Charles and Lillie Woodrows

The Woodrows and others stayed at sea for almost nine hours before it was deemed safe enough to continue island hopping. Despite almost participating in one the worst natural disasters of the past century, they still describe their experience as “most enjoyable.”

“It’s hard to pick a favorite island in Hawaii as each has its own distinct beauty,” said Charles. “It’s very difficult to pick one over the other and I don’t think I can.”

Their vacation was even more enjoyable because they saved money by using Cruises, Travel and Attractions’ travel agency and utilizing its website, www.thevacationstationmembers.com.

When it was all over, they rated the company’s customer service as excellent.
Best of all, because the Woodrows are members of Cruises, Travel and Attractions, they received a rebate check after their vacation was over, saving them even more money. While they are staying closer to home for their next vacation, Cruises, Travel and Attractions will still be available to help them plan their trip and keep more money in their pockets.

Charles and Lillie Woodrows

Charles and Lillie Woodrow of Hopkins, South Carolina, have been members of Vacation Inspiration for two years but didn’t decide to take their first trip to Europe until last year.

“We had a good experience, so we booked another vacation this year through Cruises, Travel and Attractions and headed to Hawaii,” said Charles Woodrow. “While we won’t travel as far from home next time, we will definitely utilize our membership with Cruises, Travel and Attractions again.”

A 15-day vacation to Hawaii is a dream vacation and one the Woodrows won’t soon forget – but for another reason.

“We were on a cruise visiting some of the Hawaiian Islands when the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan,” Charles explained. “It was incredible, but we were kept informed of what was happening the entire time. The cruise line took us out to sea for about 25 miles to avoid getting hit ourselves. It was definitely a new and once-in-alifetime experience for all of us.”…

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Charles and Lillie Woodrows

The Woodrows and others stayed at sea for almost nine hours before it was deemed safe enough to continue island hopping. Despite almost participating in one the worst natural disasters of the past century, they still describe their experience as “most enjoyable.”

“It’s hard to pick a favorite island in Hawaii as each has its own distinct beauty,” said Charles. “It’s very difficult to pick one over the other and I don’t think I can.”

Their vacation was even more enjoyable because they saved money by using Cruises, Travel and Attractions’ travel agency and utilizing its website, www.thevacationstationmembers.com.

When it was all over, they rated the company’s customer service as excellent.
Best of all, because the Woodrows are members of Cruises, Travel and Attractions, they received a rebate check after their vacation was over, saving them even more money. While they are staying closer to home for their next vacation, Cruises, Travel and Attractions will still be available to help them plan their trip and keep more money in their pockets.

The travel agents at CTA are travelers themselves, so they understand that vacations are precious. They are eager to make sure members enjoy the entire cruise experience, before, during and after, not only by helping choose the right cruise but also by booking hotels, car rentals and attractions.

Just as Royal Caribbean is only one of the many cruise lines that CTA books for its members, cruises are only one of the many travel offerings available. CTA also provides members with vacation tour packages and with the option to create their own travel itinerary. A travel agent can book with all of the tour companies and packaged tour providers, as well as with major chains and individual vendors.

Members simply provide their travel agent with the requirements for their dream vacation, and the agent will research all of the available options. Whether it’s a three-night package tour of San Francisco or an individually customized two-week trip to South Africa, the Cruise, Travel and Attractions travel agent team will do whatever is necessary to make sure their member’s trip perfectly matches the one they’ve been dreaming about.

Maggie, Jennifer, Allie, Connie, Gareth and Danette earned a plaque from Royal Carribbean, which cruises to more than 280 destinations in 81 countries worldwide. Acknowledgement from a major cruise line is a nice accomplishment for the CTA team, but what they really enjoy is the recognition they receive from happy members.

Of course, Royal Caribbean is just one of many cruise lines that Cruise, Travel and Attractions offers. The travel agents are knowledgeable about all the major lines and each of their ships, embarkation ports, itineraries, ports-of-call and excursions. They can book members on the huge variety of cruises offered by any cruise company, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Viking River Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Seabourn.

In the mid-1800s, the area was known for producing world-famous Indian River oranges and grapefruit, and pineapples also thrived in the sandy soil. The small towns that once dotted the island – Georgiana, Courtenay, Tropic, Fairyland, Orsino, Angel City, Wilson and Indianola among them –have vanished, leaving Merritt Island to be administered by Brevard County. Water and sewer service come to the island’s residents from the nearby town of Cocoa.

There’s more to do on Florida’s Space Coast, however, than lounge on the beach, search for seashells and gaze at space shuttles soaring skyward…

Originally named Artesia, Merritt Island is located just six miles southwest of Cape Canaveral, the heart of America’s space program. Because of its central location in Brevard County, between Titusville and Melbourne, the area has developed into an economic hub, tucked between the Atlantic beaches to the east and the mainland cities of Rockledge and Cocoa to the west. There’s more to do on Florida’s Space Coast, however, than lounge on the beach, search for seashells and gaze at space shuttles soaring skyward. Residents and visitors enjoy golf, tennis, horseback riding, hiking, biking, surfing, water-skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, boating, sailing and shopping. Parks provide playgrounds, picnic tables and barbecue grills, and nearby historic Cocoa Village offers tree-lined streets and a wide variety of shops, cafes and art galleries.

In addition to the Kennedy Space Center, nearby attractions include the Astronaut Hall of Fame; the American Police Hall of Fame in Titusville; and the Veterans Memorial Center, which includes a military museum.

And if you simply seek a peek at the unspoiled beauty of the Florida coast, you can visit Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, located adjacent to the Space Center. The 22-square-mile wetlands area, managed by the federal government, attracts more than 300 species of birds and also is home to ghost crabs, loggerhead and green sea turtles, raccoons, bobcats, alligators, manatees, dolphins, bald eagles, ospreys and even the elusive Florida panther. You can see many of them along the seven-mile-long Blackpoint Wildlife Drive.

We went with a very open mind to hear what the program was about,” said Lynn.

Bill jumped in saying, “It turned out very interesting.” He continued by explaining that the Cruise, Travel and Attractions folks actively work to find out where you would like to visit – then they come up with suggestions.

The Meyers have been members since the summer of 2009, and they were anxious to try a variety of plans offered by Cruise, Travel and Attractions. For example, they wanted to visit Florida’s panhandle, so the staff at Cruise, Travel and Attractions presented several options from which to choose.

“We went for a week at a condo at Emerald Beach, and we were extremely pleased,” Lynn said. “It was just as they said it would be.”

“You could go online and look at the options, so you knew what you were getting,” Bill chimed in.

Another wonderful vacation was a cruise, a first for the Meyers. “We went out of Mobile,” Lynn explained. “All our questions were answered ahead of time. We were a little apprehensive because it was our first cruise, but everything fell into place.”

“We had a great time,” Bill added. With such great experiences during their first years of membership, the Meyers look forward to much more travel during their retirement years. And there is no doubt they will continue to save money during those vacations.

“They not only give you the best price available, you get a rebate on top of that,” Bill said.

The savings are impressive.

Bill estimates they saved between $1,500 and $1,800 in just their first year. “I was impressed when I added up the numbers,” he said.

The Meyers are looking forward to trying some of the “hot weeks” Cruise, Travel and Attractions offers, when prices are exceptionally reasonable. They have also shared their experiences with friends, many of whom “are in awe,” according to Lynn, and with their office in Tampa, Florida, CTA is poised to meet your travel dreams, too!

“We’re glad we took a bit of a risk to join, because the results have been great,” Lynn added.

Bill agreed wholeheartedly. “It’s a good deal,” he said.

Dolber is a veteran traveler, but when his wife mentioned casually that there was a Cruise, Travel and Attractions location in town, he said, “OK. What’s that?”

It wasn’t long before he found out not only “what” Cruise, Travel and Attractions is, but how much he could save by becoming a member. He learned firsthand that the savings could be considerable.

“How we used Cruise, Travel and Attractions is primarily through my business. I’m a corporate pilot, and I’m away from home a fair amount,” Dolber said. “That means hotels, rental cars and things like that, and Cruise, Travel and Attractions gives you a rebate off the basic rack rate.”

Dolber went on to say that CTA is ideal for those who do a fair amount of traveling. The Dolbers thought that a membership would work well for them, although they couldn’t have guessed how much it ultimately would save them.

“We bought a membership in June 2009,” he said. “By February 2010, I had received my purchase price back from the receipts I had submitted up to that time.”

Since then, the Dolbers have continued to travel and submit receipts.

“I’m considerably ahead now,” Dolber said. “Truthfully, it is about a 90-percent return on my investment. I wish my stock market portfolio did that.”

Even though the Cruise, Travel and Attractions seminar the Dolbers attended was impressive, they were skeptical about a plan that sounded too good to be true.

“One thing I was concerned with was their reputation, because I had never heard of them. I did a check and found out they were fine,” he said.

Joining Cruise, Travel and Attractions has allowed the Dolbers to visit new places together in addition to his many businessrelated trips. Of course, this might be what his wife had in mind when she suggested it.

“My wife and I always wanted to take a cruise, but we didn’t have the opportunity until this year,” Dolber said. “We left from Florida and went to Belize, Mexico and the Cayman Islands.”

“The stateroom had a really nice balcony,” he continued. “The rack rate was $3,400. When we got back, I submitted the receipt to Cruise, Travel and Attractions and they sent me a check for $1,000.”

About the customer service at Cruise, Travel and Attractions, Dolber said, “They are great.”

Would he recommend Cruise, Travel and Attractions? “Absolutely,” he said. “If you do a fair amount of traveling, it works out pretty well.”

By Barbara Patrick

“I travel for my work,” Moe said. “I haven’t had time to plan a trip yet.” Moe’s job takes him all over the country. He’s recently been to Nebraska, South Dakota and Kentucky. And because he is always working, he has little time to spend in fine restaurants or visiting tourist attractions. In spite of that, he is quite happy that he joined Cruise, Travel and Attractions.

“Oh, I’m glad I did join,” Moe exclaimed. “I’ve been reimbursed for motels I’ve stayed in during work.”

He agrees that Cruise, Travel and Attractions lives up to its promises and has already recommended it to others.

“Oh, yeah. It’s paid for itself already,” Moe said.

He’ll be using Cruise, Travel and Attractions again shortly. He’s heading to New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and, yes, this is another work trip. But he is hoping that someday he will have time to take a real getaway with the help of Cruise, Travel and Attractions.

The goal of a condo-hotel is to combine the benefits of vacation home ownership and real estate investing. As The Wall Street Journal recently put it, “(A condo-hotel) is like a time-share in that the owner pays to use a unit. But one difference is that the owner buys the unit outright, rather than just an annual week or two of use.” With a condohotel, the owner gets a deeded piece of property in his own name.

At a condo-hotel, the majority offer profitable twist to traditional time-shares condo-hotels Popular of owners usually participate in the property’s rental program, in which a professional property management company oversees the rental process, runs day-to-day operations and handles maintenance issues. The money that the unit owner earns from rentals can help him offset some of his costs and, in many cases, generate extra income.

Property owners can also arrange to use their condo-hotel unit themselves, let their friends or family use it, or rent it out on their own.

One aspect of condo-hotel ownership that holds particular appeal in today’s sizzling real estate market is resale value. While time-shares can be hard to sell, condo-hotels, according to many experts, are likely to remain in demand because they tend to be upscale properties in prime oceanfront settings.

In Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Hoffman Group announced in late May that it had sold out three oceanfront condo-hotel properties pre-construction — about 700 units — in a 30-day period. The units are valued at more than $125 million and are located at the Monterey Bay Suites Resort, the Landmark Hotel and the Caribbean Suites Resort on the Grand Strand.

Beachside Real Estate, based on the Isle of Palms, S.C., introduced the first condo-hotels to the Charleston area this year. Called Seaside Studios and located on the island’s popular Ocean Boulevard, the 51 one-bedroom units sold out in a week, says Beachside Broker in Charge Vicki Hollingsworth. Prices ranged from $189,000 to $274,000.

The property gives buyers a rare opportunity to invest in waterfront real estate at an affordable price — and at a time when the condo market is seeing explosive growth.

Exterior design plans for Seaside Studios include new paint, new fiberglass doors on each unit, and operable windows in each room to give owners and their guests the pleasure of listening to the waves breaking on the beach. There is also a new pool on the second-floor deck, along with outdoor kitchen facilities, designer furniture and tropical décor.

Plans for the interior include new furniture, designer bedding and window treatments, new flooring throughout, and designer artwork and accessories.

Seaside Studios is just the beginning for Beachside Real Estate in the condo-hotel market. The company recently purchased the Elliott House Inn on Queen Street in downtown Charleston to operate as a condo-hotel, and the 26 rooms there sold out in one day. “We’ve contracted the Shem Creek Inn in Mount Pleasant and are getting ready to close on that as well, and that’s close to a sell-out,” says Hollingsworth.

In addition, Beachside currently has contracted three other hotels in the state and plans to convert them to condo-hotels. “One of them is in a college town and the other two are on the coast,” she says.

While the cost of buying a condominium on or near the ocean has risen sharply in the past decade, the amount a homeowner can get from renting it hasn’t kept the same pace. Hollingsworth says many people can’t afford to spend $600,000 to $800,000 for a second home that they’ll only get to stay in three or four times a year. A condo-hotel gives them more options.

Florida seems to be the original home of the condo-hotel trend. In the Sunshine State, condo-hotels are usually four- or five-star high-rise hotels towers, often with a hotel “household name” attached — Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, Four Seasons, Trump, or Clarion, to name just a few. Owners in a condo-hotel often enjoy all the perks that a hotel guest might take advantage of, such as spas, fitness centers and fine restaurants. Some condo-hotels even offer housekeeping services or a concierge. The property management company handles maintenance issues.

According to a recent story in USA Today, about 30 condo-hotels are currently under construction in South Florida. While the Orlando and Miami-Fort Lauderdale areas had fewer than 1,000 condohotel units each five years ago, estimates are that several years from now, those communities will have more than 10,000 condo-hotel units — each.

Condo-hotels are typically found on oceanfront property, but the trend has also swept inland — and much farther than just Orlando and Atlanta. In New York City, the famed Plaza Hotel is being converted to condos, and cities such as Las Vegas and Chicago are getting in on the action as well. One recent Las Vegas condohotel, the 576-unit MGM Grand, was expected to sell out in two years — but lasted only two months.

Still, there’s something special about owning a coastal condominium. “We think the condo-hotels will really open up an avenue for people who dream of living on the coast,” says Hollingsworth. “We always say, ‘When you’re living on the island, every day is a vacation,’ and that’s certainly true when you own your own condo-hotel there.”