timeshare news

For anyone who wants a Florida timeshare with year-round golfing conditions, and a PGA Tour tournament quality golf course, there is no better choice than Doral timeshares at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Florida.

Golfers already know that the famed Blue Monster at Doral, home of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship, has hosted PGA TOUR events for more than 45 years. But many fans of the game don’t realize that Doral offers four other courses that are equally as exciting to play.

Golf Vacations at Marriott’s Villas Doral Timeshare

This week, Doral Golf Resort officially unveils the new “Jim McLean Signature Golf Course” (formerly known as the Silver). The course, redesigned under the watchful eye of renowned golf guru Jim McLean, features some of the most challenging holes on any golf course in Florida.

7100 yards long, the par 70 course starts you off with 3 very exciting holes, each a nearly 500-yard, par 4. On the back nine, holes 13, 14, and 15 are formidably known as the “Bermuda Triangle”.

Even if your schedule won’t permit you to be a part of the November 13-15 launch of The Jim McLean Signature Course, a Doral timeshare resale or Doral timeshare rental will make it easy for you to regularly test your skills at this amazing golf and timeshare resort.

With Marriott’s Villas at Doral timeshares you can choose which course to play, lessons at the on-property Jim McLean Golf School, a relaxing day at the world famous Doral Spa, and then top it off with the glittering nightlife of Miami Beach.

As events last week reminded us, even when our military men and women are serving here at home, their lives are never totally without risk.

So instead of my usual blog on timeshare news and timeshare resale updates, I want to share with you information about a way to give back to our men and women in service. Sell My Timeshare NOW has no affiliation with this organization; I am simply sharing information with you about a nonprofit agency that I personally believe is doing something special and offers you an easy but meaningful way to get involved.

Books for Soldiers

During the first Gulf War, Storm Williams decided to begin sending paperback books to people he knew who were stationed abroad. The idea, like good ideas usually do, spread quickly, and soon friends and family were also mailing books overseas. The books were so appreciated that BooksForSoldiers.com was soon established as a Not-For-Profit corporation registered in North Carolina. Books for Soldiers is owned and operated by a non-denominational, interfaith outreach ministry and is a 501(c)(3) charity recognized by the IRS. All donations are tax deductible. (Please follow the links and check them out for yourself.)

The concept is simple:

Books For Soldiers is a self-service site. Once you are approved as an Official BFS Volunteer, go to their message board (you can get there by going to http://booksforsoldiers.com and clicking on the VOLUNTEER FORUM link at the top of the page). Look at the posted requests. You will see all five military branches listed; click on the name of a branch, such as ‘ARMY,’ and you will then see a long list of requests. Click on a request and the address will come up along with information about what the troop has requested.

Decide which books you are going to donate, (they don’t have to be new, just in good usable shape) and then pack them in a small box, roughly shoebox size. Many volunteers choose to fill in the extra space in the box with candy, moist towelettes, sunscreen, or other small items a service man or woman will appreciate.

And shipping is the easiest part of all. Books for Soldiers recommends the use of FLAT RATE BOXES available free from the US Postal Service. On the BFS website, they say, “It is a very good deal — you can cram as much as you can in the box and shipping is a flat $8.10”.

When your box of books (CDs or DVDs are also accepted) is packed, mail it directly to the military person or unit that has requested it.

As Books for Soldiers reminds us, “Regardless of why the military is deployed, the men and women of our armed services are there for us. They deserve our support…“

Select Westin and Hyatt Resorts are improving the experience for anyone who would like to incorporate a good run as part of their resort stay.

At Westin Resorts in 30 cities, a “running” concierge is available three mornings each week to lead guests on a three-mile jog. And more than 100 Hyatt Hotels and Resorts are now providing their guests with running route maps and GPS armbands. At both Westin and Hyatt, the services are free.

While many timeshare vacationers look forward to putting their feet up by the pool, others are enthusiastic about getting involved in the sports and recreation activities that are available at most timeshare resorts. Jogging trails, biking trails, and even on-property or nearby by hiking and horseback riding are frequently available at many timeshare resorts.

Runners, not already familiar with MapMyRun.com, will find the website to be a valuable tool whether jogging at home or during travels. MapMyRun offers some 775,000 US jogging routes, which you can save to your GPS. Besides introducing you to a vast online community of runners, this website helps you track your training and even count the calories you have burned. And while all of these benefits for runners are free, City Running Tours is an excellent paid service you may want to learn more about.

The Timeshare Authority told you about City Running Tours last year in a post we did on New York City timeshares. City Running Tours offers you longer runs and run tailored to your specific requests, as well as runs along preset routes designed to maximize the experience for you both as a runner and as a sightseer.

Whether you are vacationing at a Hyatt timeshare, a Westin timeshare, or any of the many beautiful timeshare resort worldwide, don’t forget to pack your running shoes.

One recent study of Twitter use by businesses involved in the timeshare, hotel, and travel industries revealed that among those using Twitter, 52 percent tweeted between 4 and 10 times each day, with more than 25 percent tweeting up to 10 times daily.

And who is tweeting the most? Typically, the study found, it was hotel owners and timeshare and travel industry managers and directors. They are using social media to inform consumers about services, products, new features, and special deals. Just as importantly, timeshare resorts, timeshare resales companies and others in the hotel industry are using Twitter to extend their customer service efforts and to build or enhance relationships. One of the most interesting facts to come out of the study is the indication that consumers on Twitter are making buying decision based on their Twitter conversations.

It all makes great sense to me. Twitter gives timeshare owners, timeshare buyers, and timeshare sellers, “instant access” to compliment or complain, question or condemn any resort, airline, timeshare, hotel, vacation attraction or transportation service that is enhancing or detracting from their vacation and travel ease and enjoyment.

Clearly, both businesses and consumers have to use Twitter’s mouthpiece to the world responsibly. This mainstream of conversation flowing 24 hours a day worldwide is a powerful place from which to speak, so use it accordingly, enhancing the world in ways that are positive and beneficial.

Here’s how to find Sell My Timeshare NOW on Twitter:

• @VacationHotDeal