• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars
  • Wish you could meet up with other TUG members? Well look no further as this annual event has been going on for years in Orlando! How to Attend the TUG January Get-Together!
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Barony Beach Club vs. Other HH Marriotts?

sdtugger

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2006
Messages
615
Reaction score
62
I put in a request today for Grand Ocean, Barony Beach Club, and Surfwatch for the last week of August 2016. To my surprise, I received a Barony Beach Club confirmation in less than 24 hours. We have never stayed at any of the HH Marriotts. With the ease of getting this week, I am wondering if I should toss it back and try for Grande Ocean. It looks like the garden view rooms at Barony are sort of disconnected from the rest of the resort.

What would you do? Thanks!
 

jd2601

Tug Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
451
Reaction score
121
Location
Minneapolis
All three resorts are wonderful and have their own character.
There are pluses and minuses to each resort, a week at any of these resorts would make for a wonderful vacation.

Barony is finishing up refurbishment of the Garden Units and Ocean Front units. I believe next year Ocean side units will be done. The Garden Units had the pool redone approximately 4 or 5 years ago with an addition of a waterslide and kids splash area. Beautiful outdoor kitchen, fire pit and other amenities make this great for families. It is a short walk to the main resort. There is a shortcut to the ocean by the Westin.

I believe you would enjoy your time at Barony. You can add ePlus and continue to look for Surfwatch or Grande Ocean and still be assured you got your week.

Grande Ocean and Surfwatch are also great resorts. Three opinions might differ with each one being someone's favorite. Being on the ocean in HHI makes for a great vacation!
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
23,264
Reaction score
9,396
Location
East Coast
All three resorts are wonderful and have their own character.
There are pluses and minuses to each resort, a week at any of these resorts would make for a wonderful vacation.

Barony is finishing up refurbishment of the Garden Units and Ocean Front units. I believe next year Ocean side units will be done. The Garden Units had the pool redone approximately 4 or 5 years ago with an addition of a waterslide and kids splash area. Beautiful outdoor kitchen, fire pit and other amenities make this great for families. It is a short walk to the main resort. There is a shortcut to the ocean by the Westin.

I believe you would enjoy your time at Barony. You can add ePlus and continue to look for Surfwatch or Grande Ocean and still be assured you got your week.

Grande Ocean and Surfwatch are also great resorts. Three opinions might differ with each one being someone's favorite. Being on the ocean in HHI makes for a great vacation!

I totally agree all three (3) resorts are outstanding. Plus, I am going to add one more Marriott resort and caused it The New Monarch. After all the renovations @ this resort. The New Monarch have a totally new look & feel. . Plus they have the ocean.

Enjoy your stay on The Island.
 

Paumavista

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2005
Messages
747
Reaction score
332
Location
Seneca, SC
Can't go wrong

with any of these three or the Monarch (which is probably my favorite, actually).

By the last week of August schools have all started in South Carolina and many other areas of the country. With the kids, teachers, teens and colleges all back to the routine this is a great time to vacation in coastal South Carolina.

*We found that by the second week in August VRBO vacation rental homes in the Destin area of Florida were literally sometimes 1/2 the cost of what they were in July!! I can see the same is true of Time Share weeks.
 

Swice

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2007
Messages
1,034
Reaction score
328
Location
Charlotte
don't worry

Don't worry-- the garden units are nice at Barony! A bit of a walk before you hit sand at the beach... but many Hilton Head units require a walk to the beach.
 

Helios

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2015
Messages
2,297
Reaction score
134
I would not worry, IMO Barony is the best Marriott property in HH.
 

sdtugger

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2006
Messages
615
Reaction score
62
Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like we should just go ahead and enjoy Barony. The reason that I asked was that I was surprised by how quickly we got our confirmation.

So, based only on looking at the websites for Barony and Grande Ocean, it looked like it would be closer to the ocean in any of the Grande Ocean buildings than it would at Barony Garden View where we are likely to be placed. We love the ocean and wondered if it was worth passing on this week and limiting our request to Grande Ocean. It sounds like the consensus is to just stick with what we have so I think we will do that.

Thanks for all of your thoughts.
 

aka Julie

TUG Member
Joined
May 19, 2007
Messages
1,285
Reaction score
114
Location
Ohio
Resorts Owned
Shadow Ridge (platinum)
Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like we should just go ahead and enjoy Barony. The reason that I asked was that I was surprised by how quickly we got our confirmation.

So, based only on looking at the websites for Barony and Grande Ocean, it looked like it would be closer to the ocean in any of the Grande Ocean buildings than it would at Barony Garden View where we are likely to be placed. We love the ocean and wondered if it was worth passing on this week and limiting our request to Grande Ocean. It sounds like the consensus is to just stick with what we have so I think we will do that.

Thanks for all of your thoughts.

I own 2 Barony weeks (garden view). Like someone else posted I'd keep the Barony week and maybe purchase the ePlus to possibly re-trade for Grande Ocean or Surfwatch if they pop up.

I may be wrong, but I think fewer Grande Ocean owners turn in their weeks to II for trading.

When we are looking to trade back into Hilton Head, we almost always get confirmed back into Barony or Surfwatch, not Grande Ocean.
 

jme

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2005
Messages
4,910
Reaction score
3,343
Location
Southeast,TUG since '98
Resorts Owned
Marriotts:
Grande Ocean x 6
Barony x 2
OceanWatch x 1
Manor Club x 1
.
Waterside by Spin x 2
Sheraton Bdw Pln x2
ChurchSt/Charleston x2
When we are looking to trade back into Hilton Head, we almost always get confirmed back into Barony or Surfwatch, not Grande Ocean.

That would be correct the vast majority of the time, and I'm talking 95+%. If you ask for those 3, you'll seldom get GO. The others always come up first, especially Surfwatch. If you do get GO, it would involve a rare confluence of circumstances.

If it's still a good distance out, I'd ask for GO only, and see what develops, and add the others as time marches on with no confirmation. It's a risk, but the only way to get GO.

I'm picky, so whenever I'm trading anywhere for a specific desired resort, I do it that way, and have never been disappointed with that strategy.
 

lhwhizz

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
34
Reaction score
5
Location
St.Louis MO
I have stayed at all three resorts. On our first trip to HH we stayed at Barony and that's when we fell in love with HH. All three are great resorts, you won't be disappointed. School has started for most people so availability is up.
 

Steve A

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2005
Messages
1,154
Reaction score
317
Location
Four minutes from the beach, PRP, HHI
I'm a resident of Port Royal Plantation and an owner at the Barony, which is located in the Plantation. It's a great mid-island location-- near lots of restaurants and shopping. Nice wide beach marred, imo, by the line of rental chairs and umbrellas that take up prime space during the summer.
 

BocaBoy

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
5,335
Reaction score
420
Location
Wisconsin
Resorts Owned
Grand Chateau
If I understood correctly, being close to the ocean is important to OP. If that is the case, I would NOT want Barony because the garden view units are far from the ocean. I would either throw it back or get e-Plus and try to exchange it for Grande Ocean, Monarch or possibly SurfWatch. Based on the OP's post, I actually think Monarch might be the best choice, although Grande Ocean is our favorite.
 
Last edited:

Big Matt

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
6,205
Reaction score
1,677
Location
Northern Virginia
I agree. If you want to be real close to the waves then BB Garden View is not the right choice. Similar for Surfwatch. Both Monarch and Grande Ocean are right on the beach. Same with Barony, but only for ocean side/front.
 

Quilter

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2005
Messages
3,427
Reaction score
809
Location
Plymouth, MI
Another vote for GO or Monarch. We've stayed at GO, Monarch, Surfwatch and Barony. I find the drive in and out of the Port Royal entrance tedious.

Don't rule out Harbour Point. The area used to be "tired" with the broken down mall. Now with the new renovations there are lots of shops, restaurants in an easy bike ride. Your rooms won't be looking out at waves but they have water front on Broad Creek much closer than the beach at Barony or SurfWatch. The pool looks right out at the Creek. A cohesive resort. Activities close by just like they would be in Harbor Town but even better with the proximity to grocery stores. There are no grocery stores inside Sea Pines (Manor Club). It just wouldn't be good business for them. The first one outside the gates is Harris Teeter.

We were on HHI for 3 weeks at the beginning of Jan. As we drove past Shelter Cove I noticed the 2 local putt putt golf spots are very close to the SC entrance. Lots of choices for restaurants and groceries.
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
23,264
Reaction score
9,396
Location
East Coast
Another vote for GO or Monarch. We've stayed at GO, Monarch, Surfwatch and Barony. I find the drive in and out of the Port Royal entrance tedious.

Don't rule out Harbour Point. The area used to be "tired" with the broken down mall. Now with the new renovations there are lots of shops, restaurants in an easy bike ride. Your rooms won't be looking out at waves but they have water front on Broad Creek much closer than the beach at Barony or SurfWatch. The pool looks right out at the Creek. A cohesive resort. Activities close by just like they would be in Harbor Town but even better with the proximity to grocery stores. There are no grocery stores inside Sea Pines (Manor Club). It just wouldn't be good business for them. The first one outside the gates is Harris Teeter.

We were on HHI for 3 weeks at the beginning of Jan. As we drove past Shelter Cove I noticed the 2 local putt putt golf spots are very close to the SC entrance. Lots of choices for restaurants and groceries.

To this OP, have they update Harbour Point villas?
 

Quilter

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2005
Messages
3,427
Reaction score
809
Location
Plymouth, MI
Yes, when I looked at them about a year ago they had changed the bathroom to a large shower and updated the rest of the interior.

Although we stayed the 3 weeks at GO we found ourselves at grocery and restaurants in the Shelter Cove more times than our usual stays. The old mall was such a dump. No more, it was brightly decorated for the holidays.

Now the Island seems to be working on the old tired strip malls at the heel. We saw one torn down and the land being developed for something new.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hote...bour-point-and-sunset-pointe-at-shelter-cove/
 
Last edited:

Big Matt

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
6,205
Reaction score
1,677
Location
Northern Virginia
I stayed in Harbor Point two years ago for a couple days before checking into Grande Ocean, and I really liked the vibe with the sunsets on broad creek. My unit was the smallest version of four types, but it was still fine and yes, it was updated.
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
23,264
Reaction score
9,396
Location
East Coast
The new market place is great. Also in late 2016 or early 2017 a Costco will be coming to The Island.
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
23,264
Reaction score
9,396
Location
East Coast
Yes, when I looked at them about a year ago they had changed the bathroom to a large shower and updated the rest of the interior.

Although we stayed the 3 weeks at GO we found ourselves at grocery and restaurants in the Shelter Cove more times than our usual stays. The old mall was such a dump. No more, it was brightly decorated for the holidays.

Now the Island seems to be working on the old tired strip malls at the heel. We saw one torn down and the land being developed for something new.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hote...bour-point-and-sunset-pointe-at-shelter-cove/

Thanks for the update.
 

Big Matt

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
6,205
Reaction score
1,677
Location
Northern Virginia
Costco means good, inexpensive alcohol, wine, and bottled water. I'll have to hit it on the way in.
 
Top