Hilton Head - which are really oceanfront?

[sueoz]

Hi - planning a trip which includes my 3 year old granddaughter. My daughter has stayed at Grande Ocean and loved that it was on the beach. We are trying to find that for this trip with the little one. Are Barony and Surfwatch actually on the beach also? Are they as close to the beach? Does the proximity to Sea Pines make Grande Ocean a more attractive choice?

An indoor pool would be great, too. Do they all have them? I tried to tell by Marriott's website and I wasn't sure. Thanks for any help. Any of you who have gone with young ones - do you have a favorite?
Sue

 

[pedro47]

GO and Barony are oceanfront on the beach. The Barony has a very nice indoor pool. We have not stay at Surfwatch no comments. Our first choice is GO and you are right around the corner from Sea Pines Plantation.

 

[applegirl]

This is a great question and I hope more will chime in who have stayed at Marriotts on HHI.

Janna

 

[Big Matt]

Barony: Definitely on the ocean. Only a walk over the dunes separates you. However, Gardenview Units are quite far and you have to walk either through the Westin arrival area or through the parking lots at Barony's welcome area and through the grounds.

Grande Ocean: Right on ocean with no unit being more than 300 yards from the sand. Ocean view buildings are very close to the sand.

Monarch: complex is right on the ocean

Surfwatch: Wildlife refuge/swamp in between resort complex and ocean, but no roads to cross. Units are pretty far back from beach, many have ocean views.

 

[sandytoes]

Monarch is the closest to the beach in general. We love Monarch but if you are going with a lot of people the units are smaller then the others on the island. I love the quaint updated decor. As a couple they are perfect. Monarch does not have as many things to do. There is no indoor pool. Some of the programs are actually held at Grande Ocean. I think every room would have a view of the ocean if the trees are not in the way. Monarch is inside the Sea Pines Gate. You will have to pay the $5.00 entrance fee the first time you enter, but then you will be given a pass for the remainder of the week.

Grande Ocean is large. Lots of buildings, grounds, pools and things to do. The units are spacious but not all will have Ocean views . . .at least that is what I remember. There is an indoor pool but it did not look too appealing to me. While we have a good time at GO I am not a hugh fan as I suspect it is very crowded during peak times. A real plus is that is is next to Sea Pines and you can get a pass to come and go. Sea Pines has lots of bike trails and things to see and do. You have to rent bikes while you are there for at least a day if not the week. It is not expensive and you can even ride on the beach.

We toured Surfwatch and will be staying there in January. To me it is the most upscale of all Marriotts I have seen. I loved the units and the main building (rocking chairs on the front porch). I was told they are trying to make it more of a "spa" vacation with elaborate workout and (I think) massage area. The grounds are lovely. There is a very nice looking indoor pool with a lot of glass that can be opened up in good weather so that you feel you are out side but under a canopy. The back units have a view of a pond, the middle units surround a very nice pool and you may have a peak of the ocean, the front units are considered ocean front but are not real close to the ocean. There is a board walk that takes you to the ocean. The walk is interesting as you walk over a marsh area that has lots of wild life. If walking is an issue Marriott has a golf cart that shuttles people back and forth to the beach. The walk in my opinion is nice and not that long. At the end of the board walk right next to the ocean is another pool area and cabana. I loved this resort when we toured it and look forward to our stay in January.

Barony . . we also be staying there in January but that is all I know. We wanted to try all the ocean front units.

Hilton Head is definitely one of my favorite beach locations. You will not go wrong with any Marriott. They all have their own "personality" . . . ENJOY!

 

[SueDonJ]

I've only seen Surfwatch, Barony and GO, and the way I see it, unless you've reserved your own oceanFRONT unit in any of the three, you won't be directly on the ocean. Surfwatch's closest building to the beach is separated from the ocean by marsh more than the other two resorts, but the walk on the boardwalk takes three minutes tops. GO's and Barony's are closer but there is still a boardwalk - protected dunes line the ocean at all three resorts.

Now if you're not in an oceanfront unit, Barony's furthest buildings (behind the Westin) are the most remote, Surfwatch's second and then GO. But in my opinion, the stroll through Surfwatch's property to the beach is the most pleasant, by far. GO felt very crowded and less "green" to me (honestly, all I remember is blah gray concrete, except for that beautiful butterfly bush just before the boardwalk), Barony is more colorful but you have to navigate that oceanfront pool area. Surfwatch is just exactly my idea of a relaxing paradise.

At any of the three I'd call and request a high floor unit, because the tree lines might block your view.

Now you wait, somebody is going to come in here screaming, "Surfwatch is NOT on the ocean!", guaranteed. It happens every time this subject comes up!

Susan

 

[pcgirl54]

I am at Monarch now and have stayed at GO ad Barony. Monarch rooms are smaller that the others.Sea Pines is a great location. No indoor pool but 3 pools outside and a kiddie pool. Lap pool is heated. You are where the best bikes paths are and at Harbortown there is a playground. There are plenty of on site activites and your are near many restaurants on Pope Ave. Wifi is good here. 2nd bedroom is twin beds,

I have no desire to stay at Surfwatch as it is furthest from the beach. I would stay there only for the 3bd if our sons were visiting.

Barony is my favorite. Tot pools,indoor pool,spa,great gym and nice large lobby. It is at the quieter North end of the island. Love the beach at the heel. 2nd bedroom is a master suite in the garden villas but the buildings 2nd bedroom are two double or queen beds. Nice Marketplace center and many activites. They have everything I want at this resort.

GO near Coligny Circle/Pope Ave. More buildings than the others and many activites.

 

[SueDonJ]

Let's see if this works for perspective.

This is the boardwalk from Surfwatch's closest building to the oceanfront pool area. From there it is another short boardwalk over the dunes.

Barony Beach from the ocean

GO from the ocean

I couldn't resist - this is that fabulous butterfly bush!

I think you can't go wrong with any of them, actually, but you have to see all three to pick your favorite!

Susan

 

[sandytoes]

http://clarkfamilyphotos.smugmug.com/Vacation

Below is a picture of Monarch with the beach and ocean. If you click on the link above you can see a lot more pictures of Grande Ocean, surfwatch and a few more of Monarch . . . I have more just forgot to post. Karen

 

[gottspd]

Hi there.

We've stayed at GO, Surfwatch and Barony. I really loved the location of GO, it's close to many of the restaurants (both inside and outside of Sea Pines) and it is very child friendly. My wife and I had a great time. I thought the SW units were gorgeous, but it was just too far to walk to the beach. Barony was very nice, but my fear there is that we'd end up in a garden unit, which would make the walk to the beach further for us then we'd like. I just traded Cypress Garden for Labor Day week 2009 at GO! I can't wait!

 

[sueoz]

Wow! You guys are great. All these replies have helped a lot. Now I just have to hope for a trade.

Thanks again,
Sue

 

[mish]

Wow! Those pictures were great! I own at the Surfwatch, and have toured the Barony Beach. The above comment about Surfwatch being the more upscale is true- mostly because it is the newest of the Marriott resorts. I love the Boardwalk- you'll always see all age groups looking over the side to watch the critter life below. It is fascinating! Great learning experience for kids and adults. You have a nice view of the ocean on the upper floors for the ocean front and oceanside units. The garden view units have a nice view of a large pond (where kids can fish) and other ground areas. It's very serene, and surprisingly quiet even with the number of young children around. The walk from most units across the boardwalk to the ocean is only about 3 minutes...if you don't stop to peer over the sides! And there are many golf cart shuttles anxious to pick you up and transport around the resort.
Mish