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Santa Barbara or Sea Gardens in FLL

samara64

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Will be in FLL for 2 days and both have availability. Which resort would tuggers recommend.

TIA
 

cbyrne1174

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The one bedrooms at Santa Barbara are huge (literally the same size as the 2 bedroom with a pull out couch in the bedroom and two balconies) and you can use Royal Vista's beach access by walking across the street. Sea Gardens was partially built in the 60s and a lot of the grounds look like a motel. I would personally pick Santa Barbara.The pictures are of a refurbished 1 BR deluxe.

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chapjim

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I agree with cbyrne although we have stayed at Sea Gardens only once. We were in the Key West building, south of the main building with the "gardens" and felt more remote than it was. The unit was a bit tired and worn, the balcony overlooked nothing (a little pool).

OTOH, we've stayed at Santa Barbara more times that I can count. We've owned a Week 1 and a Week 30 for quite a few years. One is a 2BR, the other 1BR. As cbyrne notes, they are the same size, having been created from two hotel units. All that happened is a second BR was carved out using some space from the existing BR and the living area. That's also why the 1BR units have two baths (two hotel units).

Two reasons I like Santa Barbara. One, Royal Vista is just up the street and the pool complex and tiki bar there are way better than at Santa Barbara. Beach access can be through Royal Vista or directly across the street from Santa Barbara. Silly as it sounds, the other reason I like Santa Barbara is the little strip shopping center just north of the resort. Stingers is a beach bar, burger/pizza joint tucked back in the corner, open for B, L, & D. A five minute walk to Stingers is an awfully convenient alternative to putting a car on the road. Probably won't make much difference to OP, who will be there for just two nights.
 

rapmarks

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Yes Santa Barbara, the others have detailed the reasons
 

kaljor

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I stayed at Sea Gardens in September, and I liked it but Santa Barbara does sound better. There were no openings there for the week I wanted though. I'm probably going back next year and I will try to book earlier to check Santa Barbara out.

But I had to post that I ordered a pie for delivery from Stingers since I wasn't within walking distance. The pizza was pretty good, especially for Florida, and it was delivered pretty quickly and was still hot, but later when I looked at the charge slip, I saw that they add on a $2.00 "packaging fee", presumably for delivery only. I'm not cheap, but I hate hidden fees. I'm mentioning it only because I'm still annoyed!! Airline baggage fees, hotel resort fees, cable "regional sports" and "local channels" fees, and now Pizza Packaging fees? Where does it end?
 

jwalk03

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I stayed at Sea Gardens in September, and I liked it but Santa Barbara does sound better. There were no openings there for the week I wanted though. I'm probably going back next year and I will try to book earlier to check Santa Barbara out.

But I had to post that I ordered a pie for delivery from Stingers since I wasn't within walking distance. The pizza was pretty good, especially for Florida, and it was delivered pretty quickly and was still hot, but later when I looked at the charge slip, I saw that they add on a $2.00 "packaging fee", presumably for delivery only. I'm not cheap, but I hate hidden fees. I'm mentioning it only because I'm still annoyed!! Airline baggage fees, hotel resort fees, cable "regional sports" and "local channels" fees, and now Pizza Packaging fees? Where does it end?

While I have never heard it called a packaging fee before, I think every pizza I have had delivered for at least the last 10-15 years has included a delivery fee. No pizza places deliver for free anymore.
 

chapjim

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I stayed at Sea Gardens in September, and I liked it but Santa Barbara does sound better. There were no openings there for the week I wanted though. I'm probably going back next year and I will try to book earlier to check Santa Barbara out. <snip>

If you are able to make reservations sufficiently in advance, try to book Royal Vista.
 

samara64

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Thank you all. I really appreciate it. Santa Barbara it is. Will update once back.

Unfortunately I have no access to royal vista as I am booking from Worldmark and do not want to use club pass.
 

capital city

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Like others I prefer Royal Vista over the others but for me Sea Gardens and Santa Barbara are a toss up. I like the Garden area at Sea Gardens a lot but it did seem to have a lot of kids at the center pool when I've been there. Santa Barbara rooms are nicer and like others have said you can walk right over to Royal Vista.
 

chapjim

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Thank you all. I really appreciate it. Santa Barbara it is. Will update once back.

Unfortunately I have no access to royal vista as I am booking from Worldmark and do not want to use club pass.

Would I be out if line if I suggested renting from a VIP. (Sorry!! I couldn't resist!)
 

samara64

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This would be an option I used in the past once plans firm out. I have Santa Barbara booked for now.
 

dgalati

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Would I be out if line if I suggested renting from a VIP. (Sorry!! I couldn't resist!)
It is cheaper to rent from a VIP who passes along the 50% discounts and upgrades. I hear the new privileges will take this discount to 65%. I can taste the savings!
 

dgalati

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It is cheaper to rent from a VIP who passes along the 50% discounts and upgrades. I hear the new privileges will take this discount to 65%. I can taste the savings!
I like saving $ its like eating apple pie and flying the American flag.
 

cbyrne1174

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I called Palm Aire to see if I could stay there and use Royal Vista amenities with WM points when I was researching if I wanted to buy into it. Even though Royal Vista is Club Wyndham, you still get access to the property if you book through WorldMark. So with a Santa Barbara reservation, you still can walk across the street to get access to Royal Vista's amenities.

I plan on using a lot of bonus time/inventory specials in Orlando, Daytona and Ft. Lauderdale; that's 15%-25% off (factoring in houskeeping) just being a WorldMark resale owner. You don't have to rent from/be a VIP to get awesome discounts.


1 Bedroom at Santa Barbara in Sept:

Santa Barbara CWA VIP Gold Owner at 35% off:
(0.65)(94.5)(6.57) = $403 per week

WorldMark Resale Owner Inventory Special/Bonus Time:
(0.069)(5,900) = $407 per week
 
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chapjim

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I called Palm Aire to see if I could stay there and use Royal Vista amenities with WM points when I was researching if I wanted to buy into it. Even though Royal Vista is Club Wyndham, you still get access to the property if you book through WorldMark. So with a Santa Barbara reservation, you still can walk across the street to get access to Royal Vista's amenities.

I plan on using a lot of bonus time/inventory specials in Orlando, Daytona and Ft. Lauderdale; that's 15%-25% off (factoring in houskeeping) just being a WorldMark resale owner. You don't have to rent from/be a VIP to get awesome discounts.


1 Bedroom at Santa Barbara in Sept:

Santa Barbara CWA VIP Gold Owner at 35% off:
(0.65)(94.5)(6.57) = $403 per week

WorldMark Resale Owner Inventory Special/Bonus Time:
(0.069)(5,900) = $407 per week

It works the other way, too. If you're at Royal Vista and want to play golf, hop on the shuttle to Palm-Aire.
 
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