Despite economic trembling, Disney Resorts is pressing ahead with their $800 million resort project. During the ground breaking ceremony recently, Hawaii's Lt Gov Duke Aiona pointed out the huge economic impact of construction jobs. Others who spoke at the ground breaking ceremony described the significant impact of the enlarged tax base and staff jobs. The Disney resort, including 480 Disney Vacation Club timeshare villas, will be located on the west coast of the island of Oahu.

As the scale model below shows, the area will be transformed into a tropical oasis of winding rivers, lush garden lagoons, palms, and even a volcano. Not only will Oahu be the featured destination, but the Disney resort will become a feature all on its own.

This is still all great news for anyone who owns a Disney (DVC) timeshare. It is also great news if you are thinking of selling your DVC timeshare ownership. Now it will be even more flexible, offer significant options to their owners, and look that much more attractive. This will also help its resales value.

If you are thinking of buying a Disney Vacation Club timeshare ownership, the timeshare pros at www.rpmls.com is the place to start. With nearly 30 years of timeshare resales brokering, co brokering, advertising, closing, and more - they have the experience to get any deal closed.

Scale Model of Disney's Ko Olina Resort

Hopefully not too much more than you'd expect.  Most timeshare owners have the understanding that their annual "dues" or maintenance fee includes property tax plus fees required for the upkeep of the resort.

So, here comes the fun - yesterday's Miami Herald ran a news story explaining how a number of timeshare property management firms have been charging $3 to $5 fees to the timeshare owners without their knowledge. Does not sound like much? Well, in 2007, 4.4 million households owned one or more weeks of timeshare in the US. AND, it turns out that these fees have been going to a political action committee set up by the American Resort Development Association. According to the story, "This year alone, ARDA spent $540,000 lobbying against mortgage reform legislation on Capitol Hill, including the expansion of truth-in-lending requirements to timeshare buyers."

This discovery came to light during a Federal Election Commission audit of the Political Action Committee of ARDA. Their report covers a period of roughly 2003 - 2004's election cycle and $1.8 million raised during that time.

If you want to keep up with this developing story, check in here from time to time, or subscribe to this blog.

Great photo of Point Loma California, courtesy of www.pdphoto.org

If you are thinking of buying or selling your Wyndham timeshare, here's some valuable information! Over the years, Wyndham resorts have done well on the resales market.  Stroman Realty, Inc has published a list of their best selling Wyndham resorts.  Generally, these resorts are considered a great value and fine quality! The top selling Wyndham resorts include the Cypress Palm, Kingsgate, Westwinds, Fairfield Glade, Pagosa, Ocean Ridge, Star Island Resort, Sea Gardens, Branson, and Sapphire Valley.  In addition, these Wyndham timeshare resorts have shown great sales success: Royal Vista, Kona Hawaiian, Sedona, and Skyline Tower.

Many other Wyndham timeshare properties have been sold, but these have had the most activity in the resales market.  If you are ready to sell your Wyndham timeshare, go with someone who has had proven success.  See what the professionals at www.rpmls.com can do for you.  They will take the hassle out of selling - taking care of all the details.

Wyndham Star Island Resort, Kissimmee Florida

Here's a new online platform for timeshare or fractional properties that works somewhat like a MLS - Timeshare Information Exchange (TIE). Many organizations have attempted to pull something like this together, but with little success. This be good for both the small local Realtor office near a timeshare resort for their listings and for the large brokers who may be turning away dozens of buyers a day because they do not have the inventory.

I took the program for a test run and it is very simple. For example, there are drop down menus with every location and every resort. Simple search forms and straightforward help instructions make it easy and hassle free. I could see a timeshare resort Homeowners Association using it to sell their extra units that owners have abandoned. I could also see the advantage of a large development having the ability to add in hundreds of unit/weeks at a time.  Here's a link to the front page: www.timeshare-information-exchange.com and here's a press release about the new service.

Wherever you may find yourself in the timeshare business, this may give you a simple solution to a tough problem.

San Luis Bay Inn, Timeshare in Avila Beach California

On November 14 ABC News ran a 8 minute video raising warnings to anyone interested in buying a timeshare. They highlighted all the stereotypical issues involving timeshares - declining values, rising maintenance fees, lack of true flexibility.  They made the whole industry sound either shady or worthless. They only told half of the story.

Owning and using a timeshare will work for you if you go into the experience with your eyes open. Especially at the beginning. Never pay retail prices for what many owners would be willing to sell you for a serious discount. Buy a timeshare at a location you really like and plan to frequent. Don't make your decision about buying a timeshare based on exchanging it every year for your favorite destinations. That seldom works out. Finally, use your timeshare. that's where the true value is. Over time, you really will save a bundle and enjoy much nicer accommodations.

When you get ready to sell your timeshare, use a timeshare resales specialist. A company with a lot of years of experience like www.rpmls.com. And be reasonable about what you intend to get out of it - What is my timeshare worth? The bottom line is . . .

Buy timeshare resale - don't pay retail.

Playa Grande Resort Timeshare - Cabo San Lucas Mexico

You will be asking yourself that question when you get ready to sell your timeshare. Why? Because the answer to that question may determine whether or not you will sell your timeshare or keep it. The only "official" guidance that has been offered came from the American Resort Developers Association who said that timeshares will usually sell for 50% to 75% of a retail price. But, with averages being just that, averages, that may not help you much.

Stroman Realty, Inc, has published a report that draws data from thousands of timeshares sold on the secondary market. Even though the rule of averages still applies, the following graph from that report gives timeshare owners a good indication that the resales value of their timeshare is going up quickly. The chart below shows that from 2003 to 2007 the average resales price of a two bedroom high season timeshare grew from $7,505 to $11,031. That's great news for anyone contemplating selling their timeshare. So, if you've been thinking about it, right now is a great time to sell!

This incredibly beautiful resort in the Bahamas has had to make cuts due to decreased occupancy rates and sales. The Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas features over 3,000 rooms (imagine the housekeeping staff!). This is one of the best selling timeshare resorts of all time on the secondary or timeshare resales market. The demand for these is astounding with people paying tens of thousands for a one week stay each year.

The reporter said that these layoffs at Atlantis - Bahamas accounted for about 10% of their staff. So, 8,000 people on their staff? I guess that's what they said.

That does reflect a huge amount of attention to each visitor to the resort. If the place was 100% occupied (and of course it is not) you'd have 2 or 3 staff people seeing to each room. That may account for the high owner satisfaction grades this resort receives. Owners rave about the service, attention to detail, and quality of their experience.

Hopefully, as things return to normal, those 800 workers will be back at work helping to make your stay at the Atlantis one you'll never forget.

Harbourside Resort Atlantis, Bahamas

How many times have you heard the pitch: "You get a free weekend at a fabulous timeshare resort, in exchange you would be required to attend a 90 minute presentation"?  The offers come in many forms with varying requirements.  The temptation is the free lodging. But what is the risk of such a timeshare travel deal?

You could be placed in a tiny room in a bad location.  There may be undisclosed fees.  The "90 minute presentation" may turn into an all day event where you are held hostage by a series of sales people. You may even spend thousands on a timeshare purchase that you never intended to spend.  USA Today posted an article today about such a proposition.  They recommend that if you intend to buy a timeshare, buy the timeshare from an owner, not the resort. "If you buy in at the developer's asking price, a timeshare "investment" almost always loses value. That's why most experts recommend you buy a timeshare on the resale market rather than a "retail" timeshare." (source)

In addition, when you buy resale you will not be on the receiving end of a high pressure timeshare sales pitch.  There are many ways to go about finding just what you want.  www.rpmls.com is a great choice.  There you have many choices and a professional staff to assist you in your search.

Buy resale, not retail. Don't assume that a timeshare travel deal from the home resort is the best value!

Southern California has long been an area ripe for timeshare development. But because of limits placed by local governing authorities and the price of land, timeshares have been slower to develop than Las Vegas, Orlando, or other areas. After two years of construction Wyndham has opened their WorldMark Anaheim 14 story timeshare resort. They will offer studio, one, and two bedroom units. The tower also boasts two-, three- and four-bedroom luxurious “Presidential” units for a total of 241 timeshare units.

There are a few other timeshares in Southern California worth mentioning. Located between Oceanside and San Diego is Four Seasons Resort Aviara. This has been one of the very best timeshares on the resales market for this region. Four Seasons Aviara offers the very best amenities and luxury vacationing. Nearby is the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort. More affordable than Four Seasons, it is set on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This ideal location puts an entire realm of oceanfront activities at your doorstep. The Coronado Beach Resort, located between San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, is well known as an upscale vacation destination.

Also, be sure to check out Riviera Beach and Spa Resort, San Clemente Cove Resort, and another top seller Marriott's Newport Coast Villas.

Marriott's Newport Coast Villas timeshare in Southern California

I often visit the www.cnn.com/travel website to see their ideas about travel, exciting vacations, and new deals being offered for the budget minded traveler. A very recent article there "Where the Travel Deals Are" highlighted places like Iceland, London, South Africa, and Hawaii. Their Hawaii section captured my attention the most when they described how generous and affordable they are making hotels and airfare.

Apparently the Hawaii tourism market has dropped 9% this year so they have taken drastic price reduction measures to attract more people. Now would be a great time to rent a timeshare, find a discount airfare and Go To Hawaii!

For example, you can find a five star resort with magnificent amenities, two bedrooms, totally furnished and with a brand name like Marriott or Westin for less than $1,000 a week.  That's less than $150 a day for a condo - lots of room and loaded with quality and luxury. Some of the top timeshare resorts we have rented out in Hawaii include Marriott's Maui Ocean Club, Wyndham Waikiki Beach Walk, Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, and more.

I'd say, go ahead and take the plunge: Go to Hawaii, rent a timeshare, save a lot of money, and have the vacation of your life.

Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Maui Hawaii Timeshare