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.

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.

The Village at Steamboat Springs, a Wyndham timeshare development in Colorado, is loaded with the amenities that any family would crave for their ski vacation!  With 144 new condos at the timeshare ski resort, Wyndham owners will have several new choices: "Wyndham Vacation Resorts Steamboat Springs is assigned 71 units, as is the WorldMark Steamboat Springs. In addition to their standard one-, two- and three-bedroom condos, each has a couple of presidential units that feature higher finishes such as granite counters and wood floors in a two-story townhome configuration." (source)

In addition to the Wyndham ski timeshare, Intrawest has Copper Mountain, Winter Park, and Steamboat Springs timeshare resorts right in Steamboat Springs. Steamboat, also known as Ski Town USA, gets it's name from springs that are located near the town's library. There are also two hot springs in town that are open to the public featuring pools and slides. Even though Steamboat Springs is a small town (about 10,000 population 2001) it has quite a name among skiing enthusiasts. Steamboat Springs also hosted the 1989 and 1990 Alpine Skiing World cup.

There may still be lodging ready for booking. As always, renting a timeshare, or owning a timeshare there would be the most cost efficient way to do it. Especially if you buy a timeshare on the secondary market from an owner. You can save a huge amount of money that way and get the same benefits. Look as some Colorado timeshare deals here.

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.

With a population of 37.7 million, California is the most populous state in the union.  And, according to the California Travel and Tourism Commission "California is currently the number one travel destination in the country. Travel and tourism expenditures total $93.8 billion annually in California, support jobs for nearly 930,000 Californians and generate $5.6 billion in state and local tax revenues." No doubt about it, the demand for timeshare resort properties is huge in California.  In northern California the largest concentration of timeshare resort destinations is around Lake Tahoe.  In southern California, the timeshare properties are located in a triangle between Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and San Diego. When you first look at the list of resorts in California, it seems large.  But when you take into account the resident population and add tourism, the demand far exceeds the supply.

What conclusion could you draw from this?  More quality timeshare resorts could be built in California with high expectations for success.

If you want to buy a timeshare in California, here are a few featured properties from www.rpmls.com:  Marriott's Newport Villas, Marriott's Desert Springs Villas I, Lawrence Welk Resort Villas, Four Seasons Resort Aviara, Vista Mirage Resort, and Desert Springs Villas II.

If you are ready to say "Sell my California timeshare!" take a look a the professional services of this timeshare resales broker: www.rpmls.com.

An interactive wolf sanctuary from Elite Land Tours www.elitelandtours.com in Palm Springs California:

Tips for Travel: Making plans for a family vacation should not resort to the annual trip to "visit the family" 3 states away. Get creative, explore some new destinations and put some excitement back into your family vacation. While searching for some of the best family vacation destinations I came across www.weather.com 's Travel Top 10 list of Family Friendly Destinations. I discovered many familiar vacation spots on the list - here they are:

San Diego California - San Diego is a beautiful city with mild weather, great beaches, water sports, activities for the family, and much more. Your vacation cost may be a little higher for your stay there but San Diego came in first on their list.

Orlando Florida - Orlando is one of my very top choices for vacations with the family. Having been to Orlando a number of times on a vacation, I would concur with their choice. Each time I went to Orlando, I stayed in a timeshare rental and saved quite a bit on the lodging cost of the trip. With Orlando you have countless attractions and activities to enjoy.

Yellowstone National Park - This park has been one of America's favorites for generations.

Hershey Pennsylvania - This place is called The Sweetest Place on Earth! The Hershey chocolate company was founded here over 100 years ago. Not only is there an attraction to the candy for children, but an impressive theme park, zoo, gardens, and a museum.

Atlantis Bahamas - See yesterday's blog article! An awesome adventure.

Caribbean Cruises - The Caribbean provides a huge expanse of exotic tropical islands. From Aruba in the Eastern Caribbean to Jamaica in the West, these islands host the stuff dreams are made of. Cruises in the Caribbean provide the family with activities for the family, children, and teens.

Maui - Hawaii is considered to be the dream vacation destination for millions of people. Consider renting one of the fabulous timeshares on Maui to save a bundle of money. For example, Marriott's Maui Ocean Club is one of the greatest resorts on the island and has the amenities and activities to suit any style.

Washington DC - I'm not sure I'd place the nation's capitol in the top ten list of family vacations. Yes, there is a lot to see that would be memorable for anyone. The Smithsonian Institution, National Zoo, monuments, capitol, and White House are all fine experiences. I'd personally avoid the hot summer months that are packed with tourists.

Estes Park Colorado - The Rocky Mountain National Park (next to Estes Park) offers hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and adventuring. Outdoor activities are the champion of vacations to Estes Park. Be sure to check out these Rocky Mountains timeshare deals for the best bet for great lodging.

Myrtle Beach South Carolina - With over 100 golf courses and 60 miles of beautiful beaches, there is something for everyone in Myrtle Beach. Water parks, museums, zoos, deep sea fishing, and beach activites are the main course for a trip to Myrtle Beach.

Grand Timber Lodge timeshare in Colorado

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