Umhlanga Sands Lifestyle Resort, KZN, South Africa

Umhlanga is one of the most popular beach resort destinations along the east coast of South Africa. The bathing is safe and the warm Indian Ocean waters wash the miles of golden beaches and laid-back fun in the sun beckons. Umhlanga is conveniently situated close to the Durban International airport, as well as easily accesable from all major freeways and roads.

Within one hour of arrival at Durban International you and your family can be swimming in the warm surf, just meters from the resort. Umhlanga's main beach meets, and exceeds excellence criteria in four aspects of coastal management, water quality, environmental management and safety and services, including excellent lifesaving standards, top-rated ablutions and parking facilities, with access for the disabled.

Superb surfing is right on your doorstep, regular fishing competitions and Jet Ski displays are held off the coast. Umhlanga is also one of the few destinations for the world pro surfing circuit. Umhlanga Sands Lifestyle Resort is located right on the Umhlanga beachfront with breathtaking panoramic views overlooking the sparkling Indian Ocean.

This tropical Lifestyle Resort is a family favourite, where sun, sea, sand and fun are all part of the holiday experience. All 237 rooms at the resort are sea-facing and offer spacious accommodation and an equipped kitchenette. A well-patrolled promenade runs in front of the hotel along this beautiful beach front.

There is an endless choice of leisure activities - two swimming pools; volleyball; an entertainment centre; as well as adult and children's entertainment programmes which are fully supervised by a spirited entertainment team and run throughout the year. The resort also boasts a gift shop, hairdressing salon, beautician and aroma therapist. There are two restaurants and a bar with different entertainment for every night of the week.

Featured timeshare service provider

Interval International

Vacation Ownership Offers So Much More.

Known for its Quality Vacation Exchange Network, Interval International has operated exchange and membership programmes for vacation owners worldwide for more than 33 years.Interval's high-calibre network of approximately 2,500 resorts in more than 75 countries on six continents provides about 2 million member families with a world of vacation exchange choices, from pristine beaches to snowy slopes and city adventures. Interval members can take advantage of an exciting portfolio of benefits every day, whether on holiday or at home.

In addition to exchange, these valuable perks include access to Getaways-seven-night resort stays that members purchase without relinquishing their home resort week, special offers and discounts, travel services, member publications and more.

Interval International Gives The World.

Since its founding in 1976, Interval International has maintained rigorous standards for its affiliated resorts and continually adds new properties to its global network, so members never run out of intriguing places to visit.

Interval provides high levels of customer service and offers the industry's most comprehensive value-added programmes to its member families. Vacation owners enjoy great home resort destinations, but when they want ...

View Interval International profile

Q & A with Darren Ettridge

What services does Interval International offer a resort owner or vacation ownership promoter?

Since 1976, Interval International has led the vacation ownership industry with vision and innovation and has been at the forefront in providing resort developers with superior services and compelling product enhancements.
Our aim is to support developers of all shared ownership product types, including traditional timesharing, fractional resorts, private residence clubs, and condominium-hotels, and is a resource for access to expertise in every phase of the development process. Our experienced management team builds long-term relationships by utilizing a collaborative approach to assist clients in achieving their goals.

Through Interval membership, developers offer their consumer owners the opportunity to trade the use of their resort time for comparable accommodation at destinations around the world. The exchange feature, coupled with Interval’s extensive leisure benefits, adds to the product value proposition and is a proven motivation for buying a vacation ownership interest.

Today, our clients include many of the world’s most prestigious hospitality brands and leading independent resort developers.

What benefits do vacation owners enjoy, if they have purchased a resort product that is affiliated with Interval International?

Members enjoy access to Interval’s global network of quality resorts and make their exchanges using our unique vacation exchange system. Global Member-Services Centres provide personal assistance to approximately 2 million households. Resort exchanges, Getaway bookings and membership renewals and upgrades can also be made online at IntervalWorld.com.
Membership is further enhanced through informative publications such as Interval World® magazine, and the annual Interval International Resort Directory. Interval Gold®, the industry’s first and foremost value-added, membership-upgrade program, gives the option of receiving additional benefits for an additional fee. These benefits include a discount off all Getaways, complimentary membership of Hertz #1 Club Gold ®, ShortStay exchange and more.
 

How do Interval International members exchange their resort time?

Here’s how vacation exchange works: Our members trade their resort time for that relinquished by other members through a worldwide exchange system. When members place an exchange request, Interval’s proprietary system evaluates the resort week based on certain factors so that the accommodation they receive and the vacation experience are comparable to those at their home resort. Our Travel Demand Index helps our members determine when the best opportunities for travel are likely to be available.

Interval offers two different exchange methods to allow for maximum flexibility. The Deposit First exchange method allows members to deposit their week before placing an exchange request and provides a travel window of up to three years, which gives Interval the most time to find a suitable match. Or, members can use our exclusive Request First exchange method and have the security of retaining their week until a comparable match is confirmed. Flexchange also is available to members who would like to travel on short notice from 59 days up until just 24 hours prior to their desired travel date.
 

How many resorts form Interval International’s global vacation exchange network?

We have a network of over 2,500 resorts in more than 75 countries.

How many exchanges did Interval International confirm in 2008?

In 2008, we confirmed more than one million exchanges for its members.

Can you tell us about Preferred Residences, the hospitality branded membership and exchange programme for high-end shared ownership products?

Through a strategic alliance with the Preferred Hotel Group, Interval offers Preferred Residences™ for luxury fractional resorts, private residence clubs, and condominium-hotels. With Preferred Residences, developers have a unique branding opportunity to promote their upscale vacation residences within a network of exclusive accommodation, while retaining the identity of their resorts.

Preferred Residences owners enjoy a rich menu of benefits and services, designed to appeal to a sophisticated lifestyle. These currently include exchange privileges in many of the world’s most desirable destinations, preferential pricing at participating Preferred Hotel Group affiliated properties worldwide, complimentary Prestige membership in Priority Pass™ airport VIP lounge program, personal concierge services accessible 24 hours a day,7 days a week online and via phone, discounts on the Delta AirElite private jet program, and annual membership in Hertz #1 Club Gold®.
 

Is South Africa a strategic part of your global expansion?

During 2009, Interval International affiliated with Sun Swop and Zorgvliet Private Residence Club, which provided a strong platform for future growth.

Into which other areas is Interval interested in expanding?

In addition to southern Africa, we see Asia as having great potential and an area in which we will be building on an existing base of resorts.

Do South Africans tend to favour Europe, USA or Asia when booking their exchanges?

South Africans are great travellers and are likely to visit all corners of Interval’s world. Europe is certainly a popular destination, but they also travel to the USA, particularly Orlando, and as far afield as South America, Australia and China.

Where can one obtain a complimentary copy of Interval’s Future Timeshare Buyers: 2009 Market Profile?

In order to receive an e-copy, please contact Darren Ettridge, Interval’s vice president of resort sales and service for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, at Darren.Ettridge@intervalintl.com.