timeshare point system pros and cons
Pros
1. Flexibility
The point system’s biggest selling point. Owners are not locked into the same resort or week every year. Redeem points for shorter trips, longer vacations, different room sizes, or resorts in new destinations every trip. Some systems allow owners to “mix” points with hotel nights or vacation club options, opening thousands of locations.
2. Variety
Use points across a brand’s full network, or exchange for partner resorts globally via platforms like RCI or Interval International. With planning, you can experience ski weeks, beach condos, city suites, or even cruises—all from a single home points contract.
3. Customization
Split points for multiple weekend getaways or bank/bundle them for luxury properties or prime weeks. Some brands allow you to borrow from future years or roll over unused points, maximizing value with enough foresight.
4. Potential Value—For Planners
Meticulous owners who book early, travel offpeak, or enjoy global variety can harvest value far beyond a single fixedweek unit. It’s possible to stretch a single year’s points to multiple trips by avoiding peak dates and selecting efficient properties.
Cons
1. Availability Risk
Flexibility is a myth without inventory. Highdemand weeks, school holidays, and premium resorts vanish as soon as booking windows open. If you can’t book 9–12 months in advance, you may find undeveloped properties or less desirable locations. Exchange networks can be saturated, making lastminute or highseason bookings difficult or impossible.
2. Point Inflation
Resorts can (and do) increase the point “cost” of units over time, especially for highdemand slots—meaning points buy less every year. Owners with older contracts are pressured to buy more points or risk losing access to prime inventory.
3. Maintenance Fees
Annual dues are unavoidable and usually increase each year, regardless of whether you travel. Exchange network memberships, booking fees, cleaning fees, and, sometimes, guest certificates add to the total cost.
For many, this is the most persistent negative in the timeshare point system pros and cons ledger.
4. Complexity
Successful use demands discipline—learning deadlines, rules, banking/borrowing, and how to “work” the points system. Unused points are wasted money; expiration or forfeiture is common for casual or distracted owners.
5. Poor Resale and Difficult Exit
Points contracts have little to no resale value; the market is flooded with owners trying to exit. Selling or transferring often involves high fees, convoluted restrictions, and long waits. Exit scams are a risk.
6. Transparency Issues
Sales pitches may skim over blackout dates, escalation of maintenance fees, and competition for top resorts. Booking restrictions or tiered member preferences often surface only after the contract is signed.
Is the Points System Worth It?
For whom it wins:
Families or couples who vacation every year and can plan months ahead. Flexible travelers—open to a variety of destinations and nonpeak periods. Detailoriented, disciplined users willing to learn the system and extract max value.
For whom it loses:
Lastminute or infrequent travelers; high maintenance fees but low usage = negative return. Buyers looking for “investment;” points lose resale value almost immediately.
Maximize Pros, Minimize Cons
Book the moment your window opens; mark key dates on your calendar. Track every transaction; bank or borrow points before they expire. Stay on top of maintenance fee announcements—budget ahead. Join owner forums for realworld tips, warnings, and exchange opportunities.
Alternatives to Points Systems
Direct rental of owner points on the secondary market—flexibility with zero ownership headaches. Vacation clubs, travel subscriptions, or shortterm rental networks for single trips. Fixedweek, deeded units for buyers who always travel at the same time, to the same place.
Final Thoughts
The timeshare point system is neither a scam nor a silver bullet. The reality of timeshare point system pros and cons is discipline: flexibility and variety exist for those who plan and act early, but they are paired with real risks—maintenance fees, availability crunch, shrinking value, and exit headaches. Don’t buy impulse; buy informed. For disciplined, frequent travelers, there’s value if the system is worked to maximum. For everyone else, be careful, measure value per dollar, and always, always read the contract. In vacation, as in all investments, structure and skepticism will outlast hope.