Advantages of Timeshare Exchange

Beach? Mountains? Desert? Big city? Where you like to spend your vacation and how you like to spend your leisure time are two of the most important factors driving the selection of vacation property. When people invest in a timeshare property, they choose one that will provide the leisure experience they crave. Location, climate, resort amenities, leisure activities and accommodations are at the top of the list when buyers shop for a timeshare. Most people look for a property that suits their interests and lifestyle and look forward to returning year after year, like visiting a dear friend.

But occasionally, everyone wants a change. Perhaps a change of scenery from mountain to beach, a change of pace from laid-back resort to flashy big city, or a change of activities from winter skiing to summer hiking sounds appealing. The advantage of timeshare ownership is that you can have it all through timeshare exchange programs.

You can experience an infinite number of vacation experiences through exchange programs. By joining an exchange service (RCI and Interval International are the two biggest), you can trade your week or interval for a new and different vacation at comparable resorts around the world. Many resorts also offer owners the opportunity to exchange their timeshare for another within the home resort's property portfolio. Exchanging through your home resort generally guarantees comparable accommodations and amenities.

Here's how it works: You place your property into the exchange company's pool of available resort weeks and choose an available resort and week from the pool. There's generally a rating system to assure parity -- that you get what you give -- but you can often arrange to upgrade your choice. Expect to pay an exchange fee and annual membership fee to the exchange company. Before you exchange, you'll want to notify your resort/property management firm to clarify any rules or regulations that may govern exchanges. When you buy your timeshare, ask about exchange policies. As a purchase incentive, resort developers often pay a new owner's first year membership fee in an exchange program.

You can also "bank" your timeshare. If you can't use your timeshare during your usual interval and don't wish to exchange it in the current year, you can place your timeshare in the exchange company's pool and use your exchange option in a different year. Some exchange programs will also let you exchange your timeshare week for airfare, hotel stays or rental cars.

Snow Adds Magic to Yosemite Winter Vacation

Yosemite in winter? It's time to think outside the box when planning your winter vacation. The sheer cliffs, thundering waterfalls and clear blue lakes of this stunning Southern California national park are, if anything, more breathtaking shrouded in snow and ice. As you cross-country ski toward the spectacular sheer face of Half Dome on your way to Glacier Point, you experience the same awe that must have overcome the first explorers to this part of the Sierra Nevadas. It's just you and nature -- untouched, majestic and silent but for the sound of the wind whispering in the pines overhead.

Many of Yosemite's trails and features are open and accessible year-round. Badger Pass offers downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. You can also try snowshoeing on ranger-led hikes or strike out on your own. The sled run at Crane Flat is an experience as exciting as any roller coaster you've ever ridden. Ice skate in the shadow of Half Dome at the Curry Village rink in Yosemite Valley where folks have been skating since 1923.

There are a number of hiking trails open during the winter. Several of the most notable are paved, wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly. The 1-mile Lower Yosemite Falls loop takes you through Ponderosa pines, incense cedars and canyon live oaks past the base of the falls. The gentle 1-mile roundtrip hike to Bridalveil Falls takes you through pine and cedar-scented forest quite close to the ice-shrouded falls on the shady side of the canyon. A slightly more difficult 3-mile hike to Mirror Lake affords spectacular views of Half Dome and Mount Watkins. Hiking lovers will want to take the Columbia Rock trail, a 3-mile hike that rises 1,000 feet to Upper Yosemite Falls. The panoramic view of Yosemite Valley is magnificent.

After a day of winter fun at Yosemite, return to your cozy Bass Lake, California timeshare (above, right). The 5-star WorldMark property offers spacious, comfortable accommodations with room for the whole family. Cuddle up around the fireplace and sip hot cocoa in the evening while you relive the day's exciting Yosemite adventures. Units are equipped with all the comforts of home, including a fully-equipped kitchen, CD/stereo, cable TV, iron and ironing board, hairdryer and more. Each unit has a washer/dryer so you'll be able to quickly dry out the kids' parkas and snowpants after a day of sledding and tubing. For complete information on WorldMark Bass Lake, click the post title.

Everyone visits Yosemite in the summer. It's the lucky few who savor the park's winter beauty and pleasures.

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.

Timeshare Exchange Tips

One of the valuable benefits of timeshare ownership is the opportunity to exchange your timeshare for one in a different location. You may love your two weeks of sun and sand in south Florida ...

After all, what's not to love about lazing on the 100-foot private beach at the Geo Group at Berkshire Beach Club (left) in Deerfield Beach, Florida while you work on your tan. Or snorkeling and scuba diving amid the finned residents of the colorful underwater reef just offshore.

... but you may occasionally crave a change of pace. Perhaps this year, you'd like to try your hand at skiing or let the kids give snowboarding a try.

Big Sky Resort (right), just 18 miles from Yellowstone Park in Big Sky, Montana, offers some of the most exciting skiing in the world. Ride the tram to within 15 feet of Lone Peak's 11,166-foot summit for the downhill ride of a lifetime. With an annual snowfall of 400 inches, Big Sky guarantees prime ski conditions.

If you plan to exchange your timeshare, first decide on the what, where and when.

• What? First consider the type of vacation experience you want to have. What do you and your family like to do? Do you prefer large, all-inclusive timeshare resorts or smaller, more intimate settings? What kind of activities and amenities are important to you?


• Where? Think about locations that will provide the vacation experience you seek. Browse possible timeshare locations on Timeshare Giant (just click the post title). You'll find a map and list of countries/states that make searching for the perfect timeshare a snap. Looking for sun and sand? Click on Florida, Hawaii, Arizona or Puerto Rico. Prefer snow and ice? Click on Montana, Colorado, Idaho or Wyoming. On Timeshare Giant you can take a pictorial tour of each timeshare resort and check amenities to come up with a list of possible timeshare exchanges that meet your needs. Remember to consider less well known timeshare destinations. They offer the same vacation experience and amenities as the most popular resorts while providing greater date and accommodation choices.


• When? It pays to book as far in advance as possible. If you want to exchange for a very popular timeshare resort, consider vacationing in the off-season. If your vacation time is somewhat flexible, it's helpful to provide the timeshare resort with several acceptable dates. If your dates are not flexible, try to select a backup choice or two in case your first choice timeshare is unavailable when you want to travel.

The Joy of Off-Season Timeshare Travel

Everyone loves Aspen during the ski season, or the Caribbean when the cold winds of winter are blowing back home. While it's always exciting to vacation in your timeshare during the peak season, traveling off-season has its own special delights.

Personally, I love the peace and quiet of vacationing in a timeshare during the off-season. The solitude is restorative. I return from vacation relaxed and rejuvenated. If I'm staying in a timeshare resort, the service is even more attentive than usual. There are no lines at my favorite local restaurants. Without the noisy hubbub of peak season crowds, I can dally over my coffee and actually enjoy a pleasant conversation with friends. I can browse through my favorite shops without dodging elbows. There's no line at the register and I can enjoy personal attention from the staff. Actually, during the off-season many smaller shops let their staffs go and you'll receive personalized service from the owner herself.

Resort towns take on a different aura once the tourists go home. When you visit off-season you get to see a town as it really is. You overhear gossip in the checkout lane at the grocery and hear people catching up on each others' lives on street corners. Local folks are willing to engage in friendly conversations and share a bit of their lives. I've gotten some of my best tips on great restaurants, darling little shops, interesting museums and the most scenic hiking and biking trails from town locals during off-season chats. Without all the stress and crush of tourists, local folks have time to get to know you and share a bit of their town's history and stories with you. I find these moments make for some of my most magical memories.

One of my favorite off-season destinations is Aspen, Colorado. The high country west of Denver is gorgeous from the bloom of spring flowers, through the dense greens of the summer forest, and into the changing colors of fall. Right now the aspens are glowing, bright yellow leaves shining amidst their stark white and black-streaked trunks. Kebler Pass and McClure Pass near Aspen are prime leaf peeping areas in the fall. I love to rent a horse and just amble along the trails for hours, taking in nature at its finest. Cycling is also enjoyable and the landscape isn't all hills, though you will build up your leg muscles! Hikers will find many wonderful trails and you don't have to bother with snowshoes in the off-season. White-water rafting, kayaking, mountain climbing and para gliding are available for the more adventurous. Traditionalists can enjoy excellent fly-fishing, tennis, golf and numerous other outdoor activities.

Exchanges offer some great deals on off-season timeshare vacations. You won't mind the lower prices at local restaurants or shops either. One of my favorite timeshares in the Aspen area is the elegant Hyatt Grand Aspen. I love the grand Victorian air and luxuriously appointed suites. Located right in the heart of downtown Aspen at the base of stunning Ajax Mountain, the Hyatt Grand Aspen is just steps away from Aspen's fabulously eclectic shops and charming restaurants. Click here for more information. Photos shown in this post are of the Hyatt Grand Aspen. To preview other great timeshares in Aspen, Colorado area, click the post title.

Exchange Company Awards Can Increase Timeshare Value

RCI and Interval International are the 2 largest timeshare exchange companies in the world. Almost always, when a timeshare resort is newly developed, its developer will choose to affiliate the new resort with either RCI (Resort Condominiums International), or II (Interval International). Both exchange companies have a similar system in which they recognize the outstanding resorts affiliated with their exchange network, for standards of excellence in important categories, but there are a few slight differences in how each exchange company bestows an award.

RCI designates their superlative timeshares as Gold Crown Resorts. Interval International lavishes its Five Star Award on their premier timeshares. What does it mean when an exchange company bestows such a recognition award on a timeshare? Does it compare to the vaunted Michelin Guide's 4-star rating? Or is it just a lot of meaningless hype?

Actually, a Gold Crown Resort or Five Star Award rating is as coveted in the timeshare industry as those Michelin stars are by restaurants and hotels. A premier designation is an outside validation a resort's claim to quality, boosting the prestige of the resort. It assures both buyers and existing owners that the timeshare management is committed to providing high quality amenities, superior service and excellent maintenance. Also, because exchange systems trade accommodations of similar quality, owning a timeshare that has received a recognition award gives you an entree into other award-winning resorts.

Unfortunately, recognition awards do not always guarantee similarly luxurious accommodations and amenities. Here's how the awards stack up:

• Interval International's Five Star Award is the only level of award an affiliated resort can obtain. There is no 4, 3, 2, or 1-Star rating. The 5-Star rating is based on its own Quality Rating Survey which rates five general criteria: area, site, amenities, units and guest services. "Scores are weighted according to the type of vacation experience," explains II spokesman Chris Boesch. "For example, a resort in an urban area may not be required to have a full-size kitchen but may offer more in the way of guest services." Once a Five Star Award is given, II monitors continued quality via guest comment cards. (This is why it's so important to keep II informed by completing your guest comment card at the end of your vacation.)



• RCI's Gold Crown Resort is based on a detailed list of specific criteria that a resort must meet to be recognized. Two lesser levels of recognition are also offered: the Silver Crown Resort designation for resorts that come close but not quite up to the gold standard and the RCI Hospitality award for resorts that meet a minimum standard of excellence. RCI also uses guest comment cards to monitor continued quality. To maintain a Gold Crown Award, however, a resort must also continue to meet specific requirements for resort amenities, guest services, unit amenities/interiors and resort maintenance.
  

You'll note that RCI uses a rating system with a hierarchy of benchmarks while II uses more of a checklist. Without a lesser number of stars to denote various levels of quality, II's Five Star Award can be a bit misleading. Not all II resorts receive a Five Star Award, of course, but neither does the award guarantee quite as discernible a standard of quality as RCI's Gold Crown award. You can't necessarily assume that an II Five Star Award resort will be comparable to hotel that receives a AAA 5-diamond or Mobil 5-star rating.

In 2006, rating organizations in the United Kingdom imposed a new program that rates all of the nation's accommodations by a common set of standards. The same rating criteria and guidelines are now used by VisitBritain, VisitEngland, VisitScotland, VisitWales, the Automobile Association and the Royal Automobile Club to determine the number of stars to award a hotel or resort. Each organization accepts the others' ratings and ratings are jointly published.

While this won't change II or RCI timeshare ratings, it will provide consumers with a more exact idea of a timeshare resort's quality. Consumers might demand more details about an II Five Star Award resort that only receives a 3-star rating on the UK's national rating system. While hotels and resorts are not required to participate in the national rating system, those that don't are prohibited from being promoted by UK tourist boards or journalists. The system doesn't have a specific category for timeshares, but will evaluate them if the property is mixed-use or offers rentals. Properties pay an assessment fee to be evaluated.

A program similar to the UK's national ratings system may never "cross the pond," but some standardization would certainly benefit consumers and timeshare owners.

Points to Ponder When Considering a Points-Based Timeshare

Points systems were created to offer vacationers the opportunity to introduce more variety into their travel plans.

In recent years, Point System programs have been ushered in by many big-name timeshare developers. By owning a points system timeshare, you can opt for shorter or longer vacations. The point system timeshares have become famous for their flexibility; you can take a quick 3 day getaway or a 10 day respite, depending on how you want to spend your points from year-to-year. A Point System timeshare will allow you the ability to stay in a studio for more nights, or a larger unit for less nights. You can customize the length of your vacation, and also customize the size of the vacation residence you will need for that particular vacation. For instance, your family may want to bring cousins or friends along on some vacations, but not every single one. Some resorts have a 'points accrual' program, which can come in handy if you can't vacation in a given year. In this event, you would simply 'accrue', or 'save' points to use the following year.

Not all Points System timeshares are created equal: In addition to spending your points on accomodations, some Point System timeshares may also offer the ability to spend your points on amusement park tickets; other Point System timeshares also allow you the ability to spend your points on airline tickets and car rentals, while other Point System timeshares allow you to spend your points on hotel stays. But remember, aside from the extra ways you can spend your points, the main selling 'point' (forgive the pun) should be the resort (or family of resorts) the timeshare resort developer allows you access to.

There are so many wonderful Points-Based Timeshare Programs to choose from. It is important that you do your homework when considering the purchase of a point-based system. That way you know what to expect and how to make the most of your purchase. In my opinion, when considering a Points-Based timeshare, the best basis to use when considering one Points-Based timeshare over another is to look at your schedule and how you have used vacation time in the past.

Here are some important things to consider:

How are the points valued, i.e., how many points will get you the amount of time and unit size you need?

If I want to allow a friend or relative to use my points during a particular year, what are the rules, and additional costs, if any?

What are some of the more popular properties in the developer's particular network of resorts?

How far in advance do people reserve their time?

Are there any other restrictions, should I ever need to sell my Points-Based timeshare?

-Above all, remember this: Whichever Points-Based timeshare you choose, you are buying enjoyment and fun! Keep this in perspective when investigating the perfect Points-Based timeshare program for you and your family!