Timeshare Information

Breckenridge Grand Vacations, of Breckenridge, CO, and parent company of the Grand Lodge on Peak 7, Grand Timber Lodge, and Gold Point Resort, broke ground this spring on the second and last building of their newest resort. Plan now for a timeshare rental vacation to this family-friendly vacation spot of the Rocky Mountains.

The Grand Lodge on Peak 7, upon completion, will consist of 114 two-bedroom units in two buildings. With the commencement of construction on the North building this spring the resort is presently more than 50% sold out with sales expected to be complete in 2014.

The Grand Lodge on Peak 7 is located slopeside on Peak 7 of the Breckenridge Ski Resort. Mere steps from the Independence SuperChair, the resort offers unparalleled amenities for its owners and guests including an indoor/outdoor aquatics area, onsite day spa (Soothe), restaurant (Sevens), a family game room and four 8-12 person theaters.

Bucking current trends in real estate, the Grand Lodge on Peak 7 had a record sales month in February of 2011, generating over $7,000,000 in real estate sales - the best month in the company’s 25-year history. Then March surpassed that record with the company’s first $8 million dollar month. The building permit for the second building was the only multi-family permit requested in the past three years for the town of Breckenridge.

Location, amenities and quality are only a few reasons for the success of the project. The resort’s unique home-ownership plan enables families who thought they couldn’t afford ski-in/ski-out real estate to purchase only the time they will use at a fraction of the price of whole ownership. Being a timeshare resort, owners purchase one-week increments at the resort, making the dream of owning ski-in/ski-out real estate a reality for over 4,500 people so far.

The South building, Phase 3 of Grand Lodge on Peak 7, was opened in December, 2010, completing the first of the two buildings planned for that resort. Phase 3 added 28 two bedroom units to the existing 28 units from Phases 1 and 2, which almost doubles the resort's capacity.

Breckenridge Grand Vacations is a locally owned and operated company. Its principals are three local business men, brothers Rob and Mike Millisor and Mike Dudick, have lived in the area over 25 years and head the 325 employee company.

Breckenridge is noted as a premier family destination for both summer and winter vacations.

RCI announced at the 2011 ARDA Convention in Florida the launch of an exciting and enhanced version of its Weeks membership program - Platinum.

The RCI Weeks Platinum Membership is a premium tier of RCI membership, offering exclusive exchange privileges and lifestyle benefits. It is presently available to US members and will be rolled out across Europe in the summer.

"Timeshare owners are always looking for more value from their exchange provider and RCI Weeks Platinum will provide just that - new opportunities for priority access and special member discounts," explained Geoff Ballotti, CEO of RCI.

"After the successful debut of the RCI Points Platinum membership tier last year, we are excited to expand this terrific program to our RCI Weeks members as well. The RCI Weeks Platinum membership tier will offer tremendous lifestyle benefits that our RCI Weeks members can use and enjoy in so many different ways."

This new tier of RCI Weeks membership will offer a large range of advantages to the RCI member including room upgrade opportunities, exclusive "first look" access to specially acquired holiday accommodation, and rebates for various RCI transactions. Members will also have access to preferred rates at the world's finest ski destinations and discounted green fees at many golf courses in the US.

"As the inventor of vacation exchange, RCI is always looking to develop new products and ideas that will give our members the best experiences and exceed the expectations of our resort affiliates," said Ballotti. "The RCI Weeks Platinum membership tier brings terrific new benefits to our already popular RCI Weeks program.

"We're excited to continue delivering what our members ask for with innovative enhancements and dozens of lifestyle benefits that we'll continue to build upon and expand going forward."

RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with access to more than 80,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange.

(Photo credit www.rciventures.com)

Heading out for your Spring Break vacation? It's a cinch that you've been spending more time in classrooms at school than you have being a world traveler. Therefore, there might be some dangerous aspects of travel to which you're not accustomed. No need to stay home, says Kathleen Crislip, writer about student travel on about .com, in her "Student Safety Overview" post. Just learn the rules about common sense safety, then go out and have fun on your timeshare rental Spring Break trip.

Kathleen Crislip says:

• If you've grown up in a small town and this is your first big trip, you may not be prepared for the fact that not everyone you meet in a big city has your best interests at heart.


• Not being able to speak the local language while traveling, for example to Mexico, could hinder you from getting help.


• Street crime takes forms in other countries that you may not have seen at home, even if you live in a large city.


• Scam artists and conmen may target you because of your youth, which they might equate with naiveté.

So what to do? Crislip offers these suggestions:

1. Check U.S. government issued travel warnings and consider not choosing a destination that the State Department is advising Americans to avoid.


2. Invest in a phrasebook and memorize some possibly helpful phrases before you leave home. For example, if you're going to Mexico you might want to learn: "Socorro!" (Help), and "Llama a la policia!" (Call the police).


3. Use the same safety precautions you would at home: avoid walking alone on deserted streets after dark, keep your travel cash stashed, and stay alert.


4. Pay attention in taxis and on trains - you're unlikely to get too far from your bags during air travel, but losing them during other transportation is easier than you might think.


5. Watch the crowd - Many thieves prefer crowded areas. Stay alert in places like bus stations and during street celebrations, where you're likely to be jostled - thieves use these circumstances to grab for your purse or to pick your pocket.

When planning your Spring Break trip, consider a timeshare rental at a luxury resort - you'll find many that are budget friendly. And many of the resorts have their own on-site nightclubs and entertainment, as well as enough on-site amenities to keep you happily busy through your entire Spring Break vacation.

(Photo credit - Photobucket.com)

Just in time for Valentine's Day! Marriott’s Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert is bringing a sweet experience to its owners and guests with the opening of its very own Dylan’s Candy Bar, "the world’s sweetest candy emporium," modeled after the innovative New York flagship store.

“The Marriott Vacation Club experience is about creating memorable moments for our owners and guests,” said Daniel Slaughter, general manager of Marriott’s Shadow Ridge. “We’re excited to offer the first Dylan’s Candy Bar at a Marriott resort and see this as the perfect complement to our amenities at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge.”

The shop’s bright turquoise walls with a candy-coated ceiling, custom candy-themed light fixtures and shelves full of tantalizing treats is guaranteed to indulge the inner child in everyone. Guests can enjoy a delicious adventure discovering their favorite candy and chocolates, including scrumptious gummy bears and jelly beans, a vast variety of nostalgic treats and various flavors of Dylan’s Candy Bar’s exclusive line of chocolate bars. Other eye catchers include the famous Whirly Pop Tree with its branches of lickable lollipops and candy-inspired apparel and accessories that look good enough to eat.

The iconic Dylan’s Candy Bar was founded by Dylan Lauren, daughter of the legendary fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Dylan’s dream of combining a love of candy and a passion for art became a reality when the first Dylan's Candy Bar, located in New York City, opened in 2001. Since then, Dylan has expanded her stores to include locations in East Hampton and Roosevelt Field, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Houston, Texas and prestigious wholesale venues around the globe.

“As a great explorer (of candy, that is) I love traveling and discovering new treats from around the world,” said Dylan Lauren, CEO & Founder of Dylan’s Candy Bar. “By partnering with Marriott’s Shadow Ridge, we have combined the delight of luxury vacationing with the deliciousness of candy to create a mouthwatering duo that will ensure the sweetest of escapes.”

Renown for merging the worlds of art, fashion and pop culture with candy, Dylan's Candy Bar is not your average "candy store." Besides over 7,000 different kinds of candy from around the world, it features candy-inspired fashion and a café serving delicious baked treats and gourmet ice cream, as well as a party room and candy-cocktail bar.

Located in the heart of Palm Desert, Marriott’s Shadow Ridge currently has timeshare rentals available for your Valentine getaway. And when you visit the candy store you can pick up something sweet for your sweetheart with Dylan’s Candy Bar Valentine’s Day special edition chocolate bars including a premium Belgian milk chocolate “Bleeding Heart Bar” filled with sweet red caramel, sure to get your Valentine's heart beating.

(Candy Store Photo Credit - news.marriott.com)

The 2011 travel forecasts are in and the pundits have made their lists and their predictions. Learning about what prices are going up or down, and which destinations are viewed as the most popular, may help you decide where to spend your timeshare vacation this year.

Airfare
Travel guru Arthur Frommer says that overall, Americans are prepared to spend more on travel in 2011, which is a good thing because American Express reports that domestic economy airfares will increase 2-6%.

Rental Cars
Travel North America reports that rental car prices will go down 1.5 - 2%, so, once you get to your destination, you can save money seeing the sights.

Accommodations
American Express says that it expects North American hotel rates will rise 1-6%, and rates for hotels elsewhere will increase 1-10% percent, depending on the location. For timeshare owners, this is most likely why you purchased a timeshare in the first place – getting a pre-paid vacation at rates you locked in. The good news is that those who do not own a timeshare can rent one from its owner using an online timeshare marketplace. Travelers will find that timeshare rental can be up to ½ off the cost of renting hotel rooms.

Popular Destinations
TripAdvisor.com’s survey of more than 3,000 U.S. travelers named these vacation activities as the most popular for 2011:

• Visiting a historic site, 85%


• Visiting a museum, 73%


• Visiting a national park 46%


• Attending a festival, 43%


• Hiking, 42%

With all this information, where will you vacation this year? We welcome your comments below.

(Photo credit of Historic Sites - nps.gov/nr/)

Travel Ticker®, a leading travel website, has announced the results of its annual "Traveler Intentions" Survey. The poll is based on the opinions of almost 2,000 U.S. consumers, regarding their leisure travel intentions for the next year.

The results indicated that as compared to 2010, 87 percent of respondents intend to take the same or more leisure vacations in 2011. In addition, when asked if they would fit more travel into 2011 if good deals were available, 94 percent of respondents answered yes.

“It’s great to see that, after quite a bumpy year, consumers feel ready to start taking their long awaited dream vacations, especially if presented with inspiring travel deals,” said Barbara Messing, General Manager of Travel Ticker.

According to the survey, for the second year in a row, 18 to 30-year-olds spearhead the move to take more leisure trips in 2011. Out of all respondents, 48 percent of 18 to 30-year-olds said they plan on taking more leisure trips in 2011 than the previous year. This represents a five percent increase from last year’s poll.

Following closely behind the 18 to 30-year-olds are 65+ year-olds. Compared to 38 percent in last year’s poll, 42 percent of respondents age 65 and older plan on taking more leisure trips in 2011,

Of all respondents, only six percent said they plan on traveling less in 2011. Of these respondents, 48 percent cited their economic situation as a hindrance.

A better economic situation and more free time listed as top reasons for more leisure trips in 2011. Thirty percent of all respondents said that they believe that their current economic situation will improve in the new year, resulting in the benefit of being able to travel more in 2011. This number is up ten percent from last year’s survey. In addition, 31 percent of respondents said that they planned on traveling more in the new year due to an increase in free time.

Given a good deal, 94 per cent of all respondents would fit in more leisure travel in 2011. While many consumers believe that they will be more financially stable in 2011, they are still on the lookout for heavy discounts, travel perks and incentives to inspire their travel. In fact, 66 percent of those polled went so far as to say that they would be comfortable being spontaneous when it came to travel, letting the deal be their inspiration for planning upcoming trips.

Find a great budget timeshare rental online for some of the best travel deals you'll find anywhere for 2011, and join the increasing leisure-travel statistics!

A new report from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has singled out developing nations for praise following sharp increases in spending, as reported by Breaking Travel News.

Despite the continuing difficulties in the global economy, two thirds of national tourism organizations in developing countries increased their budgets last year the report finds.

The Budgets of National Tourism Organizations, 2008-2009 goes on to say that the trend can in part be attributed to the continuing trend towards establishing well-funded national tourism promotion agencies in emerging economies and the awareness of the potential for boosting tourism through increased promotion.

Carried out in conjunction with the European Travel Commission (ETC), the report adds the importance of additional funding as a complement to initial budgets seems to have been increasing.

Additional funds are used to cater for sporting mega-events; to promote big cultural events, business events, and expos; or to recover from specific disruptions affecting tourism such as natural disasters, health outbreaks, or the overall global economic crisis.

Another key finding of the publication has been the increased responsibility for domestic tourism among national tourism organizations. With consumers tending to travel closer to home in times of economic hardship, several destinations have seen domestic tourism endure the crisis better and even grow significantly.

The publication reports that 70% of respondents currently see domestic tourism as a core responsibility, more than double the equivalent share five years ago.
UNWTO estimates that domestic tourism represents four times the volume of international tourism, i.e., there are some 4 billion domestic tourist arrivals worldwide compared to the 880 million international tourist arrivals registered in 2009.

The publication further identifies e-marketing priorities and trends, in particular regarding the use of new technologies in tourism marketing and promotion. The report reveals that average spending on internet and e-marketing activities varies from $50,000 (USD) for some of the smaller ones to $5-7million (USD) for some of the largest and richest destinations.

The UNWTO report is good news for timeshare vacationers. You can find a timeshare rental or exchange in such emerging markets as Thailand, South Africa, China, and Indonesia.

In this era of global terrorism how would you attempt to ensure the safety of the flying public, as well as protect people on the ground, while at the same time allowing for a relaxed flying experience? The next time you're flying to your timeshare rental vacation destination, think about it... Then, share your opinion with the U.S. Travel Association.

The U.S. Travel Association has launched a new website for travelers to share their opinions on air travel security screening with the Obama Administration, Congress and the travel industry.

The new site is in direct response to the emerging vigorous debate over the effectiveness and appropriateness of various security policies, and the fact that a free flow of air travel is critical to the American economy and job creation.

"The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has the difficult responsibility of securing and facilitating air travel for two million passengers daily," said Roger Dow, U.S. Travel's president and CEO. "In our recent conversations with Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and TSA Administrator Pistole, they stressed that they are always seeking ways to improve the air travel security screening process. We need to hear ideas and experiences from travelers to better inform our discussions with policymakers and build a screening process that maximizes security while minimizing the burden on travelers."

U.S. Travel Association created YourTravelVoice.org after receiving nearly 1,000 unsolicited comments from travelers over the past week regarding new TSA techniques.

The website complements the "Blue Ribbon Panel for Frictionless Aviation Security" created by the U.S. Travel Association last February to produce a long-term vision for America's air travel security screening. The panel includes former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, former American Airlines CEO Bob Crandall, Sabre Inc. CEO Sam Gilliland, airport directors, and a wide variety of security experts. Feedback received through YourTravelVoice.org will be considered in the panel's final recommendations, expected to be released by February 1, 2011.

"Air travel is the gateway to commerce and job creation in the United States," said Dow. "We look forward to working with Secretary Napolitano, Administrator Pistole and other government leaders to create a world-class passenger screening process that exceeds the expectations of the American public."

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $704 billion travel industry. The U.S. Travel Association's mission is to increase travel to and within the United States.

Do you like to try exotic food? Over the past couple of decades Thai cuisine has become more and more popular across the United States. When you rent a timeshare in Thailand you can learn first hand how to prepare Thai food in your own home. The Thailand city of Phuket and Phuket Island, is renowned for its many cooking schools, developed with the foreign visitor in mind.

You learn to prepare such Thai favorites as Som Tum (spicy green papaya salad), Tom Ka Gai (chicken coconut milk soup) and Nhue Phad Prik Thai On (stir-fried beef tenderloin with young peppercorns in oyster sauce).

"A Thai meal is a feast for the senses, a medley of flavors, textures and aromas, it is a mastery of herbs and spices borrowed from many cultures and blended especially for a distinctly Thai taste," said a JW Marriott Ginja Cooking School spokesperson.

The JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa in Phuket, has launched Ginja Cook, "a contemporary learning facility which introduces rich Thai cuisine heritage." Ginja Cook’s “Everyone is Welcome” approach offers personalized individual, family and group culinary courses.

Another cooking school on Phuket Island is "Pat's Home Thai Cooking," globally renowned as the first and the best Thai cooking school in Phuket. Owned and run by Khun Patcharin, these cooking classes are actually taught in Pat's home, giving "home style" a whole new meaning. Having spent 8 years in California working as a chef, Pat knows what ingredients are available for American home cooks in their local supermarkets. So while Pat will suggest basic cooking ingredients that may be hard to find in your home town, she will always offer alternatives that can be substituted.

Saowaluck Wongpong runs the Phuket Thai Cookery School which offers 1-5-day classes. Each class is designed as a one day class so you can select which classes most interest you. The comprehensive course includes introduction to Thai ingredients with an actual market tour.

Other Phuket cooking schools include Kangsadaan Thai Cooking School and the Pum Restaurant Cooking School. At the Desserts Workshop you'll learn how to make such traditional Thai desserts as Sangkhaya (egg custard), Luk Chup (fruit-shaped desserts made of mung-bean flour), and Kluai Buat Chi (banana in coconut cream).

A timeshare rental on Phuket Island gives you a fabulous beach vacation, with an exotic cooking flair. A perfect vacation for foodies.

(Photo credit - phuket.com)

In Part 3 of our 6-part series on the wonderful world of walking tours, we'll look at the great ways to explore San Diego. A timeshare rental in the San Diego area not only gives you a perfect vacation destination year-round, but also the opportunity to really investigate some of this city's best-kept secrets.

San Diego is made up of many quaint neighborhoods, and walking tours are a fun way to get to know them on a personal basis. Urban Safaris offers walking tours to just about every San Diego neighborhood you're likely to want to encounter.

1. Point Loma
   You might as well begin at the beginning. Point Loma (see photo) is where it all started for San Diego when the Portuguese explorer, Cabrillo, came ashore in 1542. The first real residents on this long finger of land were Chinese and Portuguese fishermen. Today Point Loma will show you everything from Navy installations to yacht clubs. From here you also get incredible views of downtown San Diego, and the Harbor.


2. Gaslamp Quarter
   Registered as a national historic district, the Gaslamp Quarter is where you'll encounter San Diego of the 1860s. During that raucous time prostitutes and gamblers abounded. Did you know that Wyatt Earp even ran gambling parlors here? On this walking tour you'll relive a part of San Diego's past that you might find hard to believe.


3. Banker's Hill and Balboa Park
   This walking tour gives you the opportunity to see some of the gracious homes that were built beginning in the 1890s, above the canyons west of Balboa Park. The pedestrian suspension bridges that were constructed during that time allow you to see this neighborhood from high above the canyons. This tour also gets you up close to gardens designed by Kate Sessions, and you get to actually go inside one of the magnificent homes. You'll also explore a part of beautiful Balboa Park.


4. The Urban Art Trail
   San Diego's East Village neighborhood is an artsy community with an urban flare. On this walking tour you'll discover how an old warehouse district has transformed itself, and is now modern with the San Diego Padres ballpark, and timeless as an art colony with an eclectic mix of warehouse lofts and Victorian architecture.


5. Hillcrest
   San Diego's first suburb, this neighborhood retains a small village feel, but is also a thriving community of eclectic theater, restaurants and shops. What you won't find here is strip malls. This is also an area showcasing some of the finest examples of Irving Gill's early 20th century minimalist architecture.

These are just a few of the many fascinating neighborhoods San Diego has to offer. Rent a San Diego timeshare and take a walking tour - and become friends with a fascinating city.

Walking Tours – Part 1: New York City
Walking Tours – Part 2: San Francisco
Walking Tours – Part 4: Miami
Walking Tours - Part 5: New Orleans
Walking Tours - Part 6: Hawaii

(Photo credit walkingtoursofsandiego.com)

San Francisco is a fascinating city, and a time share rental here will give you the home base and the time to explore this grand old lady. In Part 2 of our 6-Part series on cities with great walking tours, we'll take at look at what San Francisco has to offer.

1. San Francisco Architecture Walking Tour. One of the things that makes San Francisco such a charming city is its unique architecture. It's because the architecture is so iconic - and so picturesque - that many television shows and movies have been filmed on location here.
   
   On this tour Rick Evans gives you not only an introduction to some of San Francisco's most famous downtown buildings in the financial district, including the TransAmerica Pyramid, but you'll also learn about such hidden treasures as rooftop gardens and unique open spaces. This is a fascinating way to learn about San Francisco's history through its buildings.


2. Barbary Coast Trail. San Francisco had an exciting past that began with the California Gold Rush of 1848. On this tour you'll see such historical sites as a saloon where sailors were once "shanghaied," a national landmark building that survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, and an amazing "graveyard" of Gold Rush ships buried beneath the streets.
   
   The Barbary Coast was a red-light district in old San Francisco that arose from the massive infusion of treasure-seekers. The area quickly gained a reputation for rowdy behavior, gambling, prostitution, thievery, and murder. The Barbary Coast Trail walking tour has a lot to offer!


3. Victorian Home Walk (see photo). Offered by San Francisco Historical Walking Tours, you might want to consider this tour if you don't want to climb San Francisco's famous hills. On this tour you'll explore hill-free Pacific Heights, where you'll see beautiful Victorian row houses, famous mansions, and lovely gardens. You'll even get the chance to peek inside a period "Queen Anne" Victorian home. This is your opportunity to really get up close to some of San Francisco's most charming and alluring homes.


4. All About Chinatown Walking Tours. No exploration of San Francisco would be complete without a look at the city's most famous neighborhood. The largest and most culturally significant "chinatown" outside of mainland China, this city within a city is exciting and lively. You'll see buildings of historical and architectural interest, including an authentic Buddhist Temple; you'll visit a fortune cookie factory; and you could even join a hosted 10 course dim sum luncheon.

Many San Francisco timeshare rentals are available, including Nob Hill Inn, and The Suites at Fisherman's Wharf. Give yourself the opportunity to really get to know this fascinating city through its walking tours.

Walking Tours – Part 1: New York City
Walking Tours – Part 3: San Diego
Walking Tours – Part 4: Miami
Walking Tours - Part 5: New Orleans
Walking Tours - Part 6: Hawaii

(Photo credit victorianwalk.com)

Orlando is a many-faceted vacation destination. Known primarily for its big Theme Parks, this Florida city has other great "themes" to its vacation personality as well. Rent a timeshare and have fun with the third "theme" we're exploring in our 3-part series - Dinner Theaters.

1. Arabian Nights
   At this award-winning dinner show you enter the world of Scheherazade, a young girl who dreams of becoming a princess (see photo). Two magical genies take her - and you - on a thrilling romantic adventure filled with music, lights and daring acts. You'll encounter everything from dancers on horseback to racing chariots to flying gypsies.
   
   This is a large-scale production and features riders and acrobats performing on over 60 horses. The entire Arabian Nights performance and dinner show is hosted inside the Palace of Horses, the world’s largest indoor equestrian arena for a permanent show, where more than 14 different breeds of horses are trained.
   
   Along with this exciting show, you'll also eat well. The dinner menu includes everything from sirloin steak to a kid's menu of chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese. And try the Oreo brownie for dessert.


2. Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show
   This is true theater as you watch a mystery play performed right in front of you. And you never know - you might get to mingle with the outrageous characters yourself if you're chosen for a cameo role.
   
   Thirteen different stories are rotated through the schedule. Each show is 2 1/2 hours of scripted mystery, improvisation and audience participation. Bring your investigative skills and watch for anything suspicious, interrogate some of the suspects and help solve the crime. You'll be on the edge of your seat, if you're not rolling in the aisles with laughter.
   
   Your mystery meal offers hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, a choice of entrees that includes prime rib and lasagna, and - a mystery dessert.


3. Pirate Dinner Adventure
   Set aboard an authentic reproduction of an 18th century galleon anchored in an indoor lagoon, this interactive show will "shiver the timbers" of all wanna-be pirates. The action-packed adventure unfolds with a cast of a dozen actors, singers and stunt performers accompanied by cannon blasts, pyrotechnics and plenty of laughs. Every night more than 150 audience members are chosen to play an actual role in the show.
   
   Your pirate's feast includes the Captain's Seafood Medley, Pillager's Pork, and Princess Anita’s Royal Desserts.

An Orlando timeshare rental will put you in the middle of this amazing city - a multi-themed, family-friendly vacation hot-spot.

Explore Orlando’s Many Themes - Part 1: Flying
Explore Orlando’s Many Themes - Part 2: Animals

(Photo credit arabian-nights.com)

We all know that Orlando is famous as the Theme Park capital of the world with its huge theme parks of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. But Orlando also has many other "themes" to be explored from your timeshare rental. Part 2 of our 3-part series on Orlando's "other themes" will look at the theme of "wet and wild - animals!"

All of the following venues do have theme-park related thrill rides, certainly, but each one also offers the unique opportunity to get up close and personal to some of the amazing animals that share our world.

SeaWorld is famous for its Orcas, or Killer Whales. The Shamu Show showcases these beautiful, graceful and powerful creatures. Currently SeaWorld Orlando has six Orcas, including a calf just born on October 9th, 2010.

Other fun animals you can see at SeaWorld are sea lions, seals, beluga whales, pacific walruses, polar bears, and of course dolphins. Currently at SeaWorld Orlando there are 17 adult dolphins, and 11 calves make up the Dolphin Nursery.

Even though Busch Gardens in nearby Tampa Bay is thought of as a thrill ride park, it really is a zoo and botanical garden. Among the spectacular garden displays winds a wonderful menagerie of African animals. Jungala offers great up-close experiences of both orangutan and tiger exhibits. The Edge of Africa exhibit is where you'll be able to see such animals as lions, rhinos, giraffes and even families of cute meerkats.

A special treat at Busch Gardens is the Serengeti Safari Tours *(see photo) which takes you and your family aboard open trucks across the 65-acre Serengeti Plain, for thrilling up-close encounters with the African animals in their natural habitat.

Although Aquatica is a waterpark, the rides incorporate a viewing of an intriguing assortment of animals. Aquatica is home to the only Commerson's Dolphins in the southeast U.S. These small dolphins, measuring only 5 ft in length and weighing only 100 pounds, are agile and playful swimmers.

African Cichlids are fancifully-colored freshwater fish. An extremely diverse type of fish, more than 500 species are known, and scientists find new species every year.
Other amazing animals include Aquatica's "roving ambassadors." These fun animals include a giant anteater, a pink spoonbill, a laughing kookaburra, and a sulcata tortoise, one of the largest species of tortoise in the world.

After you've done Mickey Mouse and Harry Potter, it's refreshing to use your Orlando timeshare rental to get out and get close to nature at these wonderful animal attractions - another great Orlando "theme."

Explore Orlando’s Many Themes - Part 1: Flying
Explore Orlando’s Many Themes - Part 3: Dinner Theaters
(Photo credit dosomethingdifferent.com)

Orlando is the Theme Park capital of the world, no doubt about it. But Orlando is a lot more, too. Rent a timeshare in Orlando, and explore Orlando's "other themes." This is Part 1 of a 3-part series on the many fun themes of Orlando. Here we'll explore the theme of "Flying."

Certainly there is flying with Pixie Dust at WDW, and flying with Harry Potter's wizard broom at Universal, but for real family flying fun, Orlando has a lot more from which to choose.

Let's start with skydiving. Think that's not something the entire family would be up for? Think again! At Orlando's Sky Venture you skydive indoors, in a wind tunnel, where just about everyone can fly.

This is just like real skydiving but without having to jump out of a plane. It's so realistic, in fact, that professional skydivers actually practice their moves in the wind tunnel. It's safe enough for 3 year-olds, and thrilling enough for adults.

Sky Venture isn't a ride or a simulator - you actually fly. It's just like free-falling, and instructors teach you how to control your movements by adjusting your positions. Learning how to master turns and other maneuvers gives you a different experience each time you fly.

If you'd like to go up in an airplane, head to Biplane Rides over Kissimmee. You'll experience the freedom of flying in an open cockpit as you wear goggles and feel the wind in your hair. You'll soar above the clouds in a vintage Stearman biplane, and get a bird's eye view of Orlando.

Or take the controls of a WWII fighter at Warbird Adventures, also in Kissimmee (see photo). This is a hands-on experience. You're in the front seat with an experienced flight instructor in the back seat. Once airborne, with his coaching you'll be doing the flying - even some aerobatics if that's what you want. No prior flying experience is necessary.

And who hasn't dreamed of a hot air balloon ride? There are several companies in the Orlando area that can help make that dream come true. Most of the hot air balloon rides take place in the early morning hours when the air is calm and quiet, and afterwards you can look forward to a traditional Champaign toast. You'll enjoy spectacular views as you gently float over Walt Disney World and the other theme parks. You might even have the thrill of finding yourself surrounded by other hot air balloons as you all rise above the earth together.

An Orlando timeshare rental family vacation offers many themes and the fun of flying is just one of them.

Explore Orlando's Many Themes - Part 2: Animals
Explore Orlando's Many Themes - Part 3: Dinner Theaters

Photo courtesy attractionsconnection.com

Now that the heat of the summer is lessened and the massive crowds are gone, autumn is a fine time to visit our nation's capital. A timeshare rental in the Washington, D.C., area will give you plenty of time to get away from the usual museums and monuments, and discover some of Washington's unique neighborhoods

Dupont Circle is a traffic circle, a park, a neighborhood, and an historic district. A cosmopolitan neighborhood, it's home to some of Washington, D.C.,'s finest museums, historic homes, art galleries, and numerous foreign embassies. You'll find it fun to try some of the ethnic restaurants for which Dupont Circle is famous, including Thai, Middle Eastern, Greek and Ethiopian.

Dupont Circle is located in the "Old City" of Washington, D.C. - the area planned by the city's original architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant. The park located within the circle is maintained by the National Park Service. The central fountain provides seating, and if you're a chess buff you might be able to pick up a game at one of the permanent stone chessboards.

Penn Quarter (see photo) is a revitalized historic neighborhood in the east end of downtown Washington, DC., north of Pennsylvania Avenue. Penn Quarter has become an arts and entertainment district with new restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, art galleries, theaters and trendy stores. In 1997 revitalization began with a number of developments west of the FBI Building, most significantly the creation of new parks and plazas, including Pershing Park, Freedom Plaza, and the Navy Memorial.

On Thursday afternoons in spring, summer, and fall, the FRESHFARM Penn Quarter farmers market is open, and is a great place for you to pick up delicious fresh fruits and vegetables for your timeshare kitchen meals.

Georgetown is a neighborhood located in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., along the Potomac River waterfront. Interestingly it predates the capital city, having been founded in 1751. It was assimilated into Washington, D.C, in 1871.

Georgetown is home to the main campus of Georgetown University, and numerous historic landmarks including Old Stone House, the oldest standing building in Washington. When you stroll through this neighborhood you'll encounter several foreign embassies including those of France, Sweden Thailand, and the Ukraine.

In the heart of the Capitol Hill neighborhood you'll find the Eastern Market. Begun in 1873, this is Washington DC’s oldest continually operated fresh food public market. Try the Market Lunch, known for its crab cakes and blueberry pancakes. The Market is also a destination for homemade arts and crafts, and community events including concerts, sing-alongs, and dance.

A timeshare rental vacation in Washington, D.C., is the perfect way to truly enjoy all of this fascinating city, and autumn is the perfect time for it.

(Photo credit dc.about.com)

Vacations are precious things these days. If you're like so many other Americans, you might feel like you shouldn't even take a vacation. So, when you do take the time, and the money, for a real vacation, you want it to go well. Avoid these 5 common mistakes and you might find yourself enjoying a dream vacation of a lifetime.

• Mistake #1 - Paying the cost of a Hotel
  Hotels are expensive. And these days hotels are jumping on the "extra fee" bandwagon started by the airlines (and many of the extra fees are hidden - see our previous post “Hotels Charging Extra Fees”), so, often your final bill is much higher than you planned on.
  
  Solution: A timeshare rental often offers up to 50% savings over hotel rooms. You'll find it also cheaper on a per person cost, since most hotels require you to pay for more rooms to accommodate more people.


• Mistake #2 - Eating Out for all of your Meals
  Restaurants are expensive. And fast food is not only getting more expensive, it can get tiring. How thrilling is it to spend your vacation eating cold pizza while perched on the edge of a hotel bed?
  
  Solution: Rent a timeshare that comes with a fully equipped kitchen.


• Mistake #3 - Settling for a Cramped Hotel Room
  Solution: Timeshare rentals offer space in which to spread out and relax. You'll have separate bedrooms, a living area, a dining area, a full-sized kitchen, and a balcony or lanai.


• Mistake #4 - Staying at Accommodations with no Amenities
  Many hotels have no amenities at all, and if a hotel does offer anything it's usually one small, crowded pool, for which you may even be charged an extra fee. Bed and Breakfasts and vacation homes also generally leave you high and dry.
  
  Solution: Timeshare rentals are attached to luxury resorts, and most of the resort's amenities will be included in your one-time rental fee. These amenities will almost always include multiple swimming pools (often with waterpark features), hot tubs, kiddie pools, children's playgrounds, and tennis courts. Other offerings might be dance classes, arts and crafts, arcade game rooms, volleyball, miniature golf, and the list goes on.


• Mistake #5 - Returning to the Same Location
  It's easy to fall into the trap of vacationing at the same destination every year, especially if you are on a budget and feel like you should go somewhere you already know you can afford.
  
  Solution: Check out the many listings for budget-friendly timeshare exchanges available not only across the country, but in Mexico, the Caribbean, and around the world. When you choose to vacation with a timeshare rental, your destination options are wide open.

If you are truly serious about wanting to check out real hauntings for your October timeshare rental vacation, the place you must go is, of course, Salem, Massachusetts. So we end our 4-part series of the most haunted cities in America with a look at this iconic witch-filled, ghost-filled town. Many Massachusetts timeshare rentals, in Boston or even on Cape Cod, will put you no more than an hour's drive of Salem.

Popularly known as the "Haunted Witch City," Salem's tragic history easily puts it on the map as a top "haunted destination," both for tourists and for professional paranormal investigators.

The most haunted spot in Salem is now known as Gallows Hill Park. This is the site where the majority of accused "witches" were hung during the witch hysteria that gripped the town in 1692. The original "hanging tree" is long gone, and the pit where the bodies were dumped has turned into itself with the spot now grown over. But many of the tortured souls who were unjustly killed here are still seen in ghostly apparition roaming across the ground and darting among the trees. On some nights screams and sobbing can be distinctly heard.

Salem has been forced to embrace its tragic past, and today has turned its history of witches into its main industry. Police cars are adorned with witch logos, a local public school is known as the Witchcraft Heights Elementary School, and the Salem High School football team is called The Witches.

Thus, Salem is definitely a hot spot for Halloween celebrations. From October 1 through November 1 you can join the Halloween festival in everything from parades to psychic fairs to tours of haunted houses.

Speaking of tours, you can choose from numerous tour companies for your official tour of haunted Salem, including candlelight walking tours, trolley tours, and even a haunted dinner cruise tour.

Don't miss the fascinating museums of Salem. One of the scariest is the Salem Wax Museum where you'll come face to face with eerily life-like figures representing some of Salem's most infamous citizens, including the merciless Witch Trials judge Colonel John Hawthorne, and Tituba, the accused "witch" who helped fuel the 1692 hysteria.

Salem is also known as a modern-day gathering spot for practitioners of Wicca, who comfortably call themselves witches. The Salem Witch Village is where you will "discover the truth and facts surrounding the subject of Witchcraft." Created in conjunction with modern day witches, this is touted as "the only tour in Salem to actually touch upon the true subject of Witchcraft - its history, beliefs, and practices, both ancient and modern."

Salem is the perfect spot to rent a timeshare for a spooky Halloween vacation.

Travel to the Most Haunted Cities in America – Part 1 New Orleans
Travel to the Most Haunted Cities in America – Part 2 San Francisco
Travel to the Most Haunted Cities in America – Part 3 Miami

(Photo credit hauntedsalem.com)

In Part 3 of our 4-part series on where you can rent a timeshare and visit the most haunted cities in America during Halloween month, we'll head once again to a beautiful seaside destination. Who would think that the soft sands and warm waters of the Miami Beach area would also have a Haunted side? Rent a Miami Beach timeshare and check these places out!

The area's most famous haunted hotel is the elegant Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables (see photo), originally built as a luxury hotel for the rich and famous. However, during WWII its marble floors were covered with government-issue linoleum, the windows were covered over with concrete, and the hotel was turned into a hospital. After the war it was used by the University of Miami School of Medicine for cadaver studies.

Even though the building was restored to an elegant hotel in the 1980s, there are numerous ghostly sightings of the tortured dead from this period - the 13th floor seems to be particularly active. Also a woman in white is often seen running down the beach or out on the golf course, believed to be a young woman who jumped to her death from the hotel's tower. You can hear these and many other ghost stories told every Thursday evening in the Biltmore lobby.

The Villa Paula Mansion in Miami is active with several spirits. The ghost of Paula, who died there as a young woman, has been seen playing the piano, wandering through the rose garden, and slamming doors. The apparitions of a tall thin man, and of a heavy-set lady in a red dress have also been seen, as well as a maid weeping as she looks for the grave of her illegitimate baby.

The mysterious archeological site known as the Miami Circle, on a coastal spit of land near downtown Miami, is certainly a departure from normal haunted places. Thought to be remnants of an ancient Tequesta Indian village, on dark nights ghostly forms have been seen flitting about the area, along with strange music, mumblings and wailing.

And leave it to South Beach to be on the whacky side of hauntings - besides haunted hotels, here you'll also find haunted night clubs and haunted bars.
As you plan your Halloween timeshare rental vacation, keep Haunted Miami in mind as a very spooky destination.

Travel to the Most Haunted Cities in America – Part 1 New Orleans
Travel to the Most Haunted Cities in America – Part 2 San Francisco

(Photo credit biltmorehotel.com)

Now that the summer heat of the desert is fading into the pleasant temperatures of autumn, plan a timeshare rental vacation to Sedona, Arizona. While there is plenty of beautiful scenery to enjoy in the area, and lots of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing and horseback riding, also make time for a day trip to Bearizona.

Bearizona Wildlife Park opened in May, 2010, just east of Williams, AZ. From Sedona you'll take a scenic 45-minute drive through spectacular Oak Creek Canyon - a colorful and deep-cut gorge that is especially beautiful in the fall. You'll come out in Flagstaff, and Bearizona is less than a half hour beyond.

Bearizona is the brainchild of members of the Casey family, who founded Bear Country USA near Rapid City, South Dakota. Like Bear Country, Bearizona is a drive-through park where visitors can see wild animals native to North America, from the safety of their own cars.

Bearizona animals are all captive-born. Bison, bighorn sheep, burros and black bears can be seen in the 158-acre park now. Other animals that will be introduced by the end of the year include wolves, mountain goats and bobcats. During 2011 more animals will be brought in such as foxes, badgers, musk ox, river otters, and even grizzly bears.

Eventually over 40 species of wildlife will be in the park, including orphaned animals from other states. When Phase II is completed there will be a walk-through area at the end of the drive-through route, "which will be more like a traditional zoo except it will have cliffs and waterfalls," explained Dennis Casey, one of the partners. “With so much ground to play with, we can hide the enclosures pretty well.”

Bearizona will have an emphasis on conservation and even though the Williams City Council gave the wildlife park access to 4 million gallons of water per year, plans are for the park to also use rainwater collection. Other "green" projects include composting and solar power.

The mission statement of Bearizona reads, in part, “Bearizona’s Mission is to promote conservation and preservation through safe, affordable, memorable and educational encounters with North American wildlife in a natural environment. The Bearizona Wildlife Park is a vehicle for connecting visitors to wildlife and the land in which they inhabit, while using best practices for economic, environmental and social sustainability.”

Bearizona plans to be open 7 days a week, year-round. A Sedona timeshare rental is the perfect place for a family vacation this autumn, with the special bonus of a fun day in a beautiful wildlife park.

(Photo credit bearizona.com)

Disney wants YOU! All of those many photos and videos that you've taken over the years from your Disney timeshare rental vacations are now wanted - by Disney! On September 23rd Disney Parks officially launched “Let the Memories Begin” – a special celebration of family vacations and magical memories - with you and your family as the stars!

A new online site has been created where you can upload your Disney vacation memories captured in photos and videos and share them with the world. Mickey's pals promise that getting started is easy - just follow these simple instructions:

1. Choose to share your memory on DisneyParks.com/Memories


2. Describe your memory. Memories can upload as photos, videos or text-only.


3. Then all it takes is hitting the “submit” box and, once reviewed, a lifetime Disney memory is stored and shared.

Who else can best represent the Disney experience than their guests, and there's no better way to do that than to share your favorite memories. When you participate in “Let the Memories Begin” you just might find that your “guest-generated content” is featured in a Disney television spot, in print ads, vacation-planning materials, and in online communications.

So relive your favorite Disney moments, dust off the pictures, and upload them to the new site. Whatever your memory is will work - were you laughing so hard you couldn't breathe on Splash Mountain? Did you think you were going to die on the Tower of Terror? Did your "too cool" teen melt when he saw Tigger? How about when your little princess met her first Real Disney Princess? There's no limit to what your imagination, and your memories, can bring to Disney's share-the-memories campaign.

The Let the Memories Begin site will be a fun place to immerse yourself in all sorts of Disney experiences as you look through the content and share the memories of other Disney guests, too.

And there’s more - beginning in January of 2011, you can also become the star of a nightly spectacular at the Disney Parks. Photos of magical memories made in the park during the day will be projected that night on Cinderella Castle at WDW and at It's a Small World at Disneyland. In both locations Disney photographers will provide images of guests shot during the day. The producers estimate as many as 500 photos will be shown in each location every evening.

So make plans now to head to a timeshare rental near a Disney Park, and your face could be as well-known as Mickey's!