Chicago Vacation Rentals section
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Chicago - Vacation Rentals .com #1 Vacation Rentals Directory Beach Houses & Vacation Homes Contact Owners Direct... Home List Your Rental Help Home Owner Login About Us Disclaimer More Vacation Rentals World : United States : illinois : Chicago Our Chicago Vacation Rentals section features the following homes, villas, cabins, cottages or condos listed below. Please click on the description to view any of the Chicago Rentals you see listed for more information. Chicago illinois Rentals are added and updated every week, so please bookmark us and visit again. Be sure to check out Gary, Indiana (23 miles), Beverly Shores, Indiana (36 miles), and Gurnee (38 miles) for additional vacation rental choices. Notice a problem with our distances? Report it here. Photo's available Pets? please inquire Swimming pool Jacuzzi Availability Calendar Type Bed Bath Sleeps Rates or Community House 3 2 2-10 $1450-$1750 USD/wk Lake Michigan Beachfront Cottage Duplex 3 2 6 $1950-$2800 USD/wk Chicago Guest House Condo 2 2 6-7 $1400-$2000 USD/wk Unmatched Luxury & Convenience to Chicago's Culture & Beauty VacationRentals.com is quickly becoming one of the largest and most useful specialized travel site on the internet for finding vacation rental homes. With its intelligent search engine, VacationRentals.com is the easiest place for travelers to find and rent unique vacation rentals including cabins, beach house, villas, bed and breakfasts and other vacation lodging. VacationRentals.com is the most efficient means for owners to promote their rental properties. ©1997-2005 VacationRentals.com LLC All Rights Reserved.
Spain Travel Essentials Tarragona
Tarragona Spain Visitors Guide - Travel Planner for Tarragona You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Europe for Visitors Tarragona: Location Map of Terragona, Spain. James Martin Stay up to date! Tarragona: Location Map of Terragona, Spain. James Martin Email to a friend Print this page Tarragona and Catalonia Links Tarragona Catalonia (Cataluna) Links Spain Map and Travel Essentials Near Tarragona Barcelona Travel Guide Barcelona Pictures Barcelona Links Recent Discussions Need Help Planning a Trip Accomodation in london Mediteranean Feries Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Tarragona Spain Travel Essentials Tarragona Spain Profile From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Tarragona - Location: Tarragona is located on the Mediterranean coast, 60 miles southwest of Barcelona, Spain, in the region of Catalonia. While ealier settlements may have inhabited the area, the first occupation of Tarragona is attributed to Gneus Scipio, who founded a Roman military camp here in 218 B.C. It grew quickly and was named a colony of Rome in 45 B.C. by Julius Ceasar. Tarragona is considered the most important Roman town in Spain. Tarragona - Population: Tarragona has about 110,000 people. Tarragona - Getting There by Train: The Tarragona train station is in the Plaza Pedrera. There are 8 trains a day to and from Madrid, and many to Barcelona, just up the coast, about an hour and a half away. The station at Tarragona is close to the port and to the main street, the Rambla Nova. Turn right out of the station and go up the hill; there are several hotels on this end of the Rambla. Staying in Tarragona: Look for a hotel near the sea, where the Rambla dead-ends. We stayed at the Hotel Lauria at Rambla Nova 20, and found it comfortable, centrally located, and air conditioned for 64 Euros a double in high season 2003. Tarragona Cuisine: Think seafood, nuts, onions, tomatoes, oil and garlic. Romesco sauce is a product of this area. Tapas are plentiful in the Rambla Nova area, as well as the interesting Placa de la Font, which you'll find loaded with cafes and restaurants, the place to head on your early evening stroll. Tarragona is know for its fine wine as well. Tarragona Beaches and Naturism: Tarragona is the main city on the Costa Dorada. There are many beaches and coves nearby. Todotown has a review of beaches in or near Tarragona. Playa El Torn is where you can get naked and sunburned in public. Tarragona Closing Days: Unless quiet is your ultimate goal, don't go for a day trip to Tarragona on Monday--everything is closed. Tarragona Attractions: Amfiteatre Romà - The Roman Amphitheater is located seaside, just off the Rambla Nova.
Cathedral - At Tarragona's apex sits the 12th century cathedral. Inside is the Museu Diocesà, with a collection of Catalán art you can visit for 2.40 Euros.
The Archaeological Museum - At Plaça del Rei 5, overlooking the sea. Free on Tuesdays.
Museu Necròpolis - The Necropolis Museum outside town that's one of the most important Christian burial sites in Spain, used in the 3-5th centuries.
Tarragona Notes:
You'll find some interesting bars and seafood restaurants in the Port area near the marina. I also heartily recommend the Placa de la Font area for its lively cafe and tapas scene. Remember that Spaniards eat dinner very late in the evening. Often 9pm is a bit early for eating.
Tarragona, besides being a fine city peppered with Roman ruins and good restaurants, is a relatively innexpensive place to stay while visiting Catalonia. You can get to Barcelona in about an hour and a half, although it's quite a walk from the Barcelona station to the Gothic Quarter--you can take a bus or cab.
Building human pyramids is a Catalonian sport. Castellers have been building human pyramids here, some as high as 5 story buildings, for hundreds of hears. You can see them in action in Tarragona during the Sant Magi festival in mid-August. Jill Yesko has written an excellent article about this phenomenon called Castells in Spain in Away.com. You'll see pictures commemorating the Castellers in our photo gallery.
For a virtual visit of Tarragona, see our Tarragona Picture Gallery . Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There
Europe Travel 101 -
Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the First Time You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Europe for Visitors Europe Travel 101 - Before you take that first trip to Europe Here's a suggested timeline for things an independent traveler needs to do before heading off to that European destination. Thinking about taking an independent trip to Europe? Below you'll find topics to consider before you take off. The recommended time before departure that you should be taking action is found in the colored bar on the left. In the gray box on the right you'll find links leading to more detailed information on any of the topics. Like most planning guides, this is a tool meant to simply remind you what you need to do when to make the standard vacation go as smoothly as possible. Although the list may seem daunting to you, you'll find that many of the tasks are optional. Unless otherwise noted, most of the planning tasks can be done earlier than recommended. A shorter, unannotated list with resources can be found here . A printable checklist can be found here . Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute What You Need to Do Resources 6 months before you go - Choose Your Destination! Now (or even sooner) is the time to choose your general destination. There are lots of resources on the right to help you. Remember that while Europe is quite compact compared to the US, the travel times between countries may be longer than you think. Once you've chosen your primary destination, you'll be able to go on to the next things on the list. Language Let's say you've chosen France as your destination and you'd really like to get to know the country and its people. Well, now is the time to start thinking of learning a bit of the language. A single beginner's course in spoken French at your local community college will teach you the basics cheaply enough. We also have extensive resources for learning European languages here on the About network. Please, at least think about learning the "politeness" words--natives will thank you for trying and will likely be more receptive to your questions. See Languages for the Tourist on the right to find out how easy it is. Renting a House or Apartment Now is the time to think about reserving that perfect apartment for the week (or month). You can wait until later to do this, but the best go fast. Living in the country you're visiting gets you into the swing of daily life: you'll be able to go to the open air markets and cook the food you buy, you won't have to think about maids (unless you want to) or checking in, and things can be as secure as you make them. Guidebooks Once you've figured out where you'd like to spend most of your time, it may be time to pick out a guidebook. You can purchase guidebooks that cover all of Western Europe, just a single country, or even a province or region like Tuscany. Choosing a Destination: Travel Planning Europe Planning Map Clickable Europe map with links to Country maps and Travel Essentials. How I Travel Europe Europe and Fading Traditions: Go Soon! Weather -Climate - When to Go Language: Languages for the Tourist Rentals Unusual Lodging Lodging Links Guidebooks Top European Guidebooks 3-4 months before you go - Start Checking Airfares You can start checking sooner--although we've found searching 3-4 months before your flight is a pretty good bet; the airlines are starting to discount in order to reward early bookers and yet there's still time to wait if prices aren't to your liking. The airline computers are constantly revising the pricing based on the latest demand, so the cheapest prices might turn up anytime--but you might not want to wait that long. Use the Finding Bargain Airfares link if you're unfamiliar with the bargain hunting process. Apply for a Passport if you don't already have one If you don't have a passport, this is the time to start thinking of applying. While the literature says it takes 6 weeks to procure a US passport, you don't want to leave it to the last possible moment--it's a vacation killer if something goes wrong. And despite what you may have heard or read in the past, a separate passport is required for each and every family member traveling with you. First-time applicants 13 years of age and over must appear in person at a U.S. passport office, a designated courthouse or the Post Office. You'll need a birth certificate or proof of citizenship, a photo identification, two recent 2" x 2" photos of your face, and a bundle of money. You'll find the latest requirements and downloadable application form by clicking Passport Links there on the right. (You don't need a health certificate in Western Europe and you won't need to worry about a visa as long as you're staying fewer than 90 days and aren't going to Turkey.) Shoes and Walking Now is a good time to pick up some walking shoes and start getting them broken in. You'll walk a lot in Europe, even if you have a car; much of the city centers in Europe are pedestrian only zones. Be prepared. Airfares Finding Bargain Airfares Passports Passport Links Where to go to apply, a downloadable application form, and how to make it as easy as possible. 6 weeks to 2 months before you go - Reserve Lodging - Hotel If you haven't already reserved the hotels you've seen on the web and fallen in love with, now is the time to do so. But do you need to reserve in every city you're planning to visit? Here's what I do: I reserve a hotel for my arrival and departure days as well as any long-term apartment rentals I've selected. The rest I leave to chance. You may feel uncomfortable with this arrangement, but, with a few exceptions, it's worked just fine for me. When traveling by train, I prefer to arrive at my destination early, take a hotel by the train station and just drop my bags there and explore the city on foot. You can read the whole strategy in my Footloose Travel article. Car or Train? If you haven't already chosen, now would be a good time to select your primary mode of transportation. Select Train or Car? from the links on the right if you just can't seem to decide which is best for what you want to see. Rail Pass Do you need one? Here are some tips: Trains in the south-Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece--are pretty cheap. If you're going to one or several of these places you might find that a pass isn't necessary. Just go to the station and buy a ticket. EurRail passes offer great savings if you plan right. For a saver pass you'll need to plan to take several long trips so that you can spend the travel days mostly on the train. Save money by going overnight; you'll save on hotel costs and make maximum use of your pass. Check the types of passes available carefully, to use them to an advantage, you may have to juggle some travel plans. Car Rental or Leasing and an International Driver's License Leasing a car is sometimes better than renting, especially if you're staying in Europe for more than 17 days. Leasing gets you a brand new car without rental company stickers on it and the pricing includes everything you need. When you turn it in at the end of your trip a lucky European will get to purchase that almost-new car for much less than a completely new one (This comes about because taxes on a new car are much higher than the taxes on even a slightly used one, so both parties benefit from this arrangement). If you've chosen driving as your primary mode of transport in Europe, you should get an International Driver's License . Available at Auto Clubs, they're just a translation of your License into European languages. Sometimes police won't demand them, accepting your original license instead. But still, it doesn't hurt to get one, and they're pretty cheap. A couple of passport-sized pictures are required. Even though you can usually just walk into your auto club and come out with an International Driver's License, I recommend not putting this off: the paperwork needed is often "out of stock." Lodging Accommodation Links You can also find lodging in specific countries or cities by going to a specific destination page. Footloose Travel Striking a balance between travel freedom and overplanning. Hotel Star Ratings Do you know what they mean? How I Travel in Europe Just in case you want to know. Transportation within Europe Rent or Lease? Train or Car? Driving in Europe Links Transportation Links European Train Travel Links 1 Month before you go - Travel Insurance Now is the time to think about insurance. If your health insurance doesn't cover you overseas, or your homeowners insurance doesn't cover loss of material goods, then there are some temporary plans that might set your mind at ease. Check our Insurance Links for more. Luggage How's your luggage? Is it easy to carry? Got more than a foot and a half of duct tape holding it together? If you want to be mobile, maybe you want to see if you can fit everything into a carry-on. It's not all that hard to do in the summer when you probably won't be needing heavy clothes. Rick Steves recommends walking around with all the stuff you think you'll need, then discarding half of it. I like the method I learned in Boy Scouts. Separate everything into three piles: stuff you absolutely need and use often, stuff you'll use occasionally, and stuff you probably won't use at all. Then eliminate the last two piles. Remember: Europe isn't lacking material goods. If you need a heavy sweater because it's unusually cold in August, chances are you won't be more then 50 feet from someone who'll sell you a great one. Don't forget, laundries are pretty easy to find (but usually expensive) and laundromats are are starting to show up in most popular tourist areas. Besides, if you rent a house or apartment it may include a clothes washer and possibly a dryer (but more probably a clothesline). Cameras If you've bought one for this trip, learn how to use it. If you need one, now is the time to purchase--don't put it off until the last minute and then end up standing in front of the Louvre all befuddled because you can't figure the danged thing out. Film If you're going to use film (how so very 90's!) you might consider purchasing one of those lead-lined bags to take it in. These reduce (but don't eliminate) the radiation from airport x-ray machines and thus the chance of film fogging. What I do to bypass this possibility is to buy and process my film in Europe. Sure, guidebooks say film and processing is more expensive overseas (but not much these days), but I look at it this way: are you gonna worry about fogging or are you willing to spend a buck and a half more per roll for peace of mind out of the thousands you're gonna spend on your vacation in total. Seems like false economy to me. Plus I get to show my pictures around to other travelers while I'm in Europe. Cell Phones If you need to be in constant touch with the office or someone special, you can rent cell phones that work throughout Europe. Often your car rental company can handle this, or you can check our Cell Phone Rental links for companies that'll rent phones for the short term. Email It's time to think about how you're going to handle your email in Europe, if that's important to you. If you have several accounts you want to check, you'll need to set up an online system for getting all your email. I use webbox , but other options are explained in the article Staying Connected . Money Yeah, it's time to get the long green together. I take some traveler's checks as a back-up, but mostly use the plentiful ATM machines in Europe to get cash. You need to have a 4-digit pin number to use many European ATMs. Watch one thing though: plan to have enough money to last through weekends--some people are reporting that certain banks in Europe don't update the customer's daily limit on Saturdays and Sundays and so if you've maxed out your daily allowance on Friday, you might find that you can't get more until Monday. You might also think about getting some Euros (or local currency for countries that don't use Euros) for the first day or two, if only to get used to them and assure yourself that you'll be able to afford a coffee in the airport. How much Money? Well, that varies, of course. A couple like Martha and I can get by on on $150 a day in most Mediterranean countries, although it's becoming a stretch these days. That'll get you a two or three star hotel with breakfast and two other meals taken in a restaurant with wine, plus entrance fees to museums and such. It's an average over the whole period of vacation--some days you'll get soaked, some days you'll find bargains. Students and the young-at-heart set willing to stay in hostels and eat street food or make their own grub in the Hostel kitchen will be able to do it for much less, of course. Keeping your money and documents secure You'll need a way to keep your passport and important items away from thieves. While Europe is still safer from violent crimes than the US, high tourist volumes in major cities tend to attract the slash and run crowd. Use a money belt or pouch that goes inside your clothing like seasoned travelers do. Keep your passport and important documents together in it. Don't wear a fanny pack with the pack turned around to actually ride on your fanny. It looks stupid and is a magnet for thieves. Women should avoid big purses with shoulder straps as those straps can be cut easily and the purse removed by a well-trained thief in seconds. Whatever can be said about European petty thieves and pickpockets one thing stands out when you talk to people who've been hit: they're good at what they do. Find recommended security stuff and other indispensable items under Travel Accessories . Voltage and Plugs European voltage is twice that of the wimpy American 110. The wall plugs are different as well. If you plan on using electrical appliances you may need to purchase adapters and power converters now. Check out my article European Electricity and the Connected Tourist for the skinny on what you'll need to make your stuff work in Europe. Me? I don't carry much more than the battery charger I bought in Italy to recharge my digital camera's batteries. Maps You should be far enough along in your travel planning to think about what maps you'll need.If you're in a car and like to get off the main highways, you'll need to purchase good maps. We use Michelin country and regional maps when we drive, purchasing the regional maps for areas we're staying in for a week or longer. You can get European driving maps from your auto club, but they're often not detailed enough to get you to the back roads. Keeping in Touch If you're the postcard-writing type, you'll need to have a means of keeping all those addresses where you can find them. Before the era of PDAs and email, I made sheets of labels for everyone who'd want a postcard so I could just slap one on and be done with it. Now I email friends and keep all their addresses on my Palm Pilot. Check for Travel Dangers The US government doesn't just meddle in overseas affairs, it also alerts travelers to dangers and uprisings in other countries. You might want to check conditions now and right before you leave. Travel Insurance Insurance Links Luggage Top Carry-On Luggage Packing Tips Cameras Before you buy a digital camera for travel Top Compact Digital Cameras for Travel Top Semi-pro Cameras for Travel Olympus D40 Review Oneof the best compact digitals I've come across. Cell Phone Rentals Cell Phone Rental Companies Purchase a Cell Phone Email Staying Connected Cybercafe Links Staying Connected Links Money/Currency Money Matters ATM Finder Travel Accessories Top Travel Accessories Clip-on Security Wallet (review) Voltage and Plugs European Electricity and the Connected Tourist Maps Michelin Maps (compare prices) It's easier to buy the maps over the web--distribution to many stores seems spotty at best, and many times they're unsorted, making finding what you want a miserable experience. Keeping in Touch The Travel Writer's Toolkit Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Last minute - Oops, Forgot the Passport. Help! Well, you can get one expedited, especially if you already have tickets. See our Passport Expediting Company links for more. Make Copies Now is the time to think about keeping back-ups of your travel documents. Make at least two photocopies of your itinerary, your passport information page (the one with your picture and passport number) and copies of your credit cards showing the cc numbers. Give one copy to your mother, or someone else you trust and can get a hold of any time of day or night. Keep a copy of your passport and credit card info with you but in a different place than the original items. Final Check The basic stuff you need to carry are these: Passport, tickets, car rental agreements, hotel reservation receipts, credit cards, medications (and prescriptions, if required), addresses/password information and an open mind with a sense of wonder. Check them twice. Then go have fun in Europe. Passport Problems Passport Expediting Companies Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...
Travel Insurance Single Trip
Book Travel Insurance & Holiday Insurance Online Call the travel insurance world team on 0870 343 0016 Travel Insurance Single Trip Cover Annual Cover Ski Insurance Cover Backpacker Cover OAP - Over 65's Cover Policy Details Policy Wording Policy Definitions How to make a Claim Travel Health Advice E111 Forms Travel Medical Insurance Family Travel Insurance Group Travel Insurance Holiday Extras Airport Parking Car Hire Currency Conversion Accommodation Travel Insurance World, a trading name of Essential Travel Ltd, provides cheap, comprehensive European and Worldwide holiday insurance. Book single, multi-trip, backpacker and annual travel insurance securely online. Receive your policy instantly online and by email. Choose the right travel Insurance policy for you and get an instant online quote Single Trip Travel Insurance Great value for one-off trips. Free travel insurance protection for children with family policies. Extensive medical & personal belongings cover. Annual Travel Insurance Annual Travel insurance allows an unlimited number of trips throughout the year. Policy also includes 17 day exclusive winter sports cover option. Ski Travel Insurance Affordable comprehensive ski/snowboard insurance. Off piste cover, helicopter rescue and medical emergency repatriation as standard. Backpackers Gap Year Travel Insurance Great value travel insurance ideal for backpackers, students and gap year travellers. Includes Sports and Adventure Activities. Travel Insurance World is owned and managed by Essential Travel Ltd. The insurance is arranged by Essential Travel Limited, a specialist travel insurance intermediary. The service includes: advising you on your insurance needs; arranging your insurance cover with insurer's to meet your requirements and helping you with any ongoing changes you have to make. Essential Travel Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The policy is underwritten by Optimum Underwriting Ltd, scheme number 439. Customer Services: 0870 343 0024.
Disney Vacation Club Travel
Disney Vacation Club You are here: About > Travel > Florida for Visitors > Disneyworld > Disney Vacation Club Travel Florida for Visitors Essentials Events Calendar Photo Album Spring Break Guide Travel Planners What's Up this Month Articles & Resources A to Z Index Maps Beaches / Coasts Disneyworld Things to Do in FLA Daytona / East Coast Florida Keys Florida Panhandle Miami / South Florida Orlando / Central Florida Tampa / West Coast Discounts & Coupons Photos / Cams All About Florida Buyer's Guide Florida 2006 Calendars Florida Collegiate Fan Gifts Florida State Seminole Fan Gifts Tampa Bay Buccaneer Fan Gifts Top Disney Gifts Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Florida for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Florida for Visitors Compliments of Walt Disney Company Stay up to date! Compliments of Walt Disney Company Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading Vacation Ownership 101 Elsewhere on the Web Disney Vacation Club Most Popular Florida Celebrates New Year Nude & Clothing-Optional Guide WDW Ticket Information Casino Cruises Ice Skating in Florida What's Hot Lion Country Safari Wide World of Sports Free Deals Ybor City Florida Day Trips Related Topics Theme Parks Travel with Kids Hotels / Resorts / Inns Budget Travel Senior Travel Disney Vacation Club From Dawn Henthorn , Your Guide to Florida for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Own a piece of the magic! Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!
Inspired in part by Disney guests who frequented the Company's resorts and theme parks year-after-year, the Disney Vacation Club concept is stamped with Disney's special brand of imagination and innovation.
Launched in October 1991, the Disney Vacation Club has now grown to include more than 63,000 member families from throughout North America and beyond, making it one of the most successful and highly rated vacation ownership programs.
"Our decision to enter the vacation ownership business was a natural progression to accommodate our guests with a flexible vacation product designed to meet their ever-changing vacation needs as they pass through different phases of their life," said George Aguel, Senior Vice President/General Manager for Disney Vacation Development, Inc.
Like many other vacation ownership programs, Disney Vacation Club is grounded in real estate ownership, but it has brought innovative new elements to its vacation ownership product.
"Guests become members of the Disney Vacation Club because of the magical memories and traditions that are so engrained in the Disney experience," continued Aguel. "Anyone can sell accommodations – but only Disney can offer the experiential environment, the entertainment, and the imaginative programs that are so uniquely a part of our tradition."
How does it work?
Anchored by the purchase of a deeded real estate interest, membership provides guests with the freedom to tailor vacations to their personal needs as their family's vacation interests change over time.
Unlike traditional timeshare programs, Disney Vacation Club members are not locked into a single week or fixed time period at a single resort. Disney Vacation Club membership is based on a "vacation point" system. Each year, members receive an annual allotment of vacation points that can be used in a variety of ways for different types of accommodations at a dazzling variety of resorts and for other vacation experiences, subject to availability.
Members can also elect to bank or borrow vacation points, use their vacation points in combination with renting accommodations on a cash basis, or can purchase an additional real estate interest at any time. New members can join the club with an initial purchase of just over $11,000.
Where can it be used?
Disney Vacation Club membership may be used to reserve accommodations at the member's "home resort" or they may exchange reserved home resort accommodations to stay at other Disney Vacation Club resorts – Disney's BoardWalk Villas; Disney's Old Key West Resort; The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Beach Club Villas (all at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida), Disney's Vero Beach Resort (Vero Beach, Florida), or Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) – at select Walt Disney World Resort properties, the Disneyland Resort hotels in Anaheim, California, and Disneyland Paris hotels in France.
Additionally, through the Disney Vaction Club Member Getaways program, members have access to more than 200 premium resorts worldwide through an agreement with Interval International (II), one of the world's largest vacation ownership exchange companies, or they may select from an elite collection of world-renowned hotels, sample an adventure travel experience like an African safari, take a cruise (including Disney Cruise Line itineraries) and much more.
What are the advantages?
"The Disney Vacation Club is about quality, guest service, attention to detail and a world of choices," said Aguel. "Our members expect us to provide years of magical vacations and treasured memories at an excellent value. But, they also expect our Disney quality and personal service in planning their vacations."
Additional unique advantages to membership include special benefits such as various Disney discount offers and professional travel planners that are just a phone call away. These Vacation Advisors help members plan their vacations and answer questions about DVC membership.
Members further become part of the DVC 'family' through its Vacation Magic member newsletter that offers helpful program information, member stories, DVC resort travel tips, exclusive member merchandise and discounts/privileges and special previews of upcoming Disney events.
Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Lion Country Safari Wide World of Sports Free Deals Ybor City Florida Day Trips