Timeshare Information

With Memorial Day behind us, it's full steam ahead for summer vacations. Whether you're planning a vacation at the timeshare you own, with a timeshare exchange, or at a budget-friendly timeshare rental, the odds are you'll be flying to your destination.

So just in time, Consumer Reports has released its National Research Center survey on air travel. This is the first time since 2007 that the venerated leader in consumer investigation has assessed airlines.

In the 2007 survey, 18 airlines were included, while in 2011, due to financial crises, mergers, and takeovers, only 10 major airlines make up the industry.

The survey ratings are based on the experiences of 15,000 Consumer Reports readers on over 29,000 domestic round-trip flights during the past year. Airlines were scored based on questions about overall satisfaction, check-in ease, cabin-crew service, cabin cleanliness, baggage handling, seating comfort and in-flight entertainment, as well as the issue of additional fees.

A Consumer Reports press release stated that 8 of the 10 airlines received low marks on seat comfort, and several carriers got low marks on other quality-of-flight measures including cabin-crew service, cleanliness and in-flight entertainment.

Some carriers have done a better job than others, as evidenced by a wide difference in overall satisfaction scores, from Southwest's lofty 87 to US Airways' lowly 61, stated the press release.

Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways topped the list overall. Southwest was the only airline to receive top marks for check-in ease and cabin-crew service. Passengers also gave Southwest high grades for cabin cleanliness and baggage handling. The latter, says the CR report, might reflect the fact that Southwest remains the only airline that lets you check two bags free of charge

JetBlue was the only airline to outscore Southwest for seating comfort and was the only carrier in the CR ratings to earn high scores for in-flight entertainment. Its seatback TV screens feature 36 channels.

US Airways occupies the same bottom spot as it did in CR's 2007 survey. In addition to its low overall score, survey respondents gave it the worst marks of any airline for cabin-crew service.

The CR report pointed out that the proliferation of added fees further contributed to passengers' low opinion of today's flying experience, and even to their decision of whether to fly at all. Forty percent of readers who say they are flying less listed "increased fees" as the major reason - far more than those blaming flight delays, poor service, etc. Paying fewer extra fees had a direct relationship to passenger satisfaction, the release said.

As summer draws near, more and more of us are planning our summer vacations, getting excited about travel, and looking forward to fun experiences and great memories.

But "even the best vacation can be derailed by a travel emergency." The online web site for the Travel Channel has listed its picks for the Top 10 worst-case travel scenarios, along with tips on how to deal with each one, so you can get it taken care of and go on to have a great vacation. We'll look at these travel emergencies in a 2-part series.

1. Lost Luggage
   Working directly with the airline company is the key here. If you luggage does not appear on the arrival carousel, go directly to your airline's baggage office to file a claim. Most often the airline will deliver your luggage to you within 24 hours. If your luggage never reappears, you may complete a claim for damages and reimbursement for the current value of the lost goods.


2. Stolen Wallet
   If your credit card was in your wallet, contact the issuing bank immediately to put a stop on all transactions. Report the theft to the local police and record the case number. Call the 3 major credit-reporting bureaus to place a fraud alert in your file. You can use Western Union if you need someone to wire you cash.


3. Missed Flight
   If you've arrived at the airport too late to make your flight, go immediately to your airline’s counter to make arrangements for another flight. As problematic as this can be, it's easier to take care of at the airport. Be prepared to wait for an available flight, and to pay a fee for making new reservations.


4. Montezuma’s Revenge
   That's what it's called in Mexico, but of course a G.I. upset can occur in any where. Best tip: in certain countries avoid drinking the water and avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables possibly washed in contaminated water. Check with the State Department and your doctor regarding travel vaccines. If G.I. problems do strike, drink plenty of clear fluids, stick to basic foods and contact a doctor if necessary.


5. Behind Bars
   If you’re arrested in a foreign country while traveling, the most important thing you can do is remain calm. Contact the US Embassy for assistance and avoid speaking about the incident or signing anything until a consulate arrives.

(Photo credit – travelchannel.com)

Travel News: Top 10 Travel Emergencies – Part 2

Summer is in full-swing, and the east coast is sweltering as usual. The desert resort areas of Arizona, Las Vegas and Palm Springs have heated up, too. Since the kids are out of school, summer is the only time many of you can take your family vacation, regardless of the sizzling weather forecast. So aren't you glad you're renting a timeshare at a resort? You'll have wonderful air conditioning through spacious rooms, cooling breezes off the balcony, big swimming pools, and even a kitchen with a refrigerator for chilling water and drinks!

And for the safety of all of you who really have no alternative but to take your timeshare vacation trip in the heat of the summer, the American Red Cross offers these tips for heat safety:

1. Listen to the weather forecasts and be aware of upcoming temperature changes. Understand what is meant by "Heat Index." As important a term as "wind chill" is in the winter, the stated Heat Index combines temperature and humidity, and lets you know what temperature your body is actually feeling, regardless of the ambient temperature. Exposure to direct sunlight can increase the Heat Index by as much as 15 degrees F.


2. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids all day long, even if you do not feel thirsty. This is of paramount importance for your children. If you know you'll be spending a lot of time at a theme park standing in line in the sun, go prepared with plenty of water for everyone in your party. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol, as both just add to your dehydration problems.


3. Eat small meals, and eat more often. This allows the body to use less energy in digestion, which in turn prevents the body's core temperature from increasing during the work of digestion.


4. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. You will want to stay away from dark colors which absorb the sun's rays. Light-colored clothing helps reflect the sun's heat.


5. Know the signs of danger: Heat Cramps are muscular pains and spasms in the legs or abdomen, and are often an early sign that the body is having trouble with the heat. Signs of Heat Exhaustion include cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea; dizziness; and weakness. Signs of Heat Stroke include hot, red skin, unconsciousness and vomiting.


6. What to do: Move the person to a cooler place; apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin; fan the person; if the person is conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink and make sure the person drinks slowly.


7. If the person shows signs of nausea and vomiting, or loses consciousness, call 911 immediately.

Your family timeshare rental vacation is special in many ways, and one way to savor the memories is by taking good pictures. This is the second in our two-part series offering photography tips collected by Douglass Daniel, a writer and editor with the Washington bureau of The Associated Press. Continuing following these tips on good picture-taking and you'll have some real beauties to frame.

5. Know when to turn the flash off and when to turn it on. "Many people figure if they're outside they don't need the flash," says Baltimore photographer Walter Rowe, editor of the Travel Photographers Network website. "But flash can help lighten up areas in shadow so they don't appear so dark."
   
   At night, not using the flash in favor of natural light might be the best way to capture an image. But for a longer exposure, the camera will need to be steady to avoid blur caused by movement. "Use the camera's timer to avoid the downward movement that comes with pressing the shutter button," advises Rowe. "Steady yourself against a wall or another stationary object. Try placing the camera on a flat surface, even a drinking glass turned upside down."


6. Check the edges of the frame as you compose a shot. "Train yourself to look for objects you don't want in the picture. At the beach it might be a trash can; in the city it might be an orange construction barrier. Then reframe accordingly," suggests Daniel.
   
   "Most people tend to shoot from wherever they're standing and not think about eliminating unwanted information from the edge of the picture," adds Eliot Cohen. "You have to learn to really see all the details as well as the piece you're interested in."


7. Use a digital camera if at all possible. The great thing about using a digital camera is that you can review all the elements once the picture has been taken. "If a post or a tree is sticking out of someone's head, reshoot. Maybe you can move yourself a little bit," Rowe says, "or move the person a little bit." "Digital cameras don't make you a better photographer, but they do allow for more chances to get it right," says Daniel.


8. Buy the largest memory card you can afford. And bring extra batteries or the battery charger and an adapter, if needed. "Don't be afraid to take a lot of pictures," Dharapak says. Walsh adds, "You've already paid for those megapixels, so use them."
   
   Daniel suggests that on a long trip, look for a photo store that can download your pictures to a disk you can pack or even mail back home. "You risk losing all your photos if you drop your camera in a river or if it's misplaced or stolen."

Your family timeshare rental vacation is a wonderful time for bonding, and is full of memories that will last everyone a lifetime. Part of the memory making is the picture taking. You don't have to enroll in a photography class at your local college for great family vacation pictures - just follow these tips from some of the pros, compiled by Douglass K. Daniel, a writer and editor with the Washington bureau of The Associated Press, in our first of a two-part series.

1. Start shooting before you leave home. This is especially important if you have a new digital camera. "Reading the manual on the plane is not enough," says Washington, D.C.-based photographer Eliot Cohen. "At that point it's way too late. Practice with it before you take important pictures." Shooting at home, without the pressures of trying to get those once-in-a-lifetime pictures on the trip, will help you become familiar with the camera.


2. When photographing a landscape, make the foreground interesting. "A rock, tree or statue can work," says Scott Stuckey, author of National Geographic's "Ultimate Field Guide to Travel Photography" and managing editor of its Traveler magazine. "Even better is a shot of a person doing something that relates to the landscape — a fisherman tending his nets, a cowboy on horseback, even a tourist taking a picture."
   
   And sunsets? "They really aren't all that interesting," Stuckey says. Sure, take a shot of the setting sun, and then "…turn around and photograph the landscape where the setting sunlight is falling, with the sun at your back. That's where the interest lies," points out Stuckey.


3. Go beyond the posed picture. "Vacation pictures are about remembering moments, not just places," says Susan Walsh, an Associated Press photographer. "Shots of your companions in action will capture the fun of a trip. They remind you what you were doing," Walsh says, "whether it's how hard it was to climb up that mountain or splashing in the pool or paddling a canoe."
   
   And don't forget to include the locals, Scott Stuckey advises. "They reveal the character of a destination more than any other photographic subject."


4. Get as close as you can to your subject. Try to move in and "fill your frame," says Charles Dharapak, an AP staff photographer in Washington. "If you can get closer, I'd say the results will be sharper." Avoid using the camera's zoom in low-light situations. "The zoom lens usually engages a slower shutter speed to collect more light," explains Dharapak, "which increases the chance of blur from movement."

Read Vacation Photography Tips – Part 2

Calling all Military Families! The latest news from Washington is that the National Endowment of the Arts is partnering with over 600 museums across the country to offer free admission to military families throughout this summer. There are many budget timeshares available for rent in almost every state, and coupled with free museum admission, you can have an affordable, fun, and amazing summer family vacation.

NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman said he was very pleased by how many museums joined the effort, despite the poor economy, from the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum to the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Nebraska. "I think it is good karma for the museums," he said. "Long-term, it promotes museum-going and engagement with the arts." The Defense Department is helping to promote this "Operation Appreciation" offer.
The program, called the Blue Star Museums Initiative, is for active duty military personnel and their families, and runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 2010.

All you have to do is think of the museums that you've dreamed of visiting, but could never afford the admission prices. Go ahead - choose just about any one of them - and the doors are opening wide just for you. For example, a San Diego timeshare rental will give you an inexpensive hub from which to not only enjoy great beaches, but also explore 14 participating museums in the area, including the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park which houses the Putnam Foundation Collection of European Masters.

Rent a budget San Francisco timeshare downtown, and take the cable car over to the newly-opened Walt Disney Family Museum. Featuring the life and legacy of Walt Disney, as presented by his family, this fun museum exhibits, among other things, film clips that range from experiments with trick shots - such as "unspilling" a glass of milk - to reels that documented Disney's life at home with his family.

You can rent a New York City timeshare and visit the pricey New York Museum of Modern Art. Other great NYC museums participating in this program include the Staten Island Children's Museum, (and remember, a ride on the Staten Island Ferry is always free!) Also, over Memorial Day weekend in New York City, NY Sen. Kristen Gillibrand has announced more than 50 museums and historic sites will offer free admission to military personnel and veterans.

Visit the Blue Star Museum Initiative online for a complete list of all participating museums.

(Photo of Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night" from moma.org)

It's summer, the kids are out of school, but you have to work. Well, for some real family fun, consider a kid-friendly business trip! Family Circle Magazine offers this great suggestion: "Are you headed to a top convention city on business? Let the kids tag along, and turn work into a mini family vacation." This idea is especially easy to do when you rent a timeshare - the kids and your spouse will have a comfortable, affordable, home-like place to stay, and a chance to have a surprise vacation - with you!

San Francisco
If you are headed to San Francisco on business, this is a perfect city for bringing the kids along. There is so much to see that the kids will never be bored. Just driving up and down San Francisco's famous hills can rival any theme park ride. And pitching down a steep hill in a cable car can be a thrill. At Fisherman's Wharf the kids will love clambering around the antique schooners, tugs and square rigger sailing ships that line the pier at the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. See all San Francisco timeshares.

Washington D.C.
Many of you will probably find yourselves headed to Washington, D.C., on business this summer. Take your kids along - what a great opportunity for them to explore our nation's capital. The highlight, of course, would be the National Mall with its Smithsonian museums, and admission is free! The very kid-friendly "America on the Move" exhibit at the National Museum of American History will be one of their favorites, as well as getting up close and personal with spaceships at the Air and Space Museum. It's also free admission at the National Zoo. Here the entire family will fall in love with Mei Ziang and Tian Tian, the two Giant Pandas on loan from China. See Washington DC area timeshares.

Nashville
Do you have a business trip planned for Nashville? Well, take the kids! A timeshare rental here will give your kids the opportunity to explore this very American city on the shores of the Cumberland River. Known as Music City, USA, Nashville will have everyone’s toes a’tappin’ before the suitcases are even unpacked.

Although the Spring 2010 flooding of various sections of the city has temporarily closed the Grand Ole Opry theater, the Opry show hasn’t misssed a beat. Your family can still enjoy the shows and entertainment of major, and up-and-coming, country music stars as the oldest radio show in history continues to broadcast from two of its former homes. When the theater reopens be sure to take the kids on a behind the scenes tour of the Opry House, complete with great stories about the Opry and its famous members. See Nashville timeshares.

What kid doesn't like animals? A summer family vacation that is definitely kid-friendly is anything that involves seeing exotic animals. This could include zoos with lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!), or getting up close and personal with exotic marine animals. And what better place for kids to do that than visiting SeaWorld. There are three SeaWorld parks in the U.S., one on each coast, and one in the middle. Take your pick: rent an Orlando timeshare in Florida, a San Diego timeshare in California, or a San Antonio timeshare in Texas, and visit SeaWorld!

SeaWorld is a marine mammal park, an oceanarium, and an animal theme park all rolled into one. The parks feature killer whale (orca), sea lion, and dolphin shows, along with zoological displays featuring various other marine animals including graceful rays, slippery eels, sharks and even penguins.

SeaWorld was the brain child of four UCLA graduates who originally set out to build an underwater restaurant in San Diego. When the underwater restaurant idea proved unfeasible, they decided to build a marine park instead, and the San Diego Sea World opened to the public in 1964.

Today all three SeaWorld parks also feature a variety of thrill rides. Sea World Orlando has the Kraken and Manta roller coasters; Sea World San Antonio offers two rides called the Steel Eel and the Great White; and a "splashdown ride," Journey to Atlantis, can be found in all three parks. Because the giant beer brewing company, Anheuser-Busch, owned the Sea World parks for a number of years, each park also keeps some of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales as an additional non-marine type attraction.

SeaWorld has made many contributions to wildlife conservation, including scientists and zoologists who participate in research and marine wildlife preservation. SeaWorld rescue teams routinely save stranded whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions, and have helped raise the awareness of Florida's endangered manatees. SeaWorld's commitment to conservation, research and animal rescue was recently formalized with the creation of the non-profit SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. SeaWorld is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which means that the parks have met and exceeded the Standards in Education, Conservation and Research.

A family timeshare rental vacation near one of the SeaWorld parks will not only give the kids the unique opportunity to see and learn about marine wildlife, and even have fun on some amazing thrill rides, but your family will also be participating, in a way, in marine conservation efforts the world over.

(Photo provided by seaworld.com)

The minute you get off the plane, you’ll know you are in tropical paradise and on your way to a great summer vacation. You’ll feel the sun on your face, the balmy breezes on your cheeks and smell the fresh plumeria flowers in the air. It's no secret that the Islands of Aloha are a scenic paradise, but what you may not know is that by renting a timeshare, you could have more space and amenities than a hotel room, for about half the cost.

"Hawaii is historically one of the world's most popular summer vacation destinations and this year is an exceptionally good time to visit with the deals and specials in the marketplace for travelers to take advantage of," said John Monahan, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB).

Oahu
Oahu is the popular island for tourists with a mix of natural and cultural wonders. See pro surfers on the famous North Shore, visit the memorial at Pearl Harbor, or bask in the sun and learn to surf on the legendary beach of Waikiki. See Oahu timeshares.

Hawaii (the Big Island)
Bigger than all of the other islands combined, Hawaii holds 11 of the world’s 13 climactic zones—from sandy beaches to snowcapped mountains. For activities you can: see beautiful rainforests, botanical gardens and waterfalls; try fishing and snorkeling off the Kona Coast; or visit Volcano National Park. See Hawaii timeshares.

Maui
For the best beaches in the world, you’ll want to visit the second largest island, Maui. For more incredible scenery, try a long drive up to Hana, or wake up early to catch the sunrise atop Haleakala Crater. See Maui timeshares.

Kauai
Graced with dramatic, natural beauty, the oldest island of Kauai can offer you great outdoor adventures. See the massive Waimea Canyon, "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Take a boat ride out to view the towering cliffs of the Napali Coast. See Kauai timeshares.

Molokai
Molokai is an island that has preserved its connection to the past and offers many activities for those who love the outdoors. View the lush foliage in beautiful Halawa Valley or visit the Kalaupapa Settlement to learn about the works of Father Damien. See Molokai timeshares.

For more ideas on what to do on your Hawaii vacation, visit their official tourism site and request a free copy of the Hawaii's Official Visitors' Guide.
Photo compliments of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.