Hello and welcome to my Message of the Month.

Every year we send out messages via our social media channels, reminding people that it’s a good time to plan your getaways for the year. Especially if they have a timeshare plan in place. “January” is a nice time for renewal, because the month brings in a newness that goes with making plans and resolutions. It also serves as a topical reminder for important things to do on your calendar.

So, here we are, once again, urging you to make time slots during the year for those well deserved breaks.

• Bringing everyone together on the same page

One of the challenges of today’s world is to get the entire family on the same page of the calendar. We’re talking about wives, husbands and children who need to align and coordinate their free time – with a little give and take. It also means getting grandparents, uncles and aunts from different locations to wing their way to your holiday destination.

• Planning early to get your desired slots

Almost invariably, school vacations in the country happen at almost the same times in the year.  Now that’s a fact of life we need to work around and see how to fix. School vacation time is like the rush hour – with a good number of people vying for the same time and space to secure their vacation weeks.

The only way to beat this rush is to play smart and plan early. Because there’s absolutely no alternative to being the early bird in this race.

• For a change, pick a new resort through an exchange option

If you’re looking for a change of scene this year, and don’t have an exchange plan, check out the options available through the exchange companies on the AIRDA member network. Please check this out on our members’ link on the website. You will need to sign up separately with them, so do check on the plans they offer.

Here are some tips for you in a nutshell that can be useful.

• It’s useful to get into that “habit” or routine of taking time off for a vacation. Believe me, it’s a nice buster of stress, and a great way to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. (I’m not exaggerating out here.)
• If you have a vacation ownership (timeshare) plan in place, you automatically get that one week in the year that’s assigned to you – at your home resort, or another resort via your exchange company.
• It’s always useful to make your plans early in the year – and companies do let you slot your vacation time at a time that’s convenient.
• Making your plans early, literally means blocking your vacation week at your home resort, or any other resort on the network.
• And once you’ve made your plans, please don’t back out of that vacation – even if the skies threaten to fall on the work-front.
  

So there you go – you’ve got all the inspiration you need to start packing your bags. Just check out the resorts on the AIRDA member network, to make you’re heading in the right direction.

B. S. Rathor
Advisor & Member - Executive Committee

* Finally, one thought to leave you with – “green holidays”

I am sure you are aware of the growing concern on environment degradation and climate change – and the way we treat vacation environments is one of the ways we can be responsible. By NOT dumping waste indiscriminately, littering irresponsibly, and YES, by being more aware of the need to protect and preserve.