Vacation ownership is a great way to save money and time on vacations. Rather than paying thousands of dollars for hotel rooms, you can pay a relatively small maintenance fee and use your timeshare for all your travel needs.
The best way to plan a vacation is to make reservations as far in advance as possible. This includes booking rooms in your home resort and other hotels in the area you wish to visit. Ideally, you’ll book your stay at least a year in advance of your departure date. During peak season, however, these rooms tend to fill up quickly.
There are also special bonus time deals offered by many resorts that can give you additional free weeks to stay at a certain location. These may be a good option for you if you are traveling within your designated period of time or are looking for a last-minute getaway.
Another important factor to consider when planning your vacation is whether or not you will be able to exchange your timeshare for another vacation destination. This is often the key to making the most of your vacation timeshare investment, as it will allow you to trade your points for a vacation that you really want.
Points are a great way to travel because you can easily redeem them for a variety of different trips and destinations, including the most remote places in the world. Using points in this fashion can be an excellent way to get to the most off-the-beaten-path areas of the globe and experience them like the locals do.
If you’re not sure if points are right for you, speak with your sales agent about your preferences and what type of timeshare you own. They will be able to answer any questions you might have and can guide you through the process of converting your fixed week or floating week timeshare to points.
Unlike traditional timeshares, points-based programs are more flexible and allow owners and club members to book their vacations where they want. They often have large inventories of partnered properties around the globe, high hospitality standards, and impeccable on-site amenities.
You’ll also have access to a centralized database of partnering resorts, so you can easily find the perfect location for your next vacation. Depending on the program you belong to, this will include a variety of different resorts from renowned brand names to less-known options, allowing you to maximize your time and money.
For owners who have a limited number of vacation days available to them, exchange programs are the ideal way to expand their vacationing possibilities and explore the world at the same time. These programs typically have thousands of partnered resorts, and owners can deposit their timeshare weeks or points in exchange for other comparable trips.
The flexibility of points-based travel can be overwhelming to new timeshare owners. If you are unsure of how points will fit into your travel plans, talk to your timeshare dealer about your specific preferences and the types of trips you would like to take in the future. It’s also a good idea to ask about the different reservation windows and rules that are in place at your specific resort.