Grande Lakes Resort is an exquisite vacation destination that combines proximity to the fun of the Orlando attractions with the ambiance of a serene and elegant resort. Situated on 500 acres, Grande Lakes is conveniently close to Orlando International Airport, and is home to both a JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton. The property is a beautifully maintained park-like setting that includes an 18-hole, par-72 Greg Norman Signature golf course.

…And this week, Grande Lakes becomes a little “Grander” with the opening of Marriott’s Lakeshore Reserve timeshare.

Lee Cunningham, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Marriott Vacation Club, North America and the Caribbean, says, “We are thrilled to open the doors of this stunning new resort in one of Orlando’s most prestigious settings. We are constantly striving to meet and exceed our Owner’s and guests’ expectations and we believe Marriott’s Lakeshore Reserve will truly impress everyone.”

Marriott Lakeshore Reserve, a Timeshare Treasure at an Exceptional Resort

Eighty-five timeshare villas (build-out includes plans for 340 timeshare units) are scheduled to welcome the first guests today. The villas start at 1185 square feet and range up to a spacious 1655 square feet, with your choice of six floor plans. As a first in North America, Marriott Vacation Club is introducing two-story townhomes in addition to the traditional two and three-bedroom timeshare villas.

This beautiful resort is a Marriott showpiece and a great reminder to critics who question the value of timeshare that buying timeshare or renting timeshare is not only a fabulous way to escape and relax but as a vacation ownership product, just grows better every day.

Follow this link to find more opportunities to become a Marriott timeshare owner.

Do you know that there is no maximum speed limit for driving in Germany, but there is a minimum speed of 61 kph (roughly 38 miles per hour)? Are you aware that you are required by law to carry a reflective jacket and a red triangle in your car when driving in France? Or that in Bloomfield, Connecticut, it is illegal to eat while driving? The point is, motor vehicle regulations and driving laws vary worldwide, and a ticket or even worse, an automobile accident, is a fast way to take the fun out of your summer holiday or timeshare vacation.

Why British Travel Concerns are Elevated

Breaking Travel News reports that this year especially, Brits may be setting themselves up for traffic accidents and police tickets as they plan their summer travels. With the global economy still challenging and both unpredictable volcanic ash and workers strikes at British Airlines impacting air travel, many more British vacationers and timeshare owners than usual will be driving rather than flying for their summer holiday.

Research from AXA Insurance shows that an estimated 1.1 million Brits will take to the highways this summer as part of vacation travel. Craig Staniland, AXA Insurance director for motor explains, “…there are some very serious misunderstandings that could lead to breaking the law or a serious accident …we would advise any Brits taking their car abroad to spend some time making sure they understand any local regulations and checking they have adequate insurance in place should the worst happen.”

And the Brits are not alone in facing the perils of driving in unfamiliar territory. The World Health Organization cites over 300 traffic-accident related deaths annually to US citizens driving internationally along with thousands of injuries.

Here are 5 helpful tips for any vacationer behind the wheel:

• US citizens should check the website for the US embassy or consulate in every country in which they plan to drive.
• Recognize that many countries have zero tolerance for drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol with severe criminal penalties.
• Laws that regulate cell phone use while driving vary from country to country, state to state, and city to city.
• Most US auto insurance does not cover you when driving internationally and the policies sold as part of car rental in many countries offer only minimal coverage. Consider buying additional insurance.
• Some countries recognize a US driver license as valid for driving, but over 150 countries accept an International Driving Permit (IDP) which can be obtained from either the AAA (American Automobile Association) or the National Auto Club

No matter where you are in the world, don’t let your drive-to timeshare vacation, or your fly-and-then drive-to timeshare vacation be spoiled because you didn’t take a little extra time to familiarize yourself with the rules of the road.

Additional Vacation and Timeshare Resources:

• Europe timeshare resales and Europe timeshare rental
• United Kingdom timeshare resales and United Kingdom timeshare rental
• United States timeshare resales and United States timeshare rental
• Canada timeshare resales and Canada timeshare rental
• Mexico timeshare resales and Mexico timeshare rental

Yesterday The Timeshare Authority offered a rebuttal to a post found on a financial advice blog that claimed timeshares are essentially the worst deal ever. ‘Piling on’ is an expression that describes how critics can jump on the bandwagon against a concept or cause, fueled primarily by the criticisms of others. Some critics of timeshare seem to ‘pile on,’ attacking the concept because others in their field have done so yet never fully exploring what timeshares are all about and how much timeshares have to offer.

If you missed yesterday’s post, (10 Reasons Timeshares are a Good Deal – Part I) we hope you will go back and read it as well as the post below that addresses the final five criticisms of timeshare and our rebuttals:

6. Miss One Year and You’re Better Off Without a Time Share. If you are not going to use a timeshare, don’t buy one. On the other hand, it is hard to say that missing one year of use is the kiss of death either. Many timeshare companies offer you the option to bank your timeshare for use in the future. Another solution to missing a year of timeshare use is to rent your timeshare during the period you won’t be able to use it or to thank someone you know by giving a week’s use to your favorite relative, school teacher, pastor, hardworking employee, or prospective client. There are many ways to benefit from timeshare and they aren’t all wrapped up in whether you personally vacation in it or not.
7. Trading Isn’t Near as Easy as Claimed. Again, this claim is challenging to address as the writer doesn’t say who is making the claims or what those claims are. Each year, thousands of timeshare weeks are exchanged. Timeshare exchange includes in-network exchanges, exchanges through timeshare exchange companies, and even something as simple as swapping a week or a destination with another timeshare owner you know. Timeshare exchange companies come in all sizes from the giants, RCI and Interval International, to dozens of smaller companies, all with different terms and offerings. A timeshare owner may never be able to exchange a January week in a Cape Cod timeshare for the same week in the Caribbean, but there are options for timeshare owners who are willing to learn more about how the timeshare exchange process works best.
8. If You Can’t Pay in Full, It’s a Terrible Deal. If most homeowners paused to look at the amortized cost of home ownership, when financed over 20 or 30 years as is typical with home mortgages, there would probably be a lot fewer people who make the decision to buy a house. One of the excellent benefits of recent regulations in credit card reform is that your monthly statement now shows you very clearly what you are paying when you borrow money at credit card interest rates. Paying in full for anything you buy is almost always the best practice, whether that is for your home, your car, paying off your credit card each month or paying for your timeshare at the time of purchase. But to accurately evaluate the cost of timeshare financing, you have to assess both the purchase price and the financing terms. There are terrible timeshare financing deals, and then there are better ones. Every case is different.
9. Travel Is Not Calculated When Comparisons Are Made. Travel costs do make a difference in the big picture cost of timesharing, which is why it is especially nice that when travel costs are atypically high or your vacation budget is a little smaller than usual, you can exchange timeshare for a destination that is closer to home, keeping your travel costs under control.
10. Hotel Prices Are Increasing (But So Are Time Share Fees).Good advice for anyone who is considering buying timeshare is to research if and how much timeshare fees have increased in the past at the resort where they want to buy. The cost of purchasing many things increases over time but this is not always a decision maker as to whether or not we will buy them. If the cost of buying timeshare or a timeshare resale is a better deal today than the cost of vacationing in a hotel, and both the timeshare and the hotel increase in cost, then the timeshare is still a better deal than the money paid for hotel accommodations.

Timeshares, as a vacation product, are neither inherently good nor bad; they are simply a choice. Yet for many people, timeshares are a choice that translates to years of vacation enjoyment.

Last week we ran across a financial blog that gave ten reasons why timeshares are not a good deal. As you might expect, here at The Timeshare Authority, we have a different opinion.

Taking the article’s criticism of timeshare, one by one, here is Part I of a two-part series offering you 10 reasons to disagree, based on the fact that timeshares, for many vacationers, are not only a great deal, but are the very best deal:

1. Time Shares Are a Lousy Investment. Okay this is like saying an automobile or a new shirt is a terrible investment. Never buy timeshare for investment reasons; instead buy timeshare because you want to enjoy a vacation and timeshare ownership can make that easier—period! Timeshares are not intended as an investment (neither are new shirts) so don’t buy them with that in mind.
2. You Can Get the Same Time Share for Half the Price. No argument here. You can pay more for timeshare purchased directly from the developer or typically buy it at a discounted rate from the timeshare owner who currently owns the timeshare. This fact does not make timeshares a bad deal; it simply reinforces the point that the timeshare, the automobile, or the shirt you buy as a resale doesn’t have the same market value as that product purchased from the original vendor.
3. You Lose 50 Percent or More When You Sell. Okay, this is getting to be like a broken record, with the original critic repeating the same point over and over. So what if you get approximately 50 percent back on your timeshare resale—how much did you get back after your last hotel stay? How much you make or lose on a timeshare sell depends on many factors including how much you paid to buy it, the timeshare season you own, and the demand for timeshare at that destination.
4. It’s Cheaper to Rent a Time Share. Timeshare rental offers excellent deals. Sometimes it may be cheaper to rent than to own; sometimes it won’t be. But there are many different reasons to buy timeshare including ease of vacation planning, with timeshares offering the number one way to ensure that you always have at least one vacation period scheduled each year for you and your family to enjoy.
5. Time Shares Come With Multiple Hidden Risks. It’s hard to address this because it is a non-specific criticism. Yes, there can be risks in buying timeshare. But statistics show that over 80 percent of all timeshare owners are satisfied with their purchase. Living your life comes with multiple hidden risks, as does buying a home, getting married, going on vacation at a hotel, and any number of other things that people weigh their options on and then make the decision that is best for them.

Okay, these are just the first five reasons that timeshare is not a bad deal. Be sure to check The Timeshare Authority tomorrow to read the next five.