Ever since Time began, people have been trying to sell things to other people.  Initially, these encounters were very informal, and sometimes did not even involve the spoken word.

Fast forward to modern times, where people are actually put through training, and sometimes have college degrees in marketing to help them sell their products.  And, as in any job or field, there are those who are very good at what they do, and those who—-AREN’T.

A case in point:  when we were first married, a guy selling vacuum cleaners came to our door.  We immediately told him that we would not buy his machine, because we had just purchased a vacuum cleaner a few weeks before.  He then proceeded to tell us that his company would still pay him his salary if he did a 45-minute presentation, even if we didn’t buy.

He seemed like a nice enough guy, and we weren’t in a hurry to do anything else, so we told him to go ahead.  For the next 45 minutes, he threw dirt, salt, and heaven-knows-what-else on our carpet.  He outlined in great detail the wonders of an Electrolux, and attempted to convince us that we should return our other vacuum and buy his product.  When all was said and done, and he had cleaned up the mess, he waited for our answer.  We said “no—we told you at the beginning that we weren’t buying.”

Instead of picking up his stuff, thanking us and leaving, he proceeded to act like somewhat of a spoiled brat.  “Well, why won’t you buy my vacuum cleaner?”, and “I spent all this time with you, why won’t you buy?” were just a few of the annoying and embarrassing comments that he directed to us.  Maybe he had a wounded ego, but we were frustrated because we had been honest with him from the beginning about our intentions.  When we finally got rid of him we decided no more “playing Mr. Nice Guy” with salesmen.

In spite of the fact that timeshare sales people have kind of a poor reputation, the real truth is that there are good ones and there are not-so-good ones.  We have encountered many of both in our travels, although probably more of the not-so-good ones.  We have heard horror stories from people who have been victims of arm-twisting, manipulation and lies.  Not that this is an excuse, but to some extent the whole timeshare culture may be partially to blame.

In an attempt to explain this last statement, look at these issues:

• When purchased from the developer, timeshares are very expensive.
• People are brought into a timeshare presentation (“hooked”) and promised money and/or gifts worth anywhere from $25-$200 for 90 minutes of their time—NO OBLIGATION TO BUY
• Most people who do a timeshare presentation have no intention of buying.
• Most people who do a timeshare presentation do it only for the free gifts.
• Many people who buy a timeshare have no idea how to use it; thus, word spreads, making timeshares even less desirable.
• Many people do not understand that maintenance fees are forever—another reason not to buy a timeshare.

With these kinds of negative attitudes inherent in the timehare culture, it’s not surprising that some salespeople would resort to less-than-ethical tactics when they try to sell their product.  Add to that the fact that most of them work on a commission basis, which thus puts more pressure on them to achieve more sales.  It seems that unless this culture can change, then timeshare salespeople are generally doomed to bad reputations.

So, in this negative timeshare culture, is it even possible to run into good timeshare salespeople?  Of course it is, and here are some of their characteristics:

• They are friendly, courteous, and respectful, always.
• They ask questions, and they LISTEN to your answers.
• They present information in a forthright and direct manner.
• They answer questions to the best of their abilities, seeking other help if they don’t know the answers.
• They assess your needs and wants, and personalize the presentation.
• If you decline to buy, they remain courteous, friendly and respectful.
• If further communication is necessary, they follow through.

We know of 2 outstanding salespeople in the field.  One is Fred Weber, who works as a realtor in the Traverse City, Michigan area.  One of his duties includes selling resales for Pinestead Reef Resort, which has been sold out for a number of years.  His “presentation” consists of speaking at a Welcome coffee for about 5 minutes and handing out a list of available properties.  He knows many of the owners by name, keeps everyone informed of good bargains, and is extremely easy to work with.  He knows the area and is always quick to respond and follow through.  We have purchased 2 or 3 properties from Fred, and never had a problem.

The other salesperson is Trish Panzarella, who worked at Treetops Resort in Gatlinburg,TN.  (I believe she has moved on to other things–namely, raising and working with show dogs.)  Trish ran a very efficient resale office at the resort using no hard-sell tactics.  They later sold RCI Points as part of the Berkeley Group.  Trish ran some excellent seminars (not connected to sales)  for Treetops guests to help them maximize their points.  We purchased from her, also, and we were always treated with courtesy and respect.  Hopefully she and her husband have retired to a beach in Florida and are enjoying their canine friends.

In summary, I guess we can say that not all timeshare salespeople are bad:  some are awful, some are mediocre, and a few are really good.  What’s important for you is to realize which kind is sitting across the table from you within the first 15 minutes of your presentation.  Then you can strategize how you want to have YOUR needs and wants met—not his or hers.  If buying is what you want, fine; if not buying is what you want—fine— if information is all you want—fine–but YOU will be in control!

Well, the answer to that question can be compared to many other things:  Do you shop for your clothes at more than one store?  Do you watch more than one TV program?  Do you go to several different restaurants when you eat out?  Do you go to more than one casino in Las Vegas?  (Well, some might never get out of one casino, but that’s the exception—it’s probably the same person who thinks that Orlando  is synonymous with Disney!)

The answer is YES, there is PLENTY to do in Orlando besides Disney!!!  In fact, you could probably vacation there for at least a month and never go to Disney World because there are so many other things to do!  We are not necessarily advocating this approach, especially for a family that includes young children.  However, every time we end up in Orlando, we discover more and more options, many that are much cheaper than a day in the Disney Parks.  (A family of 4 can easily drop $500-600 a day there, to include tickets, parking, food and souvenirs.)

So, when planning your vacation, make sure that you look into the non-Disneyfied activities that are available and choose wisely, depending on the ages of people in your party, their mobility and your budget.  And, it goes without saying that you need to consider everyone’s interests as well.

One of our last Orlando trips included John and myself, our children (all 30-something), grandkids and my 88-year old mother.  Obviously, we had a wide range of ages and interests.  We planned 2 days for the grandkids at the parks (ages 3 and 7) under the supervision of various adults.  We stayed at Disney’s Old Key West Resort and took advantage of numerous amenities and activities right onsite.  We only stayed for 7 days, but had so much to do that we would have been hard-pressed to add another Disney day. Our off site activities included seeing Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba, visiting Downtown Disney and the outlet malls.  You can read about our trip in more detail here, if you wish.

So, what else can you do in Orlando besides Disney?  Take a look at these lists—and this is just a sampling and is by no means all-inclusive.

IF YOU ENJOY SHOPPING:

Millenium Mall

Old Town

Florida Mall

Downtown Disney

Premium Outlet

Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores

IF YOU ENJOY THEME PARKS:

Universal Studios (same price range as Disney)

Sea World

Wet & Wild

Old Town Amusement Park

IF YOU ENJOY HISTORICAL/CULTURAL THINGS:

Orlando Science Center

Kennedy Space Center

The Titanic Experience

Harry P.Leu Gardens

Jurassic Park Discovery Center

Cirque du Soleil La Nouba

Fort Christmas Historical Park

Mennello Museumof American Folk Art

Orange County Historical Museum

National Vietnam War Museum

Motor Sports Museum

The Holy Land Experience

IF YOU ENJOY ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITATS:

Gatorland

Discovery Cove

Florida Dolphin Tours

Manatee Tours(Crystal River, FL)

Amazing Exotics

Orlando Zoo Adventure

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

AND IF YOU ENJOY JUST PLAIN FUN:

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

Sak Comedy Lab

Disney Quest

Haunted Grimm House

Medieval Times (dinner show)

Arabian Nights (dinner show)

Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theater

Orlando Ghost Tours

Hot Air Balloon Rides

There are always special events happening in Orlando, so be sure to check local listings as well.  Depending on your time frame, there could be any number of plays, guest entertainer appearances, exhibitions, dance performances, etc. etc.

If you are into sports, you may want to check the home schedules of all those Florida teams—the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays (baseball), the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic (basketball), the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (football), the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning (ice hockey) and the Jacksonville Sharks, Orlando Predators and Tampa Bay Storm (arena football). Florida is also home to many major league baseball teams during spring training season.  Check here for a listing.

And, of course, there are over 25 golf courses in the Orlando area as well as numerous parks and spas.  And don’t forget the famous Florida beaches, on both the gulf and the Atlantic coasts. One of the closest is about an hour from Orlando) and is also a favorite: Cocoa Beach.

Should you want to venture a bit farther, the Tampa area would be excellent for a day trip.  The area offers many options, including the famous Busch Gardens Theme Park. Sarasota is also a great place for a day trip, where you will find over 35 miles of beautiful beaches and the Ringling Museum of Art (free on Mondays).

So, tuck your mouse ears away, at least for a day or two, and experience some of the other wonderful and fun activities that the Orlando area offers—you just might save some money, and you’ll have a great time, too!

I don’t really know how many couples/families travel to timeshares over the New Year holiday, but I suspect that it’s more than I think.  One year, we tried to get into Pinestead, our Traverse City resort, for a few days after Christmas.  It never happened, because there was no availability.  Usually we don’t enjoy being away from the family, anyway (check out our post on holiday travel), but that time it was supposed to be us, kids and grandkids.

In thinking about it afterward, that made sense.  After all, the kids are on vacation from school, a lot of businesses shut down for the holidays, and even if they don’t, parents often take time off to be with the kids.  This year, our grandkids are off until January 9—so what better time to take a trip to a cozy timeshare and leave behind the dust and clutter at home left by all the Christmas celebrations?!

Over the years, we have usually enjoyed our New Year’s Eves with 2 other couples, who are long-lasting dear friends.  We keep it simple—the hosts provide champagne to toast in the New Year, and everyone brings 2 or 3 appetizers to share.  Because of this custom, we have compiled some wonderful recipes—every year, each of us tries at least one new recipe.  So here are some of our best and easiest to whip up in your timeshare!

CHEESY OLIVE PUFFS

2 C. (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese

1-1/4 C. flour

1 stick margarine (melted)

1 2 oz. jar small pimiento-stuffed olives (or cut larger ones in half)

 Work cheese and flour together until crumbly.  Add butter and mix well with fork.  (If dough seems dry, work with hands.)  Mold 1 tsp. dough around each olive; shape into ball.  Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.  Cover and chill at least 1 hour.  Bake 15-20 minutes @ 400 degrees.  (Courtesy of Carol Mattens)

PINEAPPLE CURRY

If you want impressive, this recipe is it!  I once won a prize in the appetizer category of a newspaper cooking contest with this one!  And it’s so easy! 

1 8 oz. bar cream cheese

¼ C. chopped chutney

¼ tsp. dry mustard

1 tsp. curry powder

½  of a fresh pineapple

Toasted almonds

Crackers

 Beat the cream cheese and add the chutney, mustard and curry.  Mix and chill about 4 hours.  Put in the half of a pineapple, and top with toasted almonds.  Serve with crackers, or extra pineapple.  (Courtesy of Carol Rasmussen)

HOT SHRIMP DIP

I don’t care for hard-boiled eggs, but you don’t really taste them in this recipe.

8 oz. cream cheese

¼ C. mayo (not Miracle Whip)

2 T. grated onion

2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped fine

1 4.5 oz. can tiny or broken shrimp, drained

Cream together cream cheese and mayo.  Add onion, 1 egg, and shrimp.  Put into small casserole dish and top with remaining egg.  Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes, or until bubbly. 

TACO PICK-UP STICKS

This is a fun one that the kids will like.

3 cans (7 oz. each) potato sticks

2 cans (6 oz. each) French-fried onions

1 can (12 oz.) salted peanuts

1/3 C. melted margarine

1 envelope taco seasoning mix

In a large bowl, combine potato sticks, onions and peanuts.  In small bowl, combine margarine and taco seasoning.  Mix well, pour over potato stick mixture and toss to coat.  Place in 3 ungreased 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pans.  Bake uncovered aat 250 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.  Makes about 24 cups.  (Courtesy of Kathy H., Dallas, Texas)

HOLIDAY TURKEY TWIRLS

This one requires a bit more effort, but you can make it ahead and serve hot or cold!

1 8 oz. cream cheese

1 C. shredded cheddar or Mexican style cheese

¼ lb. deli turkey, chopped fine

2 T. chopped, dried cranberries or cherries

2 T. chopped pimiento-stuffed olives

2 T. salsa

½ to ¾ tsp. chili powder

4 10 in. flour tortillas

Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Stir in cheese, turkey, cranberries, olives, salsa and chili powder.  Spread ½ C. mixture over each tortilla, and roll up tightly.  Wrap in Saran Wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Unwrap, and cut into 1-inch slices.  Serve chilled or bake on greased cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes.  Makes 40 appetizers. (Courtesy of Taste of Home, 2009)

And last, but not least, a sweet-treat beverage for New Year’s Day:

LOVELY LATTES

1 C. half and half

4 T. brown sugar

4 T. caramel ice cream topping

1 ½ C. hot coffee

whipped cream

Stir brown sugar into half and half.  Whip with a small whisk or spoon.  Warm this a little bit (not too much) in the microwave.  Pour coffee into 4 mugs and stir 1 T. caramel topping into each.  Pour equal amounts of the half and half mixture into each mug, and top with whipped cream.  Makes 4 lattes.  (Courtesy of  Kraft Allrecipes?)

These are really good, and no fancy coffee equipment required.  If you enjoyed these recipes, check out some of our other Timeshare Cooking ideas:

However you choose to celebrate the holidays, we hope that you will have fun, be safe, and reconnect with family and friends.  From Barb and John at Timeshare Tidbits, have a peaceful and happy New Year!

Planning a vacation should be a fun and rewarding activity, not something that is hectic and stressful.  It should be a time of gathering information, looking at different dates and scenarios, and plugging in all the who, whats, whens and wheres, so that down the road the end-product will be an enjoyable one.  We’ve written some other posts about planning timeshare trips that you might find helpful (Timeshare Calendar-Scheduling Your Vacation, Plotting Your Timeshare Vacations, Timeshare Weeks, and Timeshare Travel on a Holiday-Yes or No), but in this post we’re going to deal with the Timeshare Calendar, and how it affects vacation planning.

Because we are retired, our calendar might look very different from yours if you are still working.  When we were teaching, our possible vacation weeks were much more limited.  But regardless of what your situation is, there are going to be certain weeks that would be great to travel and other weeks that travel would be virtually impossible.  That is true of our situation, also.

Since we retired, our travel has fallen into some definite patterns.  Usually we prefer to go somewhere warmer than Michigan after the first of the year.  Exactly when that happens depends on what else is going on.  We like to go for about 3 weeks, and usually end up in Florida, Las Vegas, Texas or Hawaii.

If we follow that pattern, we usually arrive home sometime in mid-winter, hopefully having escaped some of the worst snowy weather.  Then, sometime in late spring we go somewhere for about 2 weeks.  Spring brings our granddaughter’s Spring Break, Easter, and our daughter’s birthday, and we like to be home for those occasions.  We might sneak in a trip somewhere in late Spring, but always arriving home in time for Mothers’ Day.

We could continue with the rest of the year, but you can probably see that we are working around certain activities and occasions where being on the homefront is important to us.  Every year is a little different, depending on what is happening.  This coming year (2012), Easter is early, and we’ll also be celebrating a First Communion, so those events will affect our travel plans.

Since not every year is exactly the same, we’ve found it helpful to use a Weeks Calendar Chart listing all of the weeks of the year.  After setting this up, we block out any times that we want to be home for special events and occasions.  We pencil in our fixed weeks, if we plan to use them as such.  We then pencil in our “wish list” places and how we plan to get there (RCI Points, Wyndham Points, Hilton Points, Disney Points, RCI Weeks trade, etc.)

Once that is set up, we begin working on getting those places booked, and keep track on a Vacation Worksheet.  Of course, depending on which system we’re trying to use, the time parameters are going to be different. (Examples:  if we’re talking using Hilton points, you can book 9 months out;  Disney points would be 11 months out for your home resort, 7 months for any other Disney resort, etc., depending on the system).  We also record the dates that we can book different resorts on a Timeshare Calendar.  Here is a Vacation Worksheet from several years ago so you can see what it looks like.

Jan. 20-Feb. 17                         Hawaii

March 28-Apr. 4                       HHI  Coral Reef

Apr. 4          -Apr. 11                 NashvilleWyndham

Apr. 26—May3                          Myrtle Beach Ocean Blvd.

May 3-10                                   Gatlinburg , FF Smoky Mtns.

June 1-8                                     Landmark,Door County

June 8-13                                  GlacierCanyon (Dells)

Aug. 17-24                                 Treetops, Gatlinburg

Sept. 7-14                                   Pinestead Reef

Oct. 7-11                                    Sanibel—Shel l Island Beach

Oct. 11-18                                  Surf Club, Marco Island

Oct. 18-22                                  Wyndham Ocean Palms ?   (Search beginning in January)

Nov. 9-16                                   HGVC or Wyndham?  (Search beginning in January)

Nov. 15-22                                St. George, Utah?  (Keep checking RCI Points)

Once a resort is booked, the exact dates are put on the Vacation Worksheet, along with the trades/bookings we are still working on.  The bookings also go on our master calendar, which hangs in the kitchen, the aforementioned Timeshare Calendar, and my pocket calendar.  Periodically, we print out the schedule and give it to other family members.

Once we have a paper resort confirmation through mail or email it goes into a large, gold envelope with the trip dates written on the outside.  We also put other items in this envelope, such as car rental confirmations, airline info, show tickets, etc.  When we’re ready to begin the trip, all the info is right at our fingertips and goes with us.

To summarize:

Step 1:  Set up a Weeks Calendar Chart.  Block out times when you need/want to be home.  Pencil in wish list places and/or resorts.

Step 2:  Set up a Vacation Worksheet with tentative dates/parameters.

Step 3:  Set up a Timeshare Calendar and write in when you can book your dates, depending on the timeshare system you are using.

Step 4:  Once a resort is booked, put it on the Timeshare Calendar and any other calendars that you feel are necessary.  Designate an envelope to put in relevant paperwork.

Some of this may seem redundant, but it works for us.  The important thing is to set up a plan that you can work with, especially if you own multiple timeshares and travel frequently.   Check out our video below for further clarification of the steps we use:

Good luck, and happy planning!

A calendar is a somewhat necessary and useful tool that we use in varying degrees to plan almost every aspect of our lives.  In the timeshare world, it is essential to consult a calendar for planning purposes—in fact, it is often the very first step in the vacation process.

We frequently meet people who complain that they can’t seem to trade into resorts that they want at the time of year that they want to vacation.  In fact, this is probably one of the most common complaints of timesharers everywhere!  This problem will most likely always exist, as many people want to go to the same most desirable places during the most popular seasons.  Thus, certain places like Hawaii, Sanibel Island, and San Francisco are difficult trades to get, while some of the more overbuilt places like Branson and Orlando are relatively easy to book into.

Understanding and using the timeshare calendar will not solve all these problems, but it will go a long way toward easing your frustration in planning your trip.  We will attempt to explain some things about the calendar, and point out some other things that you need to be aware of.

When timesharing started they needed a system to keep the weeks of the year in line with the actual days of the year.  It is unclear as to how, or who, set up the first timeshare calendar, but every resort, resort system and exchange company uses a calendar showing the weeks of the year along with the current year’s dates.  They usually also show the dates and weeks for  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday check-in days.

Lets take a look at a calendar from the Wyndham system for the year 2012.  Any calendar that you look at cautions you to check with your resort to make sure they agree with the calendar you are using.  We have found some differences, so check carefully.

If we look at the chart, we can make some observations:

The timeshare calendar shows the starting dates of weeks for the next 10 years. They are listed in three sections: weeks that are for Friday to Friday, Saturday to Saturday, and Sunday to Sunday. An extra week occurs in some years when Week 1 begins on January 1 or 2 and Week 53 begins on December 30 or 31. Check with your resort to see how they handle Week 53. If your timeshare starts on a different day of the week, then you can subtract or add the numbers of days needed to get the correct dates. Be sure to confirm the exact dates with the resort or the owner of the week.

If you own a fixed week, say Week 36, you’ll want to check the RCI calendar every year to see when that week falls.  Our Week 36 at Pinestead Reef in Traverse City often begins the day before Labor Day—but not always.  Sometimes we miss the holiday altogether.  This can be a little tricky for planning  purposes. As mentioned earlier, every few years, a Week 53 pops up on the calendar.  When this occurs, folks who own Week 52 get an extra week to trade or use at their resort. They were made aware of this when they purchased, and may have paid extra for it.

Okay, so far this is all pretty uncomplicated.  Now, we’ll muddy the waters.  In addition to consulting the RCI calendar, you also need to be aware of the “seasons” that are assigned by RCI and those assigned by the individual resorts.  These “seasons” determine the varying numbers of points needed to book the vacation (trading power), and the initial purchase price of the timeshare.  RCI designates red, white and blue time, with red being the most desirable, prime time. To illustrate:  let’s say you own at a ski resort in Colorado in January.  RCI would designate this week as red, because it’s the most desirable season in that location.

That means that if you owned this week, you would get the maximum in trading power points.  If you did not own the week, and wanted to trade in, you would need the maximum number of points to do so. If you owned a July week at this resort, it would be designated blue, because July is off-season for skiing.  You would get a minimum number of trading points for this week.  If you wanted to trade in, it would be much easier than snagging a red week and wouldn’t require a lot of points.  But you wouldn’t be able to ski! To complicate further, many individual resorts and/or systems have created their own point and season calendars, which may be somewhat different from that of RCI.

For example, Wyndham uses the terms Prime, High, Value, etc. to designate seasons.  The problem here is that every Wyndham resort designates different weeks within the categories, requiring varying amounts of points. Disney Vacation Club operates in much the same way, only their categories are Premier, Adventure, Magic, Dream, etc.  Most timeshare systems have similar kinds of categories and point amounts.  It might be helpful to know that if you are trading within RCI, Hawaii is Red all the time, as is Orlando.

So that, in a nutshell, is the Timeshare Calendar.  If you’d like some tips on how to apply all of this to real-life vacation planning, tune in to our next post:  Timeshare Calendar—How WE Plan OUR Vacations!

Well, it’s just about Thanksgiving time, and maybe you’ve made the decision to be somewhere other than home right now—perhaps on a vacation and staying in a timeshare.  We discovered a long time ago that we really don’t like to be far away from family and friends at holiday time—like the Thanksgiving we spent in Waikiki.

Or, maybe your family and friends have accompanied you on vacation, which makes for some special “togetherness” at holiday time—that is, until you think about having to feed them!  And so, the rule then is “everyone pitches in.”  One resort, Rams Horn in Estes Park, Colorado, has a unique way of handling this by staging a Thanksgiving Potluck. Check out this post for our timeshare holiday adventures:  “Timeshare Travel on a Holiday-Yes or No?“.

So, if you are snugly tucked in your condo, with or without guests, here are some recipes to see you through.  They may not be gourmet, or even full-scale holiday meals, but they are easy, taste good, and use few ingredients.

TURKEY AND SWEETIE TATERS

4 turkey breast tenderloins (about 8 oz. ea.)

2 T. margarine

2 cans (2.5 lb. ea.) sweet potatoes, drained

2/3 C. dried cranberries

2/3 C. maple syrup

½ C. orange juice

½ tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. cornstarch

2 T. cold water

In large skillet or frying pan, brown turkey in margarine.  Arrange sweet potatoes around turkey.  Combine the cranberries, maple syrup, juice and cinnamon, pouring it over the turkey and sweet potatoes.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Place turkey and sweet potatoes on serving platter.  Combine cornstarch and water until smooth, then add to pan.  Bring to boil, then cook and stir 1 minute until thickened.  Serve with turkey and sweet potatoes.  (Serves 8—can be halved).  Modified, Nov. 2008, Simple & Delicious

Or, maybe you prefer pork?  If so, here’s an easy one:

PORK CHOP/CRANBERRY COMFORT FOOD

6-8 pork chops

1 T. cooking oil

½-1 C. flour

2C. fresh or frozen cranberries

¾-1 C. sugar

1/2 tsp. grated orange peel

½ C. water

Dredge pork chops in flour, then brown in cooking oil.  Place in a 7 x 11 or 9 x 13 pan.

Mix cranberries, sugar, water and orange peel.  Pour over chops.

Cover pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Uncover, and bake another 25-35 minutes.  Makes 6-8 servings.  (Modified, The New Cooking With 4 Ingredients)

And, for the ground meat enthusiasts--

NOODLE STROGANOFF

3 C. uncooked noodles

1 lb. ground beef

1/3 C. chopped onion

1 8-oz. can mushroom stems and pieces

1-1/4 C. water

2 envelopes brown gravy mix

2 C. sour cream

Cook noodles according to directions and set aside.  In large frying pan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until beef is done.  Drain.  Stir in water and gravy mix and bring to a boil.  Add mushrooms.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.  Serve over noodles.  Makes 4 -5 servings.  (Modified, Simple & Delicious, Jan./Feb. 2009)

And, let’s not forget dessert!  This is a spinoff of the ever-popular Eagle Brand 7-layer bars:

CRANBERRY OR CHERRY COCONUT DREAMS

1-1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs (about 24)

½ C. melted margarine

1-1/2 C. vanilla chips

1-1/2 C. dried cranberries or cherries

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)

1 C. flaked coconut

1 C. pecans or walnuts

Combine graham cracker crumbs and margarine and press into a 9 x 13 pan for form a crust.  In bowl, mix remaining ingredients.  Spread this mixture over the crust.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until edges are golden.  Cool and cut into bars.  Makes 3 dozen, or 2 dozen, depending on how large you cut them!  I like to leave out the nuts and just add more vanilla chips and cranberries.

Happy holiday cooking and baking from Timeshare Tidbits!

If you read our last post, “Timeshares Rock, Cruises Rock (the Boat!),” you may have gotten the idea that we didn’t enjoy our trip too much because of the weather.  Actually, that’s not true—we enjoyed it very much, in spite of the weather.  It’s one of those trips that we’ll look back on and mostly remember just the good stuff–the stress and harried times will become just a blip in our memories.

Probably what this trip did was force us to look at cruising and compare it to timesharing—except that we’ve reached the conclusion that you really can’t.  Granted, they are both methods or “styles” of vacationing, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end.  Ever since doing 2 Disney cruises with the kids back in the late eighties, we’ve always maintained that people who can and like to travel should do at least one cruise in their lifetime. Whether they choose to do more would be a matter of personal taste (and availability of funds!)

That being said, we’ve put together some comparisons, which are really more like lists.  These are purely our opinions, and subject to debate.  We’re attempting to analyze our cruise experiences in conjunction with the timeshare ones.

These are some things that we like about cruising:

–Food is abundant, very good, and it is prepared for you.  There are elegant entrees, beautiful desserts, and you can pretty much each all day long, if you want to.

–There are many activities offered on board, some of which are somewhat unique (towel-folded animals, cooking classes, professional-quality shows, etc.)

–Many amenities are available, such as spas, salons, fitness centers, basketball court, pools, casinos, theaters, gift shops, etc.

–Cruising usually takes you to exotic places, some of which may not be accessible by car.  For example, the only way to really see Glacier Bay and the inside passage in Alaska is to go by boat.  Usually your visits to ports are limited in time, giving  birds-eye views rather than ones of more depth.

–It is easy to meet people, as the shipboard community is like a village.

–Very little planning is required for sightseeing, as the ship’s itinerary is pre-determined.

–A cruise is all-inclusive—you pay an upfront fee that includes meals, cabin service, tipping, shows,  some activities and amenities.

Some things that we dislike about cruising:

–That all-inclusive fee really isn’t—it does not include salon and spa services, liquor, excursions, tours of the ship, photos taken by the ship photographer, etc.

–While not claustrophobic by any means, we found being on a ship at sea for 2 or 3 days at a time to be somewhat stifling.  We found plenty to do early in the cruise, but toward the end we grew tired of it.

–The excursions offered by the ship were very expensive.

–Planning a trip (where you’re going, what you’re going to see and do, where you’re going to eat, etc.) is half the fun of it.  When you cruise, there are few decisions to be made, thus eliminating  some of the “fun.”  Some may actually enjoy the fact that they don’t have to do any research or planning, but we love to do it!

–Cruising is expensive.

–As mentioned earlier,  the time constraints of cruising do not allow in-depth exposure to an area.

–The accommodations are adequate, but similar to a small hotel room (unless you can afford the deluxe staterooms!)

Some things that we like about timesharing:

–It is a fairly economical way to vacation, especially if you buy resale.

–You can set your own time parameters, deciding how long you want to stay in each place.

–You are not confined for days at a time.

–Most timeshares have many amenities and activities.

–Timeshares offer a home-like setting, to include living areas, bathrooms, kitchen and one or more separate bedrooms.  Some have decks, washer/dryer facilities, fireplaces, Jacuzzis and more.

–You can plan your sightseeing activities based on what you want to do, not following a pre-determined schedule.

–It is usually easy to meet people at organized activities, or just in passing.  Most timeshare owners enjoy discussing their common interest—timesharing!

Some things that we dislike about timesharing:

–Bookings usually have to be made well in advance of a vacation—sometimes a year or even more.

–Some locations are very hard to get into—for example, Door County in the summer, Maui, anytime—unless you own there.

–Point systems, and booking systems in general, can be complicated and confusing.

–Maintenance fees and/or special assessments can sometimes get out of hand.

–Making last-minute changes can be difficult, if not impossible.

These lists are by no means complete, and we’re sure that our readers can come up with many more likes and dislikes for both cruising and timesharing.  So where does that leave us?  Which is better?

Neither is really better, although for us, timesharing is preferable and the benefits far outweigh those of cruising. Our choice is based on financial considerations (we would be hard-strapped to do a cruise more than once every few years!), but also the fact that we enjoy planning and researching our vacations on our own, and having the freedom to hop in the car and do our sightseeing where, when, and how long we want to do it.  Plus, we like the “hominess” and spaciousness of a timeshare, and having all those conveniences that we’re used to.

That is not to say that we didn’t enjoy our cruise, the wonderful meals, and the pampering. As we stated earlier, everyone should do at least one cruise, just for the experience—more if you can afford it.  Cruising is a special way of traveling, and the memories created can be just as wonderful as your timeshare memories—so why not do both???

One of the truly wonderful things about owning a timeshare, is that YES, you can take a vacation and spend very little money—that is, if you spend that money wisely.  If you bought your timeshare from the developer, that is probably one of the selling points that the salesperson used to try to convince you—and he or she was correct.  Now, of course, buying the timeshare from the developer didn’t really save you anything, because you could have purchased the timeshare much more cheaply on the resale market. But hopefully, you know that now, and will not fall prey to that a second time.

So regardless of whether you bought from the developer or bought resale, we are starting here with a clean slate.  For our purposes, this post will deal with what happens AFTER you acquire the timeshare.  And yes, you can operate on a shoestring budget if you follow these guidelines:

1. NEVER FLY IF YOU CAN DRIVE.

This one is tough, because so often those airfare sales look so appealing.  However, we have invariably found that cost-wise, a driving trip beats a flying trip every time. Along with the cost of airfare, you must also figure in the cost of a rental car—and the longer the vacation, the higher the price of that car.

Also, you need to figure in the cost of parking your car at the airport or rental lot—again, the longer, the pricier. And, don’t forget to calculate the miles and cost of driving to and from the airport.  If we leave from Kalamazoo, where we live, it’s no big deal.  But sometimes, to get better rates, we fly out of Chicago or South Bend. You also cannot take as much “stuff” with you—i.e. food and prep materials. Some airlines even charge $40 per bag, or $80 round trip. This can add up pretty quickly.

Granted, if you drive, and you are traveling a long distance, you also have to figure in motels for overnight stays. You should also add in wear and tear on your vehicle, toll costs, and gas. Costs for meals are probably a wash—either way, it’s expensive to eat on the road or on the plane.

The statement, “never fly if you can drive,” is a debatable one.  If you hate driving, and it truly would spoil your vacation to spend 4 days in a car on the highway, then don’t do it.  Some people have medical conditions that would prevent them from driving on long trips. Or, maybe you only get a week’s vacation—then, you surely don’t want to spend half of it in the car.  If you’re headed for Hawaii, you can’t drive. Maybe you have 3 young children who would just not tolerate 16 hours in the car. (Not to mention their parents!) What you ultimately need to decide is what’s best for you.  If this particular cost-cutting measure creates more stress than it’s worth, then don’t do it.

If you want to do a quick, ball-park comparison, click on this Fly-or-Drive Calculator. I was amazingly surprised when I charted a trip from Kalamazoo, Mi. to Orlando, Fl.  I knew that driving would be cheaper, but no way did I think that flying would cost 6 times more!

2.  PLAN TO COOK IN YOUR TIMESHARE KITCHEN INSTEAD OF EATING OUT FOR EVERY MEAL.

This is a pretty common theme inherent in many of our posts, so if you’re a regular reader of our site, you’re probably tired of hearing about it.  But it just really makes so much sense!  If you eat in restaurants 3 times a day, times the number of people in your party, you’re going to spend mega-dollars on your vacation. For that matter, who wants to be running to restaurants 3 times a day when they are so many other things to do on vacation?????  And you have a bonus amenity right at your fingertips—your own timeshare kitchen.

Actually, for a good part of the time, you don’t really even have to “cook.” If you’re like us, breakfast is usually super simple and consists of stuff that you have to unwrap, pour, slice, toast, nuke and/or stir.  I’m speaking of things like muffins, yogurt, fruit, bagels, cereal, even scrambled eggs cooked in the microwave.  It’s probably a good idea to have whatever you usually have at home, and keep it simple.

Lunch is probably even easier. Deli meat + bread = sandwich. Or, you can p, b and j it.  Add potato chips or fruit for a side.  If you want something healthier, buy a bag of salad greens and add dressing.  The problem with lunch is, you may already be out sightseeing or at the beach, and when you get hungry, you may settle for fast-food or even pricier fare.  So, its good to plan ahead for lunch, and maybe take along some nutritious snacks or even pack your lunch, if it’s practical.

So that leaves the big meal, the really expensive one—dinner. If you’ve eaten in for breakfasts and lunches, why not treat yourself to dinner out?  But, if you’re on a shoestring budget, you may not want to do this every night.  Even take-out becomes expensive.  So our solution is to click on some of our Timeshare Cooking recipes, and head to the store for the few ingredients you will need to create simple meals that taste good.  Trust me, the worst part is cleaning up afterward, which you can certainly delegate, since you did the “cooking.”

If you really hate spending time in the kitchen, we suggest reading Timeshare Cooking Cheaters—ideas for meals that are a bit pricier, but still cheaper than going out. Often you can throw things together before you head out for the day, or when everyone is relaxing in the evening.  We probably average 2 meals “at home,” in the timeshare, for every 7 days on vacation, but experiment with what works for your guests or gang and you WILL save money! See some of the amazing comparisons in this post: Part 3: The Top Ten Timeshare Mistakes. (Look at #8)

3.  MAKE GOOD USE OF THE RESORT AMENITIES, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE ACTIVITIES.

This statement seems a bit contradictory, but you will soon see that we are talking about two different things. When we refer to “amenities,” we are talking about physical offerings of the resort, such as basketball courts, pools, hot tubs, pool tables, shuffleboard courts, etc.  The term “activities,” refers to events organized by the resort staff that may include additional costs.  Let’s look at this more closely.

Most resorts offer free use of their amenities.  You paid a fee to buy your timeshare, and you also pay maintenance fees for the upkeep on these amenities, so they are not really “free,” but they go along with the territory. It is very rare to be charged a fee for using amenities, unless it is something very unique.

For example, Massanutten Resort in Virginia has a waterpark on the property, which requires a separate admission charge for guests. Occasionally, there may be something like a bike or watercraft rental.  However, there are also resorts that provide some of these amenities free to their guests:  specifically, Wyndham Resorts at Glacier Canyon and Wyndham Resorts Great Smokies Lodge both have waterparks that are free to guests.

So, usually, the amenities come with no extra charge, so why not make use of them?  As mentioned in a previous post, when we stayed at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, our grandkids had so much fun there that they hardly missed the parks—we only went 2 days out of 7.  If you have a medium-to-large family or group, and you want to save money, this is the route to go.

Most timeshare resorts have a full-time Activities Staff that offer many opportunities for having fun.  Often, there are many free things to do like ping pong tournaments, swim parties, toddler games, karaoke, welcome parties, WII tournaments, etc.  They may also offer some activities that have a nominal cost, such as ice cream sundae parties, wine & cheese gatherings, bingo, crafts, etc.  Usually most families can afford these activities, although I would rather buy a half gallon of ice cream for the condo and make my own sundaes!

Medium-priced activities might include some form of local entertainment and/or a meal at a fairly reasonable price. Some of the Wyndhams in Branson, Nashville, and the Gatlinburg area offer these kinds of events, and they are usually very well done.  The costs can add up, but are usually under $10 a person.  That seems like a lot, but compared to a professional theater show and restaurant dinner, it’s an economical alternative.

The greater expense lies in the “tours” that are often listed in the activity brochure.  This is where things can get pricey, because usually transportation is provided on a per person basis.  Even a small amount like $10 adds up when you apply it to a family of 5.  You can almost always do these tours by yourselves if you have a map and a car, thus saving quite a bit.

That doesn’t mean you would never want to do a tour. It depends on where you are, and what all there is to see.  If you’ve never been to the area before, it actually might be a good idea, so you can get the lay of the land. But at times, we’ve been to an orientation and felt pressured to do a tour because it was implied that we just couldn’t see it all on our own, we wouldn’t know where to go, the guides know all the special, secret places, etc. We went by ourselves, anyway, and had a great time exploring.  And, if you miss some things—well, you can always go back!

So, these are the 3 biggies to keep in mind when attempting to enjoy your timeshare on a shoestring budget. Obviously, there are other things that you can do also, like trying to limit your use of RCI, and thus save the exchange fees.  You can invite more guests to share expenses.  You can try to stay away from weekends when you book your trip, thus using fewer points.  You can rejoice in the fact that timeshares are so much more economical than staying in hotels.  The list goes on and on, but the really neat thing is that there are all kinds of ways to cut corners when you own a timeshare, and yet you still have a wonderful, home-like place to stay, with lots of fun activities and amenities to enjoy!

Zen is often touted as the way to inner peace. We have done some reading and studying about the “Zen Way” to a stress-free life.  We also love to timeshare and take about 15 to 20 weeks of timeshare vacations every year.  We think that our timeshare vacations can help lead all of us to a more “Zen- filled” life.

We brainstormed a list of some ways to practice the Zen philosophy on our vacations. There is some overlap, but here are some ideas to work on so you can experience some great timeshare vacations:

1.  Keep it simple. It seems like the more complicated things are, the greater the stress.  We like to use the KISS principle, which is “Keep It Simple Stupid”. We think that you need to plan less, so you can take time to enjoy your vacations. You do not need to see everything or get to every store, climb every mountain, and on and on.  Also keep it simple in what you take, cut back on the amount of clothes and extra stuff that is just creating more than you need to deal with.

2. Be in the moment. Sometimes when we go on vacation, we engage in many job- related activities like email, texting, phone calls, etc.   Granted, sometimes this is necessary, but try to limit it to maybe an hour a day.  Then, forget it all!  We also worry about things on the home front. This is harder, emotionally, to distance yourself from, but try to put things into perspective, and do the phoning, emailing and communicating once a day.  Then, try to put yourself into the vacation, enjoy the timeshare you are staying in, enjoy the people you are with, enjoy the activities, the area around you, etc.   Focus!  You are lots of miles away from home, and many things that we worry about never transpire.

3. Learn stuff. On a recent trip to Florida we found bananas growing on a tree at the resort. The entire family, from a 3 year old to an 88- old senior, was astonished by it!  (We do not have banana trees in Michigan!)  We had to take pictures, and get back to our unit so we could look up and read all about bananas on the internet. We are never too old to acquire new knowledge.  When you are on your timeshare vacation it is an excellent opportunity to do just that. Plan on learning about the area in which you are staying. Explore museums, local attractions, new activities, art galleries, etc. It is amazing the amount that we and our families have learned on our timeshare vacations.

4.  Enjoy and appreciate the beauty around you. So often we never take the time to look at and enjoy our surroundings.  We are often shocked at how the locals act toward the awesome scenery that we are seeing for the first time—and of course, they see it every day.  Look about you and take in the splendor of what you see.  We often pack a lunch and head out to climb a mountain or sit along a quiet stream—it can be most therapeutic.

5.  Participate in activities. If you can, get involved in the activities that are offered at your resort.  They offer occasions to learn new things, meet people, and get in touch with your own being.  Try yoga, a massage, playing a new game, making a new craft, zip-lining, horseback riding, whatever! Also, it could be a good chance for you to exercise.  Most timeshares have an exercise room, or offer walking and hiking opportunities.  I first tried bead jewelry-making at Wyndham Smoky Mountains, and now I do it on a regular basis. Never in a million years did I think I’d enjoy whitewater rafting, but I won a trip at Treetops, and we had a great time. You can gain a lot of insight into your own sense of self as you explore the many activities that are available to you on your vacation.

6. Relax. One of the main reasons people take a vacation is to get away from the hustle and bustle of the usual routine and mellow out.  Be sure to build in time to sit on your deck or by the pool and chill. Also, it is an excellent time to relax with a good book. Too often we think we need to fill every minute of our vacation with doing stuff– don’t get caught up in that syndrome.

7. Unplug.  We too often see folks with the TV on for the evening when there are some really neat activities happening at the resort. We’re not big TV watchers at any time, but it especially seems like when you are on a vacation, watching television would be way down on the list.  Also, try to unplug from work- related activities. Turn off your cell phone when you go on a walk or hike.  Turn off the computer and get out and enjoy yourself!

8.  Indulge in culinary pleasure. The timeshare experience lends itself to having some excellent meals. Most timeshares come with a full kitchen, so take advantage of them.   You have a chance to put together some special meals with each other, family or friends in a pleasant setting.  Check out our timeshare cooking posts on this site for many excellent timeshare cooking ideas.  You can also take the opportunity to go out on the town for that special dinner.  Slow down, and take the time to enjoy your food and the people you are with.  Too many times we inhale our food because of limited time, or just out of habit—break that cycle, savor each bite, and enjoy your surroundings.

9.  Experience culture. So often when people go on vacation they stay in their own little world.  They do not get out in and dig into the culture of the area in which they are visiting.  For example, we know people who go to Las Vegas and never leave the closest casino.  That’s sad, because there are so many amazing sights there, as well as a beautiful desert to explore. These posts will help you find them. Another example is Hawaii.  At the Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Village, we went on a nature walk with Joy, the Activities Director, and learned many interesting things about the native plants and history of the region.  That inspired us, on our own, to seek out fascinating places like the Painted Church and the Polynesian Cultural Center. Visiting Hawaii was not just visiting another state—it was visiting a fascinating place deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture and history.  Learning about their culture helped us to better understand the Hawaiian people of today.

10.  Meet people. Along with learning about the culture, the timeshare experience encourages getting out and meeting people.  We have enjoyed some excellent friendships over the years with folks we have met on our timeshare vacations.  Participate in the activities and introduce yourself to other folks. Talk to them about their vacations, what they have done in the area, where they have eaten, and share your experiences; it is amazing what you can learn.  Also, get out and meet the local people in the area you are visiting, by going to places where you might find them. It might be a farmers market, or the local store or a bare bones restaurant with a long line out front, but make the effort.

Hopefully we have given you some ideas to get in touch with your inner self and have a Zen timeshare vacation.  Tell us some of your Zen ideas, and happy timesharing!

It was reported by CBS news this month that timeshare fraud is at the top of the list of complaints by consumers.  In Florida, complaints were up to 12,000 for the year– the highest ever.  They also indicated that timeshare scams are one of the top areas of trouble, running 3 to 1 over all other types of complaints.

The timeshare industry has a bad reputation among the general population.  There are a lot of negative attitudes about timeshares and the methods that are used in both buying and selling.  There are a lot of scams that you need to be aware of.  Some of them are truly illegal transactions; others are legal but would be considered shady business practices.  We also find a lot of lies or half truths used by timeshare sales people to pressure people into buying a timeshare.  We would like to take a look at several of these in the hopes of making you aware of some of the things going on in the industry, so you will not fall victim to any of them.

Let’s start with some of the resale scams.  What usually happens is you get a call or letter from some company willing to sell or rent your timeshare for you.  They are asking somewhere around $400.00 to $1000.00 upfront for their services.  You give them your credit card number, and that’s the last you hear from them.  You are out your money and still have your timeshare with its yearly maintenance fee.

CBS reported that one individual ran up $4000.00 in credit card charges and received nothing. After paying out the money, he attempted to contact the businesses and got nowhere.  When CBS tried to contact the companies he used, they just got endless run-arounds, full voicemail boxes and no response from any of them. He was unable to recoup any of his $4000.00.

These scam artists rent an empty office somewhere, bring in a lot of temp help with all kinds of phone lines, and start calling people. They take the money and run. Some of them take your deed saying that you are off the hook, but do nothing– and you are out your money and still have the responsibility of ownership.  The bottom line is never pay any upfront fees to rent or sell your timeshare.

Another approach that has been used is for a company to buy a number of lots for around $2000.00 each in a small development in a state that is popular for retirement.  They then call you up, and offer to give you $10,000.00 (or a figure around that amount) for your timeshare if you will buy a nice lot for your retirement home for $30,000. You agree and later find out that you have purchased a pretty worthless piece of property (worth $2000) and are out your timeshare and $20,000.00. A number of companies have made millions of dollars with this approach.

We have written a couple of posts about how to sell a timeshare. If that is your need or interest, you should take a look at them. If you have been taken in by any of these tactics, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission or the Better Business Bureau.  You should also contact your state Better Business Bureau or similar organization with your complaint.  Keep close track of people’s names, with dates and times of any contacts.

We also suggest that you be very careful when talking to timeshare sales people.  We have written a couple of posts about taking a timeshare tour; they might be helpful for you to read to give you a better understanding of that process.

We have worked with and talked to some honest sales people, but keep in mind they are all trying to sell you a timeshare.  Unfortunately, some do lie, twist the truth or are unrealistic in what you can do with what you are buying.  They tell you that you can trade your week for a two bedroom in Hawaii.  After buying, you try to work out a trade and can get almost nothing when they told you it would be a snap.

They often dwell only on the positive and do not give you a true picture or understanding of what you are buying.  Many tell you it is a real estate purchase, and it will only go up in value.  In reality, the value goes down about 75 to 80 percent or more when you walk out the door. They frequently set you up with a high interest loan to pay for your timeshare; again this greatly increases your overall costs over the years.  Most often they gloss over the yearly maintenance fees you have to pay and the amount of those fees.

If you do buy from the developer, be sure to get everything in writing before you sign anything.  Also, if you later decide that you have made a mistake with your purchase, you have a certain amount of time (depending on the state in which the timeshare is located) to rescind the whole thing.  Usually it’s somewhere in the neighborhood of a week.  However, we recommend that you buy resale, and not from the developer. Again we have written a couple of posts about buying timeshares, and if you are interested be sure to check these out.

We love to timeshare, and hope you do as well.  You might buy one and get hooked by the bug and have years of wonderful vacations like we have.  You need to be careful, and continue to read this site as well as a number of the sites on our recommended lists.  Knowledge is power, and the more you know, the less likely that you will get taken in by one of these scams.  Be on guard!