The average Western calendar year has 52 weeks, as most of us know. However, in the world of timeshare, you may come across a peculiar phenomenon… a fifty-third week of the year: ‘Week 53’.
The timeshare annual calendar always begins on a Monday. Depending on the day of the week on which 1st January falls, every six to seven years there are a few extra days left over at the end of the year. 2018 is, for example, one of these years. This year, 1st January fell on a Monday and the week beginning 31st December 2018 will also be a Monday… in the timeshare calendar this leaves a full extra week at the end of the year.
What Do Timeshare Resorts Do With Week 53 Timeshare Dates?
Some resorts keep things simple for members by just using week 53 for the use of their staff or people related to the development itself. This means that there’s no effect on the members.
Others, particularly the larger timeshare companies, offer week 53 as a kind of ‘bonus’ timeshare week for those who purchase week 52. On the years that week 53 occurs, those lucky members get the use of the timeshare for an extra few days free of charge, written into their contract.
There are timeshare companies see week 53 as an opportunity to squeeze more money from their members. For those with week 52 contracts, there is no mention of week 53 in the contract, and like many dubious timeshare contracts, the week shows up as a hidden cost the holder may not have been aware of.
These unlucky week 52 members often only find out that they’ve signed up for week 53 as well once the year it falls on comes around. In these cases, the timeshare company will argue that week 53 is considered a part of week 52 and, whether the member likes it or not, they are made financially responsible for those extra days.
Some points-based timeshares offer members to bank the points on week 53 to go towards a future timeshare exchange holiday… though these members may still find themselves liable for the maintenance fees on that week 53 ‘bonus’ whether they bank the points or use the week.
Where week 53 is added to a contract with the full knowledge of the member and agreed upon at time of signing, then it can feel like a real plus for them, particularly for those signing up with a timeshare resort that allows those days to be taken completely complimentary. This can just add to the fun and enjoyment of the timeshare.
