My Las Vegas Timeshare Vacation!

Interview with Monique Lowder, Holiday Group receptionist.

Q: Where did you stay, and how did you like it?
A: We went to Las Vegas and stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations which was off the Strip a little bit, but was still very convenient to everything. We absolutely loved the resort, the staff was so awesome and amazing to us. Anything we needed, they were right there to help us. We couldn’t have asked for better staff. We’ve never stayed in a resort before so this was very new to us. If I ever go back to Vegas this is definitely the place I would like to stay again. It was just like an apartment. I also liked the fact that it had a kitchen to cook in, which saved a lot on all of the eating out costs. We weren’t lacking anything.

Q: What are some fun things to do while in Las Vegas, or the area?
A: When we were in Vegas, we of course walked both sides of the Strip. We also went to Red Rock Canyon, which is just outside of Vegas. It had a lot of hiking trails that you could venture out on.

We also went to Hoover Dam as well as the Grand Canyon, though we didn’t realize at first that we were only able to go to the West Rim, as the south side was another three-hour drive to Flagstaff. We didn’t feel like driving, so we stayed at the west rim and went on the Skywalk, which was a blast! Mind you, I only made it out less than halfway, freaked out, and had to turn around and go back to wait for my mom.

Q: Any tips that might make the vacation more enjoyable for visitors?
A: I would bring lots of sunscreen, and you’ll want some very comfortable shoes, since you’ll do a lot of walking. I would also put my money someplace safe, like in your shoe or a fanny pack, because there are pickpockets on the Strip, especially at night.

News Alert – RCI Class Action Settlement

Via TimeSharing Today

: : :RCI Fairness Hearing Update : : : 

Resort Report: Coronado Beach Resort, San Diego, CA

By Holiday customer, Gail Hall

Looking for the perfect Southern California vacation? Look no further than Coronado Beach Resort! It is the perfect place to stay and San Diego has so much to offer, you will need more than 1 week or will have to come back for more. There are 60 miles of beaches to choose from Oceanside to Imperial Beach in San Diego County, but Coronado Beach tops my list! Mission Beach is a close second.

The resort is across the street from the famous Hotel del Coronado, and across the street from the beach, just a short walk away. Beach toys and bikes are available to use. From the rooftop you can barbeque, or sit and watch the sunset or just relax in the hot tub. You also have access to Loews Resort, which has pools, tennis and saunas.

Visit with Cody, the hotel’s resident parrot, or stroll along Orange Avenue to shop or dine. Miguels Concina is my favorite restaurant!

From Coronado you can take the ferry across to Downtown, or drive over on the bridge. Sea Port Village is a fun place to shop on the waterfront, as is the Gas Lamp district. There is SeaWorld, Wild Animal Park, Lego Land, Balboa Park, Mission Beach Park, La Jolla, Carlsbad, Old Town, Torrey Pines State Reserve, Temecual and wine tasting–all within San Diego county or within 1 hour of San Diego.

Surf, swim, walk, build sand castles, bike, hike, kayak, or just be lazy and lay out on the beach! San Diego has it all, which is why it is my favorite city in the US.

–Gail Hall

All the Right Places for All the Wrong Reasons

By David Skinner, President, Holiday Group

[This article previously appeared in TimeSharing Today.]

Ring! Ring! The phones ring. “Hello, Holiday, may I help you?”

They call with eager anticipation, searching for their perfect vacation, their piece of paradise. Timeshare buyers calling for all the right places . . . for all the wrong reasons.

Most first time buyers call with a specific destination in mind: Next year’s vacation, a resort not far away or that favorite theme park they remember as a child. All are the right places, but, statistically, they are for the wrong reasons. Let’s look at why focusing first on the resort may be the wrong reason.

In a recent survey of timeshare owners, the primary benefit of owning was flexibility to exchange. Furthermore, this survey reported, only 26% of Owners intended to return to their home resort. Wow! Let’s stop and grasp the importance of this.

That is, three-quarters of Owners took advantage of their exchange company and banked, saved or traded it to go other places. The survey strongly suggests that exchanging is the greatest single contributor to timeshare use and enjoyment. For most of us the place to start our timeshare search is the exchange. That’s the right reason.

Some are content to return to their home resort year after year. The majority, however, will choose new and evermore exciting places to vacation. For them the value of their timeshare is its capacity to successfully trade within the exchange system. All too often first time buyers wait months and even years for that one special property, which, statically, they will return to less than half the time. Unless you are a statistical anomaly, your first consideration should be understanding how to exchange. And the secret to that is trading power.

o Trading Power is the term used by RCI, Resort Condominiums International, to describe their valuation of a timeshare deposit in the exchange system. Interval International, the other major exchange company, is similar enough for our purposes. five factors that go into the weighting or valuation of your week when you make the deposit.

o Seasonal Designations. High, mid or low seasons beget the same. While there are plenty of stories of low- and mid-season Owners making exchanges to higher-use periods, we should consider these “urban legends.” Stick to the rule until you have more timeshare experience.

o Size. It does matter when it comes to exchanging. You may request something equal to or smaller than your deposit. When getting there is more important than size and comfort, a two-bedroom deposit may get you a one bedroom in a hard to trade location. Hint: Just leave the in-laws at home.

o Resort. The exchange company surveys owners after their vacation exchange to determine the quality of their stay. This is not the same as the designations of gold crown, five stars, etc. It’s as much a measure of the quality of service as the physical facility itself. Service does, after all, count for something.

o Location. Resorts located in popular destinations will have more trading power over those in less desirable ones. What might be a fun and popular location for you may not budge the needle of world opinion.

o Deposit. This is the amount of time you deposit in advance of your desired vacation. It is the only one that you have control of after you purchase. And no, you cannot deposit far enough in advance to make up for a bad season, size or location.

For the sake of simplification I’ve broken this down into one easy rule: It’s more important to buy what everyone else wants, than what you want.

Your first timeshare is no time to be penny-wise and vacation short, or so narrow as to lose sight of your timeshare’s long-term use and enjoyment. The difference between an average timeshare and a great one is usually not the money. It’s the trading power. To go to all the right places, purchase for all the right reasons. You’ll have years of enjoyable vacations ahead. Enjoy!

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