How To Get Rid of a Vistana Timeshare

Owning a Vistana resort timeshare can become costly and stressful when maintenance fees climb and reservation windows tighten. Luckily, you don’t have to stay stuck.

There are a few ways to cancel your Vistana resort timeshare. You may decide to:

Use the rescission period (if you just bought)
Sell your timeshare on the resale market
Transfer or gift it, and manage the hidden risks
Work directly with Vistana through their exit program
Hire a vetted timeshare exit company with escrow
Avoid scams, fake buyers, and upfront-fee traps

In this article, we’ll break down each option step by step. You’ll learn the legal risks in the fine print, the real costs involved, and how to spot dangerous scams. This guide will give you the confidence to take action without delay.

If you’re looking to cancel a Vistana timeshare in 2025, here’s what you need to know.

Vistana Timeshare Cancellation Options

Method	Cost	Risk Level	Timeline	Works for Paid-Off?	Expert Help Needed
Rescission (cooling-off)	Free	Low	1–4 weeks	Yes	No
Sell it	Low–High	Medium	Months–Years	Yes	Often
Give it away	Free–$	High	1–6 months	Yes	Yes (legal review)
Work with Vistana directly	Free–$	High	3–12 months	Yes	Usually
Hire an exit company/law firm	$$$	Low	3–18 months	Yes	Yes (vetted only)

Use the Rescission Period (Only for New Purchases)

State law gives brand-new buyers a short “cool-off” window, usually 5-10 calendar days, to walk away with zero penalty. You must still be within that window and never have waived the right in writing.

How Many Days Per State

State	Days to Cancel	Statute
Florida	10 days	Fla. Stat. § 721.10
Arizona	10 days	A.R.S. § 32-2197.03
Nevada	5 days	NRS 119A.4775
Hawaii	7 days	HRS § 514E-8
South Carolina	5 business days	S.C. Code § 27-32-40
California	7 days	Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 11238
Colorado	5 days	Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-721

(Keep a copy of any dated delivery receipt: FedEx, certified mail, or email acknowledgement.)

Step-by-Step Guide to Rescind a Vistana Timeshare

Draft a short, dated letter that says, “I hereby cancel my Vistana purchase” and lists every contract number.
Sign everyone on the deed.
Send it by overnight courier or certified mail to the address in your contract.
Keep proof of delivery.
Follow up for the refund within 20 days (Florida) or the period your state mandates.

Still within rescission? Act now! You may be able to cancel for free.

How To Sell My Vistana Timeshare?

Assess the Real-World Market Value

Look up closed listings, not asking prices. On most resale sites, a two-bedroom Vistana unit sells for $500-$2,500, far below the original price.

Why eBay and RedWeek Often Fail

High supply, buyer skepticism, and Vistana’s own Right of First Refusal (ROFR) let the resort scoop your deal and leave you waiting.

Transfer Fees You Must Pay

Expect a $150–$250 Vistana transfer fee plus county recording costs.

Warning: Resale Scams

Up-front “broker” fees and fake closing companies are red flags. The FTC says never wire funds to an unverified reseller.

When Selling Makes Sense

If your mortgage is paid off and you’re current on dues, a break-even sale can still save decades of future fees.

Get a free valuation before listing to avoid wasting time.

Rent my Vistana Timeshare

Renting out your Vistana timeshare can be a straightforward process with the right steps.

Start by gathering key details about your timeshare like its location, unit size, available dates, and amenities. Research similar rentals on sites like Airbnb, VRBO, and RedWeek to set a competitive price.

Create an appealing listing with high-quality photos and a detailed description of your timeshare. Highlight any unique features it may have or nearby attractions that could draw interest.

List your timeshare on several rental platforms to reach a broader audience. Be prompt and clear in your communication with potential renters. Draft a rental agreement that covers the terms and conditions, including payment details, cancellation policies, and house rules.

If you prefer less hassle, consider hiring a rental management company that specializes in timeshares. They can handle marketing and communication with the renters.

Lastly, make sure your timeshare is clean and well-maintained before guests arrive. A positive guest experience is huge in building your reputation.

Give It Away (The Hidden Risks)

Why Gifting or Donating Is Hard

Non-profits rarely accept deeded intervals burdened by perpetual dues. Family members often refuse once they learn they must keep paying forever.

Legal Liability

Under Florida Chapter 721, you remain on the hook until the deed records; if the new owner stops paying, the resort can still chase you.

What Can Go Wrong

The charity quietly quit-claims it back to you.
Your heir defaults; the HOA sues everyone on the title.
Title companies charge extra to verify the recipient’s ID.

When This Works

A trusted adult child who vacations every year and can afford rising dues.

Attorney Guidance: A real estate attorney should draft the deed and verify resort approval before you sign.

Work Directly With Vistana

The Vistana Exit Program

Vistana says it reviews hardship cases through its “Vistana Exit Program.” Owners must be current on payments and agree not to rent the week during review. Spots are limited.

How Retention Teams Operate

Expect polite call-backs that steer you toward upgrades, extra points, or “elite” tiers, none of which end your liability.

Steps If You Try This Route

Write, don’t call; emails create a paper trail.
Ask for a written outline of fees and timeline.
Reject any upsell offers you do not want.

Contacting Vistana first can trigger retention tactics and block escrow-backed exit companies from helping you. Protect your equity and avoid costly delays, reach out to a vetted timeshare exit company now, before you ever call Vistana.

Hire a Timeshare Exit Company or Law Firm

When This Is the Best (or Only) Option

You’re past the rescission window.
The loan balance is high.
You’ve tried resale with no takers.

Legal Cancellation vs. Transfer

A cancellation fights the contract; a transfer moves ownership to a willing third party. Fees and timelines differ.

Red Flags to Avoid

Up-front payments with no escrow.”Money-back guarantee without clear terms.
No BBB profile or grades below B.

BBB, Escrow Payment & Contracts Explained

Reputable exit teams hold your fee in escrow; they only get paid when the resort confirms termination.

Contact us so we can connect you with a verified exit company.

Avoid Timeshare Exit & Resale Scams

Fake Escrow: Documents that look real but route funds to offshore accounts.
Phantom Buyers: “A corporate group wants your week for $18,000, just wire closing costs.”
Guaranteed Sales: No legitimate broker can promise a sale price or date.
Recent Cases: The FTC shut down several Florida-based call centers, and the FBI warns of cartel-backed schemes targeting seniors.

If you paid a scammer: File a police report, contact your bank, and submit a complaint to ftc.gov within 60 days.

Cost to Cancel a Vistana Timeshare

Exit Path	Typical Cost	Timeline
Rescission	$0	30-day refund
Resale (DIY)	$200–$500 closing + fees	3-12 months
Transfer/Giveaway	$150–$500 resort + deed fees	1-3 months
Exit Company (Escrow)	$3,500–$6,500 per contract	6-18 months
Litigation	$8,000–$15,000+	12-24 months

Prices rise if you owe a loan, have multiple intervals, or own outside the U.S.

Payment options now include escrow, split instalments, or hybrid plans where part of the fee stays in escrow until the resort confirms release.

Vistana Timeshare Complaints

There are several Vistana timeshare complaints mentioned online. Here are a few examples:

“A big dissappointment”

“This resort is the prime example of price gouging. Like another review stated, the prices at restaurants were extremely high for what you got. And the Marketplace prices were 3 times what would be considered normal. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of grocery store shuttle – unfortunately we did not and was sorry for that. Plus the “amenity” list is deceiving. Yes they have all those things, but you have to pay to use most of them for equipment rental. $5 for pickleball racket/per person/per hour. Ridiculous that the courts are there but cannot use unless you pay-not an amenity in my opinion. Mini golf costs $10 per person!!! The amount that is paid in constantly rising maintenance fees should entitle you to use the amenities for free. Even though we own here, we will not be returning. Other resorts we have been too include the amenities/equipment without any additional equipment charge. You will be spending much more than planning on by the time your week is over.”

“Disappointing Stay”

This resort is celebrating 40 years, and many aspects of the property show its age. We were assigned a unit in one of the older buildings – no elevators, but lots of steps. It is also a long distance to the pools and amenities. The unit had been updated in some areas, but needed a thorough cleaning. There was black mold in one of the bathrooms, and the unit had a terrible musty smell that we tried to combat by opening the sliding doors and turning on the fans. We were surprised to learn that one of the major pools was closed for repairs for two weeks while we were there. Interesting that you would schedule maintenance during the busiest time of the year. So, we had to travel across the street to another area to access a pool. It is too far to walk, so you need a car. The reviews about the unreasonable costs of food and drinks are correct. We were stunned by the cost for a simple lunch at the pool; you can expect to pay $20 for a sandwich with only a 10% discount for being an owner. A bottle of water in the market is $5 – really? Our biggest disappointment was at the pools. There is no staff watching the pools even during the busiest times. Any size float is allowed, probably because Sheraton sells toys and floats at a pool-side kiosk. Kids were tossing balls all over the area; anyone could have gotten hit or hurt. And even though signs were posted asking guests not to “save” chairs, this was a problem each day we were there. Why don’t staff monitor this situation? Another issue is the smoking area right outside the Cascades pool. You have to walk through the smoking area to get to the bathrooms. Overall, this resort is a major disappointment.

Vistana Timeshare Class Action Lawsuits

In “Chung v. Vistana Vacation Ownership, Inc.,” CIV. NO. 18-00469 LEK-RT, (D. Haw. Mar. 29, 2019), Sang H. Chung sued Vistana Vacation Ownership, Inc.

Chung claimed that Vistana used deceptive sales practices and made false promises about his timeshare purchase. He argued that Vistana misled him about the value and benefits of the timeshare, as well as its resale and rental potential. He also mentioned hidden fees and differences between what was promised during the sales presentation and what he actually experienced.

On March 29, 2019, the court addressed several motions, including Vistana’s attempt to dismiss the case. The court examined if Chung’s claims were believable and met the legal standards to continue. This case is part of a larger trend of legal issues faced by timeshare companies, showing ongoing consumer complaints and legal scrutiny in the timeshare industry.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I cancel my Vistana timeshare if I’m behind on payments?

You can still pursue a legal or professional exit, but Vistana rarely approves a direct deed-back for delinquent accounts. A vetted exit company or attorney may negotiate with the lender, settle arrears, and secure a release while protecting your credit from deeper damage.

What if I inherited a Vistana timeshare?

Heirs can file a disclaimer in probate to reject ownership completely. If you have already accepted the title, you become responsible for every fee. At that point, your choices narrow to resale, transfer, or hiring an escrow-based exit team to end the contract safely.

Can I just stop paying my Vistana maintenance fees?

Simply withholding payment sounds easy, yet it triggers rapid collections, late fees, credit score drops, and possible foreclosure on a regular basis. Always explore rescission, resale, or escrow-protected cancellation before choosing non-payment, because fixing damaged credit later costs far more time and money.

Can Vistana sue me if I stop paying?

Yes. Vistana, or a debt collector it hires, can file foreclosure, seek a judgment for unpaid dues, and garnish wages in some states. Lawsuits add attorney fees and interest, so delaying action often turns a manageable balance into a painful five-figure obligation.

Should I hire a lawyer or a timeshare exit company for Vistana ownership cancellation?

Use an attorney when a large mortgage, active foreclosure, or bankruptcy is involved. For paid-off contracts, a reputable timeshare exit company with third-party escrow often achieves the same result at a lower fee. Always confirm written guarantees and BBB ratings first.

Final Thoughts

New buyer: Use the rescission period today.

Paid-off owner: Test the resale market or a deed-back through the Vistana Exit Program.

Owner with loan or delinquency: A reputable exit company or attorney is usually necessary.

Need help deciding your next move? Contact us for a free timeshare exit plan tailored to your Vistana contract.

MyTimeshareExitReviews helps you connect with vetted timeshare exit companies that offer escrow, with no up-front fees.

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How To Get Rid of a Vistana Timeshare

Vistana Timeshare Cancellation Options

Use the Rescission Period (Only for New Purchases)

How To Sell My Vistana Timeshare?