2010 & 2011 Planning

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

We are booked full for 2009 and have decided even with the bad ecomony that we are not going to change those plans, but we are starting to think about 2010 and 2011.

We already have 2 trips booked for 2010, but we took out the RCI Exchange Insurance on the last exchange - it is an international trip, in case we decide to cancel.

With the way the market is doing (retired and invested retirement funds for a large percentage of income in the market) we are thinking we need to make major changes for 2010 and 2011. My first step will be to exchange close to home (probably 500 +/1 miles) to avoid air fares and rental cars. The second step might be to try to rent out some of my timeshares or let family members use them.

What is your thinking for the short term future?

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

We went on a couple of expensive vacations last year, so we were already thinking drive-able vacations for this year. And even with that, I was thinking of throwing one exchange back. But DH talked me out of it, because it's half of a two-week trip, so we'll already have done the driving and we'll already have the food in the refrigerator.

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

We work really hard and I only get 3 weeks vacation. So our time away is really important. I make it a point to save a little money each month to ensure we have enough for a vacation. We have to pay MF no matter what, so it doesn't make sense not to use the TS. However, we do travel within a reasonable distance (usually no more than 5 to 6 hours). That limits our choices a little, since there aren't too many options in the mid-Atlantic area for DRI. I'd rather not pay the exchange fee for II if I don't have to.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

We already have 2 trips booked for 2010, but we took out the RCI Exchange Insurance on the last exchange - it is an international trip, in case we decide to cancel.

Does RCI's insurance allow you to cancel just because you want to cancel? Most trip/travel insurance policy's I've seen only pay out for named perils which have never included "because we decided not to go."

AS for what we're thinking, we're not planning on changing much. We normally take 6 vacations per year. The biggest difference might be that one or two trips will be drive to vacations instead of locations we need to fly into. This year we'll spend a week in Breckenridge, which is within driving distance. In 2010 I'm thinking about Branson for a week and Santa Fe, NM for a week. Both are within Driving distance.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

The RCI Insurance gives you back the original trading power of the unit and a small amount of money from the exchange fee.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Does RCI's insurance allow you to cancel just because you want to cancel? Most trip/travel insurance policy's I've seen only pay out for named perils which have never included "because we decided not to go."

I had to cancel a trip that had RCI insurance on it, last year. I don't think they even asked for a reason--I seem to remember that "change of plans" was enough for them.

[Jaybee Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaybee]

We are down to 3 ts now, and all within driving distance, so that helps. It also helps that we love, and enjoy them most every year. We'd planned to cut back on travel this year, too, but then a cruise came up, in March, that we couldn't say "no" to, and when we go to Harbortown Pt. in Ventura, we always try to find something on the Central Coast of CA, to extend our time. We used to live in Morro Bay, so I reserved a week in a nice little motel on the embarcadero there.
Oh, and there was a week in Tucson, AZ, in Jan.,when Phil's brother & wife were spending a couple of months there. We used some Welk points to get a week there.
Did I forget the "Explorer Pkg" we bought last year on Kauai? Well, $1900 was quite a lot, but I did get a 2BR at the Kauai Coast for Oct. (and a $50 dining card. Woo-Hoo!) Our kids will be flying out from PA for that week. Well, as long as we were going, I used our Marriott travel pkg. for a week at the Waikiki Beach Marriott for a week to tack on there.
That's a long story about "cutting back on travel" .It's only 8 weeks, though. Last year, it was 12. Next year, we're really cutting back to 3. ??? Yes! We are! Jean

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I am also looking at the expense of getting places.....so will probably still go but maybe do 2 weeks at a time rather then separate trips - thus saving on car rental and airfare.

I am also more open to 'sharing' vacations - with the LOV ladies, friends from TS4Ms, friends from work, etc. This allows me to go but share those MFs and exchange fees with others.

I have always rented several units each year and will continue to do so.

I have started taking insurance thru AccessAmerica.com - Travel Insurance for Leisure and Business Travel - and they do have a plan u can take to cover you if business prevents u from traveling or the health of a loved one. If I commit to going somewhere, I want to be sure if I can't go - that I get my money back - before, I wasn't really that concerned - now I am!

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

I have held off on 2010 and 2011 as yet, hoping can continue with the usual, but though we drive, hubby does work in states so still involves flight here and also loss of work time and guess it is hitting harder now so he kind of has to take what comes when it comes, which of course makes it hard to schedule.......we are off on vacation this saturday and plan to talk about our 2010 plans, but 2009 is a go as planned with an additional trip to the states for me to see........a new grandchild, my first, oh boy am I nervous and excited. What a time to have a baby in this economy but my son is very happy so be it.

I sure hope for everyone things get better. I have not as yet been able to rent any units, not a whole lot of effort either though, but with the economy as such, even my friends do not or cannot take them even if free......oh my!

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

I plan to visit several B&Bs in the new england states.