Even www.forbes.com is getting into the spirit of the season - promoting nine great timeshare destinations where you can stay for a greatly reduced rate. They describe these nine choices like this - "good news for cash-strapped and none-too-proud vacationers willing to sit through a two-hour presentation in order to enjoy up to a week's worth of deeply discounted fun in the sun or on the slopes. If you're in that camp, here are nine gambits worth a look. ' (read the story here) With a few of their recommendations like Wyndham, Marriott, and Silverleaf they don't specify which resorts to choose but describe incentives for a budget minded traveler to stay at their resort for a seriously reduced rate.

This time of year, the Raintree's Club Regina Los Cabos looks especially enticing:

Especially with this stuff swirling around the midwest and northeast:

Palm trees, beaches, and warm ocean water sounds appealing!

In their article they mention Island One, Orlando Florida, a great fractional in Destin Florida - Emerald Grande, Consolidated Resorts Tahiti Village Las Vegas, and the Westin Maui Resort and Spa. All terrific destinations - especially if you want to dodge that blue and pink stuff in the above radar image....

Happy traveling in 2009!

Great beach and tropical timeshare deals for Cabo San Lucas Mexico are here.

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

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

Today from www.MousePlanet.com comes this charming story: "The Disney Company recently purchased 21 acres of oceanfront property on Hawaii's island of Oahu to be home to Disney's first mixed-use family resort outside of its theme park developments. The expansive resort, scheduled to open in 2011, will have more than 800 units including hotel rooms and villas for Disney Vacation Club (DVC), which is Disney's rapidly growing timeshare business."

So, how is this a charming story? The rest of the story is the history of Hawaii and Disney.

Beyond the story of a 1937 cartoon with Minnie Mouse in a hula skirt (Hawaiian Holiday) is a magnificent accession of Oahu property destined to be one of the finest resorts within the Disney Vacation Club timeshare enterprise, or any other for that matter. Hawaii has long been a source of inspiration and imagination of the most desirable vacation destination of all time. And, the combination of travel and tourism will forever be the driving force of the economy of Hawaii.

Disney Vacation Club timeshares include:

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa

Disney Villas at Wilderness Lodge

Disney's Beach Club Villas

Disney's BoardWalk Villas

Disney's Old Key West Resort

Disney's Vero Beach Resort

Disney's Hilton Head Resort

If you are thinking of buying a Disney Vacation Club timeshare, buy resale - don't pay retail. You can save thousands that way. If you want to sell your Disney Vacation Club timeshare, we have buyers waiting with standing requests! Give the timeshare pros at www.rpmls.com a call - 1.800.200.9857.

From Hawaiian Holiday, 1937

Whether you are looking for surfing, diving, playing on the beach, or just soaking in the sun, here's my totally unscientific top ten picks for beach resort timeshares:

10. Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club - Separated from the magnificent Caribbean Sea by a lovely white, sandy beach, this Five Star property offers the ultimate in luxury vacations.Accommodations range from one to two bedroom villas that are elegantly appointed with full kitchen, kitchenette, formal living and dining areas, whirlpool spa in master bath, private balcony with ocean view, laundry facilities and more.

9. The Royal Mayan Cancun, Mexico. Guests will love this fabulous Five Star resort just a few minutes from a Mayan archaeological site and a championship golf course.

8. Marriott's Kauai Beach Club - On the southern coast of Kauai, 51 tropical acres provide the garden setting for Marriott's Kauai Beach Club. The one and two bedroom vacation ownership villas and luxury hotel offer two restaurants, world-class swimming pool complex, two championship golf courses, tennis and a myriad of beach activities on the quarter mile of Kalapaki Beach.

7. Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta - Situated on the beach, 15 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta is a retreat for recreational water activities. When the sun goes down, explore the exciting nightlife, designer shops, and the international restaurants of Puerto Vallarta.

6. Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas - Accommodations feature lanai with ocean view, stone flooring and distinctive Hawaiian themed decor. Activities and amenities include two spas, waterslide, steam room, swimming pool, gameroom, poolside bar, sauna, fitness center, tennis,washer and dryer in both portions of the lockout units and more.

5. Marriott's Maui Ocean Club - My top choice for Maui, located on one of the world's most famous beaches is Marriott's Maui Ocean Club. Amenities include golf, tennis, watersports, lavish swimming pools, waterfalls, live entertainment, health club, shopping, restaurants, children's activity center and much more. Suite amenities include private balconies, separate living and dining areas, and kitchenette. Don't miss historic Lahaina only minutes away.

4. Pueblo Bonito Rose Resort - This awesome resort is located in the mystical, desert landscape of the southern Baja California peninsula. Situated at Land's End, Pueblo Bonito Rose is surrounded by beautiful coastline, magnificent sea life, and the majestic nature of Los Cabos.

3. Charter Club of Marco Beach - One of the best of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island will delight water lovers, sightseers, and sun worshipers. A beachfront location allows guests to be right in the midsts of one of the world's best shelling areas.

2. Vidafel Mayan Palace-Acapulco - This fabulous tropical paradise is in the new Acapulco Diamente Zone and offers beautiful lakes and gardens thoughout the property. Amenities include golf, tennis, restaurants, beach, live entertainment, playground, and the largest swimming pool in the world.

1. Harborside Resort at Atlantis - My number 1 choice. Surrounded by the beautiful Caribbean and pure-white beaches, Harborside Resort at Atlantis is ideally situated in the perfect spot for relaxing and adventure. These luxurious villas feature full kitchens, formal living and dining areas, whirlpool bath and private terraces.

So that's my top ten. Let me know if you would nominate others for this list!

Here's a narrated slide show of these ten resorts!

In the Starwood family of resorts, the Westin Kaanapali stands out above the rest.  Located on the northwest shores of Maui Hawaii, this resort offers luxury at a level few ever manage to experience.  And at a fraction of what it would cost if you owned a whole ownership condo in the same area.  The Westin Kaanapali timeshare offers acres of pristine beach and places you ideally on Maui's west end, giving you enviable access to the refreshing blue of the Pacific Ocean. Soak in breathtaking vistas of natural beauty while being able to enjoy the nearby cultural activities in the former whaling town of Lahaina. If you were to buy this timeshare from the resort you would pay far more than if you bought on the secondary market.  There are owners of Westin Kaanapali timeshare who would be willing to sell to you at a significant discount.  You can find these timeshare deals at www.rpmls.com.

If you are ready to sell your Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas timeshare, seek the professional help of the agents at www.rpmls.com.  They have been in the timeshare business for nearly 3 decades and have the expertise to get the job done!

Other Starwood Resort timeshares available at www.rpmls.com include: Sheraton's Vistana Orlando, Sheraton's Desert Oasis, Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas, Sheraton's Mountain Vista, Buganvilias Resort, Sheraton Broadway Plantation, Lakeside Terrace@Vail Valley, Sheraton's PGA Vacation Resort, Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort, and Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas.

If you have decided to sell your Marriott Maui Ocean Club timeshare, you probably have mixed emotions. This has to be one of the most beautiful timeshare resorts in the world.  It is hard to beat Maui - Ocean - Marriott - Beach - Luxury - Quality!  You find all that and more at this resort.  On the other hand, if your circumstances have changed so that you can no longer use your timeshare or afford it, it is time to sell. That's where www.rpmls.com comes to lend a hand.  There you can find a wealth of information about timeshare sales, the timeshare market in Hawaii & Maui, and the process of getting your timeshare sold.

And, if you are thinking of buying a timeshare in Maui, it would be hard to go wrong with Marriott Maui Ocean Club.  You would be part of the best name in the timeshare industry (Marriott), on one of the most beautiful islands in the Pacific Ocean (Maui), and be able to enjoy the quality service and attention that Marriott timeshare owners rave about.  So when you are ready to take the plunge, call on the timeshare professionals at www.rpmls.com so that you can save a significant amount of money compared to what you would pay at the resort. Other great Marriott timeshare deals nearby include Marriott's Kauai Beach Club and Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club.

No hassle, no pressure, just a good deal!

A recent study by Hawaii's state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism showed a 21.3% growth in the number of timeshare units: from 6,592 to 7,997.  Oahu claims the largest total number of visitor accommodations, with Maui in second place.  The big island and Kauai  came in third and fourth.  Some of the best known Oahu timeshares include Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, Royal Aloha Vacation Club, Hawaiian Sun Holidays at the Waikiki Banyan, and Hawaiian Princess at Makaha Beach.

Top shelf luxury timeshare is the recurring theme on Maui.  Consider these: Marriott's Maui Ocean Club, Maui Schooner, Maui Beach Vacation Club, Kahana Beach Vacation Club, and Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas to name a few.  Nearby you will find some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world.  The PGA tour came through there a few months ago. It would be hard to go wrong with a Maui timeshare. If you think you may want to buy a timeshare in Maui, you have several well known timeshare resort names to choose from: Marriott, Westin, and Consolidated Resorts.

If you think you may want to sell Maui timeshare, you have several options.  The best would be to use a professional service like what you will find at www.rpmls.com.  There you will find a great deal of information about selling or buying timeshare.

In this story from Fox News more details are emerging about Ritz Carlton and Marriott's plans for timeshare and fractional development on this beautiful Hawaiian island.  The Ritz is "breaking ground on two developments at Kaua'i Lagoons, a spectacular 520-acre oceanfront resort."  Kaua'i Lagoon will offer 72 one-eighteenth (1/18) fractional ownerships starting at $300,000.

Marriott's plans include 74 properties similar to the project started by Ritz-Carlton.  They plan to build 78 private ownership residences with starting prices of a mere $1.6 million.

A friend of mine recently visited the islands of Hawaii and commented on the "wall to wall" resorts along the main streets on the coast.  There is a limited amount of Hawaii coastline available and at some point the development will come to a conclusion.  The residents of Hawaii who work in these upscale resorts will no longer be able to afford to live on their own island.  The are in fact being pushed to the mainland - slowly but surely.

Now would be the time to buy a Hawaii timeshare on the resale market. Owning a timeshare in Hawaii is easier that you might think.  You'd pay a fraction of the cost of a whole ownership, and be able to enjoy the tropical environment in Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, or Hawaii.

Buy timeshare - buy resale - not retail!

Owning a piece of paradise is not as hard as it looks. But if you think you can just waltz into any timeshare in Maui and buy that timeshare at a discount, you better start thinking smarter, not harder.  The typical resort will have to pack in as much as 50% into the sales price just to break even with its marketing department.  So the best way to buy is to buy resale.  When you buy a timeshare on the resale market in Hawaii, or most any other place, you will get most - if not all - the normal benefits as if you bought it through the resort. So why pay more for a timeshare when you can pay less?  Buy Maui timeshare resales to save your hard earned money.

Some of the very best deals on the island of Maui Hawaii include Marriott's Maui Ocean Club, Sands of Kahana Vacation Club, Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Kaanapali Beach Vacation Resort, Maui Schooner Resort, Kahana Beach Resort, and Maui Lea at Maui Hill.  And if you want to sell your Maui Timeshare, now is the best time to do it.  Maui timeshare resales prices, and Hawaii timeshare resales prices have been rising over the last five years. See this timeshare sales article.

This is a flying tour of Maui, courtesy of Hawaiian Helicopters: