Timeshare travel is a great way to save money and enjoy the benefits of staying at a luxury resort. The accommodations are often superior to hotels and offer money-saving amenities, including in-room kitchens and laundry facilities. Whether you’re traveling with a family or as a solo adventurer, these accommodations make your travel experience more comfortable and cost-effective.
The Association of Resort Distributors & Developers, commonly known as ARDA, represents all aspects of the vacation ownership industry, from resort developers to timeshare owners and the companies that sell and manage them. The group has a mission to promote the interests of resort distributors and developers by providing high-quality research, advocacy, and education.
A timeshare is a deeded real estate property that enables you to own a share of a vacation home in a specific location at a particular time for a set amount of money. When you purchase a timeshare, you can use it at any resort affiliated with the company that owns it.
Purchasing a timeshare can be expensive, but the savings over a lifetime of vacations are often worth it. Besides, the ability to exchange weeks or points at hundreds of other resorts makes traveling even easier and more affordable.
Inflation has risen hotel rates, and that can put a dent in your wallet. Thankfully, there are many ways to avoid this problem by booking your stay ahead of time or using frequent flyer miles. However, if you don’t book your stay early, it can be a gamble that you won’t pay inflated rates on your stay.
If you’re considering buying a timeshare, it may be a good idea to test drive it first. There are many timeshare resorts that allow you to rent a day pass or overnight stay.
You can try a fixed week timeshare for free, or check out a floating week or points-based membership to see which is the best fit for you. This will give you a feel for the different options available and help you determine what kind of benefits you’d get from owning one.
The fixed week option offers a more predictable vacation plan for people that like to plan out their annual trips. It also provides a routine that helps prevent lapses in planning.
Floating week timeshares are also becoming more popular among travelers, and allow them to choose their desired vacation dates. While this can be convenient, it can also be a bit of a hassle because the popular weeks at your chosen resort may be booked up fairly quickly.
Points-based timeshares are also becoming more common and provide owners with more flexibility. These systems allow you to redeem vacations at any of the thousands of hotels and resorts that belong to the network.
This allows you to spend less on your vacation and save money for other things, like meals or entertainment. Ultimately, this can make your vacation more enjoyable and memorable for you and your family.
As the vacation business continues to rebound, the three largest timeshare companies are expected to see a boost in revenue. Wyndham Destinations (WYND), Marriott Vacations Worldwide (MAR) and Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) are expected to report strong second quarter results this week, with consolidated sales up more than 5% from last year’s period, according to an analyst estimate. In addition, these companies’ credit quality and liquidity remain strong.