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.

And once I find it, how do I go about closing this deal and get the correct paperwork done?

The good news is that most Aruba timeshare closings are straightforward and move along relatively fast.  The closing costs are affordable and you would probably buying into a 99 year "right to use" or lease.

Sellers of Aruba timeshares are scattered all over the place, so you won't have much luck just looking in the local real estate section of the newspaper.  You will be more successful in using a timeshare broker who has a large selection of Aruba timeshares for sale and can guide you through all the necessary closing documents, escrow, and transfer.  Aruba Marriott timeshare resales are a hot market.  For example, Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club is described by RCI as being "Separated from the magnificent Caribbean Sea by a lovely white, sandy beach, this Five Star property offers the ultimate in luxury vacations."  If you can buy one at a significant discount through a timeshare resales broker like www.rpmls.com you will save thousands.

Additional Aruba Timeshares for Sale:  Costa Linda Beach Resort, La Cabana Beach Resort, Renaissance Aruba Resort, Playa Linda Beach Resort, Marriott's Aruba Surf Club, Casa Del Mar Beach Resort, Paradise Beach Villas, Caribbean Palm Village, and Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort.

 

It is not too often that it gets this cold here on Lake Conroe Texas. After all, we are tucked into the southeast corner of Texas, not far from the Gulf of Mexico. How cold is "this cold"? I think the thermometer went down to 32 degrees last night. Naturally this arctic blast has me thinking of palm trees, beaches, emerald water - the Bahamas. Featured as one of the top destinations by www.travelchannel.com the Bahamas has a lot to offer.

They specifically describe Paradise Island and the Harbourside Resort Atlantis timeshare resort. They describe Atlantis as having "several hundred rooms, seventeen restaurants, a dozen bars, an aquarium and a water park located on the property." There are several other hotels on Paradise Island, and many of them have made arrangements with Atlantis for their guests to have full access to the guest services offered by Atlantis.

If you are going to book a hotel, remember to start one or two months in advance to get a better rate. For even more affordable accommodations, consider a timeshare - especially at Harborside Atlantis. But, don't pay the retail price, buy from a timeshare owner on the resale market.  You'll save thousands and have more to spend on your dream vacations. If you buy a Harborside Atlantis timeshare on the resale market, you'll save anywhere from 20% to as much as 50% off the going resort rate. Plus, you will have a much better room for your stay and more amenities close at hand.

Harborside Resort Atlantis timeshare Bahamas

 

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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

These days, everyone is thinking more about saving money - for food, medical care, insurance, and yes, holiday travel. There are even magazines devoted entirely to the subject like Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel. The best way to save the most money on your vacation would be to use a timeshare for your accommodations.  The best way to accomplish that is if you were to buy a timeshare on the resales market at a destination you are likely to use.  Many people have purchased timeshares from the resort with never intending to use their timeshare at the resort. They intend to exchange to other locations. But if you really want to get the most use out of your timeshare and travel dollars, try to plan your timeshare vacation around the location of your time share resort. 

The initial cost of your timeshare should not be driven by the pressurized sales force at the resort. That's why buying a timeshare resale is the best way to go. Usually, you can purchase a timeshare from an owner who would be willing to make you a deal anywhere from 25% to 50% off the retail price. So if you can save thousands why do thousands of people buy timeshares at the resort every year?  It is a combination of good sales practices, seizing the emotional moment while you are there at their timeshare resort, and being sold on the idea that you are getting a great deal.

Nonetheless, the best deal would be if you buy it through a timeshare resales broker, like those at www.rpmls.com.  The have a huge selection of timeshare resales properties to select from, an educational and informational approach to helping you find the right timeshare resale deal, and a professional timeshare resales staff to get the deal closed - making everyone happy.

If you are ready to buy a timeshare on the resale market, check out these best deals.

If you are thinking of selling your timeshare on the resales market, check out what they can do for you.

This is a great place to do your research on the whole process of timeshare resales.

Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club Timeshare

 

Central Florida Investments, Inc, parent company of Westgate Resorts, Inc, has closed their Houston sales office and laid off 106 employees. (source)  This office has been doing "off-site" sales of timeshares for their network of Westgate Resorts.  Their office, located on Richmond Ave, featured a full sized model of one of their timeshare units to present to their buyers. They called this their preview gallery. The reason they gave the Texas Workforce Commission for the layoffs was that they "experienced an unforeseen business emergency brought on by the collapse of the credit markets." They were not able to sell their notes to their usual buyers, and the cash flow stopped. So far that all sounds like a normal by product of a severely tight credit market.

The reason this story caught my attention was because of the sales tactic of "off site" sales. I know that Westgate would not have kept the office open for the last 4 years if it were not successful. But, how hard must it be to sell a timeshare (at a top retail price) that may be actually sitting hundreds or thousands of miles away? Richmond Ave in Houston is nice, but it is not as popular destination as Las Vegas, Orlando, Hawaii, or others. So what kind of confidence can the consumer have when buying a timeshare in Vegas without going there? And how hard must it be for a sales person to close a deal when the buyer is not able to enjoy all the benefits and excitement of the terrific destination? Then, I'd wonder how high is their rate of cancellation compared to on site timeshare sales?  You'd think it would be harder to hold a buyer in this kind of deal.

I'd love to hear from any of you who used to work there or who have done "off-site" sales for timeshare developers!

Take a look at how we sell timeshares with no hassle, no pressure, and always "off-site".

Polo Towers Timeshare in Las Vegas