Best Timeshares for Families – The Ultimate Guide

A skeptic might say that there are “No Best Timeshare Resorts for Families.” And, he or she is certainly entitled to that opinion. However, despite the general skeptical view of timeshares, we believe that timeshares can be one of the best vacation alternative for families.  In fact, we will demonstrate that timeshares can be advantageous for families, couples and individuals.  Individuals and couples, not just families can learn from this post why timeshares are best for vacations and who are the best timeshare companies.

If you are interested in learning about other lodging options, pleas see our Lodgings Choices post.

Why Timeshares are Best for Families

The first and most important reason why timeshares are best for families is that rooms are generally larger than hotel rooms.  I am currently staying in a one bedroom timeshare. However, it can easily handle four people, granted two will be on a pull-out. But they will have their own room and their own full-bath.  The second reason is that timeshares have a large number of amenities that are particularly favorable to a family vacation.  This includes, in most cases, full kitchens with a dishwasher, stove and also laundry (washers and dryers) in the unit. Like hotels, you will also find a fitness center, outdoor pools and hot tubs suitable for the whole family. Some timeshare have golf courses and tennis facilities.  However, not all timeshares will have restaurants in the facility, but there are always good restaurants nearby. 

Now purchasing a timeshare is not easy, even if it is one of the best timeshares for families. You will be dealing with a salesperson who many times can have questionable ethics and sales techniques. Similar in some respects to those of a used-car salesman.  I won’t describe the sales process, but it is similar at every timeshare sales meeting I have ever attended.  The salesman makes the pitch and when you say no way, they bring in the hammer.  It is the classic good guy, bad guy approach.  

Why Timeshares are Best for Families – Personal Experience

I would like to say that we bought the seven timeshares that we own in a logical order.   Unfortunately, not true. However, today we are happy with our alignment.  We own quality timeshares in New York City, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Park City, Utah, and Mexico.  All places we like to visit. More importantly we have access to timeshares all over the world.  We’ll explain how that works and let you know the differences between the major timeshare companies.

Best Timeshares for Families

Before we start to compare different timeshares, let’s first discuss the basic idea of family vacations.  Surprisingly, this is a broad topic.  A family vacation with a brand new baby is going to be very different from a family vacation with aging parents.  And, both are going to be very different from a family vacation with young, active children and also different from one with teenagers.  So, to summarize, there is no single best way to describe or to take a family vacation.

During the years that my children were in elementary through high school, we owned a condominium in a local (two-hour drive from home) east coast ski resort.  It was great for short vacations and for keeping an eye on what the kids were up to.  Taking a family of young children or teenagers on a timeshare vacation is very much the same. Also, a great way to spend some quality family time.  

My daughter, who lives in Denver, is doing something very similar with her younger children. However, they getting to some better ski resorts.  They have stayed at one of the best timeshares for families in Breckinridge, and their family has loved it.  Perhaps that’s the ideal view of a family vacation, but there are plenty of other options.  Depending on what you and your family likes to do, you can find the right timeshare solution for your family.  But one more thing before we start the comparison of timeshares, here is some general information about the timeshare industry.

Certain destinations are very popular for offering some of the best timeshares for families.  This includes Hawaii, Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

Timeshare Industry

The timeshare industry is a significant contributor to the US economy, with a size of $10.5 billion. The industry has 1,541 timeshare resorts in the US, with 201,600 units and an average of 131 units per resort. The industry also provides employment to 441,215 full- and part-time jobs and contributes $73.1 billion to the US economy.

The companies we will be discussing are big, reputable businesses, albeit with what some might consider somewhat shady sales tactics.  The good news is that most state laws give you plenty of opportunity to back out of a bad deal. However you must do it quickly.  Unfortunately, most of time you want to sell after you have owned for a while. And in those cases, the people trying to get you to sell timeshares are equally shady. Most are former timeshares salespeople. And in some cases, outright corrupt.  Many of the sales offers are scams demanding money upfront.  Fortunately, there are some decent ways to sell a timeshare. And, we will discuss them at the end of the post.

Changes in the Timeshare Industry that have made it the Best for Family Vacations

Fortunately, the industry has made major changes for the good. Specifically, the companies in most cases are no longer selling you a fixed week. Instead, they sell you points. These points can be used in a points system to purchase a vacation at any of their locations.  These points can also be exchanged with other timeshare companies. We will also explain exchanges in detail later in the post.  

In summary, we believe the best timeshares for families are those that are part of a larger company. This way you have the option to take your vacation where and when you want it.  As I said we own seven timeshares, but we have stayed at over 25 different vacation clubs. Also, we have a premium membership status with a large hotel chain (Hilton). This has allowed us at least another 25 great hotel stays by using our annual points and other bonuses that we have received. 

Best Timeshares for Families: The Big 4 

Okay, let’s discuss what we are calling the “Big 4’ Timeshare, or “Vacation Club” businesses.  Wyndham Vacation Club is the largest timeshare company, followed by Hilton Grand Vacations, Marriott Vacation Club, and Disney Vacation Club. These companies offer customers great options and services, such as vacation packages, discounts, and more. However, you may be a little surprised by what we have found. Surprisingly, including our conclusion that Disney Vacation Club may not necessarily be the obvious choice for the best timeshare for all families.

#1 Wyndham Destinations/ Club Wyndham 

Wyndham Destinations is a company that offers vacation ownership products and destinations to travelers. It is the largest of all the timeshare companies.  Wyndham has a broad range of vacation ownership brands, including Club Wyndham, World Mark by Wyndham, Shell Vacations Club, and Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham.

Club Wyndham is one of Wyndham Destinations’ flagship vacation ownership brands. It offers approximately 100 resort destinations across North America and the Caribbean, helping travelers unlock new cities, new experiences, and new destinations. Club Wyndham promotes living your bucket list today.

Wyndham Vacation Club is a vacation ownership program offered by Wyndham Destinations. It is a points-based program that allows owners to enjoy resorts across North America, Asia, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. The more points purchased, the more flexibility offered when traveling during high season. Also, more points may mean a larger suite or a more desirable destination or resort. Wyndham Destinations also offers owners the option to redeem Wyndham Rewards points for things like free hotel stays, gift cards, maintenance fee credits, and more.

Wyndham Vacation Club Benefits

Here are some of the benefits of being a member of Wyndham Vacation Club:

1. Flexibility: Wyndham Vacation Club is a points-based program that allows owners to enjoy resorts across North America, Asia, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. The more points purchased, the more flexibility offered when traveling during high season. Also, more points may mean a larger suite or a more desirable destination or resort.
2. Redeem Wyndham Rewards points: Wyndham Destinations offers owners the option to redeem Wyndham Rewards points for things like free hotel stays, gift cards, maintenance fee credits, and more.
3. Access to exclusive events: Wyndham Vacation Club members have access to exclusive events and experiences, such as concerts, sporting events, and more.
4. Adventures by Club Wyndham: Club Wyndham owners can vacation with other owners through Adventures, a fully guided group travel program that tours exciting destinations around the world.
5. VIP by Wyndham: VIP by Wyndham is the Club Wyndham VIP program reimagined. It offers exclusive benefits to members who have accumulated 1.4 million points or more.

#2 Hilton Grand Vacations Club

The two clubs are being combined under one roof named Hilton, with all the brand-name benefits that Hilton Grand Vacations already provides existing owners.  The combined company will include 154 resorts and 720,000 owners with a global footprint that offers travel to mid-level, upscale, and luxury resorts.

In addition, Hilton Grand Vacations announced on November 6, 2023 that it is also acquiring Bluegreen Vacations.  This additional acquisition, scheduled to be completed in early 2024, will broaden HGV’s offerings, customer reach and sales locations creating an even larger premier vacation ownership and experiences company.   Bluegreen will introduce new high-quality units to the HGV owner in places that HGV isn’t currently located, including New Orleans, Savannah, Cashiers, North Carolina, and Aspen Colorado.   

Benefits of the HGV Membership

The benefits of joining Hilton Grand Vacations include:

• access to a wide range of resorts including luxury accommodations
• flexible points-based vacation ownership
• the ability to exchange points for stays at other Hilton properties, including hotels, and through RCI
• wide variety of locations
• flexibility
• cost-effective
• high-quality amenities
• family-friendly
• legacy programs

In addition, Hilton Grand Vacations also offers a variety of ownership levels, including Club, Elite, and Premier, each with its own set of benefits. Additionally, Hilton Grand Vacations owners can enjoy exclusive discounts on travel, dining, and entertainment.

One of the great benefits with HGV is the ability to transfer points into the Hilton Hotel Program. We also have Diamond Status with Hilton as a result of our status with HGV. Diamond Status with Hilton gets us free breakfasts in some hotels or a credit to other restaurant purposes.

Six of the seven timeshares that we own are thru HGV.  Four are original HGV properties and two are former Diamond properties. With the exception of the Cabo Azul property that we own in Mexico, most of the former Diamond properties are not as upscale as the original HGV properties. This complicates what we are able to do with our points as not all benefits are available to all properties.  HGV introduced a program called HGVMax that was designed to address this issue, and it has helped.  But, HGV still has work to do to fully integrate the two systems. Hopefully, they will be able to do this quicker when they acquire the Bluegreen properties.

Nevertheless, the HGV properties are a good fit for family vacations.  The unit we own in Park City, Utah is a four bedroom unit 2000+ square feet in total and a perfect family retreat.  We book it every year during ski season.

#3 Marriott Vacation Club

The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club is a second distinctive brand that is part of Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation. The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club is a luxury vacation club that offers exclusive access to some of the most sought-after destinations around the world. Members can enjoy personalized service, luxurious accommodations, and unique experiences that are tailored to their preferences.

In summary, while both Marriott Vacation Club and The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club offer vacation ownership programs, they cater to different audiences. Marriott Vacation Club is designed to offer flexibility and choice to its members, while The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club is focused on providing luxury and exclusivity to its members.

The Benefits of Joining Marriott Vacation Club

The benefits of joining Marriott Vacation Club include:

• Choose from more than 10,000 vacation options, all with the high standards you’ve come to expect from the Marriott brand.
• More control over your vacations. You aren’t limited to a specific time of year or home resort. Vacation as often as you want based on the number of Club Points you have and how you use them.
• More space to enjoy.

Owners with elevated ownership levels can receive additional benefits levels with Marriott Vacation Club:

• Access to VIP weekends, select The Ritz-Carlton Club locations, luxury cruises, Marriott Rewards upgrades and more.
• Trade for Marriott Rewards points.
• Preferred access to events/offers.
• Guided tour excursion credit.
• Adventure cruises.
• Sailing adventures.
• Luxury property.
• Premier events.
• VIP weekends.
• The Ritz-Carlton Hotel stays.
• Exclusive phone line.

#4 Disney Vacation Club

Like the other clubs, the upfront costs and risks are high, and members have been caught off guard by annual dues increases that aren’t exactly well-advertised. That said, DVC can offer benefits beyond just financial savings, such as opportunities and experiences that you otherwise can’t get anywhere else.

In summary, DVC is a timeshare program that offers a range of benefits to its members. However, whether it is the best club for families depends on individual preferences and needs.

Benefits of Ownership in the Disney Vacation Club

DVC members can enjoy a variety of benefits, including discounts on dining, shopping, tickets, and tours. Members also receive exclusive gifts and merchandise offers, special meet-and-greets with characters, complimentary behind-the-scenes tours at the parks, and a huge array of deals on park tickets, dining at Disney restaurants, Disney Cruise Line packages, and more.

The Big 4 Timeshare Companies: A Comparison of Which is Best for Families

Club	Number of Resorts	Exchange Partner	Membership Fees	Annual Dues	Benefits
Wyndham Destinations	220+	RCI	$21,000+	$800+	Discounts on travel, shopping, and dining; access to exclusive events and experiences
Hilton Grand Vacations	150+	RCI	$16,000+	$1,000+	Discounts on travel, shopping, and dining; access to exclusive events and experiences
Marriott Vacation Club	70+	Interval	$20,000+	$1,000+	Discounts on travel, shopping, and dining; access to exclusive events and experiences
Disney Vacation Club	14	Interval	$18,000+	$1,000+	Discounts on travel, shopping, and dining; access to exclusive events and experiences; access to Disney parks and resorts

The actual fees, benefits, and other details may vary depending on the specific club and membership plan you choose. Elevated benefits in each club will have a higher entry fee. 

Best Timeshares for Families: Other Notable Clubs

In addition to the “Big 4” timeshare organizations, here are three other timeshare organizations that are worth mention.

Hyatt Residence Club

Hyatt Residence Club is a timeshare program that offers fractional ownership of residential properties in resort destinations across the United States. The program allows members to invest in the program and accrue points that can be redeemed for stays at Hyatt Residence Club properties.

According to our sources, the Hyatt Residence Club consists of 16 resorts in 7 states and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. The resorts are located in various destinations across the United States, including island destinations like Key West, Florida; Hawaii’s Maui and Puerto Rico, mountain resorts like Colorado’s Beaver Creek and Breckenridge, and outdoor destinations like San Antonio, Aspen, Colorado, and Sedona, Arizona.  Similar to the Disney Vacation Club, Hyatt has less destinations to offer than the top three timeshare companies, (Wyndham, HGV and Marriott) but is very similar in structure and benefits. 

Benefits of Hyatt Residence Club Ownership

Benefits of the Hyatt Residence Club include the ability to stay in residential-style accommodations that offer the comforts and conveniences of home, the flexibility to choose from a variety of destinations and curated activities, and the opportunity to earn and redeem points for stays at Hyatt hotels and all-inclusive resorts globally. Members can also enjoy the benefits of the World of Hyatt loyalty program, which offers four levels of membership and even more rewards and benefits like tier bonuses, room upgrades, late checkout, Club lounge access, and more with qualifying activity each year.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations

Holiday Inn Club Vacations is a vacation ownership program that offers its members access to over 4,300 resorts in 110 countries. The program provides members with the flexibility to choose from a variety of destinations and curated activities, including the beach, the slopes, theme parks, and more.   However, the program has a portfolio of 25 family-friendly resorts across the United States.

Benefits of Holiday Inn Vacations

Holiday Inn Club Vacations members can earn points at Holiday Inn Club Vacations properties across the United States and redeem them for stays at Holiday Inn Club Vacations properties or exchange them through any of more than 4,300 RCI resorts in over 100 countries. Members can also enjoy the benefits of IHG Rewards Club loyalty program, which offers four levels of membership and even more rewards and benefits like tier bonuses, room upgrades, late checkout, Club lounge access, and more with qualifying activity each year 

Villa del Palmar

Villa del Palmar is a resort chain with properties in various locations in Mexico. Our favorite resort is the Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto by Danzante Bay, where we are currently staying as we write this post. It is a 5-star optional all-inclusive resort in Loreto, Mexico, with golf, spa, and 4 restaurants.   The golf course, despite some recent irrigation problems that they are correcting, is magnificent.  Its 17^th hole is even more spectacular than the famous 17^th at TPC in Ponte Vedra Beach.

As for why you should join, it depends on your vacation preferences. Villa Palmar is a US company, but all its properties are in Mexico.  In addition, to Loreto, there are excellent resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Cancun and Acapulco.  In addition, you can exchange points thru Interval International.  

Each club offers a wide variety of member services, programs, and benefits, such as flexibility, value for money, great destinations, top quality accommodations and resorts, and security.  We feel very safe at all of their facilities. 

If you wish to learn more about their offerings or just stay as a hotel guest at one of their facilities, please click here. 

Best Timeshares for Families: Resort Exchanges

Owners in all the previously mentioned timeshare companies have the ability to exchange their weeks or points with two exchange companies: RCI or Interval International.

RCI (Resort Condominiums International)

However, in addition to the subscription fees, RCI members also pay exchange fees, which vary depending on the type of exchange and the trading power of the deposited week. As a general rule of thumb, most members can expect to pay between $99-$249 per exchange request. Please note that RCI fees are subject to change at RCI’s sole discretion. 

RCI is the primary external exchange company that Hilton Grand Vacation Club, Wyndham Destinations and Holiday Inn Vacation owners can use to travel anywhere else in the world. In fact, RCI is a world-class vacation exchange provider that offers its members flexibility and choice. As an RCI subscribing member, you can expand your options for vacations beyond the Wyndham, HGV or Holiday Inn timeshare portfolio and travel to 4,200+ RCI affiliated resorts in 110 countries around the world.

Interval International

Interval International is a timeshare exchange company that allows its members to exchange their timeshare for time at another location. The company is owned by the Marriott Corporation. It is affiliated with over 1,800 timeshare resorts worldwide. Marriott, Hyatt, Disney and Villa del Palmar all exchanged through International International.

To exchange your timeshare, you need to become a member of Interval International. There are different tiers of membership, but only Interval Gold and Interval Platinum members can exchange towards cruises.

Best Timeshares for Families: Resale Market

All these websites will help you buy or sell a timeshare. However, there are some issues to consider when buying a timeshare on the resale market. For instance, the resale price of a timeshare is often lower than the original purchase price, and it may be difficult to sell the timeshare in the future. Additionally, you may not have all the benefits of timeshare ownership that owners have who bought directly from the timeshare company.  Finally, all timeshare owners may face unexpected maintenance fees, special assessments, and other costs that can add up over time. It’s important to do your research and read the fine print before making a purchase.