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. 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

England
Allen House, London

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
http://www.dogfriendly.com
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
http://takeyourpet.com
Free newsletter

Pets On the Go
http://www.petsonthego.com
Requires a fee for membership

BringYourPet
http://www.bringyourpet.com
Tips for international travel with your dog or cat

BestFriendsPetCare
http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/Pet_tips/travellodging2.cfm
Tips on pet etiquette while traveling

The view from our lanai

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.

You can enjoy nearby familiar restaurants like Outback or Pizza Hut, and there are also local restaurants featuring traditional Hawaiian food. For that seaside feel, try Bubba Gump’s, which is right on the water.

This resort has a room full of beach chairs, pool toys, games and books that you can help yourself to. No need to buy or rent them somewhere else. All the management asks is that you return them when you leave. There are also staple foods in the front office “kitchen,” such as coffee filters, sugar, flour, etc., that you can use rather than buying food that you’ll have to throw away when you leave.

Tom, the front office manager, is very pleasant and helpful. He doesn’t hesitate to chip in if it gets busy, from changing out linens to sweeping the sidewalks. He is always there with a friendly “Aloha.” We instantly felt like we had a new friend.

There were a few planned events like lei-making and bracelet-weaving at the resort; but for larger classes, the Sands of Kahana one mile down the road allowed us to participate in theirs. There is also a restaurant and bar at that location.

Each unit at Hono Koa has its own washer and dryer, extremely convenient. The unit was immaculate and the furniture looked new.

When I returned home, friends asked where I would stay if I went back and could stay anywhere I wanted. I thought of the big resorts that offered restaurants, bars, spas, tours, and replied, “Hono Koa.”

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.

Other local activities include the Atlantic City Aquarium which has over eighteen exhibits including a 25,000 gallon tank featuring fish of the mid-Atlantic, live-diver feeding show, and daily feedings at the shark and ray touch tank. The Historic Gardner’s Basin is a bayside park teeming with shopping, dining, fishing and sightseeing boat rides.

Bargain travelers will enjoy taking advantage of the free-admission Korean War Memorial, Civil Rights Garden, Atlantic City Historical Museum and the AC Arts Center, located on Garden Pier at the Boardwalk and New Jersey Avenue. “The Water Show” spectacular at the end of The Pier Shops starts every hour on the hour and is free to watch. Absecon Lighthouse is fee-free, but there is a minimal charge to climb to the top. Finally, the beaches are free, which is very rare in New Jersey.

Wondering how to get there? There are many more choices today than past years. The nearby Atlantic City Airport is served by several airlines, including low-fare AirTran and Spirit Airlines. NJ Transit recently linked the New Pennsauken Transit Center “River Line” light rail system with the “Atlantic City” Rail Line. The River Line runs between Camden and Trenton, and the Atlantic City line runs between Atlantic City and Philadelphia. That’s not all–the Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) offers weekend services between New York City’s Penn Station and Atlantic City’s Rail Terminal. The average trip takes about 2½ hours with one quick stop in Newark, NJ.

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.

The grounds are well kept and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Our unit was spacious, with high ceilings and great air-conditioning. Even though the units were a bit older, they were very clean. We went to a grocery store and made almost all our meals at our unit. Having a toddler, it was much more convenient for us to do this! The pool area is nice and the water is kept at a comfortable, refreshing temperature. Lots of chairs and tables are available, and there are two gas grills that you can use to cook a meal.

The resort also supplies activities for children to keep them busy throughout the day, including a game room filled with arcade games, pool table, air hockey, television, etc. The kids liked the resort so much it was hard to get them out of the pool to go to Disneyland! They also enjoyed the movies that the front desk offered for rental, as well as the snack bar by the pool.

This was a great buy and an even better future investment. The vacation was really enjoyable, definitely worth it! And the hot tub was so nice to come back to after walking around the parks for 10-12 hours a day.

We brought everything that we needed on our vacation. But it was nice to see that the area is surrounded by restaurants and shopping. The resort also offers a small selection of items to purchase on-site.

I would recommend eating at Acapulco Mexican Restaurant. Great food and great service. It is located a couple miles from Dolphin’s Cove Resort, on Katella Street. While in the area, catch a Hockey game and watch the Ducks take the ice at Honda Center. Or catch a baseball game at Angel Stadium. Or take a drive to the many area beaches, or to Hollywood.

Seven Sacred Pools, Haleakala National Park

In December, we went to Ka’anapali Beach Resort in Lahaina, Maui, for our honeymoon. We stayed in a one-bedroom unit with a partial kitchen. The room was beautiful, but it would have been nice to have full kitchen. The resort will provide you with a hot plate or electric skillet on request.

They also host their own Luau, with a variety of Polynesian dancers and music. The best part was the fire sword dance. The resort also has many other activities, such as complimentary pool scuba lessons and ukulele lessons.

There are so many things do in Maui! I recommend taking at least 2 weeks for your trip. We were able to go snorkeling at Molokini Crater, take scuba lessons, drive the Road to Hana, attend a Luau and a Hula demonstration, besides walking around Lahaina and visiting all the local shops. Make sure to visit the Banyan Tree in Downtown Lahaina, off Front Street.

If we went back again, we would take hula and ukulele lessons at the resort, and also more scuba diving classes.

PS Here’s another good link for Molokini Crater.

Recently, a timeshare owner contacted me wanting to know if they should pay a company $2,000 to list their timeshare for sale.

This presented a few “problems”:

-The owner in question lives in Florida—new Florida DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) rules expressly forbid the collection of a listing fee for any timeshare owner residing in the state of Florida.
-The timeshare in question was located in Florida—ditto on the Florida DBPR rules.
-How did this company in question obtain the owner’s information?

I did some checking into the listings that this company had and was astonished . . . a rare thing for me to be when it comes to timeshare!

The site had thirty-three (33) timeshares listed from this particular timeshare property, ranging in price from $5,500 for a 1-bedroom to $32,000 (!) for a 2-bedroom. What was even stranger was that the same listing had a 3-bedroom timeshare for “only” $26,000—a “steal” compared to the 2-bedroom at $32,000!

So why my astonishment? As my regular readers know, I used to be a timeshare salesperson, and I also used to work for this particular timeshare resort. They are currently selling 2-bedroom timeshares (or the points equivalent) for $17,900. And this resale company had one of those 2-bedrooms listed at $32,000! One of two scenarios occurred here, and neither is particularly appealing:

1) The company in question got its hands on some owner listings and convinced some poor unsuspecting owner that for a fee of “only” $2,000, it would be able to sell their timeshare for them . . . and then get $32,000 in return; or

2) The company in question is making up their listings as they go: there is, in fact, no actual timeshare “for sale,” much less one for $32,000.

Why is the timeshare resale world even less regulated than the primary timeshare market? There is nothing at all to stop these companies from “listing” fictitious timeshare properties. And nothing to stop them from listing them under various “umbrella” companies. Oftentimes, one company will be doing business under various aliases, each listing the same properties.

It is more important than ever for consumers to be wary of these companies that prey on tough times and ignorance. There are legitimate places consumers can turn to if they are looking to sell their timeshare. And if consumers are in the market to purchase a timeshare on the resale market, they shouldn’t make a costly error. Work with a company that has full transparency, offers a recision (cancellation) period, has competitive prices, has a good rating with the Better Business Bureau, and that guarantees a “clear title.”

Lisa Ann Schreier, The Timeshare Crusader, is the founder of Timeshare Insights, the leading consumer consultancy company dealing with timeshare and timeshare issues. She is the author of “Surviving A Timeshare Presentation” and “Timeshare Vacations For Dummies,” both of which can be ordered on her site, and blogs for Holiday Group. Lisa can be reached at lisa@timeshareinsights.com.

Year round, thousands of exhibitors flock to Vegas during these themed expos to promote their products, while attendees cruise the display floor marveling at the latest product trends and collecting bags full of samples and promotional items. If you’re lucky, there’s always a chance you can sit in on an educational seminar, which can be interesting and beneficial depending upon the topic and your interests.

Oftentimes, the conventions are open to the public; otherwise attendees must qualify to gain admission. Your best bet is to visit the website before your trip to see if preregistration is necessary and especially since these events have been known to “sell out” – even when the event is free.

In the meantime, here is a taste of some of the 2010 Las Vegas hosted expos:

World Shoe Accessories
“World Shoe Accessories is the largest and most comprehensive footwear and related accessories show in the world.”
Venue: Mandalay Bay Convention Center
February 2-4, 2010
36,000 attendees

International Pizza Expo
March 2-4, 2010
“International Pizza Expo is the most comprehensive and dominant event in the related industry.”
Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center
10,000 attendees

Nightclub & Bar Show
March 8-10, 2010
“Nightclub & Bar Show is fast-becoming one of the nation’s beverage and food destinations.”
Las Vegas Convention Center
4500 attendees

Hospitality Design Expo
May 10- 21, 2010
“Hospitality Design Expo incorporates largest collection of hospitality-related exhibitors in the country” (Bring an empty stomach, samples are offered).
Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Center
7000 attendees

World Market Center Gift + Home Show
“World Market Center Las Vegas is a dynamic new showcase for the home and hospitality contract furnishings industry.”
June 13-16, 2010
Venue: World Market Center Las Vegas
15,000 attendees

International Bowl Expo 2010
“The premier industry event for owners and operators of bowling centers, billiard centers, and related pro shops worldwide.”
June 27- July 1, 2010
Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center
6,000 attendees

Today, I’m highlighting a company called International Cruise and Excursions, abbreviated to ICE and sometimes-called ICE Platinum Rewards.

Let’s make it clear from the outset that if you don’t own a timeshare, you can’t become a member of ICE.  But for those of you who do own a timeshare, you may want to find out more about ICE in order to maximize your timeshare usage. Note that ICE does not accept every timeshare week, they limit the number of non-RCI Gold Crown and non-II 5 Star resorts that they accept.

ICE was started in 1997 as a cruise exchange. This was a novelty back then. No one was giving timeshare owners the opportunity to trade vacation weeks towards cruise vacations. Note the word “towards.” It is important to understand that when anyone speaks about trading timeshare “for” a cruise, that’s not the whole story. Timeshare weeks are just that . . . a week of accommodations only. Cruises encompass accommodations, meals, entertainment, beverages, and much more. In plain-speak, yes, there will generally be an additional charge when trading weeks towards cruises.

In 12 years, ICE has grown to be one of the top 3 distributors of cruises in North America, and the top producer for every major cruise line out there. What that means for consumers is buying power, which we’ll talk about in a bit.

ICE has four core benefits of their Platinum Rewards Program:

1. When owners exchange a timeshare week towards a cruise, there is no exchange fee assessed.
2. Members may book resort and hotel vacations at a discount rate.
3. Members take advantage of ICE’s “Best Price Guarantee” on cruises, experiential vacations, resorts, hotels, and car rentals.
4. ICE’s Loyalty Program, which allows you to earn rewards.

Core Benefit #1, Cruise Exchange: Members can deposit one (1) timeshare week and receive up to four (4) cabins at the discount pricing. This is wonderful if you are planning a family vacation or even a company retreat. As stated before, there is no exchange fee assessed, although members will still have to “get” a week from their resorts in order to “give” it to ICE. ICE works with every major cruise line, so you can tailor your vacation to your specific needs. For those of you who have never cruised, it pays to do some research: a Celebrity Cruise is very different from a Carnival Cruise or a Disney Cruise. Depending on the cruise you choose, you will be able to save up to $1,500. What this means is that ICE will “value” your timeshare week up to $1,500. There are no blackout dates or restrictions as with some other companies. However, it is always wise to book ahead for peak times.

Core Benefit #2, Resort and Hotel Vacations: ICE works with both RCI- and II-affiliated resorts, so you can increase your vacation opportunities. Since ICE works mainly with RCI Gold Crown and II 5 Star resorts, members have the opportunity to check out really great resorts worldwide. These weeks do not require you to deposit or trade anything, and start at $399 per week. For those of you who are flexible on time, ICE’s “Last Minute Vacations” (booked 90 days or less from check-in) can save you money. These weeks are $399 or less! I’ve taken advantage of some of these and have been quite impressed with the quality and the savings. If you are looking for a hotel, ICE works with the major brands and you can save up to 60% off rack rates.

Core Benefit #3, Best Price Guarantee: ICE guarantees their pricing on cruises, experiential vacations, car rentals and resort and hotel vacations. These guys mean business. This guarantee is printed on every receipt they produce, on their Web site, and on every piece of member collateral. If you find a lower price, they will match it or beat it. Nice to know!

Core Benefit #4, Platinum Rewards: ICE members earn rewards on all travel purchases. These rewards can be redeemed for savings on pretty much everything ICE works with–cruises, resort stays, and experiential vacations. One of the best features of these rewards is that they never expire!

So, should you look into an ICE membership? Absolutely. I think a well-informed and savvy timeshare owner should look at all of their options and have a variety of discount tools available to them. There are times when exchanging your timeshare week towards a cruise will not be a good idea. For instance, if it’s only “valued” at $300, I’d pass, of course. But then look into their lowest price guarantee.

If you’d like to find out more about ICE, contact your home resort to see if they are affiliated with ICE, or you can contact ICE directly at www.icerewards.com.

———-

Lisa Ann Schreier, The Timeshare Crusader, is not affiliated with, or employed by ICE. A former timeshare salesperson and manager, she formed the first and only consumer consulting company dedicated to timeshare, Timeshare Insights. The author of “Surviving A Timeshare Presentation…Confessions From The Sales Table” and “Timeshare Vacations For Dummies,” Ms. Schreier is a sought-after speaker, a fixture on major media, and a regular contributor to Holiday Group.

Join Us for A FREE Webinar on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM PST

Please visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/629134808 for more information.

Want to know what’s really going on with RCI these days? Sometimes timeshare owners and prospective timeshare owners don’t get all the info that RCI-affiliated resorts have access to.

Lisa Ann Schreier, author of “Timeshare Vacations For Dummies” and founder of Timeshare Insights will moderate the Webinar. “Oftentimes, timeshare owners and prospective timeshare owners don’t get any updates other than what the exchange fees are from RCI,” said Schreier. “We want to give consumers the same information that RCI affiliated resorts have access to, but without any biases toward selling.”

This FREE Webinar will also include an extended Q & A session, so you’ll have an opportunity to ask Lisa Ann anything regarding RCI, as well as any timeshare questions.

Sign Up Today, as space is limited and this Webinar will book up fast!

Topics that Lisa Ann will cover include:

* New Resort Affiliations – More Places to Vacation!
* RCI Shopping Perks Program
* RCI and ICE – More Vacation Options!
* Online Contests!
* RCI Travel Online
* RCI Lawsuit Update

If you’d like to stay in the loop on what’s new with RCI, you won’t want to miss the scoop from Lisa Ann Schreier. The Webinar is free, will take about 30 minutes, and, best of all, you’ll be able to ask Lisa Ann your timeshare questions – all from the comfort of your home!

“I’m proud to be working with Holiday Group on this and other webinars,” Schreier said. “These webinars are one of the very few places that confused consumers can turn to in an effort to get useful information about how they can make the best use of their timeshares.”

Holiday Group is pleased to host consumer vacation expert and timeshare thought leader Lisa Ann Schreier, founder of Timeshare Insights. As a former timeshare salesperson, she is in a unique position to guide consumers through the myriad timeshare products available, and is known for her “tell it like it is” style. Recently featured in Resort Trades magazine, WFTV in Orlando, and on National Public Radio, Lisa holds frequent seminars and is a sought-after speaker.