Have You Considered Travel Insurance?

Anyone who has missed a connecting flight or had to cancel a trip knows that vacations do not always go as planned. But when do you really need to consider travel insurance?

Your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy probably covers your possessions, so you don't have to worry about lost luggage. The same applies to renting a car—if you are a car owner, your auto insurance most likely covers you when you rent a car. It is worth it to take the time to check these policies before you travel, however.

Arranging trips takes a good deal of time and often we don't think beyond getting flights, checking timeshare availability, and researching activities. One key reason that many people get traveler's insurance is not to protect possessions, but to protect the investment they've made in the booking of the trip itself. Travel insurance can give you peace of mind and save you money if for some reason your vacation plans change. You could need to cancel your trip, your cruise could be delayed until a later date, or the weather at your destination could prevent travel.

Travel insurance is not necessary for every trip you take. If you know that a cancellation or other interruption to a trip, especially a short one, will not set you back too much, then perhaps you don’t need it.

If you travel often or are planning a really big trip, such as your honeymoon you may want to consider getting travel insurance to cover your bases in the event of an unplanned alteration to your travel itinerary.

For people who travel often and visit timeshares around the world, it is possible to get year-round coverage. Like anything you buy in bulk or large quantities, you can save money by getting a travel insurance policy to cover the various trips you take in a year.

If your travel plans include a cruise, the cruise line will likely offer you their own travel insurance. You can take this, but it may be a good idea to shop around and see what else is out there. A company that is not connected to the cruise you are taking may provide better coverage or offer a better rate.

What Color is Your Timeshare? Why Color Matters

For those new to timeshares, the dizzying array of color designations that designate how desirable a timeshare is can be very confusing. In the color game, it is also important to know that, for example, not all reds are created equal.

Here is how the system works. Timeshare exchange companies rate timeshare property desirability by seasons. The value of some timeshares is highly dependent on seasonal demand. For example, most people only want to go to Vermont in the summer or during ski season. In the fall or spring when the weather can be dicey, there is not a lot of interest in going there. So for some Vermont timeshares, the summer and ski season color would be red, the most desirable designation. In places like Paris or London where there is no seasonality in terms of people wanting to go there, many of these timeshares will be rated red all year round.

A designation of blue or green indicates the time of least demand, depending on which of the two main ratings systems is used (RCI or II). Similarly, white or yellow are assigned to the shoulder seasons, depending on the rating system of choice. Timeshare ownership during the red season will generally cost more and be worth more on exchange than ownership during one of the less desirable seasons. For people wanting timeshares primarily for their exchange potential and who want to make the best exchanges, they should be astute in their choice of color and time interval.

What makes all this color business so tricky is that you can not just look at the color of a timeshare and directly compare it with another timeshare of the same color. This is because some resorts are more luxurious, and therefore have higher exchange desirability than others at the same destination. It can also depend on availability. For example, in the Florida Keys where a timeshare might be red all year round, demand in the hot, sweaty, summer will not be as high as it is in the middle of winter. As a result, the exchange points for the winter occupancy will be worth more than those at the same place in the middle of August.

Remember also that blue or green and white or yellow ratings are not all created equal either. If you are in the right location, right on the cusp of the white/red or yellow/red season, then your white timeshare in Scottsdale, Arizona might be worth more in exchange points than a red one in Orlando Florida because there are just too many available timeshares in Orlando.
So you see, color does matter. But keep in mind it is only good as a first cut in terms of what you want to look for.

New to Timeshares? What to Consider in Making a Purchase

For people who love resort vacations, wanting to stretch their vacation dollar further, and wanting to step away from the 4-walled limitations of a hotel room, timeshare ownership is a ever-growing popular alternative. More economically sound than renting hotels, timeshare ownership allows its owners not only to maximize your investment dollars but also offers the ability to either establish a family vacation tradition in a really nice place or can provide you with the flexibility to vacation in the lap of luxury in the vacation locale of your choice. So if you are considering buying a timeshare, but haven’t done so yet, here are some tips on what to look for.

Timeshare owners make their buying decisions based on 2 reasons: (1) They buy to experience a family tradition each year at a special location, or (2) They buy with thoughts of exchanging time at their home resort for time at thousands of other resort timeshares around the world. You might also want to consider the flexibility of buying a timeshare that would achieve both goals so that as you get older and your lifestyle changes, as your kids grow up, and as you and your spouse finally get the time to travel the world, you can make the most of your investment.

If you are buying for a family get away and aren't very concerned about exchanging then ask yourself these questions: Is the resort location in a place special to your heart, that you would really like to experience as a tradition each year? Do you enjoy the amenities and activities the resort location offers? How nicely appointed is the resort? Do the amenities and furnishings in the condo residences fit your vacation lifestyle? Do you like the grounds? Your answers to these questions will guide your decision and also help you maximize your investment in your timeshare vacation lifestyle.

If you are looking at your timeshare purchase primarily to be used for exchange with timeshares elsewhere, chose your location carefully; The your success with your timeshare exchanges is often hinged on the desirability of the resort, the resort location, unit size, supply, and demand.

I've found most timeshare buyers are attracted to the timeshare concept for both reasons. They have a special connection or affinity to the resort location they chose for their home resort, and they also love the flexibility of exchanging their time for time at other timeshare resorts as an added bonus to their ownership.

You can research timeshare options in your favorite corner of the Earth at www.TimeshareGiant.com. You can search for properties, sell your timeshare, or even rent a timeshare.

North Pole Timeshares a Hot Property!

It's holiday joy, not global warming, that is making the new North Pole Gingerbread Timeshare Villas such hot sellers. Driven by their inner child, people are snapping up the new offering like Christmas cookies disappearing from Grandma's dessert plate. It's a childhood dream come true for many -- and the ultimate timeshare vacation for those with children and grandchildren. Imagine spending Christmas with the Jolly Old Elf himself!

Your North Pole timeshare vacation starts when you board the Polar Express, the exclusive travel arm of the North Pole. You will be greeted by elves and taken by sleigh (of course, pulled by reindeer) to your Gingerbread Timeshare Villa. Quaint gingerbread villas are laid out along candy cane-fenced lanes. Icing sparkles from cookie-shingled roof tops and the sun glints off peppermint drop windows. Marshmallow snowmen grin from the yards and spun-sugar trees shade the gumdrop shrubbery-lined walkways.

Each gingerbread villa is made from Mrs. Claus' fabulous secret recipe and snacking is encouraged. Naturally (Santaland is a magical place, after all), everything is self-regenerating so if Junior eats a hole in the chocolate chip cookie door, you'll never know. Gingerbread Timeshare Villas come in several luxurious configurations from spacious two bedroom, two bath units on up to villas big enough to accommodate extended families of 20 or more. Each unit features a soothing melted chocolate hot tub, a wide variety of exotic hot chocolates on tap, the resort's famous never-ending plate of Christmas cookies, and, of course, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree next to the massive fireplace. (Santa puts on a few pounds this time of year sampling Mrs. Claus' cookies and the resort likes to make Christmas Eve a little easier on the big guy.)

You're in the heart of Santaland, Gingerbread Timeshare Villas are just moments away from the North Pole's many wonderful attractions. Sledding, tobogganing, ice skating and snowman making are family favorites; but you can also try your hand at ice sculpting, igloo making and a host of other winter activities. Children young and old flock to the elves' workshops where you can help make toys, bake cookies or wrap gifts. No visit the to the North Pole is complete without a ride in Santa's magic sleigh. After your ride, you're invited to pet your favorite reindeer and give them carrots to munch.

The highlight of a Christmas timeshare vacation to the North Pole is the annual packing of the sleigh on Christmas Eve. Then the magical moment arrives as Santa boards the sleigh, Rudolf's nose starts to gleam, the reindeer paw the ground and the sleigh lifts off the ground, flying toward the moon, as Santa's booming voice cries out: Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Merry Christmas from Timeshare Giant.

Condo Hotels: Does This Timeshare Hybrid Have a Future?

When SUVs appeared on the scene, some people got excited, and some turned up their noses. There were debaters who questions and championed their usefulness, while some people just stayed on the fence. We wondered: are they a fad or are they here to stay?

This is also the case with another hybrid: the condo hotel or condotel, as some call it. As hybrids go, this one combines many of the good and bad features of both ancestors.

Because they combine the luxury of high-end hotels and the spaciousness of a condo, you can expect to be more than comfortable. You get the conveniences of a home, like appliances, that don’t get in every hotel. You can also take advantage of services-like a concierge, restaurant, and spa-that few people have at home.

One of the prime motivations for buying into a condo hotel is also one of the major factors in all real estate: location, location, location. As the owner of a unit in a condo hotel, you would have access to lodging in the destination of your choosing. You also reap the benefits that come when this same property is rented out to others. Staff is charged with booking reservations for your property. A prime location means that your prospects for sizeable rental income are very good.

On the flip side, the popularity of the destination means that you may not be able to use your unit whenever you want. If someone else has booked the time slot you want, you have to choose another, even though you are the owner. Travel hot spots attract business and developers, so if similar condo hotels go up, you may find your rental income actually decreasing when travelers have more choices.

There is a condo association and you will have to pay fees. However, the staff coordinates repairs, so you don’t have to worry about that. The good news is that you do not have to pay hotel taxes when you stay in your own unit.

Municipalities are still not sure how to regulate them, although some are starting to put limits on how much time an owner can spend in their own unit (typically 60-90 days).

For New Year's, It's Vegas, Baby

Las Vegas is calling! It's time to make your New Year's reservations. If you want to ring in the new year with glam, glitz and fabulous entertainment, there is no place more exciting than Las Vegas.

Las Vegas offers lots of fun shopping, gourmet restaurants, premium entertainment, world class golf courses, delightful spas and, of course, opulent casinos. You can tour the world from the elegant Italian Riviera to the mysterious Mayan empire by visiting the many themed casino resorts along "the strip."

In Las Vegas, timeshares come in every shape and flavor. From the newly remodeled Jockey Club (right), located right on the exciting neon-bathed strip, to the secluded desert oasis provided by the Cliffs at Peace Canyon (below, left), your perfect New Year's getaway is available on Timeshare Giant. Just click the post title to preview all 30 outstanding Las Vegas timeshare properties.

While the opulent casinos are still the big draw in "Sin City," modern Las Vegas offers so many other exciting attractions that it's become a major vacation destination. You may be so busy going to the amazing shows, shopping in the unique shops, relaxing at the spas, sampling the gourmet fare or soaking up the sun around the pool that you may never shake the hand of a one-armed bandit!

Vegas has been called the adult's "Magic Kingdom," but it offers plenty of family activities and entertainment, too. On the strip you can watch an exciting water battle between pirate ships, paddle through Venice in a gondola, walk the storied streets of New York City, screech down a giant roller coaster, swim amid waterfalls -- if you can dream it, you can do it in Las Vegas!

Make sure you get off the strip long enough to tour historic downtown Las Vegas. You won't want to miss the dazzling light show on legendary Fremont Street. If you need a change of pace, Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Lake Mead make easy day trips.

Check Climate When Planning a Vacation

When you plan a timeshare vacation, it's helpful to know what the weather will be like, particularly if you're planning months or a year in advance. You don't want to pack a suitcase full of shorts and t-shirts for a winter vacation in Tucson, Arizona and arrive to find the daily temperature is closer to 50 than 80!

When you're making travel plans months in advance, you should look for information on climate rather than weather. Climate data provide long-term averages for temperatures, rain, snow and sunshine. You can even find out how many clear versus cloudy days to expect during your stay.

Researching an area's climate will tell you what the weather conditions are most likely to be when you visit. If you were thinking of visiting a Tucson timeshare in February to bask in the hot, desert warmth, you might want to rethink things. The average temperature in Tucson in February is a chilly 55 degrees! (Shown above left: Starr Pass Golf Suites.) If you want to toast in the sun, you'll have to head for the Virgin Islands where the average February temperature is a toasty 79 degrees. (Shown below right: Bluebeard's Beach Club & Villas.)

My favorite site for climate information is www.weatherbase.com which provides up-to-date climate information on 16,439 locations worldwide. A great vacation planning aid, the site provides annual as well as monthly data. You can find out everything you ever wanted to know about a site's temperature fluctuation: average high, average low, highest recorded, lowest recorded, average number of hot days (90+), average number of warm days (70+), average number of cold days (-32) and average number of frigid days (-10).

When you're within a week to 10 days of your vacation, that's when you want to check the weather. Weather forecasts give you short-term predictions that focus on current weather conditions in the area. Check the climate of your timeshare vacation site when you plan your trip; check the weather just before you leave.

Last Minute Gift Ideas From Timeshare Giant

The Christmas countdown is nearing the panic zone. Only 7 shopping days left! If fighting the crowds at the mall drives you crazy, we have the perfect solution. You'll find lots of great last minute gift ideas at the Timeshare Giant Store. And the best part is, you can shop in your jammies while you sip hot cocoa!

Here are just a few of the great gifts you'll find at the Timeshare Giant Store; just click the link or post title to start shopping:

• The Everything Family Guide to Timeshares. This excellent book by Kim Kavin tells you how to buy smart, avoid the pitfalls and enjoy your timeshare vacations to the max. It's a comprehensive handbook to choosing, purchasing, using and selling the perfect timeshare for your family.



• Endless Vacation Magazine. An upscale magazine for the discerning international traveler on your holiday list. Columns and articles offer sound, useful advice about fabulous destinations around the globe.



• The Insider's Guide to U.S. Timeshares. Author Robert Dittrich takes an in-depth look at 635 timeshares across the U.S. in this informative and detailed review. You'll find detailed information about each resort, as well as information about area attractions, golf courses and ski venues.



• USA Eyewitness Travel Guide. Whether you're a native or a visitor, you'll find the popular Eyewitness Travel Guides a great planning resource and valuable addition to your travel library. The USA Guide highlights national parks, scenic routes, wilderness areas, top museums and our countries greatest cities. Regional chapters provide information on history, as well as local sights and culture. You can find a complete line of the popular Eyewitness Travel Guides on Timeshare Giant, including guides for Hawaii, Florida, Arizona and more.

At the Timeshare Giant Store you'll also find links to beautiful luggage, fun travel games, portable GPS units, electronic language dictionaries and many more useful gifts for the timeshare traveler on your holiday list.

Nominations Sought for 7 New World Wonders

Nominations are being sought for a new list of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. In a global poll scheduled to begin in January 2009, people all over the world will be able to cast a vote for their favorite natural wonder. Nominations are now being solicited over the internet. So far 300 suggestions have been received from six continents, but there's plenty of time to enter your favorite site. For more information or to make a nomination, visit http://www.new7wonders.com/.

More than 100 million people around the globe participated in the first contest to replace the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, most of which no longer exist. That contest, which concluded in July, asked voters to choose seven existing structural wonders of the world. Voters selected:

1. Taj Mahal in India
2. Great Wall of China
3. Colosseum in Rome
4. Manchu Picchu in Peru
5. Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil
6. The rock city of Petra in Jordan
7. Chichen Itza pyramid in Me