I don't know how many times I have heard the expression I can't afford to take a cruise.  Let's explore the cost of a cruise compared to a vacation that doesn't involve a big ship and oceans.  My intent is to keep the two events similar in length and comparable accommodations.   One you don't get to call a Motel 6 a luxury resort and a meal at a fast food joint a gourmet meal. I'm defiantly not saying you can't eat a burger and fries either.

Almost everyone can take seven days off work for a vacation, so our duration is seven days.  Destination is going to be a port that has a cruise terminal in a city that is a destination in its self.   I'm going to pick New Orleans for two reasons, one Dana and I have cruised from that port and what a fun city to vacation in.  Remember my children are grown and we cruise for relaxation.  Those of you with children would probably need to schedule during the summer or school vacations and that is definitely going to change the cost.  Let's pick November of 2015 as our time of year.

Our end cost is going to be based on total cost per person based on two people.  Food is going to be based on three meals a day with buffet and dining room accommodations.   Entertainment consists of day time activities and a stage show at night.  For you adults, a casino is included for some extracurricular activities, we might as well throw in a bar and karaoke lounge.  OK, we can add other items as we discover them, but let's get started.

Finding a cruise and round trip airfare from Seattle to New Orleans is our first objective.  For those of us not cruising and just heading for New Orleans to enjoy that week we will use the cruise schedule for that vacation also.  New Orleans hosts two major cruise lines for 2015 so we will look at both to find for the best deal, just like we will search for the best hotel price.

We will want to fly the day before our cruise departs as the chance of missing the 4PM sailing deadline is possible trying to do it all in one day.  I am going to use Kayak to find both the flights and a room for the night.  Our best price is with Alaska nonstop round trip Seattle to New Orleans $818 and our room is at the Hampton Inn for $139 for the night.  I chose the Hampton as it is a nice hotel that is within walking distance of the cruise terminal.  Also, because Dana and I have stayed there and walked to the terminal.

Our cruise choices are Carnival 7 night departs 29 Nov 2015 and returns 6 Dec 2015.  Our ports of call are Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grand Cayman; Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Mexico.  Our cabin selection is interior for $529, ocean view $579, balcony $739 and suite $ 1,149 per person.  Norwegian 7 night departs 29 Nov 2015 and returns 6 Dec 2015.  Our ports of call are Cozumel, Mexico; Rotan (Isla Rotan); Bay Islands, Honduras; Harvest Kaye, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico.  Our cabin selection is interior $439, ocean view $569, balcony $839 and suite $1,049 per person.

We now know our base price for our travel and cruise: $818 air fare for 2, $139 hotel room for 2, and $439 inside cabin on Norwegian (best price and more ports of call for the cruise).  This gives us a base total for the trip of $1,835, not including taxes and other fees.  Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet or dining room, are included in the price.  You can eat in several specialty venues at a cost per person.  Drinks (alcohol and soda) and shore excursions are at an additional cost.  Water, iced tea, juice drinks are free.

Now let's look at that same package just staying in New Orleans.  Air fare is the same $818, the Hampton had no room availability for that week so we are going to book with Embassy Suites which is just a few blocks closer to downtown at $1,113 for 7 nights.  Breakfast averaging for 7 days is around $126, lunch average is going to be about $196 and dinner about $270.  This covers our basic needs for one week at a total of $1,523.

Our basic cost per night per person is $262 for the cruise and $217 for staying on land.  Remember on the cruise we have nightly entertainment, the ship moves to different ports of call where it costs nothing to get off and walk around.  On board activities are available on sea days and there are always places on board ship to just hang out like the pool and hot tub.

In closing I would like to share with you a cost saving way to take that New Orleans vacation.  I'll leave the prices the same for convenience and we can add one to two week to our stay.  Flight $818, hotel $139, Cruise Carnival $1,058 and on return head next door and check in to Norwegian for the second cruise that departs that afternoon for $878.  Now we could add that week in New Orleans to the end of the second cruise for $1,113 and meals $592 giving us a total of two cruises and a week's stay in New Orleans for $4,598 for two.

Whatever vacation you plan to do, cruising is definitely affordable, fun and as a bonus you get to see the world or at least in this case a few more countries.

You may want to read Parts 1-4 prior to this edition. You may scroll through older posts or start here at Part 1.

Being rock hounds we have always wanted to visit Tucson in February when the gem and mineral show is going on.  It seems the entire city of Tucson transforms into mineral and fine gem shops.  Motels, hotels, gas stations, campgrounds and parking lots all become a platform to sell rocks.

Low and behold there is a golf resort in Tucson that is part of the time shares we can avail ourselves of.  Besides we now have an accumulation of points leftover from the previous year. It's off to Tucson for a week in February, prime season but what the heck we have a stock pile of points.

Leaving the airport in our rental car we follow the GPS up into the mountains on the outskirts of Tucson.  Driving past several golf resorts and seeing several national high-end hotels we finally reach our destination.  The condos, like in Napa, are managed by a resort hotel after check-in and our welcome by the Concierge we are given directions to our unit.  Here the condos are adobe ranch style town houses scattered throughout the hills with the golf course meandering through the grounds.  Our condo faced a ravine with a plethora of fauna and flora to appreciate and none of the wild life missed a chance to stop by the patio looking for a handout.  Every morning was an adventure as to which species was waiting for us to arise.

The weather in Tucson is interesting in early February, eighty degrees during the day and thirty degrees at night.  One almost must go from short sleeve shirt to long johns in the same day.  Our rental car had AC and a good heater so we were not inconvenienced.

On a final note it is only fair to say one thing that was an absolute truth from that now long ago presentation in San Francisco, we do take more vacations now because of that timeshare purchase.  Our 5000 points allows us to invite guests to travel with us to enjoy a very nice vacation in a two bedroom condo wherever we want to go.  Last year we had enough points to go to Phoenix and several weeks later to Napa with friends for a week each.

This has been a rather verbose dialogue to address that original question of  “Are Time Shares worth it?”  Yes and No,  Yes we have enjoyed our luxury vacations for a few years now and always talk about where we are going to go on our next adventure.  Not all our adventures are with the time share company we find we like to cruise and have done walking tours of Italy and river cruises of much of Europe.  I am not sure if the time share vacations have pushed us on the path of travel, but I suspect we would not have willingly embraced such an extensive nomadic lifestyle otherwise, nor would we be so free if we were still working full time.  Every situation is different, for Dana and I the timeshare was an expense we were willing to live with and have taken advantage of what was offered.

Others don't always feel that way with the large cash outlay up front and the annual fees that are mandatory to keeping your timeshare active.  Those not retired have to plan more carefully when they can vacation; having children pose another set of difficulties in vacationing.  Many of these planning issues can push the vacation into a prime season making it cost more in points and harder to book reservations.  I have read many complaints from those who succumbed to the sales pitch that makes a used car salesman look like an amateur. At the time I wasn't very happy either.  Could you take a nice vacation every year for the amount you spent on that vacation package? Sure, but would you?

Since I enjoy vacations perhaps it is time to talk about other forms of vacationing Dana and I have experienced.  Stay tuned while I give this some thought.

You may want to read Parts 1-3 prior to this edition. You may scroll through older posts or start here at Part 1.

Before I talk about the secondary market I should mention the maintenance fees.  These fees are based on your home club and the number of points you hold.  The formula used to calculate this cost varies between clubs so suffice to say it would be complicated to get into a lot of details.  We were shown the formula at the time of our purchase so it isn't something that catches owners unawares.  It does add to the cost of the overall vacations and if you purchased that 7500 points those costs add up to some fairly steep fees annually.

Since I buy many things off eBay I thought I would look at time share opportunities there before spending $5.00 a point through the retail sales of the vacation club.  I guess I wasn't surprised to find large numbers of offers through escrow companies for various clubs.  I discovered through watching these auctions that the average price at that time was around $1.00 a point.  I must confess this put a smile on my face.  If there were no catch 22s this was going to be the way to get us into that one bedroom condo.  In looking for things that could go wrong I contacted the vacation club and asked questions on buying outside their plan.  Interestingly, the things that the secondary market points wouldn't cover, was trading points for RCI timeshares in their network.  Everything within the club was covered and I had 1500 points that I could trade each year if that was what we wanted.

Now I'm living on eBay looking for a comfortable amount of points to get us to that one bedroom condo.  I have finally found a listing for 3500 points in the club I am interested in.  Someone had already bid on the auction, but the price is still well below $1.00 per point.  I am willing to spend one dollar per point to attempt to win this auction.  I place my bid of $3,500.00 and now all I can do is just sit and wait.  A week later the auction closes and I find I have won and luckily not at the maximum bid; we actually got those points for $0.80 a point.

I called the vacation company to notify them of my new title holding and they offered to sync the dues payment dates to make it easy for me and told me the points for that year were unused and had been added to my current points.  My escrow costs were about $200.00 and the fees had been paid for that year by the previous owner so my costs were under $3,000.00.

Dana and I had started cruising (perhaps another blog topic) so we had our vacations covered for that year and decided to save our points for the next year. 

Saving points is a good way to upgrade your vacation or do more than one in a year.  Now two vacations in one year is a little difficult while working so we now had around 10,000 points sitting in our account.  The trick with saving points to the next year is that those saved points will expire on your dues date the following year; hence we would be taking a vacation club vacation the next year.  Overall I was very pleased to have upgraded for significantly less than if I had succumbed to the member upgrade offer of $5.00 a point and to think that we discussed paying that amount.

Visiting another location, Part 5 in this series is the last on the topic of Vacation Clubs.

Just a few photos from that 1 bedroom that I mentioned in Part 3 and the reason we purchased more points on the secondary market.

I wanted to do a post on the Top 10 oils but then I thought….everyone has their own ideas about what their top 10 would be, so here is one that everyone can use as it is just about the oils that retail for $20 or less. Please realize that there are probably a lot of oil companies that promote oils under $20 but I only use a pure therapeutic quality oil which means it does have a higher price tag than those you can get in the health food store.

Let’s work our way down the list with benefits and how to use.

Cedarwood – well besides the smell reminding me of my grandmothers cedar chest, this is a wonderful oil for pest control. There is a reason they used to store wool blankets and sweaters with cedar and line closets. Other uses, get a more restful sleep, promotes healthy skin and breathing functions, very relaxing and calming and has a soothing effect on the mind and emotions. This oil may be used aromatically in a diffuser or topically diluted on the skin.

Invigorating Blend – This is one of my favorites for it’s uplifting aroma. It is a blend of Wild Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Bergamot, Tangerine and Clementine essential oils as well as Vanilla Absolute. It cleans and purifies the air and I think is especially good after cooking fish to get rid of the smell. It is very uplifting to your mood, energizing and helps reduce stress. Use this oil aromatically or topically. Use caution if using topically and you plan to be out in direct sunlight. Highly dilute or wait 24-48 hours.

Clove – I remember as a child my mom’s favorite flavor of candy was Clove. This as a spice has been used in cooking and candy/treat making. It has also been used for it’s numbing effects in dentistry. It has powerful antioxidant properties, supports cardiovascular health and promotes healthy teeth and gums. This oil may be used internally, aromatically or topically diluted. Remember a little goes a long way.

Eucalyptus -  I use this oil a lot to support my respiratory function but it also is good for soothing tired and sore muscles. It also assists with clear breathing. I like to make a natural vapor rub when cold season is upon us and this oil is one of the main ingredients. This oil can be used aromatically or topically. Always dilute for sensitive skin or small children.

Fennel – I left this oil off my graphic but thought I would include it here as it does have a lot of really good benefits. It has been used for centuries as a tonic and has a licorice scent and flavor. Relieves occasional indigestion and digestive troubles, eases monthly menstrual cycles, support a healthy lymphatic system and calms skin irritations. This oil can be used internally, aromatically or topically.

Lemon – This oil has a multitude of uses …more than we want to put here. I use it for just about everything from cleaning the air and solid surfaces, gets gummy gunk from labels off bottles, uplifts your mood and helps improve focus. I also like this with a bit of honey to ease coughs. Use internally, aromatically and topically. Use caution if using topically if you plan to be out in the direct sunlight. Highly dilute or wait 24-48 hours.

Lemongrass – This is my newest favorite as I love the scent. I didn’t use to but all of a sudden I crave the smell. The taste is wonderful also. This has been used in Asian and Caribbean cooking for its flavor and aroma. It support a healthy digestion, soothes aching muscles and helps tone the skin. Use internally, aromatically or topically. Dilute for sensitive skin.

Lime – Everytime I smell this oil whether it is from the bottle or in the diffuser it reminds me of summer and the limeades we would get at the drive-in eatery. This oil is a powerful antioxidant that supports the immune system, has a refreshing aroma and stimulates the mood. Promotes emotional balance and well-being. I also like this in some of my homemade cleaners. Use internally, aromatically or topically. Use caution if using topically if you plan to be out in the direct sunlight. Highly dilute or wait 24-48 hours.

Rosemary – We tend to use a lot of the herb and I’m looking forward to trying this oil in my cooking more as it is wonderfully aromatic. This oil also supports healthy digestion and soothes muscles aches and pains. I have also found that massage therapists use this oil frequently in their massage oils. Use internally, aromatically or topically.

Repellent Blend (most brands have this) –Have you ever been camping and bit by tons of mosquitoes? Used one of those name brand repellents and reeked and coughed from the smell. Did you know you were spraying chemicals on your body and inhaling that into your lungs. I guarantee you won’t go back to that store bought stuff after you try this. It really smells good and more importantly it does repel those insects and can be used safely for the whole family including pets. Use this blend aromatically or topically. No need to dilute as it already is in a base of coconut oil.

Wild Orange – My husband’s favorite oil by far. It has a wonderful citrus aroma that is very uplifting. Wild Orange can be used in any household cleaners to make them more effective. It protects against environmental and seasonal threats. Energizing to the mind and body. We especially like a drop in hot cocoa or in a fruit dip…yumm. Use this internally, aromatically or topically. Use caution if using topically if you plan to be out in the direct sunlight. Highly dilute or wait 24-48 hours.

Just as a note: I only recommend essential oils that I know and trust are pure and have been put through the rigorous 3rd party testing to ensure there are no pesticides, contaminants and no alterations such as added solvents or other oils that are not the pure essential oil as noted on the bottle. This is not to say there aren’t good oils on the market, this is just my recommendation.

Please use all safety precautions with essential oils as they are highly concentrated and less is more, so only a drop will provide you the benefit you desire. 

Disclaimer:
Please note that any statements I make here on this blog have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as these are my own opinions. Essential oil products are not intended to treat, cure or prevent disease. Pregnant or lactating women and persons with known medical conditions should consult a doctor prior to the use of any essential oil or food supplement product.

If you haven't read Part 1 and Part 2, you may want to start there.

Our 1500 points allowed us to return to Napa every other year.  At that time we had not availed ourselves of any of the other properties our membership owned, but we were very happy visiting Napa.  This was our third year of membership and our second visit to Napa.  We again booked a studio apartment but got another building.  The room was identical and the view similar.

The Concierge invited us to a member update offering $100.00 plus a handsome wine tasting package at far more wineries than we could possibly visit; we accepted and had an appointment the next day at 10:00 Am, little did we know!

There was a small single story office on the property grounds where the meeting was to take place.  We arrived at the designated time along with a group of other people.  The staff offered coffee and water with light refreshments.  I'm starting to see the similarity between this place and the one we first visited in San Francisco (goose bumps on my arms) as we are ushered in to the inner sanctum.

Dana and I along with several other couples were introduced as already being members and whisked off to meet our customer representatives.  The first phase of the process was to show us what a one bedroom condo looks like.  If you remember from part two I mentioned when we entered our room from the main hallway we entered into a foyer; well that other door was the one bedroom condos.

Oh My!  Can you spell luxury.  I will post pictures a little later to better detail what the larger condos entailed.  Upon entering there is a hallway with a laundry closet that opens into a full kitchen with everything needed to prepare a gourmet meal.  Next came a massive dining table capable of comfortably seating eight, then a full living room with big screen TV and a gas fireplace.  The bedroom was large with a Jacuzzi tub (big enough for two), a dressing area by the tub with a door that led into a bathroom that was as big as some hotel rooms we have stayed in.  I believe my jaw hit the floor when I saw the shower, rain head with optional body spraying heads at several levels and big enough to dance in.  A second door led back into the hallway.

At this point I knew we were in trouble, our rep took us back to the office and we began the negotiations.  The first thing I noticed was there was very little pressure.  He was well aware that we owned a meager 1500 points.  His first suggestion was that to do it right around 7500 points was needed and that just for us we could have them for around $6.00 a point.  Let's see that's 7500 - 1500 * $6.00 = $36,000.00.  Dana and I saw that beautiful one bedroom condo slipping away into the California sunset.  I told him there was no way we could afford that price tag.

Here is where I learned that there was some wiggle room in the pricing. Not like our first encounter with the sales people where the amount per point seemed fixed these prices had some flexibility.  We haggled down to around $5.00 a point when the talks stalled.  Dana and I were ready to get out and continue our vacation so we thanked him for his time and headed for the door.  No one tackled us on the way out; must be a perk of being an owner.  For the rest of our week we discussed how we could afford the points to allow us to stay in one of those sweet one bedroom condos.