Webster's dictionary defines vacation as "a period of time for pleasure, rest, or relaxation". Most vacationers, however, aren't aware of this definition, as they often return from their trip feeling less relaxed than when they left! Luckily, more and more people are discovering that Webster's definition of "vacation" is synonymous with timeshare ownership. Here's why:

Timeshare owners enjoy the privacy of a home with the amenities of a world-class resort!
Timeshare owners know that their timeshares provide better value than renting hotel rooms.
Timeshare owners are less burdened than full-time vacation homeowners.

According to the American Resort Development Association's (ARDA) recent study, most timeshare owners believe that their timeshares are better than hotels. In fact, when asked about their overall satisfaction with their timeshare property, 78% of the timeshare owners rated their property as "excellent". When timeshare owners were asked if they were getting good value for their money, 72% of the owners rated their properties as "excellent", compared to 58% of those who stayed in hotels.

Mike Hussey, ARDA's Chief of Staff, confirms that this is due to new trends in vacation ownership over the past several years. "Timeshare owners are more satisfied with their overall vacation experience and feel that they get good value for their hard-earned money," says Mr. Hussey. In fact, the numbers back him up. In 1980, only about 155,000 households owned a timeshare at 500 resorts worldwide. Today, there are over 5,000 timeshare resorts with 4.5 million vacation owners worldwide. It seems as though more people ARE learning to "vacation"!

Besides receiving better value, timeshare owners also appreciate the benefits that come with part-time vacation home ownership. On an average, vacation homes in the United States are used 17 nights per year! Unless the owner uses this property a lot, they are paying way too much for a vacation home that does not provide much utility. They're paying full time for a part time vacation. Year round vacation homeowners spend more for maintenance costs (even when they are not there), and spend more of their valuable "vacation" time on upkeep.

Life's too short not to enjoy great vacations. You work too hard to deserve anything less! Your free time is your own. When you do discover the definition of vacation, we hope that you'll practice what you learn, and practice often' as practice makes perfect.