I want your family to vacation in style, luxury and in a cost effective manner. I have three children and while they were growing up, my husband and I quickly learned the problems that come along with trying to vacation with a full family on a budget and in convenient clean accomodations.
There is so much negative information out there that it is hard for the average consumer to find any real relevant information that would keep their experiences positive. Thats what this site is about so please, pull up a chair and consider these things..
Vacation ownership is one of the most highly regulated vacation products. Individual state timeshare laws govern the purchase process so educate yourself.
The only people who should purchase a timeshare are families or individuals who want to vacation in luxury, with a sound plan for the future and who can afford it. If you vacation already, then this can be a cost effective way to keep your vacation style up and not suffer future inflation rates.
Look at your current vacation expenses. Consider if you are willing to spend more or less depending on the vacations that you want to take, plan to take, or wish you could take. Weigh out the cost of the timeshare, the benefits of it and the negatives of it, along with the cost, benefits and negatives of renting hotel rooms or other accomodations.
Go see for yourself what the buzz is all about. Dont be afraid to take a sales tour at a resort, and dont be afraid to check out the alternatives! If you are not ready to purchase, you can simply state that to the sales rep. If you stay smart and strong, then you have nothing to fear. The negative talk on the internet about people who were "duped" or "scammed" in to buying a timeshare, simply were people who believed everything they were being told and let their gaurd down. See what they show you in writing and what they show you with your eyes. Fill in the words yourself, dont fall for everything.. just go for the education. Talk to friends who already own. If they have bad things to say, find out why and then think about what they have said.. does it sound like they are just angry because they "bought a lie" or because they truly were "duped".. but pull out the positive as well and understand what the good parts are.
Read all documents carefully and understand what you are being offered. If you do not understand what you are reading and being asked to sign, stop and think. Pull out your cell phone and get on the internet and look up the terms of some of the words that are in front of you that you do not understand. Educate yourself.
According to VacationBetter.org, you should "Look for signs of good property management, such as well-maintained facilities and resort amenities, good housekeeping,and friendly service. Take a look at the resort’s annual budget, which is usually available through the property’s HomeOwners Association (HOA)." good point!
Learn about and understand the exchange companies and the process for exchanging. The odds are unlikely that you will want to vacation at the same resort year after year.. verify what your options will be and the costs associated for vacations that you transfer to another resort.
Educate yourself. Educate yourself. Educate yourself.. there are many websites available with solid positive information. Soak through some of my previous posts here and research the companies and sites that I have mentioned.
Last case, email me your questions. I do not charge for free timeshare advice. And I am not being paid by anyone else for it. I just want to make sure that before you make a bad decision and bring more negative to a very solid good product, you are educated and make a decision that is right for you and your family no matter what that decision is.
Showing posts with label Vacation Better. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation Better. Show all posts
Friday, August 13, 2010
Tired of Eating Pizza on a Hotel Bed? Rent a Timeshare for a Better Vacation
Straight from ARDA's consumer website, www.VacationBetter.org comes yet another consumer friendly report. I suggest that all timeshare owners, or potential owners, visit VacationBetter.org for deep insight, consumer advisory's and more! Educate yourself!
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2010 – As we enter the summer vacation season, families are looking for travel savings ideas everywhere and are prepared to jam their families into small hotel rooms if the deal is right. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has a solution for the budget-conscious, weary traveler: rent a timeshare villa for your next vacation.
“Many vacationers don’t yet realize that they can rent a week or two at a fabulous resort and stay in spacious accommodations with one or more bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room – all the comforts of home,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. “While it may be the destination that gets them there, it’s the guarantee of high-quality accommodations that keeps them returning year after year.”
According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers research on the state of the timeshare industry in 2009, nearly half of timeshare purchasers rented first. Among six million-plus timeshare owners, timeshares continue to enjoy an 85 percent satisfaction rate. “Timeshare owners place value on having the space to truly rejuvenate – a benefit that comes with a timeshare vacation,” said Nusbaum. And, because of the pre-paid nature of the product, timeshare owners continue to travel despite historic lows in traditional hotel occupancy. For 2009, the timeshare industry reported an occupancy rating of nearly 80 percent.
“We have created a rental engine for consumers to take advantage of the convenience of vacationing ‘timeshare-style.’ The opportunity for consumers to spread-out with all the conveniences of home as well as enjoy a host of on-site activities and amenities has been very positive,” said Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts, home to Holiday Inn Club Vacations. “We have seen an increase in our rental activity and our guest surveys reflect high product satisfaction ratings. In addition, we have opened our channels to mini-vacation packages and specials and are beginning to use social media as a way to market directly to consumers,” Harrill continued.
There are many ways for vacationers to ensure the right timeshare rental to meet their travel needs. Rentals can be found at aggregated sites such as www.redweek.com and www.tug2.net, as well as with many timeshare developers that may be offering rental packages. “We have two to three thousand rentals on our site at any given time,” said Brian Rogers, president of the Timeshare Users Group. “We frequently encourage travelers to explore this vacation experience because renting provides the perfect “try before you buy” solution.”
ARDA’s consumer website, www.VacationBetter.org, is a resource for all timeshare information. Visit it to discover what you’ve been missing.
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About ARDA:
The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has over 1,000 members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with expertise in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC). For more information, visit www.arda.org or ARDA’s consumer website at www.VacationBetter.org.
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2010 – As we enter the summer vacation season, families are looking for travel savings ideas everywhere and are prepared to jam their families into small hotel rooms if the deal is right. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has a solution for the budget-conscious, weary traveler: rent a timeshare villa for your next vacation.
“Many vacationers don’t yet realize that they can rent a week or two at a fabulous resort and stay in spacious accommodations with one or more bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room – all the comforts of home,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. “While it may be the destination that gets them there, it’s the guarantee of high-quality accommodations that keeps them returning year after year.”
According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers research on the state of the timeshare industry in 2009, nearly half of timeshare purchasers rented first. Among six million-plus timeshare owners, timeshares continue to enjoy an 85 percent satisfaction rate. “Timeshare owners place value on having the space to truly rejuvenate – a benefit that comes with a timeshare vacation,” said Nusbaum. And, because of the pre-paid nature of the product, timeshare owners continue to travel despite historic lows in traditional hotel occupancy. For 2009, the timeshare industry reported an occupancy rating of nearly 80 percent.
“We have created a rental engine for consumers to take advantage of the convenience of vacationing ‘timeshare-style.’ The opportunity for consumers to spread-out with all the conveniences of home as well as enjoy a host of on-site activities and amenities has been very positive,” said Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts, home to Holiday Inn Club Vacations. “We have seen an increase in our rental activity and our guest surveys reflect high product satisfaction ratings. In addition, we have opened our channels to mini-vacation packages and specials and are beginning to use social media as a way to market directly to consumers,” Harrill continued.
There are many ways for vacationers to ensure the right timeshare rental to meet their travel needs. Rentals can be found at aggregated sites such as www.redweek.com and www.tug2.net, as well as with many timeshare developers that may be offering rental packages. “We have two to three thousand rentals on our site at any given time,” said Brian Rogers, president of the Timeshare Users Group. “We frequently encourage travelers to explore this vacation experience because renting provides the perfect “try before you buy” solution.”
ARDA’s consumer website, www.VacationBetter.org, is a resource for all timeshare information. Visit it to discover what you’ve been missing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About ARDA:
The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has over 1,000 members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with expertise in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC). For more information, visit www.arda.org or ARDA’s consumer website at www.VacationBetter.org.
Friday, May 14, 2010
ARDA issues warning to timeshare owners
This was released today as a press release to the public. ARDA, short for American Resort Developers Association, works hard to protect consumers of timeshares.
ADVISORY IV
May 14, 2010
As part ARDA’s effort to provide consumers with guidance about the secondary marketplace and useful tips about
the resale process, this advisory is to make consumers aware of two deceptive resale solicitations that target timeshare
owners.
According to an April 2010 release issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(FDACS), the newest scheme is being used in combination with other unethical or fraudulent resale solicitations.
Beware of ‘Reloading’
The practice of ‘reloading’ is when an individual or company contacts a consumer who has already been victimized
by an unethical resale company. The claim is that they can recoup the upfront-fee lost in the original scam. The call
may actually be from the same company that conducted the first scam, only reorganized under a new name. Or the
call may be from a disgruntled former employee of the original company who uses the victims’ contact information
to run a new scam.
The FDACS warns that in either case the chances are minimal that consumers will recover any money. The latest
twist on this particular fraud has someone calling the original victim claiming to be from the first company that
took the upfront fee. This time, the caller will offer to refund the victim’s money, but will ask for a credit card
number “to facilitate the transaction.” If consumers again provide credit card numbers, they will lose money a
second time.
Bogus Rental Offers
Timeshare owners should also be skeptical of rental company solicitations that claim the company can rent owners’
vacation weeks or their “extra/bonus” weeks. While bonus weeks or bonus time is a legitimate benefit offered by
some – but not all – timeshare resorts, owners cannot rent them and may be in violation of their resorts’ rules if
they do. (Bonus weeks or bonus time is generally unused time that can be reserved only by other owners for a low
fee typically 30 days before the time is available.
The alleged rental company entices the consumer by claiming to have interested renters. The company quotes an
unrealistically-high rental rate, asks for an advance fee (upwards of $700) and a credit card number so the company
“can be authorized to represent the consumer in the rental transaction.” The advance fee is taken and the consumer
never hears of rentals again.
ARDA cautions consumers to make sure they understand the disclosures, promises, transfer protocols and recourse
available to them prior to writing a check, giving a credit card number or any other form of payment to a reseller.
And please check with your home owners association to see if a less expensive option is available to you. For more
resales information, please visit www.ARDA.org/resales. Visit ARDA’s consumer web site at
www.VacationBetter.org for more information about timeshares.
ADVISORY IV
May 14, 2010
As part ARDA’s effort to provide consumers with guidance about the secondary marketplace and useful tips about
the resale process, this advisory is to make consumers aware of two deceptive resale solicitations that target timeshare
owners.
According to an April 2010 release issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(FDACS), the newest scheme is being used in combination with other unethical or fraudulent resale solicitations.
Beware of ‘Reloading’
The practice of ‘reloading’ is when an individual or company contacts a consumer who has already been victimized
by an unethical resale company. The claim is that they can recoup the upfront-fee lost in the original scam. The call
may actually be from the same company that conducted the first scam, only reorganized under a new name. Or the
call may be from a disgruntled former employee of the original company who uses the victims’ contact information
to run a new scam.
The FDACS warns that in either case the chances are minimal that consumers will recover any money. The latest
twist on this particular fraud has someone calling the original victim claiming to be from the first company that
took the upfront fee. This time, the caller will offer to refund the victim’s money, but will ask for a credit card
number “to facilitate the transaction.” If consumers again provide credit card numbers, they will lose money a
second time.
Bogus Rental Offers
Timeshare owners should also be skeptical of rental company solicitations that claim the company can rent owners’
vacation weeks or their “extra/bonus” weeks. While bonus weeks or bonus time is a legitimate benefit offered by
some – but not all – timeshare resorts, owners cannot rent them and may be in violation of their resorts’ rules if
they do. (Bonus weeks or bonus time is generally unused time that can be reserved only by other owners for a low
fee typically 30 days before the time is available.
The alleged rental company entices the consumer by claiming to have interested renters. The company quotes an
unrealistically-high rental rate, asks for an advance fee (upwards of $700) and a credit card number so the company
“can be authorized to represent the consumer in the rental transaction.” The advance fee is taken and the consumer
never hears of rentals again.
ARDA cautions consumers to make sure they understand the disclosures, promises, transfer protocols and recourse
available to them prior to writing a check, giving a credit card number or any other form of payment to a reseller.
And please check with your home owners association to see if a less expensive option is available to you. For more
resales information, please visit www.ARDA.org/resales. Visit ARDA’s consumer web site at
www.VacationBetter.org for more information about timeshares.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Timeshare Resales Help from ARDA
In a timeshare industry publication, Developments magazine, the American Resort Development Association (www.arda.org) discussed further how it is working to protect consumers and the timeshare industry where resales are concerned.
ARDA has been working with a Resale Task Force to create education and protection for timeshare resale buyers and sellers. There are two entities that timeshare consumers can utilize to learn about timeshare reslaes so they are not taken advantage of unexpectedly by fraudsters. Please visit VacationBetter.Org and ARDAROC.org for information on these services.
ARDA is still reviewing input and comments on the Model Resales Act and as more developments occur with this, I will keep you posted.
ARDA has been working with a Resale Task Force to create education and protection for timeshare resale buyers and sellers. There are two entities that timeshare consumers can utilize to learn about timeshare reslaes so they are not taken advantage of unexpectedly by fraudsters. Please visit VacationBetter.Org and ARDAROC.org for information on these services.
ARDA is still reviewing input and comments on the Model Resales Act and as more developments occur with this, I will keep you posted.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
ARDA announces Joint Consumer Education Program
Washington, DC – April 27, 2010 – The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and the National Timeshare Owners Association (NTOA), have announced a year-long campaign to help educate consumers about timeshare vacations. The first initiative answers ten of the most frequently asked questions
Read the full story here..
http://bit.ly/a0dPbe
Read the full story here..
http://bit.ly/a0dPbe
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
ARDA, Vacation Better, Timeshare Consumer information
One of the best, unbiased sources for you to get real information about buying or selling a timeshare is at VacationBetter.Org. This information is put together for you by the American Resort Development Association and is designed to protect you, the consumer, and give you the truth. There are so many forums, sites and blogs out there which try to lead you towards their way of thinking. Many will say "Dont use this company or that company" and it is simply because, its that companies competition running for your attention. Also, getting your information from consumers who were not educated enough of their own purchase and are now just angry or even overly happy, is not a better idea. Listen to some of those thoughts and ideas on the internet but, in the end, go somewhere that will be honest, unbiased, and helpful.
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