Interview: Timeshare Wedding In Cabo San Lucas

An interview with Holiday Vacationeer, Kayla Mahaffey

1. Tell us about where you went and how you liked it.

I went to Cabo for my friend’s wedding and it was the most amazing “destination wedding” I could have imagined! Half the wedding party stayed at the Hacienda del Mar resort, in an area of Cabo they call the “Corridor,” on the Sea of Cortez. A bit farther away from town, but worth the drive, this amazing 5-star Sheraton-owned resort has a lush golf course, an array of remarkable pools, and plenty of activities that will have you feeling like royalty. The other half of the wedding party stayed at the Villa Del Palmar, also a 5-star resort. My favorite part of that resort was everything you need is on-site, and at the same time we were within walking distance of downtown. All the rooms have an ocean view of some sort, most with a full ocean view. Don’t forget to try the huge Whale Slide–yes, it’s fun even for adults!

2. Where did you hear about the Hacienda Del Mar, and how did you make the exchange?

I found out about the Hacienda del Mar from a now-retired manager I know. He owns several weeks there, which is a good sign that the resort is a winner. When I heard the wedding was going to be in Cabo, that was the first resort I thought of to book a stay. I had already traded my own timeshare week at the Buganvilias in Puerto Vallarta for an exchange in February to St. Maarten, so I had to call RCI to get a “Getaway/Bonus” week. You can get up to 12 of these a year very inexpensively through either RCI or Interval International. I called RCI and they took care of the booking for me–very easy. I did plan about 6 months in advance, though. It’s always best to plan as far in advance as possible.

3. Tell us about some of the fun things to do while in Cabo that might appeal to timeshare owners who have never been there.

Fishing in Cabo is some of the best in the world. You can find fishing tours of all different types that are fun for all ages! While you’re there, don’t forget to take a glass-bottomed boat tour to Cabo’s famous Arch–they’re the gateway between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. Situated between them are “Lovers” and “Divorce” beaches. Lovers Beach is on the Sea of Cortez side, and Divorce Beach is on the Pacific side. Their names refer to the fact that the water is much calmer on one beach than on the other–I’ll let you guess which is which. On the glass boat tour you’ll also see a huge assortment of undersea life, everything from seals to barracuda.

4. Any tips that might make the trip more enjoyable for visitors?

Travel light if you can. If you can get by with just a carry-on, all the better. This helps to speed things through customs and get you caught up on “margarita time.” You’ll also you have a better chance of making any connecting flights by traveling light. All you really need are your passport, sandals, a swim suit, a T-shirt, a pair of shorts, and some spending cash. You can get sun block and other things like that once you get there.

5. Anything else you want to mention?

Check with your RCI agent for details on how to exchange your Timeshare or get the Bonus, Last Call, or Getaways weeks so you can spend some time in this charming part of Mexico. If you don’t have a timeshare or need more info, give me a call. I’ll be happy to share my knowledge as a Holiday Vacationeer. I hope this helps. Happy vacationing!

Kayla Mahaffey

Destination Pigeon Forge: 5 Ways to Save Money

If you’re vacationing in the area of Great Smoky National Park in Tennessee, chances are you’ll spend some time in Pigeon Forge, just 10 minutes from the park’s gateway town of Gatlinburg. After all, Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s theme park and Tennessee’s most ticketed attraction, is found in Pigeon Forge – so named for the passenger pigeons that once were abundant in the region and an iron forge that was part of the early settlers’ lives.

Pigeon Forge is also known for its live theater productions, from Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and the Black Bear Jamboree and Dinner Show, to mystery dinners, comedy shows and magic extravaganzas. Marketing folks call Pigeon Forge the “entertainment capital of the Southeast.”

Of course, all of these attractions cost money. However, there are plenty of ways to save on your family vacation to Pigeon Forge:

· Pick up your Pigeon Forge Value Card at the Pigeon Forge Welcome Center at 1950 Parkway located at traffic light #0. This card entitles you to discounts and special deals at dozens of restaurants, attractions and shops throughout town.

· Enter Dollywood after 3 p.m. and get in FREE to the theme park on the next operating day.

· Present your military personnel I.D. and dependents’ I.D. at the front gate at Dollywood, and enjoy 30 percent off the regular day admission price.

· If you’ve had so much fun at Dollywood and want to come back the following day, upgrade your ticket before you leave, and you can return for just $20 (instead of the standard $50 daily admission fee).

· If you think you might spend more than two days at Dollywood, consider buying a season pass. These sell for just $83 (youth over 12 and adults) and are good for an entire operating season. Plus, you enjoy many other privileges (free parking!) and discounts at affiliated theme parks. Click here for details.

· Active military personnel, as well as firefighters, veterans, law enforcement and EMS personnel, should visit Pigeon Forge in August to enjoy exclusive discounts from participating businesses. This program is called “Celebrate Freedom,” and you simply need to bring your ID to pick up a discount card at the Pigeon Forge Welcome Center.

· Park your car and hop aboard the Pigeon Forge Fun Time Trolley, which runs along the six-lane, five-mile Parkway through town. Fares are just 50 or 75 cents, depending on the distance you travel, and it operates daily in the summer from 8:30 a.m. to midnight.

Four Reasons to Buy Resale Timeshares

Reason One: You Save Thousands

The average price of a 2-bedroom timeshare when bought from the developer is about $18,000. From Holiday Group, it’s about $4,000. If you’ve been through a timeshare pitch, you know that the “rent vs. own” pitch holds some water . . . if you reach “break-even” within a few years. Compare that point using an $18,000 timeshare vs. a $4,000 timeshare.

Reason Two: You Aren’t Bribed

My #1 pet peeve about the timeshare industry. If the product is so good (and it can be), why do the developers continually bribe consumers? If anyone else or any other industry did this, they’d suffer the same horrid consequences–an average 10% closing rate.

Reason Three: There Are No Fake Prices

When you buy resale, the price listed is the price you pay. There’s no insulting “For you, we can drop the price by $_____” shtick, or stupid “The price is only good today” line. The price is clearly listed. The guy next to you didn’t just pay $2,000 less.

Reason Four: It’s A Timeshare Store

I don’t buy the whole “timeshare is not a sought-after product” line that everyone keeps repeating. The truth is the traditional timeshare developers go out of their way to make it as difficult as possible to buy this product. Just go ahead and call a timeshare to get a price. They won’t give you one. Call any store or any service provider or any Realtor and you’ll get a price. Go to the Holiday “store” and take a look. It’s all there for you to see and make smart choices.

Destination Playa del Carmen: Two Maya Restaurants

Playa del Carmen, less than an hour south of Cancun, is on the Yucatan Peninsula, where the Mayan people have made their home for centuries. When you visit the Riviera Maya (which stretches from Puerto Morelos to Tulum along the Caribbean coast), you can visit ancient Maya ruins, and also dine at restaurants where Mayan cuisine is featured.

Consider checking these two upbeat eateries while you’re on your Playa del Carmen timeshare resort vacation. Both are located in the heart of Playa del Carmen’s shopping district, just off the famous 5th Avenue pedestrian thoroughfare.

Yaxche Maya Cuisine

Yaxche (pronounced jag-shey) Maya Cuisine Restaurant has a beautiful, open-air garden dining area-perfect for a quiet lunch or a romantic dinner. The fountains, frescos and facade are reminiscent of the ancient Maya ruins at Tulum. If it’s too steamy to eat outdoors, relax in the air-conditioned dining room, or just try a Chaya Maya drink, made of a bright green, leafy Yucatan plant, mixed with vodka and fruit juice and served in a tall glass. It might look funny, but it’s refreshing!

Some of the Maya dishes at Yaxche are cooked in the traditional ways, others are Maya with a twist, like shrimp in relleno negro, a spicy black sauce traditionally served with turkey. Or Yaxche’s version of the chile relleno: a banana pepper stuffed with cochinita pibil, a tangy pork, instead of a poblano pepper filled with cheese. Since the ancient Maya were generally vegetarians (main staples in their diet were maize, squash, beans, and chile pepper), there are dozens of veggie dishes on the menu.

Ajua Maya

It’s all about fabulous food and having fun at Ajua Maya (ah-who-ah ma-ya), dubbed a “tequila bar, grill house and Latin club.” Every night, a live jazz and dance band brings a festive atmosphere to the restaurant, which specializes in fresh wild lobster and seafood, Angus steaks and authentic Maya and Mexican cuisine.

Every Wednesday, at lunchtime, learn about Maya cuisine with a cooking demonstration and plentiful lunch menu with samples of Maya dishes, such as roasted tomatoes with pumpkin seed sauce, chicken and key lime soup, Cornish game hen and Ta’as Flambe (otherwise known as Bananas Foster). Reservations required for the cooking demo and lunch.

Ajua is an expansive restaurant, with seating in an indoor cantina setting, lush tropical garden and under open-air palapas. Ajua opens daily at 11 a.m. and closes at 1 a.m. Free wireless Internet is available.