In their quest for the best deal for their vacation dollar, bargain hunters will find several online travel network business models available. Most of these business models are geared toward earning credits, certificates or points to create travel savings potential. 

Included are companies such as Platinum One Destination (P1D), Your Travel Biz (YTB), Traverus, and Coastal Vacations. These organizations, designed to some degree or other to teach you how to be your own travel agent, can definitely offer travelers some great deals, but the process is tedious and sales driven -- not something generally desirable by busy employees just trying to book a family vacation. 

They are also rather pricey. P1D's premier package, for example, runs in the $20,000 range -- again, not something generally desirable in a tight economic environment. 

Big box online travel agents such as Priceline, Expedia, and Orbitz know this all too well. So they do the work for the vacationer -- finding the best deals available and then offering them to travelers. Naturally these deals include a profit margin that allows for operations and high-dollar advertising. 

If a vacationer stopped there, they'd think they were getting a great no hassle deal. And they would be. They just wouldn't be getting the best no hassle deal. 

Enter two vacation membership programs that grant members access to more than 5,000 resorts worldwide. The margin is locked in the membership fees, which in each case are nominal, and each program's premier membership option grants lifetime access to all the bargains a vacationing family could hope for. 

So what's the difference? In short, the traveler is.

Below is a table comparing GRN (Global Resorts Network) to MOR Vacations program offers and benefits. The "right" choice of programs depends heavily on the vacationer's needs, goals, and national venue preference. 

Global Resorts Network, as stated In the above table, is the online marketing arm for UK-based Gold Crown Resort. Traditionally, Europe, former British Empire regions, and the Asian market, *** particularly Malaysia, have been highly desirable areas for “holiday travel” from the UK. These areas, then, are GRN’s primary vacation (or, to use the British term, “holiday”) venues. 

There has been some confusion about the Gold Crown Resort parent company concerning the name itself that begs clarification: There is no affiliation between the UK-based program and timeshare mogul RCI’s (Resort Condominiums International) premier Gold Crown Resort rating. 

GRN has apparently learned its lesson in recent months, as it now offers numerous affordable U.S.-based venues as well. However it is too early to determine whether the recent American venue offers are due to the peak European travel season or an actual trend. 

MOR Vacations was established with the goal of offering more U.S.-based venues to accommodate vacations within easy driving distance, directly addressing the needs of the cost-conscious American vacationer. 

And although both MOR and GRN offer thousands of venues on both sides of the Great Puddle, MOR’s heavier resort inventory rests right here at home. 

GRN has been in business eleven years longer than MOR Vacations, and the organizational development shows. Certainly this development is something MOR Vacations needs to address, and, according to MOR Vacations president, Jon King, is currently addressing. 

The obvious membership savings -- $997 in each case (premier and entry membership levels) -- is available for those who can either afford to purchase the MOR Vacations Diamond membership price up front or the MOR Hot Weeks membership during the Introductory special. But if vacationers are more concerned about getting great deals overseas, particularly in Asia, then GRN has the heavier inventory.

Depending on where you want to go, how you want to travel (drive v. flight, for example) and how flexible your schedule is, MOR Vacations offers the lower priced specials, starting at $149 for the week instead of $298. However, GRN does offer certain venues for $398 and locks in that rate for up to 12 months.

The choice, then, is as it should be: Dependent on the traveler, their needs, goals, and where they want to visit. 

In a separate article, the use of guest passes for honeymoon and anniversary gifts will be reviewed.