If you are fed up with trying to sell your timeshare and tired of not knowing who you can trust to unload a no longer affordable timeshare. You may want to consider donating your timeshare for a cause. What better way to donate to your favorite charity or cause with tax benefits to you. I found a site that you can do just that.
The book I used in the 70’s to travel Europe was “Europe on 10 Dollars a Day”, written by George McDonald and Arthur Frommer. You can still get the same book today but the title has changed, it is now, “Europe on 85 Dollars a Day”, 46thEdition, 2004. You can find a list of them on Amazon, Frommer’s Guides, all with different locations.
Europe on Dollars a Day, 1994 (Frommer’s Budget TravelGuide) [Paperback] George McDonald (Author), Arthur Frommer (Author) I have I visited Europe in the seventies for three months and it was great. We bought a book entitled, "Europe on $10 a day" and a Euro Rail Pass for $219.00 and airline ticket for just under $400 roundtrip and off we went. We started out with suitcases and ended up with the more practical backpacks and did a lot of walking, staying in youth hostels, but I would not trade the experience today for anything. Youth is a wonderful thing for exploring the world in this manner. What I did learn is that life overseas is much different than in the states, not
to mention the "old world" of the countries I found very appealing. Going from country to country was like traveling from state to state here, however in each travel were new languages, customs and unique cuzine! People seemed less in a hurry and were centered more on family and enjoying there time. It was less commercialized. You had outdoor markets and mom and pop stores where foods could be purchased daily. It was fresh and good for you, healthy and earthy. I have not been back since, but I am hoping that they have not changed much haven't become more "like us" too commercialized, in my opinion. Well I'm getting off base. Anyway if you have ever thought about living overseas, I would highly recommend doing some traveling in that direction. I want to share more about how you might be able to accomplish this -- unfortunately not on $10 a day any longer, but it can be less expensive than you think. So stay tune ... more later. Must go for now. P.S. What are your thoughts? Had any similiar experiences or places to share? Feel free to leave a comment. I've been thinking of travel clubs and doing a little research. I found something that I think might be better than joining a travel club. It is the same idea but instead of paying a large up-front fee (which is never a good idea) and then a yearly fee of maintenance or whatever they want to call it, you simply pay a one time low fee to enter the network and then enjoy the deep discounts as all the others.
Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend. As I reported last time I would give you an update on the latest timeshare gimmick - now called travel clubs. My aunt and uncle were invited down to Florida (they live in Georgia) upon the promise of free rooms in exhange for a two 90 minute presentations. The company had two opportunities - one being a timeshare and the other a travel club. The timeshare was the usual - near Disney World and the other being a travel club presentation in Ormond Beach, Florida. They shared the travel club presentation information with me. I summarize it as a mini version of the timeshare industry -- but instead of buying weeks at a resort you buy time at various resorts, hotels within their network. It's a bit like getting the exchange package (RCI, etc.) without the promised week at one particular resort. The pricing for this? Started at $7900.00 all the way down to $2500.00 before they gave up on my aunt and uncle and decided they weren't going to buy (they just wanted the free rooms while on their visit to Florida).
What do you get for your outlay of initial money? A place anywhere in their network at a greatly reduced price. In other words it's suppose to be like expedia.com or price.com on steriods. I didn't get the full report on how the two really compared in pricing, but of course the travel club was suppose to me much more competitive than the current prices. On top of the initial outlay - you are also responsible for approx $200-250.00 yearly fee (club fee???) not sure how or what that was for and how they justified the price. To be sure - it probably was not a fixed rate. So there you have it. Just more of the same. My aunt and uncle have owned a timeshare in South Carolina for years and have enjoyed the benefits - but my aunt told me they use to be able to go the the same resort at different times within the network, not during their particular week time, by just paying $10.00 a night. However the same thing today cost them $80.00. I think I would rather keep my $7900 - $2500 plus the $200+ spent every year which adds up to thousands over time., put it in an interest bearing account and take the chance with my own price negotiations. I believe I would still come out ahead, but that's just me. I like to live dangerously and am more spontaneous than some. If you don't feel that adventerous - then a travel club might work for you. What are your thoughts about this? Had a travel club experience, tell us! You have been working hard and you deserve a break. Hope you all enjoy all the things you like to do with friends and family, picnics, boating, beach, fishing whatever it is - have fun. I'm looking forward to a visit from relatives in two weeks. Also will be checking out the newest in travel clubs. Going to a presentation so will fill you in on that latest scoop if you have been thinking of that. Travel club vs. timeshare -- what's the difference? Have a great mini vacation in the meantime.
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June 2011
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