The RCI Blog

"Mom thank you so much for bringing me on this vacation!" my thirteen year old daughter said as we left the lodge. Nearly speechless, I couldn't say anything else but, "You’re welcome." We had a great time visiting Yosemite National Park and the giant Sequoia trees on the way. We played a family-modified game of miniature golf at the resort and enjoyed some videos they had available for our use. Our white water rafting trip on the Truckee River capped off the experience. While my daughter will remember the things she saw and did, I will always remember what she said. It made all of my planning and paying worthwhile. So often I feel like we are dragging our kids on vacation and they fight and complain so much. It was really nice to hear gratitude for a change.

-Cassandra R. from Cedar City, UT

This is my son and granddaughter floating down the Merced River with the beautiful half dome in the background. We spent the week at Worldmark Yosemite Bass Lake resort and loved it. We took a day trip to Yosemite and my husband could not resist buying a raft so the kids could float down the river. We went the first week of August and it was perfect weather for us and not too crowded at Yosemite National Park.

-Renee G. from San Anselmo, CA

One of the neatest places we have stayed and close to everything. Very nice, neat, and fun. We have stayed many places, but for another country, this was great and we would recommend it to anyone thinking of going to the South Island of New Zealand. There was a beautiful park just walking distance from our accommodations at the resort. I would for sure go back again.

-William D. from Georgetown, TX

On my grandson Cody's 16th birthday, we celebrated by taking him to the Sheraton Vistana Resort in Orlando. He was able to invite 3 friends to go with him. It was a great time for the boys at this resort because there were so many activities. There were several swimming pools, basketball courts, and game and exercise rooms. Our accommodations were very nice and we had a lot of room for all of us. The boys had 2 double beds in their room and their own bath. The living room and kitchen were very spacious and just what we needed with 4 teenagers. While the boys were well entertained, my husband and I also got to enjoy the resort and area. They had parties at night with Karaoke contests...We visited and shopped in the Orlando area and spent several days at the theme parks...It will be a special birthday that he will never forget, thanks to RCI.

-W.S. from Crossville, TN

Orange Lake Resort has it all...proximity to theme parks, three golf courses, water park and swimming pools, a lake, restaurants and entertainment. You can even find some great little quiet spots like this.

-Valerie S. from Marco Island, FL

My husband and I purchased our timeshare while we were vacationing alone. The following year we took our 2 daughters and a friend on vacation with us to the Sheraton Vistana Resort in Orlando. Since our previous vacations had always taken place in hotel rooms we were anxious to see their reaction when we arrived. We gave them the key to our villa and told them to go open the door while we grabbed luggage. We waited outside. When they walked into the villa we heard screams. They came running out and the look on their faces were priceless. They were so excited about staying in a 2 bedroom villa at a luxury resort for a week instead of a cramped hotel room and so were we!

-Bonnie R. from Richmond, MN

We went to Summer Bay Resort near Orlando, Florida and absolutely had the best time. My daughter and I took my 2 grandkids and we went to Walt Disney World. My grandson, Jordan, turned 4 while we were there and had a little birthday party at the resort. He had such a wonderful time. It rained almost everyday while we were there but we made a good trip out of it even with the rain. Summer Bay Resort was the most awesome place to stay and such a beautiful resort. We loved it so much that we are going back next month to celebrate my granddaughter's birthday as well. Her name is Taylor and she will be 2 years old. This trip was by far the best trip I have ever been on through RCI.

-Deborah M. from Denver, CO

I’ll be honest – Orlando originally wasn’t on the top of my “places where I’d like to holiday” list. I always preferred the buzz of a city – eating in one-off restaurants, digging for records in little independent music stores, and soaking up the atmosphere.

But a few years ago, things changed. When it came to choosing a vacation destination, there was a new dimension – a child. That’s right. We had welcomed a beautiful little boy, Cal, and a year later, we decided that we might be able to stay awake long enough to make it to the airport and onto vacation. It was far from a certainty, but we took the risk. After weighing up flight length from New Jersey, kid-friendliness, and chance of sunshine, Orlando was the best choice.

And I have to say…what a fantastic choice it was! We ate at nice restaurants with no frowning at the request for a high-chair. We took things at our own pace and enjoyed fantastic amenities at our resort. We went to a couple of theme parks and acted like kids. It really was a great family vacation.

Three years on, we’ve been back four times. We arranged a family reunion with both sets of doting babysitters (sorry, grandparents) and also met good friends from England with their toddler. We’ve had so much fun, enjoyed excellent food, found countless bargains at the outlet malls, and “ooh’d” and “aah’d” at the theme parks and shows.

Best of all – I even found an awesome record store.

This week on the RCI Blog, we’ll be sharing stories and photos from RCI subscribing members who have also visited Orlando. Be sure to come back to read about their vacations!

For our anniversary many years ago we decided to fly away without our girls and have some special time with just the two of us.

What a grand idea that turned out to be. The resort we stayed at in Cancun offered everything we wanted and needed for the two of us to renew our relationship, in every way.

We relaxed together, we enjoyed the beautiful beach with the soft white sand and clear waters and the fabulous views from our suite, and had delicious food in all of the on-site restaurants! One day we even had our dinner served to us, out on the terrace of our room, while the sun was setting.

All the reasons we married 10 years earlier were remembered and we came home with a renewed commitment to each other and our girls! This year we begin our 30th year together, and vacations are still important to us. Time to relax and renew.

-Donna H. from Wernersville, PA

When planning your vacation, you first have to ask yourself: what kind of experience am I (are we) looking for? Honeymoon, anniversary, shopping, family-focused, adventure, history, theme parks, good for teenagers, health, relaxation? There are so many kinds. But wouldn’t it be great to have it all in one vacation? Believe me, you will when you visit Cancun and the Riviera Maya!

In Cancun you can stay at a resort surrounded by beautiful turquoise water and soft white sands, combined with the warmth and kindness that Mexicans can offer to their guests. Looking for all day activities? You can swim with dolphins, rent a boat to go fishing, or even sail on a yacht! You can do some shopping at the malls, where you will find major international brands. You can also have lunch or dinner on Kukulcan Boulevard – where you will find restaurants with regional, national, and international cuisine. And if you are looking for a night out on the town, Cancun is home to some of the most unique night clubs in the world!

If you love to have close contact with nature and history, you can stay at a resort in the Riviera Maya or Playa del Carmen, only about 40-50 minutes away from Cancun International Airport. There are so many activities, you are sure to find something that appeals to you and those you are traveling with: snorkeling near the beautiful coral reefs, swimming in underground rivers, or golfing on courses designed by world-famous golfers. You can also visit Xel Ha, an aquatic theme park, great for kids and adults! And don’t forget to visit the famous theme park, Xcaret, and archaeological park where you can enjoy swimming at amazing cenotes, see animals and learn about the Mayan history. You can also travel to Tulum to see ancient ruins –  personally, I don’t think there is any other place in the world where the moonlight reflects brighter off the sea than it does in Tulum. If you are looking for more history, head to the “magical” Chichen Itzá (NOT “chicken and pizza”!), a popular tourist destination where you can see a breathtaking Mayan pyramid. Finally, to end a perfect day, walk through the Fifth Ave. strip where international cultures mix to offer an array of food, wine, shopping, and music.

There’s no place in the world where you can enjoy all this and much more! Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be sharing stories and photos from RCI subscribing members who have visited Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and some of the attractions I told you about above. Come back to the RCI Blog to hear about their trips!

Our first family vacation at Branson, MO. The picture was taken at the resort itself, French Quarter. The trees are blooming and the weather was so good. We enjoyed our family vacation.

-Carmela T. from Houston, TX

We stayed at Summer Bay and I enjoyed a nice walk each morning between all the buildings, going from one to another. It was so relaxing and enjoyable! I would recommend this resort. It was great!

-Judith R from Shawano, Wisconsin

Having been to Tenerife several times (check out one of my other blogs about Tenerife here), I thought the family should really try somewhere new. However, once we decided what we wanted from our winter break – which was all about having fun in the sun with the children – we knew we were looking for sand, sea and somewhere to relax with the extended family group we planned to take. We agreed that Tenerife ticked all of those boxes. A bonus of returning to one of our favourite holiday hotspots was the feeling that we wouldn’t have to put time and effort into discovering the area and finding out what there was to do during each day of our stay. Tenerife is truly a home away from home for us, so we knew from the moment we stepped off the plane exactly how we would be spending our time on the island.

For this holiday, we stayed on the Golf Del Sur and quickly got into a nice routine. It was beach in the morning – visiting Playa Del Duque most days, which was the beach we’d discovered a couple of years before and liked for its nearby shops and charming cafes and restaurants. You can’t beat family fun under the sun on the beach. We had lots of laughs building sandcastles and playing cricket. (If you are looking for a smaller, more intimate beach, Los Gigantes is an ideal choice). The afternoons found us back by the pool at the resort, where the grown-ups recovered from the exertions of beach cricket and relaxed completely, while the children spent hours in and out of the pool.

Siam Park, a water park, is a must. Our children are six and three years old and they loved the excitement and adventure of the water park’s slides and activities. And the adults in the group managed to sneak off for a little thrill seeking of their own on the larger water slides. We pre-booked our tickets to the park through our resort which made it so much quicker to get in and find a good family ‘base camp’ spot for the day. Getting away from water-based activities, we loved Jungle Park, a zoological and botanical park, which made for a good day out.

Tenerife has much to offer all age groups. It is a small island and easy to get around – either in a car or by taxi. There are tiny villages tucked away in a world of their own where you can always find a cafe in the shade of a village square; quiet restaurants and chic shopping in the old towns or lively bars on beachfront promenades. All this, and abundant sunshine. It really is tough to top Tenerife as a great all round, year-round, family holiday destination. There’s still so much more that can be said about Tenerife and the Canary Islands. Come back to the RCI Blog this week, where you’ll get to find out what other RCI subscribing members did during their trips to the Canary Islands!

This beautiful sight is just off the coast of Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. The waters are crystal clear and you can see forever. This is one of our favorite places to vacation. There are golf courses, swimming, beaches and great dining at the resort and close by. It doesn't get any better than this.

-Donna H. from Big Timber, MT

My husband, James and I looked at each other and then grinned as we continued packing for the trip of a lifetime. Finally, it was September 25, 2011, and we were on our way to Australia, a continent halfway around the world. The flying time is twelve-hours from Los Angeles. The trip was booked nine months earlier. We used our Points with RCI and stayed at the Boambee Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour, Australia. We decided to stay in Coffs Harbor, a coastal city on the north coast of New South Wales, about 340 miles north of Sydney...

Coffs Harbour has numerous beaches and high mountains, which delivers incredible vistas. You can enjoy water sports or backpacking and camping. The resort unit was modern, large, comfortable, and clean, and it contained a laundry room. The resort has numerous family activities daily, and behind the resort were the Boambee Bay Creek and the Boambee Beach. The Pacific Ocean spills into the beach so we walked on the Boambee Bay Creek and followed it to the Boambee Beach. We noticed that people were swimming with their family, including their dogs, so we entered the water as well.

We went sightseeing on our own with the help of the Boambee Bay Resort staff, which offered sightseeing suggestions, maps and directions. Our first stop was the Jetty Markets, which sells clothing, gifts and souvenirs. There was also a farmers market. A band played country music and the blues. Our second stop was the Jetty Beach where we watched surfers. We walked the beach and visited a botanical garden. We drove to Woolgoolga, a suburb of Coffs Harbour and visited the beach. We drove down Woolgoolga’s, Beach Street to the whale lookout. Numerous beaches surround Coffs Harbor; on our way to Woolgoolga, on the Pacific Highway, we passed Sapphire Beach, Moonee Beach, Emerald Beach and Sandy Beach.

James did not want to leave Boambee Bay Resort, and he wants to return in the future. Our Australian vacation was unforgettable. If we had it to do it over again, we would extend our trip to 12 days as opposed to 7 days. This was the trip of a lifetime and we enjoyed everything about it. We especially enjoyed the kindness and friendless of the Australian people, and love their mantra “No worries, mates”.

-Bonnit B. from Vallejo, CA

Sunset from our room at Pueblo Bonito Resort in Mazatlan.

- Larry H. from Modesto, CA

I vacationed in Mazatlan for 10 days in Septmeber 2012. I stayed at Torres Mazatlan and had a great time at the resort. I enjoyed several great meals and entertainment at Plaza Machado in downtown. I have been coming here for the last five years and have had no problems in the tourist zone or downtown. We have played golf at Estrella Del Mar, El Cid and the new course course in the marina. I would recommend Mazatlan to anyone that wants to relax, play golf,get some pool time and enjoy good sea food.

-J. M. from Oxnard, CA

View from our balcony at Pueblo Bonito Resort at Emerald Bay

- William L. from Parker, CO

View of sunset from our room at Pueblo Bonito Resort in Mazatlan.

- David S. from Valley Center, CA

I am a retired family practice physician who first visited Mazatlan in 1967. We flew our plane from Albuquerque, NM and had a BALL. Mazatlan was much smaller then and the airport was just north of the downtown area. Since that time, my family (now minus the kids) has gone every year since 1980...and can't hardly wait till the next year to come for a re-visit to Mazatlan. The people are most friendly, the seafood is excellent, and  there is now a abundance of very good restaurants. Pueblo Bonito Resort at Emerald Bay has unbelievable food and rooms, and a friendly and attentive staff. We highly recommend Mazatlan for your next Mexico visit.

- Charles & Donna P. from Bonita, CA