With timeshares, the biggest decision is whether to purchase one or not. However, the decisions do not end there. One of the other decisions to consider is whether to select a fixed or floating unit and a fixed or floating week.

A fixed unit means that your unit will be a pre-agreed upon unit that you will occupy every year that you go on your timeshare vacation. A floating unit means that you will have a unit that is up to the standards and specifications that you purchased but it might not be the same unit from year to year. You may have a two-bedroom timeshare on the south side one year and have a two-bedroom unit on the east side next year. The views and amenities will be of the same caliber but the units will differ.

A fixed week means that you know which week you will be vacationing at your timeshare each year. The weeks coincide with the calendar year. So you may buy week 33 which falls in August every year or week 2 which falls in January . So while the week won’t always fall on the exact same dates, year after year, the dates will always be within a few days of each other. If you decide to go with a fixed week, you’ll want to make sure that it falls within the month that you routinely take vacations.

A floating week does just that – it floats. Usually there is a range of weeks that you can choose from and the year will often be broken up into quarters, but they will more closely match seasonal occupancy than the calendar year. The price point depends on the desirability of the week. Some weeks are prime peak weeks and to have your floating week during those weeks will cost more than to have your floating weeks off season or slightly off peak.

Whether a week is “in season” or “out of season” will depend on your destination. For example, on Cape Cod, the summer weeks will generally cost more to buy than a week in October because most people visit the Cape in the summertime. In Florida, however, youll find that the winter weeks are the most expensive because Florida is a popular winter destination for those of us trying to escape the cold. The same goes for Colorado, but for the exact opposite reason. Skiers head to the slopes during winter.

You need to exercise a little caution when looking at floating weeks as each timeshare might have different rules regarding booking choices, such as first come first served. Floating weeks tend to be a little less expensive than a fixed week for the same type of timeshare, but if you are trying to schedule a Christmas trip every year, you may be competing with other owners who have the same booking window as you do. If you always want to take your week at Christmas or New Years, you will probably be better off buying a fixed week (week 51 or 52).

If you think you might have trouble scheduling your vacation at the same time every year and frequently travel at different times of the year, floating weeks will be a better option. It gives you a wide window of opportunity for your vacation. Floating weeks are also a great option for anyone who prefers to travel during the off-season, regardless of destination. Off-season travel means you can usually book into a timeshare unit at the last minute without much difficulty.

Whether you choose fixed or floating depends on your lifestyle and job. If you always take your vacation the same time every year, then a fixed week is the best bet for you. Families with children who like to take their vacations during school breaks are the typical consumers for fixed week timeshares. People with more flexibility in their scheduling and those who don’t like being forced to schedule their vacation a year in advance will best benefit from the floating week timeshare.