Contemplating making a timeshare purchase? You’ll want to choose a timeshare type that suits your travel preferences. If you’re someone who doesn’t like planning, then timeshare floating weeks may be for you. With a floating week, you can enjoy the luxury of very little planning and the flexibility of a months-long reservation period. But what is a floating week timeshare, and how does it work? We will explain these details and more in the blog below. So, continue reading to see if this type of timeshare ownership is right for you and your vacation style!
Fixed Week Timeshare vs. Floating Week Timeshare
When you hear the word “timeshare,” what typically comes to mind? For many, it’s the fixed-week timeshare model, where owners vacation at the same timeshare resort during the same week number, often in a specific unit, each timeshare calendar year. Though this is the traditional timeshare model, even today, fixed-week owners benefit from luxurious yearly vacations to a top resort destination with little to no planning on their end.
However, timeshare floating weeks are just as popular as fixed-week ownerships, if not more desirable! You see, unlike a fixed-week timeshare, where the owner must vacation during a specific week, the floating week timeshare permits owners to choose which week to visit their home resort within a designated season. Thus, ownership of this type of vacation property offers a bit more flexibility than fixed-week timeshares. Learn more about types of timeshares.
Floating Week Timeshare Definition
Need a clearer picture? You’ll find the straightforward definition of timeshare floating weeks according to ARDA to the right.
What Are Timeshare Seasons?
As mentioned before, the weeks that you can use your floating week are dependent on your timeshare season. There are 52-53 weeks in a timeshare calendar, and timeshare season lengths depend on the resort/developer. But what exactly is a timeshare season? Like typical seasons, timeshare seasons are specific periods that represent portions of the year. The timeshare resort or developer assigns different levels of demand for its units, creating the “seasons.” However, timeshare seasons don’t necessarily follow the calendar seasons.
Each brand distinguishes its seasons by different names. For example, Marriott Vacation Club uses season titles like Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Your floating week timeshare may be available during any one of these seasons. This means you can make reservations during any week within that period of time. Seasons normally identify high-demand weeks (i.e., Platinum) or low-demand weeks (i.e., Bronze). The season of your floating week determines the potential cost and booking priority of your vacation. For example, a Platinum timeshare floating week is likely more expensive and has a higher booking priority than a Gold floating week.
Timeshare seasons are also applicable to other owners with points-based timeshare ownership. In this instance, seasons determine the amount of points needed to book at various resorts within a brand’s collection.
The Pros of Floating Week Timeshares
There’s a lot to love about timeshare floating weeks. For one, you’ll never have to wonder, “How many points do I need to take this vacation?” With a floating week, you can relax knowing your vacation is secured (given you reserve your preferred week on time). Moreover, floating weeks provide more vacation flexibility than the fixed-week model and can accommodate busier, more unpredictable yearly schedules.
Some may argue that the fixed and floating week timeshare options limit your travel opportunities, but this isn’t necessarily true. Many developers allow floating week owners to visit different resort destinations through vacation exchange! Most of the leading timeshare brands are partnered with either RCI or Interval International (II), providing you with the option to trade in your week for a stay at thousands of other resorts around the globe.
The Cons of Timeshare Floating Weeks
On the flip side, there are a few disadvantages to timeshare floating weeks. Depending on the season of your floating week ownership, your vacation may require quite a bit of planning ahead in order to secure a reservation for a particular week. So, while floating weeks offer more freedom for when you travel, you also need to keep in mind that high-demand seasons book up quickly on a first-come, first-served basis, thus requiring more planning.
Similarly, if you find you can’t vacation during your season one year, you may miss out on your annual vacation. However, renting out your timeshare and/or exchanging your vacation in advance can help to troubleshoot this sort of predicament.
How to Buy a Floating Week Timeshare
Although points-based timeshares are arguably the most popular in today’s world, plenty of leading timeshare brands offer floating week vacation ownership, including Disney Vacation Club, Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations, and Wyndham Destinations. These brands are known for their luxurious accommodations, resort-style amenities, and unforgettable vacation destinations around the world. However, the downside to timeshares is that they aren’t cheap.
Luckily, many owners save thousands on their ownership by buying off the secondary market! Timeshares Only’s timeshare resale market features countless timeshare floating weeks available for much less than the retail price. This means you get all the glamour without the high price tag, all with a timeshare resale.
Browse the Timeshares Only resale marketplace today for floating week timeshares for sale. Once you find the ownership of your dreams, make an offer online! Then, one of our timeshare specialists will be in touch soon. Have questions or concerns? Give us a call at 1-800-610-2734 or email us at [email protected].
Try Timeshare Rentals
We get it—owning a timeshare is a serious commitment. If you’re not ready to dive into timeshare ownership just yet, consider renting! Many timeshare owners rent out their timeshare weeks or points for the years they can’t use them. This way, they can use the money to pay their maintenance fees while you receive a fantastic deal! Dip your toes into ownership, and start browsing available rentals at popular resort destinations.
