Confirmed for Marriott SurfWatch on HHI; need suggestions

[rsnash]

for Labor Day week in 2009 (Sept 5-12).

It looks very nice. I had put in a request for a variety of places along the southeast shore and Cape Cod and we just got our confirmation.

So, now logistics questions...

I see there is a local airport, HHH, and II recommends Savannah. Charleston SC wouldn't be too far either. Which airport would you all recommend we fly into?

Anyone have any restaurant recommendations? Not fast/junk food. We tend to only cook breakfast and the occasional lunch when at a TS, and we like to explore and find the local places. This would include local shops and groceries, anything unique nearby?

What is there to do besides lounge by the pool/ocean and golf? We don't golf and dh is worried that there's nothing else to do there. Assume just 1 or 2 couples with no kids (although we did extend an invite to our friends whose daughter is our god-daughter, don't know if they're joining us yet).

Thanks y'all!

 

[Dave M]

(1) Fly into SAV. No question about it. More options for alternative flights than if you fly into HHI. Also, only small airplanes fly into HHI. SAV is about an hour from Surfwatch, compared with over 2 hours from Charleston.

(2) There are many threads here and on the Marriott forum about HHI restaurants. Here is one thread (especially the first 14 posts) and a a recent post the topic by my most respected HHI restaurant reviewer "jme".

(3) What to do? Take a day and explore Savannah. Another day (or two) for Charleston. Spend evenings enjoying music at your choice of many places (e.g., Wild Wing Cafe or outdoors at the Salty Dog Cafe in Sea Pines). Take a dolphin boat ride. Explore Harbour Town (also in Sea Pines). Spend a lot of time at the beach. Go to the mega-outlets - just off the island. Rent and ride bikes on the many, many miles of bike trails. Also ride them on the beach at low tide. Ride horses. Relax a lot and take a nap; it's a vacation.

For more ideas about both (2) and (3), take a look at the TUG Resort Reviews for various HHI resorts. You'll get many ideas and suggestions.

 

[vkhome]

You will not be at a loss for great restaurants on the island. Pick up the free "restaurants" guide, available at most grocery stores or tourist kiosks. Also, pick up the booklet "101 things to do on Hilton Head." Some tourist materials are available at the Savannah airport, downstairs near the baggage and rental cars.

I love Shelter Cove for outdoor music in the evening; check out San Miquels and Scotts Fish. BTW, if you like fish, the Sea Shack off Pope Avenue has the best - not fancy (it really is a shack, of sorts) but awesome seafood at reasonable prices.

There is a Hilton Head Theater at Shelter Cove which has plays for evening entertainment. During the day, if you don't enjoy golf, there is every imaginable water sport available on the island. You can also take day or dinner cruises to Savannah.

This is only a very partial list of suggestions. We are never bored on the island.

Have fun.
Joanne

 

[rsnash]

Thanks Dave. I'm just now, after owning for 8 years, getting the hang of exchanging in advance in order to get the better places, thanks to TUG. So, now that I've booked a place 9 months in advance, when is the best time to buy plane tickets? I'm usually booking tickets just a couple of weeks to a month before I go someplace, so I'm hoping that by having more advance notice, that I'll get a better deal. Yes? No?

And thank you too, Joanne.

I'm thinking of flying down to SAV, then home via CHS, staying overnight in Charleston. But I'm going to have to wait a while, I know those tickets will be less than $200 eventually. Right now they're over $350.

 

[Dave M]

I wouldn't count on the tickets being less than $200. A lot depends on the economy, so they might.

However, the airlines have made some mega-changes in an effort to return to profitability. One of those changes was to significantly reduce the number of flights this fall, thus making it easier for the airlines to charge higher fares in an effort to return to profitability. They say those changes are permanent. If they hold the line and people are traveling next summer, you might find the $350 looks like a bargain, especially since you would be flying on a holiday weekend. Time will tell....

 

[Big Matt]

I don't know your situation, and maybe money is not object, but if I lived in NJ, I'd drive. You'll spend a day in the car, but you can stop along the way. You will definitely need a car for HHI.

Thankswhen is the best time to buy plane tickets? I'm usually booking tickets just a couple of weeks to a month before I go someplace, so I'm hoping that by having more advance notice, that I'll get a better deal. Yes? No?

 

[pcgirl54]

Rachel
We are from MA and vist HHI annually. Savannah flights from Boston range from $ 250-$350 normally. SAV is about 40 minutes away. From Rt 95 it is 17-20 miles to the island itself exit 8 off Rt 95. It's about a 20 hr drive from MA so we fly.

You can watch cheap flights to Jacksonville Fl which is 3 hrs and drive north. We have gotten flights under $200 in the past and we do not mind the drive. However if you add getting to the airport early and all that stuff then that is another 2 hours so now that makes 5 hours each way. If it takes you 8 to drive then do not fly.

US air flew into HHI airport but there are not as many flight choices as Savannah SAV or JAX.

Lots of dining posts just do a search and read the review section.

 

[rsnash]

I considered driving, but it would take more like 13 hours to do. We'd rent a car if driving, as I wouldn't want to do it in our old car. That would be ~$250+150 gas (assuming 2.50/gal). The rental will be the same from SAV, but not as much gas. It's something to consider, but Boston/Cape Cod is about 4-5 hours, which is the longest we've ever driven for vacation. But I'll discuss w/dh. Thanks.

 

[pcgirl54]

Rachel

We have gotten rentals for $110/economy to $145-$175 for standard using varying coupon codes. I read rental rates change 7 times a day so you can book something and then revise it if you see a better offer.

I use Marriott, II, RCI,AAA and Hertz-rentalcarmomma.com and then go to the Hertz or Budget website. We are gold plus members so we normally use Hertz from Savannah.

Savannah is an easy airport like TF Green.

The reason I mentioned Boston to SAV is to give you an idea of what I pay coming from further North. Would you fly from NYC or Newark?

We have gotten direct flights thru Delta once in awhile and it is about 2.5 hrs. We got flights once from JAX for $130 RT so we were willing to drive the 3 hrs. We also spent a couple of days in Florida on the way back and visited Amelia Island.

 

[rsnash]

Appreciate your thought, re: car rental prices. But, we're not talking compacts for the price, and we have a very good corp rate. Actually, I may not have to pay for a car at all (except taxes & gas), as we have a lot of Hertz points. Hmm, driving is sounding better all the time.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Rachel,

If you decide to drive to HHI and you've never been there before - I strongly suggest you arrive during daylight hours. Makes navigating and finding things much easier. Lighting at night is sparse and almost nonexistent is some areas.

Another fun day trip is to visit is Beaufort, SC. If you do be sure to take a carriage ride and see the antebellum homes. There are several different carriage companies that will take you on a tour.

Southernrose Buggy Tours
1210 Newcastle St
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 524-2900

Narrated tour of the Old Point neighborhood and the Historic District. Offering walking tours as well.

Carolina Buggy Tours
Phone: 843-525-1300
Fax: 843-525-1000
PO Box 1087, 901 Port Republic St.
Beaufort, SC 29901

50 minute guided tours of the Old Point neighborhood and the Historic District. Departs daily or call Visitor's Center for schedule.


Other Beaufort, SC area Historic Sites

* The Arsenal and Beaufort Museum, Craven Street, Beaufort - Indian artifacts and Civil War weapons
* Penn Center, Martin Luther King Dr., off Rt. 21, St Helena Island, 15 minutes away - First school built in the south specifically for Black Education.
* Paris Island Museum - History of Paris Island
* Sheldon Church - Built in 1746, burned in the revolutionary war, rebuilt and burned again in the Civil War. The historic ruins are located about 15 miles out Rt. 21 toward Rt. 95, on Sheldon Road
* St. Helena's Episcopal Church, Church St., Beaufort - built in 1724. Wander around the graveyard whose tombstones served as operating tables during the Civil War.

Also a lot of movies were filmed in and around Beaufort, including The Big Chill,The Great Santini, Forrest Gump, The Prince of Tides, GI Jane,
Full Metal Jacket, and White Squall to name some. See http://www.beaufortusa.com/Films.htm

Enjoy your trip

Richard

 

[pcgirl54]

Yes on driving and you won't have to cross the Tappan Zee or GW Bridge like we do from Massachusetts and get stuck in the bridge traffic nightmare. When you think of the extra time at a rental terminal and then getting to the airport early plus flight times especially if there are layovers then it is only a few more hours to get there. You can eat when you want and stop when you want plus bring food or beach chairs with you depending on the #of suitcases. There are washer/dryers in the units so you can pack light. Restaurants are casual.

Plus you may want to stop somewhere else interesting on the way down that you've wanted to see.

 

[Big Matt]

Rachael,
I was suggesting that you drive for a few reasons.

Unless you get a direct flight from right near where you live, you will spend almost the same amount of time as you would driving. Say 2-3 hours to airport parking, baggage, security, and getting on plane. Another 2 hours to Savannah. An hour to get bags and rental car, and an hour to HHI. That's a minimum of 6 or 7 hours. Add on a connecting flight in Charlotte or Atlanta and you add another couple hours. It gets to be almost the same as a drive.

Also, you can see stuff on the way down or back like Charleston, Beaufort, etc. The drive will be very easy, but it is long.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

I just got back from Surfwatch and could not understand why it is rated as #1 in the MVCI system. There is only one building in which you actually can see the ocean; the others are a long hike to actually getting there. On top of that, it was darn cold during the 3rd week of November when we were there (temps in the 20's in the morning).

The previous week we stayed at Barony Beach and it was much nicer, closer to the ocean, and the temps were close to normal.

Between air fares (and flights themselves) and car rental charges we found it was cheaper to fly to Jacksonville and drive to HHI.

We got a direct flight (none of the hassles of switching to another plane) and the car rental prices were a bit better (more competition?). We ended up paying $16 per day via Priceline.com ($112 per week).

The drive was very easy on Interstate 95 and took a bit less than 3 hours. I noticed that gas prices were about 10 to 20 cents per gallon less than I pay for in the Boston area. Most people were driving 75 to 80 mph with ease.

Tons of restaurants to eat at, and most of them have early bird specials if you are seated prior to 5:45 pm. Trust me, we made sure we weren't late!

One of the days we drove to Charleston, SC (around 2 hours), and another day we drove to Savannah, GA (around 45 minutes).

We also rented bikes and rode on the long, expansive, hard packed sand beach.

 

[Dave M]

I just got back from Surfwatch and could not understand why it is rated as #1 in the MVCI system.

It's not - by any measurement. But if you attend a sales seminar or an owner's seminar at almost any Marriott resort, many presenters will say that the resort you are at is the single or among the (1) top, (2) #1, (3) most requested exchange, (4), highest owner-occupied (5) resort with highest satisfaction scores or (6) choose your own superlative.

Much depends on whether the resort has some weeks for sale.

 

[rsnash]

Discussed driving w/dh. That's out. There are direct flights to both SAV and CHS from EWR. We'll probably go via SAV, just need to wait until the prices come down to realistic levels.

As a Marriott owner (but not at SurfWatch), do you get any priority when it comes to room requests. It would be nice to be in the building closest to the ocean. Although, it's hard to tell from the site map in the TUG resort database, how is the parking around that building? We'd probably want the convenience of being able to park by our unit at night over ocean view.

 

[Dave M]

As a Marriott owner (but not at SurfWatch), do you get any priority when it comes to room requests.

Some, but not much. See the bulleted list in this post for the order of priority in assigning units at nearby Grande Ocean. It's also important to read the entire post because, as an exchanger, you might get lucky! I would guess that it's similar at SurfWatch.