Timeshare Information

The internet is the modern day version of the Town Crier so spread the word! The big news today is that Labor Day 2010 is gearing up to be the best travel time in a long time. A timeshare rental for your Labor Day holiday vacation is a great way to have budget accommodations, and the current drop in oil prices will give you budget-friendly gas prices as well.

The auto club, AAA, reports that more people will be traveling this weekend, an 11 percent increase from a year ago. And most of you who will be going by car will travel more than 50 miles from home.

"The last two years were pretty dismal," AAA spokeswoman Cynthia Harris stated. "But a good sign is that people are traveling more and that's because there is some optimism that we haven't seen in quite a while."

Families are finally catching a break on gasoline prices. Fuel is at its second-lowest level in five years, and some economists predict that it could drop much further in the months ahead said Harris.

The main reason for the price drop has been the huge run-up in domestic petroleum inventories. U.S. crude oil supplies are at the highest level for August in nearly 20 years, and total petroleum stocks, including gas and other products, are at their highest level since January 1983, reported the U.S. Energy Department.

People traveling by air this Labor Day may have the greatest concerns. As Hurricane Earl charges up the Atlantic, airport delays could stretch from New York to California. "Stay in touch with your carriers," said Michael McCarron, a spokesman at San Francisco International. "With possible hurricane action on the East Coast, weather could come into play."

The smart thing to do is to toss the kids in the car and motor on down the road. You'll be able to enjoy great Labor Day activities and events just about anywhere you find timeshare rentals. The caveat of driving, of course, is the amount of holiday traffic on the roads. This is where your timeshare rental shows itself as the perfect accommodations. You can stay the full week, relax, have fun, and drive back home well after the clog of Labor Day traffic on Monday and Tuesday has disappeared.

Calling all Disneyland fans, exercise enthusiasts, and Labor Day celebrators! Rent an Anaheim timeshare and head to Disneyland this Labor Day weekend for the 5th running of the Disneyland Half Marathon!

The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend starts Friday, September 3rd and goes through Sunday, September 5th, with the actual Half Marathon being run on Sunday. Part of the weekend activities includes the Disneyland Health and Fitness expo, open to the general public and located in the Disneyland Hotel Exhibit Hall. You'll be able to see the latest in running and fitness equipment as well as have the opportunity to hear expert speakers offer running tips, instructions - and inspiration.

You can participate as a runner (walking is just fine, too!) in the half marathon, help as a volunteer, or enjoy it as a spectator. A record field of more than 14,000 participants have already registered for the 13.1 mile run. There are a number of different divisions including the Master Division (age 40+) and the Wheelchair Division. The course travels through both Disneyland and California Adventure, and along Anaheim streets with landmarks such as the Honda Center and the Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Cheering Disney characters and festive entertainers will do their best to inspire and encourage the participants to the finish line.

Because the 5th Anniversary is a special milestone, a commemorative special edition medal featuring Sleeping Beauty Castle circled by the number "5" and running Mickey Mouse will be presented to everyone who completes the half marathon.

Close to 570 “Legacy Runners” – those who have competed in the race all five years – will also receive special recognition throughout the race weekend. Nearly 2,350 runners are going for the Coast to Coast medal, which requires a runner to complete one of three qualifying races at Walt Disney World in Florida and the Disneyland Half Marathon in the same year.

Some of the best viewing areas along the route include the Start at Disneyland Drive to Katella Avenue, the Esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure, the Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel, and the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney. Tickets can be purchased for reserved seating at the finish line.

A timeshare rental will put you in the middle of one of the most fun and exciting Labor Day Weekend events in the country. Whether you'll be an athlete runner or a rooting watcher, just remember what Walt Disney famously said, "If you can dream it, you can do it."

(Photo courtesy of espnwwos.disney.go.com)

The kids are back in school and you know what that means… the holidays are fast approaching. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it and then Christmas. If your family lives out of town and will be visiting soon, consider a timeshare rental in your city to help with accommodations. Timeshares are available throughout the United States and the best thing is that they offer all the comforts of home, especially if your home is too small to fit everyone comfortably.

Sure, it would be nice to have the whole family together all day and all night, but, what is ever nicer is giving people their own room and space to spread out and be comfortable. A timeshare rental can do just that. Most timeshares are equipped with sleeper sofas, so, a one-bedroom will usually sleep four people comfortably, a two-bedroom sleeps six and a three-bedroom sleeps eight. With their own living room, kitchen and bathrooms, this can be a great solution for out of town holiday guests.

As the rush of the holiday’s winds down, and relatives needs some downtime, a timeshare will allow your family and guests ample space and privacy. No more worries about trying to squeeze all your kids in one room for a week, making them sleep on the floor so you can make room for visiting grandparents to occupy their room and bed. A timeshare rental is just the answer you’ve been looking for, providing space and privacy for everyone in a comfortable resort setting.

Rent a timeshare this year and make the holidays a little less hectic for everyone. You’ll be amazed what a little more space (and their own bed) will do for keeping those holidays “happy” and allowing everyone to be well rested and energized for the many days of festive family events ahead. It’s not too early to book your timeshare rental now, so, browse the largest online timeshare marketplace for rental options in November and December.

(Photo courtesy of photobucket.com)

When you think of a Hawaiian vacation, most people travel to Oahu or Maui. If you’ve visited those two beautiful islands already and you’re ready to continue exploring all Hawaii has to offer, rent a timeshare on the Garden Island of Kauai. You may hear yourself saying "I can't believe anything is this beautiful!"

Kauai is called the Garden Island for a very good reason, because it is covered in lush tropical vegetation. Visit beautiful rainforests complete with climbing vines and wild orchids; swim out to refreshing waterfalls; and enjoy miles and miles of swaying coconut palms.

How is Kauai so different? This island offers many opportunities for spectacular scenery not seen on any of the other Hawaiian islands. Waimea Canyon (see photo) is one of those sites that you must see. Known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, you’ll be in awe of its deep chasms and lush, colorful, tropical foliage.

Get dirty and have fun at the Mud Bug tour. Starting out in the village of Poipu, where you can visit the endangered Monk seals, your tour will take you past an old sugarcane factory, through a tunnel and all the way up to a waterfall and pool near the town of Wailua. It’s the dirt roads you’ll travel on that can make the adventure a little muddy, since Hawaii often gets quick rain showers throughout the day.

A visit to Spouting Horn will show you ocean water shooting high up through an ancient lava tube. Take a boat tour up the Wailua River, or, go kayaking to the Fern Grotto. Ha'ena State Park offers many dry and wet caves or visit the historic Kilauea Lighthouse (see photo), a symbol of the town; and the one the island's best loved places.

A Kauai timeshare rental will give you a center point to set out on your daily adventures around the island. Relax and spread out in your spacious timeshare resort and take in the beauty that the islands have to offer.

(Photos courtesy of gohawaii.com and kilauealighthouse.org)

Did you know that all of New York City's boroughs are actually islands, except the Bronx? Each of these 5 distinct neighborhoods has a lot to offer the NYC vacationer. And even though it is one of the largest cities in the world, visiting New York City doesn't have to break the bank. Combine a budget New York City timeshare rental and these budget New York City activities and you have yourself an affordable vacation in a big city!

1. Brooklyn Bridge
   With all of those islands you can imagine that NYC is full of bridges, and this is the most iconic (see photo). Named both a National Historic Landmark and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, this famous suspension bridge has a pedestrian/bike pathway in the center of the bridge above the vehicle lanes. Take a free stroll across the bridge for not only a spectacular view of the East River and the Manhattan skyline, but a chance to see this beautiful 19th century bridge up close.


2. Parks
   For a huge urban area NYC has out-done itself in providing open green areas, and parks abound through-out the city. Central Park, the most famous, has over 30 free children's playgrounds. In Bryant Park, also in Manhattan, you can see free movies on the lawn in the summer, presented by HBO, and also Good Morning America's free summer concert series.
   
   In Queens the Flushing Meadows Corona Park is where you can enjoy the budget-friendly Queens Wildlife Center (children 3-12 are just $2.00). Here North American animals are exhibited on naturalistic grounds, "allowing an unusual intimacy between visitors and animals." The Children's Farm offers exhibitions of domestic animals.


3. Staten Island Ferry
   This is just about the best deal going in all of NYC. Ride the ferry back and forth from Manhattan to the borough of Staten Island across exciting New York Harbor - for free. You'll pass close by the Statue of Liberty, see views of Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyscrapers, and be part of the boat and ship activity in the harbor.


4. Take the Subway
   How to get around to all of these budget-friendly places in New York City? If you'd prefer not to drive in downtown traffic, and forego those expensive cab rides, NYC is still easy to get around by using its great public transportation system. A ride on the subway is easy, inexpensive, and it will give the kids a thrill to "ride in a hole in the ground." And it's budget-friendly - just $2.25 per ride (or, you might even qualify for reduced prices - be sure and check.)

As you can see, a timeshare rental family vacation to New York City can be fun, dazzling, entertaining, educational - and very budget-friendly!

(Photo provide by brooklyn-bridge.visit-new-york-city.com)

Now that hurricane season in underway, it's a good time to talk about travel insurance. Data on hurricanes is iffy at best, and throughout the season no one really knows how many there'll be, where they'll hit, or what their impact will be. You'd like to plan a timeshare rental vacation to one of Florida's beautiful beaches, or to the Caribbean, or even to Hawaii or Mexico, and you can't sit around waiting for exact information on hurricanes and tropical storms. So, you head for your timeshare beach vacation anyway - and the odds are you'll have a great vacation with no hurricane in sight.

But, of course, you never know. That's where travel insurance can come in mighty handy. Travel insurance is also handy for other potential problems such as earth quakes, severe flooding, or tsunami - when you could require emergency evacuation.

You might want to consider travel insurance for the following contingencies:

1. Trip Cancellation - if you are prevented from taking a trip for a covered reason such as mandatory evacuation of your destination.


2. Trip Interruption - helpful if you have to cut a trip short, and might also compensate for any additional transportation costs.


3. Trip Delay - can compensate for incurred expenses such as accommodations, meals and transportation if you are delayed more than 6 hours.
   
4. Evacuation you might need emergency medical evacuation back home. Or, a prime example of this is the tourists who were caught in Haiti after the devastating earthquake were able to leave the country via private evacuation planes.


5. The Unexpected Medical emergencies, automobile accidents, and even a natural disaster at home before you leave.

Be aware that purchasing a full travel insurance policy may be unnecessary if you already have some protection. For example, many credit cards also provide holders with travel protection benefits such as coverage for lost bags, and even trip interruption or cancellation. Also check with your automobile, home owners, and medical insurance policies.

Make sure you always read the fine print in any travel insurance policy, especially to know exactly what it won't cover, such as normal weather conditions (a rainy day), changing your mind about the trip, preexisting health conditions, and voluntarily going into a war zone (although some policies do have terrorist clauses). You may or may not be covered for hazardous pursuits such as extreme skiing, mountain climbing, etc.

So don't sit at home afraid to travel during hurricane season or any other time - or to any place. Take precautions, research travel insurance policies, and then head out on your timeshare vacation ready to relax, have fun, and generally be glad you went!

Travel with kids can be a fun experience, but it's also challenging. Kids have an attention-span that needs constant maintenance. On your way to your timeshare rental vacation, what do you bring along to keep your youngsters occupied? Like most of us, the odds are that your arsenal contains lots of electronic gizmos - DVD players and games and the like.

FamilyRambling.com, which offers "Tips from a Traveling Family," suggests that besides all of the electronics, boring in-flight movies, and mind-numbing car "I Spy" games, there are fun "non-electronic" items that the kids will thank you for bringing along. These can easily be used in the car or on the plane, and most certainly at your spacious timeshare rental.

1. Lacing Toys
   These are the easy "it's sewing but not really" cards, often in the shapes of animals, where your kids pull yarn through holes along the edges. Children get a big kick out of seeing how their handiwork makes the designs "come to life" with brightly colored borders of laced yarn. For small hands this can be a real challenge and so can take up some good time.


2. Books
   Far from going obsolete, as some fear, books are still a favorite toy for children. Bring along a few of their favorite "bedtime stories," and add to those a selection of Activity Books. Many an hour will be spent doing dot-to-dot pictures, scrambling through mazes, and coloring fun scenes. There are also many books available that weave educational teaching, such as arithmetic or science, into the fun activities.


3. Dry-erase Magnet Boards
   These do double-duty as the kids can play with magnet characters, inventing stories and adventures, and then switch to drawing or writing, or even playing tic-tac-toe, with the dry erase markers and easy clean up. Find the ones that come with good quality carrying bags in which to keep everything.


4. Figurines and Cars
   Easily packed and providing hours of fun, these are great for both boys and girls. Is your little princess into Disney's Princesses? Bringing along Cinderella, Snow White and the whole gang will certainly send your little one on a grand Fantasyland journey. For the boys, there's always excitement in racing matchbox cars across your timeshare kitchen floor. Both sexes will enjoy Legos and the creative focus it takes to build anything - including their own figurines and cars - their imaginations can come up with. You can find Legos in handy carrying cases.

When given the opportunity, your kids will enjoy using their own creative powers and imaginations, and both of you will discover that these kinds of activities and toys go a long way toward keeping little minds and hands happily busy on every timeshare vacation.