Are Timeshares Worth It? Pros, Cons & Why People Buy

Are timeshares worth it? It depends on how you like to travel! A timeshare is a vacation purchase, not a financial investment, so the answer comes down to your travel preferences and what you’re willing to commit to each year. Below, we’ll walk through why people buy timeshares, the downsides to weigh, what ownership really costs, how to choose the right brand and resort, and how buying resale changes the math, so you can decide for yourself.

A Timeshare Tends to be Worth it if You:

• Take a vacation most years and like planning it around a resort
• Travel with family or a group and want separate bedrooms, a kitchen, and resort amenities
• Are comfortable paying annual maintenance fees for as long as you own
• Choose a brand and resort that fit how you travel, at a price that makes sense for how often you’ll use it

It might not be the best fit if you only travel every few years or are hoping it’ll grow in value. But it’s a great fit if you enjoy consistent, high-quality accommodations, love returning to familiar destinations, and want to lock in future vacations at today’s rates.

What Is a Timeshare?

A timeshare is shared ownership of vacation accommodations, usually a villa or condo at a resort. Instead of buying a whole vacation home, you buy the right to use it for a set amount of time each year, traditionally one week, or an annual allotment of points you can spend across a brand’s resorts. The resort where you own is called your home resort. Want the full background? Read our guide to: What is a Timeshare and How Does it Work.

Timeshare Pros and Cons at a Glance

Pros	Cons
Spacious villas with kitchens and living areas	Annual maintenance fees that generally rise over time
Resort amenities	High upfront cost when buying directly from developer
A vacation built into every year	Not an investment; resale prices are generally below retail
Flexibility through points and vacation exchange	Popular dates and resorts need advance planning
Options to rent it out in years you can’t travel	Selling later takes time and effort
Deeded ownership can often be passed down	Scams exist in the industry, so it is important to do your research when buying or selling

Why Do People Buy Timeshares?

Ever wonder why people buy timeshares? Owners tend to cite the same few reasons, and most of them come down to how they like to vacation.

More Room Than a Hotel

Timeshare units are usually one- to three-bedroom villas with a full kitchen, a living area, and, at many resorts, a washer and dryer. Families and groups love these accommodations because they can stay under one roof instead of spreading across several hotel rooms. Plus, cooking a few meals in can make a week away more affordable.

Resort Amenities

Many timeshare resorts have pools, on-site dining, fitness centers, and kids’ clubs, and some add spas, golf, or water parks. What’s included varies by resort, so always be sure to check the specific property.

A Vacation Built Into Every Year

Owning a week or a yearly points allotment means you can always have a vacation to look forward to. Fixed-week owners return to the same place at the same time, which many families turn into a tradition. Whereas points-based owners enjoy the peace of mind that a vacation is available for them every year.

Flexibility Through Points

Most major brands now use points, which owners can spend across the brand’s resorts on different dates and trip lengths, instead of returning to one place every year. Some programs also let owners bank or borrow points between years.

Options in Years You Can’t Travel

If a year doesn’t work out, you may have the option to bank your points for the following year. Or, owners can rent out their week or points to help cover that year’s fees. Timeshares Only can help you advertise your timeshare for rent.

Something You Can Pass Down

With many deeded timeshares, your name is on a deed, and the ownership continues indefinitely, so you can generally sell it, gift it, or leave it to family. Keep in mind that right-to-use contracts work differently.

Extra Owner Perks

Some timeshare ownerships offer benefits beyond your regular vacation, such as access to additional resort destinations, discounted hotel stays, last-minute vacation deals, guest certificates, and travel-related discounts through exchange companies like RCI. Certain vacation clubs also offer special experiences, events, and partner benefits. Available perks vary by brand and membership type.

Who Buys Timeshares Today?

Timeshare owners may be younger than you’d expect. According to ARDA’s 2026 owners study, younger generations now make up the majority of both current timeshare owners and new buyers, and more than 90% of owners rate their ownership experience positively.

Most owners have one thing in common: they make vacations a priority. Families often buy to guarantee time together each year, and many owners return to the same resort for years.

The Downsides to Weigh

Plenty of owners love their timeshare, but it’s not for everyone. Like all big purchases, you should always make sure you have all the information before you decide. Let’s walk through the trade-offs together so you can feel confident in your choice.

Maintenance fees every year — Each year, owners pay maintenance fees to keep the resort running smoothly. They cover upkeep, staff, and day-to-day operations, whether or not you take a trip that year. Keep in mind that these fees tend to creep up over time.

A high upfront cost when you buy new — Buying directly from a developer is a significant upfront purchase. However, shopping on the resale market can help you save on the initial cost.

It’s not an investment — Timeshares don’t grow in value the way a home can. Resale prices are generally well below what the original owner paid, so it is best to buy a timeshare to enjoy the vacations, not for a financial return.

Popular dates take planning — Points and floating-week owners book against other owners, so peak weeks and popular resorts can fill early. Owners who plan ahead get the most out of their ownership.

Leaving takes planning, too — If your needs change, you can sell or rent out your ownership, but timeshare exit scams are something to look out for. Be wary of anyone who contacts you promising to have a buyer lined up or cancel your contract in exchange for a large upfront fee.

Why Do Timeshares Have a Bad Reputation?

Timeshares sometimes get mixed reviews, and it helps to know why. Here are a few common reasons:

• The old model: many people still picture the same week, same resort, same unit every year. Today, most major brands use points and exchange, which offer far more flexibility.
• High-pressure presentations: long, persistent sales presentations left many travelers wary of the whole industry.
• The “investment” pitch: buyers who were told a timeshare would grow in value were understandably disappointed when it didn’t.
• Scams: fraudulent companies target owners who want out, often with a large upfront fee and promises to cancel a contract or a “buyer” lined up.

A timeshare itself isn’t a scam, but it pays to do your homework. Learn more in Are Timeshares a Scam?, Common Timeshare Resale Scams, and ARDA ROC’s Warning About Third-Party Exit Companies.

Are Timeshares Worth the Money?

Whether a timeshare is worth the money depends on what you’d spend on vacations without it. According to ARDA’s 2026 State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry report, the average timeshare transaction price was $24,740 in 2025, and the average annual maintenance fee was $1,550.

Instead of relying on a sales presentation’s math, run your own:

• What do you spend on lodging for a typical vacation, and how many trips do you take a year?
• What size accommodations do you book? A two-bedroom villa compares to two hotel rooms or a suite, not one room.
• How many years will you realistically use it?
• What are the resort’s maintenance fees, and how have they changed?

If the purchase price spread over the years you’ll use it, plus the annual fees, compares well with what you already spend, ownership probably makes sense for you. Buying resale can also bring down the initial price significantly, which makes the math even more appealing.

Look Closely at Maintenance Fees

Fees vary by resort, unit size, and location. Coastal resorts deal with salt air and storms, and ski resorts with snow and ice, so upkeep costs differ. Ask for a resort’s fee history to understand how it may change over time.

How Buying Resale Changes the Math

Owners who no longer use their timeshare often sell it on the resale market, and resale prices are generally well below developer prices for comparable ownerships. Buying resale also means browsing at your own pace instead of sitting through a sales presentation. You’ll still pay the same annual maintenance fees, and some brands limit which perks transfer to resale buyers, so check what comes with the specific ownership before you make an offer. See how much a timeshare costs and how buying a timeshare resale works.

Financing a Purchase

You don’t have to pay all at once. Third-party lenders, including our partner Vacation Club Loans, offer financing for timeshare purchases, including resales. This can help spread out the cost of your timeshare over time.

Which Type of Timeshare Fits How You Travel?

With a deeded timeshare, you own a share of real property, often in perpetuity, so it can generally be sold, rented, or passed to heirs. A right-to-use contract gives you use of the resort for a set number of years, typically 20 to 99 years, depending on the agreement and developer, after which it ends. Your contract tells you which one you have.

If you like to…	Consider	How it works	Keep in mind
Go back to the same place at the same time every year	Fixed week	A set week at one resort, often the same unit	A popular week is generally easier to rent out
Return to one resort but choose your dates	Floating week	Book any week within a season	Reserve early for peak times
Try different destinations and trip lengths	Points	An annual points allotment to spend across a brand’s resorts	Popular resorts and dates book up fast
Spend several weeks a year at one luxury property	Fractional	A larger share of a property, often several weeks a year	Higher purchase price and fees

Timeshare vs. Vacation Club: What’s the Difference?

You’ll often hear “vacation club” and “timeshare” used interchangeably, and in most cases they describe the same kind of ownership. “Vacation club” usually refers to a brand’s points-based program, where owners can stay across the brand’s collection of resorts instead of returning to one property. Marriott Vacation Club and Holiday Inn Club Vacations are two examples. Read more in Are Vacation Clubs Worth It?

Vacation Exchange: Trade Your Time for New Destinations

If you own a fixed week or want to travel beyond your brand’s resorts, vacation exchange can open up more options. Many resorts are affiliated with an exchange company, most commonly RCI or Interval International. Owners join the exchange their resort is affiliated with, deposit their week or points, and use them to book stays at participating resorts around the world. Membership and exchange fees generally apply, and availability depends on demand, so the more flexible you are, the more you’ll get out of it. Compare the two in Interval International vs. RCI, or learn how points and weeks work in exchange.

Where You Own Can Make a Timeshare Worth It

Two owners can pay similar prices and have completely different experiences, because the brand and resort you buy into matter as much as the decision to buy. A timeshare tends to be worth it when it fits how you travel:

• Location and demand: A resort you’d happily return to, in a place that’s easy to book and easier to rent out in years you can’t go.
• Brand network: How many resorts your points can be used at, including international destinations, and which exchange company the resort is affiliated with.
• Maintenance fees: What the resort charges and how fees have changed over time.
• Resale rules: Some brands limit which perks transfer to resale buyers, so be sure to check what carries over before you make an offer.

Buying an ownership that doesn’t fit your travel style is one of the most common reasons owners decide a timeshare wasn’t worth it.

Popular Vacation Ownership Brands to Explore

Resorts Owners Often Ask About

Timeshare vs. Hotel vs. Vacation Rental

	Timeshare	Hotel	Vacation rental
Space	Multi-bedroom villas with kitchens	Usually one room	Varies by home
Amenities	Resort pools, dining, activities	Varies by hotel	Usually limited to the home
Consistency	Brand standards and a familiar resort	Brand standards	Varies by host
Availability	Your week or points are set aside each year	Book each trip	Book each trip; favorite homes may be taken
Commitment	Purchase plus annual fees	Pay per stay	Pay per stay

A timeshare tends to win for families and groups who travel every year; a hotel or rental may make more sense for occasional or last-minute trips. For a deeper comparison, read Timeshare vs. Hotel: Which is Right for You?

Try Before You Buy: Rent a Timeshare

Still on the fence? Renting a timeshare from an owner is the easiest way to find out if ownership fits you. You’ll stay in the same kind of villa and enjoy the same resort amenities, with no purchase and no annual fees. It’s also a smart way to test a specific resort or brand before you buy there.

Should You Buy a Timeshare? A Quick Checklist

Are any timeshares worth it? They can be, when the ownership matches the buyer. Before you buy, check how many of these describe you:

• I take a vacation most years, and I expect to keep doing so.
• I know which brand or region is the right fit for me.
• I’ve looked at the resort’s maintenance fees and how they’ve changed over time.
• I’ve compared resale prices with developer prices for similar ownerships.
• I’ve checked which perks transfer to a resale buyer for that brand.
• I’ve stayed at the resort or one like it, or I’m willing to rent first.
• I’m buying for the vacations, not to make money.

If most of these sound like you, a timeshare may well be worth it. If not, renting may be the better fit for now.

Already Own a Timeshare You Don’t Use?

If your ownership no longer fits your plans, you have options. You can rent it out for the years you can’t travel, or advertise it for sale. Timeshares Only has helped owners advertise their timeshares for 30+ years, and you set your own asking price. Curious what similar ownerships are advertised for? Learn more with our guides: What Is My Timeshare Worth? and Learn How Selling Works. If you have any questions, give us a call at 1-855-291-6327.

Are Timeshares Worth It? FAQs

Find Out if a Timeshare Is Worth It for You

The best way to decide is to try it. Rent a timeshare from an owner, or browse timeshares for sale at resorts you already love. Questions? Call 1-855-291-6327 or email [email protected].

Related guides: What is a Timeshare? · How Much is a Timeshare? · Timeshare Maintenance Fees · Points vs. Weeks · What is Vacation Exchange?