Archive for November, 2008

RCI TIMESHARE IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

Friday, November 28th, 2008

In this series of articles I’ll be reviewing the RCI Timeshare Otra Vez in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  First we’ll look at some interesting things to do in and around this historic town.

To really understand why the readers of Conde Nast Traveler put Santa Fe near the top of their must-see list, you’ll just have to experience it first hand.

The heart of the city and the place where Santa Fe was founded is the city’s historic Plaza. Surrounded by museums, historic buildings, restaurants, hotels, galleries, and endless shopping the Plaza is the place to start understanding Santa Fe. And this is where you’ll find the RCI timeshare Otra Vez.

Southwest Safaris will show you some amazing things about New Mexico and northern New Mexico: the terrain and geology. It’s much easier to understand from a small aircraft. The Grand Canyons Skyroamer trip covers most of the area and canyons west of Santa Fe, including Ghost Ranch, and others. You will see many kinds of rock formations, terrain and Indian ruins.   Photos can be taken from the plane with ordinary digital cameras.

The RCI timeshare is just blocks from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Opened to the public in July 1997, eleven years after the death of the artist from whom it takes its name, and one of the most significant artists of the 20th century, Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was devoted to creating imagery that expressed what she called “the wideness and wonder of the world as I live in it.”

The Museum’s collection of over 2990 works comprises 1149 O’Keeffe paintings, drawings, and sculpture, including promised gifts and extended loans.

The Absolute Nirvana Spa is a gem hidden just blocks away from the historic Plaza and the Otra Vez timeshare.  Try the two-hour Lulur treatment, for an incredible massage experience, and a one-hour facial that feel almost like a massage.

In the next post I’ll review the RCI timeshare Otra Vez.

Donald Trump’s Scottish Timeshare Hurdles

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

In the last post I discussed how Donald Trump has plans for a 1 and a half billion dollar resort in Aberdeenshire Scotland to be built on a 1,400 acre beachside site that would include two championship golf resorts, a five star hotel, 950 luxury timeshare properties and 450 houses.

Conservationists are outraged over the possible destruction of the fragile dune system, and Trump will have to agree to a series of environmental checks and controls by the Scottish Natural Heritage.

The so-called “back nine” holes of the main 18-hole course will be built over about a tenth of the dunes despite protests from Trump’s own ecologists and SNH that this was unnecessarily destructive.

Trump had refused to move that section of the course, again overruling his own environmental experts, telling the planning inquiry in June that he didn’t do “half-assed”. It was, he told the inspectors, all or nothing.

It was the “magnificence of the dunes, the valleys of the dunes, the access to the ocean, the views of the ocean, the elevations” that made it “potentially, the greatest course in the world”, he told the inquiry.

He will also be required to build a 225-pupil primary school, shops, 98 low-cost houses and 50 starter homes – on land provided free by the council – in return for the private 500-home estate, chalets and the timeshares, which will fund the entire development.

The planning inspectors ruled that the damage to the dunes was outweighed by the resort’s substantial value to the economy – a judgment challenged by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

“It appears that the desires of one high profile overseas developer, who refused to compromise one inch, have been allowed to override the legal protection of this important site,” said Aedan Smith, head of planning for RSPB Scotland.

Donald Trump and Timeshare?

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Who would have thunk it but the New York real estate developer and shameless promoter, Donald Trump, aka “The Donald”, has got the green light from the Scottish Government to proceed with his plans for a $1 and a half billion golf resort at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Trump’s plans for the 1,400 acre beachside site include two championship golf resorts, a five star hotel, 950 luxury timeshare properties and 450 houses.

Of course, Trump will still have to deal with local landowner Michael Forbes, a fisherman and quarry worker who has refused all lucrative offers from the American billionaire to sell his ancestral home, which sits in the middle of the property slated for the development.  He has become even more stubborn as Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on him.  

Trump has said that he can build around the Forbes property, but conservation groups say there may be access requirements that would impinge on such plans. Conservationists are outraged saying that Trump’s development would destroy the fragile dune system forever.

Trump’s response was that not only would he stabilize the dunes but he would also create 6000 jobs. 

Maybe we can we expect to see a Trump timehshare listed in Interval International in the next few years. “The Donald” still has a long way to go, especially in this economy.

More on this in the next post

The Prospector at Aspen

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008

Here’s something I’ve rarely seen in 18 years. RCI has one Extra Vacation week in the Prospector in Aspen. It’s in a one bedroom that sleeps 6 maximum and RCI is charging $548.99 for the week. Check-in is November 30 2008.

Move quickly if you want this. There is already almost 2 feet of base with more snow on the way.

This is one of the best deals I’ve ever seen for RCI Extra Vacations and although the Prospector is a little old, you can’t beat the location. It’s right in the heart of the town.

Each unit features a beautiful view of Aspen Mountain, deck or patio, a sauna, whirlpool spa, fireplace, Internet access, television with VCR, telephone and a partial kitchen with an under counter refrigerator, microwave oven, electric skillet, garbage disposal and no conventional oven. All units are 1BR OCC: Max 4/Pri 4 with 1 bath, 1 queen bed and 1 Murphy bed. No pets are allowed at the resort. It is not necessary to have a car, as most attractions are within walking distance.

I just checked the Prospector’s rental rate for the same dates and the room is listed at $275/night plus tax. You’d pay $2,100/week at that rate or you can get it now from RCI for only $549. A great deal.

The only other timeshare in Aspen is the Hyatt Grand Aspen in Interval International.

Marriott Canyon Villas at Desert Ridge Scottsdale

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Interval International has Getaway weeks available at the fabulous Marriott’s Canyon Villas at Desert Ridge in Phoenix, AZ. for December and January.  Christmas and New Years are excluded, of course, and only studio units are available but the price is only $454/week.  That’s only $65/night to stay in one of the nicest resorts in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area.

Here’s Marriott’s description of the resort:

“Rising from the inspiring Sonoran Desert of Phoenix, Arizona, Marriott’s Canyon Villas at Desert Ridge is a traveler’s oasis. With full access to the amenities of the neighboring JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, spend a memorable day on the links at Wildfire, indulge at the 28,000-square-foot European spa or enjoy some of the finest dining in the Southwest. Retreat to the amazing amenities of your spacious two-bedroom, two-bath villa designed for comfort and with style.”

Average high temperature in December and January is 67 degrees making it pleasant for the many outdoor activities made available in this unique desert area. You can check out the many shops and restaurants at the Desert Ridge Marketplace conveniently located just across from the Marriott.

Grab these weeks while you can because they will go fast

Christmas Vacation 2009 Part 2

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

In the last post we left off with the very obvious tip of requesting in advance for a Christmas exchange.  Now we’ll talk about the strategy of placing that request.

The main reason that there are so many timeshare resales is that people just don’t know how to exchange them effectively.  This little tip is one of many that will give you an edge up when doing an exchange.

Many people don’t give the exchange companies enough choices when requesting a high priority exchange. General exchange rules are that you give either 3 resorts and 1 date, 3 dates and 1 resort or 2 resorts and 2 dates.  Many people leave it at that. 

But did you know that you could have RCI search for up to 88 resorts at one time?  Interval International has no limits to the amount of resorts.  You must learn to take advantage of doing a multiple resort search when doing a timeshare exchange.

Since we’re talking about just one date, Christmas, then let’s increase the amount of resorts requested considerably. 

For instance, if you’d like to take the family skiing next Christmas and you’re open to being anywhere in the western US, you can pick out only the top rated resorts you’d accept an exchange to rather than taking anything that comes up.

For example, you can have RCI or Interval International search for 6 resorts in Beaver Creek, 8 in Vail, 6 in Steamboat Springs, 5 in Breckenridge, 4 in Park City and 8 in Lake Tahoe.  Wow, that’s searching 37 resorts for Christmas week.  And if you’re putting in your request at least a year in advance, you and your family will be creating lasting memories rather than sitting at home watching You Tube or the NFL next Christmas.