Grande Ocean - Ocean Front versus Ocean Side

[SueDonJ]

Splitting hairs here but the building at SurfWatch that is closer to the beach is actually closer than the back buildings at GO. Obviously GO is the better OF by far. I love SurfWatch for what it is though.

Yep, like Marty and I both say, different strokes. SurfWatch appeals to me much more because of all the open space and natural habitat that separates the buildings, not in spite of it. When making comparisons GO and Barony Beach share many more similarities than GO and SW, with the obvious exceptions of Barony's OF units being true oceanfront and Barony's gardenside section that's further from the beach than anything at GO.

 

[jont]

Yep, like Marty and I both say, different strokes. SurfWatch appeals to me much more because of all the open space and natural habitat that separates the buildings, not in spite of it. When making comparisons GO and Barony Beach share many more similarities than GO and SW, with the obvious exceptions of Barony's OF units being true oceanfront and Barony's gardenside section that's further from the beach than anything at GO.

You are absoutely correct Sue. Of the big three ( sorry Monarch fans) Surfwatch has the most unique site plan which many find appealing. I always enjoy the times I am there.

 

[JIMinNC]

I would still pay the difference to own Oceanfront considering that GO is one of the resorts that uses a rotational system for unit placements, which means that even during the highest-demand periods as an owner you're likely to be placed in the "best" of oceanfront at least as often as you're placed in the "worst" (and everything in-between.) Plus the differential is only paid once, at purchase, so it'd be worth it to me. And finally, the "worst" of oceanside units at GO all the way at the back of the resort furthest from the ocean don't appeal to me AT ALL - it feels very crowded and dark back there.

But then again, I'd choose to own an oceanfront Barony or oceanvista SurfWatch over Grande Ocean, hands down.

Sue, I dug up this old thread from back in the spring.

Can you please explain your reasoning for the phrase I bolded above in the quote? Why the preference for Barony and SurfWatch? What is it you like better about those resorts over Grande Ocean? We've never stayed at GO or SW ourselves, but are very familiar with Barony.

 

[SueDonJ]

Sue, I dug up this old thread from back in the spring.

Can you please explain your reasoning for the phrase I bolded above in the quote? Why the preference for Barony and SurfWatch? What is it you like better about those resorts over Grande Ocean? We've never stayed at GO or SW ourselves, but are very familiar with Barony.

Post #26 explains it, I think. For me SurfWatch is head and shoulders above any of the Hilton Head Marriotts simply because of the way its footprint takes full advantage of the natural setting. I love all of the space, love the feeling that I get immediately after going through the gate, love both the oceanvista and oceanside areas of the resort.

Barony and Grande Ocean are very similar to each other when you compare them to SurfWatch. There isn't anything wrong with either of them, they're fantastic resorts with lovely settings, but they just don't have the preserved natural design that SW does. If I were looking for oceanside I'd consider both of them almost equally but for me Barony gets a slight edge because it has fewer buildings (feels less crowded with both buildings and people.) For oceanfront Barony beats GO because all of the Barony OF units actually do front the ocean while at GO some don't.

Of the other HHI Marriott resorts I'm most interested in staying some time at Sunset Pointe or Harbour Point because I think their setting on the marsh at Broad Creek would give me a similar feeling to SW's natural setting. I'll get over there one of these years.

Many of us HHI TUGgers have a preference for one resort over another. I don't think any of us are trying to say that there's a bad resort in the bunch - it's definitely not what I'm trying to say anyway.

 

[jme]

Pictures help to compare these resorts, but the best advice is always to VISIT each one to see what your heartfelt impressions are. Your affinity for one or another will manifest itself, and you'll then be happier in the long run.

(Click on the little double arrow lower right next to word "Explore", near yellow man figure, to eliminate that row of pics at bottom, for better viewing)

Grande Ocean aerial view
https://goo.gl/maps/Zf393

Barony aerial view
https://goo.gl/maps/Bk1f6

Surfwatch aerial view
https://goo.gl/maps/XvqyU

The "Big Three" Hilton Head Marriott resorts (ONLY termed that because they are the 3 "modern constructions", all modeled after the 90s version of what Marriott perceived the new timeshare concept to be at that time) are very nice, head and shoulders above other HH resorts (excepting Disney which I consider equal), and all are worthy of high praises. Each resort has its own unique feel, and therefore each has its own rabid following among owners, and that keeps the world going round. My own opinions may differ from others' opinions, but for all intents and purposes, they are all fantastic.

The differences I mention are maybe blown out of proportion in MY own mind despite their overriding similarities, but they are enough for me to notice, mention, and form my own preferences. I'll admit that when I'm at any of them, I suddenly remember I'm truly wishing to be ONLY at Grande Ocean. I own Barony too, and have rented at Surfwatch many times, so I know all three resorts intimately.


GO was built first---on the same property as the first ever hotel at HH, William Hilton Inn, located on the widest stretch of beach on the island, between a 3/4 mile residential area on one side, and 1/4 mile of private condos on the other. GO's complex of buildings/pools/etc has the largest footprint, the largest villas, more pools, larger pools, and more buildings within 2-3 min walk to ocean, and the best location in general. It also has the highest rating/ranking of any HH resort, and has in every poll (TUG included) for 2 decades. It also has the highest owner occupancy rate, meaning very few owners do anything but stay there. It is also personally owned by the CEO Steve Weisz, purchased by him in the 90s for his own family vacations, and I've met him while there. We have stayed at GO around 75 times.

Barony was built second, spa was the selling point.....Marriott wanted any beachfront property they could find (so did Disney, HGVC, Sheraton, and others) because of the huge success of GO, and they bought the property as fast as they could, beating out the others despite the smallness of the parcel. Good buy anyway, build those timeshares!!! Barony ended up as the narrow postage stamp that meandered inland instead of along the ocean, and adjacent to the huge Westin hotel. The Garden Section was developed first (otherwise no one would have bought there later). Villas are smaller than GO's, pools smaller and fewer. Buildings have narrower space between them on the interior, area congested in general especially parking and general green space.

Surfwatch was built last. Marriott and other developers all sought that property---supposedly last piece of anything remotely close to ocean, and local council wasn't wanting any more development, period. They purchased the property after coercing the one home owner to move (and they even built her a new mansion out near the ocean in exchange for the old one more strategically placed). They wanted it not "because" of the large open marsh area, but in spite of it. That area is beautiful, granted, but definitely caused Marriott to not be able to place as many buildings as they wished. They placed them instead on ANY dry ground available, and it turned out to be a different type of layout, all relative to wet spots. Turned out to be a nice and natural setting of course, but proximity to ocean (or lack thereof) is a drawback. The selling point was the 3-BR unit, something Marriott didn't yet have at HH. Villas were again downsized, however, even smaller than Barony's. Pools are just as nice, but again smaller than Barony's. Living rooms in 2 and 3-BR units are the same size, despite the fact that one is a 3-BR.....all are still smaller than the 2-Br unit's LR at Barony, and much smaller than GO's.

My point is, if any more property at HH opened up, however strange, Marriott would go for it, even if they had to place buildings on stilts. How the area adjacent to GO got in the hands of Hilton is beyond me (there's current construction of a timeshare property by Hilton in the place of the old Adventure Inn)----perhaps Hilton just outbid Marriott, but a Phase III of GO would have had them drooling again.

Anyway, this is my back story on the 3 properties. Of course it's more interesting than time permits, so I'll leave it at this. Bottom line, we have 3 distinctive but wonderful properties that offer different feels and different experiences. We like our involvement with all three, but our first love, and second home, will remain Grande Ocean.

Check them all out, and go for it.

We vacation annually at many spots other than HH (believe it or not) but HH still gets better for us as time goes on.

Our single most favorite spot on the planet is not at HH at all (imagine that), and it's only a 3-hour drive too.



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