Lock-off units - more room, more weeks

What is a lock-off unit? Sounds like we're talking about a gear box or jail cell block. It is really a two bedroom timeshare unit where the second bedroom is an efficiency unit with a full bath and kitchenette. It's like a hotel room with its own balcony and kitchenette. Each year you have the option of separating or "locking off" the efficiency from the rest of the unit, referred to the master suite. This allows you more flexibility in several ways.

First, you can occupy the whole unit. It offers the most room. Residents of the efficiency have a little more privacy. They have access to the kitchenette and a separate outside entrance. Out until 3 am or rising at 5 am? No problem in disturbing the master suite occupants.

Second, you can lock off the unit by declaring it separate from the master suite. Then you could occupy it at a different time from the master suite. You therefore have two weeks of occupancy at the same resort. It could be two weeks together or two weeks at different times. Cool, huh?

Third, you can exchange the lock-off for occupancy at another timeshare resort. The end result is the same - two weeks - one for the efficiency one for the master suite. Finally, if you are occupying a two bedroom unit, you could trade to obtain an additional efficiency at the same resort. That creates a three bedroom suite. It takes some doing, but it can be done. Now you have room for more people, along with some degree of privacy for occupants of the efficiency units.

Lock-off units offer great flexibility and more potential weeks of vacationing. What is the downside? Not much. You may end up with more weeks than you have time to use. Weeks at resorts with lock-off units may be a little more expensive, but that is not always true. And, many resorts to not have that feature.

We have a lock-off platinum timeshare week at Marriott's Ocean Pointe resort in the Palm Beach area. It's great. We have locked off the unit in many years. Typically we occupy the master suite and deposit the efficiency with Interval International, our exchange company. The efficiency trades well. We have exchanged into 2 bedroom units at other resorts. This year, for example, we're staying at Grande Ocean at Hilton Head in October by trading a locked off efficiency unit.

So many options, so little time. It's fun to maximize your timeshare experience, and lock-off units are one way to do that. Have fun.