Timeshare Information

When you think of a vacation to New York City, you undoubtedly think of the glitz and glamour of a big, exciting city. But you may also realize that hotels are very expensive there, especially if you want to be in the heart of the action - Manhattan. However, there are many wonderful New York City timeshares for rent right in downtown Manhattan that are surprisingly easy on the budget, and a great way for you to afford to take the entire family - and see all of the fun things that are happening in NYC in July, 2010.

Here is a list of several fun things to do this July for budget-minded family fun, based on picks by Kate Appleton, of Budget Travel Magazine.

1. Coney Island is now known as Luna Park, but it's the same fun, old-fashioned-feeling amusement park, complete with its 83-year old roller coaster, Cyclone (see photo). However, 19 new rides opened here this summer, so you'll have plenty of modern marvels from which to choose.


2. Classic summer night baseball is also available out at Coney Island. Here the minor-league Brooklyn Cyclones take on rivals, and if you attend on the right nights you'll also get treated to some great fireworks. Fireworks at the stadium are on Saturdays, (July 3, 10, 31) and also are along the boardwalk on Fridays (July 9, 16, 23).


3. Free concerts are being hosted by the Metropolitan Opera beginning at the SummerStage in Central Park on July 12. Additional venues are July 15 at the Bronx's Crotona Park, July 20 at the brand-new Brooklyn Bridge Park, July 22 at Staten Island's Tappen Park, July 27 at Queens Bridge Park, and July 29 at Manhattan's Jackie Robinson Park. Pack a picnic, and be sure to show up early to claim your spot at these very popular summer events.


4. Head to Bryant Park on Thursdays at 12:30pm for the extraordinary opportunity to see some of Broadway's top actors, from its top shows, perform on the lawn's center stage. This July will feature stars from "Wicked," "South Pacific," and other award-winning Broadway shows.


5. For something different plan to attend "Bastille Day on 60th Street" on July 11, when the French Institute throws a three block party to celebrate French Independence Day. You'll see mimes, accordion players and cancan dancers, and have a chance to indulge in French cuisine. Kid-friendly activities are also available such as pétanque (lawn bowling).


6. Take a break from your timeshare kitchenette meals, and check out "Fine dining for Less" during Restaurant Week, July 12-16 and July 19-23, plus Sundays at selected restaurants. Three-course, prix-fixe meals are available at discounted prices for lunch and dinner at about 275 restaurants.

(Photo from coneyislandfunguide.com)

Across the country from New York City's famed Central Park, is a park just as exciting for family outings - San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Rent a San Francisco timeshare in the City by the Bay, and check out Golden Gate Park - at over a thousand acres, and three miles long, it's actually larger than Central Park. Just a drive through, following the scenic drive signs, takes an hour.

Golden Gate Park is home to two premier museums, the deYoung Art Museum, and the California Academy of Sciences. Gardening enthusiasts will enjoy the Japanese Tea Garden (see photo), the outdoor botanical garden, and the Conservatory of Flowers.

Other fun things to see include Queen Wilhelmina's Windmill, an honest-to-goodness Dutch windmill that stands near the west end of the park. In spring, tulips bloom around its base. Spreckels Lake is a fun weekend stop where you can watch small-scale radio-controlled boats sail, paddle, or jet across the water.

Or take your own rowboat, or fun paddle boat, out on Stow Lake, a fun family-friendly activity (life vests are available for the kids). You'll all enjoy this stunningly beautiful lake with its waterfall and pagoda-like gazebo. Pack a picnic from your timeshare kitchen and head to a popular picnic spot, Strawberry Island, in the middle of the lake.

Adults will enjoy "Lindy in the Park," a Swing dancing fest held every Sunday. The totally free afternoon starts off with a beginner's lesson, and then breaks into a huge dance party with a mix of jazz, blues, and swing music. Whether you're totally green or a real pro, you'll feel at home with this diverse crowd. Or you can simply sit back and tap your toe as a spectator.

For the kids, America's oldest public playground, the Children's Playground, now officially called Koret Children's Quarter after a recent $3.8 million renovation, is the place to go. There's lots to do, from spinning cups to a 50-foot climbing tower, from slides to ziplines. The classic carousel, built in 1912, has organ music and ornate animals to ride.

And what other park in the country has its very own bison herd for the kids to enjoy?! Get up close and personal at Buffalo Paddock.

Note: There is now a shuttle bus from the free Ocean Beach parking lot to various locations inside the park; it's just $2 for an all-day round trip. So rent a timeshare in San Francisco and enjoy this west coast big brother of NYC's Central Park - it might become your family's favorite.

(Photo provided by parks.sfgov.org)

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

Many of you will be flying to your timeshare rental on your summer family vacation this year. If you're like most people, flying is an easy, convenient, and comfortable means of getting to your destination. And, if you're like most people, the thoughts of airline safety, especially as relates to terrorism, are not far from your mind as you step aboard that plane. Rest assured that governments world-wide continue to work toward anti-terrorism safety.

On June 28, 2010, the EU (European Union) announced that it will begin trials of anti-terrorism technology aimed at detecting suspicious behavior on board aircraft. The system has already been tested by the EU on a British Aerospace plane and a mock Airbus. Trials of similar systems have been conducted at airports around the world, but the new trials would be a first for on-board commercial aircraft.

The system uses a combination of CCTV, microphones, and explosive detectors all linked through a software package that analyzes the data. Microphones pick up on anything which could suggest terrorist behavior. Inside the lavatories explosives "sniffers" detect if a bomb is being assembled. All this information is analyzed by computer and if it identifies something suspicious the flight deck is alerted instantly.

“What we are doing is extending technology already used at airports and railway stations and placing it on an aircraft,” said James Ferryman, who is leading the research project.

According to researchers this technology could have prevented the Nigerian Al Qaeda terrorist, who tried to detonate an explosive device on a Christmas Day flight to Detroit, from getting as far as he did. “It is known that the terrorist was acting nervously in the airport prior to boarding – this could have been picked up with the same automated CCTV technology – and that he spent time in the toilet assembling the components of the explosive,” Ferryman said.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that 100% of passengers traveling within the United States and its territories are now being checked against terrorist watch lists through the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program. "This is a major step in fulfilling a key 9/11 Commission recommendation," (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano stated.

The goals of Secure Flight as explained by the TSA are to: Identify known and suspected terrorists, prevent individuals on the No Fly List from boarding an aircraft, provide enhanced screening of select individuals, facilitate passenger air travel, and individuals' privacy. The TSA began implementing Secure Flight in late 2009 and expects all international carriers with direct flights to the U.S. to begin using Secure Flight by the end of 2010.

Surf's Up! No matter what season of the year it is, great surfing can be found somewhere in America. Surfing has grown to be an iconic cultural phenomenon all its own, immortalized in song, film and fashion - and the search for the perfect wave. If you've been planning a timeshare surfing vacation, here are a few surfing beaches considered by the surfing world to be some of the "Most Fantastic Surf Spots in America."

1. North Shore, Oahu
   Rent an Oahu timeshare anywhere on the island, and you'll find your way to the North Shore. Famous as one of the top surfing areas in the world, there are some pretty hefty waves crashing on this shore all year round (see photo above). But winter is when the surfing here charges up to a whole new level. The giant storm-generated swells in the northern Pacific travel thousands of miles to break along Oahu's North Shore with some of the most imposing and massive waves on the planet.


2. New Smyrna Beach, Florida
   Rent a Daytona Beach timeshare and this phenomenal surfing area is a quick drive down the coast. Considered one of the most consistent surf spots in Florida, fantastic waves offer surfers fantastic rides at this surf beach. The subtropical climate here is perfect for summer surfing, and for growing special treats of coconuts and bananas!


3. Mavericks, California
   On the list of best American surf spots is not southern California, but this surf beach at Half Moon Bay. A timeshare rental in San Francisco will put you in good shape to experience one of the most popular spots in the sport of surfing. The water is chilly, so wet suits are recommended, but here the waves are gigantic. The annual Mavericks Surf Contest is held here pitting athlete against nature with the 50-foot waves that come roaring out of the Gulf of Alaska during the winter.


4. Manasquan, New Jersey
   Drive just an hour from your Atlantic City timeshare rental and you're in a spot considered to be one of the best surfing beaches on the east coast. Prime surf season in New Jersey occurs during the Fall months. The beach crowds are gone, and although the air temperature is cooler than summer, the Atlantic Ocean here generally remains warm through October. And the waves are at their peak, often generated by hurricanes miles away.


5. Tanker Surfing, Galveston, Texas
   For advanced surfers only! Rent a Galveston timeshare and check out this variation on the sport where surfers lie in wait in the Galveston ship channel to catch an impressively long ride on the wake of a giant ship. Just make sure you know what you're doing!

(Photo of the North Shore, Hawaii provided by aloha-hawaii.com)