It used to be that just the rich and famous would take their pets along with them on vacation, but now more and more folks (like me!) are taking their dogs along to enjoy the fun. More and more hotels are becoming pet friendly, but what about timeshares? Honestly, I don't concern myself much with timeshares, and I don't know a whole lot about them (other than the one my grandma tried to sell me), but I know people are searching for info on that, so I did a little digging.
RedWeek.com seems to be a really helpful site in finding pet friendly timeshares. You can search by region, and they have a decent selection. I don't know how many timeshares out there are pet friendly but this is a good start.
This site I ought to add to all my travel related pages: PetsOnTheGo.com I wish it was mine! I'll definitely be consulting them frequently.
One thing you'll have to consider is...
Cost
Because pet friendly timeshares must often account for extra expenses (such as animal care, cleaning service, insurance and grooming) many such resorts are becoming increasingly expensive. So keep that in mind....
Restrictions
Some timeshares (and hotels, for that matter) restrict their pet friendliness only to certain breeds or weights. So put your doggy on a diet if he's overweight! Haha. Kidding... But seriously, make sure to ask for the specifics of their pet policy, or you may be stuck with a timeshare disaster.
Alternatives
If you will be using your timeshare on a regular basis, I've actually found a company that can save you money and is a great alternative to timeshares. They have hundreds of luxury resorts and timeshares around the world that members get HUGE discounts on. I get their email updates (even though I’m not a member) and wow. They've got some amazing places available at amazing prices. I just got something about a 3 bedroom in Maui for $298 a week. Honestly, I’d rather pay the one-time fee (yep, for life) to join them for these discounts than pay the mantainence fee on that place my grandma has. You can take vacations any time you want, anywhere you want - Oh, I could go on and on. Here's their website: GlobalResortsNetwork.com . They have fantastic customer service too. I can help you out on some of the details too, if you want. You can email me through Ozville.org (yes, I’m paranoid about putting my email address on the web). I decided to become an affiliate, until I’m ready for another vacation. At which point, I'm joining. Go check it out!
And have a great vacation, wherever you go!
