Destination Miami, Florida: Fun in the Sun

Miami, Florida is known for its ocean and beaches, and while they are certainly one of the main reasons people travel to southern Florida, there is still plenty else to do.

The Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux is an amazing feat, as it was rebuilt from the original stones of the “Monastery of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels” in Sacramenia (Province of Segovia, Spain) which was built between 1133 and 1141. William Randolph Hearst purchased the Cloisters and Monastery outbuildings in 1925 and it was eventually rebuilt into what it is today. Read more

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 family trip, 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.
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My Recent Visit to Maui

By Carolyn Ford, Holiday Group Lead Deed Agent

I recently returned from a week in Maui, Hawaii. My intention was to relax. My husband and I stayed at the Hono Koa resort on Lower Honoapiilani Road. What a wonderful experience! This was my fourth visit to our 50th state and it was the most enjoyable.

The resort was perfect for us. All units are two bedroom/two bath and each has an ocean view. The balconies are all covered and protected on three sides so you can enjoy the outdoors in any kind of weather. The foliage is dense and well maintained. The pool has an adjacent hot tub as well as two gas barbecue grills. We ate most of our dinners on the pool deck, but there are many nice restaurants nearby in Lahaina.

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Destination New Jersey: Test Your Luck at the New Atlantic City

Atlantic City experienced a facelift in 2009 and it seems to be paying off. Last summer Forbes Traveler listed Atlantic City as America’s Favorite Boardwalk City, and it’s no surprise. It’s a classic. The wooden boardwalk’s history dates to 1870 when it was installed as a temporary structure to prevent sand from entering the nearby hotels. One of the most popular summer events is the annual Atlantic City Airshow, “Thunder Over the Boardwalk.” Don’t forget to snag a bag of fresh salt water taffy from a local shop.

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My Timeshare Vacation: Dolphin’s Cove Resort in Anaheim, California

By Larry Metcalf, Holiday Inventory Manager

I purchased a 3-bedroom unit from Holiday Group at the Dolphin’s Cove Resort in Anaheim, CA. I have three children (ages 1, 6, and 11). I wanted someplace close to Disneyland and California Adventure so that we could take breaks in the middle of the day for the kids, and not be too far from our unit after the day’s activities were over. The location is great! Less than a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk from Disneyland.

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News Alert – RCI Class Action Settlement

Via TimeSharing Today

: : :RCI Fairness Hearing Update : : : 

Sell Your Timeshare the Simple Way!

Thinking of selling your timeshare week?

* Exposure to over 50,000 registered buyers interested in buying a timeshare resale.
* Your ad is in front of the consumers that are interested in buying your week.
* Member of Better Business Bureau for 6 years running with zero complaints.
* No commissions, no membership fees, low listing fee, and no hidden fees.

CLICK HERE for more information!

Maximizing your timeshare exchanges

By Jerry Nisker, Orange, California

[This article previously appeared in TimeSharing Today magazine.]

We have all heard someone say “I can never get anything I want” when talking about attempting to trade their timeshare. I purchased my first timeshare 15 years ago, and like most people I had no idea how to use it as a trade. Again, like most people, I joined RCI and began to ask questions in order to understand how to maximize my ability to trade for those places I really wanted to travel.

Over the years, I have learned some very valuable tips from the RCI counselors that have helped me to enjoy timesharing rather than complaining that I can’t get a trade. Since I have both “week” and “points” resorts, I have listed a few of these tips below to help you get the most out of your trading:

Weeks

1. Bank your week as early as possible. I always bank two of my weeks two years in advance. This helps to maximize your trading power.

2. Request a trade as early as possible and be flexible with both places and dates. By going someplace just one week on either side of prime time, you increase the possibility of getting what you want. I once traded a one bedroom unit, for a three bedroom, three bath Gold Crown resort on a golf course in Hilton Head, SC by going “off season.” In addition, this resort allowed RCI members to play golf free. Regular green fees were $125.

3. If you do not have a Gold Crown unit, you can still trade for one if you are willing to go many place during the “off season,” or if you are willing to trade a two bedroom unit for a one bedroom unit.

4. Ask the RCI counselor to recommend a way for you to get the trade you want. I have found that the counselors have a way of manipulating their system in order to be helpful.

5. If the trade you want is not available when you first call, continue to call day after day. For various reasons, people cancel their vacations, which allow RCI to place those units back in the trading pool. Don’t give up.

One other very interesting item; during one conversation with an RCI counselor, I mentioned that I was giving some thought to replacing all of my non Gold Crown units with Gold Crown units. He told me not to do that, which surprised me. He went on to explain that although RCI is a “like for like” system, they would prefer to trade their customers up rather than down. The reason for this is that when they give a Gold Crown owner a non Gold Crown unit, they receive complaints that it was not the same quality as the unit they gave up. In other words, RCI would rather give us a better unit and avoid the complaints, plus it makes it more likely that we will trade in the future. Most of my trades were to Gold Crown resorts from non Gold Crown resorts.

Points

The great thing about points is that if you have enough of them. you don’t have to be concerned with Gold Crown, Red Week, Prime Season or anything else. Points are points, regardless of where your home resort may be. There are, however, a few tips that can be very helpful:

1. If you are attempting to trade for someplace other than your home resort, do it 10 months in advance. For example, if you want to go to Hawaii, at 10 months out the selection of Gold Crown units are extremely good.

2. Just as with weeks, consider going “off season” because it will require fewer points.

3. Consider going for a shorter period of time than a full week, as you will use less points.

4. Avoid weekends, as Friday and Saturday represent 40% of the total points for the week.

5. If you don’t have enough points for a particular resort, borrow them from your coming “use year.”

6. Call or check the RCI website daily. New weeks are put into the system every day. If one is not available today, it may be available tomorrow or next week.

7. If a “points” resort is not available, ask the RCI counselor to check the “weeks” resorts. The thing to keep in mind is that if you trade points for a weeks resort, you must book for the entire week.

8. Use the last minute 9000 point deals. If you can take a vacation within the next 45 days, call RCI for these incredible opportunities. I booked a two bedroom, 2 bath unit in downtown Sedona at a Gold Crown resort for 9000 points for the an entire week.

9. If you find that you never seem to have enough points, purchase the most inexpensive unit that is already in the points system. Do not over pay for a timeshare and then pay a separate charge to put it into points. I know of one situation where you can purchase a timeshare for only $850 that gives 25,000 points per year. Shop around!

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TimeSharing Today is a friend of Holiday and the leading independent magazine for timeshare owners. Enjoy informative articles, resort reviews, tips on exchanging and other valuable timeshare information in each 56-page issue. As a guest of Holiday, please get your FREE Trial Subscription!

TSA Prohibited Items

If you’re planning to travel by air in the near future, it might be good to take a few moments to reacquaint yourself with the latest list of TSA prohibited items.

5 things to know about travel insurance

Source: Seattle Times via The Denver Post

Travel insurance can come in handy in some situations, but it can be confusing to choose among the many plans. Here are some basics:

Q: What does travel insurance cover?

A: Everything from trip cancellation or interruption to default such as bankruptcy. Additional coverage is available for luggage loss, medical emergencies and more. (Just be sure to read the fine print as there are exclusions and time constraints on when/how coverage applies.)

Q: Won’t my homeowner’s policy work?

A: Yes and no. It will likely help cover the loss of items airlines won’t, such as jewelry, electronics and cash, but it won’t cover the cost of a canceled flight or called-off vacation.

Q: Why get medical coverage? Won’t mine work?

A: Chances are it’s good only if you are traveling within the United States. Emergencies that occur overseas likely will not be covered or will be difficult to cover. It’s a good idea, especially if you’re taking an adventure trip such as rafting or some other risky endeavor.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: Most policies range from 4 to 8 percent of the total trip cost, but some can cost much more, depending on the coverage.

Q: Where is it available?

A: Through various sources, including travel agents, cruise lines, tour operators and other suppliers. Online, you can check InsureMyTrip.com, TotalTravelInsurance.com and Squaremouth.com to compare premiums.

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