Interesting Facts About Hawaii

Hawaii is comprised completely of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean. While these are some basic facts about these amazing islands, you really need to take a look at the state deeper to find out some interesting and not well known things.

Little Known Facts About Hawaii

Before become a state Hawaii was kingdom. The first King of Hawaii was a man named Kamehameha the Great. The kingdom was established with help from the British between the years of 1795 and 1810. The monarch oversaw the Privy Council which handled the administration of the kingdom. This system had ministers which oversaw different departments and was based on the British political system. These administrators also acted as advisors to the monarch. Throughout the 1800s the powers of the monarch declined until eventually a bicameral parliament was established.

Interesting Facts About Hawaii

This reign of the first king is still celebrated on Hawaii on June 11th as King Kamehameha the First Day. This day is the only holiday established during the monarchy and has been celebrated since it was established in 1871. The holiday includes a traditional floral parade with horses and riders adorned in flowers. In addition there are hula competitions and music festivals with local food, history and community activities. The parade traditionally occurs down the Akoni Pule highway and continues to the Kohala Cultural Center. This event is great for visitors looking for cultural history and facts about Hawaii.

Geological Facts About Hawaii

Hawaii contains many live volcanoes and is one of the most studied geological places in the world. One of these unique features is Halemaumau, a pit crater, found in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. At the national park visitors can find many interesting facts about Hawaii and volcanoes in general. On display are the results of years of volcanic evolution on the Big Island. Guests can tour the park can camp there and go to the many events that highlight the history and unique geological aspects of the island.

On the Big Island there are five volcanoes Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea. Hualalai, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea are all active volcanoes and in some places you can actually see the lava flowing. All of Hawaii was formed by volcanoes and the islands continue to move and grow. This makes this State unique in the U.S. and many tourists go to Hawaii to see mother earth in action.

Interesting Facts About Hawaii
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Rich Wells runs his own online travel business. His particular specialty is vacation rentals. Check out these great Hawaii Travel Guide ideas and info or perhaps Hawaii Vacations are more your style.
http://www.squidoo.com/Hawaii-Vacations

Best Ever Titanic Jokes - Essential Reading For Your Cruise Vacation

RMS Titanic, when built, was the largest cruise line in the world, unmatched in opulence and luxury. The ship boasted every entertainment imaginable, including a squash court, a swimming pool, a gymn, a Turkish bath and a magnificent library. The furnishing was very stylish, and the dining room walls were fitted with extensive oak wood panelling. The ship was constructed in the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, and after a much-publicised launch, underwent sea trials as it steamed down to Southampton on the south coast of England. On the 10 April 1912, carrying a total of 2223 passengers and crew, the ship set sail on its maiden trip to New York. Four days into its voyage, steaming through a dark and cold Atlantic night, the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank two hours and forty minutes later, with the loss of 1517 lives.

How could such a terrible tragedy become the subject of everyday humour? Possibly to blame are the owner's of the ship, the White Star Line. To quote their widely-read publicity brochure produced in 1910 for the sister ships Titanic and Olympic, 'these two wonderful vessels are designed to be unsinkable'. Even during that fateful night in 1912, when the New York office of White Start Line was told that the Titanic was in difficulties, White Star's Vice President, Philip Franklin said 'We place absolute confidence in the Titanic. We believe the boat is unsinkable'.

So this hotch-potch of tragedy, misfortune, and irony give us an excuse to laugh away the capricious and fateful nature of our existence.

Best Ever Titanic Jokes - Essential Reading For Your Cruise Vacation

Now, down to sorting out the good jokes from the bad (and there certainly are a lot of bad). The following are the Editor's favorites, thus apologies if your own picks are not present.

* What was the last thing anyone said on the Titanic? 'I know I ordered ice but this is ridiculous!'

* What sort of cake do they have for desert on the Titanic? Upside-down cake!

* Which ship can never get hit by an iceberg? FriendSHIP!!

* What goes down well with ice? The Titanic!

* What do you get if you cross the Atlantic Ocean with the Titanic? About halfway!

* The chief designer of the Titanic had a lisp. That's unthinkable!

* On the Titanic the captain calls a meeting of his officers:
'I have some good news and some bad news. Which do you want to hear first?'
'The good news', replies an officer.
'We'll get eleven Oscars.'

* Titanic was about to sink. People on the ship were shouting, crying, running and praying. A passenger went up to the captain to ask him a question.
Passenger: How far are we from land?
Captain: Two miles...
Passenger: Only two miles, then why are these fools making so much noise. I can swim that far easily.
Captain:.....Uh????
Passenger: In which direction should I swim?
Captain: Downward..

* So there were some good things that came out of the Titanic sinking:
According to the news, the last survivor was fond of saying: 'If it hadn't been for the ship going down, I'd be an American'.

*Sign seen in an office: The difference between this place and the Titanic is.... they had a band!

*Management consultant to crewmember -
Consultant: To confirm, are we short of lifebelts or lifeboats?
Crewmember: Both, Sir.
Consultant. Excellent, we've made savings across the board.

*Heard when the ship went down...
So this isn't New York?
It's still better than Carnival!
So has the all-night buffet been canceled?
How big a carry on can I take on the lifeboat?
Do you mind if I hold your baby for a minute?
This is definitely the last time I book a cheap repositioning cruise!
Ah, so this is what they mean by 'cruise to nowhere'.
We can't afford to stop here long. I've got a plane to catch in New York.
Nobody reads my tweets, but if we get one of the celebrities on board to twitter this, it'll hit the news!
Ooh my wife's fallen overboard. Hold the lifeboat. I've got to update my Facebook status.

With just one or two of these jokes, you would be well armed for some light humour after dinner on your cruise ship. But imagine you were one of the passengers on MS Explorer, a cruise ship which sank off Antartica in 2007. All 154 passengers and crew spent many hours floating on life rafts in icy seas, before being picked up by MS Nordnorge, a Norwegian cruise ship fortuitously cruising in the vicinity. The shipwrecked passengers and crew kept up their spirits by telling Titanic jokes to one another. So, just in case you were ever to fall into this miserable predicament, it might be wise to remember more than just one or two!

Best Ever Titanic Jokes - Essential Reading For Your Cruise Vacation
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Hi, I'm Costa Marcos and I am the webmaster of Cruise Timetables, an invaluable resource for all cruise enthusiasts. Quickly find all the cruises leaving from (or visiting) a specific port, together with comprehensive itinerary timetables.

Cruise Ships For Sale

We all know that cruise ships are great getaway on the high seas. But did you know that cruise ships in all shapes and sizes are available for sale? Depending on your budget, you could buy a cruise ship for a steal at million, or the price can rise into the millions. The price depends on the size of the ship, passenger amenities and its condition. The metal used in building the ship is important too, because rust would prove to be a negative selling point.

Most cruise ships have staterooms, public rooms, cabins, scullery (pantries), dining halls, entertainment areas and swimming pools. Space for retail outlets such as bookstores, gift, souvenir shops and hair salons, may or may not be present depending on the cruise ship. A spa, health and fitness club, and sports bar are also built into most of the cruise liners. Sanitary facilities should be examined closely in all cabins and public areas to know what basic amenities are available.

The scullery usually is equipped with all necessary appliances including ovens (conventional, convection and microwave), stoves, toasters, refrigerators, coolers, pots and pans and all the ingredients to provide the guests with the best meals during their journey.

Cruise Ships For Sale

Passenger observation decks are on most cruise ships to allow passengers to enjoy the beauty of the sea while the ship is on the move. Most of the cruise ships also come equipped with a casino housing gaming tables like blackjack, roulette, poker, dice and slot machines. There is usually a satellite connection for televisions provided in all the mega liners to entertain guests.

Some of the most important amenities on a cruise ship are located in the pump room, chiller room and office rooms. Other important cruise ship information would include the security available for guests and their valuables, provisions to store perishables, makes and models of engines; space allocated for engines, generators and the rudder rooms. New cruise ships come with electrical fittings, heavy machinery such as the engines, other machinery such as those used for steering the ship, deck machinery, air compressors, fire, bilge and other necessary pumps in the pump rooms -- all the equipment required for securing and mooring the ship.

Last but not least, the cruise ship must be equipped with lifesaving equipment, as well as first aid kits to handle any emergencies. Fire extinguishers with hoses and spanners, lifebuoys, life floats, rescue boats, distress signals such as flares, common bandages, medicine chest etc., form the major part of the emergency paraphernalia.

Before buying a cruise ship, the buyer needs to do some homework to make sure that the condition of the ship is acceptable, as well as all technical matters pertaining to the ship's ability to function properly.

There are excellent websites on the Internet that provide details about various cruise ships on sale. Browsing through these will give you a good idea of the price range and amenities to look for in a cruise before signing on an agreement.

Cruise Ships For Sale
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Cruise Ships provides detailed information about cruise ships, alaska cruise ships, cruise ship jobs, cruise ship reviews and more. Cruise Ships is the sister site of Cheap Caribbean Cruises.

How Much Do Disney Cruises Cost - Is it Really Worth Your Money?

Is it really worth it to go on a Disney cruise? The truth is that you can go for much less in a Disney cruise or for any other cruise lines that you have in mind. In fact, you are guaranteed to save thousands on your every trip by learning secret cruise travel tips but I'll reserve that for later. You have to remember though that going on a Disney cruise is typically more expensive than others but it's well worth your money.

If this is your first time to go, you might want to try a three or four night cruise. Visit the Disney cruise website and start the pricing. There are some families who got some amazing deals in November and in February and the prices can be worthy of comparison to other cruises. The cost for a Disney cruise will vary on the time when you'll go and the kind of cabin that you want. Cruise travel sites like Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity can give you the cost after you've picked a date and the cabin type that you want.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian are other cruise lines that cost about 30% less and are also family friendly. If you don't have children who are aged 12 years or younger, it might be a good idea to look for another cruise line. You can expect a budget of around 0 for every person per day in a typical 7 night cruise. This spending doesn't yet include shore excursions, souvenirs and alcohol. You might want to give your kids some spending money so they won't bug you all the time and you have to be prepared because their kiosk is right near the kiddie pool.

How Much Do Disney Cruises Cost - Is it Really Worth Your Money?

There's a family of 5 who got the category 4 cabin (with balcony) and they paid just around ,000 for a 3 night cruise. They enjoyed it because everything was included and they only had to pay for other items like souvenirs, excursions and the gratuities. One very good tip is to book your cruise from other travel websites and not from Disney itself because they will charge you a lot more with the tickets.

How Much Do Disney Cruises Cost - Is it Really Worth Your Money?
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Cruise lines are very good at persuading you to spend more money than you'll ever need. That's how they're profiting. Everything inside a cruise ship is designed to get you to spend more money. But it doesn't have to be that way.

I hope this article somehow gave you an idea on how much do Disney cruise cost but there's still a critical mistake that 99% of the cruise passengers make while cruising and it's costing you big time. You can save thousands of dollars on your every cruise by knowing secret cruise travel tips. Outsmart cruise lines and go to http://www.IntelligentCruiserReview.com/

How To Avoid Sea Sickness On A Cruise

The pleasure of cruising along on open water with the sea breeze blowing at tropical temperatures is one that every person should be able to experience without the unpleasant side effect of nausea. I suffer from motion sickness from a variety of different sources. Even movement on a television screen makes me sick. Or when someone who is sitting nearby nervously shakes their leg. Elevator rides make me nauseous and horse back riding too.

I have been sick to my stomach on a small fishing vessel that I paid a fortune to charter so when my brother suggested a cruise years ago I thought to myself that I may have more fun jumping off the Eiffel tower. At least it would end. I have since traveled on many cruises without the troublesome problem of sea sickness. I want to share what I have learned so that you too can enjoying cruising as much I do.

The easiest and most economical way to stop sea sickness is to walk. This is what is meant by getting your sea legs. When you walk around a moving ship the fluid in your inner ear learns the motion of the ship in a controlled way. When you feel sea sickness coming on walk,walk,walk. The worst thing you can do is take to your bed. Lying down will make your nausea worse. Once your body becomes accustomed to the motion you will no longer feel ill and will be able to sit and lie down when you want to.

How To Avoid Sea Sickness On A Cruise

Another drug free way to curb your motion sickness is by wearing a Sea Bands bracelet. The bracelet has a small bead on the inside that puts pressure on the inside of your wrist. This is a pressure point that will reduce nausea. Children and pregnant women can use Sea Bands as there are no side effects to this method. They are available at most drug stores. Buy these before you leave home and put it on before boarding the ship to be safe.

The use of ginger can help to reduce the nausea part of sea sickness but not the dizziness. Other herbal remedies have been tried but not scientifically proven to work. Staying above deck and getting fresh air will go a long way to normalizing your inner ear.

Cabin location can also be a factor in how much motion you feel while trying to sleep. Select a cabin that is in the middle of the ship both horizontally and vertically. If you pick a middle deck you will feel less motion from the sea and if you are close to the center of that deck you will feel less vibration from the engines and under workings of the ship.

Sail on a ship that has stabilizers. All of the newest mega liners have stabilizers that help minimize the rolling of the ship back and forth. Consider sailing on a ship that uses the Azipod propulsion system. All of the Carnival Cruise Lines ships have them. This system pushes rather than pulls the ship through the water which reduces motion and creates much less vibration. It also has the added benefit of allowing sharper turns for the ship without causing a lean.

Medications such as Dramamine or Gravol decrease nausea. You don't have to buy these at home as they are available on the ship at the pursers desk where they are usually given out free of charge. Unfortunately these drugs can make some people drowsy which does not make for an exciting cruise experience.

Ear patches work wonders to get rid of sea sickness. The trans dermal scopolamine patch is about the size of a dime and is worn behind the ear. It's effects last about 72 hours. This patch must be applied 8 hours before boarding the ship or you'll be playing catch up later. The trans dermal patch does have side effects ranging from drowsiness to dry mouth.

Even the astronauts from NASA have problems with motion sickness so you are not alone now are you weak and frail. Go on and book your cruise with peace of mind because now you'll be like me and everyone else who is openly addicted to cruising.

How To Avoid Sea Sickness On A Cruise
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Ann Childs is a freelance writer and travel consultant. Her specialty is Caribbean travel including beach vacations and cruises. She is the editor and featured writer at http://www.cruise-travel-review.com Post your own reviews at [http://www.cruise-travel-review.com/forums]

An Alaskan Cruise - The 2 Best Months to Go

Cruising has become one of the most popular ways to vacation today. There are huge choices of packages and itineraries available, so even the most hard to please traveler can find what they want.

One of the most popular cruises recently has been a cruise to Alaska.

The reason is kind of obvious. There are breathtaking vistas to enjoy, abundant wildlife to see, and onshore excursions that combine adventure and comfort.

An Alaskan Cruise - The 2 Best Months to Go

And although you can take cheap Alaskan cruises, luxury Alaskan cruises, and everything in between, the elegance and services that most Alaskan cruise lines have built their reputation on are thoroughly enjoyable. You can find Alaskan cruise packages to fit almost any travel budget.

Due to the weather conditions in this part of the world, your choices of the best time to take an Alaskan cruise vacation are more restricted than if you were to travel in the Caribbean or to Hawaii.

You Have A Five-Month Window

Many of the cruise lines feel that the ideal time to take the best Alaskan cruises is between May and September. Therefore, this is the time frame that most companies will offer Alaskan cruise packages.

Summer

For the best weather conditions you should travel during the summer.

Summer is also the best time of the year to see humpback whales as well as many other types of land mammals on your Alaskan cruise vacation.

Spring and Autumn - Your Two Best Months

The two best months for visiting Alaska are usually September and May. One of the reasons is that the water is usually calmer during these months - so your time at sea will be more comfortable.

An Alaskan cruise vacation can be a joyous and exhilarating adventure.

When you choose the best time to go to Alaska you can be confident that your Alaskan cruise vacation will be one you will remember always and talk about for the rest of your life.

An Alaskan Cruise - The 2 Best Months to Go
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A good way to find the best Alaskan cruises for you is to read independent Alaskan cruise reviews.

You can find out about them - and get vital information about the big difference between small-ship travel and large-ship travel in Alaska, and what it means to you - at Alaskan Cruise Reviews

And to get the best prices online for Alaskan cruises and more, check out at http://www.TheGreatestDreamVacations.com.

(c) Copyright - Steve Schulman. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

River Cruise Ships

In recent years, river cruises in Europe have seen a dramatic increase in popularity as people seek a more intimate experience than larger sea cruises. This more intimate, personable experience is mainly down to the smaller size of river cruise ships and the higher staff to passenger ratio. But what make a river cruise ship special? We take a look at some of the world's finest river cruise ships.

The MS Lord Byron

The MS Lord Byron is a truly extraordinary river cruise ship and is undoubtedly one of the finest ships of its type in the world.
Constructed by famous Swiss ship builder, Scylla AG, the MS Lord Byron comfortable accommodates 140 passengers in cabins, suites and deluxe suites over three decks.

River Cruise Ships

The MS Lord Byron also has two bars, a restaurant, a panorama lounge and a wellness centre.

The MS Swiss Corona

As soon you step aboard you are greeted by a strikingly sumptuous lobby adorned with opulent hardwoods, brass fittings and a sumptuous staircase.

The five star Swiss Corona consists of three decks, diamond, ruby and emerald, which can easily hold 139 guests in the ultimate luxury. The Swiss Corona also has two lounges where passengers can relax. The Lido Lounge consists of a small bar, library and outside areas where passengers can enjoy the passing scenery. The Forward Observation Lounge consist of a bar and is furnished with chairs, settees, tables and panoramic windows to enjoy the views.

The Swiss Corona also has an excellent restaurant, sauna, steamroom and solarium.

The MS Swiss Pearl

Originally launched in 1993, the Swiss owned MS Swiss Pearl was completely re-built in 2006 to luxurious standards. Over two decks the Swiss Pearl has a maximum passenger complement of only 120. This means that there is less than four guests to every crew member.

Each cabin is 14 square metres in size, has panoramic windows and all feature hotel style beds.

The MS Swiss Pearl also includes an indoor pool, restaurant, bar and panorama lounge.

The MV Serenade 2

Launched in 2007, the MV Serenade 2 uses wood and glass extensively to create a sumptuously modern and spacious atmosphere.

Split over three decks, Chopin, Mozart and Beethoven, the MV Serenade 2 can comfortably accommodate 134 passengers in ultimate luxury.

Most unusually for a river cruise ship the MV Serenade 2 comes equipped with a fitness suite complete with gym equipment, sauna and table tennis room. The ship also comes with a restaurant, library, lounge and bar.

River Cruise Ships
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This author recommends Riviera Travel for river cruises in Europe They have been carefully creating unique escorted tours for over 27 years.

Working on Cruise Ships - Who is the Best Cruise Line to Work For?

A question we often get asked often is: "Which cruise line company is the best one to work for?" If you're going to commit 6+ months of your valuable life to working on cruise ships, then this is a great question! The problem is there are simply too many factors involved to say whether one cruise line is "better" than another... which means that there is no hard and faster answer to the question.

What's more, you can speak to 5 crew members who have each worked for the same 5 cruise lines... and each person you talk to will have a vastly opposing opinion of each of the companies. I know this for a fact because I speak to crew members all the time and it never ceases to amaze me how a perception of a cruise line changes from person to person.

I would tell you that Carnival is a fantastic company to work for because of the fun times and great experiences I had working for them for over 3 years. Yet a close friend of mine had one bad experience on a Carnival ship, left after 3 months and vowed never to work for them again... and now enjoys telling everybody to stay clear! Just listening to ONE person's opinion, based on their own experience can be extremely damaging to your prospects. Generally, your enjoyment on board boils down to these factors:

Working on Cruise Ships - Who is the Best Cruise Line to Work For?

1/ The ship you're working on. This is a personal preference but some people prefer to work on large, busy ships with thousands of passengers and crew... while others prefer the intimacy of working on smaller, less hectic ships where everybody knows one another.

2/ The job you do on board. Every department and every position within those departments differs. One job on a Royal Caribbean ship might involve more hours, more responsibility and less pay than the exact same job on (say) an NCL ship... or vice versa.

3/ The itinerary of the ship. If you're on a ship that spends a lot of time at sea and fewer days in port then it often means more working hours. If you are employed on board a ship with a monotonous route, that can also become a drag within a few months.

4/ Lastly, YOU and the people you work with are, actually, the most important criteria. If you've got a great team around you and you're an easy going, fun, hardworking person... then you'll enjoy the experience of working on a cruise ship no matter which company you work for.

And this really is the key to a happy life working on a cruise ship, and it has nothing to do with the company you work for.

Working on Cruise Ships - Who is the Best Cruise Line to Work For?
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Ex-crewmember, hiring specialist and best-selling author Neil Maxwell-Keys has written an extensive *free* report which shows how you can get a job on a cruise ship, quickly and easily. Claim your copy now http://www.WorkOnCruiseShips.com.

How to Pack For Danube River Cruises

If you are thinking about going on one of the Danube river cruises for vacation it is important to know how to pack. Things you need to consider include the weather, ship requirements, and room for souvenirs. Danube river cruises offer many things to do and see but if you pack wrong you might find yourself needing to spend vacation money on needs.

Danube river cruising takes place during the warmer months of the year. You should pack light clothes for warm weather. Packing light means light pants and light shirts. You don't want to be overdressed for this vacation. The days will be warm. The evenings may cool down a little so it is important to bring a light sweater in case you get cold. Another thing to consider when you are packing your clothes is comfortable shoes. Many people bring flip flops because they are going on Danube river cruises thinking they will be sitting on the deck viewing the scenery the whole time. This is not the case. You should bring a pair of good walking shoes because you will depart the ship and want to walk around the port cities. Without comfortable shoes you could be miserable.

Even the 3 day cruises have formal or dress dinners you should be prepared for. When you pack for a cruise on the river it is fine to pack mostly for comfort and casual wear. However, in the evenings on the ship you might attend a captain's or manager's dinner. This dining experience doesn't require you to dress nice but you should. Some cruises have a formal dinner which requires the passengers to wear a tuxedo or formal gown. Make sure you are aware of any dress requirements for special occasions on the ship. If you plan on attending an event like an opera in a foreign country, you will need to bring the right attire.

How to Pack For Danube River Cruises

It is also a good idea to consider the different places you are going to travel to along the cruise and all of the people you might be bringing souvenirs back to. If you are bringing souvenirs home for people you need to be sure to have plenty of room in your suitcase. Don't over pack your suitcase and not have room for souvenirs. Danube river cruises have shops on the ship and there will be plenty of opportunities to shop at each of the ports. If you don't have room in your suitcase then you will have a miserable trip home carrying all of the bags with you through the airports and on the planes. In addition, some airlines may choose to charge you fees for additional carry-on luggage or if you need to check in another bag. You might want to do a comparison and see which suitcase is the best for your trip. You don't need to pack a lot of clothing when you take a 3 day cruise.

When you are packing for Danube river cruises it is important to pack light clothing for warm weather that is comfortable. Don't forget to bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes for excursions and possibly a dressy outfit. Always check any dress code requirements and leave enough room in the suitcase for shopping.

How to Pack For Danube River Cruises
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Marc writes for bestrivercruises.net. Read more about the best river cruises in Europe and river cruises on the Danube.

Timeshares - Are They Worth It? Read Our Timeshare Experience to Decide

Our Florida Timeshare experience:

Are timeshares worth the money? As an accountant, I have wondered this the few times I've stayed in them, not due to me owning one, but due to folks lending us their week (which was nice of course).

Ownership is the main ingredient that is sold in the high pressure time share meetings that you must attend if you're roped into a semi-paid vacation to some resort for a week. They go to great lengths to make you feel bad if you don't buy into the programs.

Timeshares - Are They Worth It? Read Our Timeshare Experience to Decide

Well let me at least shed some light on what I know in regards to timeshares. This is from the experiences I have had, folks I've spoken with, and realizations I've come to...

Perhaps you don't want to buy a condo or home in one vacation spot. I don't blame you. Now that I get older I am happy finding a vacation spot that I can call our home for a week or two, however I still enjoy the adventure of traveling the world and seeking new places since our daily lives become so routine (which sucks as you get older huh?).

Timeshares are simply a way to own a period of time in various resorts, condos, vacation destinations etc...

You pay an upfront cost, usually thousands of dollars which can vary to own these weeks. Each year you pay a maintenance fee which can be costly in most folks' eyes. Then if you want to transfer your week to a different location, which is the beauty of timeshares nowadays, you pay a small fee (we paid a hundred bucks).

Is that expensive? You tell me. Now I will tell you our story of timeshares and how they've worked out for my in-laws (and us by passing down!)

First, I have a relative who owns a condo on a popular Florida beach which is amazing. They in fact visit there frequently and have it paid for by travelers who want to rent it throughout the year. This is a viable situation if you have the ability, money, or know how to do this. In essence your condo is paid for by others - capitalism at its best.

My in-laws however who love to travel decided many years ago to pay what seemed like a small fortune to buy ownership into a timeshare with Marriott. Each year they are guaranteed a week at premium beach resorts, cruises, etc. which ensures their lodgings are well taken care of.

The nice thing about this is they pay a small maintenance fee each year for a resort they'd pay 3-10 times the price if they were to pay by the week or night.

Let me show you what I mean by providing our example. We have stayed at one of the best resorts at one of the premier beach destinations in the United States (East Coast of Florida). The ability to get a condo here is very limited and we were able to get the week due to the timeshare that our parents owned.

During our week, we spoke with some folks who paid by the night and although I admired their ability to pay 0+ per night, we paid a total of 00 which included the transfer fee and the maintenance fee for the year.

Add that up folks and they paid over 00 for a 7 day stay which is over 3 times what we paid!!! I don't care if you're a gazillionaire, but saving money where you can gets anyone stoked.

Just to name a few of the perks, we had a personal concierge, beachfront view, marketplace, 5 pools, 9 spas, workout facility, and everything you could imagine in one resort.

So, why others were paying 5 times what we paid? I have to say in this case the timeshare was worth it and why we would recommend it as an option in some cases. Certainly if you can buy places, that may be the best choice.

The key in my opinion is the start up price you must pay and whether or not you will get a return on your investment quickly!

So, in conclusion, our vacation was unbelievable due to the timeshare resort we stayed in and was well worth the investment. Did it pay off? According to my in-laws, it has paid for itself many times over!

Timeshares - Are They Worth It? Read Our Timeshare Experience to Decide
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Joe Collinsworth and Discount Florida Vacations offers everything from fun, sun, sand to travel planning tips, needs, and resources to ensure you have an excellent timeshare vacation.