When you are ready to start trolling the resale market listings on Redweek, one of the most important considerations you’ll make (besides the location/destination you want to own in) is whether to buy a weeks-based or points-based contract. Each resort system, and resort for that matter, might have a specific option for how to buy into. While both give you access to vacation time at resorts in a timeshare network, the way you use that time—and the flexibility you have—varies significantly between the two models. Let’s break it down.
Weeks-Based Timeshare Contracts
In a weeks-based system, you’re buying the right to use a specific unit at a specific resort for one week each year. These contracts come in two primary flavors:
- Fixed Week: You own the same week (say, week 32) at the same resort every year. It’s like having a standing vacation appointment—consistent, predictable, and great for traditions.
- Floating Week: You still own a week at a specific resort, but you can choose when to travel within a designated season (such as Red, High, Medium, or Low season). Availability depends on how early you book.
Ownership, and the costs associated with it, in this model is tied to a particular resort, and your maintenance fees are typically based on the size of the unit, not the popularity of the week or season or the view from the unit (if that’s an option). So whether you’re vacationing in the high-demand summer or the quieter spring, your fees generally remain the same—making floating weeks during peak seasons a great way to squeeze extra value from your ownership.
Example: The maintenance fees for a 2-bedroom floating week in high season at the Marriott Ko Olina on Oahu are considerably higher than a 2-bedroom floating week in high season for the Marriott Grand Chateau in Las Vegas. Individual resort and location matter.
Example: A 2-bedroom floating week at a beachfront Maui resort in the Red season (the most popular) will have the same maintenance fees whether the week you own is in the prime of summer or mid-November during the rainy season. The initial upfront contract cost will likely be different (with the more desirable week being more expensive upfront), but the yearly maintenance fees will be the same regardless of which week you own..
Points-Based Timeshare Contracts
In a points-based system, you’re not tied to a specific week or resort. Instead, you purchase an annual allotment of points, and you can use those points to book stays at any participating resort in the brand’s network—subject to availability.
The number of points required for any one stay depends on factors like:
- Resort location and brand tier
- Unit size (studio, 1-bedroom, etc.)
- Season or demand period
- Length of stay
The system is similar to having a vacation currency, and it gives you significant flexibility. Want to break up your points for multiple shorter trips? Go for it. Prefer to bank your points and splurge on a luxury property next year? You can do that too.
Just like in the weeks system, maintenance fees are usually determined by the unit size and home resort you purchased into, not the time you travel or the total number of points you purchase. This can be confusing but where significant value can be made..
Example: As of this writing, the maintenance fees on a 2-bedroom, 1 week unit at the Hilton on the Boulevard in Las Vegas is roughly $1,100. During peak season in Las Vegas that 2-bedroom unit would require 11,200 points to book, however, in the off season, that same unit is 8,000 points to book. Regardless of if you own the peak season week or the off season week, you have to pay the $1,100 maintenance fees. But, if you own the peak season room you are getting 11,200 points to use across the network vs. only 8,000 for the off season week. One way to look at this, then, is a cost per point basis of the contract. For the Peak Week, you are paying roughly $0.098 per point each year, the off season week is $0.1375 per week, or roughly 40% more!
Points between systems mean nothing (Hilton rooms tend to cost 500-5000 points a night, Wyndhams cost 14,000-50,000 a night) so don’t be thrown off when thinking about one system or the other. As mentioned, think of each system as a country and the points that country’s specific currency.
Weeks vs. Points: Who’s It For?
Each system has its advantages, and the right choice depends on your vacation style.
| Feature | Weeks-Based | Points-Based |
| Best For | Families who love returning to the same place at the same time | Travelers who want flexibility and variety |
| Flexibility | Moderate (more with floating weeks) | High |
| Planning Needs | Easier for fixed weeks, requires advance booking for floating | Best with early planning for high-demand options |
| Value Strategy | Book prime weeks in a floating season | Buy peak season units, use points creatively (off-peak, split trips) |
| Sense of Tradition | Strong (same week, same place) | More adventure, less routine |
In my own experience, I also find weeks-based resorts easier to deposit for exchanges, as well as to rent out (more on both of these later).
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a planner who loves returning to the same beach each year, or a wanderer looking to explore new places every season, there’s a timeshare structure that fits your style. Weeks-based contracts offer comfort and predictability, while points-based systems offer freedom and flexibility. Both can deliver great value—especially when you understand how maintenance fees and availability play into your strategy.
The key is to think about how you actually travel, and match the system to your lifestyle. That way, your timeshare isn’t just a vacation—it’s the start of a rhythm, a tradition, or an adventure.
