Looking to Buy? Learn the Disadvantages of Timeshare Resale

Timeshare properties have made it possible for many individuals to enjoy owning a piece of vacation property they wouldn't otherwise afford to buy through traditional means. What makes timeshare an attractive option is that the ownership or the rights to use the property is made available but the more taxing parts involving ownership responsibilities (maintenance, repair, utility charges, mortgage, etc.) are taken away. With timeshare resales being offered at nearly half their original price, it's not really surprising that many people are encouraged to buy. However, they may not always be a good option. Here are some of the disadvantages of timeshare resale:

You sell it at a loss.

A timeshare resale does not exactly equate to a good sale. If you buy one and then decide to resell it later, you can't expect to profit from it. In fact, you even have to expect to sell at a loss.

You can't price the timeshare to your advantage.

If you're a timeshare reseller, you definitely cannot ask for the same price as a developer.

For one, you truly have no reason at all. Developers actually spend for the cost of presentations, advertising and promotions. Those free gifts they give away at the end of those long presentations? They aren't actually free - developers have to spend for them. If you add up all the expenses they incur when selling timeshares, that's around 40% to 50% of the price they charge for the timeshare.

Since you'll be using the resale market, you will have to keep your prices competitive to attract potential buyers. You also can't try to outdo the system by raising your prices. Chances are, there are other sellers in your category and location who may be offering more competitive prices, which means you have to keep your prices low.

You might have to compete with major players.

Resales usually do not have the same reputations as those sold through developers.

Some of the biggest names in real estate are involved in timesharing. Think Disney, Hilton and Marriott and you have a pretty good idea of what you can expect. They have the reputation and you don't - at least, not yet.

If you're a seller, this means that you will have to market your timeshare more aggressively in order to get noticed.

So you bought it at a good price. You still have to pay for its upkeep.

You may have purchased only the rights to use the timeshare property but that doesn't exempt you from being involved in the dirty work. You still have to pay for the maintenance fees of the unit for as long as your contract holds. That will set you back by about $400 to $500 a year - a figure that will go up, depending on how the current markets behave. Fees will also go up should the area become popular or exclusive.

You're open to scams.

Another disadvantage of timeshare resale is that some of it may be offered through a scam. It's the hard face of reality but scams in the timeshare industry do exist and you might not be immune to them. Beware of unnecessary pressure being imposed by the salesperson or any policies that you think may be suspect. Check the stipulations on your contract and ask for clarifications on any points that confuses you. Protect yourself from anything that might turn your timeshare resale dreams into a nightmare.

Nick Stoles has contributed many articles on Timeshares topics like timeshare exchange and forex articles like online forex trading. Want more timeshare tips? Visit http://www.financecontrols.com for more information.

East London, South Africa - So Much to See With Your Car Hire!

Attractions to explore in the East London area...

British settlers founded East London in 1847 on the only river port in South Africa, Port Rex. It was the scene of many battles between the British Forces and the Xhosa native tribes in the area. Owing to the great trade in Port Rex, the population and manufacturing industry grew significantly, expanding into East London as we today. The most important industry in the region is automobile manufacture; other industries include pharmaceuticals and textiles.
The city has a great tradition of sport including rugby, motor racing and cricket.

East London is a perfect base for touring other parts of South Africa when you hire a car.
Although the city is now bypassed by the N2, the N2 is easily accessed, and this National Road will enable you to reach both Durban and Cape Town. The N6 road connects the city with Bloemfontein. East London has its own airport, just 10km from the city centre, and has connecting air routes to all of the main regions in South Africa.

Around the city, there's lots to do and see. Apart from the golden sandy beaches, you can take a trip to the East London Museum, which has exhibitions relating to the animals found in the area, and also the prehistoric fish, the Coelacanth, which was discovered by local fisherman in 1938.

There are other museums and art galleries to be found in East London, the City Hall and the Ann Bryant Gallery are well worth a visit. The Queens Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens is a great place to spend an afternoon with the kids along with the East London Aquarium and Ocean Viewing Deck, where you can see many types of different fish and penguins.

The following are some of the main attractions that you can visit as you drive in the East London area:

Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve

Located just 30km northeast of East London, on the N2, is the Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve. It's home to many different animals; lions, tigers, elephants, buffalos, giraffes and zebras. For the explorer, camp accommodation can be arranged at the Valley Camp on the reserve. You can take guided tours if you wish.

Mpotshane Private Game Reserve...

The Game Reserve at Mpotshane, which is located 50km from East London near Komga, boasts stunning views of the surrounding area. It's positioned on the N2 heading towards Durban. The reserve is situated in a mountainous setting with waterfalls and marvellous cliff faces. You can also rent lodge accommodation at the reserve and feel free to drive around the reserve.

There's also wonderful game, plant and birdlife waiting to be explored at Mpotshane. You can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities here as well including quad drives, game drives, fishing, game and bird watching. To get here, take the N2 to Umtata and follow the signs for the game reserve.

The Lion Park East London...

East London has its own game reserve, which is located just 5km from the city on the N6. As the name implies, there are mostly lions here, but other animals found here include tigers, giraffes, crocodiles, zebra and plenty of bird life.

Addo National Elephant Park...

If you want to see what is possibly the most impressive National Park in South Africa, the Addo National Elephant Park is a must. Within the park you'll see elephants, lions, rhino and buffalo, and there's accommodation for visitors on a camping site and game lodges - it's advisable to book this well in advance though! The park is located about 200 km from East London.

Wild Coast Trail...

Headiing north from East London, in the direction of Durban, you'll find the Wild Coast Trail. This is a scenic 280km trail along the Wild Coast from Port Shepstone to East London. Hiking, biking, diving and fishing are popular activities in the area.

Mairead Foley writes for http://www.Novacarhire.com/ where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.

Visit Novacarhire.com for all you need to know before you take to the roads in South Africa, like where to go and what to see with your car hire. Book your Car hire East London now.

Vacation Home Rental Vs Hotel Room - The Choice is Yours

As I look back at vacations in the past, I now find it hard to believe that year after year, my vacations were spent with my three daughters in a 12 x 20 room. The five of us would share two queen beds. The kids would argue, not only about what bed they would sleep in, but in what order they would lie in the bed. The best places, were, of course, the sides of the bed. The worst was the middle. Usually the youngest got the middle. On day one of the vacation, they didn't know what they were signing up for by sleeping in the middle. But, by morning, the baby of the group made it well known that they weren't going to be sleeping in that spot the next night of the vacation! So every night became a battle of who was going to get the middle. Then there was the television set. Smack in the middle of the 12 x 20 room was the bone of contention! There were arguments over who was going to watch what. My husband and I wanted to watch CNN to catch up on all the news of the day, the little one wanted to watch Barney and the older girls wanted to watch their shows. Some nights on our vacation, we would solve the arguing by just turning the set off. No one got to watch anything!

Shower time! One bathroom for five people! It was beginning to sound a lot like home . . . far from a vacation. They would find things to argue about with the bathroom, such as who used up all of the towels , who used up the little samples of shampoo and conditioner, and of course, who forgot to flush the toilet. Yes, as I think back about our vacations in the "room," it was clear to me that our camping trips in a 8 x 8 tent were far more fun! We would listen to the night noises, see shadows on the tent, get cozy with each other just to keep warm. I am not sure if the Hilton's, or the Ramada's or the Motel Six's were responsible, but someone put the idea in our heads that fun vacations began and ended in the hotel room. Not.

I had came up to the St. Louis area to be close to one of my four daughters in 2005. In 2007, I had to make a choice about selling my Florida home or keeping it. I really didn't want to sell. I love Florida! But times were getting tough and the housing market was getting even tougher--especially in Florida! My youngest was in high school and didn't want to move back until she graduated. I had tried to rent by the year and it ended up to be a big disaster. I still don't know exactly where the idea came from, but it came! "Rent the home as a vacation rental." It surely couldn't hurt to try. I am now going into my second year renting my Daytona Beach area home as a vacation rental and I can truly say that from this experience renting to others, my hotel days are over. I will use the hotel stay for those one night stays during traveling. I have learned a lot from renting my own home to others. I now know that when I want to go back to Reno someday, I will look on popular vacation home rental web sites to find my perfect vacation home rental. The sites are endless and of excellent quality. Somewhere in the pages of available home rentals, you will find the perfect home away from home for you and your family. I am convinced that this is vacationing at its finest. Although, there are many reasons why, let me share some of the most important reasons why vacationing in someone's rental home might be one of the smartest moves you will ever make--at least when it comes to a vacation!

1. SPACE: Imagine this: Your family of five staying in the 12 x 20 room vs staying in a 1600 square foot home. Everyone has their own room, AND their own television set. If you decide you want to make a birthday cake, you can! If you decide you want to play the piano in the parlor, you can! The "can's" are endless in a home setting. You are very limited in a hotel room.

2. MEALS: The price of food has gone up dramatically, but not nearly as dramatic as the prices charged for prepared meals. A family of five having dinner at Red Lobster may run over $100.00 We have found that it doesn't matter if you share a meal. Somehow, it still seems to total over $100.00 You can cut a great deal of your vacation budget by eating meals right at the vacation home rental. It doesn't always have to include slaving over a stove either. Bagels for breakfast, sandwiches at the beach, fast dinners in the evening would save a family a lot on your their food budget. Decide on a few nice restaurants and treat your family to one or two nice restaurant meals. This is perhaps the most cost effective part of renting a vacation home rental. In our frantic world, think of the bonding that could take place while sharing a meal together on a pool deck in Florida.

3. SAFETY: Somehow, there is a feeling of safety when you stay in an established neighborhood. My vacation rental is located in a cul-de-sac. It is quiet. The only people who come into the cul-de-sac are those that live there. For those that have children, it is safe to let the kids ride their bikes or take walks around the cul-de-sac. You can keep your eye on them.

4. UNIQUE FEATURES: Every homeowner that rents their home as a vacation rental has built into their home something I call "unique features." For instance, I feel that my unique feature is the fish pond I built with my own two hands. It was hard work. It is not a model fish pond but one, nonetheless, which is home to goldfish and one which will bring delight to the young and old alike. Some homes may have a jukebox, some an in ground pool with special lazer lights . . . you never know what the uniqueness will be until you book because owners of vacation rentals can't disclose every quality about their home in an ad.

5. OVERALL COST: Although you may think that a room for $89 sounds like a steal of a deal, remember the space, the eating out savings, the safety and the unique features when you decide: hotel room or vacation home rental. The choice is yours.

Miriam Carney, a Registered Nurse has spent the majority of her life traveling. She has lived in Alaska, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois and Florida. She has vacationed in Prince Edward Island, Bar Harbor, Maine, London, England, Dublin, Ireland and more! Currently, Miriam works as a staff nurse at Christian Northeast Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri and rents out her home in Florida as a vacation home rental. Miriam's motto? You just have to get away... sometimes. http://www.justgottagetaway.com Visit beautiful Port Orange, Florida... unique by choice, not by chance.

Finding the Best Winter Break

Tour operators and major airlines operate all year round and have to maintain their profit margins. For those seeking either the winter sun or snow, you can find good holiday deals for this time of year.

We all get fed up with the UK weather at this time of year and many people book a winter break. If you want to get away to the sun, then the most popular winter sun destinations include the Canary Islands, Spain and Egypt. These destinations offer excellent and consistent temperatures but it is also worth remembering that Europe can also offer plenty of alternatives. If you can afford a long haul holiday, then the Caribbean is one of the most popular destinations with Bahamas and Barbados favourites for everyone. Or you could go further afield and try some of the delights of the Indian Ocean such as Goa and the Maldives.

Skiing holidays are associated with the winter and the most popular places include France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland or anywhere in Europe that offers snow and mountains. Many travel to America or Canada where skiing is a national pastime. Skiing was once the hobby of the rich and famous but prices have declined in recent years and there are many good deals around for all types of skier, from the learner to the more experienced. Make sure you check the projected snow falls of the area that you choose - in recent years, some resorts have seen declining levels of snow which has made skiing sporadic.

If you just want to get away for a winter holiday city break, there are shopping trips available to all the major cities of the world, from Paris to New York. You can combine your Christmas shopping with sightseeing and take in the traditional culture of winter in other cities of the world. As a rule of thumb, prices will be higher over the holiday period so if you are able to get away before or after, then you stand a better chance of a cheaper deal.

James X King Besson writes many articles on holiday advice. James has written articles on how to find last minute holidays and on holiday destinations worth traveling to.