Understanding timeshares
Talk about a reputation! Aggressive sales tactics, tropical destinations and a lot of hidden fees add up to a dangerous combination. They’re popular, but what is a timeshare, really?Buying a timeshare means that you’ve purchased time at a property shared by many other people, most often a condo or a room at a resort or hotel. Ownership is divided into smaller parts; a timeshare split into week-long stays would have 52 simultaneous owners. The timing and length of your visits depend on your contract type. Timeshares cost about $22,000 on average, and that’s just the cost to stay — you still have to factor in annual maintenance fees and any other expenses. Example: Let’s say your family buys into a timeshare in Cozumel, Mexico, for an initial cost of $23,000 and an annual maintenance fee of $800. You’re allocated two non-consecutive weeks per year. If you vacation there for 20 years straight, you’ll spend $39,000 plus any additional maintenance fees. Divided across 240 nights (12 per year), that adds up to $162.50 per night.Takeaway
Timeshares have these things in common:
- Visits average 1-2 weeks per year
- Limited control over when you stay
- High costs, especially with added fees
- The resort owns the underlying real estate, not you
In more detail:
What kinds of timeshares are there?
At the most basic level, there are two kinds of timeshares: those with deeds, and those without.- Shared deeds divide ownership up into smaller parts that reflect how much time you can stay. A timeshare that’s divided into 2-week stays would have 26 simultaneous owners, and it’s not uncommon for deeds to be split into 52 parts, one for each week of the year. Shared deeds lock you in for life and they can be passed on to family or sold. The majority of timeshares are deeded.
- Shared leases are like an apartment you’re paying to stay in a few weeks out of the year, but you commit to a decade or more in advance. The kicker here is that you don’t get a deed because you’re only leasing a period of time at a property. You’ll still be sharing with lots of other people — typically 52 families.
When do you get to stay at your timeshare?
Not all timeshares are created equal. Here are the four main ways that time is divided up at timeshare properties:- Fixed weeks mean that you’re locked in to the same week every year (say, the third week in April). Changing your fixed week typically comes with a hefty price tag in the form of an upgrade fee.
- Floating weeks let you choose your week seasonally. Fixed weeks systems are very competitive, and the best slots during high season get snapped up quickly.
- Some timeshares operate with a points system, similar to an airline. You “pay” for your stay with points, which gives you greater flexibility in how you travel. Choosing an off-season, weekday stay or downgrading to a smaller room may cost less points overall. By contrast, you can also use points to upgrade components of your vacation or enjoy another property via a timeshare exchange program.
- Right-to-use timeshares are a mix of the fixed weeks, floating weeks and point systems. You’re paying for the right to use the property during a period of time in a shared lease, so you’re locked in for a decade or more. No deed, but there’s usually more flexibility in your stays overall.