I wish I could give you more background on this news item, but for now, we will rely on StreetTalk Blog as our primary source. According to a posting last week on their site, Shell Vacations Club timeshare has entered into a letter of intent with Coco Palms Venture II, Inc, the current owners of Kauai’s historic Coco Palms hotel.

The Coco Palms is a Hawaiian resort classic whose fame was enhanced when Elvis Presley filmed the finale of Blue Hawaii there in 1961. Almost all of the last 20 minutes of the film is shot on or near The Coco Palms.

In 1992, Hurricane Iniki did extensive damage to the island of Kauai and threw the local economy into a downward spiral. As the islanders rebuilt, virtually every resort was restored except perhaps its most famous, The Coco Palms.

Without repairs, the beautiful resort has sat unused for nearly 20 years, with only the wedding chapel remaining operational. If Shell Vacations Club timeshare is successful in its efforts to buy and restore the resort, it will be a wonderful benefit to the people of the island and the local economy.

Earlier this year, Hawaii State Senator Gary Hooser explored the idea of a joint venture project - perhaps a public-private effort - to build a park on the property. Whether Shell Vacations intends to be part of this effort, or if there is still any interest in such a park, is not known. Coco Palms Venture II has only owned the resort since 2006, when they purchased it in hopes of building a full service spa there, an idea that never received the approval it needed to move forward. Last year, the company put the property on the market for sale.

The citizens and the legislators of Hawaii are forever walking a tightrope, trying to balance the development necessary to maintain and grow their economy with their responsibility to protect their cultural heritage and beautiful environment.

And on that note, be sure you take a look at this clip from Blue Hawaii, and listen as Elvis sings the Hawaiian Wedding song.

I just wanted to take a few minutes and address some feedback that has reached me regarding the way we portray information about our company.

SellMyTimeshareNOW.com regularly issues media releases and reports to the press on happenings in our timeshare advertising and marketing company. Occasionally, we also comment on events in the timeshare and vacation industries in general.

Because our business is built on policies of transparency and disclosure, we voluntarily publish quarterly synopsizes of our business trends, even though we are a privately held company and as such, we are not required to release an audited annual report to stockholders. Our research is prepared internally, and while we take extreme measures to validate its accuracy, we recognize that to some, it does not carry the same weight as data prepared by an outside source.

When SellMyTimeshareNOW.com tells you that the timeshare resales industry is booming, we do so because our numbers show an average of over $1 million per day in offers placed through our website from people looking to buy or rent timeshare. When we quote the statistics prepared by timeshare associations, other researchers, or other sources within the industry, we try to accurately cite our sources and credit them with their research. But when we quote an outside source, either here on The Timeshare Authority blog, in a press release, article, or any other media outlet, we never mean to imply that the source endorses our findings, our opinions, or our business disclosures. SellMyTimeshareNOW.com is a proud member of ARDA, CRDA, CARE and the BBB. We take our role seriously to portray the timeshare industry in a constructive, truthful and positive light. This is in our best interest as well as that of the industry in general.

Our goal at SellMyTimeshareNOW.com is, and always has been, to provide you with as much information as possible and then let you, the informed consumer, make the right decision about what is best for you, your budget, and your family, when it comes to vacation ownership.

If quoting our own findings and those of any other resource in the same article or press release has resulted in confusion, we sincerely apologize.

In an article published July 15, in the Scotsman.com, Macdonald Hotels, Scotland’s largest independent hotel chain, is threatening to cut off power and water to Loch Rannoch timeshare resort. Loch Rannoch Highland Club represents 3,000 timeshare owners of 85 timeshare condos at Scotland’s Loch Rannoch Resort, which until 2003, was managed by Macdonald Hotels. In a decision by the timeshare owners, management was switched to Timeshare Management Services, a company managed by Edward Monks.

Somewhere in the change, someone failed to deal with the matter of water and electrical services, which Macdonald Hotels alleges now total £450,000. In a letter that The Scotsman says it has seen, the timeshare owners committee has been warned that unless, “full payment of the sum the hotel chain claims it is owed is made by 24 July the group would have no alternative but to cut off the lodges’ water and electricity.” …now that would make for an unpleasant timeshare vacation, wouldn’t it?

More to the Story at the Loch Rannoch Timeshare Resort

Based on the report in The Scotsman, there appears to be more to the story than who pays the light bill. Monks explained that they (the timeshare owners) had sent the hotel a check for £177,819 with the stipulation that it be accepted as payment in full. Both the timeshare owners, (led by Monk) and Macdonald Hotels agreed that the hotel owes the timeshare money for past management fees. On the other hand, the hotel says that the timeshare also owes them management fees.

But here’s the detail that may really be the sticking point. Settlement terms offered by the timeshare owners included the stipulation that they be allowed access to the leisure facilities at the Macdonald Loch Rannoch hotel, next door to the timeshare resort. They also asked that the management of the timeshare revert to Macdonald Resorts in 2010 when the current contract with Monk’s group lapses. The timeshare owners have been banned from using the resort facilities since the management change in 2003.

How This Timeshare Tale Will End

It is not likely that timeshare guests at Loch Rannoch will go without either water or electricity, even if the dispute remains unsettled by the target date. While the issues sound problematic, (and owing a half million pounds is nothing to sneeze at) matters such as these, have a way of being worked out.

Loch Rannoch timeshare is a lovely resort in an idyllic setting overlooking the sparkling blue Loch Rannoch. The area is renowned for its fishing and hiking, and overall picturesque tranquility. Let’s hope a little of that harmony rubs off on these two parties in conflict and they get this now 5-year old dispute settled.

Aruba…Jamaica….oooh I wanna take ya’…

Can’t you just hear the Beach Boys singing? And if you can’t now, you will as soon as you arrive at La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club for your laidback, Aruba beachside vacation. The resort is located in Oranjestad, which in English is pronounced simply, “Orangetown,” and sits on one of Aruba’s most beautiful beaches — the white sands of Eagle Beach.

Although the resort is undergoing renovation, management at La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club timeshares has planned the work to involve only targeted areas at any one time, keeping the overall property vacation-ready and relaxing for timeshare owners, their guests, and anyone who rents timeshare there. La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club timeshare resort is number 86 on Sell My Timeshare NOW’s HOT 100 List and with upgrades in progress to refresh the look and amenities of the units, this hot property may be even hotter in the future.

Vacationers at La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club give it high marks for good service and making them feel at home and comfortable. While there are perfect opportunities in Oranjestad to sightsee and visit the historic areas of Aruba, many timeshare owners select this destination because it entices you to do so very little…lounge by the pool, nap on the beach, cool off in the water slide and then resume your “heavy-duty” relaxation routine. If you are seeking a destination to unwind and let the warm breezes carry your everyday stresses away, you can’t get any better than the timeshare resales and timeshare rentals at La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club.

An All-Inclusive Aruba Timeshare Resort

La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club is a casual-style beach resort that offers 1, 2, and 3-bedroom timeshares and studio units. While the timeshare units include kitchens and kitchenettes, they also offer the convenience of optional all-inclusive meal plans. All-inclusive timeshares are rare in the US, and when you find them, they are typically located in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, South America, the Caribbean, and randomly scattered about other parts of the world including Egypt, Spain, and Austria.

La Cabana Beach and Racquet Club offers a variety of meal and drink plans, including one that covers only breakfast and unlimited alcoholic beverages each day. The packages cover anything a person eats or drinks, at any of the timeshare resort’s food service areas. They do not cover liquor by the bottle, shared meals, or room service. Most all-inclusive timeshare meal plans also limit you to eating only one breakfast per day, one lunch, and one dinner… in other words, don’t expect to be able to eat your breakfast at 7, 8, and again at 9 AM on a given day. (For most people, this restriction is not a problem.)

Here’s an added note about La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club Aruba timeshare: Do not confuse this timeshare resort with the former La Cabana Villas that is now known as The Aruban Resort. La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club timeshare is a sold-out resort with approximately 12,000 owners. According to their management, they have a stable owners association and the timeshare property owned there is deeded and held in perpetuity.

To enjoy timeshare vacations at La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club and other Aruba timeshares, look for opportunities in Aruba timeshare resales and timeshare rentals.

Follow this link to download the complete HOT 100 List from SellMyTimeshareNOW.com

And to get you in the mood for your Aruba timeshare vacation, listen to the Beach Boys singing Kokomo from MTV, by way of YouTube.

Travel writer Lynne Christen is known as a Life Tips Travel Guru. Her book, Travel Wisdom-Tips, Tools, and Tactics for All Travelers was runner up for the best 2004 travel book, voted by the North American Travel Journalists Association. Her newest book, 101 Vacation Rentals Tips, is a handy guidebook that offers exactly what its title promises: 101 tips - many of which are as helpful to timeshare owners as they are to vacation home owners and renters.

As the author explains in her foreword, “A vacation home rental allows us to briefly become ‘locals’ rather than tourists … a good base for exploring the immediate area, venturing forth on entertaining and educational day trips knowing we will be returning to the luxury and privacy of ‘home’ at night.”

That really says a lot about timeshare ownership, doesn’t it? Timeshares offer you the luxury and privacy of home at night and a good base for exploring. For a few days, a week, or maybe two, you become a local at a new and intriguing destination.

In 101 Vacation Rentals Tips, Christen categorizes her advice geographically: Cape Cod; Caribbean; European; Florida; Hawaii; Lake Tahoe; and Las Vegas vacation. She also throws in sections for golf vacation tips and ski vacation tips. It’s all very handy information and is excellent to know when you plan a timeshare vacation - whether you are looking at buying timeshare, renting timeshare, or exchanging a timeshare you already own.

Here are excerpts from 3 tips found in 101 Vacation Rentals Tips that you may find handy:

• Provincetown (Cape Cod) MA. “Provincetown, called P-Town by locals is located in the outermost point of Cape Cod … Over 30 miles of beach front and an active historic seaport make Provincetown the perfect launching point for whale watching …”
• The Emerald Coast of Florida. “Although the pristine, sugar-white sand beaches are the main draw, there’s plenty to do off the beaches … Military buffs enjoy Pensacola’s National Museum of Naval Aviation and the Air For Armament Museum in Fort Walton Beach … And, along the coast of Okaloosa, Walton and Bay Counties golfers can play 18 holes of golf every day for over a month without playing the same hole twice.”
• Las Vegas, Nevada. “Vegas Veterans offer these tips: Set your limits. Determine your gambling budget before you arrive in Vegas and stick to it … practice playing early morning when tables are not crowded … Enjoy the free cocktails, but don’t over-imbibe and let alcohol dull your judgment.”

And to learn more about timesharing in these exciting vacation destinations, use these resources:

• Follow this link to learn more about Provincetown timeshare resales.
• Follow these links to learn more about Emerald Coast timeshare resales and timeshare rentals.
• Follow these links to learn more about Las Vegas timeshare resales and Las Vegas timeshare rentals.

Source: 101 Vacation Rentals Tips, a LifeTips Book Series, by Lynn Christen. © 2006, LifeTips.com Inc., Charlestown, MA.

Owners Perspective magazine launched their first edition last week, and SellMyTimeshareNOW.com was proud to be featured in one of their articles. In a piece called, The Timeshare Resale Solution, our timeshare resales and rental advertising company was identified as a leader, helping to build the strength and integrity of the timeshare resales industry.

The article looked at the inherent problem of timeshare owners, who sooner or later, may need to resell their timeshare. The actual problem lies not in the fact that timeshare owners need to resell timeshare, but that the industry never really factored this into the equation when they developed the model by which new timeshares are sold today.

As the article explains, “Timeshare resales companies and timeshare advertising services may not have been part of the vacation ownership industry’s original vision, but denying the need for them would be akin to saying automobiles can only be purchased new through dealerships or that homeowners cannot resell their residential properties. Timeshares are hardly disposable commodities, even though they do not appreciate in the same way other types of residential or commercial real estate increase in value. Industry statistics place the sales price of new timeshare at nearly $20,000 per one week interval, however as resales, these same timeshare units may be priced 50 percent below the original purchase price. Much like the purchase of that new car, the timeshare buyer gets the benefit of using the vacation property, enjoying it, and at the right time, reselling it to recoup a portion of the original expenditure.”

• To read the full article, sign up for a free subscription to Owners Perspective magazine, or
• Click here to read the article on the SellMyTimeshareNOW.com website.

According to information in the Orlando Business Journal, the Orlando-based timeshare company, Orange Lake Resorts has just purchased 26 existing timeshare villas in Vermont.

Located at Ascutney Mountain Resort, Orange Lake Resorts already owns 34 timeshare villas there, purchased in 2007. After the acquisition, Orange Lake Resorts spent over $3 million renovating the timeshare units. According to the company’s president and CEO, a similar renovation is planned for the just-purchased 26 units. Orange Lake will manage all of the resort facilities except for the ski area.

A Look at Orange Lake Timeshare Resorts

Currently, Orange Lake Timeshares includes family-favorite timeshare resorts in:

• Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
• Ascutney, Vermont
• Panama City, Florida
• And the company’s flagship property in Orlando, Florida

Orange Lake Orlando (also known as Orange Lake Country Club) is one of the larger timeshare resorts in the US with a 1,250-acre property adjacent to Walt Disney World® Resort (shuttle bus service to the park is available for a fee). The sprawling resort includes a 12-acre water park, Splash Lagoon and 5 pools, a movie theater, and 54 holes of golf.

Follow these links to learn more about timeshare resales at Orange Lake Orlando:

• Orange Lake’s West Village timeshare resales
• Orange Lake’s East Village timeshare resales
• Orange Lake’s North Village timeshare resales
• Orange Lake’s River Island timeshare resales

If you have been following the countdown of Sell My Timeshare NOW’s HOT 100 List, then you know we are ready for property # 87 - another truly HOT timeshare resales property.

Marriott’s Canyon Villas at Desert Ridge timeshares is a wonderful mixed-use resort property that combines the services of a luxury hotel with the spacious amenities of a great timeshare resort. The Desert Ridge timeshare is adjacent to the Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, in Phoenix, Arizona. Pamper yourself at this enormous spa, which offers over 40 treatment rooms and a diverse menu of services; relax on the golf course, linger by the pool, or just enjoy the fresh air and serenity of this quiet resort. There are four acres of waterways for relaxing, including a lazy river for floating into that state of perfect tranquility. Think of Canyon Villas timeshares as an oasis in the magical Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona.

Book a Tee Time during Your Canyon Villas Timeshare Vacation

The golf courses at Canyon Villas timeshare include the 6,846 yard, 18-hole Nick Faldo championship course and the 7,145 yard, 18-hole Arnold Palmer signature course. There is also an excellent practice facility, featuring two putting greens, a chipping and bunker practice green and an all-grass driving range. Just for the fun of it each golf cart is equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) and with CBS Sportsline Ticker, keeping you current on all the sports scores and news.

Your Canyon Villa Timeshare Resale

You can become a Marriott Canyon Villa at Desert Ridge timeshare owner by buying resale timeshare at prices that start around $12,000. Or enjoy the Canyon Villa timeshare experience with a timeshare rental. The opportunities for timeshare ownership, timeshare rentals, and timeshare exchange are incredible - and best of all, they are easy to enjoy and easy to own or rent.

According to an article published by the Springfield, Missouri News-Leader, Festiva timeshare resorts will pay $339,000 to the State of Missouri and to Festiva timeshare owners participating in the lawsuit, for using what was determined to be, “false and misleading sales tactics while selling timeshares at a Branson resort.” The action specifically refers to timeshare sales at the Cabins at Green Mountain near Branson, Missouri, which are owned and marketed by Festiva Resorts, an Ashville, North Carolina company.

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon’s office originally brought suit against Festiva timeshares in 2005. In the Attorney General’s news release, issued at that time, the lawsuit alleged that, “Festiva lured consumers by falsely promising to:

• Help them sell other timeshares they owned.
• Help them rent out timeshares they bought from Festiva.
• Help them get good deals on condo rentals in attractive locations.
• Help them get good deals on vacation packages.
• Give refunds to those dissatisfied with their purchase.

Nixon also says Festiva didn’t give consumers enough time to make decisions, creating a sense of urgency and a high-pressure sales environment.”

An unidentified number of consumers will receive a total of just over $324,000 collectively, and the state will receive $15,000 for civil penalties and costs. Of the settlement to consumers, $106,885 will go to customers who complained to the attorney general’s office before June 25, 2005, and use their timeshare at least once. The balance, $217,508, will be distributed to consumers who filed their complaints before June 25 and never used their timeshares.

If a Festiva resort timeshare owner, who is part of this lawsuit, used his timeshare at least one time, he is given the choice to: deed the timeshare unit back to Festiva and receive a partial refund; keep the timeshare and receive a small cash payment; or keep the timeshare and receive a free upgrade from the resort. If the timeshare owners who participated in this lawsuit have never used their timeshare, they have a choice to receive a portion of what they paid Festiva and then return their deed to the company.

Criticisms of Timeshare Sales Practices, but not of Vacations at Festiva Resorts

Remember that this lawsuit deals with timeshare owners who are unhappy with timeshare sales practices at Festiva Resorts, and their perception that promises made were never fulfilled. These timeshare owners are not unhappy with their vacation experience; there are thousands and thousands of very satisfied timeshare owners at Branson’s Cabins at Green Mountain timeshares.

This problem goes back to what we say time and time again at SellMyTimeshareNOW.com…timeshares can be great to own and enjoy and offer wonderful vacation opportunities…if you understand what you are buying and can make a thoughtful buying decision without the pressure of unethical or inappropriate sales tactics.

Colorado ranked, again this past year, as the number one ski vacation destination in America, and resorts like the Sheraton Mountain Vista timeshare are the reason why.

Located 8 miles west of Vail, on interstate highway 70, the city of Avon, Colorado acts as a gateway to all the amenities and attractions of the Beaver Creek Resort area. This is the place to enjoy both your favorite winter sports and the fresh mountain air for summer hiking, biking, horseback riding, and other outdoor sports. Sheraton Mountain Vista timeshare is perfectly situated in Vail Valley, at the base of Beaver Creek
Mountain, making it easy for you to experience all the area has to offer.

Amenities at Sheraton Mountain Vista Timeshare

At this resort you can enjoy the:

• Fitness Center
• Swimming Pool
• Sauna
• Outdoor Whirlpool

You can choose from one and two-bedroom timeshare units including larger timeshare lockouts that add to your vacation flexibility. A two-bedroom timeshare lockout at Sheraton Mountain Vista, for example, includes: one side of the unit that is over 700 square feet, with a living room, dining area for six people, breakfast bar that seats two more, and a full kitchen, including washer and dryer. This side of the timeshare also includes a queen sleeper sofa, a private bedroom, 2 gas fireplaces, 2 televisions, and a screened patio. The smaller side of the two-bedroom timeshare lockout is over 500 square feet in size, also offering both a private bedroom and a queen sleeper sofa, with an efficiency kitchen, and another fireplace. Up to eight people could vacation in a two-bedroom lockout, or you could enjoy one side of this type of unit yourself and use the other side as a rental unit, offsetting your own vacation costs.

Overall, Colorado timeshares are some of the most desired resorts in the world, and owning a timeshare resale there gives you a multitude of possibilities for vacationing, timeshare exchange, and timeshare rental. To learn more about opportunities in Colorado timeshare resales and Colorado timeshare rentals, and all the timeshare deals available at Sheraton Mountain Vista Timeshare, visit www.sellmytimesharenow.com.