本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛"Exchanging Lives Down Under"
by David Hochman; Los Angeles, California

It all started with a list on a ketchup-stained napkin: "Portugal, Spain, Greece, Australia, Buenos Aires, Tuscany, Provence…" They were the dream trips. The fantasies. The sunny, happy, far-off places where we wanted to be more than just tourists. Of course, we had jobs at the time, but we also a sense that the time was right to do something truly dramatic with our lives. And so we did: we registered at HomeExchange.com.

Almost as soon as we listed our Los Angeles apartment, we started getting offers - and our hearts started pounding: A weekend apartment in the center of New Orleans' French Quarter. A four-bedroom villa on an island in Greece. A 27-acre ranch in Oregon! "Ever thought about South Africa?," one potential exchanger asked. Another began, "Interested in a house on a thermal pool in Iceland?" Iceland!
We held out, though, and I'm glad we did. A few weeks later, we got a note from a couple from Sydney, Australia. They emailed to see if we'd like to exchange our place for their art deco apartment down under. We felt an immediate connection. Malcolm is a journalist; I'm journalist. Wenona loves to cook; my wife, Ruth, is a born foodie. As the emails skipped back and forth across the planet, we found out we're the same ages, have similar backgrounds and like the same books, the same music, the same movies. If Malcolm and Wenona lived in L.A., we'd have a new pair of best friends. Naturally, we wanted to do the exchange.

But we still had those jobs of ours. After lots of talk (and more than a few therapy sessions), Ruth and I decided to take the plunge. As a writer, I could leave my magazine job and focus on my burgeoning travel-writing career. Ruth was only too happy to get back-to-back summers, courtesy of the southern hemisphere; and she also wanted to try her hand at travel photography. Once we made the decision, there was no turning back. We handed in our resignations, rolled over our 401Ks, set up some online bill-paying accounts and booked the flight to Australia.

Originally we thought we'd go for three months. Longer than a vacation, but not so long that we'd feel like Rip Van Winkle when we got back. There was only one little problem. As soon as we got settled in Sydney, we felt like we could stay forever. Yes, it was tough at first. We didn't know anyone, it was hot, we felt far from our friends and family and we saw an enormous spider in our bedroom I was sure was deadly (it wasn't). But Malcolm and Wenona were kind enough to share some of their secrets, and even some of their friends. We did the same for them, emailing lists of our favorite restaurants, hikes and weekend getaways. We weren't just exchanging homes, we were exchanging lives.

Being in another country for a limited time was also doing something wonderful for our social life. It was making us more outgoing. "We're only here for a few months," we kept telling ourselves, "we better make the most of it." So we reached out to people, cold-called strangers, knocked on our neighbors' doors and took any invitation we got for dinner or drinks. We ended up meeting some amazing characters. Our upstairs neighbor, Kambiz, turned out to be the great-grandson of the King of Iran, and though he called himself a recluse, he would astound us with his collection of friends at his Saturday night singalongs.

Our downstairs neighbors, Sue and Paul, were as different as could be, both from Kambiz and from each other. Paul was an artist, an introvert with the calm manner of a zen master. Sue was a lawyer and talked a mile a minute about every subject imaginable - religion, food, Aboriginal culture and, more than anything, fitness. She introduced us to her trainer, a 77-year-old Australian legend named Les Grownow, who allowed us into his invitation-only workout class. Three days a week, we would drive Malcolm and Wenona's little Toyota Corolla to the neighborhood of Woolloomooloo (a name we never got tired of saying) to an old police gym, where Les would teach us his old-fashioned fitness routines, exercises he worked out while living amongst the animals of the Australian bush. They don't make guys like Les in America.

We were really digging in. Even the most mundane excursions were turning into adventures. We'd spend a day looking for some exotic ingredient - kafir lime leaf or laksa paste -- for one of Ruth's new recipes. Or we'd drive around looking for the best view of the Opera House. Or we'd find a picnic spot in one of the nearby beaches or gardens. Sydney was everything we wanted it to be.
Three months came and went and we all decided to keep the magic rolling. Malcolm's career was doing well in the States and I was getting all sorts of assignments in Sydney. We started travelling around the country on assignment and Ruth was taking pictures to accompany my stories. Back in Sydney, she started baking madelaine cookies to bring to parties. Everyone told her they were so good, she eventually began selling them to one of the local cafes. In many ways, we were operating at full capacity and loving every minute of it.

After six months, we'd built ourselves a nice little community of friends. Walking around town, we'd run into people we knew on the streets. We were cooking more, and, thanks to Les, we were in the best shape we'd been in in years. But we knew, sadly, that our time in Australia was coming to an end. The days were getting shorter as the Australian fall turned to Australian winter. Our families started getting a bit impatient with us gallivanting around the world. And there was the little matter of our visas running out shortly. One morning, we got a note from Malcolm saying his newspaper wanted him to come back home. We could see the light at the end of our life exchange.
We're back in Los Angeles now. Our apartment was exactly as we left it and the city looks pretty much the same. Yes, there've been changes over the seven months. A few of our friends are pregnant now and some others bought homes or got promoted, but we feel richer and wiser in many ways for having taken the big leap. Malcolm and Wenona still keep in touch via email, and now we send them suggestions on what to do in their neighborhood. We've even agreed that if we can coordinate our schedules again, we'd happily trade places for a few weeks; as Ruth keeps telling me, "We'll always have Sydney."更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛by Kathryn Hack; Seattle, Washington

I have been a HomeExchange.Com member for almost a year now, and am especially interested in long weekend trips close to my home in Seattle, because the Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful places on earth! A short ride by car or train can transport you into rainforests, mountains, charming small towns and beautiful wineries. Ferries will take you in comfort all the way to Alaska, with jaunts to hundreds of islands along the way. Many people take their bikes and kayaks along, for more close-to-nature experiences.
Because I live in Seattle, sometimes it's hard to leave and go anywhere! There is so much to do here, in all seasons of the year.

Downtown Seattle is so very easy to navigate, if you don t mind a few hills. You can walk or hop a free bus or trolley to anyplace you want to go, like the Waterfront and it s wonderful cafes and shopping. Here you can take a dinner cruise around the Harbor or just sit and watch the boats come and go. Pike Place Market is famous for it s flying fish (the fish market guys make a big production out of tossing salmon over everyone s head!) And if you enjoy great coffee, great local wine and beer, this is paradise!

From Seattle, Washington, you re only two hours from the Canadian border, where the many beautiful areas of Vancouver Island make you feel like you're in Europe. Through my listing, I've met other people who share the same idea about short trips -- and who live in precisely the places I want to visit, like Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.

Vancouver is a very cosmopolitan city, with the most spectacular views of the Northern Cascade Mountains and water, water everywhere! It is also a very international city, with fabulous restaurants of great ethnic variety. Stanley Park is a green belt that winds through the forest and around the water's edge, a favorite place for me and my trusty bicycle!
Victoria, on the other hand, is very old-world, an authentic piece of Victorian England. Gracing its harbor is the magnificent Empress Hotel, built at the height of our extravagant lumber barons. High tea is a favorite here, in oak paneled drawing rooms overlooking formal gardens. The city itself is picture-postcard beautiful, and very accessible on foot or bicycle.

Recently I had a request for an exchange with a couple in Vancouver, BC. Their home overlooks Granville Island, one of the most interesting parts of the city, famous for its open markets and outdoor cafes. Unfortunately their dates did not coincide with mine for a swap, so I put them in touch with a friend who is also a HomeExchanger.

Coincidentally she was taking family to Vancouver for a reunion the weekend in question, and could not find a hotel to house the entire group. It worked out perfectly, for a home exchange was arranged!
The folks from BC brought their bicycles and enjoyed a long weekend exploring Seattle. They biked along the lovely Burke Gillman trail, a well-constructed biking highway that extends hundreds of miles through and around the city. They enjoyed the zoo, several great restaurants and some spectacular sunsets.

My Seattle friends were able to put family members in the peace and quiet of a private home in Vancouver, overlooking all of Granville Island! They also took their bicycles, to explore more intimately the many hidden treasures of Vancouver. There is also the option for leaving bikes at home for guests to rent, and ditto for cars!

The lesson of my story is this: when HomeExchangers link together, even more things are possible! Having a network of like-minded folks who like spur of the moment adventures, simply expands the possibilities!更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Timeshare Information
What is Vacation Ownership?

Vacation Ownership "Timesharing" is the right to use specific weeks of a resort during a specific time period. Simply put, it is the pre-purchase of future vacation weeks. Timeshares are more deluxe than simple hotel rooms. Condominium-style units usually feature fully-furnished kitchens, generous living areas, and ample sleeping options for family or friends. Ownership of a timeshare is very similar to ownership of a condominium except that your rights are limited to a certain week (or weeks, if you purchase multiple intervals) during the year. The form of ownership can be deeded, leased or licensed. The license is somewhat different, in that it is most commonly a membership in a club. Providing you are a member in good standing, you have the right to use the club and all its amenities. Be sure to read and understand all the terms and conditions of your club membership before you make the decision to buy. Most vacation ownerships consist of either a deeded interest or a leased interest for a specific number of years. A deeded interest is owned outright forever. It is an absolute right that can be sold, leased, or even willed to your heirs. The less common leased interest is much like an apartment lease except right to use it is restricted to a specific week during the year. Upon the expiration of the lease term your right to use it will generally terminate and return to the resort. With a leased interest you should know the terms and conditions of the lease prior to making the decision to buy. The time of your use can be either Fixed or Floating. Fixed time is a specific week during the year usually defined by a number. Generally the week will begin on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and is given a number starting with the first week in January and continuing through the end of December. (Example - week 14 might be April 7 through April 13.) Floating time means you have the right to select any available week within a certain season of the year. Therefore, if you own a summer season week you could pick any week that falls within the defined summer months. However, competition between existing owners for prime weeks in very desirable locations can impact availability. It is important to find which type of use best fits your specific travel needs. Each resort is different and offers various benefits to its owners. Many resorts give special reduced rental rates for extra nights or use of other resorts that are owned by the developer. This can add to your flexibility and provide substantial savings on vacation costs. Also, consider how and where you normally vacation. This is very important in making your decision about where you should buy and what you will have to trade. We welcome your comments and appreciate your feedback.

The History of Vacation Ownership
The vacation ownership (timesharing) industry can be traced back to its European origin in the 1960s. Superdevoluy, a ski resort in the French Alps, is the first known vacation ownership program in the world. The ownership of individual weeks guaranteed reservations for those who wanted to ski the area every year. It was an immediate success. By the 1970s, some faltering condominium projects on St. Thomas and in Fort Lauderdale and Puerto Rico were converted over to vacation ownership. Thereafter, timesharing became an increasingly popular vacation alternative. Once the United States embraced the concept of vacation ownership, it began to gain wide acceptance worldwide. Sales jumped to over 50 million by the mid- 1970s and have climbed to 6 billion annually today. Vacation ownership has enjoyed substantial growth over the years with approximately 5 million timeshares sold since 1980. Currently, there are over 5,000 vacation ownership resorts in 90 countries around the world. Exchanging a vacation ownership week in one resort for that of another resort was introduced in 1974 and brought new elements of variety and flexibility to the vacation experience. Although there are many exchange companies available that provide excellent service, the two major players are Resort Condominiums International (RCI), which has approximately 3,500 member resorts, and Interval International (II) with approximately 1,800 member resorts. Combined, these two companies provided over 1,600,000 exchanges last year. During a 30-year span, the industry has grown from small (15-20 unit) hotel conversions to the high-quality condominium resorts of today. The evolution of the industry from scattered entrepreneurs to well managed professional development companies has brought with it a noticeable change for the better. Definitive leaders have emerged and created standards and ethics for management, marketing and sales practices. One such organization is the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) whose members are required to comply with an established "Code of Ethics." The recent entrance into the marketplace by major hospitality chains such as Disney, Hilton, Ramada, and Marriott has greatly enhanced the quality and image of the industry. Vacation ownership resorts today are luxurious, have a wide array of amenities, and are well located. With the advent of these stronger and more professional development and management companies, and with the weeding-out the less desirable developers and marketers, the industry is now experiencing a very positive public image. One of the industry's leading analysts (Ragatz and Associates) concluded that the majority of timeshare owners are pleased with their purchase and, in fact, many now own multiple weeks. The future of vacation ownership is very bright and has tremendous potential.

How to Buy a Vacation Ownership Interest Is Buying a Timeshare Right for You?
Looking across the vacation spectrum, we find those who enjoy returning each year to a familiar spot as well as those who look to visit a new destination every year. Many fall somewhere in between. No matter where you are on the spectrum, timesharing can meet your travel desires. When you buy a timeshare, you are making a commitment--to yourself. This commitment involves your desire to vacation every year. While you often may choose to go to the same resort, you can also use an exchange network to go elsewhere when the mood strikes. Certain features may be extraneous if your only purpose is to use the resort for your own enjoyment. If you plan to trade your interval, however, for other timeshares throughout the world, a resort unit with more features will fetch a better trade, or a higher price, should you decide to sell the interval down the road. Keep in mind that you do get what you pay for. Although there are bargains out there to be found, this is still an emerging market. As a prospective buyer, you must also ask yourself, "What are my vacation criteria?" Some primary considerations are family, airfare, recreation, meals, etc.

Do I want to guarantee a certain week every year?
Can I only travel when the kids are out of school?" Find a resort that fits your vacation style. The Dollar Value Consideration Above all else, take into account the ever-present effect of inflation. Since the 1950s, the travel industry has noticed an approximate 5% annual increase in dollars spent on vacations. With the acquisition of a timeshare unit, you can start to curtail those costs. An annual maintenance fee of $250 to $450 ensures a week of vacation that has a fixed accommodation price per visit.

I'm Ready to Buy a Timeshare.
After all the initial considerations and deciding to purchase, it is time to start looking for a resort that fits your criteria. To start narrowing down your resort choices, take a look at our online listings or at a timeshare catalogue. Everyone who is a member of an exchange organization gets a catalogue each year. It holds up to 3,500 developments throughout the world. Unfortunately these catalogues are not available in your local library. You must borrow one from someone who is already a timeshare owner. Our ResortBase.com index of listings, however, is always available for review. Let's say you have two or three really attractive resorts in mind. They all have the features you're looking for, all are in your price range, and you can see yourself committing at least 10 years of vacationing there. If at all possible, visit the sites. Start getting some feedback from unit owners and other sources; see what they say about the resort and the price you've been quoted. If your chosen site is still under development, there are sure to be on-site sales people who will enthusiastically give you a one- to two-hour tour of the whole facility. Be aware! They are there to give you a thorough sales pitch. If you have low sales resistance, it may be better for you to look around on your own and ask questions on your own terms. Be sure and pick up all available literature and to get all terms and conditions before finalizing a sale or rental. When comparing timeshares to condominiums, cost is misleading. Many times you'll find that condos cost thousands less than timeshares. Timeshares sold in off-peak seasons cost much less than condos. and that the condos often are . Condos are usually developed on land of inferior value, and located in a residential surroundings, wheras timeshare resorts may be nestled in a forested valley or along a private beach. Where would you rather be? Make sure the resorts that interest you have resale programs, instead of purchasing directly from the developer. This is the best route for the thrift-minded buyer who can purchase a choice unit with discounts of up to half of a developer's asking price. The third way to buy is through a private purchase. Any of these methods deal with the underlying factors of interest on your original purchase price and with the loss of capital after the purchase through a lower resale price. Two pointers when dealing with agents: first, they are agents of the vendor (a resort or owner) and are obligated to maximize the vendor's return of investment. Second, never be afraid to submit a lower asking price than what the agent recommends. The seller may agree to the lower price anyway. In some circumstances, your resort of choice maybe so new that there are no resale units yet. It is possible that the developer's asking price is still within your budget. In that case, go for it! It is within your right to submit a lower bid for a new unit to the developer. They may accept as well. As for the private purchase, although going through the process of contact and final negotiations may be much more informal, you must still deal with all the problems of legally "closing" a sale. We recommend using a qualified resale agent or attorney who can expedite the whole affair. Other Costs After a deal is made, the buyer incurs certain "closing costs" ($300 to $500 for escrow, title, insurance and recording fees). These are not included in the selling price and are a one-time expenditure for the buyer. In addition to the resort's annual maintenance fee, also figure on about $60 a year for membership with an exchange company, and $90 to $125 for each exchange you do, depending whether you trade a domestic or international timeshare. Good luck in finding just the right vacation ownership!

Exchanging Your Vacation Ownership
Now that you have become the owner of a vacation interval you can start enjoying the use of it. You may find that using your home resort is very convenient but don't forget about the endless opportunities of the exchange system. Chances are, your resort is affiliated with one or maybe two exchange companies. You can become a member of your home resort exchange company or use any of the another independent exchange companies which may provide special services to meet your travel needs. Either way, exchanging is one of the major reasons many people purchase a timeshare.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net