Timeshare Points Verses Timeshare Weeks – Pros and Cons

Deciding between timeshare points or timeshare weeks can be a difficult decision. So which way to go?

Well, the best thing to do is take a look at your lifestyle.

If you want to return to your home resort each year at the same time for a full week or just travel in weekly increments…or, if you like exciting, private, romantic getaways for just two (and like the excuse that you only have a limited amount of space), then it’s easier to use the week system and explain to your friends or in-laws that there’s no time left. However, if you need or want to include other people in your timeshare from time to time, then you should probably consider the points system. Flexibility is the main advantage of the points system. Any unit size can be chosen if you have enough points in your account and the unit is available. In the week system, you are restricted to the same size unit as your local resort unit, or smaller, when you travel. Let’s say, once only you and your partner travel; then a studio would be perfect. Another time it’s the two of you and you decide to bring the kids and you need a two-bedroom, and another time it’s you and the kids and your parents or friends, or a group of friends, and you need a four-bedroom . . Or, let’s say, you just fancy having a more or less luxurious space depending on your mood or needs for that trip… With timeshare points, you have the flexibility to tailor your wishes to your needs at the time.

Take a look at these two scenarios:

Scenario A: Timeshare Points

Let’s say you own a three-bedroom apartment in a timeshare point system, for example. You may have enough points to spend two weeks or more in one or two rooms, or take many mini-vacations in smaller units. You are not limited to the size or length of stay as in the one-week timeshare system. With timeshare points, if you find your plans change or life events affect your trip, or if you just like having the option to travel whenever you want, you can plan a getaway anytime as long as you have the points and the units. They’re available. This part is the same in the week system, but if you want to travel only a few days, you will have to change the whole week and lose the remaining days.

Scenario B: Timeshare Weeks

If you like knowing that you will have the same length of vacation each year, then the one-week timeshare model would be best for you. The good thing about this model is that it ‘forces’ you to take a vacation. So if you are a workaholic personality, this may be the best for you!

If you like to have your vacation at the same time each year and expect it to always be at that time each year, then timeshare weeks are a great solution. Please note that with the week system, you are normally restricted to your week occurring during the same time of year. You can also change your weeks for other time periods, just know that there is some planning and detail involved in the process.

Conclusion:

With the timeshare point system, you are not restricted to that seven day time usage period. If you don’t feel like using the full week each year, you can use just a few nights or more of the seven days, depending on how many points you have. The way most week systems are set up requires you to use the full week every year whether you want to or not. So with timeshare points you have more freedom. If you own a week and your needs require you to exchange your weeks for another period of time, sometimes you have to wait for the results of your processed week. With timeshare points you can reserve the unit of your choice at any time and know instantly that you have a place to stay. Don’t you like to plan? No problem. With the points system, you can reserve any unit size when available for a minimum number of points when making reservations 45 days or less from check-in. If you are a timeshare week owner, you should also realize that you are limited to the other resorts that are on the week system. You do not have access to the resorts that are on a points system. It is estimated that over 50% of timeshare week resorts have switched to the new points system. Also, know that you will pay the exchange and membership fees annually to the exchange company, regardless of whether you have points or weeks.

In the week system, your expense for your annual maintenance fee is typically equal to one week’s worth of vacation. In the timeshare points system, you still have to pay the annual maintenance fee, but you can stretch your points to allow for more vacations each year and borrow points from next year’s allotment or rent additional points if needed. Point members have found that they end up paying less per night of stay, in some cases between 25% and 45%, depending on the various rates.

So you need to do some simple math and do some soul searching to figure out which style is right for you; timeshare weeks or timeshare points.