Timeshare Dictionary
Is it really big enough to be a timeshare dictionary?
There are many different terms associated with timeshare and the concept
of timesharing that the industry has spawned it's own timeshare dictionary.
Well maybe not a dictionary, but at least worthy of a small section
on our website designed to make learning about timeshare easier and
perhaps a bit entertaining.
Glossary and Terminology
Know what you are looking for before you buy. We have
listed these timeshare terms in our mini-glossary alphabetically for
your convenience. Throughout our website we have linked single words
or phrases directly to this page so learning as you surf will be easier.
Next to each term below you will find a "Back" link that will
return you exactly where you left off before landing on this page.
- Annual - This type of timeshare allows
the owner to use it every year.
- Banked Week
- A week reserved with either the resort itself or one of the other
exchange companies currently
on the market.
- Bi-Annual - This type of timeshare
may be used every other year.
- Bonus Time - Use of your resort in
addition to your regular allocated time on a space available basis.
- Closing Costs - Those costs paid during
the closing process usually paid by new owner, similar to that of
a typical real estate closing cost.
- Deeded Time - This is a week of time
that may be sold or willed to future heirs. This week belongs to the
owner.
- Exchange Company - A holding company
specifically designed to "bank" unused weeks by timeshare
owners.
- Exchange Fee - The exchange service
fee that is payable to your exchange company upon making your exchange
request.
- Fixed Week - A type of timeshare ownership
in which the owner knows the specific week(s) of ownership.
- Floating Week/Fixed Rotation - Ownershipwhere
specific weeks rotate between owners from year to year on a fixed
schedule.
- Floating Week/Ownership Rotation -
Weeks are negptiated between owners every year.
- Host Resort - The resort to
which you travel on a vacation exchange.
- Interval - An assigned period of time.
- Interval International (II) - One of
the largest exchange companies in the timeshare industry.
- Leased Time - This week is leased to
the current owners and reverts back to the resort after the lease
has expired.
- Lock-Out - This type of timeshare may
be divided divided by a locking door allowing 2 families the opportunity
to vacation together yet still provide for privacy by locking the
door when necessary. Bathrooms are available on each side and sometimes
small kitchenettes may also be available.
- Maintenance Fees
- Similar to a Condo Fee or assessment. Must be paid yearly whether
or not the unit was used.
- Credit Card Fees - Similar to a convenience fee. Some merchant service providers charge a credit card processing for timeshares convenience fee for payment gateway services.
- Odd or Even Year Usage - Timeshare
ownership usage every other year-some odd-numbered, some even.
- Points - A system set up by the timeshare
resorts to allow owners to accumulate a value to be used at other
resorts.
- Quartershare - 3-month interval ownership
with rotating schedule.
- Resort Condominiums International (RCI)
-One of the largest exchange companies in the industry.
- Season - Colors are used to determine
the desirability of that time of year. Blue Season is Good, White
Season is Better and Red Season is the best.
- Spacebanked - The pool of all vacation
time deposited by RCI and II members.
- Studio Unit - Similar to that of a
hotel. No defined bedroom, usually sleeps two.
- Timesharing - A term used to describe
the joint ownership of a resort property by several owners, each owning
a different period of time.