Congratulations!   Laura and Brian Boucher are the WINNERS of a Week (free maintenance) deposited into their RCI account to be used within the next year.   We love to hear from our members.  Just mail, fax or e-mail letting us know about your vacation and we will enter your name into the draw.  You too may also enjoy a week compliments of TARANOVA! 

 A new section on the website will soon enable TaraNova to showcase your pictures that have been sent to TaraNova by e-mail.  Any narrative of the pictures, including names and places must be sent with the pictures as a PDF file.  We are eagerly waiting to view your pictures.

Rosanne and the TaraNova Staff:

YOU ARE ALL AMAZING PEOPLE

Our trip to Myrtle Beach this May was fantastic,  AGAIN…It was Bike Week and my son and a friend of his rode their Harleys down and it was great that we were able to put them up in the 3 bedroom with us and some of the rest of our family.  Some other members of the family were staying in our 2 bedroom unit and we all had a wonderful time.  Some of them were golfers and some of them were Harley riders, the rest of us kept them fed (thanks to the kitchen and BBQ facilities) and the fact the grocery store is so close we could just run out and get anything and everything we needed, and the dishwashers cleaned up….The beach area with so many fun things to do was within walking distance.  Everything was wonderful. 

The Staff at SeaWatch always greet us like we are family and have been away, and really make us feel like we will be missed as we are driving away. They welcome us with open arms and have a friendly wave and a “safe drive” for us when we leave.  Thank you all again for putting up with all my “possible” last minute problems that I think we might run into when we get there as a group.  You always assure me that things will be fine and they always are.

And, the best part, while I was there I was even able to convince my sister she should buy a week and be a member of such a fantastic Vacation organization, and she did.  I can’t say thank you enough Rosanne for the time you spent with me wrapping up my sister’s membership.                                                                          

                                                         Thank you, Laura Boucher

                                                           Letters:    Spring 2009

Congratulations Mark & Elizabeth Tang the WINNERS of an RCI week!!!  We love to hear from our members.   Just mail, fax or e-mail telling us about your vacation.  We will enter your name into the draw.  You too may win a week into your RCI account courtesy of TARANOVA!

Dear Rosanne Guanabara

My wife and I are members of the TaraNova Vacation Club since 1992.  During these 16 years we had visited many destinations, all to our complete satisfaction.  But none could compare to Grand Mayan resort, a 25-minut drive from Cancun airport in Mexico…In conclusion, my wife and I were immensely pleased with the first class treatment we received from the staff of the Grand Mayan.  We plan to return someday soon………………………………Mark & Elizabeth TANG  Note from Editor:   The Tang’s letter was full of wonderful adventures they enjoyed each day from the departure in a blizzard, to the wonderful people they encountered, the resort amenities and their days touring Mexico and relaxing at the resort. They also enjoyed a resort presentation tour but decided not to purchase in Cancun.  Please remember that TaraNova members enjoy Special Rates for purchasing additional TaraNova memberships!

Mark, Mario and all the rest working out of Sol Tropical.  You scored again!

 Tom and Linda came back with rave reviews about their trips with you and all the help you gave them and their guests.  …. Many Thanks from June and me.  We hope to see you sometime in the near future.  We support a little girl through the Christian Children’s Fund at the Roblealto Bible Home in San Jose.  We would like to visit her there.  Her name is Susan .  She has had a rough life.  Again, many thanks.  Keep up the good public relations – it is always good to be able to say this to the people here.                                                                                                                                    Bob and June Reid

In the 2005 Fall Newsletter

Spring of 2005

Congratulations  Peter and Joan Harrison!  You are the WINNERS of a $50.00 Dinner voucher at a restaurant of your choice.   We love to hear from our members.   Just mail, fax or e-mail letting us know about your vacation and we will enter your name into the draw.  You too may be treated to dinner compliments of TARANOVA!

In the October 2004 Newsletter:

…It is wonderful to see that some of the TaraNova resorts now have an International Distinction rating. Over the past few years we have had excellent trading power with our TaraNova week and have exchanged to some terrific resorts. This year my parents and sister, who live in the U.K., joined us in Florida at the Hilton SeaWorld and said it was the best vacation they had ever had. They have asked if they can join us again next year. Keep up the good work. Thank you. Susan Pothiah

Dear Rosanne,

….. Once again I would like to thank you for your professionalism and outstanding efforts. I will be sure to speak to you upon our return to give you feedback about the resorts. Yours truly, Leora Stoll

We have just returned from SeaWatch Myrtle Beach and we had a great time. The resort is close to the airport, there are so many things to do within walking distance of the resort – we had rented a car and didn’t use it. The beach area is beautiful. There are stores for shopping. Brian fished off the deck at the resort while I lounged around the pool and deck area. The staff at the resort was great. The restaurants in the area, again within walking distance, were terrific. We had a wonderful relaxing vacation and will definitely return. Laura & Brian Bougher

We have just returned from spending Easter Week at Tahoe Summit Village and must say that out of the 5 TaraNova properties we feel it is the nicest, the view is great (in spite of the 77 steps). Chrissy in the office was very pleasant and helpful and even though we don’t ski there was plenty to see and do. We drove around the Lake, visited Reno, Carson City, Virginia City, went up the Heavenly Gondola and of course visited the casinos in Stateline. As it was still cool in the evenings, we enjoyed having the fireplace. There is a local shuttle bus that stops outside the property every hour that takes you down to the casino/restaurant area. Mary and Brian Hambly

Dear Teresa:

Doreen and I just returned from three weeks at Villas Palmas, and wanted you to know how much we enjoyed our stay. The accommodations were excellent four of us shared a unit for 8, so you can imagine we had plenty of room. While the outsides of the units are looking a bit "tired"* (flaking paint etc.) the insides were certainly adequate and provided us with an excellent base from which to operate during our stay in Costa Rica. Together with the tours we took through Sol Tropical, and a visit to the north of Costa Rica at Cano Negro (near the Nicaragua border) courtesy of friends, and a few days at Manuel Antonio, we saw a great deal of the country. The staff at the resort was absolutely excellent. Prompt and courteous responses were always available to our many questions. One of the activities we really enjoyed was a barbeque, with entertainment, on one of the Friday evenings. The event was catered by the staff (Marta) and was really an enjoyable evening. The tours we took with Sol Tropical were great. The staff, Arturo, Mario and Jason did a great job (….….*)I am quite sure we will return to Costa Rica and will probably look at spending time in a more traditional vacation resort on the beach in Guanacaste on the Northwest Pacific coast. It was a great holiday. Thanks for your part in it. Mitch Philip
April 2004 Newsletter

Dear Julie:

We just arrived home from Florida and wanted to take the time to tell you what a great place Imperial Lakes is. We enjoyed our stay; the unit was very specious in a pretty area, with all the amenities close by. The pool was warm and there was lots of room around for everyone. As a new owner at TaraNova, I was really impressed with our unit and we look forward to trying out the other resorts. We are planning a trip to San Francisco next year and we may just spend a week at the Tahoe Resort. Again, thanks for helping make our holiday easy to enjoy.

Dear Rosanne:

Trust you had a great holiday and Happy New Year. Don and I had a wonderful holiday in Orlando. There was so much to do and we loved the Embassy Resort at Lake Bryan. It suited us perfectly. Our son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons (2yr. And 7 mo.) joined us. The three-bedroom condo was superb – quite new, clean, beautiful décor and secure. They even came in midweek and cleaned the unit. We used the pool and hot tub, and children’s playground. The people there were very accommodating. December was a great time to go – not too busy at Disney and Universal or the golf courses. We played lots of golf and got some good rates. Of course the weather helped make the week great – high 60’s and 70’s – perfect for us. Thanks for your work in booking it for us. ……….. Thanks again, Donna KinchSincerely Yours, Carol Lantz

Dear Teresa and Rosanne:

We all had a great time touring around Costa Rica. We went to "Arenal Volcano and Tabacon Hot Springs Resort". We also saw the "Poas Volcano" and the Irazu Volcano". We went hiking and swimming at Manual Antonio National Park. The condo-townhouse unit is very large and spacious. This unit is probably larger than my house. The people in the office and cleaning the units in the resort are very friendly and helpful.

We hope that we will return to San Jose Costa Rica because there is so much to see and do.

Dear Rosanne:

……… We were happy to see the upgrades in unit 6L Attitash this September on our visit to New Hampshire. The management was very busy with construction of a water system for snowmaking and the indoor pool was closed for repair - all in the interest of progress! Hope the club has another good year? Sincerely, Joanne & Terry Whelan

Jan Rockett Preston
April 2000 Newsletter
"Dear Members of the Club: This note is just to express our happiness at being members of TaraNova. Since we joined the Club, about five years ago, we had the chance to travel a lot. We first traveled to New Hampshire at Attitash. We enjoyed golfing and hiking the week of July 1. The following year, we drove to Florida and stayed at the Imperial Lakes Resort. We visited Cypress Gardens and had fun at the Disney parks - that was in May and the weather was just perfect. For our third trip, we enjoyed visiting the Myrtle Beach area. We appreciated the 3-bedroom condo with a view on the water. The fourth year, we went back to New Hampshire for more shopping and canoeing. We finaally decided to benefit from our RCI membership in August 1998 and exchanged for a visit to California. The Pacific Coast is spectacular and we have excellent memories of our stay in Pacific Grove (next to Monerey.)... In addition to these trips, we went to Europe on a cruise, visited California on three occasions, and enjoyed short ski getaways in Northern Ontario. I guess we have enough "experience" as travelers to say that Taranova is an excellent Club. Reservation services from TaraNova were always excellent. The purchase of our 2-bedroom condo was a smart decision. We have no children but we always invite friends and relatives to spend a few days with us.... We thank you for your excellent work..."
Yours truly, Brigite Beaulieu & Claude Labrie
October 2003 Newsletter:

Dear TaraNova,

We don’t usually write letters, but in this case we had to make an exception. We just returned home from the best vacation of our lives. We were able to book a week through our friends who are members of TaraNova. We got an exchange through RCI and stayed in a beautiful condo in Orlando Florida called "Orange Lakes". It was absolutely breathtaking. We had a 3 bedroom unit that slept 12 people. With our family of 7 you can imagine how comfortable this was. My husband and I got our own room with our own bathroom (with Jacuzzi tub). Our bedroom overlooked the golf course and the unit itself was amazing. The resort had everything you could possibly want, clubhouse, swimming pools, volleyball courts, lake, golf, hot tubs, mini putt golf course (great for kids) and so much more. Being this relaxed and comfortable made the experience of our kids going to Disney all that much better. At the end of the long days at the parks, to have such a comfortable living space to come back to made all the difference. Further, the friendly service and hospitality of the resort did not go unnoticed and made us feel so welcome. Not to mention the money we saved by staying in a Condo instead of a hotel room. Every family should be lucky enough to travel this good. Thank you TaraNova for a lifetime memorable vacation! Regards, Vedran and Mira Hasaganic

Teresa Knapp, TaraNova,

On behalf of Christel House Canada we can’t even begin to thank you for your assistance on the Christel House Open Golf Tournament. Your generosity in sponsorship and donating your time were critical in the success of the Open. Your stellar participation reinforces how TaraNova is dedicated not only to providing your members with exceptional service but also dedicated to helping children around the world. On behalf of Christel House and particularly the children of Chistel House, Thank you for being number one! Yours truly, Steven C. Marks, Executive Director, Christel House Canada

To Teresa Knapp and TaraNova:

"National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives & Professionals whishes to extend its congratulations to Teresa Knapp, Executive Director of TaraNova on the inclusion in the 2003/2004 Edition of the National Register. The intent of the National Register is to announce that Teresa Knapp and TaraNova Vacation Club have reached a level of recognizable success in their respective field. This year’s edition will be registered at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C."
Spring 2003

…Having just returned from my second vacation week, this time in New Hampshire, I wanted to write to let you know how much I have enjoyed the first two years of this wonderful prize. In 2001 I took two sisters and three nieces for a "Girls Only" week in Florida and we all loved it. The rooms were more than spacious enough for the six of us and had amenities that we really appreciated, especially the fully equipped kitchen and the laundry room. We mentioned when checking in that we needed a crib for one of the children and before we had unloaded our suitcases someone was there to set up the crib. Our trip to New Hampshire was equally enjoyable. Again, we found the accommodations terrific, and were able to make use of many of the special features of the resort. Another thing I’ve been impressed with, in this world of lax or nonexistent customer service, is the friendly and helpful staff at TaraNova. Thank you Teresa and Rosanne. At the time I won the prize, I was more than a little skeptical. It seemed too good to be true. After two years I can finally relax and say, "As good as it sounds, the reality is even better!"
Regards, Karen O’Connor

Dear Teresa: I am certain that you receive letters from our members regarding the wonderful service that Rosanne provides to us all. She has always been very cheerful and willing to assist in any way she can. I would like to tell you what she had done for us……….You might very well be aware of this incident of ours but I want to recognize Rosanne by letting you know how grateful we are to her. She should be commended for her efforts.. She truly is a wonderful asset to your office and our vacation group. She should feel very proud of herself for the service she offers, as should everyone at TaraNova. Please let her know and thank you to everyone at TaraNova.

To Julie, Greetings: This is our Costa Rica Report!………..The staff at the Villas was most helpful and accommodating even to doing a small amount of clothes drying gratis and some dish washing when we left too early to do it ourselves. The tours were most rewarding and Marc, Mario and Arturo were excellent. Tours were as described and while the bus could have had softer seats the trips were entertaining and informative. We traveled to all of the "recommended" destinations and thoroughly enjoyed each one, although the trip to both volcanoes left us still wondering what the bottom of a crater looked like. We could spend a few hours again at Tabacon Hot springs, it was super! It is a great jumping off place for tours etc. and only a short ride into downtown san Jose where one could enjoy a memorable day or two at the central market. That’s it. Thanks for a great trip.

Richard and I are back from Seawatch Landing in Myrtle Beach. As always we enjoyed ourselves despite the rather cool temperatures on some of the days…..The staff at Seawatch are just as accommodating and pleasant to deal with as they always are and took great pains to get us a teapot for my parents who drink lots of tea! Thank you Rosanne for your patience when trying to find us a suitable week. This year we plan to book our week well in advance. Regards from both of us.

Eric and I had such a great time at Attitash Mountain, and it was our first visit, that we would really like to go again next year. The fall colours were just amazing let alone the hiking trails.

S
andra DiFalco and Eric LartzRichard and Glynis HarbourRegards, Dick & Isabell RandallSincerely, David Creamer
October 28/99
Dear Rosanne
Just to let you know, we really enjoyed our stay at the Caribbean Palm Village in Aruba the week of October 16-23, 1999. It was peaceful and not crowded like many of the big resorts so it made for a very restful holiday for us.
The only disadvantage was that it was not on the beach so we had to make our own way to the beaches although the resort did offer a free shuttle service to one of the beaches, Manchebo. It was not a real problem because my husband and I preferred to try out a different beach every day. Since there are so many beautiful beaches in Aruba it didn't make sense to just stay on one beach the entire week! Although the local buses go to almost all of the beaches, we were too lazy and took taxis which were not that expensive anyway.
Also, there were many good restaurants within walking distance of Caribbean Palm Village as well as other amenities so there was no disadvantage to not being in the "hotel district" so to speak.
All in all, we found Aruba one of the loveliest places we've been and surprisingly good value as wll. We will certainly go back there someday.
Thank yo for your efforts and helping us find a beautiful an affordable honeymoon vacation.
Yours truly, LJUBA DJURDJEVIC
October 18, 1999
Dear TaraNova,
We have recently arrived back from a wonderful trip through France and Italy. After taking a leisurely drive through France, we stayed for a week in Mailibu Village at Canet-Plage. We had exchanged our 1998 TaraNova week, through RCI, for a spacious two-bedroom apartment in this delightful Mediterranean resort. Not only did we take full advantage of the beautiful pool and gardens at the resort as well as the nearby beaches but we were also able to spend time sight-seeing in the walled city of Carcassonne and the Catalan fortress at Salses. Late September is an ideal time to visit this area of France as the weather is warm (daytime temperature highs around 25C), the sea is perfect for swimming, most of the attractions are still open and the Summer crowds have left. The staff at Mailibu Village were very helpful and spoke excellent English and there was a small store on-site which had its own bakery, supplying fresh bread, croissants and pain au chocolat each morning!
In January, we plan to return for another week of skiing at the Attitash Mountain Resort in New Hampshire. We know that it will be a quite different but no less enjoyable than our week in France. We really appreciate the variety and flexibility given to us by our TaraNova ownership. Long may it continue! HILARY DANIELS AND JOHN HAYES

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Dear Teresa: "We have just returned from northern California where we spent a most enjoyable week at Tahoe Summit Village. This resort provides a wonderful opportunity to experience the scenic beauty and the variety of activities available in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and beyond. Our unit in Tahoe Summit Village is spacious, fully equipped and well looked after. It provides views of the mountains and the valley below in Nevada from the highest point of the whole Village. It offers an activity centre, a lovely outdoor hot tub and a pool nearby. We enjoyed the scenic views and the fresh mountain air while walking the one-way traffic loop throughout the Village. There was plenty of space for our son and his two friends who joined us for most of the week. The staff at Tahoe Summit Village were very helpful thus adding to the pleasure of our stay.

The beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin is spectacular. It is so unique to experience such a large and picturesque lake in the midst of mountains on all sides. South Lake Tahoe and Stateline offer nightlife and daytime activities of all types while the East and West Shoes are natural and untouched. Within a half hour one can be in Carson City, the capital of Nevada, or the Old West town of Virginia City., Less than an hour later the visitor can be traveling the wide streets of Reno or taking a chance in one of its impressive casinos.

We used our week at Tahoe Summit Village as a chance to spend another week exploring in an easterly direction. We included such places as: Sacramento, Napa Valley, the coastal drive and San Francisco. Each has plenty to see and do and makes for a memorable and exciting vacation.

Thank you TaraNova, for maintaining such a fine facility at Lake Tahoe. You are providing our members and many others with an opportunity to share in a most rewarding and unforgettable travel experience.

Yours sincerely, MURRAY AND TONI MAJOR

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October 12, 1999

Aloha,
My husband, John, and I want to let you know what a fabulous time we had on our TaraNova vaction this year. We have just returned from celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary in Hawaii!! Thanks go to RCI for putting us in the beautiful "Bay Club" on the Big Island. When our plan landed in the airport at Kona, all we could see was lave-dark, depressing, baren-loking lava. We wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. As we drove our rented car the 18 miles to Waikoloa Villlage where the "Bay Club" was situated, we didn't feel any better. Miles and miles of lava-the highway right through it. Where will we end up?We could see some palm trees in the distance on the rugged coastline and the signs for hotels and resorts on the coast but where was Bay Club? Suddenly, in front of us was a beautiful driveway lined with grass and palm trees and a lovely sign that said Waikiloa Village. We drove in and couldn't believe all this beauty and lushness was right in the lava fields. As we later entered our condo we were more than pleased. It was very tastefully decorated "hawaii style", clean, luxurious and definately large enough. the lania (balcony) wrapped around the condo with two sets of sliding glass doors and offered a view of the pool, golf courses and mountains.
The staff was very helpful and we enjoyed many complimentary activities including an icecream social with live music, lei-making lessons, a welcome aloha party, and a Big Island breifing. The grounds were imaculate and floweres bloomed everywhere you looked. We constantly could smell the fragrance of th elumeria trees! Can you tell we fell in love with Hawaii??
We did a lot of sight-seeing and got a good taste of the culture and people of Hawaii. We treated ourselves to a few days at Waikiki Beach before flying home.
Mahalo (thank you) all for your wonderful service! We are proud to be TaraNova members and can't wait to see what adventure we will have in two years. Aloha.
John & Wilma Kloosterziel

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October 7, 1999
Dear Rosanne:
It's now been a month since our last visit to Cancun and just wanted to drop you a note to comment about the accommodations you arranged at Casa Maya for us through the CARE programme (August 28 - September 4)
We were assigned a beautifl two bedroom unit with private balconines and a spectacular view of the Carribbean right from whereever you looked out. You had mentioned that you had stayed there many years ago and I'm pleased to say that although it was one of the first hotels built in Cancun, it's been kept fairly well and it is comparable to any other 5 star hotel standards. The unit was very spacious, cleanand good enough for 8 people. The location was on the quiet side of thehotel strip but we didn't mind that at all because if we felt like visiting other "noisier" parts of the city, buses were easily accessible just by crossing the street.
Being our third time in Cancun this year, we took it easy and had enough time to enjoy the hotel facilities including their private beach and two adult swimming pools, a children'ts swimming pool, fitness classes, bingo, a great restaurant, watersport rental equipment and friendly staff. The hotel is well geared to families so it suited us perfectly.
The time of the year was also very appropriate because school in Mexico and the US had alaready started the week before. The weather was hot and humid but not hotter than some of the hot and humid days we sometimes get in Canada.
In summary, if you're travelling with children, I would hightly recommend this hotel and would go back any time. if you wish to get addtional information about the area or saving tips for excursions and places (we've done most of them, including some cenotes), please feel free to E-mail me and I'll be more than happy to share them with you
thank you for your efforts and recommendations. Your professionalism in handling my request is greatly appreciated and I look forward to being in touch with you again for any future reservation. IBIS LAM

Teresa:

We joined TaraNova in 1993.  It was the first Time Share we bought.  Since then, we have purchased other weeks in the States and Canada, but nothing compares to the special attachment we have for Attitash.  We have invited more family members and friends there than any other places we have been to.  Through the years, we have enjoyed the many improvements to the resort.

 One of our best memories is the Christmas just before year 2000; with temperatures below freezing, we were soaking in the hot tub outside while marveling at the big orange circle of the full moon.  That same week, we dined at a fine restaurant in the area where the décor was quaint, the food great and the service impeccable.

 For our family, Attitash is a place of tranquility where we get in touch with nature.  For my husband and me, it is where we unwind; for our daughters, it is where they can ski, relax and shop in nearby North Conway.  We have spent time there in all four seasons and each one has its charm.  When we retire, we would like to move to the area because of the mountains, the simple lifestyle, the good food, the friendly people and the beauty of the environment….                                Louise and Jerome Boyer                                                      

To Teresa:

 By reading your TaraNotes Newsletter, I learned that it has been 15 years since you have become the Executive Director.  Congratulations!  Thank you for your beautiful work.

 For us, we have been enjoying our program with TaraNova for the past 10 years, since November 1995.  We hope to continue traveling for many more years as long as we maintain a very active life and are in good health.

 By this present letter, we would like to indicate to you that our two daughters will eventually take over in order to enjoy more beautiful experiences.       Caroline Marceau-Mailloux and Pascale  Marceau

 Ps:  ….Would you please explain to us what this CARE (Co-operative Association of Resort Exchangers) can do for the members of TaraNova… in a future TaraNotes.

 Dear Caroline and Pacale, please see page 2 of this newsletter for information on the CARE exchange and thank you for letting us know that this useful is important to you.