Interval International offers new short term vacation stays

II recently announced that its travel subsidiary, Worldwide Vacation & Travel, Inc., has developed a short-term vacation program that will offer resort developer clients a more affordable product for consumers in today’s changing marketplace.
Developers are finding themselves in need of a less expensive product and Interval’s short-term vacation program will augment their traditional sales opportunities, “said Craig M. Nash, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Interval Leisure Group, the parent company of Interval International.
This new product can be utilized as an enhanced multi-year form of trial ownership that may include accommodations at the home resort and other properties and the ability to exchange through Interval’s worldwide network. In addition, the program will feature access to specially priced resort rentals and comprehensive year-round travel, leisure, and lifestyle benefits.
Developers’ have been doing what they call exit programs for many years. They are offered to clients after they have taken a tour and have not purchased a timeshare. It enables the developers a way to sell the client a smaller ticket item and part or the entire price goes towards that purchase of a timeshare. Win win for the developer.

Kheere ka Raita

Cucumber and Mint Raita
A cool and refreshing relish, Raita is always the perfect partner for very hot dishes. Some cooks also like to serve it as an accompaniment to mildly spiced foods, claiming it helps indigestion.
2. cups plain yogurt
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced.
1/3 cup thinly sliced onion (sweet Maui is nice.
1 tomato thinly sliced
½ teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint or 2 teaspoons dried.
1 small garlic clove, minced
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin, plus ¼ teaspoon for garnish.
I always toast my spices before I grind them. It brings out the flavor.
In a medium bowl, beat the yogurt until it is smooth. Add the garlic, and the 1/8 teaspoon cumin, salt, pepper,and mint. Stir until well blended.
Add Cucumber,tomato and onion, Turn the Raita into a serving bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Just before serving, sprinkle the Raita with concentric circles of the cumin and paprika, for garnish. Makes 2 ½ to 3 cups. Make when you are ready to serve. Does not keep well overnight.

Masala Murgha – Spicy Whole Baked Chicken

Masala Murgha – Spicy Whole Baked Chicken
This simple roast chicken-flavorful but not too fiery is a lovely light supper or lunch dish.

3 large garlic cloves, halved
1 medium fresh hot green chili, seeded
One 2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled & coarsely chopped
¼ C fresh coriander leaves
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons sweet paprika
½ teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
One 3-31/2 pound chicken, skin removed
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
For Garnish:
6 sprigs fresh coriander
2 lemons, sliced
2 large tomatoes cut in wedges
½ cucumber, thinly sliced
1 small onion, thinly sliced

In a blender, combine the garlic, chili, ginger, coriander, and lemon juice, and process to a fine paste. Transfer to small bowl and add the turmeric, cumin, paprika, salt, and oil. Stir to make a coarse paste. Using a sharp knife, score the chicken in several places and place in a shallow baking dish. Rub the spice paste over the chicken, spreading it into the crevices, until the bird is evenly covered: rub some of the paste inside the cavity. Cover the chicken with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours, or overnight. Preheat the oven to 400. Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan. Dot the surface with the butter. Bake, basting with the pan juices several times, 1 ½ hours, or until the juices run clear when the chicken is pierced with a fork. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and garnish with the coriander sprigs, lemons, tomatoes, cucumber, and onion. Serves 4.

Travel Advisory

Refer to the details below to determine if an advisory may affect your vacation plans.

US and Canada – Passport Requirement Update
As of Monday, October 1, U.S. airline passengers once again need to carry a valid passport when traveling to the above destinations in addition to all other international destinations.

Secure documents acceptable for international travel include only the following:

• Passport
• U.S. resident card
• Refugee / Stateless travel document
• Re-Entry permit
• Military ID with movement orders
• NEXUS card
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Card
• Emergency travel document issued by a Consulate
• Deportation letter (Single Journey Letter)

Any traveler who does not hold a secure document will not be boarded for travel, regardless of their citizenship, age, or destination, even if the customer is traveling on a one-way ticket.

Birth certificates, citizenship certificates/cards, driver’s licenses, naturalization certificates, national ID cards, “matrícula consulares”, and “cedulas” are not secure documents and therefore never valid for travel to or from the United States.

For more information on obtaining passports and visas for international travel, visit the U.S. Department of State Web site at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Swine Flu and Mexico Timeshares

May 1, 2009

Dear Cheryl Becker

At Universal Vacation Club, we are aware of current issues regarding the swine flu. We take situations such as these very seriously. It is our responsibility to provide the safest and most comfortable stay possible for all of our guests. That’s why you can rest assured that we have taken every precaution to make sure you can relax and enjoy your upcoming UVC vacation.

Please note that while this situation is of great concern to us all, the UVC is taking every measure to ensure your health and safety. Also note these reasons to resume your intended stay with UVC:
• There are currently no cases of H1N1 swine flu near any of the UVC Resorts. This outbreak is believed to have started in Mexico, but is mainly populated in Mexico City and surrounding cities. No UVC Resorts are near the affected area.
• Why are there reported deaths of the swine flu in Mexico, but in no other country? This is because of Mexico’s weakened infrastructure and lack of medical capabilities in densely populated Mexico City. However, in UVC destinations such as Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta / Riviera Nayarit, and Cabo San Lucas, the medical capabilities are much greater in preparation for tourists and frequent visitors.
• The swine flu is very treatable once caught and diagnosed. There are several general influenza treatments that combat the swine flu with similar effectiveness.
• Every UVC Resort has an on-site doctor on-call, 24 hours a day. Again, the swine flu is very treatable when caught and diagnosed.
• We are working very closely with local authorities to take all the necessary precautions to minimize any potential spread of the virus.
For the most up to date information regarding swine flu, please consult any of the following sources:

• State Department (www.travel.state.gov )
• Center For Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/ )
• World Health Organization (www.who.int/ )
• Villa Group Resorts http://villagroupresorts.com/media-center/travel-alerts

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