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Marriott - View from the Balcony

Just returned from Marriott Ocean Pointe. This is unit 5212
 

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We are new to TUG and have enjoyed reviewing the forum posts and balcony views. What a wealth of valuable information! Thought we would share some photos of our trip to Northern Italy in October 2019. Thank goodness we made the trip pre-Covid! Although not using timeshares, all but one stay was at a Marriott property.

Renaissance Tuscany IL Ciocco Resort and Spa, Barga Italy

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Hotel Borgo Le Terrazze, Bellagio Italy (Lake Como) which has suites/efficiencies

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The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice Italy (suite upgrade window view facing the Grand Canal)

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The St. Regis Florence Italy (suite upgrade window view facing the Arno River)

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We are new to TUG and have enjoyed reviewing the forum posts and balcony views. What a wealth of valuable information! Thought we would share some photos of our trip to Northern Italy in October 2019. Thank goodness we made the trip pre-Covid! Although not using timeshares, all but one stay was at a Marriott property.

Renaissance Tuscany IL Ciocco Resort and Spa, Barga Italy

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Hotel Borgo Le Terrazze, Bellagio Italy (Lake Como) which has suites/efficiencies

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The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice Italy (suite upgrade window view facing the Grand Canal)

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The St. Regis Florence Italy (suite upgrade window view facing the Arno River)

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OK, you win! .........and by a large margin, imho.
AWESOME POST, I must say!
All gorgeous views, and you did some traveling to get to all those destinations,
and made some extra efforts to get those suite upgrades.
We were there in October 2018, and to reiterate your sentiments, SO HAPPY to have gone pre-covid!
We visited Rome, Monterosso, Florence & Tuscany (Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni),
and spent a few nights in each location so we could experience it all without rushing (Rome 4, Monterosso 2, Florence 4).
LOVE the suite upgrades-----we used suite upgrades for 2 rooms (2 couples) in Rome's Palazzo Naiadi,
and rented 2 awesome 2BR apartments in Monterosso & Florence.
It will probably remain the best trip ever. Wow.
 
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OK, you win! .........and by a large margin, imho.
AWESOME POST, I must say!
All gorgeous views, and you did some traveling to get to all those destinations,
and made some extra efforts to get those suite upgrades.
We were there in October 2018, and to reiterate your sentiments, SO HAPPY to have gone pre-covid!
We visited Rome, Monterosso, Florence & Tuscany (Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni),
and spent a few nights in each location so we could experience it all without rushing (Rome 4, Monterosso 2, Florence 4).
LOVE the suite upgrades-----we used suite upgrades for 2 rooms (2 couples) in Rome's Palazzo Naiadi,
and rented 2 awesome 2BR apartments in Monterosso & Florence.
It will probably remain the best trip ever. Wow.

Thanks for your comments, JME! Love your itinerary as well. The Palazzo Naiadies in Rome looks awesome! Will have to consider that hotel as we hope to make a return trip to Italy in the future to include Rome. Definitely, our Northern Italy trip will remain high on our "favorites" list as well. The Renaissance in Barga was our launching point to other destinations in Tuscany including a day trip to Cinque Terre. Our favorite village was Manarola where my wife captured a photo from a famous view from across the inlet. The colorful homes/shops there reminded us of the villas at Marriott's Frenchman's Cove in St. Thomas.

Manarola Italy Oct 2019.jpg
 
Thanks for your comments, JME! Love your itinerary as well. The Palazzo Naiadies in Rome looks awesome! Will have to consider that hotel as we hope to make a return trip to Italy in the future to include Rome. Definitely, our Northern Italy trip will remain high on our "favorites" list as well. The Renaissance in Barga was our launching point to other destinations in Tuscany including a day trip to Cinque Terre. Our favorite village was Manarola where my wife captured a photo from a famous view from across the inlet. The colorful homes/shops there reminded us of the villas at Marriott's Frenchman's Cove in St. Thomas.

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Another gorgeous photo.
You could easily come up with a calendar that would make you a fortune......I'd take at least 10 calendars to give as gifts.

We did love Marriott's Palazzo Naiadi/ Dedica Anthology Autograph Hotel in Rome----one of the most luxurious hotels we've ever seen.
It was fabulous, and the rooms and staff were both impeccable.
Sadly for "Marriott people", it might no longer be part of the Marriott system at some point during 2020, as it was bought out by another entity.....
I'm not sure of the current status because I see conflicting information in how it's listed, and it doesn't show up as a Marriott when trying to book a hotel in Rome now. See link below.


On another note, we did select Monterosso Mare as the best Cinque Terre town to visit because it's the largest, and frankly we'd choose it again because of several factors.....beautiful location and many scenic views, more to see and do around the town itself, many GREAT restaurants, and easily walkable. We also got that same advice from many friends who know Cinque Terre, but that's not meant to take away from
the uniqueness and beauty of the other towns, as they are all quite worthy of visits and stays in their own right.

If Covid ever "goes away", and Italy is free of such hindrances to safe travel, our SECOND itinerary would include the Amalfi Coast,
Positano & Sorrento, Capri, and Sicily. Our THIRD would include Lake Como and various towns around the northern part of Italy.

Then we'd have to grab a nice bottle of Brunello di Montalcino or a Barolo and wrestle to come up with a FOURTH itinerary.
Surely one might consider just getting lost in Umbria, anywhere the wind takes you, like for instance the lovely little town of Perugia.
 
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Last nights sunset at MKO.
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Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 
Thanks for your comments, JME! Love your itinerary as well. The Palazzo Naiadies in Rome looks awesome! Will have to consider that hotel as we hope to make a return trip to Italy in the future to include Rome. Definitely, our Northern Italy trip will remain high on our "favorites" list as well. The Renaissance in Barga was our launching point to other destinations in Tuscany including a day trip to Cinque Terre. Our favorite village was Manarola where my wife captured a photo from a famous view from across the inlet. The colorful homes/shops there reminded us of the villas at Marriott's Frenchman's Cove in St. Thomas.

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Look at the puzzle that I just finished this morning! We stayed in Manarola in 2010 and have been trying to get back ever since! Someday!
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Moonrise over Marriott's Village d'Ile de France - view from bedroom
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We love Marriott's Village d'Ile de France. Used to go there often while living in the UK. The two story villas are great and the property is expansive. Near slot of stuff but also great to just stay and be.

The next photo is not great as taken with an old phone from the 2015 that was cheap as chips. We are staying at The Westin Lagunamar in building 5 floor 6.
 

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Would you look at that!

3rd Floor Garden View in Main House building at Marriott's SurfWatch!
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Garden view, 7th floor Maple Oceanwatch, we were very happy!
 

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View and sounds looking down from our balcony from room 711 at Crystal Shores. (7th floor, in Osprey Tower B.) There was a service alley right below us and this kind of stuff went on all day beginning around 7 a.m. It was the only thing I didn't like about our balcony.

 
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Would you look at that!

3rd Floor Garden View in Main House building at Marriott's SurfWatch!
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That looks fairly similar to my 1st floor view at Manor Club a month ago. Could see a peekaboo view of the golf hole through the trees, but you really had to "want" to see it. That said, I did request 1st floor because it was a very short stay on way to HHI, and easy/in easy/out during Covid was our priority.

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My experience has been that the closer you are to a golf course, the earlier the mowers wake you up. That wouldn't be my first choice.

Sheila
 
Today at Grande Ocean ..........

Just got back from breakfast at The French Bakery with the famous Big Matt and his lovely wife Lisa.
Had a great time. We have a lot in common and enjoyed the food, coffee, and conversation.
We've just missed each other for years, but finally got a chance to meet.
We've been here at GO since last Sunday, but Matt checked in last evening. We were pleasantly surprised to learn
that he was our new next-door neighbor. :thumbup: Small world.



(Hey, the dolphins here are HUGE! ;) )
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