Baby boomers interested in buying vacation homes are now considering one of the latest trends in second home ownership: the condo hotel.

Condo hotels are a type of vacation home. They are typically located in resorts operated by some of the top luxury hotel chains, such as Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, and Trump International, to name a few.

These upscale second homes made their debut in Miami, but the condo hotel trend has now spread across the country to markets like Orlando, Las Vegas, Chicago, and to various cities in California, Colorado and New York. They are also quite popular in exotic locales such as Mexico, Panama, the Caribbean and Dubai.

Condo hotels are a perfect fit for the lifestyle baby boomers enjoy, providing luxurious, hassle-free second homes, without all the worries of maintenance. They offer baby boomers the opportunity for easy, relaxed family vacations in desirable locations without time spent researching, planning and booking travel accommodations.

Unlike traditional vacation homes, condo hotels are furnished condominium suites located within some of the country's most famous hotels and resorts. Owners of these suites are entitled to use all of the luxury amenities and services offered by the property, such as fine dining restaurants, fitness centers, spas, and concierge services.

Furthermore, the headaches of maintenance, guest services and housekeeping are assumed by the on-site hotel management company.

But what really sets condo hotels apart are that the individual owners can place their unit in the hotel's rental program when they're not there. The hotel management takes on the responsibility of finding and dealing directly with renters, leaving the owners free from these duties. The rent revenue the condo hotel unit generates helps offset the costs of ownership.

Many baby boomers looking for investment alternatives see condo hotels as a smart choice, a means to diversify into something other than stock market holdings. Because of a limited supply of land in many choice locales, the likelihood of capital appreciation on condo hotel units is increased.

Condo hotel units come in a variety of sizes and prices, typically ranging from $300,000 to over $1 million for prime properties.

Unlike a timeshare, which usually provides only a week or two per year of use, condo hotel owners are fully deeded property owners who can generally use their condo suites when and how they please. Baby boomers want vacation homes that are available when their busy schedules allow them time off.

Also, whereas traditional timeshares can be difficult to resell, condo hotels, with their luxury amenities, prime locations, limited inventory, and potential for appreciation, can be resold more readily.

For all these reasons, the condo hotel product, and the lifestyle if offers, appeals to the baby boomer generation. Look for more condo hotels to come on the market in coming years to meet this burgeoning demand.