Image Source: The Timeshare Blog

We’ve been talking about this deal for quite some time, as Disney Vacation Club timeshare plans for a new Orlando timeshare resort through their just-completed arrangement with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. First announced in March of 2007, this past week Disney finalized the sale of 298 acres of Disney property in Orlando, Florida, sold to Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

The land will be used by Four Seasons for a 445-room hotel, 18-hole championship golf course, a Residence Club of fractional ownership vacation homes, (timeshare condos),and custom single- and multi-family vacation homes.

The Vacation Fun Disney Vacation Club Already Offers

If you currently own Disney Vacation Club timeshare, or have ever enjoyed vacationing in a Disney Vacation Club timeshare rental, you know that the Disney resorts mean spacious accommodations, loaded with amenities and vacation fun. Disney Vacation Club offers wonderful resorts available at excellent prices as Disney timeshare resales:

• Disney’s Old Key West Resort timeshare resales
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa timeshare resales
• Disney’s Vero Beach Resort timeshare resales
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas timeshare resales
• Disney’s Boardwalk Villas timeshare resales

But the commitment of Four Seasons Hotels means the Orlando Disney resorts will, for the first time, include a 5-Star hotel and timeshare property.

Four Seasons Timeshares and Fractionals Take Disney Vacations to a New Level

According to The Timeshare Blog, Scott Woroch, the executive vice president of development for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, says, “This project is one with which we are proud to be associated. Having memorable family vacation experiences are more important than ever to our guests, and we are excited about working with Disney to create a unique product in Central Florida.”

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts are ranked as some of the best hotels in the world. The Canadian based company was founded in the 1960’s, and has since gone on to establish some nearly 80 luxurious hotels and resorts, with seven of the properties including a timeshare ownership component.

While timeshare or fractional ownership at a Four Seasons Residence Club is not widely available because of the limited number of resorts, Sell My Timeshare NOW currently has timeshare resales available at four of the Four Seasons property.

• Four Seasons on the Gulf timeshare resales
  Galveston, Texas, United States
• Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara timeshare resales
  Carlsbad, California, United States
• Four Seasons Residence Club Scottsdale at Troon North timeshare resales
  Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
• Four Seasons Vilamoura timeshare resales
  Vilamoura, Portugal

Walt Disney World, the self-proclaimed, “happiest place on earth,” has always been about great family-fun vacations. With the addition of the new Four Seasons fractional ownership resorts, you can soon be very happy enjoying a whole new level of luxury.

Ritz Carlton private residence club (timeshare) has now announced expansion into the Bahamas with a new Caribbean timeshare resort at The Abaco Club on Winding Bay.

The Abaco Club is a fractional ownership resort that is part of the Ritz-Carlton Club and will be a Ritz-Carlton managed resort. The Ritz Carlton timeshare program is structured in three tiers called: Select Membership; Preferred Membership; and Premium Membership. The three tiers represent ownership of timeshare points in the amounts of 500 points; 1,000; and 1,500. In a press release issued last week by Ritz Carlton, the company explained the value of the points like this: “For instance, a Member could elect to spend 14 nights (1,190 points) in a cliff-side cottage with the family to escape the winter chill, seven nights (280 points) in a similar cottage in summer while the kids are on vacation and four nights (30 points) in a cabana in the fall for a romantic getaway.”

Ritz Carlton Caribbean Timeshare

Pre sales on new vacation ownership at The Abaco Club on Winding Bay are already available and start at $110,000. Spokespersons for the company say that owning a fractional through the Ritz-Carlton Club affords members a carefree homeowner experience with the luxury of a dedicated staff to assist them.

Timeshare occupancy is planned for December 2008, with the Caribbean timeshare resort ultimately offering 16 homes for deeded fractional ownership. Special services include pre-stocking the kitchen with the timeshare owner’s favorite foods before his arrival; storage of personal items; concierge service; assistance with travel arrangements; twice daily housekeeping, and much more.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming at Ritz Carlton timeshare owner, by buying timeshare resales at excellent prices, you will be interested vacation ownership at the following resorts:

• Ritz-Carlton Club Bachelor Gulch Resales
• Ritz-Carlton Club St. Thomas Resales
• Ritz-Carlton Club St. Thomas Rentals
• Ritz-Carlton Club, Aspen Highlands Rentals
• Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa, Jupiter Resales
• Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa, Jupiter Rentals

Last week, The Timeshare Authority told you about Padraig Harrington, the winner of golf’s 2007 and 2008 British Open, who bought a fractional villa at Oceânico Group’s Vilamoura Golf & Garden Resort in Portugal. He must have been sleeping well at night after buying his 5-bedroom timeshare at the popular vacation ownership resort, because he was once again playing great golf this past week, holing unbelievable putts, and going on to claim the Wanamaker trophy on Sunday at the PGA Championship. And after winning back to back Majors, we can cut the Irish super-talent some slack for not playing in this week’s Wyndham Championship, held in Greensboro, NC.

Wyndham Championship Carries on Golfing Tradition

Although the Wyndham Championship is not one of golf’s Majors, it is still a pressure-packed event for many of the golfers in the field. The Wyndham Championship is the final tournament that gives the players a chance to pull themselves into (or hold onto) a spot among the top 144 in the FedEx Cup standings and thereby qualify for the PGA TOUR Playoffs.

The mountains of North Carolina are a popular timeshare resort destination and Greensboro itself holds a special place in golfing history as a favorite Tour-stop since the days of legendary pros, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson. Effective last year, the Greater Greensboro Open officially became the Wyndham Championship sponsored by Wyndham Resorts and Wyndham timeshare. At the time of the announcement, Wyndham’s CEO, Stephen P. Holmes explained that one of the reasons the company chose to sponsor a PGA Tour event in this location was because so many timeshare owners live in the Raleigh-Durham-Greensboro area.

North Carolina Timeshare

North Carolina timeshare offers vacation destinations from the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains in the west to the Atlantic coast beaches. Wyndham has nearly 200 hotels and resorts in North Carolina, including Wyndham timeshare at the Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Harbour, the Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Mountains, and the Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Sapphire Valley. SellMyTimeshareNOW.com has a large and attractive inventory of timeshare resales and timeshare rentals in North Carolina timeshare, Wyndham timeshares, and excellent golf timeshare resorts.

My Predictions for the Wyndham Championship and for Wyndham Timeshare Owners

As you follow the leaderboard in this week’s Wyndham Championship, look for both Jeev Singh and ViJay as possible leaders. Jeev, because his game is coming along so well right now, and ViJay, just because he is due a comeback, especially after he played so poorly last week. The course is a little shorter than many Tour venues and plays tight with Donald Ross greens, so it will favor someone who had good control of his game. Since it hasn’t been a tournament course in over 30 years, no one comes in with an advantage of having won here in the past. Other names to watch this week include Paul Casey, David Toms, and Brian Gay, as the course and the timing are right for any of these outstanding golfers.

With the stakes this high and so much talent in the field, it’s hard to call a winner, but I won’t shy away from making this prediction: Buying a Wyndham timeshare resale is an excellent way to start enjoying a lifetime of vacations at a price that is just too good to pass up. Visit SellMyTimeshareNOW.com to learn more about the great deals in timeshare resales and timeshare rentals.

Here’s an update from Padraig Harrington after winning the 2008 PGA Championship:

Did you watch Padraig Harrington defend his Open Championship title? The drama of a back to back win in one of the oldest and most prestigious professional golf events is exciting, and could lead to what sports commentators call, “a win for the ages,” if Harrington is able to pull off the rare back to back to back victory with a win at the 2009 Open. (Peter Thomson was the last to accomplish this feat with British Open wins in 1954, ‘55, and ‘56 … and again in ‘58).

But while the golf world speculates on whether professional golfer Padraig Harrington will be the next three-peat British Open winner, Padraig himself is going about business as usual, practicing, playing, polishing the Claret Jug, and oh yes, shopping for a new Portugal timeshare.

Padraig Harrington has recently purchased a fractional villa at Oceânico Group’s Vilamoura Golf & Garden Resort in Portugal. Timeshared or fractional ownership at Vilamoura includes membership in the seven Oceânico golf courses, including the Oceânico Victoria, where the Portugal Masters is played.

Padraig Harrington says: “Buying at Vilamoura Golf & Garden Resort not only gives me the security of a quality property investment, but it will allow me to practice on a different course every day of the week, a quality that very few resorts can offer. Away from the golf courses there are swimming pools, great beaches and fantastic leisure facilities, so I can spend some quality time with friends and family, and I’m already looking forward to it.”

The Vilamoura Golf & Garden Resort is located on 170 acres in the center of Portugal’s Algarve region and includes luxury 2 and 3-bedroom condos; 3-bedroom semi-detached villas; and 4 and 5 bedroom detached villas. Harrington has purchased a 5-bedroom fractional villa with a private swimming pool and services that include use of a Sunseeker luxury cruiser, in-house concierge service, and limo service. Other professional golfers who own property at the fractional and timeshare resort include Retief Goosen, Paul McGinley, Lee Westwood, David Howell, and Darren Clarke.

Expanding into the US, Oceânico Group USA has recently purchased Little River Golf & Resort in the Pinehurst golf area of North Carolina.

To learn more about affordable vacation ownership luxury in Portugal timeshare, and Portugal golf timeshare look at timeshare resales at the some of these excellent resorts:

• Club Albufeira
• Clube Forte
• Clube Praia da Oura
• Four Seasons Fairways

Among timeshare exchange companies, Resort Condominiums International - RCI - is the largest and probably most recognized name.

Christel and Jon DeHaan first established Resort Condominiums Internationals (RCI) in 1974. The DeHaan’s plan was to manage the exchange of individually owned condominiums within a network of condominium owners. During the 1970’s, as more and more condos converted to timeshare properties, RCI converted as well. They shifted their focus from being a condo exchange company to becoming one of the first companies focused on timeshare exchange.

In 1996, Hospitality Franchise Systems, Inc., bought RCI and the following year, merged the company with CUC International, Incorporated. CUC International specialized in membership-based services and direct marketing strategies for credit card companies. In 1997, CUC merged with HFS Incorporated to form the new entity, Cendent. Cendent, now a powerful and respected keystone of today’s hospitality industry, continues to advance, going through many changes and re-inventions as it seeks to fill the needs and demands of vacationers and travelers worldwide.

What does not change about RCI is their continuing growth. Together, with their chief competitor, Interval International (II), the two companies handle ninety-five percent of the timeshare exchanges made every year. Currently there are more than three million members of RCI worldwide, who vacation at RCI’s 3,700+ affiliated resorts.

Today, July 7, 2008, RCI joins other timeshare and fractional ownership industry leaders at the UK based, Fractional Property Conference. The theme of this year’s conference is “Fractional ownership - a lifestyle and investment choice of the future.”

Learn more about fractional ownership by reading the previous Timeshare Authority blog posts:

• Another Perspective on Fractionals and Timeshare Ownership
• Timesharing as a Concept Will Increase Timesharing as a Practice

If you read our timeshare blog regularly, you have already figured out that there are easier places to build a timeshare resort than in Aspen. Yes, there are already beautiful, luxurious timeshare resorts and fractionals in Aspen, Colorado, but the city leaders don’t necessarily welcome timeshare properties with open arms.

So it is a big step that the Aspen Club and Spa timeshare has received preliminary approval from the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission to build 20 timeshare units as part of an addition to an existing health club. The timeshare resort is planned to include three and four bedroom timeshare units to be sold in intervals that are approximately 3 weeks in length. The resort will include a 35,000 square foot addition to the current athletic club facilities, a 53-space underground parking garage and 45 surface parking spaces, as well as 12 two-bedroom units of affordable housing.

A Timeshare Resort with an Interesting Twist

The timeshare resort component of the property will be sold as Aspen Club Living, marketing the health and wellness aspect of the resort. When the timeshare units are not occupied, they will be rented like hotel rooms.

Perhaps it took the spin of the additional affordable living units, and the health and wellness center, to move this timeshare resort project ahead against the historically critical city officials of Aspen. But don’t book your airfare just yet to vacation at the Aspen Club and Spa, because the plan still has to pass the Aspen City Council, first in the developmental stage and again in a final review.

Other Options in Aspen Timeshare and Aspen Fractionals

If you are interested in owning timeshare vacation property in Aspen, you can buy timeshare resales at the St. Regis Resort, in increments of four nonconsecutive weeks. The St. Regis is the ultimate in luxury timeshare/fractional ownership, with access to skiing, summer mountain sports, and all the shops, dining, and entertainment charm of Aspen.

According to the Post and Courier’s Charleston.net, the city of Charleston, SC, and the Private Escapes Vacation Club have agreed to a settlement in their current court battle. Charleston zoning rules prohibit a timeshare company or vacation club from operating in an area of the city that has residential zoning. The Private Escapes Vacation Club’s Smith Street resort currently violates this law.

At Private Escapes, members pay both dues and up-front fees to stay up to 50 nights per year at the company’s resorts and private luxury homes, which are located worldwide.

Although an appeal by Private Escapes LLC was pending in the South Carolina Court of Appeals, the company agreed to the settlement with the city. Terms of the agreement include the City of Charleston agreeing to dismiss pending fines for zoning violations while the vacation club company agreed to stop offering accommodations at their Smith Street location, effective June 2, 2008.

Steep Price Tag on Some Luxury Vacation Clubs

Private Escapes bills themselves as a “luxury vacation club.” In 2007, Private Escapes and Ultimate Resorts announced a merger that the companies are still in the process of implementing. Private Escapes has resort properties in the Bahamas, Utah, Florida, New York, and South Carolina. Ultimate Resorts are located in London, Paris, St. Thomas, the Bahamas, Mexico, Wyoming, Hawaii, and South Carolina.

According to the Robb Report, membership requires a $325,000 deposit, $22,000 in annual dues, and nightly rates of $185. At the Ultimate Resort, Elite level members pay between $380,000 and $407,500 for 180 travel days in luxury homes that have an average value of $3 million.

Timeshare and Affordable Vacation Clubs

There’s no word yet on whether or not the Private Escapes plans to open a new resort destination in another part of the city of Charleston, although their partnership with the Ultimate Resorts expands their resorts to include a SC location, in Kiawah Island. But for all the people who want vacation ownership in Charleston, SC, there are plenty of great opportunities to buy timeshare resales or rent timeshare in this charming and historic seaside town.

If you can’t shop for vacation ownership with a $300,000 to $400,000 price tag, but you still expect luxury accommodations, go to Sell My timeshare NOW to learn more about timeshare resales and vacation club memberships.

Last week I posted a blog called, Timesharing as a Concept Will Increase Timesharing as a Practice. And then, as if on cue, I ran across this bit of timely information reinforcing the idea that both timeshare ownership and fractional ownership will grow, simply because we, as a culture, are increasingly integrating the idea of shared ownership into our lifestyles and mindsets.

Last summer, a London-based company, called Fractional Life, held their first Fractional Ownership Expo. The alfresco-style exhibition was hosted in the city-center of London to introduce people to the diverse opportunities in fractional or timeshare ownership. The event was such a success that the company currently is hard at work preparing for Fraction Ownership Expo, 2008, to be held next month, again in downtown London.

Fractional Ownership Expo 2008

Fractional Life describes the expo by saying, “…the event caters for the growing number of people who want to enjoy a lifestyle of luxury items and experiences - without the ties, responsibilities and capital outlay of a complete purchase.” …hummm, sounds like timeshare to me.

Fractional Ownership Expo’s flagship sponsors are the Oceanico Group, a leader in luxury four and five-star residential and holiday homes offering high quality golf or beach amenities and, IFA Hotels & Resorts, an internationally recognized leader in the development of premier mixed-use hotel and tourism resort projects and luxury leisure services. Although the heart and soul of the fractional ownership event centers on shared vacation ownership property - timeshare real estate - exhibitors will include companies dealing in fractional ownership of classic and luxury cars, boats, yachts, aircraft and jets, wines, sporting passes and even handbags.

All of which proves once again, that the concept of timesharing really makes a lot of sense, even if I don’t personally understand exactly how you timeshare a bottle of wine.

Starwood Vacation Ownership (Starwood Timeshares) has expanded their fractional properties with the opening of The Phoenician Residences part of The Luxury Collection Residence Club.

Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, the 250-acre resort has undergone a major renovation to include floor plans that range from 1400 square feet to 2400. Each fractional unit has hardwood floors, a natural stone fireplace, a private plunge pool and spa, an outdoor summer kitchen, LCD televisions, and imported Irish linens.

On-property amenities include a USGA championship golf complex with 3 nine-hole courses, chipping and putting greens, and a driving range. The Tennis Garden offers 12 lighted courts, while other features include nine swimming pools, a 165-foot water slide, private cabanas, and a spa and wellness center.

The MoneyCentral Business Wire on MSN.com quoted Matt Avril, president and managing director of operations at Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc, as saying, “This newest offering in our portfolio of fractional resorts is the perfect complement to the St. Regis Residence Club properties in Aspen and New York. As a premier destination, The Phoenician (R) is a perennial favorite of sophisticated vacationers, and we are extremely excited to offer ownership opportunities through The Phoenician Residences, our first fractional resort under The Luxury Collection brand.”

Prices for fractional ownership at The Phoenician Residences start at $150,000 up to $400,000 and range from three weeks of vacation time upward. Fractional owners at The Phoenician Residences also have the option to exchange weeks for stays at other Residence Club properties or for Starwood Preferred Guests Starpoints.

Starwood properties include the following brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Four Points by Sheraton, LeMeridien, Aloft, Element, and Sheraton timeshare resorts and Westin timeshare resorts. More information is available on Sheraton timeshare resales and Westin timeshare resales from Sell My Timeshare NOW.

Recent Timeshare Owners Blog posts about Starwood timeshares include:

• Starwood Will Be Selling Timeshare from New Sales Galleries

Most people understand the concept of timeshares, even if they don’t know all the fine points. They realize that you can either jointly own a timeshare condo with many other owners or own the privilege of vacationing for a specific number of weeks in that timeshare condo. Some timeshares are deeded property ownership while other timeshares are based on the sharing of time at the vacation resort rather than the sharing of the real estate itself. Either way, the product qualifies as a timeshare, even when it is called a vacation club or vacation ownership.

What Makes a Timeshare A Timeshare?

Timeshares can be found in a range of sizes, from efficiency or studio rooms to 3 and even 4-bedroom timeshare units. Locations vary; some of them are great getaway retreats, some are urban timeshares, and others put you in the heart of a high-demand tourist destination.

Looking at Fractionals

While these qualities are all (typically) true of fractionals, as RCI explains, “The major difference between timeshare and fractional ownerships is money.” Fractionals - for good reason - cost more to purchase than do timeshares.

A fractional may be a condominium, or it may be a detached home. And the perks that come with fractionals can be amazing. Benefits like the use of a luxury car, the services of a private chef, or storage for your personal possessions between visits, may come as part of your fractional ownership.

Another important distinction of fractional properties is that they typically are built in locations that are so high-demand, only the uber-wealthy can afford to own them as sole owners. Fractionals can be found at the top ski resorts and on beachside property that is simply too valuable to be sold to a single owner.

Timeshare typically is owned in one-week intervals, although one owner may own multiple weeks. Fractionals, however, usually involve owning at least a month and can be up to 3 or 4 months of time, although not necessarily consecutive weeks or months.

RCI’s list of similarities between timeshare ownership and fractionals is not conclusive, but it does identify some of the commonalities of the two.

Timeshare and fractional can both be:

• Bought as deeded properties.
• Rented out to others during periods of non-use.
• Shared among family and friends.
• Resold at any time.
• Willed to kin. (Or I might add, willed to anyone else to whom you would like to leave it.)

At this time, someone who is trying to sell you a multi-million dollar fractional is unlikely to refer to it as a “timeshare”, but the fact is, the concept is basically the same. Right now, it is typically difficult to find fractional ownership properties under $100,000, with many being priced into the millions. But remember that the lines between timeshares and fractionals are already blurry, and they are only likely to become more so in the future.

To learn more about timeshare ownership, timeshare resales, and fractionals contact the timeshare specialists at Sell My Timeshare NOW. And watch the Timeshare Owners Blog this week for more posts on the topic of fractionals.