The majority of timeshare resorts that exist today, and that are being built for future customers, are located on beachfront property. Why? Because that is where most people say they want to spend their hard-earned vacation time and money. If you want to catch a few rays and swim in the surf, you will find no shortage of timeshare resort options from South Africa to the Big Island of Hawaii.

Timeshare resorts are also being built to revolve around golf courses and spas, which are typically big draws for vacationers all over the world, and near places like Walt Disney World and Las Vegas, which draw massive crowds all year round. Every timeshare resort is built to suit its environment, which is important to consider when deciding which facility might be the best one for you.

Different types of resorts offer different amenities. A tiki bar, for instance, would be more suitable at a beachfront resort than a driving range, which may be among your must-have amenities at a golf course timeshare resort. If you are a winter-sports enthusiast, you may prefer downhill skiing trails to cross-country pathways, but you may not care whether snowmobiles are available for daily rentals. The important thing to remember as you sift through your timeshare resort options is that your resort should offer all of the amenities that will allow you to make the most of your vacation time there. The only one who knows what amenities you and your family need is, well, you. Take a few minutes to think about what kinds of activities you have enjoyed in the past and what you think you might like to do in the future, and then you can weed out timeshare resorts that lack those options.

Not all beachfront resorts offer scuba diving, for instance, but that is all right if you are not a certified underwater explorer. By the same token, all urban timeshare resorts may not offer concierge services, but that is okay if you already know your way around town and prefer to make your own plans for the week with friends from the area. Some wilderness timeshare resorts lack televisions and Internet access, but you may find that a blessing if your goal is to tune out and get lost amid the forest animals for a week every year.

Here is a look at some typical resorts and the kinds of amenities they offer. Keep in mind that all of the resorts named in the following pages offer far more to see and do than what is mentioned under their particular activity heading. They are listed as examples of what is out there in terms of amenities — and how resorts can vary greatly in the ways that they provide them.