When you picture a timeshare vacation, you probably picture a sandy beach, swaying palm trees, and an ocean view. That’s certainly part of the timeshare experience — but it’s not everything. Amidst RedWeek.com’s diverse portfolio, you’ll find urban offerings in the heart of exciting cities. Via these properties, you’ll become a temporary resident in the metropolises, with the best experiences always moments away. Check out just a handful of options below.
Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, San Diego
San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is an urban landscape like no other, blending historic flair with revved-up energy — and Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, San Diego is your home base for adventure in this seaside southern California destination.
Shake, the hotel’s signature bar and restaurant, offers all-day dining — the brunch is a favorite amongst locals and visitors. When it’s time to retire, each well-appointed vacation rental provides separate living areas, well-equipped kitchenettes, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and flat-screen LCD TVs.
While You’re There
Downtown San Diego is an urban playground for all ages. If you’re visiting with family, spend a day at the New Children’s Museum, an interactive wonderland with hands-on art installations that will spark little ones’ imaginations. The USS Midway Museum is another can’t-miss. This four-acre aircraft carrier is now docked permanently downtown, offering guests a chance to explore and learn about military history. And Petco Park — the home of Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres — is downtown, too. Catch a game between April and September.
A bit further from downtown, but very much worth the short drive, is Balboa Park. Here, you’ll find 16 world-class museums, including the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Us, and the San Diego Air & Space Museum — not to mention the legendary San Diego Zoo. Tip: The Go San Diego All-Inclusive Pass gives unlimited entry to over 55 attractions, activities, experiences, and tours for one low price.
Marriott Vacation Club Pulse at Custom House, Boston
This hotel is located in a building that played a major role in Boston’s — and America’s — history. Built in 1849 along the Boston Harbor, the Custom House once served as the nation’s first customs building, welcoming immigrants to the U.S. Constructed in a still-stylish neo-classical design, it’s an urban gem that seems to improve with age.
Now, at the Marriott Vacation Club Pulse at Custom House you can spend your Beantown escape in an expansive suite, with separate living and sleeping areas, a kitchenette, and splendid views of the harbor and skyline. For even more eye-candy, the hotel’s open-air 26th floor observation deck gives you 360-degree panoramas of the surrounding city.
While You’re There
The Custom House is ideally situated, with an array of popular Boston attractions located just moments away. Explore Faneuil Hall Marketplace, a sprawling food court where you can dig into genuine New England cuisine — Boston baked beans, clam chowder, lobster rolls, oysters on the half shell, and beyond. Walk the historic Freedom Trail, which takes you to some of the most important sites of the Revolutionary War period, from Paul Revere’s house to the Boston Tea Party.
Nearby, the New England Aquarium is home to more than 8,000 aquatic creatures, including sharks, seals, sea turtles and more. And if you’re an Italian food lover, don’t miss your chance to explore Boston’s North End neighborhood, offering a dense concentration of Italian restaurants.
Hotel Blake, Chicago
The luxurious Hotel Blake puts you right in the heart of downtown Chicago. Built in 1896, The Blake was once known as the Morton Building, a part of the Windy City’s famed Printers Row, home to numerous book publishers back in the day. Today listed on the National Historic Registry, this 12-story hotel maintains its elegant and ornate Gilded Age charm, with all the expected modern updates and amenities.
In your spacious guestroom, enjoy 12-foot vaulted ceilings and large windows that show off the Chicago skyline. When it’s time to eat, drop in to Meli Café and Juice Bar, serving healthy refreshments using organic and locally sourced ingredients. For breakfast, indulge in the house-baked Challah French Toast, with vanilla bean custard and whipped cream.
While You’re There
At Hotel Blake, you’ll be within walking distance of some of most iconic Chicago experiences. The Art Institute of Chicago is renowned as one of the world’s great art museums, with a globe- and century-spanning collection, including masterpieces by Claude Monet, Bisa Butler, and Magdalene Odundo. Nearby, the Museum of Science and Industry sheds light on the technological leaps that shape our world today, with such highlights as a massive U-505 Submarine, the hands-on Wanger Family Fab Lab, and an IMAX theater.
Millennium Park is also close to the hotel, featuring the city’s most popular photo opportunity: Cloud Gate, AKA “The Bean” — a shimmering, reflective piece of public art. For some classic Chicago cuisine, hit Eleven City Diner, an old-school joint serving such faves as Chicago-style French Dip sandwiches, open-faced corned beef Reubens, and patty melts.
Wyndham Canterbury at San Francisco
A fixture on San Francisco’s vibrant Union Square scene for more than 70 years, the Wyndham Canterbury is a perfect match of past and present. This grand dame hotel has been lovingly renovated and restored in recent years by Wyndham, with one- and two-bedroom resort suites offering all the space and comfort you need.
If you’re looking for a full kitchen, be sure to book one of Wyndham Canterbury’s plush Presidential Suites. And if you want to keep your workout routine going while you’re on vacation, drop into the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center.
While You’re There
A gateway to the best of San Francisco, the Wyndham Canterbury is just minutes from iconic San Francisco landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, Fisherman’s Wharf and the “Painted Ladies,” — the row of impossibly charming Victorian houses at Alamo Square that have become the iconic, Instagram-worthy sight of San Francisco. And you won’t want to skip a ferry ride out to the infamous Alcatraz Island, AKA The Rock.
Find a lush oasis in the middle of the city at Golden Gate Park, featuring Japanese gardens, an awesome kids playground (complete with a classic carousel), and the 110-foot waterfall at Strawberry Hill. Explore fascinating contemporary art history at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, home to works by Frida Kahlo, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol and countless others.
The Manhattan Club, New York City
When you think of Midtown Manhattan, glitzy billboards, theaters and soaring office towers may come to mind. But there’s another, more intimate side that can be found at The Manhattan Club in New York City, which offers upscale accommodations: plush beds, robes, a kitchenette, and plenty of square footage.
First-class services and amenities abound, including a concierge staff, a fitness center, and the Owner’s Lounge, which has romantic NYC skyline views to complement your evening cocktails or continental breakfast.
While You’re There
The Manhattan Club is a luxurious launchpad to discover the Big Apple. You’ll be just a few blocks away from iconic attractions like Central Park and Times Square. You can stroll over to the Broadway Theatre District for a show or go on a shopping spree at The Shops at Columbus Circle, a spot with more than 50 boutiques.
Foodies should make a beeline to the Turnstyle Underground Market, a food court that takes up an entire city block. Here, you’ll choose from 39 unique eateries that serve global food, from Bolivian saltenas to Taiwanese dumplings.
