Timeshare Trends Blog

Halcyon Hills Spa Resort and Marina on the Greek island of Samos is near completion and is Europe’s newest member of the Registry Collection, the world’s largest luxury exchange program.

The Halycon Hills Resort will boast an array of luxury facilities including a large spa, a 35-berth private marina, two beaches, tennis courts and more. The fundamental character of the resort combines luxury with the traditional Greek charm of Samos.

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The International Riviera in Tunisia, North Africa, is set to be completed in 2011 and will be a member of the Registry Collection Exchange Program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program offered by Group RCI.

The International Riviera will include 50 luxury waterfront villas, and the concept was created as a fusion of European elegance and the 21st century pioneering spirit of Dubai. The five-star residential resort development will have at its heart a Las Vegas-style casino complex and a range of other upscale amenities, including golf, spa, marinas and retail.

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The West Sands Phuket Beach Club in Thailand has been added to the Interval International global vacation exchange network. The resort seamlessly blends state-of-the art development with a commitment to green building practices and was honored with the prestigious Green Development Award in 2007 and 2008 at the Thailand Property Awards.

Tucked into 48 lush acres with its own 500 yards of private beachfront, the resort is situated on Mai Khao Beach on Phuket’s west coast. The studio, one, and two-bedroom units range from 990 to 1,798 square feet, and the three-bedroom units measure 3,605 square feet. The residences have been designed to have minimal impact on the environment and all feature European-style kitchens and bathrooms, as well as balconies with views of the pool, gardens, or the Andaman Sea. Mai Khao, which is part of the Sirinat National Park, is home to a golden sand beach, which stretches for 10 miles along the Andaman Sea and is the longest beach in Phuket.

Activities in and around the area include water sports, sailing, diving and fishing and further inland activities include elephant riding, trekking, golf, and horseback riding. Guests at the resort have access to the West Sands Water World, one of the largest water parks in Asia. Facilities at the resort include a fitness center, cooking school, PADI National Geographic Dive Centre, freeform swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, and spa.

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The Villa del Palmar Cancun Luxury Beach Resort and Spa has been added to the Interval International exchange network. With the development of its first shared ownership resort in the Mexican Caribbean, the Villa Group is building on its success in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, and Loreto.

Currently under construction, the property will be situated on 35 acres along Mujeres Bay, opposite Isla Mujeres, and a 15-minute drive from downtown Cancun. The first phase is slated to open in 2010 and two additional phases are expected to be completed by 2012. Each villa will be elegantly decorated and include a living room, dining room, full kitchen with granite countertops, modern appliances and electronic equipment, and a spacious terrace.

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The Palace Vacation Club of Malaysia has joined the RCI network of timeshare exchange affiliates. The resorts included in the Palace Vacation Club group are the Country Villas Malaysia and the Palace of the Golden Horses.

Country Villas is Malaysia’s first Mediterranean-style waterfront property. It has distinct wall finishings on graceful white facades and unique red-bricked driveways surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens. The 250 units are tastefully furnished and well-equipped with basic amenities. The property also provides facilities for business and leisure with six meeting rooms, a conference room, a seminar room, a banquet hall, an auditorium, gymnasium and a swimming pool.

The Palace of the Golden Horse is known as Asia’s “Most Extraordinary Hotel” with world-class and award winning accommodations. There’s a dedicated conference center and state of the art facilities with a distinctive Moorish-Malaysian architecture and equestrian theme. The hotel has 400 rooms and 80 suites and offers an outstanding variety of dining and entertainment options. It also offers a comprehensive health screening service, a scenic jogger’s track, an executive fitness center and a luxurious Balinese-themed Jojobali Spa for personal rejuvenation.

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The Azul Sensatori by Karisma resort in the Riviera Maya, Mexico has been added to the Interval International global vacation exchange network. The resort features the innovative Gourmet Inclusive concept that is designed to elevate all-inclusive vacations to quality levels comparable to traditional luxury hotels.

Located in the exclusive Petempich Bay area, Azul Sensatori includes 438 suites with unobstructed views of white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and lush tropical gardens. The suites feature contemporary designer furnishings, dark wood accents, marble floors, ample living and dining areas and oversized terraces. Guests can enjoy a relaxed yet upscale atmosphere and a host of amenities and services that include dining at six restaurants, a 14,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, a nightclub, multiple pools with swim-up bars, kid’s pool and splash park, a beach butler, concierge and 24-hour room service.

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Marriott International is cutting back on the high-demand home development business and is cutting prices at some of its fractional ownership resorts. Marriott is also planning to halt its timeshare development in Europe. However, according to a recent Orlando Sentinel story, Marriott officials report that their timeshare business run by Orlando based Marriott Vacation Club International is doing better than its high-end counterpart.

According to Marriott’s president and chief operating officer, Arne Sorenson, the significant decline in demand for luxury residential real estate is reflective of today’s economy. It also reflects the relative strength and deeper market of the traditional timeshare business, which while impacted by the weaker economy has proved to be more resilient.

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There are three new properties located close to Cape Town that are now part of the DRI list of timeshare properties. The Peninsula Resort, Avalon Springs, and Wilderness Dunes all offer easy access to Cape Town and the pristine beaches of South Africa’s coast. The Peninsula Resort is situated on Cape Town’s magnificent mile. Avalon Springs has a luxury spa and a large pool area with giant waterslides, and the Wilderness Dunes offers a fully accommodating chalet-style units with easy access to a variety of watersports and the popular Wilderness National Park.

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Interval International expands in Italy with the new affiliation of Villaggio Cala La Luna situated on the small island of Favignana just off the west coast of Sicily.

The development which was completed in May 2008 is comprised of 70 units with a mix of studios, one and two-bedroom units out of which 58 are allocated to the timeshare portion of the resort.

The property features an outdoor pool, restaurant, live entertainment, and it is within walking distance of a harbor where fresh lobster and octopus can be bought every morning. The property is situated in the fishing village of Favignana, which is admired for its beauty and crystal clear waters.

The island offers a wide range of leisure activities including diving, deep-sea fishing, shopping, nightlife and good food. Sailing is also a major attraction and Favignana hosted the America’s Cup in 2008. The Villagio Cala La Luna is the fifth Interval International affiliation in Italy since July 2007.

To view the latest deals on international timeshares for rent or purchase on our web site, click here.

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