How about going shopping as a way to pay your RCI timeshare exchange membership fees?

Sounds good, doesn’t it? And it should.

RCI Shopping Perks are the news program launched by RCI timeshare exchange to make timeshare ownership easier and a little more fun to enjoy. RCI timeshare exchange subscribing members, who are also US residents, can visit a virtual shopping mall, via the RCI website. All they need to do is sign in at RCI.com, and then click on the “Member Perks” tab. From there, they can shop by merchant, geographic region, or by specific merchandise or service offered.

Through RCI Shopping Perks, timeshare owner members can shop hundreds of merchants and vendors, take advantage of price comparison options, and then use the RCI earned perk rewards they receive for each purchase made through the site to pay for RCI membership fees, timeshare exchanges, and other timeshare and travel related benefits.

Geoff Ballotti, CEO of RCI explains, “Like other technology advancements, we’ve introduced to our members, including Enhanced Search capabilities and our innovative RCI® TV network, the RCI Shopping Perks program is another way we are providing value to our members while helping to make their visit to RCI.com fun and enjoyable.”

It is good to see fair, accurate, and positive press lately regarding timeshares, timeshare sales, and timeshare exchange. The naysayers who present vacation ownership and timeshare vacation rentals as only being about timeshare scam do a real injustice to the industry, to the hardworking people whose daily objective is improving the vacation experience for others, and to consumers who could be enjoying affordable vacationing through timeshare resales and timeshare rentals.

Last week, the Miami Herald took an objective look at timeshare exchange, focusing on Interval International, which happens to be a Miami-based company.

Interviewing Jon Fredricks of Welk Resorts, a California timeshare company, the article quoted Fredricks as saying, “In this economy, you’re seeing more people wanting to drive to their exchange, with less use of airlines. Vegas is not in favor as it once was. I think Interval has had to adjust to those changes alone.”

Fredricks’ point is critical: timeshare owners and timeshare renters may be vacationing differently because of the economy, but they are still making use of timeshare ownership and the opportunities of timeshares.

A Changing Profile for Timeshare Owners

Timeshare owners have always leaned on timeshare companies to offer more flexibility. Because of this, over the years, the options of timesharing have changed considerably. But with all the stresses and economic pressures many people are feeling these days, they’ve upped their demands even more.

Here’s what timeshare owners have always wanted in timeshare exchange:

• Flexibility in exchanging one date or property for another.
• The opportunity to exchange timeshare or timeshare points for cruises and other travel amenities in addition to timeshare.

And here’s their new list of add-ons:

• Shorter lead-time for making timeshare exchange.
• More drive-to timeshare vacation destinations.
• Shorter vacation intervals, something most timeshare companies are already striving to offer.

Currently, Interval International timeshare exchange has a network of over 2500 timeshare resorts, representing some 75 countries worldwide. Last year, in response to their member requests, Interval international timeshare exchange launched their ShortStay Exchange Program. Through this option, gold members can deposit their timeshare interval or points and exchange it for one or more vacations of two to six days in length. These ShortStay timeshare exchanges are made online at IntervalWorld.com

According to Interval CEO Craig Nash, “We’re always looking at product development.” He adds, so far the program is, “tracking nicely.”

Other Options for Timeshare Exchange

As the Herald article points out, Interval International timeshare exchange is second in size as a timeshare exchange company to RCI Exchange. Also there are many other timeshare exchange companies that may have smaller inventories of timeshare exchange properties but are targeted to a specific region, resort group, or type of resort. Additionally, Timeshare Users Group, which most timeshare owners know as TUG, offers timeshare exchange along with ads for timeshare resales to its member participants.

While fees may be cheaper in smaller groups, timeshare owners are not likely to have as much flexibility as with a larger timeshare exchange company. Lisa Ann Shreier, author of Timeshare Vacations for Dummies and co-author of Timeshare Management, makes a valid point in saying this about timeshare exchange companies, “They do facilitate the trading process. It makes it easier if 2,000 people are depositing their weeks into a pool.”

And any timeshare discussion always comes down to one important point: timeshare exchange is -and always has been- one of the significant reasons people buy timeshare.

If you have been watching the Winter Olympics from Canada’s beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, in addition to spectacular winter sports competitions, you have no doubt heard announcers mention that the 8,893 kilometer border between Canada and the US is the longest border between any two countries in the world.

So it is no surprise that across this expansive geographical connection, which already extends deep trade relations, an extensive tourism exchange, and just a warm, “feel good” bond between the two countries, a strong alliance in the timeshare industry would also surface.

ARDA -the American Resort Development Association– and CRDA -the Canadian Resort Development Association- have committed to an allied working relationship. (See: Canada Timeshare Association (CRDA) and US Timeshare Association (ARDA) Announce Expanded Relationship).

As Ross Perlmutter, President of CRDA explains, “…In many ways, there truly has never been a better time for a strategic alliance between the two associations. The Canadian Dollar is approaching parity with the US Dollar, both regions’ consumers tend to travel back and forth across the others’ borders, and both countries are facing similar challenges and concerns.”

Winter Sports and Canada Timeshare

Even if you never strap on a pair of skis, it is impossible to view the scenic vistas at the 2010 Winter Olympics and not long to spend a little time exploring the beauty and vastness of Canada. Canada timeshare offers an ideal setting for a year-round selection of sports, shopping, exploring, and relaxing.

Three possibilities to consider if you long to visit the same beautiful locations you are seeing during this year’s Olympic games are:

1. Vancouver timeshare rentals
2. Clocktower at Whistler timeshare
3. Whistler timeshare resale

And with timeshare associations including ARDA and CRDA working aggressively to guide and advance vacation ownership you can confidently enjoy excellent opportunities in Canada timeshare and Canada timeshare resales.

More Winter Olympics 2010 Fun

Have you seen the YouTube of the FlashMob dance last Saturday in the streets of Vancouver? What incredible fun!

When the Clinton Inn Hotel in Tenafly, New Jersey redesigned itself to be suitable for travelers with autistic children, it got us thinking about how well timeshare resorts serve many people with unique needs.

As we all know from recent news stories, autism is a problem increasing at an alarming rate. In some areas of the US, the risk is as high as 1 in every 93 births. So it both made tremendous sense and was a great act of compassionate consideration when Tony Morreale, the hotel’s manager, decided to make a few simple changes to make the Clinton Inn Hotel more suitable for guests with autistic children.

The hotel switched furniture with sharp corners for furniture with rounded corners, changed to more décor items that are fixed rather than movable, changed glassware to plastics, affixed flat screen TV’s to the wall, added safety latches to cupboards and drawers, and added a door alarm that tells parents if their child tries to leave the room.

Timeshares and Special Needs Guests

I have yet to hear of timeshare resorts taking these specific actions with autistic children in mind; however, all of these steps are simple and would actually be very beneficial to any parent of small children. Many toddlers are prone to opening doors they shouldn’t and exiting during the night (as are some teens). A door alarm would certainly be helpful and would even give guests a greater sense of security that no one was either entering or exiting.

Everyone who has ever hit their shin on the furniture in the middle of the night would appreciate rounded corners on tables and chests, and let’s face it, many hotels have been affixing décor items in place for years, just as an anti-theft precaution.

If your timeshare resort isn’t already taking these steps, you might want to encourage it, talking about it with the management or your Homeowners Association. After all, timeshares already offer so many benefits to people with special needs, that making these changes would be ideal.

Why Timeshares Make Sense for Families with Special Needs

• Many timeshare units offer kitchens and eat in dining so timeshare vacations are ideal for anyone on a special diet or a family that has to deal with multiple dietary restrictions.
• The spaciousness of timeshares makes it easier to travel with a sitter or nurse for a special needs family member.
• Roomy timeshares also give people with mobility limitations more space for crutches, wheelchairs and other appliances.
• Video games and DVD players in most timeshares can be great entertainment for family members who are not as active and may choose to bypass some vacation activities.
• New US timeshare resorts are fully compliant with accessibility regulations and older resorts must comply within levels of acceptability by the federal guidelines. To make it easier for you to find out what facilities are available at which resorts, Sell My Timeshare NOW maintains a database of Wheelchair Accessible Timeshare Resorts

See: A Guide to Disability Rights Law