beats a great resort.

4. Make your travel club offers a large selection of resorts all over the world. Nothing is a turn off more than having a very limited selection of resorts to choose from. You want variety and luxury. A club with no options or limited options is a club that is not worthy of your time and/or money.

5. Make sure your travel club can let you see the types of resorts it offers before you sign up.If a club won't let you get a peek of what it offers, then it's a club you should not even consider being a part of.

Overall, a good travel membership club will help you plan your entire vacation...from booking your flights to getting a rental car. There should also be specials on these items for its members as well.

The club you choose should make it so much easier and simpler to plan a vacation experience you'll want to talk about for years to come.