For decades upon decades, vacationers have flocked to this warm coastline for its crystal blue waters and perhaps, refreshing attitudes. In recent years, a new trend has taken hold along this favorite vacation destination: timeshares.

Timesharing is quite simple. Owners purchase an increment of time at the resort of their choosing. These units of time are guaranteed to be available generally every year, or every other year, depending on the purchasers needs. That means that timesharing affords vacationers the opportunity to visit their favorite Pacific Coastline destination year after year without the hassle of wrestling for appropriate accommodations.

There are a few things to consider when deciding whether to purchase a timeshare. First, you might want to decide whether you want to purchase a "fixed" week or a floating week. A fixed week means that your annual or biennial vacations are secured to a specific week. If, for example, you've always envisioned spending Christmas along the shores of Seattle, a fixed week will ensure your week of choice remains available to you. If you'd prefer not to be tied to a specific week, you might want to purchase a floating week. A floating week allows you to choose any one week (or more, depending on the package you decide to purchase) of the year, every year that your timeshare rentable. Floating weeks are beneficial if, for example, you'd like to spend a quiet fall week in California's coastal mountain range one year, and an exciting, adventure filled spring-break week in San Diego the next. Of course, if you've decided to purchase a timeshare on the Pacific Coast, its clear you love the area and want to make a point to return to it year after year.

But, timeshares have the benefit of being extremely flexible. Certainly the Pacific Coast holds a special place in your heart, but if the travel-bug bites, many timeshare weeks are tradable through organizations called exchange companies. This means that you can use your Pacific Coast timeshare to visit family in New Hampshire's white mountains or soak up the sun in Jamaica. Therefore, an important consideration when purchasing your timeshare is whether you'd like to purchase an affiliated property. Your timeshare is generally more tradable when it is affiliated with one of the larger exchange companies like Resort Condominiums International (RCI) or Interval International (II). While many timeshares are tradable internally through their specific agency, being affiliated with these larger companies allows the ultimate flexibility in vacationing. With so many timeshares along the Pacific Coast alone, you may choose to trade your weeks for other timeshares in the area; but you can also use your weeks to travel all over the world.

Finally, an important consideration when deciding whether to buy a timeshare is where you will purchase or rent from. Purchasing directly from the resort can be costly, which is why many owners have decided to purchase resale. Buying timeshare resale can save thousands. There are also many rental opportunities in the resale market because many owners may not be able to use their week for whatever reason, so they will rent their unit at a discounted price. If you've fallen in love with a specific area, like the glittering beaches of the Pacific Coast, then timesharing is certainly worth looking into. You can secure pre-paid, week long accommodations in your favorite region year after year, and when buying resale, can often save thousands. Consider your vacationing habits, do the research, and see if timesharing is for you.