Timeshare Ownership Cost: What You Really Pay and Who It Really Helps
When you hear timeshare ownership cost, the upfront price of buying a week in a resort each year. Also known as vacation ownership, it sounds like a smart way to lock in holidays without paying full hotel rates every time. But what most people don’t tell you is that the real cost starts after you sign the paper.
The initial price tag—often $10,000 to $30,000—is just the beginning. Every year, you’ll pay maintenance fees, annual charges that cover cleaning, repairs, utilities, and staff. These can jump 5% to 10% yearly, and there’s no cap. In some resorts, they’ve hit over $1,200 a year. Then there are special assessments, unexpected charges for renovations or emergencies. You didn’t agree to pay for a new pool, but if the resort needs one, you’re on the hook. And if you want to use your week during peak season? You’ll likely pay exchange fees, costs to swap your week for a different location or date. Some companies charge $200 just to make a reservation. These aren’t optional. They’re baked into the contract.
Worst of all? Getting out is nearly impossible. Reselling a timeshare is like selling a used car with no buyers—most sit worthless on resale sites. Even if you find someone, you’ll pay listing fees, transfer fees, and sometimes legal costs just to hand it over. And if you stop paying? The resort will sue you. Credit scores take hits. Collections call. There’s no easy escape.
People buy timeshares because they think they’re saving money. But if you only use it once every three years, you’re paying more per night than you would at a decent hotel. And if you ever want to travel somewhere else? You’re locked in. The only ones who profit are the sales reps who get commissions, and the resorts that keep collecting fees from people who regret it.
Below, you’ll find real stories and breakdowns from people who’ve been there—what they paid, what they wish they knew, and how some actually got out. No fluff. No hype. Just the numbers, the traps, and the truth about what timeshare ownership really costs.
