Leaving Monarch

[Big Matt]

Just spent a week here and wanted to echo some recent posts. Excellent staff and very nice villas. Great bathroom refurb in the master. I haven't been here in about 10 years and will definitely come back. The points required are so much less than Grande Ocean, Barony, and Surfwatch. This was an II trade using a non-Marriott.

 

[pedro47]

Thanks Big Matt for sharing this information.

 

[MOXJO7282]

We'll be at the Monarch on 10/5 so we'll provide more feedback. We stayed at the GO a few weeks ago and that is hard to beat but for us the Monarch is a close second.

 

[Big Matt]

I still prefer GO, but Monarch is a hidden gem


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[PamMo]

I think my first Interval Marriott-to-Marriott trade was into the 3BR (Crown Suite?) on the top floor of Monarch, and although the unit was a bit dated at the time, we absolutely loved it! I wouldn't hesitate to go back.

 

[MOXJO7282]

It really is such a special resort and island. We're enjoying the slightly cooler, less humid weather this time of year brings. Still dipping into the water during the heat of the day but doing alot of bike riding which is just something we love to do and there aren't many better places for bike riding for all ages than HHI.

Today I took a bike ride and saw 2 gators and had an amazing experience with an owl in the middle of the woods along the bike paths. It was close to head height as I drove by and it flew up to a branch and just sat there checking me out. I didn't want to disturb it so just sat there and luckily had my good phone and was able to get some good video footage. I snapchatted it to my daughter, the owl freak, and she was amazed.

MIL again came along for the fun and so happy with her reaction to the experience. She loves the Monarch as much as the GO and is just strolling around enjoying all the nooks to sit and read and sun bath. Weather has been off and on grey since Saturday but looks like it is going to get nice the rest of the week so looking forward to that. This time I'm only working through Tuesday and then I'm on PTO so that is good timing with the weather. Heading to Savannah early Thursday to enjoy Ms. Wilkes for lunch.

 

[jme]

It really is such a special resort and island. We're enjoying the slightly cooler, less humid weather this time of year brings. Still dipping into the water during the heat of the day but doing alot of bike riding which is just something we love to do and there aren't many better places for bike riding for all ages than HHI.

Today I took a bike ride and saw 2 gators and had an amazing experience with an owl in the middle of the woods along the bike paths. It was close to head height as I drove by and it flew up to a branch and just sat there checking me out. I didn't want to disturb it so just sat there and luckily had my good phone and was able to get some good video footage. I snapchatted it to my daughter, the owl freak, and she was amazed.

MIL again came along for the fun and so happy with her reaction to the experience. She loves the Monarch as much as the GO and is just strolling around enjoying all the nooks to sit and read and sun bath. Weather has been off and on grey since Saturday but looks like it is going to get nice the rest of the week so looking forward to that. This time I'm only working through Tuesday and then I'm on PTO so that is good timing with the weather. Heading to Savannah early Thursday to enjoy Ms. Wilkes for lunch.

Funny, Joe....we're over in Vermont now, not too far from your neck of the woods as I read your post
(not to mention SueDonJ being away from Boston and also being near you at Hilton Head).
You're right about HH being one of the best biking destinations anywhere...we also enjoy that immensely.

This is a great time of year for you guys to be at HH, and an even better time for us to be in New England.
Especially given the fantastic foliage display we're experiencing and will continue to enjoy for the next week as we travel
from Vermont to New Hampshire, then back to Boston. Nowhere we'd rather be!!!!
Nice to know you're having a good time too.

 

[bogey21]

I think my first Interval Marriott-to-Marriott trade was into the 3BR (Crown Suite?) on the top floor of Monarch, and although the unit was a bit dated at the time, we absolutely loved it! I wouldn't hesitate to go back.

I owned a Crown Suite Week for 5 or 6 years when we had the kids with us. IMO "Fabulous" is an understatement. I bought my Week for $25,000 resale; When we no longer needed it Marriott sold it for me for $41,000. I'd be curious to know what they sell for now...

George

 

[Old Hickory]

I've seen a good bit of wildlife on HHI. Gators, birds of prey, turtles, and snakes. While chest-deep in the ocean a very large pod of dolphins swam by at arms-length.

 

[bizaro86]

I owned a Crown Suite Week for 5 or 6 years when we had the kids with us. IMO "Fabulous" is an understatement. I bought my Week for $25,000 resale; When we no longer needed it Marriott sold it for me for $41,000. I'd be curious to know what they sell for now...

George

My guess would be less than what you got. There is week 52 on redweek for $15k right now. Sell my timeshare now has week 15 listed for $40k, but their prices are notoriously out to lunch. Obviously it would significantly depend which week you had...

 

[rickandcindy23]

I would love to go back to Hilton Head in the fall. April was really chilly. We did Daufusky Island on the golf cart. Was a very unique experience. Rick would probably vote for this for fall of 2020.

I am having a tough time finding trips we haven't already done. Still thinking New Orleans fairly soon, but our son said Bourbon Street smelled like throw up. Our son is so good at saying the exact wrong thing.

 

[Dean]

My guess would be less than what you got. There is week 52 on redweek for $15k right now. Sell my timeshare now has week 15 listed for $40k, but their prices are notoriously out to lunch. Obviously it would significantly depend which week you had...

Remember the timeshare calendar for all of Sea Pines is offset by a week so week 52 is really week 1 for the standard timeshare calendar. I came close to buying a Crown Suit week 50 (week 51 everywhere else) many years ago but chickened out because of the fees. I suspect I would have done very well but it also carried signifiant future risk from the fees. I'm thinking it was $6K and change around year 2000 or so.

 

[bogey21]

Remember the timeshare calendar for all of Sea Pines is offset by a week so week 52 is really week 1 for the standard timeshare calendar. I came close to buying a Crown Suite week 50 (week 51 everywhere else) many years ago but chickened out because of the fees. I suspect I would have done very well but it also carried significant future risk from the fees. I'm thinking it was $6K and change around year 2000 or so.

I owned the 2nd week in August. The fees at that time (20+ years ago) were set at 2 times the fees for a regular Monarch Week...

George

 

[Big Matt]

I would love to go back to Hilton Head in the fall. April was really chilly. We did Daufusky Island on the golf cart. Was a very unique experience. Rick would probably vote for this for fall of 2020.

I am having a tough time finding trips we haven't already done. Still thinking New Orleans fairly soon, but our son said Bourbon Street smelled like throw up. Our son is so good at saying the exact wrong thing.

I had not been to New Orleans until five years ago. I will go back over and over again. Bourbon Street is fun, but maybe too busy on Friday and Saturday nights for some folks. The food in the French Quarter is amazing, and much is very reasonably priced. It will remind you a little bit of Savannah and Charleston given water orientation, Colonial city, etc. The Garden District is nice and you can go to Commander's Palace (Brennan Family). There is a great Jazz scene on Frenchmen's Street a few blocks from the French Quarter. There is a casino if you care, and pro sports are right in the downtown area. Of course you have to go to Cafe Dumont for beignets and chicory coffee.

P.S. they do wash Bourbon Street each morning at sun up with a soapy solution and a street cleaner. I would say it smells like stale beer more than anything (not vomit). It's a must see at least once.

 

[jont]

This is a great time of year for you guys to be at HH, and an even better time for us to be in New England.
Especially given the fantastic foliage display we're experiencing and will continue to enjoy for the next week as we travel
from Vermont to New Hampshire, then back to Boston. Nowhere we'd rather be!!!!
Nice to know you're having a good time too.

The only thing would make an October stay in New England better is having the Sox in the playoffs. Next year!

 

[cyntravel]

Funny, Joe....we're over in Vermont now, not too far from your neck of the woods as I read your post
(not to mention SueDonJ being away from Boston and also being near you at Hilton Head).
You're right about HH being one of the best biking destinations anywhere...we also enjoy that immensely.

This is a great time of year for you guys to be at HH, and an even better time for us to be in New England.
Especially given the fantastic foliage display we're experiencing and will continue to enjoy for the next week as we travel
from Vermont to New Hampshire, then back to Boston. Nowhere we'd rather be!!!!
Nice to know you're having a good time too.

Hi
Glad to hear you are having a good time!
Take lots of pictures.