Discover How to Save Money, Find Better Vacation Opportunities, and Make Your Timeshare Work for You — Advice From a Former Timeshare Executive
By Wayne C. Robinson
Before You Give Up Your Timeshare, Learn How to Use It
During my 15 years working in the timeshare and vacation club industry, I encountered thousands of owners with different opinions about their memberships. Some absolutely loved their timeshares and wouldn’t consider giving them up. Others were frustrated, angry, and determined to get rid of them as quickly as possible.
Interestingly, I discovered that some of the most frustrated owners simply didn’t know how to use their memberships effectively.
They purchased timeshares because they wanted to travel, visit beautiful resorts, and enjoy more vacations with their families. However, after experiencing reservation difficulties, increasing maintenance fees, and disappointing exchanges, they began to believe they had made a terrible financial mistake.
Sometimes they were right. Some memberships simply don’t deliver the benefits consumers were promised.
But in other cases, owners were overlooking opportunities that could make their memberships considerably more valuable.
In Chapter 13 of my book, Everything About Timeshares, I discuss something that may surprise readers who know about my timeshare cancellation work. I don’t believe every timeshare owner should cancel.
If you own a paid-off timeshare, your maintenance fees are manageable, and you enjoy traveling, keeping your membership may be a sensible decision.
The secret is understanding how to use it.
Over the years, I’ve enjoyed some remarkable vacation opportunities through timeshare exchanges and met owners who traveled extensively using their memberships.
In this article, I’ll share some of the strategies I’ve learned, along with examples from my own experiences.
1. Stop Focusing on Where You Can’t Go
This is probably the most important advice I can give a frustrated timeshare owner.
Rather than concentrating on where you can’t vacation, start exploring where you can go.
Many owners approach timeshare exchanges with one particular destination in mind. They want Hawaii during Christmas, Orlando during spring break, or a beachfront resort during the busiest weeks of summer.
When those accommodations aren’t available, they become frustrated and conclude that their timeshare is worthless.
But consider another approach.
Suppose you want to spend a week in the Swiss Alps, but nothing is available for your preferred dates. Why not explore the Canadian Rockies or Colorado instead?
Perhaps you were planning a vacation in the Caribbean, but the exchange company has attractive accommodations in Mexico, Spain, or the Canary Islands.
You might discover a destination you’ve never considered visiting.
During my years in the industry, I found that owners who were flexible about destinations and travel dates often enjoyed better opportunities than those determined to visit one particular resort.
That doesn’t excuse misleading sales promises or unreasonable reservation restrictions. If your membership isn’t delivering benefits specifically guaranteed in your contract, that’s a different issue.
However, if your goal is simply to enjoy good vacations, flexibility can make an enormous difference.
2. The Couple Who Wanted Hawaii but Discovered Belize
I remember a couple to whom I had sold a timeshare. They were frustrated because they couldn’t obtain the exchange they wanted in Hawaii.
Hawaii has long been a desirable vacation destination, and accommodations during popular travel periods can be difficult to secure.
The couple was determined to visit Hawaii and was disappointed by the lack of availability.
I contacted them and suggested something different.
Why not consider Belize?
Belize offers beautiful tropical scenery, beaches, opportunities to explore Mayan history, and a completely different vacation experience.
They took my advice and decided to visit Belize instead.
The experience illustrates something I’ve emphasized throughout my career: a vacation doesn’t have to follow your original plan to become a wonderful experience.
If you’re willing to consider destinations you haven’t previously explored, your timeshare exchange opportunities may become much more interesting.
Sometimes the vacation you hadn’t planned turns out to be one of your favorites.
3. Understand How Your Timeshare Exchange Program Works
Many timeshare owners have access to external vacation exchange companies, including RCI and Interval International.
These companies operate networks through which eligible owners may exchange qualifying vacation accommodations for stays at other participating properties.
The basic concept is straightforward.
Instead of using your allotted week at your home resort, you may be able to deposit or exchange it through an exchange program and request accommodations at another property.
However, the actual process differs depending on your ownership type, exchange company, resort affiliation, and membership rules.
Some programs assign trading value to deposited weeks. Others use points, credits, or different exchange arrangements.
Your ability to exchange into a particular resort can depend on several factors, including the demand for your original accommodations, travel dates, resort quality, unit size, and available inventory.
This is where many owners make mistakes.
They assume that because a resort appears in an exchange directory, they have an unrestricted right to reserve it.
That’s not how most exchange systems work.
A resort’s participation doesn’t guarantee that every accommodation will be available to every member at every time.
My Advice
Spend some time learning how your particular exchange system operates.
Understand when you can deposit your week, how far in advance you can request accommodations, when your points or exchange credits expire, and whether you can modify or cancel reservations.
Explore the exchange website yourself. Don’t rely entirely on telephone representatives to tell you where you can vacation.
You may discover opportunities that you wouldn’t have considered otherwise.
4. My Personal Experience: A Two-Bedroom Townhouse Near Paris
One of the best timeshare exchange experiences I’ve enjoyed was at Marriott’s Village d’Île-de-France, located outside Paris.
Through Interval International, I obtained a week in a two-bedroom townhouse for an exchange-related charge of just $199.
At that time, comparable accommodations at the property were advertised for approximately $300 per night.
Seven nights at that published rate would have cost around $2,100.
Of course, the $199 exchange charge wasn’t my total cost of timeshare ownership. I still had the underlying expenses associated with my membership, which must be included when comparing overall vacation costs.
Nevertheless, this was an excellent example of how an exchange program could provide access to accommodations that might otherwise have been considerably more expensive.
We were staying outside one of the world’s most fascinating cities, with opportunities to explore Paris and the surrounding region.
For someone who enjoys international travel as much as I do, experiences like this help explain why I don’t automatically consider all timeshares bad purchases.
If you understand the exchange system and use it strategically, your membership may provide access to memorable vacations.
5. Take Advantage of Bonus Weeks, Getaways, and Last-Minute Deals
One of the most overlooked benefits of some timeshare exchange memberships is the opportunity to purchase additional vacation accommodations at discounted prices.
Exchange companies have offered programs under names such as Getaways, Last Call, and bonus weeks.
These offers often involve accommodations available outside the normal exchange process.
For example, instead of depositing your timeshare week to obtain another vacation, you may be able to purchase an additional resort stay through an eligible member promotion.
In my book, I discussed offers that, at the time, included resort accommodations for as little as a few hundred dollars per week.
Those are historical examples, not promises of current prices or availability.
Some resorts participate in discounted vacation promotions because they have accommodations available during particular periods. Others use promotional stays to attract prospective customers who may be invited to attend a sales presentation.
Either way, the opportunity may be worth investigating.
Here’s What I Recommend
Before purchasing a discounted vacation week, compare the complete price against ordinary hotel and vacation rental rates.
Look at resort charges, taxes, occupancy limits, cancellation restrictions, and any conditions requiring attendance at a sales presentation.
A bargain is only a bargain when the total cost makes financial sense.
But if you’re flexible about destinations and dates, these programs may provide additional opportunities to travel without purchasing another timeshare.
6. How to Calculate the True Cost of Your Vacation
When I wrote Everything About Timeshares, I wanted owners to understand that the original purchase price isn’t the only expense they should consider.
Your annual maintenance fees, exchange membership dues, exchange transaction charges, and other expenses affect the actual cost of using your timeshare.
Let’s use an example.
Suppose you own a one-bedroom timeshare and pay $1,000 annually in maintenance fees.
If you use your home resort for seven nights and incur no additional accommodation charges, the maintenance-fee portion of your lodging cost is approximately $143 per night.
Depending on the quality, size, and location of your accommodations, that could compare favorably with booking a hotel.
Now suppose you decide to exchange your week for another resort.
Your expenses might look like this:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual maintenance fee | $1,000 |
| Exchange company membership | $150 |
| Exchange transaction fee | $250 |
| Total | $1,400 |
Your accommodation cost for seven nights would then be approximately $200 per night, before other travel expenses and any additional resort charges.
Would that represent a good value?
That depends on the accommodations.
If you’re staying in a spacious two-bedroom condominium at a popular resort where comparable public reservations are much more expensive, the exchange may be worthwhile.
However, if comparable accommodations are available for $150 per night, the financial advantage becomes questionable.
Your original purchase price and any financing costs also belong in an assessment of the overall value you’ve received from timeshare ownership.
For deciding whether to keep an existing membership, though, focus particularly on future expenses and what comparable vacations would cost without it.
The objective isn’t simply to take more vacations. It’s to receive reasonable value for the money you’re already spending.
7. Consider Traveling During the Off-Season or Shoulder Season
One of the simplest ways to improve your reservation opportunities is to travel outside the busiest periods.
Peak travel seasons vary by destination, but school holidays, major festivals, Christmas, New Year’s, and popular summer periods frequently attract significant demand.
When everyone wants to visit the same place at the same time, availability becomes more difficult.
That’s true whether you’re using a timeshare exchange or making an ordinary hotel reservation.
However, traveling a few weeks before or after the busiest season can sometimes provide opportunities that weren’t previously available.
You may also enjoy smaller crowds, lower airfare, and more comfortable sightseeing conditions.
For example, a European resort may have greater accommodation availability outside the busiest summer holiday weeks.
A beach destination may offer attractive opportunities during a shoulder season, although weather conditions should always be considered.
This strategy is particularly useful for retirees, self-employed travelers, and families with flexible vacation schedules.
If your dates are fixed, you’ll need to plan further ahead and investigate the reservation rules that apply to your particular membership.
8. Don’t Overlook Destinations Close to Home
A wonderful vacation doesn’t always require an international flight.
Some timeshare owners spend so much time thinking about distant destinations that they overlook attractive resorts within driving distance.
Depending on where you live, you might have access to mountain resorts, beachfront properties, lakeside communities, or popular vacation destinations just a few hours away.
These locations may offer opportunities to enjoy your membership without spending thousands of dollars on airfare.
This can be especially attractive for families.
Instead of flying four people across the country, you may be able to drive to a resort, enjoy a spacious condominium, prepare some meals in your accommodations, and spend more money on activities.
In Chapter 13 of my book, I encourage owners to consider the many interesting destinations available closer to home.
You don’t need to cross an ocean every time you want to enjoy your vacation ownership.
9. Extend Your Vacation With an Additional Week
Here’s another strategy I’ve always liked.
If you’re already traveling to a destination and paying for airfare, why not investigate whether you can stay longer?
Suppose you exchange into a resort in Spain for seven nights.
If you have the time and budget, you could investigate additional discounted resort accommodations in the same region.
Rather than returning home after one week, you might spend another week exploring nearby destinations.
You would still have accommodation expenses, but you wouldn’t necessarily need another round-trip international flight to enjoy that second week.
Some owners use bonus weeks or discounted getaway programs for this purpose.
Others combine a timeshare exchange with a hotel reservation or vacation rental.
The important thing is to compare the total cost.
A longer vacation isn’t automatically cheaper, but extending a trip can sometimes produce better overall value from the transportation expense you’ve already incurred.
10. Invite Family and Friends to Share Vacation Expenses
One of the attractive features of many timeshare accommodations is that they’re larger than ordinary hotel rooms.
A two-bedroom condominium may include separate bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and enough space for several guests.
If your resort permits it, inviting family members or friends to vacation with you can make a trip more enjoyable and help distribute expenses.
For example, you might provide the accommodations while your relatives contribute toward transportation, groceries, or other shared vacation costs.
In my book, I suggested that families could sometimes arrange for guests to contribute toward expenses associated with the vacation.
This can be particularly helpful when maintenance fees are already being paid regardless of whether you use the full capacity of your accommodation.
Of course, guest privileges and occupancy limits vary.
Some programs require guest certificates, and certain membership arrangements limit who may use the accommodations.
Review your resort rules before making arrangements.
The point is to use the space you’ve already paid for rather than leaving valuable accommodation capacity unused.
11. Can You Rent Your Timeshare When You’re Not Using It?
Renting out an unused timeshare can be an option for some owners, particularly those with deeded weeks at desirable destinations.
During my career, I met owners who held multiple timeshares and occasionally rented unused accommodations to help cover annual expenses.
Some were preparing for retirement and planned to use their memberships more frequently once they had greater freedom to travel.
Others simply couldn’t use all their weeks every year.
However, renting a timeshare isn’t necessarily a profitable business.
Let’s say your annual maintenance fee is $1,200 and you rent your week for $1,300.
After paying advertising fees, rental commissions, or other charges, you may recover little more than your annual maintenance expense.
That might still be worthwhile if your alternative is letting the week go unused.
But it doesn’t mean you’ve recovered your original purchase price.
Before You Advertise Your Timeshare
Check whether your ownership agreement allows rentals.
Some resorts permit owners to rent to third parties, while others restrict rentals, require guest certificates, or impose other conditions.
You should also consider the possibility of cancellation by the renter, property damage, booking changes, or unexpected fees.
If you’re using a rental platform, review its current commission structure, cancellation policies, payment procedures, and eligibility requirements.
Never assume that because you own a timeshare, you automatically have unrestricted rights to rent it.
12. Where Can Timeshare Owners Explore Rental Opportunities?
Several established marketplaces and owner communities have offered ways to advertise vacation ownership accommodations.
These include RedWeek, the Timeshare Users Group (TUG), and specialized rental platforms such as KOALA.
The services differ in how they handle listings, reservations, payments, commissions, and verification.
Some focus on connecting owners with travelers. Others offer additional booking or transaction support.
Before choosing a platform, confirm that it accepts your particular ownership or membership arrangement and that rentals are permitted under your resort rules.
You should also compare current fees and understand what happens if a reservation is canceled.
I’ve always been cautious about paying substantial upfront advertising charges without knowing whether a company can realistically attract renters.
A listing is not a guarantee that your timeshare will rent.
The best rental strategy begins with a desirable property, realistic pricing, accurate descriptions, and clear reservation terms.
13. Compare Your Member Rates With Public Hotel Rates
Here’s something that particularly concerns me about certain vacation club memberships.
Some consumers pay thousands of dollars for memberships after being told they’ll receive substantial discounts at luxury resorts.
However, they later discover that the general public can sometimes book the same accommodations for less.
This is particularly important for owners of vacation club memberships associated with all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean.
During my career, I worked with travel club arrangements where the company selling the membership didn’t own the resort property.
Members purchased access to accommodations or special booking arrangements, often at hotels operated by other companies.
But membership doesn’t automatically guarantee the lowest available rate.
Public hotel rates change with demand, promotions, seasonality, and package offers.
Here’s My Advice
Before booking through your vacation club, check the public rate for the same resort, dates, room category, occupancy, and included services.
Make sure the comparison includes all-inclusive charges, taxes, resort fees, and other mandatory expenses.
If the public rate is lower, determine whether your membership provides additional benefits that justify the difference.
If you’re consistently paying more as a member than you would as an ordinary traveler, it’s time to examine the actual financial value of your agreement.
A membership that was sold on the promise of discounted vacations should be evaluated using real prices, not promotional claims.
14. Be Careful About Purchasing More Points or Upgrading
One of the techniques I encountered during my timeshare career involved offering existing owners opportunities to purchase additional points or upgrade their memberships.
Owners who complained about limited reservations might be told that purchasing more points would solve their problems.
Others were offered access to additional resorts, higher membership levels, or supposed priority benefits.
Sometimes an upgrade genuinely provides benefits that an owner values.
However, purchasing more points doesn’t necessarily guarantee availability at the property or during the dates you want.
Before paying for an upgrade, request written confirmation of the specific benefits you’ll receive.
Determine whether reservation priority changes, which fees will increase, and whether the additional points provide measurable advantages.
Then compare the upgrade price with the cost of simply booking the vacations you want through ordinary travel companies.
Don’t spend another $10,000 or $20,000 simply because a salesperson tells you that your existing membership is inadequate.
If you already feel disappointed by your timeshare, purchasing more of the same product may not solve the underlying problem.
15. How to Decide Whether Your Timeshare Is Worth Keeping
Throughout my career, I’ve encountered owners who were determined to cancel their timeshares even though they hadn’t used them for years.
Sometimes the membership had become too expensive. Other times, they simply didn’t understand their available benefits.
Before deciding to cancel, I encourage owners to conduct a practical evaluation.
Review the total annual cost, including maintenance fees and other membership expenses.
Determine whether you can obtain reservations at destinations you genuinely want to visit.
Investigate exchange programs, bonus weeks, guest privileges, and other benefits you may not have used.
Then compare those opportunities with the cost of booking comparable vacations independently.
If you’re paying $1,000 annually for accommodations that would otherwise cost $2,500 and you enjoy using them, keeping your membership may be reasonable.
But if you’re paying $2,000 annually for benefits you rarely use or can purchase for less elsewhere, the financial picture changes.
Don’t continue paying simply because you’ve already invested thousands of dollars.
The money you originally spent is gone regardless of whether you keep the membership.
Your decision should focus on what you’re likely to pay and receive in the future.
16. When Getting More Value Is No Longer the Answer
I want to be clear about something.
Not every timeshare can be made worthwhile through better planning.
Some memberships have excessive fees, unreasonable booking limitations, or contractual restrictions that make them unsuitable for the owner’s circumstances.
Others may no longer be affordable because of retirement, reduced income, health issues, or changing family priorities.
If that’s your situation, you shouldn’t feel obligated to continue paying for vacation benefits you no longer want.
Instead, investigate your options.
Depending on your membership, you may be able to sell or transfer a deeded interest, request a voluntary surrender, negotiate a release, or pursue another appropriate cancellation process.
The available solutions depend on what you own, your contract, any outstanding financing, and applicable law.
Understanding your membership is the first step toward identifying those options.
Final Thoughts: Make Your Timeshare Work for You, Not the Other Way Around
After 15 years working in the timeshare industry, I’ve learned that there are two very different groups of owners.
One group enjoys their memberships, takes vacations regularly, and receives reasonable value from their annual expenses.
The other group feels trapped by a financial obligation that no longer provides the vacations they expected.
Sometimes the difference is the membership itself. Other times, it’s knowing how to use the benefits available.
In my book, Everything About Timeshares, I encourage owners to explore their possibilities before automatically deciding that their memberships are worthless.
That advice remains important.
If you enjoy traveling and your timeshare offers genuine value, consider making better use of what you’ve purchased.
Explore destinations beyond your original plans. Investigate exchange opportunities, discounted vacation weeks, and flexible travel periods. Take family and friends along when your accommodations permit.
But always calculate the true costs.
And if your membership no longer makes financial or practical sense, recognize that keeping it isn’t your only possible option.
A timeshare should help you enjoy your vacations. Your vacations shouldn’t become an excuse to keep paying for a timeshare that no longer works for you.
Continue Learning About Timeshare Ownership
Already Own a Timeshare? — Return to the main ownership guide.
Understanding Your Timeshare Contract: What Do You Actually Own? — Learn the differences between deeded timeshares, points-based programs, right-to-use memberships, and vacation clubs.
Timeshare Maintenance Fees Explained — Understand annual assessments, increasing costs, and the true financial obligations associated with ownership.
Common Timeshare Ownership Problems — Learn why owners encounter reservation difficulties, unexpected fees, and disappointing membership benefits.
About Wayne C. Robinson
Wayne C. Robinson is a former timeshare sales and marketing executive with 15 years of experience in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. He is a U.S. Navy veteran journalist, author, trainer, and consumer educator.
His books include Everything About Timeshares and Cancel Your Timeshare Today.
Through Everything About Timeshares, he shares his industry experience to help consumers understand the benefits, costs, and limitations of timeshare and vacation club ownership.
This article is provided for educational purposes. Membership privileges, exchange availability, rental rights, and financial obligations depend on the applicable contracts and program rules.