Grande Ocean photos, June '08

[jme]

I've had several requests for this, so here goes.

These are photos from Grande Ocean, taken during our 3-week stay in June of '08. They are exclusively outdoor pix of the resort, which may serve to highlight the differences between the two sides of the resort, i.e., the North "lagoon" side, and the South "dolphin pool" side (not to be confused with the Dolphin bldg, located on N. lagoon side).

Captions are present under each photo to provide info, and album is best "VIEWED as SLIDESHOW", so click on that option. *Also, click on little gray square at top right of page (the page coming up after clicking on VIEW AS SLIDESHOW), so that you can procede with pix at your own pace by advancing one by one using NEXT arrow, rather than the 5-second auto-advance, which is obnoxious.

also, after reading each caption, click on each photo itself, and you'll get a great ENLARGEMENT photo, showing much detail!!! It'll be worth it.

There are no interior photos because you can see those on the MVCI site for Grande Ocean, and those pix are good. Once you've seen one unit's interior, you've basically seen 'em all, as they are all pretty much similar, with only variations in color schemes and fabrics, etc. This is not an exhaustive bunch of photos of the landscape/layout, but it should be sufficient. I could have taken dozens more, but you'll just have to come down and see this paradise for yourself.....it's even more beautiful than pictures can show, and the resort is actually much larger than these show, but these are highlights......See Link below: Enjoy, Marty (jme)

http://www.ritzpix.com/net/Albums/L...F4EC152833D3202CF95927343F6DE634BB14F5C88C762

P.S. Also, below is a great schematic RESORT MAP from the MVCI site, which will help to orient you, and to understand the actual locations of the photos.

https://www.my-vacationclub.com/common/respages/pdf/resorts/gr/gr_sitemap.pdf

 

[gores95]

VN pics! We were in Barony Beach last week and stopped at Grande Ocean and walked the property and the beach. It is VERY expansive compared to Barony. We have never stayed in GO...what side, North or South do you prefer?

 

[FlyerBobcat]

MGO - Grande Ocean, can't wait!

GREAT PHOTOS, Marty

 

[jbet]

Hi jme

Great pictures. Thanks. Which unit were you in when you took the pictures of the beach?

We are heading to Grande Ocean next week. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the the pics. janet.

 

[dougp26364]

Great pics. Makes me wish we were there now. Maybe in a couple of years we'll get back to HHI and might be lucky enough to exchange into GO.

 

[jme]

Hi jme.Great pictures. Thanks. Which unit were you in when you took the pictures of the beach?
We are heading to Grande Ocean next week. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the the pics. janet.

To answer two diff posters' questions here, we like both sides of the resort at GO, and hence all buildings, and we've happily taken whichever unit we've been assigned over the years, so we've stayed everywhere. We've done that on purpose so we could experience a different feel each time, and we like that. The ocean views are nice (we own both platinum oceanfront and oceanside weeks), but the views of the gnarly oak trees from the lower floors are hopelessly romantic, and to us are just as wonderful.

For example, we stayed at GO a couple of weeks ago coming back in on a trade----second floor, no ocean view, but had a gorgeous view of the lagoon and shady oak trees, and it was fantastic. Wouldn't have traded it for an ocean view! Could still open the sliding doors and listen to the ocean waves all night, and the special view of the lagoon was unprecedented. We've stayed in almost every bldg. over the years. We've had 3 weeks, and sometimes more, each year for 12 years, excluding a few trades.......that comes to about 35 weeks at GO.

That's why I'll always continue to say that there is NO bad unit at Grande Ocean..... they're all exceptional. Most owners will agree. I have some best friends who are multiple Marriott owners, and they always request a back-row first floor at GO, just so they are more quiet and have that gnarly oak view I described. And they're young and active, NOT an older couple....they own 6 Marriott weeks ...some at GO, some at Ocean Pointe, and one at Summit Watch.

The PHOTOS you mentioned were taken from the top floor of the Dolphin bldg, BUT you get a similar view from the top floors in almost any bldg. (4th & 5th are the top floors.) Even the back row of bldgs have an ocean view. To be honest, we hardly ever stay inside the unit for very long, so the view doesn't matter so much. We're AT the beach---that's why we came, or IN the pools, or sunning poolside, or walking the beach, or biking, or whatever.

And when you visit GO a lot, you'll understand----the view just isn't so critical. Guess you just have to be there to understand. When you're high up, you cannot see the ground and beautiful landscaping so well; that is, feeling a part of it, I should say...... and you miss a lot of the natural beauty......and the resort ambiance is somewhat diminished, in a way. Hope that helps....Marty (jme)

 

[jme]

We need more like these...

Great pics. Makes me wish we were there now. Maybe in a couple of years we'll get back to HHI and might be lucky enough to exchange into GO.

Thanks for sharing the links to YOUR pix. We need more of this (!!!!!!), so we can actually SEE what all of our resorts look like, inside and out. I've complained about this for years, even if only to myself. We need a place where we can go to any resort and see a gazillion photos, and it just isn't there. Funny, but I DID happen to run across YOUR photos on Webshots a while back, and enjoyed them greatly. Ironic that here you are again.

But Doug, Doug, Doug.......please tell me you stole a bunch of photo albums from people! If those are all yours, i'm just gonna roll up and wrinkle.

You just have way too much time on your hands. OK, so if you give me a call, i have a few FF miles available, and I can get a seat next to you anytime, and I'm a light packer.......you wouldn't even know I'm in the unit with you guys. What about it? Marty

 

[jme]

Hi jme.Great pictures. Thanks. Which unit were you in when you took the pictures of the beach?
We are heading to Grande Ocean next week. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the the pics. janet.

To answer two diff posters' questions here, we like both sides of the resort at GO, and hence all buildings, and we've happily taken whichever unit we've been assigned over the years, so we've stayed everywhere. We've done that on purpose so we could experience a different feel each time, and we like that. The ocean views are nice (we own both platinum oceanfront and oceanside weeks), but the views of the gnarly oak trees from the lower floors are hopelessly romantic, and to us are just as wonderful.

For example, we stayed at GO a couple of weeks ago coming back in on a trade----second floor, no ocean view, but had a gorgeous view of the lagoon and shady oak trees, and it was fantastic. Wouldn't have traded it for an ocean view! Could still open the sliding doors and listen to the ocean waves all night, and the special view of the lagoon was unprecedented. We've stayed in almost every bldg. over the years. We've had 3 weeks, and sometimes more, each year for 12 years, excluding a few trades.......that comes to about 35 weeks at GO.

That's why I'll always continue to say that there is NO bad unit at Grande Ocean..... they're all exceptional. Most owners will agree. I have some best friends who are multiple Marriott owners, and they always request a back-row first floor at GO, just so they are more quiet and have that gnarly oak view I described. And they're young and active, NOT an older couple....they own 6 Marriott weeks ...some at GO, some at Ocean Pointe, and one at Summit Watch.

The PHOTOS you mentioned were taken from the top floor of the Dolphin bldg, BUT you get a similar view from the top floors in almost any bldg. (4th & 5th are the top floors.) Even the back row of bldgs have an ocean view. To be honest, we hardly ever stay inside the unit for very long, so the view doesn't matter so much. We're AT the beach---that's why we came, or IN the pools, or sunning poolside, or walking the beach, or biking, or whatever.

And when you visit GO a lot, you'll understand----the view just isn't so critical. Guess you just have to be there to understand. When you're high up, you cannot see the ground and beautiful landscaping so well; that is, feeling a part of it, I should say...... and you miss a lot of the natural beauty......and the resort ambiance is somewhat diminished, in a way. Hope that helps....Marty (jme)

 

[taffy19]

To answer two diff posters' questions here, we like both sides of the resort at GO, and hence all buildings, and we've happily taken whichever unit we've been assigned over the years, so we've stayed everywhere. We've done that on purpose so we could experience a different feel each time, and we like that. The ocean views are nice (we own both platinum oceanfront and oceanside weeks), but the views of the gnarly oak trees from the lower floors are hopelessly romantic, and to us are just as wonderful.

For example, we stayed at GO a couple of weeks ago coming back in on a trade----second floor, no ocean view, but had a gorgeous view of the lagoon and shady oak trees, and it was fantastic. Wouldn't have traded it for an ocean view! Could still open the sliding doors and listen to the ocean waves all night, and the special view of the lagoon was unprecedented. We've stayed in almost every bldg. over the years. We've had 3 weeks, and sometimes more, each year for 12 years, excluding a few trades.......that comes to about 35 weeks at GO.

That's why I'll always continue to say that there is NO bad unit at Grande Ocean..... they're all exceptional. Most owners will agree. I have some best friends who are multiple Marriott owners, and they always request a back-row first floor at GO, just so they are more quiet and have that gnarly oak view I described. And they're young and active, NOT an older couple....they own 6 Marriott weeks ...some at GO, some at Ocean Pointe, and one at Summit Watch.

The PHOTOS you mentioned were taken from the top floor of the Dolphin bldg, BUT you get a similar view from the top floors in almost any bldg. (4th & 5th are the top floors.) Even the back row of bldgs have an ocean view. To be honest, we hardly ever stay inside the unit for very long, so the view doesn't matter so much. We're AT the beach---that's why we came, or IN the pools, or sunning poolside, or walking the beach, or biking, or whatever.

And when you visit GO a lot, you'll understand----the view just isn't so critical. Guess you just have to be there to understand. When you're high up, you cannot see the ground and beautiful landscaping so well; that is, feeling a part of it, I should say...... and you miss a lot of the natural beauty......and the resort ambiance is somewhat diminished, in a way. Hope that helps....Marty (jme)

Those pictures are beautiful and so is the resort. I love the beautiful trees and the shade it gives at the pool side. I'll bet you that you hear many birds too.

I know that you find "fixed week and units" boring but we like them as we know what to expect and we rather sit on our balcony than baking in the sun all day around the pool. You don't have that here with all the trees.

I agree that walking the beach, swimming, diving or snorkeling or sight-seeing is what most people come for so a view may not be that important for everyone but when you get older and can't do all these things anymore, it is.

 

[dougp26364]

Thanks for sharing the links to YOUR pix. We need more of this (!!!!!!), so we can actually SEE what all of our resorts look like, inside and out. I've complained about this for years, even if only to myself. We need a place where we can go to any resort and see a gazillion photos, and it just isn't there. Funny, but I DID happen to run across YOUR photos on Webshots a while back, and enjoyed them greatly. Ironic that here you are again.

But Doug, Doug, Doug.......please tell me you stole a bunch of photo albums from people! If those are all yours, i'm just gonna roll up and wrinkle.

You just have way too much time on your hands. OK, so if you give me a call, i have a few FF miles available, and I can get a seat next to you anytime, and I'm a light packer.......you wouldn't even know I'm in the unit with you guys. What about it? Marty

I hate to say it but those are all from trips we've taken. The sad part is, we didn't start taking photo's until a few years after we started timesharing. I had the same complaint, I couldn't find good comprehensive photo's of the resorts to know what I was trading into. So I started taking photo's of everywhere we go, including cruise ship photo's when we cruise. I'm kicking myself for not taking better photo's of our two stays at THE Ridge in Lake Tahoe, Quarter House in New Orleans, The Ridge Crest in Lake Tahoe and Westgate Town Center in Kissimee, FL. If it makes you feel any better, those photo albums cover approx. 7 years of travels.

We're fortunate in that we accumulate a little over 8 weeks per year of paid time off and, we rarely have to use for sick leave. We plan at least 6 weeks of vacation per year and spread that out so we're traveling every other month. On top of that, we'll drive over to Branson, MO 2 or 3 times per year for short weekend trips. Since our schedules are 12 hour shifts, we're only scheduled to work 3 days/week. It's also a flexible schedule so, if we want to take time off for a long weekend, we have the ability to move our work days around to allow us 5 or 6 days off in a row without using any of our paid time off.

While we travel back so a few places we've been to every year, we like some variety in our lives. So I try to plan at a minimum 3 new destinations per year. Most years it's 4 new desintations. However, with the cost of travel becoming what it is, there may be more repeat trips that are within driving distance.

Next week I'll have a new album up for The Suite's at Fall Creek. We leave for a short break trip today. Next month I'll be adding Photo's of our stay at Marriott's Custom House. A trip my wife is really looking forward to and, if it's only half the adventure she has planned, one we'll repeat sometime in the future.

 

[dougp26364]

Those pictures are beautiful and so is the resort. I love the beautiful trees and the shade it gives at the pool side. I'll bet you that you hear many birds too.

I know that you find "fixed week and units" boring but we like them as we know what to expect and we rather sit on our balcony than baking in the sun all day around the pool. You don't have that here with all the trees.

I agree that walking the beach, swimming, diving or snorkeling or sight-seeing is what most people come for so a view may not be that important for everyone but when you get older and can't do all these things anymore, it is.

Emmy,

There's something to be said about fixed week/fixed unit intervals. The second unit we purchased was a fixed week/fixed unit because we wanted a specific view everytime we visited Las Vegas. It was a top floor strip view unit at Polo Towers.

Unfortunately, there were construction delays and then lifestyle changes and, oddly enough, we've never set foot in that unit. Partly because we misjuged the temperature in Vegas for that time of year and partly because our vacation schedule shifted on us just a bit when we purchased our first Marriott week at Ocean Pointe.

There are a few resorts were having a fixed week and fixed unit wouldn't bother us but, they weren't offered. In the long run, since our schedules are more likely to change than not change, it's probably better for us to have the flexible floating weeks/units than fixed. However, if we could have the unit you had at the Laguna Surf Club guarenteed every year, that woud be a tempting unit to own.

 

[tmoscola]

Thanks for the photos!

I can see what people mean when they say the Hilton Head properties are more spread out than Myrtle Beach.

 

[vincenzi]

Can't Wait

We will arrive at the GO for a week at our oceanfront on May 3rd. This will be the second time we have been there this year. We stayed in March with an exchange through Interval. We requested the Starfish building. In the past, we have stayed at the Dolphin building. Both are very nice. We loved GO!!!

 

[dmaxdmax]

Wow - thanks for those great pix! Now that fire is raging in Myrtle Beach I'm going to check weeks at GO! If I recall correctly this is one of the best resorts if you're in to biking, yes?

Dave

 

[applegirl]

Has anyone ever posed to TUGBrian that we have a thread just for photos of resorts?

Janna

 

[dougp26364]

Has anyone ever posed to TUGBrian that we have a thread just for photos of resorts?

Janna

I did several years ago. I thought it would be good to have some sort of links page but, when you consider the thousands of resorts out there, it might be tough to do.

However, I wonder if TUG could/would add photo links to the reviews section for resorts. Maybe each resort review page could contain links to members photo's of the resorts. It would also have to include a bad links reporting system as online photo albums tend to not be forever. Some online photo services cease to exist or, sometimes members decide not to participate if the service they're using was free and now wants to charge a membership fee. Overall I would like to think it would be possible and would be one more reason that non-members might want to join TUG.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Very nice photos... TFS... Makes we want to visit. I can't believe HOW big the beach is there. I'm use to the tiny Hawaii beaches. Very pretty... One of these days I'll have to trade there.

 

[taffy19]

I did several years ago. I thought it would be good to have some sort of links page but, when you consider the thousands of resorts out there, it might be tough to do.

However, I wonder if TUG could/would add photo links to the reviews section for resorts. Maybe each resort review page could contain links to members photo's of the resorts. It would also have to include a bad links reporting system as online photo albums tend to not be forever. Some online photo services cease to exist or, sometimes members decide not to participate if the service they're using was free and now wants to charge a membership fee. Overall I would like to think it would be possible and would be one more reason that non-members might want to join TUG.

That is a great idea. I have bookmarked some of the TUGgers who keep a nice selection of albums but this would be handy to have for everyone that way.

 

[SueDonJ]

... These are photos from Grande Ocean...

jme, your photos are great - GO isn't my favorite Marriott on the island but your pics almost made me feel like I could smell that Hilton Head air and hear those Hilton Head birds. Very nice!

I did several years ago. I thought it would be good to have some sort of links page but, when you consider the thousands of resorts out there, it might be tough to do.

However, I wonder if TUG could/would add photo links to the reviews section for resorts. Maybe each resort review page could contain links to members photo's of the resorts. It would also have to include a bad links reporting system as online photo albums tend to not be forever. Some online photo services cease to exist or, sometimes members decide not to participate if the service they're using was free and now wants to charge a membership fee. Overall I would like to think it would be possible and would be one more reason that non-members might want to join TUG.

The idea of TUG hosting resort pics is an excellent idea; I love it! I think I do vaguely remember seeing something (from Brian, maybe?) that you can submit pictures for the Resort Database. Maybe. Hmmmm. I think I'll send him this thread and ask....

 

[TUGBrian]

We want to avoid just posting links to user hosted photos, as over time...the links become dead and its just a nightmare to try to keep up with everything.

You can email photos to any review manager for that specific resort and they will be happy to upload them for you so they are hosted on TUG and available on the review page for that resort!

there is a link on the review page to "contact review manager" where you can send an email directly to them and correspond with what you want done on the review page.

link to this particular resorts' review page!

http://tug2.com/RnR/TabResortDescription.aspx?ResortGUID=cfc26200-fada-4b51-af47-985f47a15e09

 

[SueDonJ]

Wow - thanks for those great pix! Now that fire is raging in Myrtle Beach I'm going to check weeks at GO! If I recall correctly this is one of the best resorts if you're in to biking, yes?

Dave

Dave, yes. The entire island is bike-friendly with paths going every which way, but GO is down at Sea Pines which has a larger concentration of them. Here's a thread with some great info, in particular Tom's and Richard's posts toward the bottom.

 

[jme]

Wow - thanks for those great pix! Now that fire is raging in Myrtle Beach I'm going to check weeks at GO! If I recall correctly this is one of the best resorts if you're in to biking, yes?

Dave

Grande Ocean is great for biking because you're already beachfront, so if you like beach biking, it's the prettiest stretch of beach on the island.

If you like trail biking, i.e., thru all the beautiful low-country wooded areas, Grande Ocean is close to Sea Pines (the TOE section of the foot-shaped island), which has the best trails on the island. Any resort in Sea Pines would also be great. And if you want to rent bikes inside Sea Pines (while staying at another resort outside Sea Pines) , there are many places to do that. jme