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THE RCI BULLETIN |
California
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Italian splendour |
Here comes the sun |
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| RCI has joined forces with Cuendet, a provider of charming holiday properties across Italy, to offer members the chance to take advantage of discounts on future vacations. |
After many memorable holidays at Clube Praia da Oura, we decided that the turn of the new century would be the time to indulge our dreams of holidaying in California. |
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| No sooner had our exchange been confirmed by RCI when came the tragic events of September 11th - so we agonised long and hard as to whether the to revert to our 'safe' holiday home in the Algarve, or to take a chance and blow the consequences. | ||||||||||
| Cuendet
offers over 2,200 individual properties, including villas,
farmhouses and apartments in castles in some of the most sought
after locations, including Tuscany, Florence, Rome, Venice, and
Amalfi coast and Sicily. RCI members can enjoy discounts of between five and 10 per cent when booking a Cuendet holiday. To find out more, log onto the website at www.cuendet.com/rcimemberoffer, of call for a free brochure, on 0800 085 7732 |
In the end we
decided that we could not put our life 'on hold', double checked
our flight bags for sharp objects, and set off for Christmas and
New Year at the Nob Hill Inn in San Francisco. Being an 'internet buff', my husband and a long list of places to visit, restaurants to eat at, excursions and 'must do's' -if we had visited them all, our feet would not have touched the ground. Alcatraz was an obvious 'first', and we combined this with a city tour which encompassed the beautiful Japanese Garden, the famous 'Painted Ladies' (lovingly restored Victorian houses), Lombard Street, the steep crooked road which featured in the streets of San Francisco, Pier 39, and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge. |
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We sere surprised at how close to the mainland
Alcatraz actually is, but were assured that no prisoners had
ever escaped, due to the strong tides an icy water, not to
mention the odd shark or two - or at least the threat of sharks! Chinatown was next on our list, and we were not disappointed - it was like entering a foreign city. We found San Francisco to be a lively, vibrant, exciting, city, particularly along Fisherman's Warf and Pier 39, with the Christmas atmosphere adding to the ambience. The shops simply oozed bargains, and it didn't take us long to add to the already bulging suitcases. Of course no trip would be complete without riding the trams, and we clung to the outside rails like we have done it all our lives. So, thanks to our ownership at Clube Praia da Oura, and our membership of RCI, our dreams of the Californian sun were realised in 2001. Who knows, we might make Boston in the Fall.. or Orlando... or Washington... or even skiing in Aspen with the 'in crowd'... well, you can dream, can't you? Ann and Jerry Stoner, Camberley, Surrey |
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Deposits
made easy |
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| For the first time, members can deposit their RCI weeks with a start date beyond the paid - through date of their membership, providing membership is active at the time of the transaction. |
Malta to the max |
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This
allows weeks to be deposited earlier, boosts trading power, and
gives members a better choice of holiday when exchanging. RCI members just have to call 0870 6090141 or log onto www.rci.com and make a deposit.
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After just an hour in the Park Suites Resort in
Sliema, the
whole world seemed a better place and I was on the first green at the
18-hole Royal Malta Golf Club - and celebrating an early birdie! Malta has long appealed to families and couples looking to exchange somewhere with good food, a bit of culture and a warm welcome. Malta's biggest asset is undoubtedly its weather. Malta also has an extensive calendar of events to complement the relaxation - many with culinary, historical and sporting theme. But for a truly unforgettable experience I'd recommend chartering your own yacht around the island and its beautiful neighbours Gozo and Comino. |
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They are, as I discovered, dotted with safe, beautiful
bays and sheltered coves- and we were content to drop anchor for a lazy
afternoon in the warm September sunshine. If that all sounds too much like hard work, you can always head back to the golf course... or hit the beach! A hole in one? No, despite an early birdie my score card quickly hit treble figures... still, it's the playing not the winning that counts! Ian an Margo Chater, Warwick |
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