A time share is a name given to a piece of property shared among number of owners. This involves use and cost of maintaining the property. Although the majority of the timeshare properties are condominiums resorts but it will not be a surprise if you find a hotel timeshare or a motor home timeshare or a cruise timeshare or a campground. The choices are increasing by the day. The idea of a timeshare property originated in Europe in 1960s when the property rates were skyrocketing and it was impossible for people to afford a full time vacation house. But by sharing the ownership the burden of maintenance and other costs on single person were greatly reduced. These also boosted the fortune of real estate developers as they were able to successfully market and sell the properties to a greater number of people. But a key point to remember in timeshare properties is that a timeshare is owned by a number of people who have no relation to one another like a standard home ownership.

A technical definition of timeshare property is that an owner has specific time to share you own in a property. But as more and more properties are being converted into timeshare, flexible timeshare options cannot be ruled out. The flexible timeshare offers owners the option of choosing more than one timeshare destination and also more than one specific time of a year.

Timeshare properties are usually found in warm destinations like Florida where people like to vacation a lot. They can also be found in cold weather areas near ski resorts. The timeshare properties are typically furnished in full and usually have one to three bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room. It may not come as a surprise if you find timeshare properties with indoor or outdoor pools. They have become a common feature of most timeshare properties nowadays.

The typical duration of a timeshare ownership unit is one week. Depending on what time of the year you own the timeshare the price may vary. For example, a timeshare property in the month of April in Florida will be much higher than in August. So the rates may vary with varying season and demand. Some resorts give color coding to different seasons depending on the demand. For example some resorts term high demand season as red season meaning the prices of the timeshare will be highest in that season.

Timeshares can usually be inherited to your children like any other real estate property. Timeshare offers not only a great vacation but also great investment. Most people rent their timeshare to others when they do not use their timeshare. This has a double advantage. You earn rent also along with appreciation of the property with passage of time. Timeshare properties are exchangeable and tradable with other properties in most of the cases. While it may be easy for the owners of the red season timeshares to exchange their unit with other owners in any season it might be impossible for owners of low season timeshare owners to get a high season timeshare unit in exchange.

Timeshares can be purchased through financing also but mostly the resale properties purchased from individuals are paid in cash. The cost of maintenance, management and cost to maintain common areas like pools and tennis courts are paid by timeshare owners. Fees may vary and always make sure to find it out before buying a timeshare.

There are many types of timeshare properties. A fixed unit, fixed week, deeded timeshare allows you to own a specific timeshare at a specific time each year. A floating time agreement allows you to be flexible about the dates that you can use your timeshare. But reservations may be only first come first serve as many owners would like to go for that option. Right to use timeshare is a leased timeshare. You no longer have rights to the property after the lease expires.

Everyone would think that top timeshare travel destinations would only be in coastal states like Florida, North Carolina, Cancun (Mexico) and South Carolina. But you would be amazed to find that even places like Nevada, California and Minnesota are vying to occupy the top timeshare destination spot. Also the rocky mountain states of Arizona and Utah are also not far behind. Each of these destinations has some special traits which attract visitors from all over the world. Not to forget the kind of amenities these destinations offer which makes them a crowd puller.
Talking of Florida, one destination that immediately strikes everyone’s mind is Orlando. It is considered to be the most favorite family destination in the world. Home to some of the world’s largest and most popular entertainment companies it has number of wonderful theme parks to surpass the expectations of families across the globe. The unlimited and impressive list includes Disney World Resort, Universal Studio’s Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World Orlando and Islands of Adventure. Millions of tourists around the world are overwhelmed by the joy and excitement offered by these resorts. Daytona Beach is also one of the world’s most famous beaches with nearly twenty three miles of beach front. It offers visitors a chance to experience sailing, surfing and jet skiing. Many competitions take place round the year here.
When thinking of vacationing who can forget Cancun, Mexico which is know for its white sandy beaches, great weather, bright blue sky and outstanding hospitality. One can get attractive timeshare packages and vacation discounts here.
Next on the list is Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. This destination is popular for its mild climate round the year. It offers excellent golf courses and cruises with the experience of watching dolphins. One of the main attractions of Cancun is the swim with dolphins feature and interactive aquariums. It is also home to many world class resorts. It also offers best of night life with many bars serving free drinks also. Nearly four million visitors pay visit to Cancun every year.
One can never ignore California when it comes to tourism industry. While Anaheim is home to Disneyland providing greatest excitement and pleasure and offering great discount on timeshare accommodations one cannot return without visiting San Francisco and experiencing its magic. The list of attractions include Fisherman’s Wharf ,Ghirardelli Square, Coit Tower, the mansions of Pacific Heights, world’s biggest Chinatown outside Asia, Union Square, world renowned landmarks like crooked Lombard Street. Night life is one of the greatest. One can go hiking also in Muir Woods and taste world’s greatest wines. Cable rides, Pedi-cabs, Pier 39 etc. there is fun unlimited in San Francisco offering you the complete experience of your lifetime.
Las Vegas, Nevada is not far behind any other timeshare destination as it offers visitors the 360 degree of entertainment. It is second to none in providing the ultimate in fun and excitement. It is the casino capital of the world and wouldn’t be wrong to call it the night capital of the world. Whatever one can think of, Las Vegas has it and that too the greatest of them all, big hotels, big casinos, big convention halls, big malls and what not. You only some good cash in your wallet if you visit this place and rest assured you will get the fun of your lifetime.

Many people simply buy timeshares thinking that they would be able to take out some time from their busy schedule and go for vacation. But many end up not using their timeshares at all. So they start considering selling their timeshares. But if you think selling a timeshare is as easy as any other real estate property then you are completely wrong. Selling a timeshare is real pain in the neck taking several months to sell. Even when it finally sells, it sells at 40%-50% less than the original price. You might think is it really worth selling your timeshare or is there a better alternative to selling it. The answer is yes, there are alternatives to selling your timeshare. We discuss those in detail in the paragraphs to follow.

One of the best alternatives to selling a timeshare is to rent your timeshare instead. You can either work this out with your timeshare developer if he can do it. The developers usually have special classifieds for timeshare, it would be a good idea to put an advertisement in those classifieds as they target people interested in timeshares. You can also search for a real estate agency specializing in renting timeshares or vacation homes. Most popular travel destinations have agencies that specialize in this. But remember there can be a fee if you choose to rent your timeshare through a real estate agency. You can also sell your timeshares by yourself by either advertising directly in classifieds or telling your friends, neighbors, family members and colleagues to see if anyone is interested in buying a timeshare. If not, internet is the best place to find out where you can put your timeshare for rent. There are many popular auction sites like eBay which has timeshare rental section on their auction website.

Another alternative to selling your timeshare is timeshare exchange. Timeshare exchange is getting popular with many people facing problems with fixed schedule. And also many people get bored of going to the same place over and over again and they want a change. Timeshare exchange enables them to exchange their timeshare unit with similar unit at other timeshare location and at different time. Most timeshare companies have this facility and offer free exchange in the first year and charge a free from there on. But you can also go directly to a good exchange company and place your unit for exchange. But you have to remember that you can trade in only similar units only. You can’t trade in a one bedroom for a two bedroom. Also you cannot rent the exchanged timeshare to somebody else. You may also be charged a fee for this service and you will get a timeshare in exchange depending on availability.

Last but not the least, instead of selling your timeshares why not donate your timeshares to a charity if you don’t want to for through the hassle of selling, paying huge upfront fee and much more. The donation is just like how you donate your cars, boats or stocks. Donating your timeshares to charity is tax deductible. But be sure to donate it to a right charity organization who can utilize its full potential. You can compare this with any losses you may incur if you sell your timeshare, donating a timeshare could bring you a handsome tax deduction.

Have you ever attended a timeshare presentation? I wish you would never attend one. It is traumatic experience sitting through a timeshare presentation. Compare it to buying a used car from a dealer; this is even more frustrating experience as more money is at stake here. What is a timeshare presentation? It is nothing but a sales pitch by the timeshare companies to force people into buying their timeshares. It begins with an invitation offering you an expensive free gift in return of attending the presentation. Now you go to the presentation thinking that there is no harm in attending and you get a free gift also in return, but you realize that you have made the biggest mistake of life only when you sit through the painful presentation.
The expensive gift turns out to be a gimmick and you are subjected to sheer pressure tactics of selling. The presentation usually last for ninety minutes and may go on and on in some cases. After the presentation, the salesperson will encircle you and will ask you if you have any questions. They go to the extent of literally pressurizing you. They want you to either make a commitment or sign a paper before leaving the presentation. When you say constant no to him, the manager will approach and offer you a good deal. Sometimes it becomes very hard to resist the temptation after being offered such great deals. But you have to go mentally prepared to say no to them at any cost. Tell them clearly that you have already spent your precious time and can’t spare your time further. Say that you have an appointment with somebody and you have to leave immediately. And do not forget to take your gift before leaving the presentation after all that was the reason why you attended the presentation.
The salesperson and the managers would do their best to convince you to sign some papers by offering many offers, but you should stick to your resolution to not to fall into the trap by constantly saying into your mind that “no, I can’t afford to buy a timeshare” and “will I be able to make payments every month”. Politely say “no” to any offers however attractive it may look. Also say them that you need time to decide, take their contact number or fax number and tell that you will notify them about your decision. Also tell them that you would not tolerate any courtesy calls or emails.
You can also tell them that you already have a friends or family members in that timeshare location and you don’t need to buy a timeshare. Also another reason you can give them to escape is that you just came to the presentation for the free gift or you can also say that you just wanted to educate yourself about timeshares and it is too early to make a decision about buying a timeshare. You can also say that you are not one of the frequent vacationers and would be able to vacation year after year and even if you go for a vacation you don’t like to go to the same location every year. Also say that you are not in the financial position to invest in anything now or in near future. Thus we have seen it all depends on our mental setup to sit through a presentation and still survive it.

Many people buy timeshares after a lot of research and analysis. But same is not true with some people who simply buy timeshares hearing the buzz surrounding it with poor perception and ignorance about timeshares. Buying a timeshare is a huge investment and thus should be dealt with utmost importance. Before buying a timeshare you have to first question yourself whether is it really for you? How often do you go for vacation? Is that place right for you to go year after year? Do you want to buy a timeshare just for vacation purpose or you are buying it as an investment?
Even if you decide to buy a timeshare property you should start your research at least nine months before you buy a timeshare. But let us weigh in various factors to know whether timeshare is really for you or not. A vacation home might be a minor financial investment for few rich and wealthy but to many middle class people it is possible only in dreams. Middle class people badly needed an alternative to this costly investment. The search for an alternative resulted in the discovery of timeshare in Europe in 1970’s. This was a welcome relief to many people who could not afford to buy an expensive vacation home. This concept gained huge popularity with every passing year and today over two million Americans own timeshare properties which is a big number.
A timeshare is nothing but a real estate property split into many ownerships. The cost is shared among the owners. Timeshares are basically classified into two types of plans, deeded and non-deeded. In a deeded plan the owner buys the timeshare unit and the unit for 30-40 years. It can again be classified into fixed use and flexible use. A fixed use allows only a specific time and specific number of years where as a flexible use timeshare allows you to choose vacation at any time of the year but only on first come first serve basis as many people would like to go for that option. The other types of plan called non-deeded plan is also called right to use plan which is like a lease, you have the same facilities but only for specific period and you lose all the rights after the lease expires.
Having understood what a timeshare is and different types it is also important to dig into the facts of timeshare. Timeshares are usually common in a tourist place. The cost depends on the location and season of the year. Apart from cost of timeshare you have to pay the maintenance and various other fees also. This also may vary depending on the location. But one good thing about timeshare is that you don’t have to worry about the upkeep and maintenance of your timeshare unit. But you have to think is it really worth to pay hundreds of dollars every year in addition to the thousands you have already paid to buy the timeshare and that too to spend only one or two weeks in a year. This may be reasonable only if the maintenance fee is low which is generally not.
But if you see the other side of the coin, in long term a timeshare will be cheaper than a hotel or vacation home. If you add up the cost of hotel for thirty years and compare it with timeshare it will be way higher. But then again, if you decide to go to a different vacation spot every year hotel may be ideal for you. Although timeshare offer exchange of properties with other owners across the states and countries it may not be that easy to do it. Also one should compare the other alternatives to a timeshare available in that place. In some seasons timeshares could really be expensive due to their close proximity to beach fronts etc. So a quick market survey to find cheap alternative should never be ruled out.

Although the concept of timeshares is not new to the public still people have many questions about timeshares. Few of the most important frequently asked questions that people enquire about are discussed as follows:

Is renting a timeshare better than buying it?

Buying a timeshare gives you much bigger choices. As an owner of the timeshare you get the amenities are better and cost much less. Owners can get discounts on lodging, entertainment, food, travel and many other resort facilities. The average rental fee is way higher than the average maintenance fee and is also increasing every year. In addition to all the above benefits a timeshare owner has equity in the property which can come to the advantage of the owner when he wants to sell it.

Is buying a timeshare good investment?

Many people get this question in their minds whether to buy timeshares as an investment. The answer can be disappointing to you because it has been seen that the value of the timeshare depreciates with time and they can go do as much as 30%-50% depending on the location and season. A timeshare should be thought as an investment in life, for guaranteed vacations and better facilities. Also if you compare the cost of owning a timeshare with a hotel in long term period, a timeshare would save you a lot of money.

Can you rent your timeshare to somebody else?

Sure you can as long as you are the legal owner of that timeshare meaning you cannot rent out a timeshare that is received in exchange.

What is the procedure of making an exchange?

Most timeshare companies have business network with timeshare companies and you are automatically enrolled into exchange program and also the fee for the first year is paid by the timeshare developer in most cases. You can also go to the timeshare exchange company and put your timeshare for exchange. But keep in mind few things like you will get similar kind of unit meaning you can’t expect to get a two bedroom timeshare in exchange of a one bedroom. Also plan in advance if you plan to exchange timeshare as it may take a while depending on the availability. Also remember there is a fee for exchanging timeshares.

What are fixed week and floating week?

In a fixed week plan you are entitled to use your timeshare only at a specific week each year and specific unit. But in a floating week you have the option of choosing a range of week but only on first come first serve basis as many owners would like to do the same thing. The advantage of a fixed week is that your timeshare week is assured and also the unit you want. While floating week is advantageous to people who have schedule conflicts with fixed unit timeshare.

Are there any other additional fees when you buy a timeshare?

The answer is yes. Typically there is a maintenance fee and other fee like transfer fee if you are transferring a timeshare. There may be property tax also.

Should I have to pay any upfront fee while buying/selling a timeshare through a broker?

The answer is strict no. Experts say never every pay an upfront fee to buy or sell or rent timeshare. Like any other industry timeshare industry is also prone to many scammers and frauds. There have been instances where people paid huge upfront fee and they got nothing in return.

Timeshare exchange is one of the primary reasons of buying a timeshare for many people because this gives them the flexibility of exchanging their timeshares with other owners principally to visit a different tourist destination each year. Earlier timeshares were not exchangeable. Slowly and steadily things started changing. With the advent of technology and better management tools available today more and more timeshares have the inbuilt feature of timeshare exchange. Though not all timeshares may be exchangeable, it is better to enquire this before buying a timeshare. Most timeshare developers have tie-ups with timeshare exchange companies, so when you buy a timeshare you are automatically enrolled into timeshare exchange program. The fee for the first year is usually free but you may have to pay the fee from the second year.
A timeshare exchange gives the owner freedom to vacation at any time of the year unlike only at a specific time. Also it gives the freedom from going to the same unit every year. The way it works is the owner trades his/her unit with owners of different timeshare and different resort. But most of the times there is a requirement that the units should be similar means you can’t trade one bedroom with a two bedroom unit and vice-versa.
A timeshare can not only avail the exchange service through the timeshare developer but can also go directly to a timeshare exchange company. But care should be taken to select a right exchange broker. Do your homework first by researching well about the background of the broker. The timeshare industry is not fully protected against non-scrupulous acts by scammers and frauds. Do not pay huge fees or sign any document unless making sure you are doing the right thing.
A timeshare exchange member usually deposits his/her timeshare unit into the inventory of the timeshare company’s available weeks. It is not a simple transaction. If the week requested by an owner is in the inventory and the week offered by the owner is a good exchangeable week then the exchange takes place. It does not mean that the owner has to wait until the time the exchange company finds an exchange offer for your timeshare. They already decide it after reviewing the timeshare like what season timeshare it is? What location? Those who have timeshares in peak season have more chances of finding a timeshare and they can request exchange both in peak time and off peak time periods. The owners who have off peak timeshares usually get off timeshares, their chances of getting a peak season timeshare are almost zero. But this may vary from resort to resort. Some resorts may be busy all round the year. The owners in these kinds of resorts generally have no problems exchanging timeshares.
If a person cannot find an exchange the exchange company puts you in the waiting list and contacts you whenever an exchange is available and gives you the exchange unit. The owner can also chose in the beginning of the exchange request whether to approve the exchange confirmation at the approval of the owner at least a week before the confirmation or to go ahead and confirm the exchange without the approval. Again keep in mind good planning is necessary to initiate an exchange. If you decide to exchange a timeshare in the last minute, it may not be possible.

Some people have a misconception that timeshare sales are not subjected to income tax. But in reality timeshares sales are subjected to income tax. It is treated similar to any other kind of real estate property. As a timeshare property is a capital asset so when you sell a timeshare and make profit on it, it is considered as a capital gain. But you have to own the property for more than one year for it to be eligible for income tax. You can include all the costs associated with buying a timeshare like closing costs you had to pay when buying your timeshare, the annual maintenance fee for all the years that you owned the property and special assessments if any.

But Like any other real estate property if you sell your timeshare and if you incur loss which is called capital loss, you many not be able to deduct the losses in your tax returns. But situation might differ if you regularly rent the unit; any loss on sale would be termed as allowable business loss and would thus be deductible as an allowable ordinary loss in tax returns. Loss on sale would not be allowed by IRS if the unit had been converted back to personal use before selling.

There are no other deductibles allowed against timeshares. The exception is the property tax only if it is billed separately. They are also deductible if the resort differentiates it as a different item on your maintenance fee bill. You may also be able to deduct the interest on a timeshare loan, but, only if the loan is taken as a mortgage and there should be no other deductible mortgages except your primary home mortgage. But sad thing is not all timeshare loans qualify as mortgage loans as they are primarily termed as consumer loans. Also you have to keep in mind that you cannot deduct interest on multiple timeshare loans at a time if you also have a primary home mortgage. But you might be able to deduct interests on multiple timeshares if they are at same resort, as they can be viewed as one timeshare.
The timeshares can also be used for donating to a charity. But there are some restrictions. If you want to donate a deeded timeshare, the allowable deduction is normally equal to the fair market value of the timeshare on the date of donation. If the fair market value exceeds five thousand dollars you will have to get a written appraisal that should meet IRS guidelines. In case of non-deeded and right to use timeshares which are considered as tangible assets, additional rules apply. The fair market value of the timeshare must be reduced by the amount equal to any gain that would have been made had the property been sold by the owner.
When it comes to renting your timeshare you can claim deductions on all expenses including depreciation cost, cost of advertising, rental commissions and maintenance fees. Certain kind of special assessments may be deductible like repairs and unexpected expenses. Expenses like remodeling may not be deductible, so are the travel expenses

Also one has to remember that vacation home rules apply if you use it for at least fifteen days each year for personal use. The timeshares can also qualify however you should use it at least 15 days.

Although it is not the best of the ideas to rent a timeshare but in some cases it works out to be more economical than other options. Timeshare rentals were not so easy to find earlier as the owners of timeshares don’t make any profit when they rent out their timeshare units and also very less people had timeshares. Over the past few years the popularity of timeshares has grown tremendously and there are many big names entering into the business now. There are over two millions American who have timeshares. The timeshare rentals are available because some owners have no other option but to rent out their units as they couldn’t use it due to their hectic schedules. The timeshares can be rented through timeshare resorts who rent the units on behalf of their owners. Timeshare units can also be rented through brokers dealing with timeshare rentals and sales. But always be careful while approaching the brokers because the timeshare industry has witnessed many frauds and scams due to some unscrupulous brokers. Make sure the broker is a licensed broker and reputable also. One can also rent timeshares on auction sites like eBay in travel section and also bidshares.com… which is timeshare exclusive website.
But how will the timeshare rentals work out. Let us do some math. If you rent a hotel or a room in a resort the rent per night typically costs around $200 per night. Which means it is around $1,400 for a week’s vacation and if you have more people and if you need another room it will end up totaling $2,800. Compare this to a timeshare rental which may cost $150 per night. The total would be $1,050 only for 2-3 bedroom units. The benefits you get are immense. A timeshare unit gives you more room compared to a hotel suite and is better furnished. Typical timeshare units have two to three bedrooms, one to two bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a laundry room and indoor or outdoor pool. Most of the timeshares are strategically located to the attractions. And they are located in some of the finest vacation resorts of the world. Timeshare resorts provide more amenities and conveniences compared to hotels. The timeshare resort also offer discounts on air travel, rental cars and tickets to many attractions. The resorts have many facilities like golf club, tennis courts, athletics, marinas and many more recreational activities. You can invite all your friends and family to the unit and have a gathering as well, all in the comfort of a luxurious unit.
But few things have to be considered before opting for renting a unit. Try to select the best location if possible like near the pool or other resort facilities. You don’t want to be left out when others are making full use of these amenities, the point is in busy seasons the pools and other facilities are overly crowded, so more near you are to these facilities the better chances you have. And do not hurry in deciding a timeshare unit; nowadays more and more units are being available as many big resorts have ventured into this business. So, shop around and go with the best price. Some timeshare units can be without kitchens, make sure you rent the one with kitchen as it can save you few extra bucks by saving you from eating outside. Also do your home work by researching about the resort from where you are renting the unit. In this age of internet, the resources are easily available which provides you with the reviews of the resort and more information to make you knowledgeable. It’s also a smart idea to rent the timeshare unit near the attractions which will save the cost of renting a car. Idea place would be one which is easily accessible to public transportation. One can also share rental units with other interested parties by dividing the unit into two. Renting a timeshare definitely makes a strong financial sense compared to hotels and motels.

Everything in life has pros and cons. While pros may be important to some and to some cons. It depends on how you evaluate the benefits of buying a timeshare with your lifestyle and financial condition. For some it might be a miniscule portion of their wealth but for some it can be hard earned savings of their life. In either case, a smart person will always look into pros and cons before investing his/her money.

Let us discuss the pros first. To begin with, timeshare properties are more economical compared to buying a piece of real estate property for life and only using it once a year. Compare this you buying a property for lifetime for $200,000 with timeshare which may be only $10,000 plus annual maintenance cost of $500 for the life. If we assume the lifetime period of 30 years the calculation will be as follows:

$10,000+30 years x 500 = $25,000 for the lifetime

Compare it with buying a real estate property for lifetime you will save $175,000. Isn’t that a lot of money? Is it wise to invest that much extra money for once a year use?

Let us compare this with the cost of Hotel. Suppose if you spend $1,200 every year on a hotel, let us consider the cost for 30 years:

$1,200 x 30 years = $36,000 which is still more than $25,000 you pay for timeshare for the lifetime.

Apart from saving money you get the comfort of your home. In a hotel you might get only a suite. But a typical timeshare condo has two or three bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room and even a laundry room. Also timeshare units are usually fully furnished. Most of the timeshare properties have an indoor or outdoor pool also these days. In addition to that you also get resort facilities. What more somebody might want when they get all these facilities and comfort of home?

If you have a timeshare you don’t have to worry about the upkeep and maintenance of the condo. It is taken care of by the developer. Now compare this with buying a real estate property for the life, you have to do all the maintenance.

Not to forget, if you or your spouse is a person who takes vacation lightly, this is for you. If you have a timeshare, you definitely make it a point to go for a vacation at least once a year. You are also saved from the hassles of planning a vacation every year.

Most of the timeshare companies are associated with other timeshare companies. This allows the exchange of timeshare. This is one of the many reasons why people prefer timeshare.

Now talking about the Cons of timeshare, timeshares has become an avenue for many scammers and frauds. The timeshare industry has been plagued with variety of scam and fraud related problems. People are invited to attend a ninety minute presentation completely free and then they are subjected to the techniques of pressurized buying which is unethical in any sense. Do not fall prey to these tricks. Always read the documents carefully specially the fine prints before signing any agreements. Research the timeshare company well and know their reputation.

By paying a huge upfront fee your money is tied up for a long time which means you are losing money’s worth in addition to paying interest if you have taken a loan for the rest of the amount. Also you have to pay regular maintenance cost.

One of the major cons is the appreciation. The timeshares don’t appreciate much. They may be stagnant or even depreciate with time. They are also difficult to resale compared to a real estate property.

And last but not the least; timeshares may not be flexible enough for you to use it every year at a specific time. Although some companies offer flexible timeshares but it is only on first come first serve basis many other timeshare owners might also be planning to do that.