Thousands of tourists are taking shelter as hurricane Wilma, downgraded to category 4, brings high winds and rain to Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula.

At the time of this writing, hurricane Wilma is moving toward landfall on the Yucatan peninsula, bringing high winds and driving rain to Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The storm’s center is slowly moving past Cozumel, which has been lashed by rains and 145 mile-per-hour winds for much of today. Because this storm is moving so slowly, flooding is deemed likely in certain areas.

Thousands of tourists stranded in Cozumel by this storm have settled into makeshift shelters in auditoriums and other large buildings. Conditions in most shelters are uncomfortable, often described as cramped, hot and humid.  

Though huddling in a sweltering gymnasium with a hurricane raging outside is undoubtedly a frightening experience, previous category 4 storms have left surprisingly little impact along the Riviera Maya. Earlier this year, hurricane Emily scored a direct hit on Cozumel, but minimal damage was reported, though several resorts had to close briefly for repairs. Power lines and street signs were torn down or uprooted, yet Cozumel’s basic services more or less normalized within a week, thanks to cleanup efforts. Many tourists who experienced Emily firsthand credit the local Mexican authorities with responding well to the situation.

Wilma is scheduled to hit southern Florida over the weekend, and forecasts predict that Wilma will weaken to a category 2 storm by this time. Though this may come as a relief to some storm-watchers, authorities in the Florida Keys are taking no chances. Mandatory evacuations are in effect across the Keys and the rest of Florida is preparing for Wilma’s arrival.

At this time, no resort hotels in Cozumel have posted any hurricane-related information online. Timeshare owners are encouraged to contact their resorts directly at the next available opportunity.

2005 now ties with 1933 for the year with most storms in a single season.

Another powerful storm threatens the Caribbean, this time a category 5 hurricane of record-breaking intensity.

Hurricane Wilma is currently moving towards Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula at an estimated speed of seven miles per hour. Wilma has already caused deaths in Jamaica and Haiti, mostly due to mudslides. Hurricane warnings are currently in effect along the easternmost tip of the Yucatan. The Cayman Islands are undergoing preparations for this storm, and a number of events have already been canceled in anticipation of hurricane conditions.

Meanwhile, in the Florida Keys, evacuations are already under way. As hurricane conditions may complicate travel by road (the Keys are connected by a series of long bridges spanning the waters of the Gulf of Mexico), many tourists are being asked to leave before the situation has an opportunity to turn for the worse. More information on the Florida Keys can be found here.

Despite the startling intensity of hurricane Wilma and the strong likelihood of landfall on US soil, news of this latest hurricane has sparked mixed reactions. Whereas a strong contingent is preparing for the worst, some seem to feel that mainstream media outlets have over-hyped the situation. This article from the BBC may give some insight.

Regardless of opinion, most people would agree that it is important to follow the latest news of this storm and to make preparations accordingly. As hurricanes can often change course, there is fear that Wilma could potentially hit the already-devastated areas of the US Gulf Coast. Regardless of where Wilma eventually turns up, the potential outcome could be disastrous.

National Hurricane Center Public Advisory on Hurricane Wilma

Guest speakers to include a number of CEOs and other major players in the industry.

From today, October 17, through October 19, The Peabody hotel in Orlando hosts the seventh annual Timeshare and Resort Investment conference. This gathering has attracted some of the most successful, high-profile companies and individuals representing the vacation and hospitality industries.

Timeshare owners might find some interesting information in these presentations, but for the most part these sessions are geared toward investors and developers who want to break into this lucrative industry. Fractional ownership, condo hotels and other recent timeshare trends will be explored, as well as legal issues and marketing challenges.

The list of speakers is very impressive, including a number of CEOs from the biggest names in the timeshare world.

As I glanced at the schedule of presentations, I didn’t notice any sessions specifically dealing with industry ethics. It might be a good idea for future conferences to devote more coverage to this issue.

This conference follows close behind the latest Timeshare and Resort Investment conference, held in Dubai in late September of this year. 

For more on the Timeshare and Resort Investment conferences, visit the official site at http://www.timeshareinvestment.com/orlando/orlando.html.

In today’s post, I answer questions about Canadian timeshares, finding the inside story on resorts, and more.

Today’s post is in response to an email I received over the weekend:

Thanks for the helpful information on your website, especially Buying Timeshare FAQs, and the Timeshare Advice link at the bottom of the Why TimeShare page.

I wonder if you could answer a question about the following excerpt from your August 19, 2005 article “Seven Important Considerations When Buying Timeshare on the Resale Market”:

“6. Some timeshare units are inevitably located in a facility that has been partially remodeled. Make sure you’re not paying a new-unit price for an old, beat-up timeshare.”

Having no experience with timeshares, I’m curious as to why, in the scenario you mention, a resort would allow an old, beat-up timeshare to remain that way without being remodeled?  How units are selected for remodeling by a resort?

First, since you are new to timeshares, I recommend that you pick up a copy of Lisa Ann Schreier’s Timeshare Vacations for Dummies. This book is packed with more helpful info than any other print resource I’ve seen. It makes it much easier to deal with a resort or a reseller if you know what questions to ask; it’s a matter of protecting your interests. Even seasoned timeshare pros will learn something from this book.

It’s not often that a resort will expect to reap full sale value for a timeshare in dire need of remodeling, but it does happen. It is important to be aware that not all resorts are created equal. Some resorts still operate by the same guidelines they used in the bad old days of the timeshare industry’s infancy, when customers practically had to be tricked into buying. Though most resorts have discarded this business model, it is absolutely vital to thoroughly research any resort before you buy timeshare.

It is always helpful to hear what other people are saying about the property in question. One good online resource for learning more about a resort is TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor offers lots of travel-related information including reviews of hotels, resorts, and timeshares. These reviews can be quite candid. Keep in mind that TripAdvisor has a very visible online presence, and resorts are not ignorant of this fact; I would guess that a small number of these reviews are written by resort employees looking to either spruce up their own image or denigrate that of a competitor.

I also encourage prospective timeshare buyers to check out the resort in person whenever possible.

I wonder if you’ve considered enhancing your search engine: After entering Canada in the Country field, I was required to click open every (unique) property entry to find out which coast it was on.

While security concerns prohibit me from divulging specific information on this subject, I can tell you that in a short while it will be much easier to get information from our database of timeshares for sale or rent, and this in turn will make it easier to do searches for specific locations (including Canadian timeshares).

In any event, do you have any idea why there are no rentals or units for sale anywhere in Nova Scotia or PEI?

Having spent some time in this part of the world, I find myself wondering the same thing. Canada’s East Coast is a great place to vacation. However, it seems that most resort developers are attracted to destinations with reliably huge demand for timeshares – for instance, Orlando or Cancun. The timeshare market in Canada has grown considerably in the past few years, but this growth appears to be largely limited to British Columbia. Resort development companies might be reluctant to build on the east coast of Canada because they find it easier to impress their shareholders by building resorts in proven resort locations. If statistical data shows that the majority of people would rather spend a vacation in Whistler instead of Halifax, resort developers would naturally be obligated to cater to the location with the greatest demand for timeshares. 

Do timeshare websites such as yours only deal with large resorts?… (vacation clubs, campgrounds) Are there not timeshares for smaller facilities (EXcluding a yacht/houseboat) — even a standalone home?

It is possible to find all kinds of timeshares online. Whether these are exotic timeshares owned and operated by the world’s largest hotel companies, or campground memberships at more modest facilities, there is an almost endless variety of timeshares available.

However, in the resale market, it is easier to find timeshares from large resorts, simply because these resorts are larger. The more timeshare units a resort has, the greater the chances of finding them on the resale market. This is not to say that resale opportunities for timeshares at smaller resorts do not exist; rather, they may be harder to find.

If you can’t find what you are looking for on our site, don’t give up! We know a lot of people in this industry, and by networking all of these resources together we are able to help people find the ideal timeshare or vacation rental. If you fill out our contact form, a representative will contact you shortly.

Thanks very much for your questions! I hope I have answered them to your satisfaction. Tune in next time for timeshare tips, news, and more from the Timeshare Owners’ Blog.