How timeshare is taxed by local agencies has been a hot topic over the past year. (See Timeshare Industry Leaders Speaking Out in Support of Timeshare Owners for more on timeshare property tax issues.)

And when the topic came up at the April 13 County Council’s Budget and Finance Committee meeting in Maui, the subject was just as volatile and problematic as ever. Drawing a capacity crowd of over 200, the issue on the table was whether to raise the property tax millage rates from $14 to $19.60 per $1,000 in timeshare property value.

All the arguments against the 40 percent tax increase make great sense. Hawaii timeshare has been a huge boost to local economies, adding to the tax base, employment opportunities and secondary revenue streams as timeshare owners spend money on groceries, entertainment, restaurants, and other goods and services each time they vacation.

According to Budget Director Sandy Baz, however, the tax rate increase wasn’t proposed to garner more money, but merely to sustain tax roll revenues. Baz explains, “Proposed tax rates for 2012 were adjusted to compensate for the continued decline in property values for each classification except for the homeowner class, so that revenues remain fairly neutral. The administration is supportive of adjusting the final tax rate for all classifications, including the time-share classification, after the certification of real property values on April 19th.”

In other words, because property values have so declined in the current economic climate, a tax rate increase would merely keep tax revenues at a stable or “neutral growth” level, enabling local agencies to continue to budget a consistently as they provide police, fire, and other services that benefit both local residents and timeshare owners.

Will Hawaii Timeshare Owners Carry an Unfair Load?

The bite seems to really come in determining how to fairly distribute this property tax burden. Daniel Dinnell speaking on behalf of ARDA Hawaii, points out, “As ARDA Hawaii has previously testified, following a 69 percent increase to the real property tax in 2005, the timeshare industry is again being singled out with the largest single increase of $5.60.”

Among others speaking out against the proposed tax increase were Rob Welch of Marriott’s Maui Ocean Resort Club; Gregg Lundberg, The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas; University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management graduate, Michelle Rose Abad.

As wedding days go, April 29, 2011, is a big one with the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton. And although some weddings may be higher profile than others are, each day in the US alone an average of nearly 6000 couples tie the knot, according to the National Vital Statistics report.

Although not every bride is on her way to becoming a princess or a queen (except in the eyes of her beloved), that doesn’t mean that a couple’s wedding can’t be set in a romantic castle. Of the roughly 2,077,000 weddings that will happen in 2011 in the United States, more than 1600 of them will occur at Orlando’s Walt Disney World Resort, with a large number of those held in Cinderella’s Castle.

The Disney Orlando park handles as many as 12 weddings a day, some in the Castle, while other couples choose more unique locations such as Disney’s The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror.

For the bride and groom seeking a more ‘authentic’ castle experience for their special day, there are plenty of other options. Lacking any actual royalty, most residences in the US that qualify as “castle-like” never housed a king, queen or even a princess. The one exception is Iolani Palace in Honolulu, which was once home to Queen Lili‘uokalani, Hawaii’s last reigning queen. Today this former royal palace is available for weddings and receptions.

Other castle-esque destinations in the US available for weddings include: Belcourt Castle, Newport, Rhode Island; Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina; Falkenstein Castle, Burnet, Texas; OHEKA Castle Hotel & Estate, Huntington, New York; and Pythian Castle in Springfield, Missouri.

Of course, worldwide, there are endless numbers of castles and palaces for planning your own royal wedding day. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were married in Inverlochy Castle, a 15th-century Italian castle, near Fort William, Scotland. In fact, Scotland boasts some 70 castles available for weddings. Many of Scotland’s castles are under the management of National Trust for Scotland or Historic Scotland. Or consider Castle Rushen on the Isle Of Man; Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna; Leeds Castle in Kent and The Belfast Castle in Belfast, Ireland.

Storybook weddings call for happily ever after honeymoons and what could be more romantic than a timeshare honeymoon that enables the bride and groom to return year after year to the site of their special day. Timeshares bought on the secondary market as timeshare resales make it affordable for young couples to begin a honeymoon tradition they can enjoy for a lifetime. Best of all, whether it is a Disney timeshare resale, a Hawaii timeshare, Scotland timeshare, or any of dozens of other locations, there are great opportunities in timeshare resales near almost all of these castle destinations.

More on Disney weddings from The Timeshare Authority blog:

Disney Wedding Plans Call for a Disney Timeshare Honeymoon

And a video look at a bride’s day to feel like a princess.

My trip to Vancouver for the CRDA Conference this week includes time spent with the great team at Aviawest. You may not know the Aviawest story, but it began in 1989, when Andrew Pearson spotted a piece of oceanfront property on the east coast of Vancouver Island, south of Parksville.

The 15-acre property, known as Pacific Shores, was being used as a campground and trailer park, but the visionary Pearsons saw so much more. With the help of investment partners, the Pearsons bought the land, and began developing condominiums there.

By 1991, they had realized that using the beautiful condos as vacation ownership property was a winning plan that would enable many vacationers to enjoy the beauty and serenity of this British Columbia destination. As pioneers in Fractional Ownership of Vacation homes, the Pearsons sold 1/10th interest in fee simple, deeded real estate. Soon they had sold all 50 shares of the property and had bought out their original investment partners.

Canada Timeshare with Aviawest

Today Pacific Shores Resort and Spa features themed floral gardens, a secluded beach, salmon fishing, a health club, outdoor heated thermal pools, complimentary kayaks, a full spa service and much, much more.

But Pacific Shores Resort is only a small part of the Pearson’s story. By 2002, Aviawest Resort Club was established offering vacation ownership through a multi-destination, real estate driven, vacation club. There are now six Aviawest properties in British Columbia, including the Parkside Victoria Resort and Spa in Victoria; Water’s Edge Resort at Pacific Rim in Ucluelet; The Pinnacle Lodge at Sun Peaks; the Rosewood Victoria Inn in Victoria; and Aviawest in Vancouver.

Follow these links to learn more about some of the opportunities in Aviawest timeshare resales.

Disney Vacation Club members can now take advantage of Travelex Insurance Services, with a travel insurance benefit customized for Disney timeshare owners.

Through Travelex, Disney Vacation Club timeshare owners can relax knowing that their Disney Vacation Club Travelex policy will provide coverage in case of trip cancellation or interruption, baggage loss, delay, or medical emergencies. The policy will even cover accidental damage caused to resort property, recreational equipment delays and roadside assistance service.

Jim Lewis, president of Disney Vacation Club, says, “Travelex Insurance provides our members with peace of mind when planning their vacations to Disney destinations and beyond. Families can focus instead on making memories and spending quality time together.”

The policy will be offered at an annual rate of $79 and will cover all Disney timeshare usage within the coverage year.

Why All Travelers and Timeshare Owners May Want to Consider Travel Insurance

Here five reasons to consider buying travel insurance:

Peace of Mind

Travel insurance gives you the peace of mind of knowing that whether your travel plans are interrupted by weather, illness, or even a job loss, a comprehensive travel insurance policy has you covered.

Credit Card Shortfalls

Why many credit card companies offer different types of coverage, most do not cover you in cases of trip cancellation, travel delay or overseas medical emergency.

Travel Investment

Travel insurance helps you protect the money you work so hard to earn. In today’s economy, insurance can protect you against losses you really cannot afford.

Medical Expenses

Think your health insurance covers all your healthcare needs? Don’t be among the many travelers who find out the hard way that their healthcare policy is limited in terms of what it offers when you travel.

Emergency Transportation

If you or a family member gets ill while on vacation and needs to be transported to a medical facility, your cost—without travel insurance—can be staggering.

As with any insurance policy, before you buy, ask questions. Coverage varies from company to company and even on different policies within the same company. Check to find out what coverage you may already be paying for under your homeowners insurance. Compare the cost and risks of being self-insured and buying a travel or timeshare insurance policy. Shop around and compare each policy’s cost and benefits against others.

Don’t overlook insurance on your rental car. Know before you go what insurance policies you already have will cover. When you make decisions on buying additional insurance, whether is additional rental car coverage, travel insurance, or other type of policy, make your decisions based on facts, knowledge and on what is appropriate for you and your family.

Great timing if you’ve planned an Orlando timeshare vacation this week, especially a Disney timeshare vacation, and you happen to be a devoted (or even mildly interested) anglophile.

For anyone who is British, loves all things British, or is just a romantic at heart and caught up in the excitement of the royal wedding, Walt Disney World has plans to make the Prince William and Katherine Middleton’s nuptials especially memorable.

With a nod to the power of social media, Walt Disney World Orlando has invited anyone interested in being a part of the royal wedding through a tweetup, to a Royal Sleepover. On Friday, April 29, starting at 4AM, registrants will gather at the Disney Wedding Pavilion, adjacent to the Grand Floridian, for what is being called, a royal tweetup.

Tweeters attending can watch the wedding broadcast live as well as view Cinderella’s Coach, which was built by Bennington Carriages, the coach maker for the Royal family. Between 4 and 8 AM, the tweeting early birds, will enjoy a English-themed breakfast. They have been encouraged to show up in a wedding gown, princess attire, or their pajamas, adding to the fun or at least the memorable moments of the event.

But in case you did not sign up soon enough to be part of Disney’s Royal Tweetup, there are other ways to experience the wedding during your Orlando timeshare vacation.

Royal Wedding Festivities during Your Disney Timeshare Vacation

The Dolphin hotel at Walt Disney World will begin airing coverage of the Royal Wedding on large screen TVs in its lobby. Starting at 5 AM, the event will be free and open to the public. A complimentary, English themed breakfast will be served. Wedding “guests” will also have the opportunity to view both a sugar tiara and a replica of the 18-carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring that Prince William gave to Kate Middleton, created by the Dolphin’s executive pastry chef, Laurent Branlard.

Even most guests onboard Disney Cruise ships will be able to view the royal wedding on large screen televisions. But if you are not headed for Disney, and still want a special way to commemorate this wedding experience during your Orlando timeshare vacation, the British-American Chamber of Commerce in Orlando will host a wedding viewing and tea at the Orlando Citrus Club from 3 to 5 PM on the afternoon of the wedding. The event is by ticketed admission only with all guests attending encouraged to wear their fanciest hats.

The Resort Trades recently featured an article written by The Timeshare Authority blog’s author, Jason Tremblay. Here is a portion of that article, republished with permission of The Resort Trades.

One of the attractions of buying timeshare during a sales presentation has always been the availability of on the spot financing. The interest rates are not always the most competitive, but the process is simple—buy timeshare with the financing package offered by the developer and start planning your next family vacation. The availability of timeshare financing has been one of the great differentiating factors between timeshare purchased from the developer and timeshare bought on the resale market.

…Until now.

Working in partnership with Prosper.com, Sell My Timeshare NOW will soon make financing readily available for the timeshare resale market. Yes, this is liquidity at last!

With this industry-first, industry-changing option, a consumer will be able to buy a timeshare resale using financing that is both easy to apply for and offered at a competitive rate. Before you read on, take a moment and process this: we are talking about unsecured, low-interest financing for a timeshare resale that the potential buyer can apply for online, just like an online credit card application, and typically receive an answer to within moments.

Very simply, timeshare resale financing is revolutionary; it is a game changer for the vacation ownership industry. And it is a reality.

Would you like to know more?

Please read this article in entirety at: The Resort Trades website or find it in an upcoming edition of their print publication.

You can also learn more here:

Sell My Timeshare NOW and Prosper.com Partner, Bringing Timeshare Financing to the Resale Market

Timeshare Resale Financing… You Did Hear that Correctly

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Sell-My-Timeshare-NOW-Prospercom-Partner-Bringing-Liquidity-Timeshare-Resale-Market-1416679.htm

Hilton Head is known for both its beautiful beaches, and its great golf. With over 20 courses in the immediate area, you can spend many happy hours with a golf club in your hand when you plan a Hilon Head timeshare vacation.

Yes, of course you want to play Harbor Town Golf Links, where the pros play, (see: Plan a Hilton Head Timeshare Vacation and Play Where the Pros Play) but let’s look at four other Hilton Head golf courses you should add to your ‘must play’ list:

Old South Golf Links

Located just across the bridge in Bluffington, Old South Golf Links is built on the fringes of the marshlands surrounding Hilton Head Island. Playing 6772 yards from the tour tees, this course is a true links design. The best playing tip for this course might be to consider your club selection carefully. The proximity to the marshland tends to make this soil rather spongy, meaning that the first club you pull out of your bag may not be the best choice.

Arthur Hills Course at Palmetto Dunes Resort

Water, water everywhere! The Arthur Hills course at Palmetto Dunes Resort is 6651 yards of challenge. Relax and enjoy as your play this course, you will understand it better the more times you play there. And repeated rounds of golf on this Arthur Hills course will make you better prepared for anticipating the hidden hazards of this course, surprises you just won’t be expecting.

The Arthur Hills course at Palmetto Dunes Resort, a meticulously maintained course, was selected as the 2009 South Carolina Course of the Year by the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association.

Heron Point course at Sea Pines Resort

Heron Point at Sea Pines Resort is a contemporary Pete Dye design. This course calls for visualizing your shots and utilizing your best course management. But like many Pete Dye designs, Heron Point offers you options. Play it safe or take a risk… the choice is up to you.

Look for dramatic angles and shifting elevations on this 7,103-yard layout.

Oyster Reef Golf Club

The Oyster Reef Golf Club is a true, old South course. If you have heard off-putting things about playing conditions, relax, this course has come back strong.

In 2000, after a failed attempt to swap out the grass there, Oyster Reef was passed from owner to owner, and for a while, showed real signs of wear and tear. But those days are in the past. Playing at over 7,000 yards with a 139-slope rating from the tips, Oyster Reef is considered one of the most pleasurable courses to play at Hilton Head.

This course was named by the Low Country Golf Course Owners Association as the “2006 Golf Club of the Year” and has been named as one of the “Top 75 U.S. Golf Resorts” by Golf Digest.

Hilton Head Timeshare Resales and Rentals

Okay, that takes care of where you will play on your Hilton Head Island vacation, but where will you stay? Hilton Head timeshares offer great opportunities in timeshare resales and timeshare rentals. One great answer is to simply think Marriott.

Marriott offers EIGHT Hilton Head Island timeshares on or near the island, including Marriott’s Barony Beach Club Timeshare; Marriott’s Grande Ocean Timeshare; Marriott’s Harbour Club At Harbour Town Timeshare; Marriott’s Harbour Point Timeshare; Marriott’s Heritage Club Timeshare; Marriott’s Monarch At Sea Pines Timeshare; Marriott’s Sunset Pointe Timeshare and Marriott’s SurfWatch Timeshare.

Tee it up. Your options don’t get better than this.

This weekend’s pro golf competition includes The Heritage Golf Tournament at Harbour Town Golf Links. The PGA Tour players are all in town at Hilton Head for the tournament and in many cases, they have brought along their families.

Why do so many of the Tour Pro families show up at this particular tour stop? Because for family vacation fun paired with great golfing, you just can’t beat Hilton Head.

Hilton Head Golf

The players will battle it out on the par 71 course originally designed by Jack Nicklaus and ‘touched up’ in 2000 by Pete Dye. It’s a course that the pros often describe as fun to play, in an event that allows them to wind down a little from the pressure of the Masters.

For recreational golfers, focus on avoiding the water, get mentally prepared for greens on the small side, and watch out for the par 4s!

Hilton Head Timeshare Vacations

A Hilton Head timeshare vacation not only means golf, it means plenty of water sports, the beach, historic lighthouses, quaint shopping, and unique restaurants. It also means your choice of nearly a dozen great Hilton Head Island timeshare resorts including Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort Timeshare and Marriott’s Barony Beach Club Timeshare.

With eight fantastic Marriott Hilton Head timeshares, you decide to exchange for a different resort each time you visit. And don’t forget great timeshare resales and timeshare rentals at the Player’s Club Timeshare and the Royal Dunes Timeshare.

Check The Timeshare Authority blog tomorrow, when we will take a closer look at four other great Hilton Head golf courses.

When the America Resort Development Association (ARDA) handed out awards at this year’s ARDA Conference, Winter Park Construction (WPC) received one of the highest honors, the prestigious ACE Community Service Award. This very special award recognized the work of Winter Park Construction in the Home At Last Project.

Home at Last provides combat-wounded US veterans of military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan with custom-built, mortgage-free homes. WPC President Jeff Forrest explains, “When the West Orange Habitat for Humanity (from the Orlando, Florida area) saw a need to build ‘disability-friendly’ homes for wounded vets about three years ago, WPC eagerly volunteered to participate in this important project. Our initial intention was to build the homes as a way to say ‘thank you’ for the personal sacrifices the veterans had made while serving our nation.”

Over the past three years, WPC has been involved in the building of homes for three combat-wounded veterans. Unlike other Habitat for Humanity homes, these houses are custom designed and often require specific construction and design skills to address the special needs a handicapped person may have. Winter Park Construction is very quick to remind everyone that it is only a part of Home At Last, and many subcontractors and vendors work together to help make the homes a reality.

WPC President Jeff Forrest and Project Managers John Russo and Paul Caruana were presented the award at the annual Awards Gala of the 2011 ARDA Convention & Exposition, held in Orlando, Florida.

Three Veterans, Three Amazing Stories

In 2008, the first Home At Last residence was completed. Sgt. Joshua Cope and his family moved into a 2300-square foot, four bedroom, custom home, which included an exercise room with rehabilitation equipment and a screen-enclosed pool with therapy jets. Sgt. Cope lost both of his legs above the knee while serving in Iraq.

In December of 2009, Spec. Marcus Griffin and his family moved into a 2600-square foot, three-bedroom custom home, which featured a custom designed shower, and a special bathtub designed for therapy treatments. SPC Griffin was a K-9 specialist in the US Army when injured in Iraq leaving him with third degree burns and severe vision and hearing loss.

Army Sergeant Major Patrick Corcoran, a 23-year US Army veteran with two tours and three deployments to war zones, is the recipient of the third Home At Last residence. In 2009, he was severely injured in an explosion, leaving him with multiple fractures, head and spinal cord injuries, and paralysis.

Expressing Our Thanks

Sell My Timeshare NOW and The Timeshare Authority blog want to extend our most sincere appreciation to these three men, and the many other men and women who now serve, or have served in the US military. Thank you for your courage, your service and your patriotism.

And thank you WPC for helping to make the lives of these and other veterans a little easier.

In a year that has seen tourism and travel to the Middle East seriously impacted by concerns about unrest and traveler safety, plans for a Royal Honeymoon in Jordan may provide a much-needed boost to traveler confidence.

Prince William and his soon-to-be bride Kate Middleton have selected Jordan as their honeymoon destination, with plans to see the historic archeological city of Petra and the Wadi Rum. The Wadi Rum, a valley of granite and sandstone, is also widely known as, “The Valley of the Moon.”

Tourism and Middle East Timeshare

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), premium travel growth in the Middle East slowed only to 7.7 percent from 8.1 percent in February 2011 (most recent figures released) while economy travel growth slowed to 3.3 percent from 4.9 percent in January. Surprisingly, air travel to the Middle East saw a 6 percent increase in February year-over-year. The IATA does predict however, that upcoming months would show air travel numbers negatively affected by rising fuel costs, safety concerns, and even the tsunami in Japan.

Despite the challenges, Egypt, Tunisia and Dubai are all areas anticipating that this week brings a surge of last minute travelers seeking an Easter holiday. Consistently, timeshare resales and timeshare rentals represent some of the best travel deals available for those vacationing in the Middle East. Be sure to check Egypt timeshare; Dubai timeshare; Indian Ocean timeshare; and Abu Dhabi timeshare when you are considering travel in this region.

Related news from The Timeshare Authority blog:

Economy Creates an Interesting Situation in Dubai Timeshare and Vacation Ownership