Hurricane Irma and Marriott Vacation Club (Multiple threads merged.)

[Fairwinds]

One other question, I assume you can search for what is available without releasing your week first? If so, it might be nice to go online and just see the kind of stuff that is available. My inclination, though, is not to retrade if it looks like the HHI resorts will re-open even a day or two after our 9/15 check-in. Even salvaging 5 days in HHI is better than a retrade to somewhere we don't want to go.

Correct. You can initiate the retrade process, search but not trade if nothing available

 

[jstoeber]

Just wondering about DC points reservations at damaged properties. If the reservation is cancelled by Marriott due to damage, will they extend the life of 2017 points used to make the original reservation?

 

[NYFLTRAVELER]

Does anybody have photos of the damage to the St. Thomas property and a description of the damage (both at the hotel and the timeshare)?

 

[sb2313]

Does anybody have photos of the damage to the St. Thomas property and a description of the damage (both at the hotel and the timeshare)?

take a look at some of the mvci Facebook groups. There are pics posted there along with some extensive descriptions of the damage. Sounds like all checkins at the timeshare until early november are cancelled and the hotel will likely be closed until next year.

 

[DaveNV]

It's probably a bit late to mention it, but I'm hoping all affected by these storms are safe. Real estate can be rebuilt, but people's lives may have a harder time being repaired. I officiated a wedding yesterday here in Washington, and some guests had flown in from Houston and New Orleans. They said they were glad for the change of scenery, and to be away from the incredible rain for awhile.

Dave

 

[UK Fan]

Just wondering about DC points reservations at damaged properties. If the reservation is cancelled by Marriott due to damage, will they extend the life of 2017 points used to make the original reservation?

Not usually.

 

[Weimaraner]

This is an update on Facebook from a St Thomas MVCI guest. I normally wouldn't copy and paste from another site but I thought it best for others to read her story than my summary. I read another post on Facebook that Mr Marriott was behind getting St Thomas guests and workers to safety in Puerto Rico via boat. I am happy to see the resort was used as a shelter for residents and pets. It's good to see a major corporation with compassion.

 

[NJMOM2]

Our vacation adventure - We came home last night from Marco Island. We were supposed to check out on Saturday and fly home today from Fort Myers. We left there on Wednesday when we changed our airline flight to Saturday from Savannah, GA. We were at a Marriott Fairfield Inn in Bluffton, SC and spent a nice day on Thursday in Hilton Head Island. Then we were evacuated from there by noon on Friday. At this point we realized that the two airline reservations we had out of Savannah were at two different times. Of course there were no flights available for all four of us to fly on together. I was not leaving my 82 year old mother behind for a later flight with her 80 year old sister. Once again we changed our airline flight to Charlotte, NC and took a connecting flight to D.C. then Newark, NJ. Luckily we had rented a mini-van for the week so we had comfortable ride on our journey. Now we have to figure out how to fill our the insurance forms.

 

[JIMinNC]

At 2:30pm the northern eye wall of Irma is just coming on shore right over Marco Island. They expect a 10-15 foot storm surge after the eye passes north. Winds up to 120 mph.

 

[kds4]

At 2:30pm the northern eye wall of Irma is just coming on shore right over Marco Island. They expect a 10-15 foot storm surge after the eye passes north. Winds up to 120 mph.

Any updates on Crystal Shores?

 

[dioxide45]

Any updates on Crystal Shores?

I think it is very early still. The eye passed directly over Marco Island and there are still storm surge warnings for the area and it is still under mandatory evacuation. We probably won't start to get our first pictures of footage from the area until tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Old Hickory]

This is an update on Facebook from a St Thomas MVCI guest. I normally wouldn't copy and paste from another site but I thought it best for others to read her story than my summary. I read another post on Facebook that Mr Marriott was behind getting St Thomas guests and workers to safety in Puerto Rico via boat. I am happy to see the resort was used as a shelter for residents and pets. It's good to see a major corporation with compassion.

Thanks for posting.

 

[dmharris]

We're to check into Grande Ocean on Hilton Head this Saturday. I called the phone number on my Interval Confirmation Certificate. It fed immediately into a crisis hotline. Press 1 for Florida; Press 2 for Hilton Head (so far I'm impressed they're that organized). The recorded message is that on Saturday, Hilton Head Marriott resorts were closed and evacuated and no staff is present. The recording encouraged checking back. I'm watching CNN and Charleston is now getting the effect, so I'll try tomorrow and report back to you dear friends.

 

[SueDonJ]

FYI the most current information on Marriott's Crisis Hotline / 800-306-9506

As of 9AM 9/11/17, all Florida resorts: Hurricane Irma has passed all resorts, staff members are assessing damage. If you've been evacuated or have upcoming reservations that may be impacted, monitor the hotline and

- Owners using their owned Weeks who have trip insurance, contact your provider. Marriott is providing Travelex with all closure information.
- Members using DC Points, contact Owner Services at 888-682-4862
- Interval International exchangers, contact II directly at 800-622-1747
- All others, contact Customer Care at 800-860-9384

As of 9AM, 9/10/17, all Hilton Head Island resorts: All resorts remain closed and unstaffed due to the mandatory evacuation. Monitor the hotline and

- Owners, contact Owner Services at 800-845-4226
- Interval International exchangers, contact II directly at 800-622-1747
- All others, contact Customer Care at 800-860-9384

All other resorts that may be impacted by Hurricane Irma: The resorts are operating normally at this time and the situation is being monitored. If you leave your unit please take valuables and prescriptions with you just in case evacuation/closure is ordered while you're out.

 

[JIMinNC]

Based on the pictures being posted online at http://www.islandpacket.com it appears there is significant flooding on Hilton Head. Sea walls have been breached in Shelter Cove, Harbour Town, Palmetto Bay, Bluffton (docks destroyed). Hudson's Seafood dock is submerged. Some roads in Hilton Head Plantation and Sea Pines are under water. Singleton Beach Road under two-three feet of water. The marsh in the Hilton Head Resort has become an extension of the ocean. Just now on The Weather Channel, the mayor of Tybee Island, Georgia said the flooding was "significantly worse than Matthew." Also some photos of downed trees in Sea Pines, Shelter Cove, and elsewhere.

 

[amycurl]

I hope people heeded the evacuation and that everyone is safe. Flooding that is worse than Matthew...*sigh*

 

[dmharris]

Based on the pictures being posted online at http://www.islandpacket.com it appears there is significant flooding on Hilton Head. Sea walls have been breached in Shelter Cove, Harbour Town, Palmetto Bay, Bluffton (docks destroyed). Hudson's Seafood dock is submerged. Some roads in Hilton Head Plantation and Sea Pines are under water. Singleton Beach Road under two-three feet of water. The marsh in the Hilton Head Resort has become an extension of the ocean. Just now on The Weather Channel, the mayor of Tybee Island, Georgia said the flooding was "significantly worse than Matthew." Also some photos of downed trees in Sea Pines, Shelter Cove, and elsewhere.

Jim, I heard the same report on the Weather Channel. The mayor said that like Matthew the flooding wasn't on the ocean side but the marsh side, so that's where all the places you named are getting their flood waters. I'm hopeful that the ocean side resorts can open by the weekend. We need this rest and vacation. The forecast after today looks great!

 

[JIMinNC]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Jose is still out there, and now some of the forecast models are showing it threatening the SC or NC coast early next week.

 

[aka Julie]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Jose is still out there, and now some of the forecast models are showing it threatening the SC or NC coast early next week.

View attachment 4736

Say it isn't so!

 

[sb2313]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Jose is still out there, and now some of the forecast models are showing it threatening the SC or NC coast early next week.

View attachment 4736

As of now, looks like literally one of the dozens of possibilities shows it impacting the Carolinas so hopefully that doesn't come to pass.

 

[dmharris]

Jim, contain yourself. If you hate being the bearer of bad news, then ...

 

[windje2000]

Useful link for HHI storm updates

https://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/publicsafety/hurricane/stormupdates.cfm

 

[SueDonJ]

Thanks to those who wished us good luck with our home on HHI. We've gotten word from a neighbor that we're in very good shape with only a few downed limbs and enough leafy debris to keep us busy for a few days next week. That's definitely what I'd call good luck.

 

[JIMinNC]

As of now, looks like literally one of the dozens of possibilities shows it impacting the Carolinas so hopefully that doesn't come to pass.

I agree. It's just something else for those of us with upcoming HHI check-ins to worry about

The good news is, both of the two main forecast models used by NOAA - the European Model and the GFS - show Jose taking another northward turn sometime after Saturday and missing the southeast coast, but this far out, the accuracy is not that good. So as I said, it's just something else to worry about...

I did read tonight that they are hopeful the island can re-open to residents and businesses Tuesday morning after the bridges are cleared as safe by SC DOT. Right now according to the Palmetto Electric web site, only about 2000 or so homes are still without power on HHI. Assuming the island infrastructure is in good shape and there is no more flooding at high tide tonight, I would think there would be economic incentive to try to get the island re-opened to tourists by the weekend to avoid two lost weekends of revenue. Hopefully there is no major water damage at the Marriott properties.

 

[dmharris]

And a full week of revenue for those who stay a week!