Many people have heard of shared-ownership lodging, otherwise known as timeshare and fractional resorts. The concept is simple: Instead of buying a vacation home outright, you buy a fraction of the time for a fraction of the price. You can check out some fantastic shared-ownership properties in our Fractional Property Guide and resort review of Mnarani Hotel in Kenya. And if that’s not enough, we showcase 5 of the Best … Timeshare Resorts in Europe. (“5 of the Best” is a new feature; look for more articles in the future.)

We highlight the newest resort from Pestana Vacation Club, the Pestana Promenade Ocean Resort Hotel on the Portuguese island of Madeira, the “pearl of the Atlantic.” Pestana has been in business for 25 years, and units, furnished and equipped to the highest levels, are among the largest the club has ever built. An impressive – and long – list of amenities includes a state-of-the-art spa facility and a themed restaurant. But as you’ll see in the article, it’s really Pestana’s top-notch service that sets the club apart.

We take you to three other stunningly beautiful resorts: Arcos Gardens Golf Club & Country Estate, a charming Spanish community designed exclusively for the ultimate in luxury living in what some call “The Real Spain”; Karma Kandara in Bali, Indonesia, where modern amenities, fine dining, ultra-attentive service, a state-of-the-art spa and breathtaking landscapes meet; and Appassionata in La Marche, Italy, a pastoral respite offering classic Italian charm and culture in a region unspoiled by mass tourism.

While many locations are battling freezing temperatures and heavy snowstorms right now, and maybe because of that, we take you to a couple of tropical locales: Phuket, Thailand and Roatan, Honduras. Our cover story – Luxury Suites Come to Bangla – will introduce you to a brand new fractional residence and hotel property called Absolute Bangla Suites. Trust me, this is one hot place. Our second hotspot is featured in the article, Roatan – The Caribbean’s Best-Kept Secret. This unspoiled Honduran island is an almost-underdeveloped diving Mecca that won’t be so unknown for much longer.

The ski season is just now getting a full head of steam, so this edition’s cover story is about one of the top U.S. ski destinations: Vail, Colorado. First, Colorado native Lon Winters tells how on one dreary day there he learned that a “bad” day in Vail can still be a great day for a skier or snowboarder.

Our cover story transports you to The Royal Haciendas, the latest upscale property from Royal Resorts. Located in the Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula, The Royal Haciendas is a 10-minute drive to Playa del Carmen and only 30 minutes from Cancún International Airport. This low-density, beachfront resort uses features the Guaranteed Villa, Guaranteed Week concept, which gives members guaranteed holidays without the need for reservations, and is offered by only a few companies worldwide.

This month’s lead cover story reviews the luxuriously appointed homes at Glenmor, set on heather-clad moorland within the world renowned Gleneagles Hotel’s 850 acre estate, where you can now own a week or more per year in a 2,3 or 4 bedroom home from as little as £10,030 per week and take advantage of your own space but with all the services of a five star hotel.

We have some very desirable properties for you this month, starting with our cover story; Eden Rock on the island of St. Barths in the French West Indies, available as a luxury hotel, real estate and now limited fractional ownership villas giving you the opportunities to own in this exclusive and expensive destination for far less than ever before.In contrast to tropical climates, how about owning a piece of Scottish history as the first Links Golf Course to be built in more than 100 years also announces a fractional opportunity at either the old or new Machrihanish Dunes courses.

Our cover story introduces the latest South African Private Residence Club which offers an incredible portfolio of luxury properties infused with experiences of safaris and winemaking. Sold as fractional ownership but available in weekly intervals to suit your needs, Zorgvliet offers a very affordable, flexible, welcoming, ambient and unique ownership product.

Our cover story goes to Karma Resorts, who offer both ultra-luxurious vacation and ownership opportunities in Thailand and Bali and entice us with details of their latest resort property, Karma Kandara and the opportunities to own at The Belvedere for under $200,000.