RDO (the Resort Development Organisation) can report that the police in Spain have arrested 22 people following an investigation - which RDO contributed towards - into alleged resale and notary/lawyer fraud in Malaga and Tenerife. The resale company, which has not been named by the police, reportedly took upfront payments from owners for the fictitious sale of their timeshare. Some timeshare owners were then contacted again by members of the same network, inviting them to use the services of a lawyer to recoup the money that they had lost.

During the searches, which took place at 11 properties, officers found lists of owners and written instructions for telephone conversations to potential ‘victims’.

Members of the public who think they may have been defrauded by this company should contact RDO’s enforcement team on info@rdo.org or their local Trading Standards office.

There are a number of reasons for timeshare owners to head to the Scottish cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The staycation trend, strong events calendars in the cities as well as Homecoming Scotland 2009, marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, have given the country a competitive advantage, according to a VisitScotland spokesperson.

Timeshare owners are likely to head towards the Caribbean for their winter breaks this year, it has been pointed out.

The trend of jetting off to non-euro destinations is to continue, explains Alistair Daly, marketing officer at On The Beach.

European Christmas markets are a great way to take a break before the fun of the festive season starts and stock up on some presents for loved ones.

Christmas shopping is not always everyone's idea of the best way to spend a weekend, but combining present buying with a trip to Europe can ease the pain.