Great Family Timeshare Destinations: Branson, MO

The family that plays together stays together. If you're looking for a special holiday gift with a huge WOW factor, give your adult children and their families the gift of a timeshare property. You'll be guaranteeing them the time and place to spend many happy hours playing together -- now and for years to come.

The Midwest's playground, Branson, Missouri is just one of many great family timeshare destinations we've been showcasing in recent posts. Visit Timeshare Giant to preview hundreds of fabulous timeshare resorts available from coast to coast and all over the world.

If your family likes to play, Branson is the perfect place to vacation. Bicycle trails, boating, sailing, waterskiing, golfing, fishing, scuba diving, tennis, canoing, swimming, horseback riding, hiking -- Branson offers plenty of fun for the whole family. Dubbed the Vegas of the Midwest, Branson offers plenty of first class entertainers and more theater seats than Broadway. You'll have to keep coming back to sample all of what Branson has to offer!

Tucked amidst the verdant Ozark Mountains, the Villas at Lantern Bay (above, right) are situated on the lush, green shores of beautiful Table Rock Lake. From this peaceful scenic oasis, you and your family can easily enjoy the many outdoor delights Branson has to offer. And when the sun goes down, you're just 10 miniutes away from the bright neon lights of 76 Country Music Boulevard, one of Branson's great entertainment districts.

At the Villas at Lantern Bay, you can bring the whole family, Fido included. The Villas are known to be "pet friendly;" however, make sure you notify the resort early that you plan to bring your pet and review the pet policy prior to your arrival to avoid unwelcome surprises. Happy Holidays!

Pet-friendly Timeshares Let Your Animal Companions Share in the Fun

Do you and your pet have a special relationship? I'm sure when you're on vacation, if you see a pet that reminds you of yours, you can't help but wish you had your furry companion with you. I bring my little Maltese dog, Kasey, with me on almost every vacation I take. Inevitably, strangers approach me, and ask if they can pet Kasey to get their 'fix'. They share how much they hated leaving their dog at the kennel or with a friend, because they assume the resort they are staying in doesn't allow pets. Most trevelers don't even think it may be possible that the resort they are going to actually may in fact allow pets.

If you're a pet owner and a timeshare owner, in some cases it no longer means you have leave your pet at home. Many timeshare resorts are now rolling out the welcome mat for both you AND your pet. To view the many Pet-Friendly Timeshare Resorts catalogued in TimeshareGiant.com, click here. Sharing your vacation with your pet can be a lot of fun! It also means that you won't have to spend your vacation missing your pet, and your furry family member doesn’t have to go through the discomfort of not being certain when you’ll return.

Even Marriott Vacation Club has become more open-minded about the concept of Pet-Friendliness. For example, Marriott's Newport Coast Villas is a Pet-Friendly Timeshare Resort. Marriott's Newport Coast Villas is rated 5-Star by Interval International, which is evidence that staying in a Pet-Friendly resort doesn't necessarily equate to staying in sub-prime properties or locations. I think the big-name timeshare developers are finally seeing that there is a huge demand out there for Pet-Friendly timeshare accomodations, and in the near future, we'll start seeing more timeshare resorts getting on the Pet-Friendly list.

Before purchasing or exchanging into a pet-friendly timeshare resort, naturally it's important to check with the resort and learn what their pet policies are. Some pet-friendly timeshares will charge a nominal additional fee. They may have limit on how many pets you can bring. Other places have restrictions on the weight or overall size of the pets they allow. The resort of your choice may also only have a limited number of units set aside for pet owners, so you may need to make your reservations well in advance, to assure a pet-friendly unit.

Many Pet-Friendly Timeshare Resorts offer amenities that will help you and your pet have an enjoyable stay. Many pet-friendly timeshares have grounds that are suited for long walks. During your vacation, you may find there are times, such as attending a show or event that doesn't allow pets, which makes it necessary for you and your pet to be apart for several hours during your vacation. In that case, in many locations there are off-site pet-sitting services, just like babysitting services.

Kasey and I have a great time vacationing together. We talk a lot of walks, we go window shopping, and even eat at many local outdoor cafes. I've met people and seen sites that I wouldn't have seen, had Kasey not been with me. He gets me out and about, on the 'Road Less Traveled', and it's always been a fun experience. I've stayed many times at the Plaza Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, which is one of many timeshare resorts that allow pets. You live with your 'fur-children', so treat you and your pet to some special vacation time with them as well! You will love it!