timeshare point system pros and cons
Pros: What Works for PointsBased Owners?
1. Flexibility
Points can be spent in varying amounts across a network of properties—choose length of stay, size of room, resort location. No more “locked into July 3–10 at Resort X for life.” Book in busy (highpoint) or slow (lowpoint) seasons—added freedom for retirees or those with nontraditional schedules.
2. Variety
Access to a universe of resorts, sometimes thousands worldwide, through internal networks (Hilton, Marriott, Wyndham) or external exchanges (RCI, Interval International). Can split points for short getaways or stack for luxury upgrades. Mix and match destinations without additional purchases.
3. Banking and Borrowing
Don’t use all your points this year? Bank them for later. Planning a milestone event? Borrow from future years for a highcost, highvalue vacation.
4. Customization and Upgrades
Upgrade to bigger units, better views, or highseason dates by pooling or consolidating points. No unused fixed time wasted—get value for every point if you plan ahead.
5. Multiple Vacation Types
Use for hotels, cruises, and experiences (parks, shows, flights) with some brands.
The flexibility theme is central to almost all timeshare point system pros and cons discussions.
Cons: What Trips Up Points Users?
1. Inventory Issues
You and every other owner compete with points: highdemand weeks and properties (spring break beaches, Christmas in the mountains) often evaporate as soon as booking windows open. Flexibility fades if you can’t book a year ahead or adapt your vacation dates.
2. Point Inflation
Resorts can (and do) increase “cost per night” in points—over time, the same trip may cost more so your points lose value. Owners are pressured to buy more to maintain their habits.
3. Rising Maintenance Fees
Annual dues continue whether you use your points or not, and rise regularly. Add booking fees, exchange fees, and “guest certificates”—hidden annual costs escalate, outpacing inflation.
4. Complexity Requires Discipline
Mastering booking deadlines, banking/borrowing rules, and changing point values is not “set and forget”—it takes attention and planning. Unused points may expire or command minimal value if poorly managed. Many buyers get trapped by complexity and wind up wasting points/money.
5. Low Resale and Difficult Exit
Resale markets are thin to nonexistent for most brands. Owners seeking to leave often must pay to surrender points, and rarely recover initial costs.
6. Transparency Deficit
Sales pitches rarely detail blackout periods, tiered access, or point devaluation over years. The real restrictions and limitations are buried in contractual fine print.
Who Benefits Best from Point Systems?
Frequent, habitual travelers who plan trips a year or more in advance. Flexible users: those who vacation offpeak or can explore new places as inventory allows. Planners: people who enjoy managing points, reading booking calendars, and optimizing vacation value.
Who Loses?
Lastminute or infrequent travelers. Owners unwilling to keep up on fees and booking rules. Those expecting points to be an “investment”—declining or no resale proves otherwise.
Maximize Pros, Minimize Cons
Plan vacations the moment booking opens for the best selection. Use every point every year; bank and borrow for big trips, don’t let points expire unused. Track all costs and compare with market rates for comparable hotel or AirBnB stays.
Alternatives
Rent points from owners for specific vacations—no ownership headaches. Vacation clubs and travel memberships offer flexibility with no fixed fees or contracts. Hotel loyalty programs: points for routine travel without property ownership risk.
Final Thoughts
The timeshare point system pros and cons balance flexibility and opportunity against real risk: inventory competition, rising fees, and complexity. Your discipline—how you plan, book, and monitor costs—dictates whether you benefit or fall behind. For planners who travel annually, points are usable currency. For the impulsive or distracted, they become expensive dead weight. The math is in your habits and your honesty about routine. In vacations, as in finance, structure beats hope every time. Think, plan, and deploy points with rigor. That is the true value in a points system.