This September escape to five-star Rancho Banderas Vacation Villas, a beachfront property located on the north shore of the Bay of Banderas in the state of Nayarit, Mexico. The resort consists of luxurious villas nestled on red sandstone bluffs that rise from the beach and fit naturally into the landscape.

The resort is just a few minutes from wondrous snorkeling at Las Islas Marietas, a protected wildlife sanctuary, offshore in the Bay of Banderas near Punta de Mita, a few miles north of Nuevo Vallarta.

The visibility in the waters of Puerto Vallarta varies from about 25 to 40 meters. (Summer is the best time to go diving.)

Islas Marietas became popular for its roles in the documentaries Jacques Cousteau created in the 1970′s which showcased the area’s rich underwater life. Reefs covered with fish and stingrays abound. You can also see underwater caves and cliffs in the area.

Visit Rancho Banderas September 3 through 10 with a one-bedroom villa (complete with kitchen and sleeps up to four people!) for only $888 a week! (If you booked this at kayak.com, you would pay $1351! Price negotiable depending on individual circumstances.)

Contact me today for details and to reserve. This deal won’t last!

PS: Go here to read about my visit to Rancho Banderas.

This fully furnished two-story quiet 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath condominium in Carmel Valley is minutes to Torrey Pines and La Jolla beaches, the Del Mar Race Track, Del Mar Fair, Torrey Pines Golf Course, hiking, shopping, dining, & more!

Your summer paradise includes access to a beautifully maintained complex with two pools and spas, tennis courts, sauna, fitness room, & outdoor barbecue.

See below for more details.

Features of the home

• Two master bedrooms with in-suite bathrooms:

• One bedroom with queen-sized bed
• One bedroom converted into an office (room for a small bed) with walk-in closet & bath with dual sinks, garden tub & shower

• Sofa bed in living room that converts into a very comfortable queen-sized bed
• Convenient downstairs half bathroom
• Full kitchen with two ovens, microwave, gas burners, & Pampered Chef cookware
• DVD player, CD player, & television (no cable)
• Fenced-in private patio with barbecue, fruit trees, & flowers
• Full-sized washer & dryer
• Garage for small car
• Additional parking available on street
• Use of two boogie boards, beach chairs, & mats
• Large lending library of books, including novels, cook books, self-improvement books, & more
• Sheets, bedding, & towels all included
• Gas, electric, water, trash, & wireless Internet included
• Printer and computer monitor included
• Uniquely decorated colorful Asian-American theme

Features of the community & area

• Two resort-style pool areas with lounge chairs, hot tubs, & barbecue
• Two tennis courts
• Fitness center
• 4 miles to Torrey Pines State Beach & Torrey Pines State Reserve (great hiking!)
• 9 miles to La Jolla Shores Beach
• 6 miles to Del Mar Race Track and Del Mar Fairgrounds
• Short walk to shops, grocery stores, & restaurants
• Easy and quick access to I-5, I-805, & SR-56
• 6 miles to Torrey Pines Golf Course & 5 miles to Del Mar Golf Center

June – July 18th, $818/week, $128/extra night
July 19 – Sept 8, $998/week, $158/extra night

Monthly and multi-month discounts available.

Need a vacation? I’m sure I’ve got one perfect for you!

I’m a bit of a shopaholic so bought into four timeshare memberships, which came with three exchange programs.

Check out my home resorts and exchange programs and let me know what interests you.

I can offer you great savings and feedback on the timeshares I’ve visited! Please contact me today, so I can check availability for you.

Isn’t it time for a vacation?

Sunrise from our balcony

I am so grateful to have had the privilege to stay at Sun Palace in Cancun, a resort that’s part of Palace Resorts. We spent five wonderful nights there for free, as part of the membership we gifted ourselves with during our first day in Cancun. (“Gifted” translates to “I bought into another timeshare-like deal.” However, this one is the best of all of the ones I’ve bought into!) World-class spa treatments, gourmet meals, unlimited delicious drinks, infinity pools, in-suite jacuzzi (my favorite), daily maid service, 24-hour room service, free wireless connections, free calls to US and Canada, half-price golf, tours to ancient Mayan temples… I could get use to being treated like royalty! What a perfect getaway vacation!

Bubble bath in our in-suite jacuzzi

Can you imagine waking up to the sound of crashing waves outside your ocean view balcony? Or taking a bubble bath in the jacuzzi in your suite? Try having a gourmet six-course Italian dinner with steak, shrimp, Mayan coffee, white wine, and fresh fruits and vegetables. How about visiting ancient Mayan ruins as part of the all-inclusive benefits of being at the resort?

And watching the captivating fire spinners on the beach were an added, unexpected bonus! (We’ve been to Burning Man twice so didn’t expect these fire spinners to be as talented as the ones at Burning Man. They showed us how wrong we were!)

We ate unbelievable feasts, slept wonderfully to the sounds of waves, and were basically treated like royalty! Since we’re members of Palace Resortsnow, we can share the member rate with others. It’s such a great deal for two people – an all-inclusive week for under $2000! (Family friendly and adult-only resorts available)! And many resorts to choose from, including Cancun, Cozumel (diver’s paradise!), Dominican Republic, and more! All Palace Resorts rank among the top 20 in Trip Advisor ratings!

Contact me if you’re interested in getting a 20%+ or more discount! For example, for Dec. 9, 2009, the Beach Palace member’s rate is $1786 for two people versus the public rate of $2314. (Of course, rates depend on when you want to go and to which resort.)

What better way to celebrate your anniversary, birthday, graduation, promotion or just because you deserve it!

Check out our pictures below!

Mojito on the beach

World-class fire spinners on the beach

Our jacuzzi suite at sunrise

Happy feet in the in-suite jacuzzi

Another day, another dessert

Tequila anyone? Bob ends his five-course of Mexican food with a shot of Tequila.

Rainbow seen from the boat to Isla Mujeres

Turtle at turtle preserve near the Isla Mujeres resor

How can you not believe in God after seeing the beauty in this sunrise?

The gorgeous beach in front of Sun Palace

Yum! Fresh juices and fruits! Breakfast in our room before our Chichen-Itza tour

Bob is sad that we can't climb up the temple any more!

Chichen Itza

Incredible dancers at the roadstop buffet after visiting Chichen-Itza

Snorkeling as part of our jungle tour (you get your own boat!)

Bob gets ready to work out some of all of that gourmet food at the resort gym

One of favorite places in the resort (many spa treatments included in the all-inclusive!)

More information about Palace Resorts can be found on my other blog.

I visited Costa Maya Reef Resort in Belize in November 2007, booking the resort through DAELive (Dial-an-Exchange) and then buying a membership while there. What a lucky find that was!

My favorite was the tour to Shark Ray Alley where I got to hold a shark and scratch its belly, as well as swim with giant rays. (Even caught a ride on the wing of one!) And I also enjoyed searching for manatees and seeing a pregnant sea horse. (Still don’t understand that one! See the related pictures in my photo gallery below.)

And the resort offers fun activities for free. I especially loved trying Belizean fishing, using a spool of fishing line, hook and bait to catch fish off their dock. I caught over 30 in an hour and took the biggest home and ate it! (In fact I got two within the first minute. I was, however, grossed out by the one that got away – since most of it got away except for an eyeball. Poor fish!)

Costa Maya Reef Resort is a magical place where you’re surrounded by an abundance of exotic attractions while enjoying the breath-taking beauty of the emerald seas, palm trees, and tropical breezes.

Located on the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize, Central America, the resort is  just 6 1/2 miles north of San Pedro Town. The resort offers daily boat rides to town so it’s very convenient to go when the urge strikes you.  San Pedro offers great shopping for gifts, as well as food. (We liked to get our groceries there since we did a lot of cooking in our fully-stocked kitchen back at the resort villa.)

You can easily dive and snorkel from here, since “The Belize Academy of Diving” (BAD) is located right on the resort dock. With Mexico Rock Reef directly in front of beach, you can also easily access this gorgeous coral reef from the kayaks available for free at the resort! (Beach bikes are also available for free! And, as part of the resort’s free activities, we tried Belizean fishing from the dock and caught over 30 fish in over an hour! )

The resort consists of 29 ocean-front, one and two bedroom  villas designed with a romantic island flare and situated right on the edge of the emerald ocean.

Experience the relaxing sensation at Costa Maya as you enjoy either the simple pleasures or exciting adventures of life in paradise.

Contact me if you’re interested in finding more!

See my photo gallery below of more pictures of the resort and tour sights,  as well some pictures from our inland adventures (including caves, the marvelous zoo, and lush tropical plants.)

Yum… four of us had a huge platter of fresh seafood at the local outdoor restaurant down the beach from Rancho Banderas! The whole platter only costs us around $25!

Wouldn’t you love to escape to soft white sand and crystal clear waters? Well you can by visiting  Rancho Banderas, a beautiful beach-front property located on the north shore of the Bay of Banderas in the state of Nayarit, Mexico. This resort is located on Playa Destiladeras, which is renowned as the premier beach within the Bay of Banderas. The resort consists of luxurious villas nestled on red sandstone bluffs that rise from the beach and fit naturally into the landscape.

Rancho Banderas is a short flight away from San Diego and such a great quick getaway from the city!

This five-star, self-contained, family-oriented resort blends into and compliment the natural beauty of the area and reflect the rich cultural history of Mexico.

Contact me if you’re interested in finding more!

Check out my photos below from my trip to Rancho Banderas.

I bought my first timeshare from Sunterra (now Diamond Resorts). Since that purchase over 10 years ago I’m gone on so many awesome vacations at Diamond Resorts. They have  large and diverse selection of resorts with something for everyone!

Diamond Resorts has properties in 26 countries with destinations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.

I love that I have so much to choose from! Through Diamond Resorts I’ve been skiing in Tahoe, shopping in Scottsdale, and snorkeling and hiking to three islands of Hawaii!

I’m looking forward to exploring further to resorts outside the US!

Discover for yourself what wonderful resorts are part of Diamond Resorts by going to the Diamond Resorts website.  Contact me if you’re interested in finding more!

Hope you enjoy photos from some of my trips below… (See if you can figure out where these are from!)