Choice between Beach Place and Ocean Point

[rsackett]

I am looking into a weeks vacation at either Beach Place or Ocean Point, and would like recommendations.

It would be me (53), DW (close to me), DD1 (19), DD2 (12), and possibly DD1's friend. My youngest likes doing the kids activities. If my DD1 takes her friend they would like to explore on their own. I am sure the the older two would like BP better, but is there enough to do there for a 12 yo who likes the pool? I assume the weather in the winter is about the same? How about the beaches? I know that there is not much with-in walking distance of OP, but what king of shopping/restaurants are around BP? Is parking still $14 per day there?

Thanks for any input.

Ray

 

[saturn28]

I am looking into a weeks vacation at either Beach Place or Ocean Point, and would like recommendations.

It would be me (53), DW (close to me), DD1 (19), DD2 (12), and possibly DD1's friend. My youngest likes doing the kids activities. If my DD1 takes her friend they would like to explore on their own. I am sure the the older two would like BP better, but is there enough to do there for a 12 yo who likes the pool? I assume the weather in the winter is about the same? How about the beaches? I know that there is not much with-in walking distance of OP, but what king of shopping/restaurants are around BP? Is parking still $14 per day there?

Thanks for any input.

Ray

In the winter, Ocean Pointe is full of senior citizens. Not that their is anything wrong with that, but they tend to like a more quiet and laid back vacation with not a lot of noise. I would say BeachPlace Towers is much better. You will have a better selection of restaurants, entertainment, shopping, and a more active beach scene. At BeachPlace you will find most of this within walking distance or a short ride in the car. The area where BeachPlace is located is an upscale area that is fairly safe.


On the other hand, the area you have to drive through to get to Ocean Pointe is Riviera Beach, which is a run down area. You can take another route along PGA Blvd. However, it will add at least 20 to 30 minutes onto any trip you may want to take into downtown West Palm Beach, Palm Beach or any other destinations south of Palm Beach Shores. I can't think of anything that is close to the resort for kids. It really is a quiet resort that is good for those who want a quiet holiday on the beach and plan to spend most of their time at the resort. Or, those that don't mind having to take long drives each day to get to attractions in the area.

You may want to check out each resorts vacation experience guide. Just click on the links below.

BeachPlace Towers CLICK HERE


Ocean Pointe CLICK HERE

 

[Smooth Air]

I own 2 Platinum (winter) weeks at Ocean Pointe. I am not a senior citizen & neither are a lot of the people who enjoy OP in the winter. Our son has been going to OP with us since he was 13. He is now 23 & still enjoys OP. He often brings a friend.

While I do enjoy the Ft Lauderdale area, I prefer Ocean Pointe over Beachplace. When I go to Ft Lauderdale I don't stay at Beachplace.

When at OP I always rent a car from National at the airport. I take Congress to Blue Heron to Lake to OP. It takes about 20 minutes.

Ocean Pointe has 5 low rise buildings, a great beach, 3 pools plus a kids' pool, hot tubs, BBQ grills, shuffleboard, outdoor pool table, 9 hole mini golf, Tiki Bar & Grill, Pizza Hut, Marketplace. Tennis, golf, good restaurants, shopping & Publix nearby.

If you like, PM me & I wld be happy to discuss OP further with you.
We love OP and are looking forward to going back in March.

Smooth Air

 

[saturn28]

I own 2 Platinum (winter) weeks at Ocean Pointe. I am not a senior citizen & neither are a lot of the people who enjoy OP in the winter. Our son has been going to OP with us since he was 13. He is now 23 & still enjoys OP. He often brings a friend.

While I do enjoy the Ft Lauderdale area, I prefer Ocean Pointe over Beachplace. When I go to Ft Lauderdale I don't stay at Beachplace.

When at OP I always rent a car from National at the airport. I take Congress to Blue Heron to Lake to OP. It takes about 20 minutes.

Ocean Pointe has 5 low rise buildings, a great beach, 3 pools plus a kids' pool, hot tubs, BBQ grills, shuffleboard, outdoor pool table, 9 hole mini golf, Tiki Bar & Grill, Pizza Hut, Marketplace. Tennis, golf, good restaurants, shopping & Publix nearby.

If you like, PM me & I wld be happy to discuss OP further with you.
We love OP and are looking forward to going back in March.

Smooth Air

When you take Blue Heron, you go through the heart of Riviera Beach, which is the run down area. During the day you may want to take a chance going that way. However, I would not use that route during the night.

 

[Smooth Air]

I usually drive along Blue Heron around noon going to OP and around 10:00AM going back to the airport. Always on a Sunday. The last time I was there ( April 2011), it seemed to have improved. When were you last there, Saturn?

 

[saturn28]

I usually drive along Blue Heron around noon going to OP and around 10:00AM going back to the airport. Always on a Sunday. The last time I was there ( April 2011), it seemed to have improved. When were you last there, Saturn?

I was there 2 years ago. That whole town of Riviera Beach is run down. The first time I went there, and I have been there 2 times, I arrived around 10pm and had a devil of a time finding the place. I took the Blue Heron route, but later I found out about the PGA Blvd route and took that route the rest of the time.

I'm not putting down Ocean Pointe. I like the resort, and the small village of Palm Beach Shores. I especially enjoy going for morning and evening walks along the beach and through the village. However, it is a completely different experience than BeachPlace. Most of the people that were at the resort when I went during February owned there, according to the Marriott staff that put on the morning welcome party, and a lot of them were snow birds. I would say about 50 to 60 percent were retired seniors who loved the resort and stay there every year.

I found BeachPlace Towers to be in the middle of all the action in Ft. Lauderdale Beach. I enjoyed that because most of the time I could walk to places I wanted to go or take the water taxi.

 

[dougp26364]

Beachplace Towers is a high rise in a more cosmopolitan setting with shops, restaurants, night life et....within walking distance. It has a smallish pool which goes along with a high rise timeshare. There is a nice beach but, it's across the street.

Ocean Pointe is more secluded and laid back. It has 5 low rise buildings that don't go above 7 floors. It is a short walk to the beach from any unit. There are 4 large pools, three hot tubs, two bars one of which serves food, two fitness centers a full Marketplace convenience store with a Starbucks, a childrens splash pad, tennis courts (across the street) and is set in a more subdued neighborhood. The Oceans Mall is within walking distance and has a few restaurants, a discount beach wear/accesories store, convenience store and ice cream shop. There is a marina within walking distance for charters. There are activities such as parasailing and snorkeling. Night life is a short drive away but, it is a drive and a car is recommended for stays at Ocean Pointe.

Depending on the time of year will depend on the crowd. Summers see the families. Winter tends to be an older crowd but, there have ALWAYS been young families when we're there in November or December. It's not a senior citizens retreat but, as with any resort when school is in session, there are more couples there without children than with children.

There is nothing wrong with either choice. It just depends on what you're looking for. Beachplace is a high rise in the city. Ocean Pointe is a low rise destination resort in a quite neighborhood. Beachplace guests may not need a car. Ocean Pointe guests will find a car is almost a must. Both have good access to a nice beach. IMHO, Ocean Pointe is set up more as a destination while Beachplace is more set up in a destination.

 

[dioxide45]

We have gone to Ocean Pointe at least four or five times. We drive Blue Heron Blvd at just about any hour, day or night. Now I may not want to break down while driving through, but just driving that route isn't an issue.

 

[saturn28]

You may want to check the reviews on TripAdvisor. You will find both reviews and pictures of the resort and surrounding area, which should give you a feel for both places. Click on the links below.

Ocean Pointe CLICK HERE

BeachPlace Towers CLICK HERE

 

[jont]

I agree with Dioxide
I often go to ocean Pointe,3x this year, and I always use Blue Heron. I have never felt any threat or unsafe at any time. I have also purchased gas and stopped at the 24hr Walgreens late at nite with no incidents.It looks worst than it actually is. But if anyone feels safer driving 15 minutes extra by going north to PGA they should by all means do so.

 

[thinze3]

Because of the older DD and her friend, I would suggest BeachPlace. My DD (16) brought a friend with us this year and they went back and forth to the beach often. We also allowed them the hang around BeachPlace (the complex) with it's shopping and dining.

We love OP and hope to go back one day, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

 

[rsackett]

Thanks all! I pulled the trigger on a two bedroom at Beach Place over next Christmas!:whoopie: (traded my Harbour Point) I have stayed at Ocean Point in the past and we really liked the resort itself, but I think it will be nice to try a new resort with more things with-in walking distance. I just wish it did not cost so much for parking!

Ray

 

[yumdrey]

When you take Blue Heron, you go through the heart of Riviera Beach, which is the run down area. During the day you may want to take a chance going that way. However, I would not use that route during the night.

2 weeks ago, I was driving that route at night (9pm). There was a robbery or burglar in a store which was right on the street and saw many police officers and ER cars parked on the road. It was scary.

 

[saturn28]

Thanks all! I pulled the trigger on a two bedroom at Beach Place over next Christmas!:whoopie: (traded my Harbour Point) I have stayed at Ocean Point in the past and we really liked the resort itself, but I think it will be nice to try a new resort with more things with-in walking distance. I just wish it did not cost so much for parking!

Ray

Good choice. Make sure you try the water taxi system they have. There is a pickup just behind the resort. It is less than a 5 minute walk. The water taxi is great for getting downtown and other shopping areas close to the resort. Along some of the water taxi routes you get some great views of multi-million dollar homes and yachts. Enjoy.

 

[Smooth Air]

Ray, you did not say in your original post that you were very familiar with Ocean Pointe. I, & others here, have wasted a lot of time explaining it to you when all you really needed was info on Beach Place.
All of the back & forth on Blue Heron was moot b/c you already knew all of that.

Btw, there is ( or at least used to be...it comes & goes) a water taxi from the Saifish Marina dock near OP. It goes to downtown Palm Beach Clematis Street.

 

[rsackett]

Ray, you did not say in your original post that you were very familiar with Ocean Pointe. I, & others here, have wasted a lot of time explaining it to you when all you really needed was info on Beach Place.
All of the back & forth on Blue Heron was moot b/c you already knew all of that.

Btw, there is ( or at least used to be...it comes & goes) a water taxi from the Saifish Marina dock near OP. It goes to downtown Palm Beach Clematis Street.

Sorry for wasting your time!

Ray

 

[Steve A]

Check out this thread I started on the same topic in August 2010: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128064.

 

[thinze3]

FYI

Here was my view from a top floor corner room on the southeast corner.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh238/thinze3/BeachPlacephonepic1.jpg

Here are a couple of posts w/ more pics.
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1143823&postcount=28
&
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1143824&postcount=29

Here's a webcam from BeachPlace.
http://www.sunny.org/webcam/

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Here was my view from a top floor corner room on the southeast corner.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh238/thinze3/BeachPlacephonepic1.jpg

Here are a couple of posts w/ more pics.
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1143823&postcount=28
&
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1143824&postcount=29

Here's a webcam from BeachPlace.
http://www.sunny.org/webcam/

Very nice pictures!




.

 

[davemy]

Nice Trade! Teenagers love Beachplace.

 

[pwrshift]

Here's a little video I made to successfully rent my BeachPlace studios this year.

http://vimeo.com/33184337

There are only two views at BP ... Oceanfront (sun on balcony in mornings) and Intracoastal Waterway (sun in the afternoons). At OP most of the views are into other apartments and if you're on the North side of the buildings you won't get any sun on the balcony.

You need a car at OP but will probably not use it at all at BP as everything you'll need is a 10 minute walk or short taxi ride...even the airport is 15 minutes away. It is a million dollar location...with a Ritz right next door...and the ocean across the street with great people watching.

OP appeals to the under 10 set who love to scream and splash in the pools...that's why the old folks my age prefer dates when the kids should be in school. Teens do love BP.

 

[jont]

Nice Trade! Teenagers love Beachplace.

That's what i'm afraid of, my kids might like it a little too much!

 

[VivianLynne]

19 year olds --- NOT Beachplace. Too close to tattoo shops and easy alcohol drinks. Water Taxi and public bus could have them far, far away within an hour.

Have experience with that age group. They are stupid and make dumb choices.

 

[dougp26364]

You may want to check the reviews on TripAdvisor. You will find both reviews and pictures of the resort and surrounding area, which should give you a feel for both places. Click on the links below.

Ocean Pointe CLICK HERE

BeachPlace Towers CLICK HERE

Trip advisor is a good website for hotel reviews but I've found it to be one of the worst for timeshare reviews. You're better off reading the reviews here on TUG.

Besides, there is absolutely no reason to drive through the neighborhood on the mainland unless you just want too.

 

[CashEddie]

Slightly off topic but related to OP:

Since the summer months are clasified as gold for OP, is it really tough to get a reservation during the summer months? My thought was to try utilizing the Florida Club one year to reserve directly into OP. We own a gold GV week and can technically reserve summer weeks at OP, albeit only 6 months out. We are not trying to target super prime time like 4th July week or anything like that but since we have kids, we would want to target anytime from mid June - end of August. Thanks.