TravelInfos

With the unfortunate occurrences of fraudulent coastal vacation sites and scams you are sent to a page offering details about the difference of a bogus and an official site. The site states that the Coastal Board of Directors recognizes a coastal vacation official site. There are only four official sites linked to coastal vacation. There are three key guides to keep in mind that will show proof of an official site. It is important to keep these things in mind while looking for an official site.

The Three Guides To An Official Site

1. The sites will each be identical and include distributor information
2. The sites include a clear claim of being an official site
3. The site carries a motto powered by COA network

From this page you are sent to the official site that begins with a description of the number of people who would prefer the freedoms of working from home to their current job. It is estimated that 96% of adults between 25 and 44 are interested in home business. Some of the benefits listed on this site are the low overhead; home based tax advantage, no employees and unlimited early potential. You also are informed about the state of retirees. The ability to have true financial freedom is only at 2%. Statistics on the site show 45% of retirees depend on relatives, 30% need charity assistance, 23% are still working and 2% are home business owners and are financially free.

The site then goes into coastal vacations being a $4.9 trillion dollar travel industry. They offer affordable travel packages at wholesale prices. They offer the finest, most extensive lifetime travel membership packages in the world. They are not a timeshare company. There are three tier travel packages offered. After the products and services are mentioned the site goes on to offer job opportunities. They state that this home business opportunity is low risk, carries a high return, allows for personal satisfaction and offers a strong track record. This company is not a franchise. Those employed are coastal directors who promote the products and work off of sale commissions. Training and leadership courses are provided as well as the assistance of an automated marketing system that performs 80% of the work.

Near the end of the site there is a form that allows you to request further details about travel packages or employment information. The official coastal vacation site was clean and clear on its products and services. It was also upfront about the coastal vacation scam sites and what to look for to better protect you from fraud.

When searching any site be wary of the signs and symbols of a site page. Try to look for signs that are associated with legitimate companies such as the BBB symbol. Do not hesitate to perform research about a company prior to providing any personal information. It is better to withhold personal details than to suffer the consequences of becoming a victim of fraud or scams. Always do what is necessary to protect yourself as well as your personal information rather a site is marked official or not.

Aruba is an island of paradox. Despite the presence of numerous luxury resorts and gourmet restaurants, much of Aruba remains uninhabited. For the tourist, this simply means there is more to explore. For example, nearly 20% of the island is devoted to the sprawling Arikok National Park. Inside and outside the park, you will find gorgeous views, unique historical landmarks and ecological wonders. The roads winding through Arubas distinctive desert landscape offer visitors a chance to enjoy the hidden Caribbean without the crowds. Jeep rentals and taxi tours are the most popular ways to explore this islands outer reaches and each have their benefits. This article should help you decide which method of travel is right for you.

Like anywhere else, you can certainly rent a car during your vacation in Aruba. Yet, an average car rental wont allow you to traverse many of Arubas most interesting and scenic paths. Throughout the interior of the island and along the northern coast, you will be able to navigate dirt roads providing excellent views and wonderful wildlife watching opportunities. Furthermore, you wont be bothered by many other travelers in these less-populated areas. Jeep rentals are typically affordable, too usually between $55 and $70 per day with discounts available for 3-day and 1-week rentals.

If you intend to go it alone with a jeep rental, keep in mind that most roads will be dusty, unpaved and unmarked. However, this shouldnt discourage you. Start with a good map of the islands roads and enjoy your time away from the hustle and bustle. But if you do get lost, sometimes that can be almost as much fun.

If you are concerned about driving around Aruba on your own, it is also possible to travel with a jeep safari where you will drive amongst several other vehicles and a guide. If you think you need help finding certain attractions or dont feel entirely confident with your off-road driving skills, this might be a good option. Yet, keep in mind that such jeep groups require you to move with a crowd, something that many visitors and jeep enthusiasts hope to avoid. If you decide to rent a jeep or travel with a jeep safari, consider making reservations beforehand to ensure you get your 4×4 of choice.

As fun as a jeep rental might sound, taxis certainly have their benefits in Aruba. All taxi fares are flat rate in Aruba, so you will never have to worry about the meter or having to haggle with your driver. Most cab drivers are well versed in local history and certainly know their way around the island. In fact, all cab drivers have participated in the governments tourism awareness program.

Drivers are always flexible and can offer you private tours of the island, based on your sightseeing suggestions. Such tours can last anywhere from a few hours to all day. Taxis also operate throughout the night in Aruba to get you home safely from any bar, casino or nightclub. Fares are between $10-20 between the airport and most resorts on the island, with set rates comparable to jeep rentals for driving tours. All drivers own their own taxis and you can find any size vehicle for your family, from luxury cars to large vans. If you plan on taking a taxi tour, prepare yourself for a strong dose of friendly Caribbean attitude and some fascinating stories.

It has been claimed in numerous guide books that all of Aruba can be explored in half a day. For a true explorer, that certainly wont be the case. Try to spend some time at each site, enjoy the view and the privacy. Once you get outside Arubas Hotel Zone and the capital city, you will certainly realize there is plenty to see.

If you have the time, experience the best of both worlds take a guided tour and then spend more time exploring sites of interest on your own. However you decide to explore Aruba, you wont be disappointed.

Timeshares are a large part of the vacation travel industry. Travellers who cannot afford to own a home abroad, or who don’t want the worries associated with exclusive ownership, often see timeshare as an affordable alternative.

However, unscrupulous salespeople, poorly maintained properties and unexpected hidden costs have brought a lot of bad publicity to the industry. A well-informed consumer can avoid the common pitfalls.

It is always risky to buy property sight unseen, but many people do this when they purchase timeshares. If you purchase in an area where you wish to vacation, you may be unpleasantly surprised when you arrive at your destination.

However, many timeshares are purchased with the intent of trading them for others in different locations, and in this case the location of the property is a bargaining chip, not the actual physical property. Timeshares in prime locations such as Hawaii are easier to trade than others.

Recently, big corporations such as Disney, Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt have entered the timeshare market, and their properties are of a uniform standard around the world. First, you should know that if you buy a new unit directly from a timeshare company, it may cost up to 60% more than if you purchased from the resale market.

Buying from a time-share company is more expensive primarily because of the company’s marketing costs, which include free trips, meals and vacation activities for prospective buyers. Most customers of these timeshare companies buy on impulse, without any intent to purchase when they first walked into the timeshare seminar. Hard-sell tactics and “Buy-it-NOW-one-time-only-offers!!!” are the rule, and to avoid being pressured into a bad deal, the best tactic is to avoid these sales presentations altogether.

Try the resale market for better deals. Time-share resales are listed on many websites, on eBay and with independent time-share brokers. The search term “timeshare resale” produced approximately 500,000 results on Google, so there are plenty of services to choose from.
If you buy directly from an individual, a resale broker or a lawyer can handle the closing for a charge of $300 to $500.

If you are buying a timeshare for the resale value, consider regular real estate instead. Timeshares do not increase in value in tandem with conventional real estate. From a strictly financial point of view, time shares are poor investments.

Most real estate increases in value, but this is not always the case with time-shares, especially those bought directly from timeshare companies. If you get a good deal on a resale timeshare in a prime location, it may increase somewhat in value. But usually time-shares are like cars — they are commodities to be used, and are resold for less than the original purchase price. Don’t think of timeshares as real estate; you are buying a vacation plan.

Also, unless you buy in a prime location, swapping them may not be easy. Timeshares are frequently sold on the claim that the buyer can trade a week in one place for a week at another location. This is only true if the location is in demand by other vacationers. Otherwise, expect to vacation in the original location each year.

To find out whether or not you will be happy with a timeshare, it may be a good idea to rent one for your next vacation. Many timeshare units are placed on the rental market by owners who couldn’t get away to vacation at their alloted time, and these units often rent at bargain prices. Check the same websites that offer timeshare resales for available rentals.

There is a new “points” system being offered by some timeshare properties. Instead of getting a week each year, buyers purchase a set number of “points.” These can be redeemed for a week’s stay during the peak season, for longer periods during the off-season, or even spread over the year in two- or three- day segments.

Some large hotel companies such as the Marriott also offer a points systems whereby a stay at their hotel earn points in the company’s time-share system. Points systems can be confusing, so be sure you have a clear understanding of the services you are buying. For instance, find out how much advance time is required to reserve a week at the resort during peak season, whether the points have an expiration date, and if it is possible to transfer the points to other facilities in the same resort chain. However, when it comes to vacation planning, the points system offers more flexibility because the buyer is not locked into the same week every year.

Most important, don’t forget the annual maintance fee. Time-share owners are responsible for paying a portion of the property’s upkeep. These annual fees, including maintenance and real estate taxes, typically range from $300 to $700 per week of ownership.

In summary, timeshares can be a good buy if they offer some flexibility in terms of transferring to other locations and timing your vacation. The typical timeshare is a small condo with kitchen facilities and one or two bedrooms, ideal for a family vacation, and since such units rent for $150-200 per night, a timeshare purchase may be a cheaper way to travel. However, if you are a mobile traveller who likes to stay in a different town every night, a single person who doesn’t need the extra space, or if you travel at unpredicatable times, then a time share may not be suitable.