Urban timeshare resorts are a relatively new concept, but one that seems to be catching on. Especially in world-renowned cities such as New York, London, and Venice — where hotel rooms tend to be quite expensive — timeshares are becoming ever more popular as a long-term money-saving option.

One key amenity to look for when considering an urban timeshare unit is concierge service. You, or anyone else using your timeshare unit, will want access to all of the best restaurants, theater shows, and city-wide goings-on. A concierge will be key to ensuring that access, whether it is in the form of a last-minute dinner reservation, front-row seats to a sold-out play, or admission tickets for an annual festival that draws visitors from near and far.

Also, if you are looking at a fixed-week purchase, consider what tends to be going on in your city of choice during various weeks of the year. Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is sure to be the most valuable week in that city, while New York City's annual JVC Jazz Festival is always a popular summertime tourist draw. On the worldwide stage, look for things like the Cannes Film Festival in France during the spring or Italy's annual Carnival of Venice, which is held in February.

Cordial Theaterhotel Wien

Located in the city of Vienna, Austria, this resort is directly next to the Theater in der Josefstadt and close by Ringstrasse Boulevard, which encompasses the historical old city of Vienna. You can explore much of what Vienna has to offer, including the Parliament building and St. Stephen's Cathedral, while staying at this Interval International Five Star Award resort.

There is a casino nearby, along with tennis courts and swimming pools. In a feature rarely found in United States timeshare resorts, pets are allowed here, as well. The biggest timeshare unit available is two bedrooms, sleeping six people with the pullout sofa.

Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas Strip

This is the third timeshare property that Hilton has developed in Sin City, a year-round hot-spot destination for worldwide travelers. It is due to be completed in the summer of 2006, offering a ten-acre site at the north end of the famed Las Vegas Strip. The fact that the conglomerate can support three separate timeshares in the same city tells you two things: The area is ever-growing in popularity, yet it is also perhaps approaching a future of being over-built. It is impossible to say what timeshare values in the city will be during the next decade or two (think about how Orlando looked ten or twenty years ago), but it is important that you understand the current situation clearly before making a timeshare-unit purchase.

Pestana Rio Atlantica Hotel

This Resort Condominiums International Gold Crown property is in the sultry city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, proving that your timeshare vacation experience can be urban and exotic all at the same time.

The resort property is actually on Copacabana Beach, but it is right near the city center and just twenty-five minutes from the international airport. Its proximity to all the urban excitement is evidenced by its business center, nearly two dozen meeting rooms, and 250 person banquet facilities. That a timeshare resort can support so much business is a good sign that its design is in tune with the surrounding city environment — and that you will be able to make the most of all the nearby urban offerings during your weeklong vacation stay.