According to Lake Superior State University, "staycation" should be wiped out of our vocabulary. Others on their list included green, maverick, carbon footprint, bailout, and Wall Street Main Street. Simply put, a staycation is a vacation close to home, or using your home for your vacation lodging.

This phrase came as a result of rising gas prices and vacationers wanting to spend less by traveling less. The problem with a staycation was that it ended up being boring. Same sights, same places, same activities - might as well be at work.

Now CNN has come up with their 2009 prediction - the "Naycation" - No one goes on vacation. Their prediction for 2009 is that no one will want to go on a vacation in 2009. They even give 9 reasons people will "keep their noses to the grindstone". (Does anyone know what that means?) Why would CNN want to be the Grinch that stole your vacation?

I'd say when times are tough you need a vacation more than ever. My prediction is that in 2009 people will still go on vacation but will find ways to spend less. One of the very best ways is to cut your lodging costs by staying in a beautiful and roomy timeshare. With a full kitchen and laundry you'll save even more. If you rent a timeshare or buy a timeshare at a huge discount you will save tons of money. That equals less stress for most people.

So, I'd agree with LSSU: banish the staycation and travel.

With so much snow being in the news lately, now is the time to get your ski trip details ironed out. In the news, Club Intrawest announced a great package deal for their three Colorado timeshare ski resorts:  "Called the Pow Pow Platter, the promotion offers skiers and riders a $99 package that includes a day each in Steamboat Springs, Copper Mountain and Winter Park." Here's where you get it: www.powpowplatter.com . It sounds like a terrific deal for just about everything you need for your ski trip.

The most recent reports coming from Copper Mountain are "Three more inches of new snow in the last 24, a foot and a half in the last week. December has brought more than three feet of fresh powder to the world-class, naturally-divided slopes of Copper." With as much snow as we have seen from coast to coast, most ski resorts are ready to open all their trails and lifts.

As always, keep an eye on your gear for safety, know where you are going, and use the buddy system to stay safe on the ski slopes this season.

Be sure to check out the 3D interactive ski maps at www.ski.com

Today, Holiday Inn Club Vacations goes online with their newest program. From their press release "Starting today, travelers who are seeking a richer vacation experience can rent vacation villas online at www.hiclubvacations.com, a dedicated website where consumers can book a spacious one-, two- or three-bedroom villa just like they would any Holiday Inn hotel room."

In addition, owners of Orange Lake Country Club will have benefits from the Holiday Inn franchise. Everyone will benefit: Orange Lake owners, Holiday Inn Club owners, and the general public. It will combine the availability of RCI resorts (4,000 resorts), Holiday Inn Club some 4,100 hotels, plus the direct availability of Orange Lake resorts.

Orange Lake Country Club has long been one of my favorites. Not only is it well located near all the Orlando attractions like Walt Disney World, Sea World, Epcot, and Universal Studios, but it has one of the most fabulous on site pool complexes in Florida. Orange Lake also happens to be one of our best selling timeshares on the resales market. So, you really can't go wrong with this improved owners' package of benefits - especially when you buy your timeshare at a discount.

Check out these deals on Orange Lake Country Club timeshares for sale by owners!

By the lake at Orange Lake Country Club, timeshare in Orlando Florida.

Timeshare rentals are available at the finest vacation resort condos worldwide. Rii® Stroman is a full service timeshare rental broker. They offer timeshares for rent on behalf of individual timeshare owners. Timeshare rentals at vacation resorts typically offer more amenities than a hotel room. Check out the differences between typical Hotel vs. Timeshare Resort.

Timeshare rentals generally have one, two, or three bedrooms, a kitchen, den, washer and dryer, making them far less expensive than hotels. Many resorts have access to golf, tennis, athletic facilities, marinas, scuba diving, ski lifts and many other recreational activities. Whether this is your first time renting a timeshare or you're a seasoned professional, Rii® Stroman can help you rent timeshare!

Why Stay in a Vacation Rental?

So why stay at a hotel when more cost effective options are available at most major vacation destinations? The majority of timeshare rentals have amenities not available in many hotels. Plus the complete kitchen facilities found in most vacation condos for rent can save on the expense of eating every meal in a restaurant.

Vacation rentals are realistically priced with some last minute deals! Click here to Search Last Minute Timeshare Resort Rental Deals!

Timeshare rentals are also a good idea for owners to consider when personal matters prevent them from using their allotted time interval. Timeshare rentals provide owners with a means to offset some of the costs associated with vacation property ownership and renting a timeshare is only one of the options available for owners who are unable to utilize their vacation interval.

Here are a few great timeshare deals currently available for rent: Consolidated Club de Soleil timeshare for rent in Las Vegas, Westgate Miami Beach & Newport Beachside Resort timeshare for rent, Royal Sands timeshare for rent in Cancun Mexico, Marriott's Mountain Valley Lodge timeshare for rent in Breckenridge Colorado, Hanalei Bay Resort timeshare for rent in Kauai Hawaii, Westin St John Resort Villas timeshare for rent, Mystic Dunes Resort timeshare for rent in Kissimmee Florida, Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas timeshare for rent in Hawaii, The Manhattan Club timeshare for rent in New York NY, Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club timeshare for rent in Hawaii, Sheraton's Vistana Orlando timeshare for rent in Orlando Florida, Marriott's Grand Chateau timeshare for rent in Las Vegas, Playa Linda Beach Resort timeshare for rent in Aruba, Marriott's Grande Ocean Resort timeshare for rent in Hilton Head SC, and hundreds of others.

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

Last year, Texans outspent 46 other states on snow-sports equipment, apparel and accessories, with more than $106 million in retail sales," said Kelly Davis, research manager for SnowSports Industries America, a nonprofit industry trade group." (source)

"It’s not a surprise to see Texans are among the leading contributors to ski related retail sales.  The many great ski areas in Colorado and other states provide Texans with a vast amount of options.  There are many different resort areas to choose from and the airfare to Denver is usually quite reasonable compared to other vacation destinations.  I’m sure the very hot summers in Texas are a contributing factor to Texans paying extra on cold weather garments to stay bundled up while vacationing in these cold areas."

Another great way spend money on your next ski trip is your lodging. BUT, I'd say, rent a timeshare for your skiing trip. You'll get great locations, large rooms, kitchens, laundry, lots of extras. And you'll save a bundle. Check it out.

Marriott's Mountain Valley Lodge Timeshare, Breckenridge Colorado

Today's CNN.com's travel tips article gives some pretty good advice for saving money while enjoying nice accommodations. They explore the ins and outs of finding homes for rent, condo rentals, but not much information about one of the fastest growing segments of the hotel and lodging industry: timeshare rentals. Renting a timeshare can be an affordable way to enjoy a terrific resort destination without paying a "5 Star" price. Lots of online services claim to save you a bundle if you get their package deals. But in the long run, only come close to the normal rack rates for finer rentals.

I mentioned some off season travel deals in this blog recently. To go a little deeper, you can find magnificent 2, 3, and even 4 bedroom luxury resorts at a fraction of the daily rate. For example, at www.rentvacations.com you'd find Montecristo Estates in Cabo San Lucas Mexico. This 3 bedroom luxury condo is available Thanksgiving week, with a check in date of November 23rd. It features marble floors & baths with walk-in closets, granite kitchen counter tops, stainless steel appliances and fine wood throughout the home. And all for $2,200 for the week. Here's some photos from the resort:

Or how about Manhattan Club NY NY? A 1 bedroom apartment located in the best part of New York City, at 56th Street and Seventh Avenue, offering access to some of the city''s most famous attractions. Carnegie Hall is diagonally across the street, and Broadway''s famous theatre district begins just around the corner. And for $2,450 for a week checking in on November 24th? Thanksgiving week in New York City for a serious discount!

So, yes you can find some terrific deals if you'd like to save money and get a great place to stay at the same time. Check it out! www.rentvacations.com

In www.cnn.com's Travel section, they feature various great "off-season" vacation ideas. In this article they talk a little about Steamboat Springs Colorado and the great outdoors activities around there in the summer.

Timeshares lend themselves well to off-season travel. Consider fall timeshare deals in the beautiful Northeast. You can catch the fall foliage in Vermont or New Hampshire quite easily and find affordable accommodations. Off-season timeshares are always offered at a huge discount - whether you want to buy one or rent. How else can you find a 2 bedroom condo in a 5 star resort for often less than $1,000? You can if you choose a timeshare.

For example, check out some of these "off season" timeshare deals at www.rentvacations.com :

Royal Palm Beach Club - Simpson Bay Saint Maarten - You can get this 2 bedroom condo for $800 for a week - October 3-10!

Westgate Palace - Orlando Florida - 2 bedroom condo rental for $800 for the week of November 21 - 28!

Tahiti Village - Las Vegas - 1 bedroom timeshare rental for Christmas week for $780.

These are just a sample of great deals to be found all around the world.

How about some discount "Last Minute Deals" :

Kona Coast Resort II
Location: Kailua-Kona  Hawaii 10/5/2008 to 10/12/2008 $700

Roark Vacation Resort
Location: Branson  Missouri 10/25/2008 to 11/1/2008 $650

Silver Seas
Location: Fort Lauderdale  Florida 11/1/2008 to 11/8/2008 $700

Silverleaf Hill Country Resort
Location: Canyon Lake  Texas 11/1/2008 to 11/8/2008 $700

Mayan Palace Puerto Penasco
Location: Puerto Penasco  MEXICO 11/14/2008 to 11/21/2008 $500

All great choices for some off season travel to terrific destinations.

Technorati Tags: vacation deals,timeshare,rent,rental,travel discounts,travel,off season,condo

As a follow up to my last blog about the top ten beach resorts, here's my pick of the top ten ski resort timeshares in North America:

Marriott's Summit Watch - Park City, Utah - Located at the base of historic Main Street, Marriott's Summit Watch is steps away from the town ski lift, in the heart of beautiful Park City. While the area boasts of having "the greatest snow on Earth" for skiers, it also offers year-round recreational opportunities including great golf, tennis, mountain biking, and fishing.

The Cliff Club at Snowbird  Park City, Utah - This resort is nestled in the heart of the Wasatch Mountain Range and boasts four restaurants, three lounges, two outdoor pools, a 27,000 sq. ft. spa, and lap pool. This year round resort offers ski school, and downhill skiing.

Grand Timber Lodge - Breckenridge, Colorado - Grand Timber Lodge is one of Colorado's finest ski-in, ski-out resorts. Located next to the Snowflake Chairlift and just a short walk from downtown Breckenridge, Grand Timber Lodge features studio, one, two, and three-bedroom residences.

Marriott's Mountain Valley Lodge - Breckenridge, Colorado - Marriott's Mountain Valley Lodge is in the heart of town on Maggie Pond. overlooking the Quick Silver Super Six chairlift. The ski mountain boast 27 lifts and more than 148 ski trails.

Trapp Family Lodge - Stowe, Vermont - Situated high in the Green Mountains, these Austrian-themed guest houses are still owned and operated by the Trapp Family of the Trapp Family Singers and Sound of Music fame. Set on a spectacular 2,800 acre mountaintop, The Lodge's main dining room and Austrian Tea Room offer amazing culinary delights.

Inn Season at Pollard Brook - Lincoln, New Hampshire - This resort is set high above New Hampshire's number one scenic byway just across from the state's popular ski mountain, Loon Mountain. On-site amenities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, outdoor whirlpool, sauna, tennis courts, game room, and playground. All units have a fireplace, deck, kitchen, VCR and mountain views.

Hyatt High Sierra Lodge - Lake Tahoe, Nevada - This fabulous Five Star resort is situated on Lake Tahoe's north shore in Incline Village. These lovely two-bedroom/two-bath units with fireplace are just steps away from the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort.

Shell Vacation Club Mountainside Lodge - Whistler, BC Canada - Visitors will enjoy the views of both Blackcomb and the Whistler ski areas from the pool and the hot tub at Mountainside Lodge. The resort features over one vertical mile of ski terrrain, the longest run in North America. This quiet ski-in/ski-out location is close to shops, restaurants, and golf.

Whiski Jack at Whistler Creek - Whistler, BC Canada - This resort offers you the thrilling skiing of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Whistler's Arnold Palmer golf course is a special treat for summer guests. Boardsailing, fishing, horseback riding and much more are available during the summer.

Marriott's Timber Lodge - South Lake Tahoe, California - Marriott's Timber Lodge is at the base of world-renowned Heavenly Ski Area, adjacent to the Heavenly Aerial Tram. Amenities include a courtyard pool, on-site restaraunt, convenience store, fitness center, ski storage, valet and children's activity center. The resort offers a varriety of one- and two-bedroom villas with a fireplace, private balcony or terrace, fully equipped kitchens.

Well,that's my top ten list for ski resorts. Have any to add?

Narrated Slide Show of the Top Ten Ski Timeshare Resorts

Recently (May 25) www.Bloomberg.com ran a story entitled "U.S. Gas Prices Keep Some Holiday Travelers at Home". The bad news was the effect of high gasoline prices on the hotel industry.  The good news, at least from Wyndham Worldwide Corp, was that timeshare occupancy was holding up at near 100% thus bolstering the lagging travel industry.  On the east coast there are huge population centers that push the demand for affordable hotel and resort accommodations nearby.  So despite the ever climbing price of gas, people are still choosing to rent timeshare to make the most of their vacation budget.  That makes sense.  A timeshare rental will almost always be cheaper than hotels and offer far superior advantages: full kitchens, laundry facilities, exotic pools, large bedrooms. In addition, there is a good chance you can locate a timeshare condo rental that is within a reasonable driving distance.  The money you save by using a timeshare rental will make the vacation more affordable.

I have rented timeshare resorts in Las Vegas, Orlando, and other locations and always saved 75% off other less quality hotels.  What has been your experience?  Tell us about your best timeshare rental deals!

Here's to the Japanese engineer who designed this magnetic hybrid motorbike - goes up to 93 mph, charges at home in 6 hours, and will travel up to 112 miles on one charge: