Chase Away Winter Blahs With Virtual Vacation

The excitement of the holidays are over. Everyone's gone home and the last of the turkey leftovers are finally gone. (The dog helped, but don't tell!) Stripped of its festive holiday decorations, the house looks kind of dreary. People stumble around the office in a post-holiday funk. It's dark when you wake up and dark when you come home from work. The gray skies of winter are enough to make anyone feel depressed. Well, we here at Timeshare Giant have the perfect antidote to the January blahs: take a virtual vacation on the web! It's a great way to "get out of Dodge" without leaving home (or the office) and (bonus) it can give you ideas for planning your next timeshare vacation.

A virtual vacation requires no money, no vacation days (not that you have any left), and no planning. All you do is type in the web address you'd like to see, and -- presto! -- you're in the wilds of a Botswana game park or in the center of Times Square or scuba diving in the Caribbean. Since you're watching streaming video, you'll see different things at different times of the day. For instance, tune in to Times Square at 9 a.m. and you'll see "suits" rushing to work to the cacophony of honking cabs. But by 9 p.m. the heart of the Big Apple has been transformed into a neon-bright wonderland populated by elegant theater-goers and colorful characters.

Here are some of the of the most fun travel-related websites I've found. (Note: Viewing some sites may require a software download.)

Hawaii windsurfing: www.mauiwindcam.com/streaming
Watch professional windsurfers glide over the waves along Maui's north shore. Cameras are positioned on the two most famous windsurfing spots: Upper Kanaha and Camp One. Experience the adrenaline rush as surfers launch right in front of the camera. Want to try it yourself? Schedule a timeshare vacation to Marriott's Maui Ocean Club (left) where you can enjoy windsurfing or ocean surfing and much more.

• Times Square: www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare
  Burning the midnight oil? Take a peak at the raucous heart of the "city that never sleeps." The neon lights are spectacular and the sideshow continuous.


• African safari: www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/wildcamafrica
  Take a virtual safari across the African veld via live streaming video from the Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana. You can watch lions, elephants, giraffes and other exotic beasts feed and frolic along the grassy banks of a watering hole.


• Scuba diving: http://www.breathebonaire.com/
  Swim with the fishes without getting wet. Watch colorful fish cavort, have a close encounter with a shark, and see eels weave through the vibrant coral reef at Bonaire National Marine Park in the Netherlands Antilles.

What's in Store for 2008 Vacationers

With the new year just starting, it's time to see what 2008 has in store for vacationers.

1. Passports. If you don't have one, apply now. With phase two of the new passport regulations poised to go into effect this year, backups and delays are expected. Though the government hasn't announced a date, sometime this year you'll need a passport for travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. A passport costs about $100, but remember that it's valid for 10 years -- that's just $10 a year, not a bad deal for a week on the sandy beaches of Bermuda or a close-up view of the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.


2. Airfares. Fuel prices are expected to force airfares up, but there will always be deals out there. When you plan your vacation, factor in time for flight delays. The issues that caused the massive delays that plagued summer travel last year haven't gone away and aren't likely to for some time.


3. Meals. Prices at premium restaurants have been rising faster than the puff pastry used to make your appetizer. A meal for two with wine and tip tops $200 at many popular upscale restaurants. Seek out local eateries and ethnic cuisine where you can get excellent food at reasonable prices. Street vendors serve up great, cheap, local food in many cities. Better yet, when you stay at a timeshare, you can eat in your condo part of the time or fix a picnic lunch to take along when you head for the beach.


4. Transit. Cabs or sightseeing tours can take a big bite out of your travel budget. Rent a car or take public transportation. If you're staying in a big city, public transit is the way to go -- no traffic to deal with, no parking problems, no search for gas stations and you get to enjoy more of the local ambiance.


5. Accommodations. Hotel and resort prices are rising which makes timeshare vacationing particularly smart. You can enjoy superior accommodations at the world's most luxurious resorts at very affordable prices. Just take a look on Timeshare Giant to see some of the great values that are available.

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.

Traveling Outside U.S.? Consider Overseas Medical Policy

If you are planning a timeshare vacation outside the U.S., you should consider purchasing overseas medical insurance. Not all U.S. medical insurance policies include coverage outside the U.S. Those that do often provide more limited coverage than what you're used to at home. You also need to consider the fact that policy holders generally pay for overseas medical expenses out-of-pocket then submit the bills to their insurance carrier for reimbursement which, unfortunately, often doesn't meet expectations.

If you're over 65, you should be aware that Medicare will not cover medical expenses outside the U.S., and Medicare Supplement Plans C-J provide only limited foreign travel benefits. If you don't carry supplemental insurance or have only Medicare Supplement plan A or B, you should definitely purchase overseas medical insurance before you leave the country.

Here are a few pointers on purchasing overseas medical insurance:

• Get a policy that provides primary, not secondary, medical coverage. Primary insurance will pay your bills even if you have other insurance. Usually primary policies will also pay the hospital or doctor upfront so you don't have to use your travelling cash.


• Look for a policy that covers a reasonable number and type of emergencies, including dental coverage, evacuation and repatriation expenses. Most overseas insurance policies offer reasonably-priced bundles that include medical/dental services and emergency transportation.


• Get a policy that covers existing medical conditions. Disputes over existing conditions is a frequent complaint of overseas travelers.


• When submitting a claim outside the U.S., follow the carrier's procedures precisely. Remember that pre-authorization is usually required for all but emergency procedures. Policies may specify which doctors or hospitals are authorized to provide treatment. With emergency procedures, you may have to notify the carrier within a set period of time in order to be covered. Coverage may be denied if claim procedures are not properly followed.


• If you plan to purchase other travel insurance, notably trip-interruption or trip cancellation insurance, look for cost-effective bundled packages. Buy only as much insurance as you need and opt for bare bones policies over those with all the bells and whistles.

Several online companies offer cost-effective insurance bundles for travelers, including:

• 1TravelInsurance.com


• InsureMyTrip.com


• QuoteWright.com


• QuoteTravelInsurance.com


• TotalTravelInsurance.com

Timeshare Resorts Reach Out to San Diego Wildfire Evacuees

We've all watched in horror as wildfires have devastated the San Diego, California area. Fanned by Santa Ana winds and tinder-dry weather, whole swaths of southwestern California have gone up in smoke. Millions of dollars in homes and businesses have been engulfed in flames, sending citizens fleeing in droves.

With more than 900,000 people forced to flee their homes, most with few or no possessions and only the clothing on their backs, resources in Southern California are severely strained. In a marvelous humanitarian gesture, many resorts, timeshares and hotels have opened their doors to evacuees. Evacuees have packed hotels solid as far away as El Centro, CA and Yuma, AZ to the southwest of San Diego, and Kingman, AZ and Las Vegas to the north. While many evacuees will be returning to their homes as evacuation orders are lifted, too many no longer have homes to return to.

Last night I finally heard from my cousin who lives in the area. Thankfully, her family and home survived. The devastation wrought by wildfires is inexplicable and frightening. My cousin was lucky, but many others were not.

If you are booked into a timeshare in the greater San Diego area, you should check with the timeshare or resort management before you leave home. Many resorts were unaffected by the fires, but given the unpredictability of wild fires and their erratic pathways, savvy travelers will call before they pack. Also, resorts that didn't sustain direct fire damage may require heavy cleaning to repair smoke damage before they can welcome guests again. If your timeshare is being used as an evacuation site, please show compassion for the folks who are gratefully staying there. They have nowhere else to go.

Use Timeshares to Plan Retirement Travel

A number of savvy retirees are using timeshares to make retirement travel easier. Some started purchasing multiple timeshares 20 or more years ago with just that in mind. Others didn't jump on the bandwagon until they crossed the retirement starting line. But all have found that multiple timeshare ownerships will make it possible for them to continue traveling and enjoying life well into their golden years.

In an open forum on TimeshareForums.com, cathyb told how she and her husband built their timeshare retirement estate:

"Back in 1985 we bought our first timeshare, Carlsbad Inn. We lived an hour from this beach town and it served its purpose for two hard-working people to use as a get-away.... Now we own two weeks in Maui, one week in Kauai, two weeks in nearby Palm Desert, one week in Newport Beach, CA, Worldmark credits and Carlsbad Inn. All along our logic was to buy where eventually we could travel easily when we are old. Well, at ages 75 and 70 we now can drive to four of those owned and fly easily to the rest."

Cathyb and her husband recommend owning at least one timeshare close to home. Airline strikes, rising ticket prices and natural disasters may occasionally make it difficult or impossible to travel to far-flung timeshares. (Hurricane Iniki kept cathyb and hubby from vacationing in Kauai in 1992.) Maintaining an option within driving distance gives you an ace in the hole.

Other retirees say they've done the same thing. Rather than winter in Florida or Arizona, staying in the same place the whole time, they purchase timeshares in a few of their favorite vacation spots. They can then "winter" 3 weeks at one timeshare, 4 at another, etc. Every year they get to travel to all their favorite places without living out of a suitcase. They can put down a few roots in each community and enjoy returning each year to visit favorite haunts and eateries and discover new ones.

On the same forum iconnections agreed with retiree cathyb:

"We also like owning timeshares close to home ... it still feels like a vacation to us because it is on the ocean and that is quite different even if you live very close to the beach already. You don't have the view of the ocean and sound of the waves at home so you still feel like you are far away."

Iconnections noted that day use of your timeshare's pool and other resort amenities are nice perks often overlooked by owners who live near their timeshare. She also said she and her husband find it most restful to spend at least 4 to 6 weeks at each of their timeshares.

Some retirees find they prefer city vacations these days and plan to exchange their resort timeshares for the glitz of New York or the fun of San Francisco. They look forward to quiet afternoons wandering through museums or galleries, poking through shops, taking in a show or two, sampling some great ethnic food and, most importantly, leaving the driving to mass transit.

Whatever your retirement dream, buying or renting a timeshare can make travel easy and affordable. Click the post title to find out more about timeshares on Timeshare Giant.

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!

Keep Your Credit Card Handy, Airlines Going Cashless

"Don't leave home without it!" "It's everywhere you want to be!"

These popular tag lines from credit card commercials apply to air travelers more than ever these days. We're quickly becoming a cashless society and airlines are lining up to get onboard. Some U.S. airlines already ban cash in the cabins for drinks and other purchases; others are set to follow suit. When you travel to your timeshare, you'll soon need a debit or credit card to make those in-flight purchases that make the trip more pleasant.

Through the end of the month, American Airlines, which accepts both cash and cards, is test marketing card-only flights on service from San Francisco. JetBlue Airways recently announced implementation of a card-only policy starting November 1.

AirTran was the first to go cashless in 2004. Since then air carriers Aloha, Frontier, Midwest and Hawaiian have followed suit. Many more airlines have added the card-purchase option to their in-flight services, allowing passengers to pay with either a debit/credit card or cash. Alaska Airlines is the latest to add the dual service.

"I think it's the wave of the future," said Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Caroline Boren. "We're increasingly living in a cashless society."

Delta Air Lines offers dual purchase services and Northwest expects to add the plastic option in early 2008. Both say the future may see them going cashless. There haven't been many holdbacks to the trend. Even Southwest Airlines, one of the larger cash-only airlines, says they're looking into it, though they have no plans to change their cash-only policy.

Other airline travel news:

• Round-trip fares go up. The nation's five largest airline carriers have again raised round-trip fares $10 in response to escalating fuel costs. American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, led the way with Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, US Airways Group, and most recently United Airlines joining in. This is the seventh ticket price increase made by America's major carriers this year. All have been attributed to the rising price of jet fuel which has climbed 36% since the end of 2006. Just one more reason to love vacationing in my timeshare. With the money I save on lodging, I can afford to pay a little more on transportation.
• Flight delay solutions discussed. Major U.S. airlines will meet with federal Department of Transportation and FAA officials next week to discuss the traffic congestion problems that caused annoying delays at airports across the country this summer. Participants hope to come up with a voluntary solution to decrease congestion at the nation's major airports, particularly the three airports that feed New York City: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark (NJ). A DOT spokesman said if the airlines cannot come up with a solution, the government could consider imposing scheduling restrictions to avoid a repeat of this summer's chaos.