Vacation

At SellMyTimeshareNOW, we hear a lot of questions about free timeshare vacations. And as all of us in colder climates begin to feel winter’s one-two punch, it is only natural that thoughts turn to white sand beaches, tall cool drinks beside a sparkling blue pool and the sound of balmy breezes rustling through the palm trees.

Which inspires many people to wonder if “free” timeshare vacations are worth it. My answer is a qualified “maybe.”

Most of us have had the experience of receiving a brochure about a timeshare promotion or a sales call from a timeshare company promising us three or four days at a luxurious resort. Are these legitimate? Will you really get a free timeshare vacation?

Let’s start with what we all already know: nothing in life is ever truly free. You may be offered free lodging, but more than likely, you will be offered discounted accommodations. Say a $200-a-night room for only $75. And occasionally the timeshare promotion actually will be a free room—just not necessarily a room at one of the luxury resorts where the timeshare company wants you to buy.

Before you pack your swim trunks and your snorkeling gear, here are some things to watch out for when it comes to a “free” timeshare vacation:

• Even if your lodging actually is free, you may still be expected to pay taxes on your accommodations and perhaps taxes on the full value of the room despite the fact that you are paying a discounted rate. Hotel or room taxes (sometimes called tourist taxes) added on top of state sales taxes can be more than 20 percent of the room’s nightly rate. You could be looking at $20-$30 per night, for every night you stay at the resort.
• Many free timeshare deals will still require you to provide your credit card for incidental expenses such as long distance phone use. Others will require you provide them a deposit, which they will not typically refund if you cancel. However, they may permit you to transfer your deposit to a future stay, provided you canceled in advance of your scheduled vacation date.
• No free timeshare vacation will let you off the hook without you and your spouse (if you are married) attending a timeshare sales presentation together. The presentation may last a few hours or it may take up four to six hours of one day of your vacation. During the sales presentation, the timeshare agent will most likely do everything he or she can to convince you to buy a timeshare—right then—on the spot!
• Your free timeshare vacation may or may not include transportation to the resort. Also your lodging may be at the resort where you will be buying, but it could also be at a less-than-desirable hotel or motel near the resort.

A free timeshare vacation can be a great way to enjoy a discounted holiday and at the same time learn a little more about a timeshare condo that interests you. On the other hand, it can be an unpleasant experience, that not only costs you more than you meant to spend on your vacation, but costs you dearly if you succumb to a timeshare developer’s pitch for a new timeshare at an inflated price. Do your research before you agree to go. And remember, you are under no obligation to buy anything from the resort!

The smart shopper’s way to buy timeshare is to buy it resale, from the owner who is a regular person just like you, not someone who is shelling out freebies to reel you in. Enjoy the freebies a resort offers you, investigate the resort, decide whether you and your family would like to vacation there, and then buy at the best price. Another option which may even be easier than “working” a “free” deal, is to rent timeshare at a resort you are interested in. This gives you much more control and freedom during your vacation.

If you are considering buying a timeshare vacation property, but can’t decide if timesharing is right for you, here are some interesting new facts that may help you with your decision.

According to industry statistics recently released by ARDA, the American Resort Development Association, 80.3 percent of all timeshare owners express satisfaction with their purchase. Even more significant is the fact that among those who have purchased a timeshare, only 4.4 percent say they are highly dissatisfied with their timeshare deal. When you consider how difficult it is to please all of the people, all of the time, the timeshare vacation industry is creating some amazing success.

One in four owners of Interval timeshare or a timeshare vacation club membership indicate they are interested in purchasing additional timeshares. Nearly 76 percent of current owners also say that timesharing has enhanced their anticipation of vacation time. Among those who own timeshare, only 9.5 percent of all properties went unused during the last twelve months, with over 83 percent of owners either personally enjoying their timeshare or banking it for future use.

While you can’t gauge your personal satisfaction on the happiness of others, the low incidence of dissatisfaction among timeshare vacation property owners is worth noting. And of course, the most cost-effective way to become a timeshare vacation owner is to purchase your timeshare directly from the current owner. Timeshare resales offer the best values and the most hassle-free way to join the more than four million people in the US alone who own and enjoy timeshares.

The publishers of The Old Farmer’s Almanac have been predicting the weather since 1818. Despite writing their weather predictions not months but years in advance, the Almanac is one of the most reliable sources available for weather forecasting. Although their formula is a well-kept secret, their forecasts have a legendary 80-85 percent accuracy rate. So what does the 2007 Old Farmer’s Almanac, released this past August, predict for the upcoming winter?

One very long, very cold season.

Which leads me to predict that this will be a great winter for a timeshare vacation!

According to Almanac predictions, Montana, North and South Dakota and parts of Wyoming can expect temperatures as much as 20 degrees below their seasonal norms. The mountain regions of the Pacific Northwest should plan for heavy snowfalls, and residents of the New England states should brace themselves for both atypical cold and unusually heavy snow.

Now, if you love to hit the ski slopes, this forecast is all good news to you. Those who enjoy winter sports should start waxing their skis and scheduling their timeshare vacations. You may want to head to the northeast and enjoy a great timeshare deal at resorts like Stowe and Sugarbush. You can buy or rent Vermont timeshares there. And a timeshare condo in Vail, Telluride, Snowmass or Grand Junction will be a perfect Colorado timeshare ski getaway.

On the other hand, if the news of an unusually cold and snowy season makes you shiver, then start today planning a Caribbean timeshare vacation that includes sun baked sands and warm tropical waters, perhaps in Aruba, Barbados or Cozumel. That’s the great thing about timesharing. When you make a smart timeshare deal and buy a timeshare resale, you are not only buying vacation ownership at the right price, but you are guaranteeing yourself the ultimate in vacation flexibility.

Cornerstone of South African hospitality industry announces expansion plan.

According to statistics compiled by the South African government, travel to South Africa was up more than 26 percent in April 2006, as compared to the same month, 2005. Travel by international tourists showed a 13 percent increase. Overall, in 2005, nearly 7.4 million international visitors to South Africa spent 53.4 billion rand (about 6.8 billion USD).

CEO Alan Gooderson of the Gooderson Leisure Group, based in the KwaZulu Natal region of South Africa, says revenues at his company are expected to increase 35 percent next year while tourism in general in South Africa is projected to grow by 6 percent over the next ten years. Tourism ranks third, behind gold and diamonds, in the South African national economy, contributing about 9 percent.

Gooderson Leisure provides lodging, food, beverage, and restaurant services to its resorts in the Drakensberg and northern KwaZulu-Natal regions. Gooderson also has a strong presence in the South African timeshare industry and owns Goodfin, as a wholly owned subsidiary, which provides financing to timeshare buyers. Monies lent by Goodfin to timeshare buyers, to date, equal approximately 11 million rand (1.4 million USD).

In the late 1970’s, the Gooderson family de-listed their company from public trading on the bourse (the French word South Africans use to describe their stock market). At about this same time, son Alan Gooderson bought out the interests of his brothers and other family members, downsized the company’s holdings and began to aggressively look for ways to rebuild a stronger company. Timeshares proved to be one of Gooderson’s solutions.

Today the company owns two game lodges, two resorts, two urban hotel properties, and six timeshare resorts in South Africa, including the recently acquired Natal Spa, the Tropicana and Beach Hotels in Durban, and the Fairways timeshare resort at Drakensberg Gardens. Gooderson, with the management assistance of his two daughters and their husbands, is looking to dramatically expand the company’s holdings, starting with additional timeshare units at the Fairways. Other resorts may be built in the area of Cape Town, with a particular focus on acquiring timeshare properties.

As part of Gooderson Leisure’s growth plan and the objective of seeking new investment capital, on September 27, 2006, the company re-listed on the Alternative Exchange, commonly known as the AltX. The AltX is South Africa’s alternative stock market, primarily dealing in listings of small to medium-sized growth businesses.