Barony is wow!

[Janette]

You folks coming down to Barony will be so pleased. We went by yesterday for a couple of hours and were impressed with all the new projects. The new bar is fabulous. People with children will be asking for the garden villas. There are big screen tvs with a fireplace in the grilling pavilion. The pool and water activity are great as is the sand for little ones. The slide looks like it will be lots of fun. I'll give up the quietness for happiness of children. I just think I need more points for my garden villa:whoopie: .

 

[Tamaradarann]

You folks coming down to Barony will be so pleased. We went by yesterday for a couple of hours and were impressed with all the new projects. The new bar is fabulous. People with children will be asking for the garden villas. There are big screen tvs with a fireplace in the grilling pavilion. The pool and water activity are great as is the sand for little ones. The slide looks like it will be lots of fun. I'll give up the quietness for happiness of children. I just think I need more points for my garden villa:whoopie: .

I have no clue where this is? Can you get there. live there, and fully enjoy the area without a car?

 

[dioxide45]

I have no clue where this is? Can you get there. live there, and fully enjoy the area without a car?

Barony Beach Club is on Hilton Head Island. You can fly to the airport there, but it is a pretty easy drive from NY. You would definitely need a car, though you can bike just about anywhere on the island.

 

[Whirl]

We were planning to get back to Barony this summer since its been 5years, but we decided to go to Marco Island again....I am now really regretting not going. Everytime I hear or see posts about the upgrades I can hardly stand it!

 

[ml855]

I so excited, we just got an exchange into Barony for next Memorial Day week. We went through SFX and they came through. This is our first time to Hilton Head Island, we usually go to Myrtle Beach.

 

[pfrank4127]

We'll be checking in Friday!!!

 

[jdunn1]

Congrats. Can you share what week you used to get this week. A lot of us on TUG like to keep up with Marriott Carolina exchanges.

If you own a Marriott week, this should have been a pretty easy trade through II. It's the summer weeks that are really tough in II for this resort and the other Carolina resorts.

I so excited, we just got an exchange into Barony for next Memorial Day week. We went through SFX and they came through. This is our first time to Hilton Head Island, we usually go to Myrtle Beach.

 

[yumdrey]

I could get a Marriott SurfWatch, 7/22 check-in, 3BR oceanside unit with a Marriott Grand Vista studio (gold season) 3-4 days ago.
I posted it on sightings forum.

 

[ml855]

Congrats. Can you share what week you used to get this week. A lot of us on TUG like to keep up with Marriott Carolina exchanges.

If you own a Marriott week, this should have been a pretty easy trade through II. It's the summer weeks that are really tough in II for this resort and the other Carolina resorts.

The last two years we tried to exchange into either Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach through II using our 2 bedroom Manor Club and nothing came through so we decided to give SFX our week to give them a try. Well they came through with an exchange.

We locked-off our Platnium Manor Club week and gave SFX the 1 bedroom side and deposited the studio side with II. I had the request going with SFX for several months. We wanted anything between June 1st check-in through July 2013 for either Grande Ocean or OceanWatch Villas. Got a call this afternoon from SFX asking if I would like Barony with check-in on May 25th instead of the two resorts we had requested. My husband and I decided to go ahead and take this exchange since it's so hard to exchange into Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach. We are very pleased.

 

[jdunn1]

That would have been a great exchange, even if it is last minute. Too bad I just got my Marriott deposits, yesterday.

I could get a Marriott SurfWatch, 7/22 check-in, 3BR oceanside unit with a Marriott Grand Vista studio (gold season) 3-4 days ago.
I posted it on sightings forum.

 

[jdunn1]

Thank you for this information. This is great stuff to remember. SFX has never been able to get me a summer week at Ocean Watch or Grande Ocean or Barony or SurfWatch, so I think it was a good choice to take the Memorial Day week.

...just something I learned the hard way, but to get summer carolina weeks these days, I think you need to give II your entire 2 bedroom. Locking off doesn't seem to work any more. I tried locking off my Willowridge summer week for the past two years and no luck getting a summer Carolina week. Then a couple months ago I heard from a family that owns a Harbor Lake unit and they didn't lock it off and got a tade into Grande Ocean for this July! So, I think II can work for a Hilton Head week (maybe even Myrtle Beach), but all the Marriott owners giving up a 2 bedroom are going to be infront of you for that trade if you only give-up your one bedroom.

The last two years we tried to exchange into either Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach through II using our 2 bedroom Manor Club and nothing came through so we decided to give SFX our week to give them a try. Well they came through with an exchange.

We locked-off our Platnium Manor Club week and gave SFX the 1 bedroom side and deposited the studio side with II. I had the request going with SFX for several months. We wanted anything between June 1st check-in through July 2013 for either Grande Ocean or OceanWatch Villas. Got a call this afternoon from SFX asking if I would like Barony with check-in on May 25th instead of the two resorts we had requested. My husband and I decided to go ahead and take this exchange since it's so hard to exchange into Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach. We are very pleased.

 

[1st Class]

Thank you for this information. This is great stuff to remember. SFX has never been able to get me a summer week at Ocean Watch or Grande Ocean or Barony or SurfWatch, so I think it was a good choice to take the Memorial Day week.

...just something I learned the hard way, but to get summer carolina weeks these days, I think you need to give II your entire 2 bedroom. Locking off doesn't seem to work any more. I tried locking off my Willowridge summer week for the past two years and no luck getting a summer Carolina week. Then a couple months ago I heard from a family that owns a Harbor Lake unit and they didn't lock it off and got a tade into Grande Ocean for this July! So, I think II can work for a Hilton Head week (maybe even Myrtle Beach), but all the Marriott owners giving up a 2 bedroom are going to be infront of you for that trade if you only give-up your one bedroom.

jdunn1, for the last several years, we've needed to use the full 2BR platinum week in exchange for summer HHI, and have been successful until last year. Memorial Day weekend doesn't count as summer here in NYS b/c schools are still in until end of June. FYI, last year we were offered MGO Labor Day weekend but that doesn't work either, as schools are back in. Both Memorial Day and Labor Day weeks fall in the gold season, not platinum. So, we're needing true platinum summer weeks between June and August. I'm also not so keen on giving up platinum for gold, but I may need to consider it.

I also used a platinum studio to exchange to MOW (oceanfront unit), but that was in October. I think that exchange occurred just outside flex.

 

[jdunn1]

I don't count Memorial Day or Labor Day as summer, either. I go by whenever school is out in the summer. I couldn't get into the Carolinas last year, either. That is why I bought at Ocean Watch.

I'm glad you shared about needed to deposit a full 2 bedroom to get these units. That is what I concluded after two years of failed exchanges, too. When I learned a 2 bedroom Harbor Lake pulled a July Grande Ocean week, I was sold on the need to deposit a full 2 bedroom to get a summer Carolina week.

jdunn1, for the last several years, we've needed to use the full 2BR platinum week in exchange for summer HHI, and have been successful until last year. Memorial Day weekend doesn't count as summer here in NYS b/c schools are still in until end of June. FYI, last year we were offered MGO Labor Day weekend but that doesn't work either, as schools are back in. Both Memorial Day and Labor Day weeks fall in the gold season, not platinum. So, we're needing true platinum summer weeks between June and August. I'm also not so keen on giving up platinum for gold, but I may need to consider it.

I also used a platinum studio to exchange to MOW (oceanfront unit), but that was in October. I think that exchange occurred just outside flex.

 

[hotcoffee]

You folks coming down to Barony will be so pleased. We went by yesterday for a couple of hours and were impressed with all the new projects. The new bar is fabulous. People with children will be asking for the garden villas. There are big screen tvs with a fireplace in the grilling pavilion. The pool and water activity are great as is the sand for little ones. The slide looks like it will be lots of fun. I'll give up the quietness for happiness of children. I just think I need more points for my garden villa:whoopie: .

You are making me feel excited. We are going there for the first time on July 7.

 

[yumdrey]

That would have been a great exchange, even if it is last minute. Too bad I just got my Marriott deposits, yesterday.

I didn't think it was a last minute because I had 4 weeks to be prepared.
Last year, I got Marriott Surfwatch, 8/13 check-in at 3 weeks out and enjoyed my vacation very much.
This year, I just came back from a month long vacation and am not sure if I can catch up my work by 7/22.
But I do agree that it was a great exchange, studio Grande vista week could see a 3 bedroom surfwatch in platinum season! (especially for 4 weeks out)

 

[laurac260]

I have no clue where this is? Can you get there. live there, and fully enjoy the area without a car?

You don't NEED a car to fully enjoy what HHI has to offer. Barony is a bit off the beaten path, so a car is recommended there. If you were to stay at any of Marriott's other properties no car would be needed. We are at Grande Ocean now. We can shop, eat, beach, pool, kayak, sightsee, etc, and leave the car all week if we choose. Bike rentals are everywhere, and you can access all points (except Target and Walmart ), via bike.

 

[ml855]

Before the Marriott DC pts program went into affect we were able to exchange our 2 bedroom Manor Club week into OceanWatch for several years in a row. We always had a late June check-in or a July check-in than the DC program started and everything dried up and we were unable to exchange in any longer. This year we decided to lock off our unit and give SFX a try. When I gave the week to SFX I was really thinking about New York for an exchange, never thought I would get a Carolina resort. I placed the exchange request for either New York or South Carolina, thinking I would get New York and when SFX called about Barony I was so excited I couldn't turn it down.

Since all my kids are out of school, Memorial Day week works for us, we're at the point in our lives that we don't always need a mid summer week. We've never been to Hilton Head so we are very excited.

 

[ml855]

Another question about Barony

Another question:

How far is the garden view villas from the beach?

I'm thinking since we received an exchange through SFX into Barony then we will probably be placed in a garden view villa. I was looking at the resort map, are the garden view villas located in the two back buildings behind the Westin resort?

Thanks.

 

[jme]

Another question:

How far is the garden view villas from the beach?

I'm thinking since we received an exchange through SFX into Barony then we will probably be placed in a garden view villa. I was looking at the resort map, are the garden view villas located in the two back buildings behind the Westin resort?

Thanks.

yes, exactly, and it's very peaceful back there.
The walk to the beach is about 5 minutes.....teens can be there in 2..... really, it's a short walk.

remember, 90% of HH resorts are not even that close.

 

[SueDonJ]

yes, exactly, and it's very peaceful back there.
The walk to the beach is about 5 minutes.....teens can be there in 2..... really, it's a short walk.

remember, 90% of HH resorts are not even that close.

I don't know if it's as peaceful anymore with the extensive garden pool updates, especially in the summer months, but the walk over to the beach is pleasant enough and mostly in the shade. (This is TUGger TravlinDuo's thread with pics of the new gardenview area.)

 

[jme]

You don't NEED a car to fully enjoy what HHI has to offer. Barony is a bit off the beaten path, so a car is recommended there. If you were to stay at any of Marriott's other properties no car would be needed. We are at Grande Ocean now. We can shop, eat, beach, pool, kayak, sightsee, etc, and leave the car all week if we choose. Bike rentals are everywhere, and you can access all points (except Target and Walmart ), via bike.

to answer the poster's question honestly (to which you gave the above answer), you can FUNCTION without a car, but you cannot ENJOY HH without a car. and I believe he/she used the word "enjoy".

The island is 14 miles long, and there is too much to see and do, and a car is most definitely needed. I cannot imagine being there otherwise. We like the bikes, too, but only for recreation. Been going for 40+ years. Harbour Town, outlet malls, South Beach, Shelter Cove, various restaurants (Old Fort Pub, Skull Creek, Frankie Bones, etc---all far!!!)----just some examples of must-see areas that are miles and miles apart....I'd bike to HT and SB, but most wouldn't, and never to the other places.

 

[jme]

I don't know if it's as peaceful anymore with the extensive garden pool updates, especially in the summer months, but the walk over to the beach is pleasant enough and mostly in the shade. (This is TUGger TravlinDuo's thread with pics of the new gardenview area.)

I went by twice recently (2nd and 3rd week of June) at different times, say about 11 am and 2 pm on different days (once with camera and once without), when kids were fully out and going at it, and it was still just as quiet and peaceful.

Kids were playing at the new kids' end, and you couldn't hear them much. It's close to the main pool, but not the "main body" of the pool..... somewhat removed from it because of the way they designed it, with the zero entry at the end between them------- It's much more noisy around the oceanfront pool in front of the new bar/grill in oceanfront section, where there is a definite lack of chair room........

pity---- we own in the oceanfront/oceanside section.

see this post for the pics i took, which sort of shows the separation of kids' pool....

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1314633&postcount=38

 

[SueDonJ]

I went by twice recently (2nd and 3rd week of June) at different times, say about 11 am and 2 pm on different days (once with camera and once without), when kids were fully out and going at it, and it was still just as quiet and peaceful.

Kids were playing at the new kids' end, and you couldn't hear them much. It's close to the main pool, but not the "main body" of the pool..... somewhat removed from it because of the way they designed it, with the zero entry at the end between them------- It's much more noisy around the oceanfront pool in front of the new bar/grill in oceanfront section, where there is a definite lack of chair room........

pity---- we own in the oceanfront/oceanside section.

see this post for the pics i took, which sort of shows the separation of kids' pool....

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1314633&postcount=38

Great pics, Marty. We walked through there a few weeks ago and I didn't take any - you and a few others on TUG covered it very nicely! But I did think that it would be much more noisy than it used to be with the whole thing situated in front of those two buildings. I can imagine families will be very content to hang out at that pool now where they maybe would have hit the beach or the main pool before. (I like the noise from the pool areas so either way works for me! Maybe we'll find out on our next Getaway or exchange back in.)

I saw how there are fewer chairs directly pool-side at the main pool now, but I really think they did a good job with that whole bar/grille re-design. They switched the tables from that platform-thing near the old bar over to the shady platform on the interior side of the new bar, and switched the lounges from there to the other one. I like the new set-up much better, even if it means there are fewer lounges four or five steps from the pool.

 

[cruz-in]

yes, exactly, and it's very peaceful back there.
The walk to the beach is about 5 minutes.....teens can be there in 2..... really, it's a short walk.

remember, 90% of HH resorts are not even that close.

At Barony now....walked thru the Garden Side yesterday. For us, we did not care for the improvements. IMHO the quiet ambiance of the Garden villas was gone. Most of the interior space was filled witth something (pools, firepit, children's waterr play area, etc.). Pretty noisy. Not for us, but if you have young children, you might like it.

Really like the new bar. Looks real nice, Well designed to fit with the rest of the Ocean side courtyard.

We continue to b Wowed by Barony. The resort is one of our favorite places to go. The management and board does a great job at keeping the place in absolutely great shape. Jut love that you can walk onto the beach, turn left, walk past thee westn and be in a very lightly popuated beach in a residential community.

 

[SueDonJ]

Wow! Don and I are here now and everything seems to be up and running with no problems. LOVE the new bar/grille, All Y'All's, and the expanded daily menu specials - we're going to check out the Sunday Brunch tomorrow and will report back about that as well as all the other changes here. We continue to love this resort and are very happy with our unit placement, as well - this time we're on our Owner's week up in a fourth floor OF. Ahhhhh.

This is really meant to be a quick post to mention the recent beach refurbishment. They had to have added at least 150 ft of beachfront a bit north of Barony all the way up and around to the bridge, plus they've built a new rock berm at the turn. It's like a whole new world up there!

amazing new beachfront:

a year ago most of this was underwater at low tide, the point unpassable at high tide:

a section of the new rock berm:

one of at least 12 that we saw, LOTS of baby turtles on the way:

nice, calm sunset:

Enjoy!