Planning a family vacation can be exciting, but sometimes life gets in the way, and changes are unavoidable. Understanding the cancellation policies of their specific brand is important for timeshare owners to reduce or eliminate penalties and avoid losing vacation time. Each brand has its own set of guidelines regarding cancellation timelines, fees, and penalties.
This guide provides an overview of the cancellation policies for the six most popular timeshare brands. Its goal is to help you confidently prepare for any last-minute changes to your vacation plans. Let’s take a closer look!
Top Timeshare Brands
Click or tap on the brands below that interest you most to jump to that article section.
Marriott Vacation Club
Marriott Vacation Club’s cancellation policy varies depending on whether owners book their reservations using Abound Club Points or a Deeded Week.
| Cancellation / Modification Date (before check-in) |
Penalty | Holding Account |
|---|---|---|
| 61+ Days | No penalty | No – points used for a canceled reservation are returned to your account, and any points not used for a reservation modification are returned to your account |
| 60 – 1 Days | No penalty | Yes – points used for a canceled reservation will be put into a holding account, and any points not used for a reservation modification will be put into a holding account |
| On Check-In Day | Forfeiture of all points |
All points used for the reservation are forfeited and are not returned |
- Cancelling 60 or more days before check-in allows all points to be returned to the owner’s account without restrictions.
- Canceling 1 to 60 days before check-in places the points in a holding account, which limits their use to reservations made 60 days or less before arrival.
- Cancelling on the check-in day results in the forfeiture of all points.
Deeded Weeks
- Reservations canceled 60 days or more before arrival are not penalized, and usage is returned to the owner’s account.
- Cancellations within 59 days or less of check-in are not permitted.
Hilton Grand Vacations
Hilton Grand Vacations Club (HGVC) has a tiered cancellation policy based on the time before check-in and the canceled reservation type.
| Cancellation | 31+ Days | 30 – 16 Days | 15 Days or Less |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Week Priority (Including Fixed/ Event Weeks) |
No penalty | Forfeiture of 50% of Points used |
Forfeiture of 100% of Points used |
| Home Resort Priority Reservations | Forfeiture of reservation fee |
Forfeiture of reservation fee and 50% of Points used |
Forfeiture of reservation fee and 100% of Points used |
| Hilton Club Priority Reservations |
Forfeiture of reservation fee |
Forfeiture of reservation fee and 50% of Points used |
Forfeiture of reservation fee and 100% of Points used |
| ClubSeason Reservations | Forfeiture of reservation fee |
Forfeiture of reservation fee and 50% of Points used |
Forfeiture of reservation fee and 100% of Points used |
| Open Season Rental |
N/A | Forfeiture of 50% of the rental rate paid |
Forfeiture of 100% of the rental rate paid |
- Cancellations 31 or more days before check-in
- Home Week Priority: No penalty, and the reservation fee is refunded
- Home Resort Priority Reservations: Forfeiture of reservation fee, but all points are returned
- Hilton Club Priority Reservations: Forfeiture of reservation fee, but all points are returned
- ClubSeason Reservations: Forfeiture of reservation fee, but all points are returned
- Open Season Reservations: Not applicable
- Cancellations between 30 and 16 days before check-in
- Home Week Priority: Forfeiture of 50% of the points used
- Home Resort Priority Reservations: Forfeiture of 50% of the points used and the reservation fee
- Hilton Club Priority Reservations: Forfeiture of 50% of the points used and the reservation fee
- ClubSeason Reservations: Forfeiture of 50% of the points used and the reservation fee
- Open Season Reservations: Forfeiture of 50% of rental rate paid
- Cancellations made 15 days or less before check-in result in the loss of all points / closing any reservation fees for all reservation types.
Hilton also offers an optional travel insurance add-on for $99. This option allows owners to cancel reservations until the night before check-in without penalties or point losses, making it worth exploring if you need additional flexibility for your reservations.
Vistana Signature Network
Vistana Signature Network (which includes Westin and Sheraton resorts) ties its cancellation policies to the timing of the cancellation and applies fees or restrictions accordingly.
| Date of Cancellation | Cancellation Fees | Restricted StarOptions Returned? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Months To 61 Days Before Arrival | No Fees | N/A | Home Resort Rights returned 12 Months to 8 Months before arrival; or
Unrestricted StarOptions returned 8 Months to 61 Days Before Arrival. |
| 60 Days To 8 Days Before Arrival | $50 Fee | Yes | Restricted StarOptions must be used for reservations with check-in dates 60 days or less in advance, can’t be banked, can’t be deposited in II, and can’t be converted to Bonvoy points |
| 7 Days To 2 Days Before Arrival | $75 Fee | Yes | Restricted StarOptions must be used for reservations with check-in dates 60 days or less in advance. They can’t be banked, deposited in II, or converted to Bonvoy points. |
| Same-Day Reservations or Reservations Booked 1 Day Before Arrival | No Fees | No | If this last-minute reservation is not canceled before check-in, all StarOptions used for the reservation are lost |
- Cancellations made 12 months to 61 days before check-in incur no fees, and StarOptions are unrestricted but do not retain home reservation rights.
- Cancellations made 60 to 8 days before check-in incur a $50 fee, and StarOptions are returned as restricted points, which can only be used within 60 days of arrival and cannot be banked, converted, or deposited.
- Cancellations 7 to 2 days before check-in incur a $75 fee with the same restrictions on StarOptions.
- Last-minute cancellations made on the check-in day result in the forfeiture of all StarOptions.
Owners should cancel as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary fees or restrictions.
An important note for owners who are not part of the Vistana Signature Network but own resale intervals, such as Westin Desert Willow or Westin Lagunamar, that do not carry StarOptions: You can cancel your booking up to one day before check-in with no additional penalty.
Hyatt Vacation Club
Hyatt Vacation Club has straightforward cancellation rules that balance owner flexibility and resort occupancy.
- Reservations can be canceled anytime, at least one day before check-in.
- The cancellation fee is currently $51 for online cancellations and $57 for over-the-phone cancellations.
- If a booking is canceled within the 60-day window, points will be returned to a limited conditional use status (LCUP), meaning that the owner can only book a reservation with a check-in date 60 days or less from the day of booking. The original expiration date of the points will remain in place based on the ownership contract from which the points came.
- Be extra cautious when canceling a booking with points from contract ownerships that have passed their expiration date. If the reservation is canceled, the points will be lost.
Disney Vacation Club
Disney Vacation Club (DVC) employs a point-based system with a relatively generous cancellation policy.
| Cancellation Date (prior before-in) |
Penalty | Holding Account |
|---|---|---|
| 31+ Days | No penalty | No – points used for the reservation are returned to your account |
| 30 – 1 Days | No penalty | Yes – points used for the reservation will be put into a holding account |
| On Check-In Day | Forfeiture of all points |
All points used for the reservation are forfeited and are not returned |
- Cancellations made 31 days or more before check-in pose no penalty, and points are returned to the owner’s account.
- Cancellations made between 30 and 1 day before check-in result in points being placed in a holding account, which restricts their use to reservations made within 60 days of arrival. Points in holding accounts expire at the end of their Use Year.
- Same-day cancellations lead to the forfeiture of all points used for the reservation.
Breckenridge Grand Vacations
Breckenridge Grand Vacations (BGV) has a generous cancellation policy that offers owners lots of flexibility when changing plans.
- There is no fee to cancel a BGV home resort booking or club points reservation as long as it is done at least 24 hours before check-in.
- Owners should be careful about canceling a winter prime season stay, as these stays are in high demand, and it may be challenging to find a replacement booking within the season. Most owners book prime season reservations 12 months in advance.
Conclusion
Each of the six brands described here—Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations, Vistana (Westin and Sheraton), Hyatt Vacation Club, Disney Vacation Club, and Breckenridge Grand Vacations—offers unique policies for managing changes to travel plans. Understanding the cancellation policies for the timeshare brand you own can make all the difference when dealing with unexpected changes to your reservations.
By planning ahead to know when reservations must be canceled, timeshare owners can better safeguard their points or weeks and avoid unnecessary fees. Knowing what to expect will ultimately help you get the most enjoyment from your ownership, which is what the team at Premier Timeshare Resale works hard to make possible for every timeshare owner. We hope you found this overview of cancellation policies helpful!
