Timeshares Let You "Try Out" Retirement Sites

When you're young, retirement seems light years away. By the time you're middle age, you feel like it can't come soon enough. "It's never to early to start planning for retirement," my financial planner keeps telling me. But she's always armed with a dreary stack of figures and portfolio options. Necessary, but ho hum boring. The part of retirement planning that excites me is the where.

Beach or mountain? City or country? Small town or metropolis? North or south? There are so many options and good things to recommend each choice. I finally hit upon the perfect solution. I'm trying them all out -- one timeshare at a time!

I made a list of all the places I might like to retire to and each year I rent or exchange a week at a timeshare in one of those locations. By staying at a timeshare, I'm guaranteed endless variety, superior accommodations, and access to fabulous amenities. The bonus is that making arrangements and planning my trip is quick, easy and hassle-free. I figure by the time I reach retirement age, I'll have narrowed down the field considerably.

The October 1, 2007 issue of U.S. News & World Report gave me some new places to add to my list of golden years hot spots. The article on America's Best Places to Retire lists 10 great cities across the country that have the amenities and services retirees are looking for, including cost of living, climate, low crime rate, healthcare access, educational opportunities, and recreational, entertainment and cultural venues.

San Francisco, one of my favorite cities, made the top 10 list. It's easy to leave your heart there. Cable cars, twisty streets, Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate -- San Fran is just teeming with exciting places to see and things to do. On Timeshare Giant you'll find nine timeshares for sale or rent that cater to every taste.

A stay at the chic four-star, Gold Crown boutique Club Donatello (above, right) puts you right in the heart of Union Square. Like a cozy bed and breakfast atmosphere? Live the genteel life of yesteryear at the Jackson Court City Shares (above left) brownstone mansion in prestigious Pacific Heights. You can experience the elegant life of robber barons and gold tycoons at the Nob Hill Inn which has catered to the rich and famous since the mid 1800s. If you prefer peace and quiet, you'll want to stay at Shell Vacations Club (right) on the quiet edge of legendary Fisherman's Wharf. Click the post title to preview all of the outstanding San Francisco timeshare properties available for purchase or rent on Timeshare Giant.