For years, the timeshare industry has marketed itself as the smart way to lock in future resort vacations, often touting financial benefits over traditional hotel stays. But how true is that claim? Is a timeshare truly a better deal, or is it just another lie told by sleazy, overly aggressive sales people trying to close the deal?
Fortunately, the question isn’t rhetorical or the answer elusive. With a true financial analysis, it is completely answerable. As such, we decided to put this question to the ultimate test. We compared the three common ways of booking a week-long, two-bedroom suite annually (booking directly on the hotel’s site, buying it as a timeshare from the developer, and buying it as a timeshare through a resale contract at three premier properties in three different parts of the country: Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club in Oahu, Hawaii; Hilton’s Elara in Las Vegas, Nevada; and Disney’s Saratoga Springs in Orlando, Florida.
Our goal was clear: to uncover the true cost of vacationing at these resorts, each year, over the course of a 10 year period. We factored in every conceivable cost, from upfront purchase prices and increasing annual maintenance fees of contracts, the rising cost of both hotel rooms, resort fees and transient taxes, as well as the often-overlooked opportunity cost of tying up your your initial investment in a timeshare contract vs. investing it, and even the potential value recovered at the end of the decade from the sale of the contract.
The results, frankly, were even more compelling than we anticipated, particularly for those of us who have always seen the potential in the resale contracts and know the #1 rule of timeshares.
Spoiler alert: The analysis revealed and confirmed a crucial truth: timeshares can offer an incredible value, but the path you choose makes all the difference.
Let’s dive into the compelling numbers that illustrate this dramatic difference. At an incredibly high level, here is the analysis of the total cost and subsequent average cost per night of staying in a two-bedroom villa in each of these properties, over the course of 10 years:
Table 1: 10-Year Financial Comparison Summary
| Resort | Scenario | Total 10-Year Cost | Average Cost Per Night (70 Nights) |
| Marriott’s Ko Olina | Hotel Booking | $139,640 | $1,995 |
| Direct Timeshare | $175,923 | $2,513 | |
| Resale Timeshare | $58,084 | $830 | |
| Hilton’s Elara | Hotel Booking | $58,753 | $839 |
| Direct Timeshare | $105,824 | $1,512 | |
| Resale Timeshare | $29,522 | $422 | |
| Disney’s Saratoga Springs | Hotel Booking | $89,141 | $1,273 |
| Direct Timeshare | $161,218 | $2,303 | |
| Resale Timeshare | $74,404 | $1,063 |
As you can see, in every scenario buying a resale timeshare contract is the most valuable option, offering savings of up to 58% compared to booking directly. What might be surprising is despite the promise of timeshare sales people, the cost of a timeshare purchased direct from a developer can be WORSE off than simply booking the hotel directly.
The following, for those interested, are the details of the analysis, the assumptions, and the breakdown for each individual property.
How We Crunched the Numbers: Our Key Assumptions
We built our analysis on a transparent and realistic assumptions. Here’s how we approached the accounting:
The Entry Point: Initial Investment & Upfront Costs
This is the cash you lay out in the very first year to purchase a timeshare contract, either direct or via resale. For hotel bookings, of course, the number is zero. For timeshares, it includes the purchase price and one-time fees, either based on current active contracts on Redweek and DVC Resale Market, and with developer contracts costs derived from forums like TugBBS and Reddit.
Here are those costs:
Table 2: Summary of Upfront Costs for Timeshare Scenarios
| Resort | Scenario | Points Required | Price/Point | Base Purchase Price | Est. Closing & Transfer Fees | Total Upfront Cost |
| Marriott’s Ko Olina | Direct | 3,270 | $16.50 | $53,955 | $1,000 | $54,955 |
| Resale | N/A (Deeded Week) | N/A | $9,000 | $1,500 | $10,500 | |
| Hilton’s Elara | Direct | 8,400 | $4.17 (est.) | $35,000 | $1,000 | $36,000 |
| Resale | 8,400 | $0.60 | $5,000 | $2,215 | $7,215 | |
| Disney’s Saratoga Springs | Direct | 275 | $215.00 | $59,125 | $700 | $59,825 |
| Resale | 275 | $93.00 | $25,575 | $1,500 | $27,075 |
The Annual Grind: Maintenance Fees and Hotel Rates
In addition to the upfront costs, all scenarios have annual cash outlays associated with them. Here are those fees, and the sad assumption that they increase every year:
- Timeshare Maintenance Fees: We took the current annual maintenance fee for a two-bedroom equivalent and assumed a 3% increase in those fees each year.
- Hotel Rates: We established baseline 2025 nightly rates for comparable suites through individual website searches, then projected their annual increases using historical market data for each location:
- Hawaii (Ko Olina): A strong 6.2% annual increase, reflecting the 35% jump that occurred from 2019-2024.
- Las Vegas (Elara): An even higher 9.4% annual increase, based on rates climbing from $133 in 2019 to $191 in 2023, as well as the growing inclusion of resort and parking fees..
- Orlando (Saratoga Springs): A more modest 2.5% annual increase, derived from a 31% increase for Disney Deluxe resorts from 2014-2025.
The Hidden Cost: Opportunity Cost of Capital
This is a critical, often-ignored factor. Buying a timeshare does require an upfront cash outlay of money. Many people forget about, and every timeshare salesperson fails to mention, the missed return on that cash being tied up in a timeshare, compared to being invested and working for you elsewhere. We used historical market returns for the past 10 years to assume a 11.3% annual rate of return for the S&P 500 index – a compelling benchmark for what your money could have been doing. Spoiler: This, we found, is where direct developer purchases truly suffer.
The Exit Strategy: 10-Year Resale Value
We assumed that at the end of the 10-year period we would sell the timeshare contract, with the contract being sold for 90% of its initial resale market value. This represents a 10% depreciation from the resale contract purchased 10 years ago, and a significant decline vs. the contract purchased directly from the developer. This represents that the resale market should be relatively efficient, and the developer direct purchase immediately loses value the minute it is purchased.
For those who don’t like to read, here’s all of those assumptions in a table:
Table 3: Key Financial & Inflationary Assumptions
| Financial Variable | Assumed Rate/Value | Rationale / Source |
| S&P 500 Opportunity Cost Rate | 11.3% per annum | Historical 10-year average return |
| Timeshare Maintenance Fee Escalation | 3.0% per annum | As specified in user query |
| Ko Olina Hotel Rate Inflation (CAGR) | 6.2% per annum | Based on 35% increase from 2019-2024 |
| Las Vegas Hotel Rate Inflation (CAGR) | 9.4% per annum | Based on rate increase from $133 to $191 (2019-2023) |
| Orlando Hotel Rate Inflation (CAGR) | 2.5% per annum | Based on 31% increase for Disney Deluxe from 2014-2025 |
| Timeshare Terminal Value (10-Year) | 90% of Year 1 Resale Price | As specified in user query |
Diving into the Data: Resort-Specific Results
Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club, Oahu: A Resale Success Story
This Hawaii gem, known for its stunning beauty and high demand, highlights the power of resale. A one-week, two-bedroom villa in a high-demand season requires approximately 3,270 points within the Abound program of Marriott Vacation Club, deeded weeks (instead of points) are still available for resale on sites like Redweek, at various price points, and the hotel can also be booked directly on Marriott.com.
Using all of those prices and the above assumptions, here’s how the costs break down:
Table 4: Detailed 10-Year Cost Breakdown for Marriott’s Ko Olina
| Cost Component | Hotel Booking | Direct Timeshare | Resale Timeshare |
| Upfront Costs | |||
| Initial Purchase & Fees | $0 | $54,955 | $10,500 |
| Annual Costs (Years 1-10) | |||
| Total Hotel Stay Costs | $139,640 | $0 | $0 |
| Total Maintenance Fees | $0 | $38,349 | $38,349 |
| Other Financial Factors | |||
| Opportunity Cost on Upfront | $0 | $90,719 | $17,335 |
| Terminal Value (Credit from Sale) | $0 | ($8,100) | ($8,100) |
| Grand Total (10 Years) | $139,640 | $175,923 | $58,084 |
| Average Cost Per Night | $1,995 | $2,513 | $830 |
As you can see, the direct timeshare purchase is overwhelmingly expensive, even more so than just booking the hotel directly. But a resale contract slashes the cost per night by more than half compared to hotels, proving it truly is a better deal at over a 56% discount compared to booking directly.
Hilton’s Elara, Las Vegas: Unbeatable Resale Value
Las Vegas, with its dynamic pricing and resort fees, is a market that can surprise you. A one-week, two-bedroom suite in the Platinum season requires 8,400 HGV points, with contracts available directly or on the resale market, and this Miracle Mile hotel can also be booked directly on Hilton.com with resort fees and taxes.
Table 5: Detailed 10-Year Cost Breakdown for Hilton’s Elara
| Cost Component | Hotel Booking | Direct Timeshare | Resale Timeshare |
| Upfront Costs | |||
| Initial Purchase & Fees | $0 | $36,000 | $7,215 |
| Annual Costs (Years 1-10) | |||
| Total Hotel Stay Costs | $58,753 | $0 | $0 |
| Total Maintenance Fees | $0 | $14,896 | $14,896 |
| Other Financial Factors | |||
| Opportunity Cost on Upfront | $0 | $59,428 | $11,911 |
| Terminal Value (Credit from Sale) | $0 | ($4,500) | ($4,500) |
| Grand Total (10 Years) | $58,753 | $105,824 | $29,522 |
| Average Cost Per Night | $839 | $1,512 | $422 |
This is where the financial difference is perhaps most stark. The resale purchase at Elara is dramatically cheaper than both direct timeshare and hotel bookings. It truly highlights the incredible value available.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs, Orlando: Long-Term Resale Power
Disney Vacation Club (DVC) contracts are often considered a different breed, known for their loyal community and perceived stability. Anyone who has been on a Disney vacation know those costs of booking rooms directly (plus park tickets) are extravagant. Looking at the different booking options for a one-week stay in a two-bedroom villa during the “summer” season, shows the opportunity for savings.
Table 6: Detailed 10-Year Cost Breakdown for Disney’s Saratoga Springs
| Cost Component | Hotel Booking | Direct Timeshare | Resale Timeshare |
| Upfront Costs | |||
| Initial Purchase & Fees | $0 | $59,825 | $27,075 |
| Annual Costs (Years 1-10) | |||
| Total Hotel Stay Costs | $89,141 | $0 | $0 |
| Total Maintenance Fees | $0 | $25,655 | $25,655 |
| Other Financial Factors | |||
| Opportunity Cost on Upfront | $0 | $98,756 | $44,692 |
| Terminal Value (Credit from Sale) | $0 | ($23,018) | ($23,018) |
| Grand Total (10 Years) | $89,141 | $161,218 | $74,404 |
| Average Cost Per Night | $1,273 | $2,303 | $1,063 |
Here again, the resale option is significantly more economical than both direct purchases and consistent hotel bookings. DVC does have some of the larger upfront costs for contracts (even on the resale market), which means the opportunity cost of the money actually makes the analysis a lot closer than one might think. When those costs are ignored, timeshares are significantly cheaper. In reality, only the resale contract offers savings compared to booking directly!
The Clear Takeaway: Choose Resale for True Timeshare Value
Our comprehensive 10-year analysis leaves no doubt: while the promise of a “better deal” with a timeshare can be true, it hinges entirely on how you buy.
Buying a timeshare directly from the developer is almost never the financially savvy choice. In fact, our findings show it can be more expensive than simply booking hotels as needed, largely due to the inflated upfront costs and the considerable opportunity cost of tying up so much capital. If you’re considering a timeshare, this is the path to avoid at all costs.
However, for those looking to maximize their vacation budget, timeshares acquired on the resale market consistently offer an amazing value opportunity. By sidestepping the developer’s massive premiums, you gain access to the same luxurious resorts and amenities for a fraction of the cost. The financial benefits are profound, translating into hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in savings per night over a decade.
