Renting a Vacation Home

When planning a vacation, once the destination has been selected, among the next most important decisions is where to stay. One great option often overlooked is vacation rentals. I'm not an expert in renting vacation homes, but I have done it a half dozen times, enough to make it clear that this is a great alternative to hotels or B&Bs for any extended stay of a week or more.

Here are a few things about renting vacation homes I've learned along the way--and applicable to almost anywhere, not just where I am, on the OC, the Oregon Coast.

I'm writing this, between glances out at the breakers crashing on the beach, in a cozy little house we rented on the OC. The point is, you don't get this kind of ocean view from most hotel rooms or B&B windows where you have to pay three times as much to have such a view or twice as much for not having it.

Burooj signs deal for luxury time share suites

Dubai: Burooj Properties, the real estate investment arm of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, has signed an agreement with hotel operator group Millennium & Copthorne to manage the 164-room luxury Burooj Suites in Dubai.

Adel Al Zarouni, managing director of Burooj, said the luxury furnished suites will be offered on a timeshare investment basis.

"We see tremendous opportunities in this particular segment of the market. We are optimistic the property will add to the diverse range of the UAE's tourism industry," he said.

"With Millennium & Copthorne Group's expertise and track record, we are sure the group will offer guests at the Burooj Suites true value for money," Al Zarouni added.

Burooj Properties is engaged in both local and international project investments.

Find the best vacation deals

H ere's a tip sheet on how to ferret out the best deals on your own.

Important: When considering a package deal -- whether it's from a travel agent, a third-party booking site or a vacation discounter -- always price out the individual components at the source to make sure it is an actual deal.

1. Check the aggregator sites. Reputable sites that compile travel deals weekly include Smarter Travel (www.smarter travel.com), Travel Zoo ( www.travelzoo.com), Independent Traveler (www.independ enttraveler.com) and ShermansTravel.com (www.shermanstra vel.com). You can sign up to be notified about new offerings by e-mail every week.

2. Register with the so-called big three travel booking sites -- Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity -- to receive e-mails about deals and special offers that they broker with travel providers.

Timeshare booms at VOIC in Dubai

More than 150 movers and shakers with an interest in being at the forefront of the region's anticipated boom in the timeshare sector met at the third Vacation Ownership Investment Conference (VOIC 2007) in Dubai yesterday.

These included industry chiefs representing Marriott Vacation Club International, Rotana Hotels, Resorts and Suites, Nakheel and Dubai Economic Department.

David Clifton, Interval's managing director for EMEA and Asia, the promoter of the VOIC forum, told the audience that Interval remains committed to the growth of vacation ownership, pending key Government approvals of 'timeshare' laws to help regulate the industry. Dubai is said to be on the brink of announcing such regulation.

"Interval is now in its third decade of operation and works a network of 2,200 world-class affiliated resorts, for more than 1.8 million member families.

Fractional Ownership Explodes Onto South African Shores

Although fractional ownership has been an extremely popular concept over the past few years in the U.S.A., this concept is fairly new in the South African market. According to the African fractional ownership portal 'http://www.fractionalownership.co.za' - a one-stop shop for all news and products in the South African fractional ownership market - fractional ownership enquiries are increasing exponentially by the day, with over 1000 searches for fractional real estate ownership opportunities every week. "This new asset-sharing concept has exploded onto our shores says," Thys Geyser, Chairman of SAAFI (The South African Association of Fractional Intermediaries). "It just makes financial sense - an investor can now own exclusive property on the beachfront, in a golf resort or on a private game farm from as little as $20,000 and utilize his property four weeks per annum."

The South African property market has shown great returns in the past five years.

Divi timeshares still incomplete

Although there is no movement with the sale of the Divi Tiara Resort on Cayman Brac, the corporation says the re–construction of timeshare units there is to be completed in a matter of months.

But one timeshare owner finds it difficult to believe that the construction will soon be in motion, as the building in question was gutted two years ago and has stood open since then.

"We have been told, over two years, that the construction ‘was about to start’," said timeshare owner Edward Haladay of Baltimore, Maryland. "Today the second building stands stripped to its bones, wind and water swept – empty. We’ll believe Divi when we see it completed and occupiable".

Six of the total 12 timeshare units have been renovated. Divi Resorts Vice President Sales and Marketing Mark Steward, said construction for the remaining six is to be finished within several months.

Hamptons Luxury Homes Signs Edwin Fishel Tuccio Real Estate to Its New Sales Referral Program

Hamptons Luxury Homes (OTCBB:HLXH), a nationally recognized and award-winning luxury homebuilder of custom estate homes, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Edwin Fishel Tuccio Real Estate, Inc. for its participation in Hamptons Luxury Homes' recently-announced formal sales-referral program.
"We welcome Edwin Fishel Tuccio to the program," said Roy Dalene, president of Hamptons Luxury Homes. "We believe that his participation in this program will be mutually beneficial."
Hamptons Luxury Homes recently announced its formation of a unique sales program that enables Long Island real estate agents from firms focusing on expensive properties, to provide specific referrals of clients to Hamptons Luxury Homes and receive a fully disclosed fee on those referrals. A number of real estate firms serving the area are already very familiar with the fine quality and craftsmanship of Telemark, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hamptons Luxury Homes.

Timeshare resale business launches improved website search process ...

Vacation Property Resales introduces new technology to connect timeshare sellers with timeshare buyers on their website www.BuyATimeshare.com. As a worldwide vacation property business, they focus on improving the processes of buying, renting and selling timeshare vacation property. They market to over 250 million vacation property owners, timeshare and campground renters and timeshare buyers worldwide with state-of-the-art marketing technology combining internet, newspapers, magazines and other print and direct mail advertising, video promotions, television ads and billboards designed to effectively match timeshare sellers with timeshare buyers and timeshare renters. Now featuring advanced search technology providing website visitors with a user friendly way to find vacation property that fits their budget and vacation dreams.

Disney Dreams Out Loud

If Disney (NYSE: DIS) hits its mark, you won't need to travel to one of its lavish theme parks to soak in the pixie dust. The family entertainment giant is rolling out conceptual art depicting new destinations that include urban entertainment centers, stand-alone attractions, and themed resorts.
Disney doesn't usually dream out loud. However, Disney's latest annual report and the investor conference it held in Florida last provide a sneak peek into what may become Disney's expansion strategy.
Magic never sleeps Disney's new annual report features a foldout section full of artists' renderings of some of the attractions that Disney has on the drawing board. There's a new nighttime water spectacular, with colorful fountains serving as water screens for animated projections of popular Disney characters.

Divi timeshares still incomplete

Although there is no movement with the sale of the Divi Tiara Resort on Cayman Brac, the corporation says the re–construction of timeshare units there is to be completed in a matter of months.
But one timeshare owner finds it difficult to believe that the construction will soon be in motion, as the building in question was gutted two years ago and has stood open since then.
"We have been told, over two years, that the construction ‘was about to start’," said timeshare owner Edward Haladay of Baltimore, Maryland. "Today the second building stands stripped to its bones, wind and water swept – empty. We’ll believe Divi when we see it completed and occupiable".
Six of the total 12 timeshare units have been renovated. Divi Resorts Vice President Sales and Marketing Mark Steward, said construction for the remaining six is to be finished within several months.

Owners ready to sue Legends Resort

When Ray Foley spent $12,200 on a timeshare at Legends Resort five years ago, he was told the place would be "a palace in a few years."
Today, he said, the ceilings of the McAfee hotel and country club are covered with mold, the doors sprayed with graffiti. Other timeshare owners voiced similar complaints about sinks falling off the walls, cars seemingly abandoned in the parking lot, and nails protruding from walls and floorboards.
Foley and about 1,700 other timeshare owners are especially upset that their ability to trade their week for another resort has been suspended.
"We were lied to," Foley said. "I don't think they had any interest in the first place. I think it's been a big scam from the beginning."
Foley and about 35 fellow timeshare owners are pursuing a class action lawsuit against the former Playboy Club, which they said has fallen further and further into disrepair over the years.

Paris Vacation Rental for Short Term

If you are planning to have vacation in Paris, think of rental apartments in Paris instead of costly lodging in Hotels. Find every thing that is available in Hotel & feel at home during the vacation.
The dramatic increase of French hotel prices over the past few years, especially in Paris, have led many tourists to shorten their holiday or simply pick other European destinations to spend their vacation.
However, some wise travellers have already pitched on a far more money-saving accommodation system which, it appears, may well become as popular as the traditional hotel business in the years to come.
Indeed, weekly apartment rental has become for many the best way to experience the city of lights without putting further strain on their holiday budget.

Divi Resorts Announces A New Director Of Timeshare, Mario Bodner

Divi Resorts announces a new Director of Timeshare, Mario Bodner, who will be responsible for overseeing the timeshare sales efforts of all Divi Resorts properties. Mr. Bodner joined the Divi Resorts team in January 2007 following his position as Project Director with Harborside Resort at Atlantis in The Bahamas. With 23 years of successful timeshare industry experience (working previously with Disney, upscale Caribbean timeshares and private residence clubs), his background also includes management of sales and marketing teams as well as the implementation of accomplished marketing programs.
Were pleased to have Mario join the Divi team, and are confident that Mario will have a significant contribution to our timeshare sales efforts as we continue to grow in the Caribbean region, says Mark Steward, Divi Resorts Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Timeshare-specific laws unlikely for now

The Government believes the best form of regulation will be to give the consumer watchdog more teeth through the Fair Trading Act, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan said in Parliament yesterday. "At this moment, we are not convinced that a tribunal would work. We still prefer to take steps in strengthening the commercial practices and best practices in this industry before recommending a tribunal," said Mr Lee, who was questioned several times on the subject. In the timeshare business model, a company buys something usually properties such as holiday homes and breaks it up into shares to be sold to individuals. Popular for a while, timeshare traders have topped the Consumer Association of Singapore's (Case) complaint list over the past five years. The solution, said Mr Lee, is to give Case more powers, accredit timeshare businesses, and then publicise the bad hats