Purchasing a timeshare can be an excellent way to ensure a lifetime of regular vacations with predictable costs. But when it comes to deciding which type of timeshare is right for you, the choices can be vast. The three main types are fixed week, floating week, and points-based timeshares. Each has its unique features and benefits, and the best choice often depends on your travel preferences, lifestyle, and budget.
Let’s delve into each one to help you make an informed decision.
A fixed week timeshare allows you to use the same unit at your deeded resort during the same time every year. This is ideal if you have a specific week that you love to vacation, such as for a recurring event or during a preferred time of the year.
- Consistency: With a fixed week timeshare, you know exactly when and where you’ll be vacationing each year.
- Guaranteed Availability: Your week is reserved exclusively for you, eliminating worries about availability or the need to book your vacation far in advance.
- Affordable Initial Purchase Price For Non-Peak Weeks: In some cases, fixed week timeshares can be purchased for a very reasonable amount on the resale market.
- Limited Flexibility: If your schedule changes or you want to vacation at a different time, you may need to trade weeks. This can require additional memberships with Interval International or RCI, as well as an exchange fee to complete.
- High Initial Purchase Price For Peak Weeks: While it is true that certain weeks can be purchased for very little, some of the most desirable weeks of the year, such as New Year’s, or Christmas week, can be much more expensive.
In contrast, a floating week timeshare offers more flexibility, allowing you to choose any week within a designated season to use your timeshare at the resort you are deeded to.
- Flexibility: You can choose different weeks each year, accommodating changing schedules and enabling spontaneous trips.
- Variety: Experience your vacation spot during different seasons and enjoy a myriad of local events and climates.
- Affordable Initial Purchase Price: Floating weeks can be an incredibly affordable way to attain ownership, with some resorts offering weeks for just a few thousand dollars.
- Subject To Availability: Highly desired weeks at popular resorts, especially during peak seasons, may not be available if not booked in advance. Understanding the booking windows afforded to owners, and planning ahead, will be an important part of maximizing your ownership.
A points-based timeshare, also known as a vacation club, offers even more flexibility. Here, you purchase points that can be used to book accommodations at various resorts within your chosen timeshare network.
All the popular hospitality brands offer their version of a points based ownership including Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations, Vistana Signature Network (which includes both Westin & Sheraton resorts), Disney Vacation Club, and Hyatt Residence Club.
If you’d like a more in-depth exploration of the differences between these various vacation ownerships, you can read our comparison article here: Comparing The 5 Best Timeshare Companies: Which One Is Right For You?
- Ultimate Flexibility: You can choose when, where, and how long to stay, offering a highly customizable vacation experience. Whether you’d like to switch the size of your villa, the view type, resort location, or time of year, it’s all possible with the points-based ownerships offered by the top timeshare brands.
- Variety of Destinations: Access to multiple resorts across different locations expands your vacation possibilities. Some of the top developers feature up to 80 different resorts to choose from in some of most desirable vacation destinations.
- Subject To Availability: Like floating week timeshares, high-demand periods may require early booking. Having a plan for your upcoming vacations will ensure you can get the most value from your ownership.
- Initial Purchase Price: While points-based timeshares on the resale market offer huge discounts when compared to buying directly from the developer, points-based ownerships do generally require a higher purchase price. While many owners find the cost to value proposition of points-based timeshare very favorable, they are not usually the cheapest option that can be found.
Which Timeshare Option Is Best For You?
The best timeshare for you depends on your vacation preferences:
- A fixed week timeshare is ideal if you want consistency and have a specific week each year when you love to vacation.
- A floating week timeshare provides flexibility to choose different weeks each year.
- A points-based timeshare offers the most flexibility with options to choose different locations, lengths of stay, and types of accommodations.
In conclusion, consider your vacation habits, schedule flexibility, and personal preferences when choosing between these timeshare options. Each one offers unique benefits, so weigh these factors carefully to make the best decision for your vacation needs.
Contact Us Today
Whether you are looking into buying a timeshare on the secondary market, or selling your ownership, feel free to fill in a contact form today. Our team of licensed agents have years of experience specializing in all the name-brand timeshare developers, and will offer a free consultation to answer any questions you may have about the process.
