Destination Puerto Vallarta: 3 Awesome Excursions

On your timeshare resort vacation in Puerto Vallarta, there’s loads more to do than loll around at the beach, sip drinks poolside, or watch the pretty sunsets over Banderas Bay. In fact, there are so many different day tours and excursions, it would be easy to fill each day with some sort of adventure: snorkeling trips, ATV tours, horseback rides, bar crawls, deep-sea fishing and much more.

Here are three of the most popular excursions that visitors enjoy in Puerto Vallarta:

1. Los Veranos Canopy Tour
While there are a handful of different zipline adventures in the area, this one through an ecological preserve is by far the most popular. You’ll fly across 14 different ziplines through the jungle - the total distance covered is 2 miles. Reach speeds of up to 30 miles an hour, and criss-cross up to 500 feet above the Orquidias River.

Safety precautions are numerous, with an extra caribiner attached to your harness for each run. All you have to do is let the experienced staff click you into the cable, sit back and hold on. Photographers and videographers are on hand to capture all the action. End the tour with a refreshing soft drink or beer from the bar. Check out the resident snakes, monkeys and tarantulas, too.

2. Snorkeling & Yelapa Tour by Sailboat
Again, many different outfitters offer day trips to Yelapa, a remote beach community on the Bay of Banderas that is only accessible by boat. You can snorkel from a big catamaran on your way to Yelapa, or simply take a water taxi directly to the rustic town.

But one ultra-fun way to enjoy a day trip to Yelapa is by sailboat. Pegaso Chartering offers trips on an intimate boat, with a wonderfully friendly crew that knows so much about the area. When you stop to snorkel, your guide will help you spot everything from puffer fish to lobster to eels.

At Yelapa, you’ll take a guided walk to a waterfall, enjoy a casual lunch on the beach (don’t miss an incredibly decadent piece of pie from the roving “pie lady”), and some time to play in the waves.

3. Swim with the Dolphins
At the Sea Life Park by Dolphin Discovery in Nuevo Vallarta (a 30-minute taxi ride from P.V.), you get free entrance to the water park with any purchase of a “dolphin encounter.” These range from simply getting in the water with the gentle creatures for some photo opportunities to getting a ride from two dolphins by hanging on to their fins. Then there’s the “foot push” where you sail like Superman through the water while standing on a dolphin’s snout. You can also interact with sea lions.

The water park features a toboggan-style ride, curving water slides, a lazy river and children’s area.

Indeed, these tours are pricey. But here’s the deal: if you’re staying at a timeshare resort, you can stock up on groceries at the local supermarket and save money by eating breakfast and lunch in your condominium’s kitchen. Take those dollars that you’re not spending on restaurant meals and put them toward some incredible, memory-making experiences!

Your Next Vacation: Don’t Get Stuck In “Puerta Backyarda”!

By Lisa Ann Schreier

We all know what the economy is like these days. Pretty scary times, and for most of us, pretty stressful. And the more stress we are under, from whatever source, the more we need to vacation. But when we look at the average price for a family of four to sleep and eat while on vacation in 2008 . . . it comes to a whopping $182.18 per day! With every dollar being precious, it’s easy to find excuses to spend that money in other ways. But the more we postpone—or worse, cancel—our vacations, the more stress we are under. And so the vicious cycle goes.

Lack of money leads to stress –> Stress demands vacation –> Vacation usually means spending lots of money that we may or may not have –> The idea of spending lots of money means we tend to cancel the vacation –> Which leads to even more stress.

I don’t propose to know the solution to our economic troubles. One look at my rapidly diminishing financial portfolio will tell you that much. But I know that there is an answer out there for everyone who is worried about rising vacation costs and the very real threat that they won’t be able to afford them.

Vacation Options

Let’s look at what your vacation options are this year:

1. Stay at home (also known as the “Puerto Backyarda” vacation).

Pros: No travel involved. Just head on out to the backyard or patio, close your eyes, and pretend.

Cons: No travel involved. Just head on out to the backyard or patio, close your eyes, and pretend. And then there are those pesky neighbors to contend with. Not to mention you might be tempted to mow the grass, paint the house, answer the phone, wash the car . . . you get the idea. And if you live in Montana, it’s rather hard to “imagine” a warm, sandy beach. While you could put “Beauty and the Beast” on the DVD for the kids, it’s not quite the same as seeing Belle in person.

2. Stay with friends and family–> especially if they live in interesting places.

Pros: You probably won’t have to pay for room and board. Laundry facilities, lots of conversation.

Cons: Lumpy beds (or couches). Having to do what your friends and relatives want to do. Lots (and lots) of conversation. You know what they say about fish and visiting friends and relatives: three-day limit. After that, “Danger, Will Robinson, danger!”

3. Camping

Pros: Ah, the great outdoors!

Cons: Ah, the great outdoors! Bears, mosquitoes, allergies, West Nile virus, and, of course, the outdoor bathroom “facilities.”

4. Timeshare Resales

Pros: Save 60% to 80% off developer prices. Over 5,700 resorts worldwide to choose from. Spacious villas and condos. High-quality amenities. The pride of ownership. Saving money on your future vacations. The ability to leave a vacation legacy to your children.

Cons: No “free gift,” because you’re not attending a timeshare sales presentation. Oh, well, nothing’s perfect!

Vacation Insurance

Timeshare is, quite literally, a Vacation Insurance Policy. It gives you the peace of mind that no matter what happens, you can afford to go on a vacation. Look at the other insurance policies you already pay for, each of which requires a not-so-good “occurrence” before payoff:

* Car Insurance: Accident—> Bad News.
* Renters’ Insurance: Theft—> More Bad News.
* Homeowners’ Insurance:Fire, Flood, Hurricane—> Really Bad News.
* Health Insurance: Disease—> Bad, Potentially Icky, News.
* Life Insurance:You’re Dead—> Particularly Bad News. Especially if it happens before you go on your dream vacation.

Now compare those policies with “Vacation Insurance”:

* Vacation Insurance: Vacation in condos, villas, and châteaux around the world for thousands less than others are paying—> Really Great News!

A Better Idea

Timeshare makes more sense now, doesn’t it? Timeshare is nothing more than pre-paying your future vacation costs. And while it’s hard to argue with the good sense of that concept—just think if you could pre-pay the cost of all of your future food at today’s prices—the relatively high cost of buying directly from a developer stops many consumers. Even so, from a long-term savings standpoint, an $18,000 developer’s timeshare is still a good idea. But now consider that same timeshare at a $6,000 resale price! That’s an even better idea—and a smarter and more affordable one, as well.

For more information about timeshares, check out Timeshare Insights, and be sure to visit Holiday, where they have a tremendous selection of timeshares at 60% to 80% less than developer prices. Remember, there is no such thing as a “used” timeshare!

Timesharing With Pets

You have a dog. You love your dog. You consider your dog a part of the family, but when you take a timeshare vacation, you are forced to leave your dog with a friend, a neighbor, or in a kennel. You hate to do this, to leave your four-legged family member behind, but you think there isn’t any other way. Does this sound familiar?

Traveling with pets of any type can be difficult. Most hotels and resorts don’t allow pets into their establishment and uphold their policy quite strictly, unless the animal works as a disability aide. Resorts say no and hotels say no, leaving a dog-owner at a loss of where to travel. Most dog-owners turn to the more liberated activity of camping, but depending upon where you choose to camp, your animal may not be welcome. Most state parks, national reserves, and ocean-side beaches do not allow dogs and other animals within the parameter of their boundaries for fear of upsetting the ecosystem’s natural balance. After that rejection, dog-owners don’t have much option of where to travel at all. Or so they think.

NO PETS ALLOWED

Most resorts employ a strict no-pets policy. You might think this rule too rigid. You might think that the resorts certainly have the capacity to allow animal travelers to stay along with the paying customers and you might be justified in thinking this. If you miss your pet while you travel and wish to take action, you can. As stated by the president of the American Resort Development Association, Howard Nusbaum, “The great value of timeshare to the consumer is the role owners play in the governance of their home resort” (Endless Vacation Magazine, May/June 2007). Translation: If you’re home resort isn’t pet-friendly and you wish it would be, you can take steps to initiate the change by getting a “pets allowed” provision passed.

Keep these simple facts in mind, however, before you attempt to petition against your home resort’s policy. Allowing pets into resorts would increase the upkeep and costs by a large amount. These fees would be added onto the general maintenance fees paid annually by all timeshare owners. People who aren’t willing to pay additional costs out of pocket, no matter how much they love their pets, probably wouldn’t support the petition with their votes. Also, there are a good percentage of people who are allergic to various types of pet hair and having pets allowed in their resort would be undesirable. These are two immediate reasons a petitioner would lose votes.

There is an additional downside of a pet-friendly resort. Allowing pets would open up the resort to potential lawsuits in the event a pet injured a child, someone else, or someone else’s pet. The responsibilities of these unfortunate events would be passed on to the owners, as well as the resorts. While you may be a responsible owner with control over your animal’s behavior, there’s no guarantee everyone else is that responsible.

This information isn’t meant to discourage the dog-lover. As with all things in life, there are ways unseen. There is an alternative to petitioning your home resort or picking from the slim choices of pet-friendly resorts when deciding where to vacation with your dog. More often than not, there are facilities located nearby the timeshare resort where people can board their pets. Keeping your dog at a kennel or veterinarian hospital during the nights allows you to spend the days with your four-legged family member.

One Holiday Vacationeer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “The concierge at a property I sold in Canada told of a vet’s office about one block away from the resort. It was common for people to board their pets there while staying at the resort. I shared that info with my clients and they were grateful to have that [alternative].” While this would be an extra vacation expense, boarding your dog near your resort would certainly cost less than the time spent petitioning and the additional maintenance fees of a pet-friendly resort policy.

PETS WELCOME

More resorts are welcome to pets than you would think. Some even go so far as to cater to your animals, boasting doggie daycare and pamper spas. For a list of RCI pet-friendly US resorts, see here. And here is a list that includes both RCI and Interval International resorts. The following list is also provided as a convenience to our readers, but please keep in mind that the pet policies of these resorts are subject to change without notice. If taking pets on your timeshare vacation is a priority, be sure to check with the resort about its pet policy before you make an exchange or book your reservations.

Pet-Friendly Resorts:

Canada
Ives on Schuswap, British Columbia
The Lodge at Kananaskis, Alberta
Hotel Kananaskis, Alberta
Banff Rocky Mountain Resort, Alberta
Chateau Canmore Resort, Alberta

USA
Chateau Rouge Lodge, Montana
Quadna Mountain Village, Montana
Silverleaf’s Holiday Hills, Montana
Silverleaf’s Ozark Mountain Resort, Missouri
Silverleaf’s Timber Creek Resort, Missouri
Silverleaf’s Holly Lake Ranch, Texas
Silverleaf’s Villages, Texas
Silverleaf’s Hill Country Resort, Texas
Silverleaf’s Piney Shores Resort, Texas
Silverleaf’s Seaside Resort, Texas
The Waves, Maryland
Lucayan, Maryland
Atlantic Resorts, Maryland
The Plaza Resort and Spa, California
Plaza Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, California
Nob Hill Inn, California
Silverleaf’s Las Vegas Resort, Nevada
Caribe Beach Resort, Florida
Rancho Ruidoso Condominiums, New Mexico
Kala Point Village, Washington
RWVC At Kala Point, Washington
RWVC At Snowater, Washington
Silverleaf’s Fox River Resort, Illinois
Club La Pension, Louisiana
The Inn at Silvercreek, Colorado

Mexico
Pueblo Bonito, Mazatlan

PET ETIQUETTE

The more behaved your pup, the better reputation traveling dogs will have. As traveling dogs earn a better reputation, more hotels and resorts will loosen their “no pets” policy. The more resorts and hotels that become pet-friendly, the more options for you and your dog when planning your vacation. Everybody’s happy!

• Always call ahead. Even if you know that your targeted resort or hotel allows pets, call to ensure their policy and to inform the concierge that a four-legged creature will be arriving alongside you and your luggage.
• Travel with a well-behaved dog. Use common sense here. No matter how much you’re going to miss your pooch, some dogs don’t travel well, handle crowds of people well, or even meet other dogs well. You know if your dog fits into one of these categories. Take Mary, a Holiday Group Sales Finance Manager, for example. Mary owns four dogs. She admitted to me that she refused to travel with any of them, her first being too old, her second being too large, her third being people-shy and liable to bite, and her fourth being an extremely unpredictable puppy. While Mary loves her pups, she is aware of their shortcomings and chooses to be responsible rather than risk the chance of an unfortunate event.
• Keep your dog on a leash, unless within a designated off-leash area. While your dog is off the leash, be sure to keep a close watch. Dogs lost during travel are always more difficult to locate. Remember the movie Homeward Bound? You wouldn’t want your beloved fur ball searching the American wilderness for its home, would you?
• ALWAYS clean up after your pup. It is not pleasant, while walking on the beach or through the woods, to happen upon a pile of poo.
• In hotel rooms, never leave your dog alone. Lonely dogs may bark and behave worse than a drunken Rock’n’Roll band after a concert. If you must leave your dog behind, be mindful of the housekeepers and leave the do-not-disturb sign on the door.

Using these rules as a guideline for traveling with your beloved dog, you will have naught but happy trails and happy tails.

Traveling with Pets? Some helpful links:

DogFriendly
Tips on everything from buying a new dog to how to prepare for a road trip with your pooch. Free membership and access to info-loaded free newsletter. Great site!

TakeYourPet
Free newsletter

Pets On the Go
Requires a fee for membership

BringYourPet
Tips for international travel with your dog or cat

BestFriendsPetCare
Tips on pet etiquette while traveling

Why Doesn’t The Timeshare Industry . . . ?

I was fortunate to attend the “Online Marketing in Travel 2008″ conference last month in Chicago. This interesting conference was put on by EyeforTravel, based out of London, and covered such topics as “Understand and Optimize Along the Online Marketing Value Spectrum,” “Promote and Protect Your Brand in the Social Media Space,” and “Understanding Today’s Online Traveler.”

Other than myself, guess how many people representing the timeshare industry were in attendance? Two, both from the Dial An Exchange European office.

Now, I can understand why no timeshare sales executives attended . . . not really the right venue for them. But why, with the travel industry facing difficult times (it was reported that 39% of occasional travelers and 31% of frequent travelers will travel less in the next 12 months) was no one there representing the marketing arm of timeshare?

Because a lot of timeshare marketing people have their heads in the sand, and continue to accept the same old “received wisdom” that has permeated the industry for years: “timeshare is not travel,” “timeshare is not a sought-after product,” “nothing is wrong with the way we market,” etc.

As many of you know, I come from a solid marketing background. I have a degree in Marketing and spent 15 very successful years as a top-notch media buyer and advertising manager in Chicago before moving to Florida. And some of you may know that I am putting the finishing touches on the Sales and Marketing chapters of the upcoming college level textbook, An Introduction To Vacation Ownership Marketing.

Many timeshare resorts don’t understand marketing. One of the points I took away from the conference was that Social Media involves a four-step process: People, Objectives, Strategy, and Technology. I feel that old-fashioned timeshare marketing falls short on three of these four facets by choosing to concentrate solely on “Objectives,” yet the objective is itself flawed: entice large numbers of people into your presentations, then be content with less than a 10% closing rate.

Should we be surprised that after the product has been pushed for over 35 years in this country, less than 7% of the population owns timeshare? I don’t know about you, but I’m not surprised in the least.

In working with Holiday Group, I know that they “get it.” They ask the important questions of consumers: “Who are you going on vacation with?” “Why are you going on vacation?” and “What do you want to do on vacation?” They also have a firm grip on the new technology, hosting informative webinars for anyone interested in timeshare, no purchase necessary. Imagine a company that educates consumers about timeshare with no bias.

I take my hat off to Holiday. They understand technology, they understand consumers, and they offer what consumers are looking for at substantially lower prices than developers. Mark my words, they will succeed while those who take the “same old-same old” approach will suffer a significant downturn in the near future.

————–

Lisa Ann Schreier, a/k/a “The Timeshare Crusader,” is the founder of Timeshare Insights, a consumer information source serving the more than 3 million Americans who attend a timeshare sales presentation or “pitch” annually, as well as the more than 4 million Americans who already own one or more timeshares.  Her first book, Surviving A Timeshare Presentation:  Confessions From The Sales Table, has been a big hit with consumers who are looking for the truth about timeshares.  She followed that success with  Timeshare Vacations For Dummies, and is currently co-authoring a college-level textbook.

Email: lisa@timeshareinsights.com

Destination Theme Parks: Halloween Fun

On your autumn timeshare resort vacation consider one within driving distance of a theme park that pulls out all the stops for Halloween, with ghoulish parades, trick-or-treating for the kids and attractions that just might scare your socks off!

Here’s a peek at some celebrations at amusement parks across the country:

Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio:
This theme park on Lake Erie has the biggest concentration of roller coasters anywhere in the world, plus tamer rides for young children, loads of carnival-style games and live shows. Kids’ events during Halloweekends include a non-frightening “magical house,” with surprises around every corner. Sweet treats are offered at the end of a walk through the “Magical House on Boo Hill.” A costume contest, magic shows and afternoon family-friendly “Monster Midway Invasion Celebration Parade” entertain children, as well.

For older kids and adults, it’s all about the spooky, outdoor walk-through attractions called Fright Zone, CarnEvil, Fear Faire, Terror Island and Corn Stalkers. At night, fog machines and eerie lighting help create a frightening atmosphere for “Screamsters” who sneak up on visitors. Indoor haunted houses like Club Blood and Undertaker U, also scare the pants off anyone who is brave enough to venture inside.

Halloweekends at Cedar Point take place September 12 to November 2, Friday nights from 6 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. All Halloweekends events are included in the cost of daily admission.

Legoland, Carlsbad, California:
Designed for children toddler to tween age, this manageable theme park presents the “Brick or Treat” trail every Saturday and Sunday in October, 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Here, kids 12 an under stop by different stations on the trail for candy and other surprises. Walking the Brick or Treat Trail is included in the admission cost.

Saturday evenings at Legoland, it’s time for Brick or Treat Party Nights, from 5 to 9 p.m., with a costume contest for the kids and entertainment from the “Boo Crew.” Some rides and theme park attractions are open late for Party Night guests. Evening festivities are included with the cost of daily admission, or pay $35 for entrance after 5 p.m.

Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California:
At Disneyland from September 26 to November 2, kids can listen to spooky tales, enjoy Halloween arts and crafts, and decorate cookies at Woody’s Halloween Round-up. Meanwhile, the theme park’s Tower of Terror and Haunted Mansion are especially decked out for the Halloween holiday.

Halloween decor throughout the park includes cleverly sculpted pumpkins, including a 16-foot-tall Mickey Mouse jack-o-lantern. Life-size Disney characters make their rounds decked out in Halloween costumes. And festive treats like pumpkin muffins and pumpkin pie will be available for purchase.

Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party takes place at California Adventure, and is a ticketed event that includes live music, trick-or-treating, arts activities and more. Tickets are $29, and event takes place several weeknights in October, including Halloween night (when the price increases to $37).

Disney World, Orlando, Florida:
At Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party that happens select evenings from 7 p.m. to midnight, September 5 through October 31, little guests enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the park, a parade, a fireworks extravaganza and more. Some of the park’s most popular attractions are open late, as well. This is a ticketed event that costs between $43 and $56, depending on age, and whether you purchase tickets in advance.

Another Thing I Wish Wouldn’t Happen

I just saw it again: a client who owned a timeshare came into a timeshare sales pitch and the salesperson convinced the client that his company’s timeshare was “better” than the one the client currently owned.

“But what about the maintenance fee?” the client asked. “I don’t want to pay twice.”

“No problem,” the salesperson replied. “I know someone who will buy back your timeshare and then you won’t have to pay two maintenance fees.”

On the surface, things seem OK with this scenario, don’t they? The client seemed happy and the salesperson for sure was happy.

But do a little digging and you’ll find out that the “someone who will buy your timeshare,” if he exists, is a crony of the salesperson who won’t be contacting the client until–you guessed it–after the ten-day recession period is over. At which point the client will find out that either the “someone who will buy your timeshare” doesn’t exist, or isn’t interested in buying the timeshare.

It happens every day at hundreds, if not thousands, of timeshares around the world, and while it upsets me, I have to place some of the blame on the consumer.

Please . . . if you find yourself in this scenario and the resort in question doesn’t give you information that you can corroborate on the spot, then refuse to do business with them.

As I like to say, “Put up or shut up.”