Getting More from Your Ownership
Most vacation ownership members use a fraction of their potential entitlement each year. Understanding booking windows, how to bank and borrow points, and when peak and off-peak periods apply can significantly improve what you get from the annual fees you are paying.
Book early for peak dates
Inventory at popular resorts during peak periods is limited and available to all members simultaneously. If you want a specific resort, season, or room type, book as early as your club's booking window allows. Waiting until a few months before travel significantly narrows your options.
Use off-peak periods strategically
Off-peak stays require fewer points per night. If your schedule allows flexibility, you can stretch your annual allocation much further by choosing shoulder or low-season dates. A week in a peak period might cost the same points as two weeks off-peak.
Understand banking and borrowing
Many programmes allow you to carry unused points forward (banking) or use next year's allocation early (borrowing) for a specific stay. Both have rules: banking has a deadline, borrowed points may be subject to fees or restrictions, and using borrowed points commits next year's credit. Read the rules before relying on either.
Check your actual cost per night
Divide your annual fee by the number of nights you actually use each year. If you are paying more per night than the equivalent hotel or serviced apartment would cost, review whether you are booking efficiently, whether off-peak options would improve the ratio, or whether your overall ownership still makes financial sense.