Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels continues to expand its portfolio of resorts with the announcement of its purchase of Encantada, in Kissimmee, Orlando, just 8 km from Walt Disney World.

Set in lush grounds with its own natural lake, Encantada is close to the best Orlando has to offer - shopping, theme parks, golf and of course unlimited sunshine.

For families looking for a fun Florida break, it’s an ideal location. Encantada is within easy driving distance of Universal Orlando’s brand new attraction The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ (which opened last month) as well as two of the world’s most famous theme parks, SeaWorld and Walt Disney World, which are also close by. Read more

First impressions? The sweeping driveways, manicured lawns and tantalising glimpses of swimming pools and water slides were a sharp contrast to the damp and grey London we left behind earlier that day. Not that we dislike London, but it can be a bit dreary at times and a holiday with guaranteed sunshine can give you that boost you desperately need.

At first I was disappointed we weren't in one of the resort's self-contained villas but the River Island apartment complex has panoramic views overlooking the pool area and I soon realised we'd certainly not been given the short straw. The free and surprisingly fast wi-fi access cemented this view as I can't go long without my internet fixes. Read more

Orange Lake Resorts in Orlando is one of the best timeshare opportunities in Florida and is just a stone’s throw from Disney World’s Magic Kingdom® theme park. In fact a 15 minute car ride will take you to its very gates, with Universal Studios being just a 30 minute ride away too!

The resort makes the best use of one of its greatest assets; the generally dependable supply of good Florida weather. The swimming pools are both generous and well laid out with enough variety to cater to most tastes; Boisterous slides for the most active, shallow entry pools for the less so and quiet nooks, poolside bars and private cabanas to suit the least gregarious holidaymaker among us. All pool areas are connected by a winding artificial river. This looping, gently flowing water course allows one to float away an afternoon with a wonderful sense of motion, without effort. Perfect for the workaholic among us who can only truly relax when doing almost nothing! The resort also offers an extensive and well-integrated golfing experience, very nearly from sunrise to sunset. Read more

With the summer holidays soon in full swing flight search site Skyscanner.net is reporting a marked increase in searches for flights from the UK to non-European destinations.

The “famous four” -- Alicante, Malaga and Palma in Spain, and Faro in Portugal -- hog the top four slots as they frequently do, with Tenerife and Ibiza at nos. 6 and 7.

Also in the Top 10 most-searched list are New York and Orlando, both new entries this summer. Bangkok took tenth place on the list, despite the recent political unrest there. Read more

Nowhere epitomises “fun in the sun” more than Florida. After you’ve goofed around with Goofy, met Mickey and Co., and had more fun at Disneyland than you can remember since you were seven, there’s one more day out you could try to squeeze in before you fly home.

In a fitting tribute to America's pioneering spirit of space exploration, the Kennedy Space Centre is probably the next best thing to taking a rocket to the moon. Visitors can climb aboard a full size space shuttle replica, see moon rocks and explore the Rocket Garden where eight rockets from past space experiments are on show. Read more

Skyscanner's January search results show Spain still reigns, as Britons look for “sun, sand and sangria” to escape the winter blues. Malaga tops the bill and five Spanish cities made the top ten. Faro and Dalaman (Turkey) also appear, implying that British travellers are dreaming of sunshine and beaches while the snowy UK winter overstays its welcome.

Searches for city break destinations such as London, Amsterdam and New York show that people are also looking for urban getaways – shopping in New York, sightseeing in London or exploring Amsterdam's cafés and canals. Read more

A timeshare should be seen as an investment in future holiday opportunities, it has been said.

Lisa Ann Schreier, founder of Timeshare Insights in Clermont, Florida, told Bankrate.com that timeshare is a vacation alternative, not a business opportunity for consumers. Read more

The Registry Collection® exchange programme, the world’s largest luxury exchange programme, will be the headline sponsor of the Fractional Summit 2010 for the third consecutive year. The continued support of the event from The Registry Collection programme follows the success of the 2009 Summit and reflects the value of this international forum to the fractional trade market.

The two-day event, taking place on 18 and 19 February, 2010, at the Marriott London, Grosvenor Square, offers the unique opportunity for developers to meet key fractional real estate industry professionals from around the globe under one roof. The fractional model has helped in boosting the sales of luxury properties in today’s challenging economic climate. This year’s conference theme “Changing Times, Changing Markets,” together with its subject matter debates, is designed to help developers capitalise on the strengths of the fractional product and grow their businesses. Developers who are new to the fractional concept will also appreciate an introduction to the industry during the event. Read more

Disney Vacation Club has confidence in vacation ownership and is expanding its work in this area outside of Orlando, it has been revealed.

James M Lewis, president of Disney Vacation Club, noted that the company is opening its newest resort in California and is also developing another in Hawaii. Read more

Owners at Orlando's first gay timeshare The Gardens have shown their satisfaction with the resort, research has revealed.

A survey by timeshare marketing firm Bay Tree Solutions showed that 97 per cent of respondents said they were happy with The Gardens and are planning to use it. Read more