In different countries, timeshare is treated as different types of ownership — from a share of real estate (Italy and France) to an exclusive right of use (United Kingdom), from company shares (Germany and Scandinavian countries) to long-term residential leases divided into weekly intervals (United States and the Caribbean).

The legal form determines the duration of a timeshare in years.
The longest — effectively perpetual — timeshares are those legally equated to real estate ownership.
The shortest usually last around 35 years, typically in countries where foreign developers do not own land outright but hold long-term land leases. As a result, timeshares in such countries cannot exceed the developer’s own rights to the land (Thailand is a common example).

Why Perpetual Timeshares Have Been Criticised

Over time, perpetual timeshares have faced serious criticism.
If a timeshare cannot be cancelled and cannot be resold, a family that no longer wishes to use it remains obligated to own it and to continue paying ever-increasing annual maintenance fees — regardless of circumstances.

Later, such a timeshare is inherited by children, who often do not wish to follow their parents’ lifestyle choices and prefer to travel differently.
As a result, a number of countries (including Spain) introduced legislation establishing the principle of limited duration for timeshare ownership. This led to the re-registration and legal adaptation of many timeshare resorts in the mid-2020s.

65-Year Timeshares: The Most Popular Compromise

Timeshares with a duration of around 65 years have long been considered the most popular option.
The idea was that parents, children, and even grandchildren would all be able to use the same timeshare.

Over time, as the remaining years decrease, the value of the timeshare naturally declines. However, market practice shows that a timeshare usually begins to lose value significantly only when fewer than five years remain.

Even a timeshare with just three years left can be sold — it is simply a matter of price.
There are many examples of successful resale transactions on the secondary market, especially for resorts that are difficult to access otherwise or particularly advantageous when used via timeshare.

Fixed-Term Timeshares vs. Temporary Club Memberships

It is very important to distinguish between fixed-term timeshares and temporary club memberships.

Temporary Memberships (Trial Programs)

Temporary memberships — usually lasting three to five years — are not inherently bad products.

They were designed specifically for potential buyers who were not fully convinced during a sales presentation but still had a strong interest. These clients want to experience the resort, “try on” the timeshare lifestyle, and only then decide whether to commit to long-term ownership and a larger financial investment.

A temporary membership typically allows three separate trips over three consecutive years. After each stay, the member meets with sales representatives to discuss purchase options and the possibility of crediting the cost of the temporary membership toward the purchase of a permanent timeshare (or a 35–65 year contract).
This credit option is one of the most attractive features of temporary memberships.

So What’s the Problem with Temporary Memberships?

Temporary memberships may be organized either by:

·       the resort itself (most often a resort group), or

·       an independent marketing company.

If the organizer is the resort group itself, there is usually little cause for concern.
If, however, the organizer is a marketing company, the member is dependent on the company’s continued operation, its contracts with resorts, and its ability to deliver accommodation throughout the membership term. This represents the main risk.

Why Temporary Memberships Are Not Timeshares

Technically, a temporary membership is not a timeshare.
If its duration exceeds 36 months, it falls under timeshare legislation — which is why many organizers deliberately structure such programs to last 35 months or three years minus one week, to avoid stricter legal requirements.

Temporary memberships are not timeshares because:

·       specific weeks are not assigned to members;

·       no ownership or usage rights are transferred, even temporarily.

In essence, a temporary membership is a set of prepaid future holidays, where the company commits to providing one week of accommodation upon request. Flights, visas, and insurance are booked and paid by the traveler separately as trips are planned.

Quality of Stay: A Common Source of Disappointment

In practice, accommodation under a temporary membership can differ significantly from true timeshare accommodation — even at the same resort.

Many resorts do not place all apartments into the timeshare system. Some units operate as standard serviced apartments and are used for promotional programs or allocated to independent marketing companies for “fly & buy” sales campaigns.

In some cases, clients are deliberately placed in lower-category apartments and then offered an immediate upgrade during the sales presentation — but only if they sign a timeshare purchase agreement that same day.
This sales practice is widely criticised within the industry.

While legislation attempts to protect consumers with memberships of three years or more, experienced sellers often structure programs just below the legal threshold to avoid these protections.

That said, there are reputable organizers — usually resort groups themselves — who place temporary members in full club-level apartments or equivalent accommodation.

Another Key Difference: Resale and Rental

Unlike timeshares, temporary memberships cannot be resold, transferred, or rented out.
This is because they are promotional products, and resorts or marketing agents want to host only qualified potential buyers who meet specific criteria.

The Bottom Line on Temporary Memberships

Temporary memberships offer no guarantees.
There is roughly a 50/50 chance that you will enjoy all three trips — or be left with an unpleasant experience.

If you already own a temporary membership:

·       either use it as intended, or

·       if you already understand timeshare well enough, convert it into a permanent ownership as quickly as possible and with maximum credit.

If the proposed conversion resort does not suit you, or if you want to maximise the value of your membership, we strongly recommend consulting independent specialists from Help Line International:
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? https://www.timesharehelpline.expert

Less Frequent Timeshare Ownership

Most people think of timeshare as something used annually — either at the home resort or via exchange systems. However, alternative models exist.

Biennial (Every-Other-Year) Timeshares

In the 2000s, a biennial timeshare model was introduced to attract buyers who travel every two years rather than annually.

Under this system, the right to use the resort applies every second year, as specified in the ownership certificate (even or odd years).

·       “Even years” means usage in even-numbered years only.

·       In off years, owners may request additional accommodation, but availability and pricing are not guaranteed.

Maintenance fees vary by club.
Some charge fees only in usage years, but most charge annually — usually 30–40% less than annual timeshares, not 50% less.
Non-payment can still lead to termination, even in non-usage years.

Once-Every-Three-Years Timeshares

An even rarer category is the once-every-three-years timeshare.
Usage rights apply only once every three years, as stated in the ownership certificate. The owner receives a schedule of eligible years.

These timeshares are typically sales tools for hesitant buyers and are extremely difficult to resell.
Most buyers on the resale market are looking for regular annual usage, and budget buyers usually negotiate aggressively among sellers.