Timeshare Information

This guest post was provided by Tom Tessin. He runs FindAirlineCards, an airline reward / travel blog helping travelers save on a daily basis.

When I first heard about timeshares, I always thought about scams. I thought about the hard pushing salesperson, as well as if it’s really worth it with all the fees. After doing some research, I have found that there are some great opportunities out there when it comes to timeshares.

Today, I wanted to showcase on some comparisons with hotels vs. timeshares. They both have their advantages, but I will let you be the judge on what is going to work best for you and your vacations.

Timeshares

• Cheaper in the Long Run
  A timeshare is going to be an upfront payment, which many people don’t like, but if you buy them second hand on the timeshare resale market, you can find that you can get up to 80% off, which is a fantastic deal. From my studies online, it looks as if as you can recoup your money over 10 years time, making it a worthwhile investment, seeing a hotel will increase in price over time.


• Nice Amenities with a Timeshare
  Yes, there are nice hotels that allow you to have a kitchen and everything else, but generally they are hard to come by. What you’re going to find with a timeshare is that you’re going to get some of the best hotels when it comes to traveling. If you book early enough, you can get the hotel stay during peak times. You will find that many of your timeshare condos have full bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, balconies, washer / dryers and more.


• You’re not Limited
  While at first you may think that you are limited to just the resort you purchased, you actually have a wide range of choices through timeshare exchange. If you want to visit different places, simply choose a web site, such as RedWeek.com, to post your property up for exchange and browse their selection to find your new travel destination for just one vacation or do it every year and see the world.

Hotels

• No Annual Recurring Fees
  Something that could be considered a drawback with a timeshare is the recurring annual fees. You’re going to have to pay taxes, maintenance fees, as well as a transfer fee (in some cases) if you do decide to sell in the future. If you travel each year, you will find that these fees will be worth it, but if you skip a year here and there, a hotel stay might be better for you.


• Flexibility of Days
  With a timeshare, you have to travel weekend to weekend with a full 7 day stay. Often times airfares are cheaper when you fly mid-week so with a hotel stay, you can be much more flexible in choosing which days and how long you’d like to stay. Plus, you can be more spontaneous in your travel arrangements by using a hotel. Ready to take a trip? Just make a reservation at the drop of a hat. Even with timeshare rental, it would be hard to make a quick reservation with only a few days notice.

If you are considering buying a timeshare, always make sure that you do your research. They more you know, the better educated and informed decision you can make that will suit your vacation needs now and for years to come. And, if timeshares are something you’d like to try, rent one first at your favorite resort and make sure it’s a good fit before you put your money down.

One definition for the word "haute" is "fashionably elegant." Since just being in Hawaii is pretty special, how would you like to add to the fun and check out some "Haute" ice cream places? Rent an Oahu timeshare for your haute Hawaii vacation, and follow these suggestions from Haute Living Magazine for the "Top 5 Haute Ice Cream Shops in Honolulu." Bear in mind that much of what is called ice cream in Hawaii is actually its famed "shave ice."

1. Waiola Bakery & Shave Ice, 525 Kapahulu Avenue. Conveniently located near Waikiki, you'll enjoy shave ice at its finest - literally. It's shaved so fine it's almost like powdery snow. Here besides the popular shave ice flavors of Lychee, Lilikoi and Li hing mui, you are encouraged to create your own concoction - no matter how weird!


2. Bubbies Mochi Ice Cream,1010 University Avenue. For the past 23 years real premium gourmet ice cream has been made here in "nibbles" - bite-sized portions. The ice cream is wrapped in a sweetened rice confection, resulting in a yummy "mochi" ice cream finger food. These incredible little morsels are available in 20 different flavors, including azuki bean, and a special flavor of the month.


3. Lappert's Ice Cream Shoppe, 3077 Koapaka Street (see photo). Originating in a tiny storefront in sleepy Hanapepe Town on Kauai, Lappert's now has six Ice Cream Shoppe locations across Maui, Oahu and Kauai (one right in the Hilton Hawaiian Village). Mary and Walter didn't want to leave the Islands when here on vacation, so with Walter's European culinary background that included premium handmade ice creams, the couple built their dream life in Hawaii. Although their product line has increased to include gourmet coffees and bakery goods, it's all still made in small batches every day in Hanapepe.


4. Cold Stone Creamery, 310 Kamakee Street. This ice cream store is famous for its blended ice cream creations that are mixed to your specifications right in front of you on a frozen granite stone. For the past 20 years founders Don and Susan Sutherland have considered themselves "ice cream artists" as they mix - "if you want it in your ice cream you get it" - nuts, fruits, candy and anything else you can think of, to make your very own ice cream concoction.


5. Matsimoto Shave Ice. Perhaps the most famous shave ice establishment in all of Hawaii is not in Honolulu, but on Oahu's North Shore. The store produces almost 1000 shave ice per day, and half of the customers are locals. "Hawaiian" shave ice is actually a Japanese invention. Dating back centuries, "kakigori" was created by shaving ice from large ice blocks by using ultra sharp Japanese swords. The delicious concoction gained world-wide popularity when Japanese workers immigrated to the Hawaiian Islands, taking their traditional dessert with them.

Summer is beach vacation time - and summer isn't over 'til it's over. There's still plenty of time to get going on your family beach vacation by staying in a timeshare rental and discovering some of the best family-friendly, kid-approved beaches.

1. Napili Beach, Hawaii
   Just about 5 miles from your Lahaina timeshare rental on Maui, this beach is popular with the locals and visitors alike who have children. For starters, its crescent shape makes it easy to keep an eye on the kids since the entire bay is visible from any point in the water.
   
   The beach is perfect for swimming and snorkeling, and the gentle slope by the shoreline makes it a fun place for boogie boarding and body surfing. While the kids are running around you can relax with the other sunbathers, and be sure to stay for the sunset - Napili Beach is known for some of the most spectacular sunsets in Hawaii. Oh, and an added bonus for the kids - a cove full of turtles!


2. Sanibel Island, Florida
   When you rent a timeshare on Sanibel Island, just off-shore of Fort Meyers (where there are also great timeshare rentals available) in the Gulf of Mexico, you are opening up the wonderful world of shelling to your youngsters.
   
   Sanibel beaches are known for their premium shelling, attracting visitors from all around the world. The extraordinarily large amount of shells that wash up on Sanibel Island is due to both it's unusual east-west orientation giving it wide sandy beaches, and the fact that the island is actually part of a Gulf of Mexico plateau that acts as a shelf, gathering sea shells. The "Beaches of Fort Meyers/Sanibel" web site has a great sea shell guide for downloading that will help your kids easily identify their treasures.


3. Santa Monica Beach, California
   A timeshare rental just about anywhere in southern California will give you easy access to this world famous beach. The beach is wide and long, offering lots of room for the kids to run, build sand castles, and even play volleyball.
   
   The most kid-approved aspect of Santa Monica Beach, of course, is the amusement park at the Santa Monica Pier. The Santa Monica Hippodrome (carousel) is a National Historic Landmark and was seen in the movie "The Sting." And your kids will enjoy the fact that the party scene in "Hannah Montana the Movie" was all filmed on the pier. Other attractions along the pier include a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster, among numerous thrill rides. There is also an aquarium, and arcade, and street entertainers. All to be enjoyed amidst the smell of fresh salt air and the sound of crashing surf.

Did you know that you can have your cake and eat it, too? Or at least a scone, crème brulee, mandarin duck - and the best part is that it doesn't have to break the bank. We're all still looking for economic ways of traveling and for many families the "world is your oyster" idea is still a bit on the expensive side. The answer - rent a budget-friendly Orlando timeshare or a Disney Timeshare and tour the world through food at Disney's Epcot.

And here's where the cake and mandarin duck come in - at Epcot you can experience the cuisines of many different countries without stepping one foot off America's shores. The countries that are showcased in Epcot provide opportunities to sample food that is not only culturally traditional, but is cooked, and served, by citizens of that country, under the Cultural Representative Program.

Would your family like to visit Paris? The "Chefs de France" restaurant is nestled under the French Pavilion's Eiffel Tower. Here the food is inspired by classical French Brasseries Bocuse. You can try such things as the crème brulee, profiteroles (see photo), and samples from an award-winning French wine list.

How about a trip to Japan? The Yakitori House is built in the style of a traditional Japanese Tea House and is located next to the Pagoda. Or try the Teppan Edo, a "teppanyaki" type restaurant where chefs prepare stir-fried foods right in front you.

When you head to Morocco you're in for a real treat. At the Restaurant Marrakesh not only will you enjoy Harira soup, Pastilla appetizers, and even lamb shish kabob, but you'll do it in a sultan's palace setting complete with Moroccan percussion music and entertainment by belly-dancers.

In Germany it's Oktoberfest every day of the year at the Biergarten Restaurant. While being entertained by ompa-pa bands and traditional folk dances you can sample classic schnitzel and strudel, and enjoy German beer served in one liter steins.

You'll sit down for Norway's "kingly" feast in a replica of a Norwegian medieval castle, complete with high cathedral ceilings and huge iron chandeliers. The Restaurant Akershus is a good choice for those in your family who are more adventurous. For example kjottkaker is a meatball with beets added, and Stravanger is a traditional drink of vodka, raspberry and lime. Try the Rice Cream or the Velied Meiden for dessert.

And don't forget the mandarin duck in China!

A timeshare rental and a fun trip around the world at Epcot can give your family a real global travel experience that is nice and easy on the budget.

Polk County is one of Florida's best-kept secrets. Less than an hour's drive from Orlando, this Central Florida area is a beautiful lake district (over 500) full of natural wonders. A budget timeshare rental in Orlando will give your family the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities and adventure in scenic Polk County.

Over 90,000 acres of Polk County have been set aside for public enjoyment. The gently rolling hills are cut with orange groves and dotted with freshwater lakes. To assist all of you outdoor enthusiasts in enjoying central Florida to its best advantage, a new guide, "Celebrate Nature" is now available featuring all of the nature-based recreation opportunities in the area.

Obtained through the Central Florida Visitors and Convention Bureau this nature guide will point you in the direction of such fascinating places as the Ancient Islands that provide refuge for rare plant and animal species.

The guide will also tell you how to find Central Florida's best birding sites. Over 300 species of birds can be spotted in such places as Saddle Creek Park and the Circle B Bar Reserve.

The Circle B Bar Reserve is the centerpiece of Central Florida's nature-oriented activities, and is home to the Polk's Nature Discovery Center. Here your entire family will enjoy the wildlife viewing areas and tours. You are also invited to hike or bike through the 1,267 acres of the reserve, and beautiful picnic areas are available. The trails through the property will give you the opportunity to see many varieties of birds including sandhill cranes, bald eagles, and even long-legged wood storks. Along the shores of Lake Hancock are likely to be many alligator sightings.

While at the Discovery Center be sure to attend some of the workshops, including the popular Learning Tree, and experience the hands-on exhibits.

Besides the "Celebrate Nature" guide, you might want to also get the useful “It's waterproof!” Central Florida Lakes Map. This features the nearly 500 lakes available for fishing "The Bass Capital of the World," and other water sports through-out Central Florida.

Tours through Polk County's nature wonderland include Alligator Cove Excursions, Bass Fishing Charters, and Captain Fred's Airboat Nature Tours. Polk County and Central Florida definitely have outdoor recreational opportunities for everyone in your family. An Orlando timeshare rental vacation will not only give you the fun action of theme parks, but also the wonderful adventures that only nature can provide.

(Photo provided by visitcentralflorida.org)

As we move into the last weeks of summer and school looms in the near future for most children, you still have time to plan a family timeshare rental vacation. Why not take the kids to a top-rated children's museum? It'll remind the kids that learning can be really fun. Family Magazine has these suggestions:

1. The Children's Museum, Boston (BCM). Rent a Boston timeshare and your kids, ages 2-8, will have a blast at BCM, that:
   
   
   • Created the award-winning "Arthur's World" exhibit, where kids can role-play, read, or write in the character's favorite settings, like the Read Family Kitchen.
   
   
   • Has a stage like one in an opera house, where visitors 2 to 6 can perform.
   
   
   • Teaches children about Japanese culture in a two-story silk merchant's home.
   
   BCM is one of the few museums with many activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Most of the activities for younger kids, including infants, are found in the museum's 4,500-square-foot PlaySpace area, which the museum recently redesigned based on the latest research in early childhood education.


2. Port Discovery, Baltimore, MD. Baltimore is only a 45-minute drive from Washington, D.C. timeshare rentals in Alexandria, VA, and Ft. Washington, MD. After spending a few days visiting D.C.'s monuments and museums, take the kids to Balitmore's children's museum (best for kids 6-12) that:
   
   
   • Features KidWorks, a three-story treehouse where children can crawl through tunnels, cross a narrow rope bridge, and play in a room full of balls.
   
   
   • Teaches kids to make a paper mache balloon that resembles the museum's HiFlyer hot air balloon.
   
   
   • Hands out PD Kid Club communicators, wireless devices that make the exhibits even more interactive.
   
   One of the nation's newest children's museums, Port Discovery aims to bring kids' dreams to life. For example, the new HiFlyer hot air balloon gives children a 15-minute ride above the city's family-friendly Inner Harbor area.


3. Brooklyn Children's Museum, NYC (see photo). There are a number of NYC timeshare rentals to chose from, and this museum is great for any child aged 2 - 12. This is the oldest children's museum in the country, founded in 1899, and it:
   
   
   • Features a new 1,700-square-foot Totally Tots area, where little ones can enjoy adventures in the Baby Patch, Sand Spot, and Peek-A-Boutique.
   
   
   • Schedules plays, concerts, and many other performances during the summer months in its rooftop theater.
   
   
   • Holds nearly 27,000 cultural and natural history objects, including dinosaur footprints, shadow puppets from Indonesia, and meteors.
   
   This museum offers the award-winning Museum Team program, which allows children as young as 7 to visit the museum unaccompanied by an adult and participate in artist and science residency programs, peer tutoring, and other educational activities.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel and Timeshare Resort in Oahu, Hawaii, is a stunning property with endless things to do and see on your vacation. See our previous post The Hilton Hawaiian Village in Oahu Has It All. If you are looking for the ultimate pampering experience, do yourself a favor and schedule a massage or facial treatment at the Mandara Spa where the décor and ambiance is pure luxury. Treat yourself to one of their many services and enjoy a relaxing vacation like no other.

As you arrive at the spa to check in for your massage service, you will be asked to select a scented oil from their collection of 4 unique fragrances. This oil will be used to enhance your relaxation during your treatment. Once you are checked in, 30 minutes early, you then have the time to enjoy either the steam room or Jacuzzi tub before your massage begins.

If you prefer to have a massage service in your room, additional charges apply. You can even request an oceanview cabana massage to relax with a beautiful ocean view and sounds of the waves crashing during your service.

For additional treatments to add onto your massage, try some reflexology to release blockages and renew energy flow within your body, or experience some hot stone therapy as heated rocks soothe your stress and relieve muscular tension aches and pains. There is also body polishing seaweed massage, coconut rub and milk ritual wrap or a tropical body scrub to choose from. The more delightful treatments you choose, the more pampered and relaxed you will become.

In addition to massage, you can also experience a variety of facial treatments, beauty services and even workout in their fitness center.

So, if you want to make this Oahu Timeshare vacation truly memorable, treat yourself to the ultimate in relaxation and luxury and visit the Mandara Spa where their nurturing services will help you transcend and transform yourself.