If you enjoy music, food and drinks from Germany, then you will need to put one of the many Oktoberfests on your autumn “to-do” list. In Southern California’s mountain region, Big Bear Lake presents Oktoberfest from mid-September through late October. It is “rated California’s #1 Oktoberfest.”

Las Vegas Oktoberfest celebrations provide live entertainment by Vegas Bavarian Dancers, children’s activities, finger wrestling (a popular Bavarian sport), and plenty of food and beer. To share in the Vegas festivities, consider the Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas, Freemont Street Experience, MonteLago Village, or Golden Nugget. Remember this phrase, “A Bier, bittschen” (one beer, please).

Share in the fun and book a suite at the Jockey Club (Las Vegas) or Snow Lake Lodge (Big Bear Lake).  Prost (cheers)!

People mainly associate “changing of the leaves” or fall foliage to colder climate areas like the New England area or Canada. However, portions of Southwestern states like Nevada and California boast quite an abundance of foliage coloration. Lake Tahoe, in the Northwestern region of Nevada bordering California, experiences dramatic fall leaf coloration. Big Bear Lake, in Southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains, has vivid leaf coloration, and, believe it or not, the Southern California desert region of Palm Springs has leaves changing colors from mid-October to mid-November. Of course, you need to travel up to Palm Springs’ Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness  area by way of the Palm Springs Aerial Tram to truly take in the fall foliage. 

To experience these areas in autumn, it is best to plan ahead and make accommodations in advance. View fall getaway deals to: The Lodge at Kingsbury Crossing (Lake Tahoe), Snow Lake Lodge (Big Bear Lake), and Palm Springs Tennis Club.

According to the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), “in total, the U.S. timeshare industry supported an estimated $69 billion of output to the U.S. economy in 2009. This included 465,800 full- and part-time jobs; over $22 billion in salaries, wages, and related income; and approximately $8.4 billion in tax revenue.” While consumers contribute, support and believe in our timeshare product, our team members make the difference. With them, our owners and guests experience smiling faces, warm greetings, compassionate customer service, attentiveness and welcoming little touches like freshly popped popcorn or masterfully folded Kleenex and hand towels. One owner said, “We love the way the staff smiles! We feel so welcome.”

We understand and recognize the importance of hiring the right people, providing support and training at all levels from the resorts to the corporate offices, and offering effective business tools to operate successfully. Tricom has one of the highest employee retention rates in the timeshare industry and minimal turn-over during the past three decades. We continue to employ numerous team members who have been part of the Tricom family for 20 plus years.

Our award winning team makes the difference and they truly care about the guests, owners and resorts. As one guest summed it up, “I have never had more courteous or more help from anyone anywhere I have traveled . . . wonderful in every way. There were many extras which were very much appreciated and made us feel very special and cared for.”

Time to plan and book your 2012 vacation. Please remember you have options:

1) Give it to a friend or family member,
2) Donate it to charity or a school function,
3) Exchange your week,
4) Contact your home resort, OR
5) Contact Platinum Interchange and have two years to use it.

Note: Please remember the booking window for your home resort. We recommend you act quickly as fellow owners are doing the same thing and may confirm your vacation choice.

Enjoy yourself and family during these times!

Palm Springs is home to the world’s largest rotating aerial tramcars, celebrity residents, the Palm Springs International Film Festival, mid-century modern architecture, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, numerous restaurants, and the award-winning Palm Springs Tennis Club.

Up until the 1970’s, Palm Springs used to be considered a ghost town in the summer months with some businesses and hotels closing in July and August. That began to change in the disco era as more retirees moved to the Coachella Valley for health reasons and as commerce grew, so did families with children. Around this same time, the Palm Springs Tennis Club was converted from a hotel-operated resort into a timeshare resort under the development and guidance of Raymond Aneas Watt, founder Watt Industries, and management by Woody Cary, founder Tricom Management, Inc.

The Palm Springs Tennis Club is considered one of the finest timeshare resorts in Southern California. The resort features three swimming pools, award-winning Spencer’s Restaurant (“Best of the Valley”), an expansive property with the hotel nestled against the San Jacinto Mountains and the bungalows across the street, spas, and professional tennis courts. The resort is within walking distance to downtown Palm Springs, which has various shopping boutiques, restaurants, art exhibits, museums, and plenty of people watching spots.

The resort is extremely popular among non-timeshare owners, too. These guests frequently rent suites year after year and benefit from discounted rental rates by booking directly with us. One rental guest said, “The Palm Springs Tennis Club is a first class act. Very well done, thank you.” Another one said, “What an enjoyable, quite, great location and wonderful view at this resort. The suite was well cared for and roomy.”

Visit the Palm Springs Tennis Club this summer and get some free ice cream!

Book a rental (two night minimum) at San Diego Country Estates and receive a $30 gift card to the Oaks Grille restaurant.  Hurry, limited-time offer.

San Diego Country Estates is a gold crown rated resort with spacious suite accommodations and fully equipped kitchens. Guests enjoy “The Good Life” of total relaxation and active play. The resort and surrounding community of Ramona Valley offer tennis, horseback riding, wine tasting at local wineries, golf, hiking trails, and tours of nearby historic Julian.

One guest said, “A great variety! We would highly recommend this resort. This was our first visit to San Diego Country Estates. We will hold all future resorts we visit to the standards here. Our rooms were very clean, spacious, and tastefully decorated.”

Another guest said, “Very helpful and quick results. Very courteous ladies at the front desk. Outstanding unit cleanliness. Comfortable beds and nice kitchen in the units. We have been there twice now and look forward to returning next year.” Read more guest comments.

Escape life and Retreat & Eat at San Diego Country Estates. Book Now!

The July 4^th holiday is about celebrating with family and friends, but what else is it really about? Is it about the fireworks, potato salad, BBQ, bug zappers, and red-white-and-blue party favors? Well, it’s a little bit of all that and more:

• In May 1776, after a year of disputing between the colonists and English Parliament over taxation without representation, the colonies sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. In June, the delegates realized their efforts were fruitless and formed a committee to draft the formal Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson chaired the committee and submitted the first draft to Congress on June 28, 1776.
• July 8, 1776, in Philadelphia, the first Independence Day was celebrated. The Liberty Bell rang causing citizens to flock to Independence Hall for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
• In May or June 1776, the Congressional Committee commissioned Betsy Ross to sew the first American flag.
• The official event signing of the Declaration of Independence did not occur until August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it. The last signor was Thomas McKean in January 1777.
• For over six months, the signers’ names remained confidential to protect them from a possible treasonable act; punishable by law resulting in death. This most likely would have occurred if independence was not achieved.
• In 1804, the White House held the first public July 4^th event.
• According to American legend, Uncle Sam probably began in 1812. At this time, Samuel Wilson, a meat packer, provided meat to the U.S. Army. His shipments were stamped with the initials, U.S. An unknown quipped that the initials meant “Uncle Sam.” This tomfoolery eventually led to Uncle Sam symbolizing the U.S. government.
•  July 4^th is one of the few federally recognized holidays that have not been moved to the closest Friday or Monday. Congress declared July 4th a federal legal holiday in 1941.

Have a safe and happy July 4^th. If you’re not already visiting us over the Holiday, consider a quick get away and Book Now online! We’ve got some RED Hot Specials and summer Family Reunion Deals at San Diego Country Estates!

“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! 
Rah! Rah! Rah! 
Tuesdays, Mondays, we all scream for sundaes, 
Sis-boom-bah! 
Boola-boola, sarsaparoolla, 
If you got chocolate, we’ll take vanoola! 
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Rah! Rah! Rah!” (Original song by Howard Johnson, Billy Moll, and Robert A. K. King)

Who doesn’t love that ice cream song? Well, I know for certain our rental guests at San Diego Country Estates and Palm Springs Tennis Club do.

Starting June 1- August 31, 2011, book a rental (two night minimum) at San Diego Country Estates (all week long) or Palm Springs Tennis Club (weekdays only) and you’ll be saying, “Rah! Rah! Rah!” when you get free ice cream upon arrival. Book a one bedroom suite and receive one free pint of ice cream. Book a two bedroom suite and receive two free pints of ice cream.  A screaming deal at two gold crown rated resorts!

Cool off this summer in Palm Springs and North San Diego by relaxing at the pools and enjoying mouthfuls of ice cream. “Boola-boola, sarsaparoolla” if you get a one bedroom, we’ll take a two bedroom! Get indulging now!

Summer officially begins June 21^st (first day of summer), but to some they’ve already kicked off summer fun over Memorial Day weekend. According to AAA, the tourism industry is preparing for an uncertain summer. In summer 2010, the average family spent $809 on its vacation; while AAA is predicting this year’s spending to decrease to $692. AAA’s survey also revealed that many families are expecting to tighten their belts and plan shorter trips.

With summer vacation budgets shrinking, how can you still enjoy a memorable vacation with loved ones and not worry about all of the expenses? Here are some ideas:

1.      Save money by not dining out and purchase groceries at a nearby store. A majority of our timeshare suites, if not all, offer fully equipped kitchens. Perfect for preparing meals on a budget. Also, where most of our timeshare resorts are located, guests can find weekly, local farmers’ markets that offer fresh, seasonal items at reasonable prices.

For instance, in Palm Springs, Palm Springs Tennis Club guests enjoy the Village Fest (every Thursday) with hundreds of vendors. And, Channel Island Shores guests participate in the Channel Islands Harbor Certified Farmer’s Market (every Sunday).  

2.      Entertainment can be the most expensive part of a trip. Consider planning one major entertainment event and make the other days about exploring the resort’s amenities. If planning an entertaining activity, great deals can be found online and this can save you anywhere from $10-$30 per event ticket.

For example, traveling to Aquamarine Villas or the Blue Whale in Oceanside, CA, and want to visit LegoLand and Sea Life Aquarium, view these offers. Or, visiting Magic Tree resort in Orlando and want to take advantage of Disney, Universal Studios, Epcot, and more, view these savings. Magic Tree resort team members can also assist you with local deals.

All of our resorts provide complimentary games and movies. This is an inexpensive way to connect with loved ones and still have fun. Also, some of our resorts provide complimentary bicycles and there’s no better way to cruise all the local spots. Aquamarine Villas is one example that offers no-cost bike rentals. For additional information on amenities, please visit each resort’s website.

3.      Gas prices are soaring and whether you’re driving or flying to your vacation destination, this will impact your wallets. Many online sites provide information on gas stations with the cheapest gas. You just enter the destination zip code and you’ll see local stations’ prices.

When it comes to flying, not much consumers can do about airlines’ gas prices. However, you can cut air travel expenses by packing smart to avoid any excess baggage fees. For airline ticket discounts, visit Southwest Airlines.

4.      Pinch pennies with some free day outings. All of our resort communities offer some free activity:

In Southern CA, leave the credit cards behind.

In Las Vegas, put the wallets away.

In Lake Tahoe, forget the “Benjamins.”

In Orlando, be worry-free.

Now, you can loosen those belts and breathe a little easier when vacationing in summer 2011. We look forward to seeing you soon.