All of this is now less than an hour drive from Lisbon International airport along the new A8 motorway, linking the vibrant capital of Portugal with historic Oporto in the North. As there is also a proposed new international airport to be located at OTA, this little known region is opening its doors to the outside world. For decades the Algarve has been the only realistic location for overseas buyers to enjoy the unique hospitality of the...more
Timeshare ownership is an attractive alternative to traditional vacationing. When you make a timeshare purchase, what you are really doing is purchasing 'time'. You are buying a specific period of time at a resort that often belongs to a larger group of resorts. Usually, time is divided into periods of weeks and you will often have the option to purchase additional weeks. Timeshares are located almost everywhere. Travel industry growth helped...more
Deciding between timeshare points or timeshare weeks can be a tough call. So, which way to go?Well, the best thing to do is to take a look at your lifestyle. If you want to return to your home resort each year at the same time for a full week or only travel in weekly incrementsÂ… or, if you are into steamy, private, romantic getaways just for two (and like having the excuse that you only have a limited amount of space), then it's easier to go with the weeks system and explain to friends or in-laws that there is no time left available. However, if you need or want to include other people in your timeshare from time to time, then you should probably consider the points system. Flexibility is the main advantage of the points system. Any size of unit can be chosen if you have enough points in your account and the unit is available. In the week's system, you are restricted to the same size unit as your home resort unit, or smaller, when you travel. Let's say, one time it is just you and your partner traveling; then a studio would be just right. Another time, it is the two of you and you decide to bring the kids and need a two bedroom, and another time, it is you and the kids and your...more
The history of timeshares began in the French and Swiss Alps back in the 1960s. Limited resort space at that time, combined with high cost and ensuing demand, created a clear need for guaranteed accommodation for an interval of time each year. Popular destinations for timeshares then were France and Switzerland. Since individual families...more
Want a better vacation? Try vacation ownership! With an increasing choice of accommodations, amenities, locations, pricing, use plans, and timeshare exchange companies, you can customize a vacation to perfectly match your lifestyle. Vacation ownership can allow you to see the world! With over 5,000 resorts in almost 100 countries, you can cover...more
With today's rapidly evolving vacation home market, consumers are more and more exposed to an increasingly diverse marketplace offering a wide range of leisure travel options. The growing variety of vacation home options include: Timeshare/Vacation Ownership, Fractional Ownership/Private Residence Clubs, Destination Clubs, Condo Hotels and Traditional Second Home Ownership. Let's look at how timeshare vacations compare to the other options available to you in the market. First, take a look at the traditional vacation home that you own completely on your own. This type of property is often viewed as an investment and is also often used as a retirement home after the 'empty nest syndrome' has occurred. In the vacation home situation, owners have full responsibility for proper and timely maintenance of the property unless they have retained the services of a management company or maintenance service at a cost. In the vacation home market, you will have a wide variety of homes to choose from, with many of them custom built. A popular trend that many new owners are taking advantage of for vacation homes is to outfit them with renewable energy sources and/or make them highly energy...more
The recent economy has drastically affected the vacation industry and timeshare promotions. Timeshare companies have made changes to their marketing packages by increasing the value you receive in exchange for attending a timeshare sales...more
There are two main avenues to purchasing a time share; on the retail market or from a reseller. It looks like it is a case of 'you get what you pay for' which is true of many things in life, and there are advantages to both. Let's explore these two...more
As in real estate where the mantra is location, location location; the mantra to remember when you have a timeshare for sale is; value, value, value! Of course, location is important when selling your timeshare - the more desirable a location, the...more
RCI is the largest timeshare exchange company in the world with over 4,000 affiliated resorts worldwide. North American locations include 116 locations in Canada, 1556 in the United States and 357 in Mexico. There are also 232 locations in the...more
Choosing a Timeshare PropertyThere are thousands of timeshare resorts and properties out in the market to choose from. You may find a property that you love from the beginning and be very happy with your choice. However, if you are thinking of...more
Should you decide that you would like to sell your timeshare, it is very important to be as informed as possible about the process. The process for timeshare resellers is similar in concept to the sale of any property, so if you have sold property...more