Spinnaker Resorts is highly noted for its properties being located in markets that offer different vacation experiences, Spinnaker Resorts’ signature is evident from the architectural elements that reflect the local landscape to first-rate resort amenities; including state-of-the-art swimming pool areas, health and fitness facilities, and a vast array of recreational programs.  Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. recently announced that it has expanded and enhanced its relationship with Spinnaker Resorts.  Spinnaker owners can further enjoy Interval’s vacation exchange services, as well as an array of other leisure programs and benefits.  As a result of the recent agreement, owners and guests can expect a renewed affiliation of two existing resorts in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with an additional affiliation of its Spinnaker Flex Options program adding three resorts on the island to the Interval Network.  Also included are two resorts in Branson, Missouri, as well as a new project in Ormond Beach, Florida.  Included resorts on Hilton Head Island, SC are; Resort and Marina, The Carolina Club, Egret Point, Southwind, and Waterside.   The popular family entertainment destination; The Bluewater in Branson, Missouri is nestled in the heart of the Ozark Mountains.  Also included in the Branson, MO network is the Palace View Resort and Palace View Heights, which is currently under construction. Rounding out these wonderful family-fun vacation and timeshare spots is The Royal Floridian South, located right on the beach in Ormond Beach, FL.      

Owners who purchase at one of the Spinnaker Resorts are enrolled as individual members of Interval International, as well as Interval Gold(R), an upgraded level of membership. In addition to the opportunity to exchange accommodations for those at other resorts in Interval’s worldwide network, owners can relinquish resort weeks toward the purchase of cruise, golf, and spa vacations.  Also, take advantage and enjoy an extensive menu of Gold benefits, including; discounts on resort Getaways, ShortStay Exchanges, access to a 24-hour personal concierge service available via phone and e-mail, complimentary Hertz No. 1 Gold(R) membership, and worldwide hotel and dining discounts.

Think of a refreshing contrast to various high-rise hotels on the coast and themed conference centers throughout Florida…there is an entirely new resort concept being introduced to Central Florida. Streamsong Resort promises to provide visitors with a getaway destination that offers amenities and activities that will embrace the landscape of the state’s historic heartland when it opens in the fall of 2013.  The concept Streamsong will be offering guests is a combination of elements similar to other well-known East Coast luxury destination resorts such as; Keswick Hall in Virginia, Blackberry Farm, Tennessee, the Equinox Resort & Spa, Vermont and the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina.  The new resort and concept will be located in Polk County, Fla., which sets between Tampa and Orlando.

Situated on 16,000 acres of land, Streamsong will be home to approximately 140 guest rooms, five villas, two highly distinctive 18-hole golf courses, more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, three restaurants and two lounge areas, a full-service spa, hiking and nature trails, a clay pigeon range and unparalleled Florida bass fishing.  Development plans are leaving for potential expansion to more than 200 rooms as option down the road.  The resort buildings will be constructed with materials that blend with the natural environment and the main facility is being built overlooking a lake, giving every guest room view of the water. Most rooms will be larger than the traditional design, with a layout that feels more like three separate spaces rather than a conventional hotel room. The villa rooms will offer grand views and a more private visitor experience.

The design-plans for the two 18-hole golf courses are fixed to capitalize on the topography of formerly mined phosphate land. The land is structured by rolling hills, dunes, dramatic contours and lakes resulting from the mining process, and will make for challenging, dramatic and aesthetically fulfilling golf.  The courses are being designed by three renowned golf course architects, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw of Coore & Crenshaw and Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design.  Special to the new Resort, this will be only the third location in the world boasting golf course designs by both the Coore & Crenshaw and Doak teams, following highly acclaimed projects in Oregon and Tasmania, Australia.

Spa and treatment facilities are set to be within approximately 15,000 square feet of private treatment rooms, a fitness center, swimming pool, classroom space for personal enrichment programming and a library where visitors can learn more about the rich history of Florida. Outdoor amenities include an infinity pool with food and beverage service, unparalleled Florida bass fishing, and other activities such as croquet, birding tours, sport clay shooting, hiking and nature trails.

Business travelers and/or 1-2 day guests will also be able to immerse themselves in unique personal enrichment programs such as collaborative culinary and wine classes, writing and other skill enhancement seminars, and a performing and cultural arts series that will involve musicians and artists from the region.

Since opening in April 2010, The Hyatt Regency Curaco has stolen the thunder from other resorts. Set on 27 acres on the far side of stately Table Mountain (named for its flat top), the Golf Resort Spa and Marina is nestled between Spanish Water Bay and the Caribbean Sea. The manila-colored, 350-guestroom buildings feature 15 suites — and the Spa suites offer daily 90-minute massages. Lying on the beach or swimming in the tranquil hip-height water brings complete serenity. A livelier atmosphere waits at three pools or at the poolside restaurant SWIM.

By day guests can enjoy a gracious round of golf on the 18-hole, par 72 Pete Dye course that runs along the sea and under Table Mountain. If golf is not your fancy, or you feel like tennis, guests can have a lesson with one of the resident pros or match play on the HydroGrid clay tennis courts. After a vigorous workout in the fitness center, aching bodies appreciate the 4,500-square-foot Atabei Spa, where treatments can be conducted indoors or outdoors.  Once relaxed and ready for an evening out; the Willemstad offers plenty of selection for dinner, or have your choice at Hyatt’s SHOR restaurant. The American grill cuisine includes: Prime aged rib eye steak, with tasty lobster macaroni and cheese.

Offering views that are second-to-none, Hyatt Regency Curacao is a full-service Dutch Caribbean resort, perfectly situated on 27 acres of pristine property between the Caribbean Sea and the Spanish Water Bay.  An integral member of the Caribbean trio universally referred to as the ABC Islands, Curacao is located only 35 miles from both Aruba and Venezuela

Travel and Timeshare Inexpensively to the Caribbean

Just because the economy has forced us into reeling back our spending habits, doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice timeshare and vacation trips to get the much deserved fun and relaxation we are all entitled to.  If you are a vacationer traveling out of the US, there are premier timeshare destinations around the world where the US dollar is buying “more”.  Travelers wanting to play the dollar to their advantage in sunnier spots should fare well in the Caribbean. Compared with two years ago, U.S. currency now buys you more throughout the region, from Jamaica, which has its own dollar, to islands like St. Bart’s and Martinique, which use the euro. In addition, the dollar has gained on the Mexican peso, and in doing has enhanced some of the already sweet timeshare vacation package deals there.  But if the US Southern neighbor’s Caribbean coast isn’t fitting your fancy, the Mayan Riviera, located less than an hour south of the Caribbean coast has had an influx of luxury resorts being built.

Regardless of the economy, we all have to reward ourselves for the hard work we do every day; take a trip, use that timeshare…relax in the sun and know that the Caribbean is thinking about you!

When most people initially try to sell a timeshare they bought from a developer, they fail to realize that the re-sale value of their timeshare is only a fraction of the price they paid to the developer.  Because there are typically more sellers than buyers, the Re-sale market becomes an effective buyers market offering availability, same packages as buying direct, and discounted prices.  As a rough guide, re-sale prices closely reflect fifty percent of the original buy price; this is a direct correlation to the elaborate marketing programs developers roll-out for new developments and expanded units, thus driving a substantial difference in Developer/Resort Sell Prices verse Re-sale Market Sell Prices.  In some instances prices for units or villas at exceptional resorts have held near there original sell price; these are usually top quality resorts in locations with high demand and limited supply.  In many cases, these resorts also operate re-purchase programs to maintain higher resale values.  Conversely, some timeshare units are essentially worthless.

Generally, individual owners are limited to how they can sell their ownership, and just as the resort/developer deployed mass advertising programs to find you, the buyer, re-sellers must practice the same strategy; and that is to reach as much of the worldwide market as possible, and inform buyers your timeshare is available at a reasonable asking price; in essence, the lower the asking price the quicker the sale!

Through extensive marketing research some re-sale companies have earned a very positive reputation for finding buyers for individual re-sellers.  Their success is driven around extensive advertising campaigns and value-added services.  Other companies may do a portion of advertising, but there are only a select few who have the ability to reach over 250 million people a day, both nationally and internationally.  In addition to worldwide web advertising, effective companies will gain exposure in periodicals targeted to specific markets/resorts.  However, not every potential buyer or renter is searching in periodicals, and the companies that realize this enhance exposure by being on top of all major search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc.).  Being ahead of the competition on the major search engines is costly, but ultimately allowes for a viable timeshare re-sale.  Sellers pay no commissions, closing costs, or hidden fees because their advertising fee has been paid in advance.  eMarketer projects 2010 Internet advertising to be around 35 billion dollars; with 40% of that geared towards search engine optimization and 21% geared towards display advertising.  Let’s face it; we are much more educated as a consumer with 29% of our time spent online.  Buyatimeshare.com and other Re-sale companies are keeping in line with technology and executing sophisticated strategies in place for gaining prominent exposure and searchability under specific resorts, and in essence reaching a huge buyers market with targeted campaigns and SELLING timeshare for-sale-by-owner.