In the past, timeshare ownership offered two clear advantages: higher standards, and the exclusivity of holidaying in a private members’ club that the general public couldn’t access.
Over time, that landscape has shifted. Many timeshare resorts now rent to non-members and can be booked on mainstream travel sites such as Booking.com.
That raises a straightforward question: is a timeshare still cheaper than a regular holiday once you add up the full costs?
Comparing timeshare vs regular holiday costs over 20 years
Below is a side-by-side comparison of accommodation costs over 20 years in two different situations. Inflation isn’t included, as it affects both approaches.
We’ll compare two fictitious UK couples:
- David and Jayne, who book holidays in the usual way.
- Mary and John, who own a timeshare.
We’ll break the comparison into three cost categories, then calculate who pays more over the 20-year period.
1) Upfront (signup) costs
This part is simple. David and Jayne have no signup fees.
Mary and John, however, pay £15,000 upfront for one Silver Season (low season) week at Marriott's Marbella Beach Club, on a 20-year contract.
There is no guaranteed resale value, and owners often need to instruct a law firm if they want to end a contract early.
Timeshare costs: £15,000
Regular holiday costs: £0
2) Ongoing costs
Next, we’ll look at the cost of staying at Marriott's Marbella Beach Club (MBC).
Mary and John pay annual fees. Over 20 years, we’ll assume they holiday there 10 times and choose other destinations in the remaining 10 years. Their annual maintenance cost is £828.
David and Jayne, by contrast, can book a Silver Season week at the same resort via Booking.com for £746 (for the third week in January). On these assumptions, booking as a non-owner is cheaper per stay.
Timeshare costs: £8,280
Regular holiday costs: £7,460
3) Costs when holidaying elsewhere
Timeshare owners can also use exchange companies to stay at other resorts. As RCI is the biggest exchange company, we’ll use its prices for this comparison.
The cheapest 20-year membership option for Mary and John is £1,004. On top of that, they still pay the MBC fees in the 10 years they holiday elsewhere, totalling £8,280.
They also pay £184 to RCI for each year they exchange, which comes to £1,840 over 10 holidays.
David and Jayne simply pay £746 per week booked, with no exchange membership or exchange fees.
Timeshare costs: £11,124
Regular holiday costs: £7,460
20-year totals
When you total everything up, David and Jayne come out ahead by booking via standard travel sites. Under these assumptions, they pay less than half of what Mary and John pay over the 20-year period.
Mary and John face an upfront outlay, annual maintenance and extra operational costs—while aiming for the same standard of holiday accommodation.
Timeshare total costs: £34,404
Regular holiday costs: £14,920
Conclusion
CEO of ECC
"This is really exactly what we could expect," Andrew Cooper, CEO of European Consumer Claims (ECC), says.
"Timeshare companies sold themselves on exclusivity and high standards, but when they started renting their spare inventory to anyone who was not a member, convincing people to sign up with them became a very tough sell.
"Also, the study doesn't take into account the fees that timeshare owners usually have to pay for specialist legal help to get out of their contract when they no longer want their membership.
"Non-owners also have another advantage: flexibility. In years when they don’t go on holiday (for example, during the pandemic), non-owners aren’t obliged to pay for accommodation they don’t use. Timeshare owners have to pay every year, whatever their circumstances."
An ARDA (timeshare-sponsored) study that is frequently cited claims 85% of timeshare owners are content with what they own. However, an independent study by the University of Central Florida reported the opposite, with 85% of timeshare owners regretting their purchase. With the extra costs and practical downsides of ownership, it’s hard to see how many members feel they’re getting good value.
So why did people sign up in the first place?
Andrew Cooper continues: "Most timeshare purchases were not about saving money. Members understood that timeshare wasn't cheaper, just better—like a Ferrari costs more than a Fiat. Nobody expects them to be comparable in price.
"By renting to non-members, resorts engineered their own downfall. It generated revenue in the short term to make up for the massive drops in new member sales, but it also removed any convincing reason for anyone to pay extra for something they can get cheaper on the internet."
Do you own a timeshare you want freedom from? Contact Timeshare Advice Centre today for advice on relinquishment, or to find out whether you may be able to claim compensation.
