Timeshares can often be a topic of scorn, humor or even horror - especially if aggressive sales people constantly hound you with sales calls.However, they can not only open up a new world of affordable vacation options and earn you valuable points and miles at the same time.Marriott Vacation ClubThe Marriott Vacation Club timeshare program.Along with their thousands of hotels around the world, Marriott has a timeshare sales program offering benefits when you purchase a Marriott Vacation Club resale timeshare listed for sale by its owner via a listing agreement with the company and its affiliates. Among the benefits of security and the help of a Vacation Ownership advisor to book trips, you can trade your time share weeks for Marriott Reward Points to transfer for them for frequent flyer miles with Marriott’s airline partners. You can also exchange your time for other vacation ownership resorts.Marriott Vacation comparisonMarriott has 50 Vacation Clubs in Maui, Hilton Head, Aruba, Vail, Park City and Florida (Orlando, Marco Island, Singer Island and Fort Lauderdale), but the rewards points earned can be used in any of their 3,000 destinations around the world.Starwood Vacation NetworkStarwood Vacation Network options include the Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas in Avon, Colorado.The Starwood Vacation Network incorporates over 1,100 hotels and resorts in a hundred countries around the world through the Starwood Preferred Guest program. It includes locations at the nine Starwood brands - Westin, Sheraton, Four Points, A Loft, Element, W, Le Meridien, the Luxury Collection and St. Regis.Owners of a villa resort time share can exchange a week in your Home Resort for a reservation in any of the 19 villa resorts in the collection without paying an additional fee (booking up to eight months to a week before your desired trip on a first come, first serve basis).Breakdown of the Starwood Vacation Network.As an owner, you automatically get Gold Preferred Status in the Starwood Preferred Guest program, meaning that you can convert your week into Starpoints, which can be used for a host of travel options.Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.As a SPG, you also get the following perks:Free night awards and award flights with no blackout dates3 Starpoints for every eligible dollar spentLate 4 p.m. check-out, when availableWelcome gift at check-inDedicated customer service telephone lineEnhanced or upgraded room, when availableThe Friendship Rewards program allows owners to get even more points, earning $20,000 Starpoints or 400 Resort Credits when you refer someone who then becomes an owner.The difference between Staroptions and Starpoints.Owners earn Staroptions, which are similar to Starpoints but different. Staroptions can be used to experience a different villa resort, change your villa size, change your season or enjoy a flexible length of stay. Whereas Starpoints are your more conventional rewards program, which you can redeem for free nights, flights on partner airlines or other special offers.Elite status ownership offers even more privileges such as extended banking periods, Starpoints conversion fee waived, and the earning of more Starpoints.Owners also get discounts from Starwood travel partners, including:Travelocity Partner NetworkTripInsuredSignature Cruises operated by CruisesOnlyGolfNowLuggage ForwardAvisHawaiian AirlinesHilton Grand VacationsThe Elara in Las Vegas is part of the Hilton Grand Vacation Club.The Hilton Grand Vacations program
