• 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 30th 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
  • 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!

Currently at Crystal Shores

taxare

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Messages
168
Reaction score
43
Location
Southwest FL
We live in SW Florida and decided to come down here for a few days using some holding account points and taking advantage of the Last minute points discount. They said last
week ( Memorial Day week) had good occupancy. The lobby was empty when we arrived, there are not a ton of people here, but mainly families. There is plexiglass at the check-in area. There is not plexiglass on the desks where you go for your parking pass, dining list, etc. As previously reported the young ladies providing that information are required to try and get you to do a Sales update. I believe she said there was zero APR on purchase loans, but frankly I had tuned her out by then as we dont want to do anymore updates. All employees were wearing masks. The elevators have signs requesting one person or family at a time. Not a big deal this week, but if they were full and you are schlepping little kids up from the pool or beach that could be a long wait. All of the pools are open. Current changes include no housekeeping (although towel and linen exchange is available), activity center is closed, saunas and hot tubs are closed, the fitness center is open but with ten person maximum, Stilts bar and grill is open with limited menu but the Pizza Cucina is closed. BBQ grills on the north side are open and the front desk has the utensils. We don’t use them so can’t tell you about cleaning. Two beach chairs with an umbrella for a week is $115. The beach is beautiful and wide, it appears almost all of the restaurants are open with mandated 50% occupancy. I hope this is helpful if you are beginning to venture out.
 

gln60

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2015
Messages
1,490
Reaction score
1,094
Location
The Garden State
Resorts Owned
Marriot Harbour Lake
Abound Points
Absolutely LOVE Marriot Crystal Shores and the beautiful beach........thanks for the info.........enjoy
 

rapmarks

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
10,091
Reaction score
5,229
We were next door week of May 9. It appeared empty
 

tynian16

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2012
Messages
126
Reaction score
11
Location
Jersey City
Random question but has anyone ever stayed at Eagle's Nest? We were able to get a trade there for August so are heading down so long as this dumb quarantine is lifted.
 

hcarman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Messages
779
Reaction score
182
Location
Tamarac, FL
Thanks for the info as we are scheduled to be there over July 4th. I am surprised the pizza place is closed as that is easy "to go" food. Maybe not enough guests?
 

Panina

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
6,927
Reaction score
10,274
Location
Florida
Resorts Owned
Hgvc Anderson, Blue Ride Village Resort
Random question but has anyone ever stayed at Eagle's Nest? We were able to get a trade there for August so are heading down so long as this dumb quarantine is lifted.
Yes, I own there. Very nice place
 

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
May 20, 2006
Messages
50,758
Reaction score
22,260
Location
NE Florida
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
We will be at Crystal Shores Labor Day week, looking forward to it!
 

elked12

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
Messages
265
Reaction score
79
Location
Tennessee
Resorts Owned
MVC Aruba Surf Club
We’ll be there Sunday for 5 nights and again Labor Day week! Can’t wait. Hope to see you Dioxide45!
 

NJMOM2

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
605
Reaction score
58
Location
New Jersey
Resorts Owned
Abound Club Points
Marriott OceanWatch
We will be there for a week and leaving the weekend before Labor Day if they lift the quarantine. Labor Day weekend we will at Marriott Fairway Villas moving my daughter back into her college apartment located in the same town as the Marriott timeshare. It's very convenient to have the timeshare in the same town as the college.
 

taxare

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Messages
168
Reaction score
43
Location
Southwest FL
We went back last week for a few days. Pizza Cucina is now open, and more restaurants nearby are open as well. Based on the protocols at Crystal Shores and the restaurants that we went to, we never felt uncomfortable. The more we go there, the more we like it. For us its great for short getaways.
 

maryk

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
361
Reaction score
17
Location
Cumming, GA
We are going mid August. We have never been. We have a 2b/2bath Gulf front unit. Is there any suggestions as to location in building I need to ask for?

I also saw some reviews that the staff isn't very friendly. Did anyone have that same experience?
 

taxare

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Messages
168
Reaction score
43
Location
Southwest FL
For the gulf front units there are three two bedroom units on every floor except for the top penthouse floor which are two three BR units. The units start on the second floor. The visit this month we were on the sixth floor and was quiet and had a great view. We request as high a floor as possible. We did not have an issue with the staff not being friendly. Perhaps they were a little more "business like" and "reserved" because of all the COVID restrictions, but we didn't have any issues with any staff. The pool cabanas were all sold out when we were there, so if that's of interest you may want to check when you can reserve one. It wasn't real important to us, so I don't know the logistics to get one. Enjoy!
 

normab

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2005
Messages
1,086
Reaction score
325
Location
Florida
Agree with asking for a high floor...we have stayed in gulf front and gulf side, they are both great. Wonderfully huge balconies, great layout of units...Great view...great pools and beach....walkable to several restaurants...hmmm.....why haven’t we booked some of our holding points there yet since we live a couple of hours away? Okay, now I have to reassess our plans over the next few months...:ponder: :ROFLMAO:
 

gln60

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2015
Messages
1,490
Reaction score
1,094
Location
The Garden State
Resorts Owned
Marriot Harbour Lake
Abound Points
Agree with asking for a high floor...we have stayed in gulf front and gulf side, they are both great. Wonderfully huge balconies, great layout of units...Great view...great pools and beach....walkable to several restaurants...hmmm.....why haven’t we booked some of our holding points there yet since we live a couple of hours away? Okay, now I have to reassess our plans over the next few months...:ponder: :ROFLMAO:
Hi Normab..I agree with most of your assessment of beautiful Crystal Shores..the only assessment I disagree with is the pools...IMO..they are way too shallow..maybe 3.5 feet...when we were there in early May the pool water temp had to be 90 degrees...not very refreshing
 

normab

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2005
Messages
1,086
Reaction score
325
Location
Florida
Hi Normab..I agree with most of your assessment of beautiful Crystal Shores..the only assessment I disagree with is the pools...IMO..they are way too shallow..maybe 3.5 feet...when we were there in early May the pool water temp had to be 90 degrees...not very refreshing

Well, I can agree with you re the depth of the pools at US Marriotts....they are shallow....probably a liability thing...and yes, they are not the most refreshing the hot weather...:) Im not sure that it’s much different at most US hotel chains?
 

maryk

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
361
Reaction score
17
Location
Cumming, GA
Thanks for the advice. This is our first time there. I typically always ask for a high floor away from the elevator. I have called once about location but they said about 2-3 weeks before the resort will call me and ask if I have any requests, so they said wait until then. Is this true?

I also heard the beach has a lot of shells so you need water shoes or sandals of some sort to walk the beach. Is this true?

Is the beach the hard sand like you find in Hilton Head and Daytona that goes a ways out?

thx - Mary
 

kfreeman

TUG Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2011
Messages
48
Reaction score
3
Location
Illinois
I typically do not wear sandals as we explore from Tigertail down to the end of the sand in the South. However, there is some coral on the South part of the beach, so either bring footwear or watch your step.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
 

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
May 20, 2006
Messages
50,758
Reaction score
22,260
Location
NE Florida
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
I have called once about location but they said about 2-3 weeks before the resort will call me and ask if I have any requests, so they said wait until then. Is this true?
Generally the resorts aren't sent the reservation information until about 2-3 weeks out. The systems used at the resorts don't have the ability to look up all reservations like Owner Services can.
 

taxare

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Messages
168
Reaction score
43
Location
Southwest FL
The elevators are in the middle of the floor, but they really aren't really a factor. I believe they asked for our preference a couple of weeks in advance. I see in another thread you asked about activities and restaurants. If you ask them to send it to you, they have a list of restaurants that are open. Also almost all have carryout available if you prefer not to eat at the restaurant. The Trip Advisor restaurant reviews are pretty accurate for Marco. My personal view is that there are a lot of shells and therefore I use water shoes. The beach is very wide, but not firm like Hilton Head. It is a beautiful beach and property.
 
Top