Still feeling the stress of 2008?  You just might - especially if you decided not to take a vacation last year.  Even the health experts are starting to chime in with their advice: "Studies show that there are undisputed, long-term benefits associated with taking regular vacations that contribute to better health, relationships and job performance." And that's a quote from www.HealthNewsDigest.com.

Because of economic pressures, escalating costs of living, and so on many people did not take their vacation time in 2008.  A few days ago I was promoting the idea of making a vacation in 2009 a priority as opposed to others saying delete vacations from your planning or taking the now famous "staycation". Depending on your writing software, the word "staycation" gets a red underline. That means it is not a word. And it should not be. A staycation will do little to reduce your stress and will definitely not get you away from your usual routine.

Whether you like to ski, golf, hike, cycle, swim, fish, or just sit by the pool you can find great deals on travel and lodging. The travel industry is starting to offer more attractive deals as the price of oil settles down. Plus, if you rent or buy a timeshare from an owner, you can get a great deal. Even HealthNewsDigest.com recommends using a timeshare to assist you in committing to an annual vacation. You can get a five star gold crown resort for up to 50% less or better through the sales pros at www.rpmls.com .

For example, check out these deals for the Ridge on Sedona Golf Course timeshares!

Again I'd say, go on vacation - you will feel better for it!

Ridge on Sedona Golf Resort Timeshare, Sedona Arizona

Today's featured deal is a one week rental in Las Vegas at the Tahiti Village. You'd check in June 30th and out on July 7th. (Details on the Tahiti Village timeshare rental here.)  This is a two bedroom unit in the Royal Tahi section of this beautiful timeshare resort on Las Vegas Boulevard. The heart of this Polynesian-themed resort is a beautiful main pool area, complete with a lagoon-style pool with sand-beach entry, a cascading waterfall, wet decks for lounging, hot tub, and palapa umbrellas.  This timeshare rental offers a terrific discount compared to the rack rate offered at the timeshare resort Tahiti Village. Not only will you save a bundle, but you will have all the incredible amenities that a resort of this type has to offer. The Tahiti Village timeshare is located just south of the airport and offers easy access to all the action on the Las Vegas strip. Once you rent a timeshare for your vacation, you will never go back to staying in a hotel!  The size of the accommodations, amenities, fun, and family activities are way beyond what a hotel can offer.

Even better, you can buy a timeshare for way less than retail and save even more over time. Here's a few to consider:

Sell yours or make an offer to buy or rent this Tahiti Village timeshare: " Royal Tahitian" 2 bedroom lockout, Holiday Week 52, New Years annual usage.

Sell yours or make an offer to buy or rent this Tahiti Village timeshare: Week 47 - 2 bedroom lockout unit.

Sell yours or make an offer to buy or rent this Tahiti Village timeshare: "Bora Bora" 1 bedroom, Week 41, odd years usage.

Sell yours or make an offer to buy or rent this Tahiti Village timeshare: 1 bedroom, Week 43, odd years usage.

Tahiti Village timeshare in Las Vegas

According to several sources, redweek.com has released their newest list of the top 25 timeshare resort destinations (for rent). The previous list had the Manhattan Club NY NY at the top of the list. Their newest #1 timeshare resort is now Disney's Beach Club Villas. How did they arrive at top 25 list? Apparently, redweek's some 1 million users can set email alerts for their most sought after timeshare rentals. From that they derived the following top 25 timeshare resorts:

1. Disney's Beach Club Villas - Lake Buena Vista
2. Disney's BoardWalk Villas - Lake Buena Vista
3. The Manhattan Club - NY NY
4. Harborside Resort at Atlantis - Paradise Island, Bahamas
5. HGVC at Hilton Hawaiian Village - Honolulu
6. Marriott's Maui Ocean Club - Lahaina, Hawaii
7. Disney's Old Key West Resort - Lake Buena Vista
8. Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge - Lake Buena Vista
9. Costa Linda Beach Resort - Aruba
10. Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas - Lahaina, Hawaii
11. Royal Sands - Cancun
12. Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club - Kapolei, Hawaii
13. Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club - Koloa (Poipou), Hawaii
14. Orange Lake Country Club West Village - Kissimmee
15. Marriott's Newport Coast Villas - Newport Coast, California
16. Marriott's Ocean Pointe - Palm Beach Shores, Florida
17. Kaanapali Beach Club - Lahaina, Hawaii
18. Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club - Aruba
19. The Galleon Resort - Key West
20. Aruba Beach Club - Aruba
21. Sheraton Vistana Resort - Orlando
22. Westin St. John Resort and Villas - St. John
23. Smugglers' Notch Resort - Smugglers' Notch, Vermont
24. Playa Linda Beach Resort - Aruba
25. Marriott's Grande Ocean - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Regions in the top 25 list most commonly included Orlando/Kissimmee, Hawaii, and Aruba. Resort families most often included Marriott and Disney Resorts. So based on the way they gathered the information, the list represents the resorts most in demand. It would be interesting to see which ones had the most completed transactions in both rentals and sales.

Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club timeshare in Hawaii

Last week, Fox News ran a story entitled "Are Timeshare Vacations Worth Your Time?". The story put timeshare users into three categories: owner, renter, and "moocher". They discussed the pros and cons of each way to use a timeshare, with a lot of information about the best way to buy a timeshare. No doubt about it, you can buy a timeshare on the resales market for a fraction of the cost. And over time, it will factor into significant savings when you take the time to use the timeshare you purchased. When you buy a timeshare, you will be responsible for paying annual maintenance fees. But if you use the weeks you are allotted, you will absolutely save money.

Without going into an exact mathematical explanation, paying an average maintenance fee of $400 to $600 a year, plus the initial cost will end up being far less than the average rack rate at a nice resort timeshare. Plus you will receive 5 star service, amenities, pools, spas, golf, skiing, service, and more. Renting a timeshare is even better - if you can be more flexible and take the timeshare rental deals that come along. You will probably pay anywhere from $800 to $1200 a week for a 2 bedroom resort condo depending on the season, demand, and location. Still, far less than the going rate charged at the front desk.

So I'd say, timeshare vacations are worth the time, if you take the time to use the timeshare. These days, we could all probably use a vacation. Plus, using a timeshare, whether you buy a timeshare, or rent a timeshare, will save you a bundle. Be sure to check out these timeshare for sale and rent deals if you want to start saving on your next vacation! Great information here too for those who want to sell timeshare.

Be sure to read this report about timeshare resales trends - what they are selling for and where the "hot spots" are!

Sheraton Vistana Orlando Timeshare

It is not too late to find some great deals for a March 2009 vacation! Condo rentals are still available in great locations like Aruba, Orlando, Cabo San Lucas, Hawaii, Las Vegas, and others. These timeshare rental deals are being offered by the owners who are not using them for 2009 - so you can expect a terrific deal! Here's a few selected from the second week of March:

Costa Linda Beach Resort - Oranjestad Aruba - March 6 - 13. This link has 19 photos, floor plans, amenities and more.

Costa Linda Beach Resort Timeshare - Oranjestad Aruba

Mystic Dunes Resort - Kissimmee Florida - March 7 - 14. Features a par 71 18 - hole championship golf course.

Playa Grande Resort - Cabo San Lucas Mexico - March 7 - 14. Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

Playa Grande Resort Timeshare - Cabo San Lucas Mexico

Marriott's Newport Coast Villas - Newport Coast California - March 8 - 15. Majestic views overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Marriott's Newport Coast Villas Timeshare - Newport Coast California

Combine condo rental deals like this with some airfare discounts and you will have a great vacation that will not break the bank! There will be no obligation to take any tours or sit through any sales presentations. Just a great resort for a great price.

Recently www.Bloomberg.com ran a story entitled "U.S. Gas Prices Keep Some Holiday Travelers at Home". The bad news was the effect of high gasoline prices on the hotel industry.  The good news, at least from Wyndham Worldwide Corp, was that timeshare occupancy was holding up at near 100% thus bolstering the lagging travel industry.  On the east coast there are huge population centers that push the demand for affordable hotel and resort accommodations nearby.  So despite the ever climbing price of gas, people are still choosing to rent timeshare to make the most of their vacation budget.  That makes sense.  A timeshare rental will almost always be cheaper than hotels and offer far superior advantages: full kitchens, laundry facilities, exotic pools, large bedrooms. In addition, there is a good chance you can locate a timeshare condo rental that is within a reasonable driving distance.  The money you save by using a timeshare rental will make the vacation more affordable.

I have rented timeshare resorts in Las Vegas, Orlando, and other locations and always saved 75% off other less quality hotels.  What has been your experience?  Tell us about your best timeshare rental deals!

Here's to the Japanese engineer who designed this magnetic hybrid motorbike - goes up to 93 mph, charges at home in 6 hours, and will travel up to 112 miles on one charge:

Golf fans are looking forward to the FBR Open January 26 - February 1 2009 in Scottsdale Arizona (here are the FAQ's). In 2008 their highest attendance day was Saturday with 170,802!  That's a lot of golf fans! And where do they stay? Park? Eat? Most of those details are covered by the FBR website but here's one additional tip.  Consider staying in a timeshare for the tournament. A timeshare rental or owning a nearby timeshare will give you a very roomy and affordable experience.

For example, you could rent this Scottsdale Villa Mirage two bedroom condo for the week (Jan 26 to Feb 2) and be very close to the tournament (within 1 or 2 miles). There'd be huge benefits with this compared to a hotel: The beautiful amenities, kitchen, laundry, location, size, and quality of service.

Scottsdale Villa Mirage Timeshare in Arizona

Golfers who have recently committed to the tournament include Rocco Mediate, Jesper Parnevik, Rory Sabbatini, and Steve Stricker. So far, 14 of 2008's top 30 PGA Tour's money list have committed to the FBR.

Given that Scottsdale boasts of more than 300 days of sunshine a year, this ought to be a great outing. Great weather, great golf, and great golf resorts!

On Monday, Disney announced their "Armed Forces Salute" with a free five day park hopper pass for active duty and retired military members. Also, military members may purchase up to 5 additional 5 day passes for $99 each. Walt Disney World in Orlando - Kissimmee is one of the greatest theme parks and attractions in North America. This offer of free and discounted tickets for military members is generous and very appreciated! Also, Busch Entertainment Corp is offering free tickets to most of their parks for active duty military and their dependents. Busch runs the Sea World and Busch Gardens.

With most families keeping an eye on their budgets it might be easy to justify cutting out vacations. But with these incentives at least our veterans and their families can afford to relax on vacation.

Combine free and discounted park passes with an affordable timeshare rental for the family and you will have a terrific vacation! I have used timeshares all around Orlando and have had great experiences with all of them. They're affordable, roomy, well located, and offer so many amenities that you would never find in the local hotels. You could also consider buying a timeshare on the secondary market. You'll pay much less, get all the benefits, and save over time as you use your timeshare.

It's not just about cutting costs. It's about giving you and your family the break they need. Just do it. Go on vacation!

Grand Beach Vacation Resort, Orlando

With so much snow being in the news lately, now is the time to get your ski trip details ironed out. In the news, Club Intrawest announced a great package deal for their three Colorado timeshare ski resorts:  "Called the Pow Pow Platter, the promotion offers skiers and riders a $99 package that includes a day each in Steamboat Springs, Copper Mountain and Winter Park." Here's where you get it: www.powpowplatter.com . It sounds like a terrific deal for just about everything you need for your ski trip.

The most recent reports coming from Copper Mountain are "Three more inches of new snow in the last 24, a foot and a half in the last week. December has brought more than three feet of fresh powder to the world-class, naturally-divided slopes of Copper." With as much snow as we have seen from coast to coast, most ski resorts are ready to open all their trails and lifts.

As always, keep an eye on your gear for safety, know where you are going, and use the buddy system to stay safe on the ski slopes this season.

Be sure to check out the 3D interactive ski maps at www.ski.com

Timeshare rentals are available at the finest vacation resort condos worldwide. Rii® Stroman is a full service timeshare rental broker. They offer timeshares for rent on behalf of individual timeshare owners. Timeshare rentals at vacation resorts typically offer more amenities than a hotel room. Check out the differences between typical Hotel vs. Timeshare Resort.

Timeshare rentals generally have one, two, or three bedrooms, a kitchen, den, washer and dryer, making them far less expensive than hotels. Many resorts have access to golf, tennis, athletic facilities, marinas, scuba diving, ski lifts and many other recreational activities. Whether this is your first time renting a timeshare or you're a seasoned professional, Rii® Stroman can help you rent timeshare!

Why Stay in a Vacation Rental?

So why stay at a hotel when more cost effective options are available at most major vacation destinations? The majority of timeshare rentals have amenities not available in many hotels. Plus the complete kitchen facilities found in most vacation condos for rent can save on the expense of eating every meal in a restaurant.

Vacation rentals are realistically priced with some last minute deals! Click here to Search Last Minute Timeshare Resort Rental Deals!

Timeshare rentals are also a good idea for owners to consider when personal matters prevent them from using their allotted time interval. Timeshare rentals provide owners with a means to offset some of the costs associated with vacation property ownership and renting a timeshare is only one of the options available for owners who are unable to utilize their vacation interval.

Here are a few great timeshare deals currently available for rent: Consolidated Club de Soleil timeshare for rent in Las Vegas, Westgate Miami Beach & Newport Beachside Resort timeshare for rent, Royal Sands timeshare for rent in Cancun Mexico, Marriott's Mountain Valley Lodge timeshare for rent in Breckenridge Colorado, Hanalei Bay Resort timeshare for rent in Kauai Hawaii, Westin St John Resort Villas timeshare for rent, Mystic Dunes Resort timeshare for rent in Kissimmee Florida, Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas timeshare for rent in Hawaii, The Manhattan Club timeshare for rent in New York NY, Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club timeshare for rent in Hawaii, Sheraton's Vistana Orlando timeshare for rent in Orlando Florida, Marriott's Grand Chateau timeshare for rent in Las Vegas, Playa Linda Beach Resort timeshare for rent in Aruba, Marriott's Grande Ocean Resort timeshare for rent in Hilton Head SC, and hundreds of others.