Timeshare Information

Getting There

• At this late date it might be easier to drive rather than fly, particularly if family members live fairly close together. 
• Consider holding your holiday get together a week or two earlier, or later than the actual holiday.  The holiday window is approximately December 21st-January 6th. If you can do it, try getting together before the 21st and after January 6th. This may not work for some families, of course, but if you are flexible it will certainly help to avoid the the stress of flying during the holidays, save you a lot of money and could start a new holiday tradition.
• There may not be any cheap days to fly during the holidays, but there are days the airlines designate for cheaper flights. You certainly are not going to get a good rate the day before the holiday itself, and there’s a great chance there will be no availability on those days. Because both Christmas and New Year's are on Thursday this year, a Sunday departure is not a good bet either. A better bet is to travel on the day of the holiday. Traditionally, flights on the holiday are less expensive.
• Be sure to check all airlines for flights at this time of year and look for special air sales. An American Airlines Europe fare sale is running right now that features travel dates from December to spring with blackout dates of December 17th-24th. Amazingly, it includes discounted fares the week of Christmas. 

Staying There

• Be flexible in your choice of destinations and be willing to try a new place.
• Check exchange sites like RCI, Interval International, and Dial-An-Exchange for last minute exchanges and unsold inventory.
• Rental sites such as RedWeek.com and ResorTime.com are also options to consider.

Holiday travel by the Numbers - TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site, today announced the results of its December holiday travel survey of more than 1,000 U.S. travelers. Statistics like these are always fun. See where you might fit as you head to your holiday timeshare rental.

Forty-two percent of Americans plan to travel for the holidays. Among those, 45% are planning to fly, while 51% expect to drive. Among the respondents 22% said they will spend more than $2,000 on their holiday travel alone.

Interestingly, 66% said the economy is not affecting their December holiday travel plans. Among the 34% that are factoring it in, 6% are taking a shorter trip than usual, and 4% are planning to drive instead of fly.

With the increase of airline baggage fees, travelers continue to seek ways to avoid these costs. Thirty-one percent say they will fly this holiday season with an airline that does not charge for checked bags this holiday season; 29% plan to bring only carry-on bags; and 22% will have online gifts shipped directly to their holiday destinations.

Thirty-two percent of respondents said they anticipate being stressed by December holiday travel. Thirty-nine percent of respondents will travel at off-peak hours to limit the stress of holiday travel.

The top 3 travel annoyances during the holidays according to respondents are: airline delays and cancellations - 24%, inclement weather - 21%, and bad traffic - 13%.

The top 3 favorite holiday songs to hear during holiday travel are “White Christmas,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

Respondents listed as the top 3 most irritating holiday songs to hear during holiday travel as “Santa Baby,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “The Hanukkah Song.”

What are the dream Christmas travel destinations? Forty-five percent would choose a tropical getaway (see above photo of Oahu) as their dream destination for the holidays; 24% selected a European destination; and 14% would like to travel to anywhere that loved-ones reside.

The number one travel-related gift respondents would like most is the iPad, according to 19%.

According to respondents, the top 5 major U.S. cities travelers plan to visit for the holidays are Orlando, New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Las Vegas. Happy Holidays!

There's a veritable firestorm in the media regarding the TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) full body scan and pat-down airport security checks. All of this sudden hoopla regarding TSA security checks is due to the change in procedure in how pat-downs are conducted, put in place by the TSA the beginning of November. The new methods, says ABC News, are much more invasive, with same-gender screeners feeling under breasts and up passengers' thighs to their crotches.

A November 23, 2010 ABC News article attempts to calm the media frenzy a bit by pointing out that the TSA estimates that 2 million people fly each day but that the agency has received only approximately 2,330 complaints specific to these pat-downs since the procedure went into effect nationwide on Nov. 1. Roughly 340,000 people have been subjected to more intense searches - just 1% of the 34 million travelers since the new procedures took effect.

And the truth of the matter is, most passengers will not have to undergo the intensive, privacy-invading, scanners and pat-downs. And if you want to be one of them, ABC News offers this suggestion:

Don't set off the metal detector. Plain and simple. There's certainly no way to ensure that a TSA official won't deem you a candidate for the more intensive security checks, but not triggering the alarm of the metal detector will definitely minimize the possibility.

As reported in the ABC News article, Anne Banas, executive editor of travel web site SmarterTravel, said "there's not a ton you can do" to avoid the pat-downs but that good preparation can lower your odds. "Be really, really smart before leaving the house," she said.

That means putting any spare change and jewelry in your carry-on bag long before the security line. Take off your belt, avoid clothing with excessive zippers, and women - don't wear an underwire bra. If you have screws or plates in your body, declare that upfront to the screener.

ABC News also pointed out that children 12 years old and under who require extra screening will receive a modified pat down; all passengers have the right to request private screening at any point during the screening process; and everybody has the right to have a traveling companion present during the private screening.

For more information about the pat-downs, TSA carry-on rules or anything else about airport security, check out the TSA's traveler tips section.

(Photo credit - theage.com.au)

A press release out of Washington, D.C., has announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) are working to prepare the nation for a busy Thanksgiving holiday travel week. The two government agencies will be working in tandem to clear the way for commercial aircraft to fly in airspace that is normally restricted to military use.

As you prepare to fly to your Thanksgiving timeshare rental destination, you'll be glad to know that under the agreement, the DOD will release airspace off the east coast above 24,000 feet, and that this added capacity is expected to ease delays during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, saving time and money for passengers and airlines while reducing fuel burn.

“We want to do everything we can to make it easier for people to travel so they can spend Thanksgiving with their loved ones,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We appreciate the military’s help in making this happen.”

The FAA has developed dedicated routes off the east coast to allow airlines to plan their flights through the normally restricted airspace. Normal inland routes will still be available. Weather permitting, the combination of both sets of routes is expected to ease congestion.

“The FAA is using all the tools available to try and give airlines the most efficient routes so air travelers can reach their destinations safely and on time,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

“The nation’s air traffic controllers are committed to upholding the safety of the system while working the most efficient airspace system in the world,” said NATCA President Paul Rinaldi. “Over the past year we’ve experienced a movement toward collaboration at all levels of the agency and we look forward to continuing to work together to improve air travel for the flying public.”

The DOD is also allowing commercial flights to use restricted airspace in other parts of the country, including airspace over the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base in California, and airspace over the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The FAA suggests that air travelers interested in flight and airport status visit www.fly.faa.gov for real-time updates.

(Photo credit - boeing.com)

The holidays are a time when many families will be flying, but for whom flying might be something done infrequently enough that it can be a stressful experience. If you are one of these families and you're headed to a holiday timeshare rental vacation or family get-together, knowing ahead of time some of what to expect in managing your children at the airport security check can help things go smoothly.

Our 2-Part article offers tips directly from the Transportation Security Administration on traveling with children.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the government agency that has the responsibility of protecting the nation's transportation systems so you and your family can travel safely. To that end, with the high terrorist threat that the country is now under, airline passengers must be screened prior to boarding an aircraft. That includes everyone, even babies and disabled children.

Many people question the need to include children in the security check, but the TSA has examples of box cutters being hidden in baby carriers, knives hidden in babies' diapers, and the like.

Part 1 looks at what to expect when passing through security with children.

If your child can walk without your assistance, you and your child will be asked to walk through the metal detector separately. If you are carrying your child through the metal detector and the alarm sounds, the security officer will have to additionally screen both you and your child.

• Remove babies and children from their strollers or infant carriers so that our Security Officers can screen them individually.


• You may not pass the child to another person behind you or in front of you during this process.


• Do not pass your child to the security officer to hold.


• The security officer may ask for your help screening your child.

Medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are now allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding 3.4 ounces (100ml) and are not required to be in the zip-top bag, but must be declared and offered for inspection.

1. Separate these items from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag.


2. Declare you have the items to one of our Security Officers at the security checkpoint.


3. Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening.

You are allowed to bring gel or liquid-filled teethers, and canned, jarred, or processed baby food in your carry-on baggage aboard the plane.

Read Getting Your Children through Airport Security – Part 2

(Photo credit - tsa.gov)

What will they come up with next? Its flu season, and its holiday travel season, and time is flying and everybody is in a rush… why not take care of your Flu Shot at the airport? It'll be just one less thing you have to do before leaving on your timeshare vacation.

Harriet Baskas, special correspondent for USA Today, reported on the growing trend of health clinics in airports available for travelers who are glad to stop, roll up a sleeve, and get their annual flu shot with an attitude of "Now is as good a time as any."

As one passenger said, "Talk about convenient!"

This concept was first offered to travelers a few years ago at a medical clinic at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Now you can get covered for the 2010 flu season at any one of 28 airports across the country.

"Making vaccinations available at the airport insures that even the busiest travelers can take steps to stay healthy and productive." said Jeff Hamiel, executive director of the Metropolitan Airports Commission for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

“We’re happy to offer this convenient service during the flu season,” echoed John L. Martin, Director of San Francisco International Airport. “We are committed to keeping our passengers and employees safe and healthy so that they can better enjoy their travels.”

San Diego International Airport is also making sure that people who are at the airport to meet incoming passengers can get their flu shots while they wait. The airport has located a flu shot kiosk outside security at the baggage claim area.

Some airport officials might be having second thoughts after a warning was made by Dr. Josesph Diaco to the Tampa International Airport governing board. Dr. Diaco warned that airline passengers given the vaccine shouldn't be stuck in a plane in case they have adverse reactions and need to see a doctor.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that life-threatening and other serious reactions to flu vaccines are rare. More typical symptoms are soreness where the shot was given, fever, aches and hoarseness. They usually begin soon after the shot and last a day or two, the agency says.

At most airport locations, people receiving a shot must fill out a short form asking for their medical histories, and warning of possible reactions. Nurses ask that customers taking their first flu shot to wait near the kiosk 15 to 20 minutes.

Most major airports in the U.S. now provide flu shots including Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International, Baltimore Washington International, Boston Logan International, LAX in Los Angeles, JFK in New York, and Honolulu International.

(Photo credit - usatoday.com)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced its holiday campaigns for 2010. Since a survey by American Express Travel has shown that 74% of us will be driving to our Thanksgiving destination, many of us with our families, it's a good idea to pay attention.

"Safety is NHTSA’s number one priority. Our mission is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our nation’s roadways by getting drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to change their behaviors once they get behind the wheel or on the streets," stated an NHTSA spokesperson. "High-visibility campaigns, supported by state and national advertising, help us achieve our mission."

The billboard campaign for Thanksgiving holiday travel reads: "Too much turkey is no excuse for not buckling up." For Christmas the campaign slogan is "If you drive and drink, you'll get more than a piece of coal in your stocking."

Another NHTSA holiday campaign is "Family Travel Safety." The NHTSA is joined by state highway patrol officers across the country in an attempt to prevent unnecessary traffic accidents due to alcohol.

Also in relation to the "Family Travel Safety" campaign the NHTSA has identified 5 child safety issues that it wants you to be aware of, not just during the holidays, but all year round.

1. Backover
   A backover incident typically occurs when a car coming out of a driveway or parking space backs over a child because the driver did not see him/her.


2. Power Windows
   Many children are injured when a window closes on their finger, wrist, or hand, and some have even been strangled by power windows.


3. Seat Belts. A child within reach of a seat belt may become entangled if he or she pulls the seat belt all the way out and wraps the belt around the head, neck, or waist, with the locking device preventing escape.


4. Trunk
   Children are naturally curious and love to explore their surroundings. Hide and seek can turn deadly if they get trapped in the trunk.


5. Heatstroke
   Children die each year from heatstroke in hot cars. Even though holiday time means winter, the southern 1/3 of the country will continue to have warm temperatures. So be aware that when left in a hot vehicle, a young child's body temperature may increase three to five times as fast an adult. High body temperatures can cause permanent injury or even death.

Keeping safety in mind while driving to your timeshare Thanksgiving or Christmas vacation will help your entire family to have a fun and blessed holiday.

(Photo credit - www.nhtsa.gov)

If you're planning a timeshare rental vacation for the holidays, you'll recognize yourself in at least one of these statistics provided by American Express Travel:

• 40 percent of Americans plan to travel this holiday season
• 64 percent will travel to see family
• 2 percent will travel to avoid seeing family
• 88 percent will stay in the United States
• 74 percent will drive for the Thanksgiving holiday
• $1,800 = average travel spending for family of four

One thing is for certain about these numbers - they indicate that a lot of other people will be traveling at the same time you are. Traveling for the holidays is supposed to be fun. To keep your travel experience as stress-free as possible, here are some Dos and Don'ts:

DO buy your airline tickets Now. The watchdogs of airline fares say that from here on out, the cost of an airplane ticket could go up as much as $5/day. That, coupled with added "holiday travel fees" tacked on by some airlines, as well as the over-all increase of fares by as much as 20% over last year, and it would behoove you to lock in those airline reservations without delay.

DON'T give up on finding a good fare. Be persistent, and be flexible. Check out near-by regional airports for better deals. Fly on the holiday itself. If you just want to get away for the holiday but don't care where you go, consider non-traditional destinations such as Las Vegas, San Francisco, or New Orleans.

DO pack light. Almost all airlines are now charging extra fees for checked baggage. Pack a light carry-on to save money, and to also save time trying to find your checked bags among the hordes of other travelers. Consider mailing bulky clothing and gifts to your destination.

DON'T wrap presents you are taking with you on the plane. That's a waste of time, money, and effort on your part, as all gift-wrapped items will be unceremoniously unwrapped by TSA officials.

DO get to the airport early. Arrive in plenty of time to get through security - especially now that many airports have the full-body scanner. (If you don't want to go through the body scanner you can opt for a full pat-down, but that takes time, too.) You'll also want to get checked in early so you aren't one of the ones bumped since most planes will be overbooked.

DON'T expect everything to automatically go well with your reservation and flight. Always double-check your reservation status, and your flight's on-time status, online before leaving for the airport. Also make sure that your name on your reservation perfectly matches your name on your government ID - a new TSA regulation.

DO have fun. After all, this is a holiday!

(Photo credit – photobucket.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)