First Grande Ocean Visit

[suzannesimon]

I rented my Platinum week at Grande Ocean to someone else and rented a Sept Gold week for myself. We are 2 adults and like high floors with the hope of a peak of the ocean. The owner told me to call the resort because she won't forward their emailed questionnaire. She's afraid I'll steal her Marriott Rewards number. I'm looking for building suggestions as well as the best person to talk to for room assignments at the resort. Do I need to pretend I'm the owner or confess I'm a lowly renter who is also an owner to get the best assignment?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Big Matt]

Not to be too obvious, but first find out if they are ocean front or not. Second, have them do the questionnaire for you. I'd take Dolphin or Starfish first. Even though you may not get a high floor, you can see the ocean really well from some of the lower floors. I had a third floor Dolphin one time and had a great view. I also had a really nice view from the fifth floor of Sand Dollar once.

 

[suzannesimon]

Not to be too obvious, but first find out if they are ocean front or not. Second, have them do the questionnaire for you. I'd take Dolphin or Starfish first. Even though you may not get a high floor, you can see the ocean really well from some of the lower floors. I had a third floor Dolphin one time and had a great view. I also had a really nice view from the fifth floor of Sand Dollar once.

It is an Oceanside, not Oceanfront. Are Dolphin and Starfish oceanfront buildings? Thank you.

 

[Big Matt]

Go to the Marriott FAQ page and you can find the resort map. Dolphin and Starfish aren't Ocean Front, but the front sides of the buildings have ocean views. The other sides over look the courtyard.

 

[dioxide45]

I rented my Platinum week at Grande Ocean to someone else and rented a Sept Gold week for myself. We are 2 adults and like high floors with the hope of a peak of the ocean. The owner told me to call the resort because she won't forward their emailed questionnaire. She's afraid I'll steal her Marriott Rewards number. I'm looking for building suggestions as well as the best person to talk to for room assignments at the resort. Do I need to pretend I'm the owner or confess I'm a lowly renter who is also an owner to get the best assignment?

Thanks everyone!

You are probably better off calling anyway. If the GO pre-arrival emails are like those at other properties recently, they don't provide the ability to request much of anything as far as villa preferences go.

 

[SueDonJ]

Go to the Marriott FAQ page and you can find the resort map. Dolphin and Starfish aren't Ocean Front, but the front sides of the buildings have ocean views. The other sides over look the courtyard.

Some units in Dolphin and Starfish are actually designated Oceanfront, others Oceanside. This post explains the designations at GO.

As an owner exchanging back in you should have priority over non-owners exchanging in, but not over owners using their Weeks or members using DC Points. I'd request a high floor and hope for the best (while preparing for the worst.)

 

[dioxide45]

Some units in Dolphin and Starfish are actually designated Oceanfront, others Oceanside. This post explains the designations at GO.

As an owner exchanging back in you should have priority over non-owners exchanging in, but not over owners using their Weeks or members using DC Points. I'd request a high floor and hope for the best (while preparing for the worst.)

The OP isn't exchanging though. They rented a week from another owner. They should get whatever priority based on that owner. So they should be treated as an owner staying in their owned week.

 

[SueDonJ]

The OP isn't exchanging though. They rented a week from another owner. They should get whatever priority based on that owner. So they should be treated as an owner staying in their owned week.

Doh! Then there's no chance of being place oceanfront if the owner has oceanside. With September (and May) having the best weather during Gold season I'd expect high occupancy with many owner requests.

OP, I'd let the owner make the request for a high floor and ask him/her to forward any replies from the rooms controller, which will have contact information that you can use for a follow-up phone call. You could also ask the owner where s/he was placed during the last visit because GO uses a rotation system similar to Barony's and SurfWatch's.

 

[suzannesimon]

That's correct - renter not exchanger. I've always gotten excellent views when renting Marriott units. Not so with some Mexican resorts. They treat you like an exchanger.