I'm a Believer

A week ago, the lovely Robin and I returned from one of the most awesome and enjoyable vacations we've ever enjoyed. It was at the Westgate Smoky Mountains Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

We have long avoided investing in a timeshare, because it never seemed really worth the money. BUT NOW, with our kids grown and three amazing grandkids, we wanted a place within a short drive that we could go each year for a family vacation...call it a bribe to get our kids and grandkids to spend time with us. See, a year or two ago, we told our kids that we would rent a spacious cabin or condo within driving distance of home where they could come, bring the kids, and have a great vacation....and live-in babysitters, to boot!

Well, once we started pricing those kinds of vacation spots, we realized it could get very expensive very quickly. But last year we discovered the Westgate in Gatlinburg, and fell in love...and once we weighed the pros and cons, we realized we could never beat the advantages of ownership in a place like this:

We LOVE our two bedroom condo in the Smokies. It's roomy enough to sleep eight, with two bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a dining area, and a deck also.

On the grounds of our home-away-from-home is an indoor water park that will only get better as our grandkids get older:

There is also a full spa and exercise facility onsite, multiple pools and playgrounds, a great restaurant, general store, and coming soon horseback riding, a movie theater, and more. There's also an ice cream shop next door to the resort. And shuttles into Gatlinburg. And, of course, nearby is the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. And Pigeon Forge. And Dollywood.

We all ended our 2010 Gatlinburg vacation counting the days until our NEXT Gatlinburg vacation! I can't wait.

Oh, and besides all that, being a Westgate owner opens to us an array of other vacation possibilities at Westgate Resorts in Las Vegas, Branson, Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Williamsburg, and more. And beyond that, there are literally thousands of resorts we can enjoy in their network, along with "Great Getaways" they offer all year round at amazing prices. But no discount a Krispy Kreme. Maybe some day.

And, because I'm such an important guy, I could get you a four-day, three-night stay at that resort (or others like it) for just $99. Believe me, you won't be sorry. It involves a tour resort and of course a sales pitch, which would take about 2-3 hours one day during your stay. The rest of the time, honest to goodness, you won't believe the beauty and luxury and comfort of your stay. So try it (here's the information below). Let me know if you have any questions: