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.

This was my first trip to Las Vegas. During the flight, the man sitting next to me had plenty of advice on how to enjoy this city. His advise was, "Next time, take a car, roll down the window, throw your wallet out the window and then go home." At that moment I decided there had to be a way to enjoy this town without spending a fortune. I had already made arrangements to stay at a fine new timeshare resort, the Monarch Grand Vacations Cancun Resort: Great accommodations, awesome pool complex, great price. Of course, that's the value in buying timeshare, paying today's price for tomorrow's vacation. More on that later.

I found quite a few free shows in town that were world class and quite spectacular. Here are a few of them:

The fountains at the Bellagio. Possibly the best free show in town. This is a choreographed music and fountain experience. Crowds gathered on the sidewalk and there were plenty of "oohs and ahhs" to go around. Don't miss this one if you are in town.

Fremont Street Experience. They host hourly shows from dusk to midnight. Rumor has it that they have 12 million lights high above the street and the show is amazing.

Lions at the MGM Grand. Just go to the MGM Grand and find the display close to the entrance. You can get up close to the glass and see the lions and their beautiful habitat.

The Sirens of Treasure Island Las Vegas. One of the best free shows in Las Vegas is held every night in front of the Treasure Island Hotel in Sirens Cove. The free show goes on nightly at 7:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. in Sirens' Cove at the front entrance of Treasure Island Hotel and Casino.

Circus Circus. High above the Casino, the performers walk on the high wire, perform magic and make you laugh. The show happens at regular half-hour intervals throughout the day.

Volcano at the Mirage. Every hour after dusk, the Mirage volcano explodes for crowds of curious Strip onlookers.

Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo. Pink Flamingos don't just exist in people's front yards as a decoration. The Flamingo has a captivating habitat right in the heart of their hotel. Just stroll by in the nice air conditioned lobby and soak in the beauty of this one!

Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain shows at Caesars. The Fall of Atlantis fountain show will captivate you with its stunning special effects. Located in the Forum Shops, the free fountain show uses lifelike animatronic figures to recount the myth of Atlantis.  Once the show concludes, take a walk behind the fountain and check out more than 100 species of ocean life in a 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium.

The Rio. The Rio may be a little off the strip but it has one of the most breathtaking views from the rooftop club, The Voodoo Lounge. It also features a man made beach and lagoon, a full service spa, and the largest wine cellar in the world boasting over 50,000 bottles. In the Masquerade Village part of the hotel, you can catch one of the best free shows in town: Masquerade Show in the Sky. This show takes you to a Brazilian Carnival, complete with floats, beads, and Mardi Gras style fun. The floats, unlike any you have ever seen, truly "float" up in the air on rails throughout the Masquerade Village.

And now, back to accommodations in Vegas. My number one choice is staying in timeshares. A hotel simply does not compare with a timeshare. You get so much more space, amenities, the list is huge. I did a drive by tour of several in town.

Polo Towers is located right on Las Vegas Boulevard. From the Skyview Lounge, you catch an awesome view of the MGM Grand, New York New York, Luxor, Paris, and Excalibur.

The Jockey Club, situated next door to the billion dollar Bellagio, is also right across from Paris, and near Mirage, Venetian, and Treasure Island. This timeshare features a Southern California styled elegance and the suites are more like residence than a hotel.

HGV Club Flamingo Hilton, also on Las Vegas Blvd, has one of the most beautiful pool complexes in town. A true oasis in the desert, you are surrounded by palm trees, tropical and lush landscaping, and pools to lounge by. Now THAT'S a vacation.

There are many more things to see and to do in Las Vegas that are affordable and fun. Don't stay away because you feel like you might be throwing your wallet out the window.

Many of us have had the experience of buying a used car: Shopping the ads, going to used car lots, checking the interenet ads.  But once you arrive on the used car lot, logic often goes out the window, and emotions take over. That's what the car salesman is hoping for. Not to say anything bad about the profession of auto sales, but, they are hoping you will overlook the negative aspects of their product and drive one of their cars home that day. 

It is wise indeed to do your "due diligence" and check out all aspects of this purchase and make a buying decision based on the right information.  In the process, you will, in fact, save a lot of your hard earned money.

Buying a timeshare on the secondary market has some of the same issues:

• Are all the maintenance fees and taxes up to date?
• Are all the "extras" (points, rounds of golf, spa usage, tennis lessons, etc) transferable?
• Is there a big assessment looming in the future for the owners?
• Does the resort or resort management company have a history of exponentially rasing fees, avoiding owners' complaints, or neglecting the maintenance of the facility?
• Will you, in fact, get the next year's usuage?

These questions, and others, will need to be answered before you can say you have done your homework and then move ahead with confidence. You will get what you want at a price that will make you happy: you got a great deal on a timeshare you will use and enjoy. Resale beats Retail!

For example, consider buying a timeshare in Oahu Hawaii, Sedona Arizona, Branson, Key West, Virginia, New York, or Las Vegas at a serious discount!

If you want to move ahead with confidence, check out these deals at www.rpmls.com.

Las Vegas timeshares have a lot to offer!  First and foremost is location.  The entertainment, nightlife, music, and dining are some of the best in the world! If you were to buy a Las Vegas timeshare condo on the resales market, you would save a small fortune over time.  That is, if you use it.  Owning a timeshare, and not using it, is like paying insurance for a car you never drive.  It is only useful if you use it.

If you are thinking, "Should I sell my timeshare in Las Vegas?", ask yourself this one question: Which would you rather have, a closing check after selling it, or a deed for a property you never use?

If you want to buy a Las Vegas timeshare, here's my favorite list: HGV Club at Flamingo, HGV at Las Vegas Hilton, Polo Towers, Jockey Club, Summer Bay at Las Vegas, and Marriott's Grand Chateau.  There are many other timeshare condos in Las Vegas but lots of owners have given high praise for these.

HGV Club at Flamingo Las Vegas

If you are thinking of selling your timeshare and have used internet search engines to ask the question "Where do I go to sell my timeshare?" you were more than likely swamped with too much information. It may have even left you with more questions than answers.  For example if you own Hilton Grand Vacation Club Flamingo Las Vegas and the buyer asks you if they can use the HGV Club points to book a week at HGVClub at South Beach the answer would be yes. But if they ask if they could use the HGV Club points to book a week at The Surf Club of Marco, Sanibel Cottages Resort, or Club Regency of Marco Island the answer might not be as simple.  Those resorts are managed by Hilton Grand Vacations but may or may not offer the same type of interchange as the HGV Club resorts.

Explaining the details of your timeshare to a potential buyer would be best left to a timeshare resales broker.  So if you want to sell your Hilton Grand Vacation Club Flamingo Las Vegas timeshare it would be well worth your time to examine the professional services of www.rpmls.com.  Having been in the timeshare resales business for nearly 30 years brings the type of experience that will give you, the owner, peace of mind.  Hilton timeshares are some of the best timeshare resorts in the industry and would be worth checking out if you want to buy a Las Vegas timeshare.

The Las Vegas Convention Center will be hosting the National Association of Broadcasters convention, set for April 14-17.  They are planning on entertaining 140,000 guests that week.  That is a huge number of visitors for any city to accommodate.  But for Las Vegas, that is not a problem.  They are prepared for this event - one of the biggest of the year.

The best value would be to stay in a timeshare resort.  There are many to choose from, and their quality is superb.  You get so much more: bedrooms, full kitchen, laundry, plus the in-house amenities.  Check out this comparison of hotels vs timeshare.

Buying a timeshare in Las Vegas would be a sensible idea if you routinely travel there for business or pleasure. Buying a timeshare on the resale market would be the way to do it.  Use a reliable broker - preferably a Realtor - so you will have the peace of mind that comes with professional service.

The Hilton, Polo Towers, Jockey Club, Tahiti Village, Grandview, HGV Club at Flamingo, Marriott, Summer Bay, Wyndham, and others resorts offer terrific opportunities to own a piece of fantastic luxury.

Check out these Las Vegas timeshares for sale.