• 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!

Matched Harbour Lake- Take it?

kelm

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2015
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Location
NY
I had an OGS for a 2bdrm+ at Lakeshore Reserve in Orlando or Harborside at Atlantis for Aug 2016 but matched today for a 2bdrm at Marriott's Harbour Lake instead. We will be travelling with kids, 16, 10, and 9. Is this a good taker? Thanks.
 

elaine

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
5,343
Reaction score
2,298
Location
DC
Resorts Owned
HGVC Eagles Nest, DVC-AKV, HHI
HL is a very nice resort, but it's Aug. in Orlando, which is very different than Atlantis. Aug. is low season for Fl and a very easy trade. We love Aug. at WDW, but be prepared for possible downpours/storms. If you go, plan to be outside in the AM and in the shade or indoors during afternoons. Unless I was looking for O, I would hold out until at least spring before changing my plans to O from Atlantis.
 

Weimaraner

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2006
Messages
1,475
Reaction score
23
Location
Michigan
Hate to say it but I think the chances of getting Atlantis in the summer is impossible so I wouldn't wait for that one. Even if one slipped through, it would go to a Starwood owner. I finaly gave up and bought one. Lakeshore also gets snapped up pretty fast by Marriott owners, but is not as hard as Atlantis. I had an AC for a 1 bed at and did a trade for a 2 bed at Lakeshore this past August and noticed they went pretty fast in II. Maybe you can keep the Harbour Lake and get the retrade feature in case Lakeshore pops up. Harbour Lake is a great resort for kids.
 

disneymom1

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2011
Messages
387
Reaction score
42
Location
NJ
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Ocean, Marriott Surfwatch, Marriott Manor Club Sequel
I have never stayed at Harbour Lake. We have stayed at Cypress Harbour, Grande Vista and Lakeshore. My impression is that Harbour Lake is best suited for very young kids. Have your kids look at the photos and see if they are interested in Harbour Lake. My kids have stayed at Grande Vista and LOVE IT!

Agree Orlando is far less popular than July. August is very HOT and HUMID! It is also hurricane season. Orlando will not be a difficult trade. Grande Vista is a very large resort and often has inventory available. Lakeshore is MUCH smaller in size, which makes it a more difficult trade (way less rooms/inventory). That being said, we love Lakeshore Reserve.
 

kelm

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2015
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Location
NY
Hate to say it but I think the chances of getting Atlantis in the summer is impossible so I wouldn't wait for that one. Even if one slipped through, it would go to a Starwood owner. I finaly gave up and bought one. Lakeshore also gets snapped up pretty fast by Marriott owners, but is not as hard as Atlantis. I had an AC for a 1 bed at and did a trade for a 2 bed at Lakeshore this past August and noticed they went pretty fast in II. Maybe you can keep the Harbour Lake and get the retrade feature in case Lakeshore pops up. Harbour Lake is a great resort for kids.

Would Frenchmans Cove in St Thomas also be slim chances of getting in August?
 

Weimaraner

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2006
Messages
1,475
Reaction score
23
Location
Michigan
Would Frenchmans Cove in St Thomas also be slim chances of getting in August?

You could give it a try - a much better chance than Atlantis. I just looked up Frenchman's Cove on Interval and the Travel Demand Index on the page said weeks 1-14 are high demand at that resort. July/August are not as much in demand. Marriott owners would get first chance at the weeks but I'm guessing you may have luck. I've stayed at this resort in January with a Marriott trade - also enjoyed this one.
 

Big Matt

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
6,200
Reaction score
1,672
Location
Northern Virginia
Frenchman's cove could be had. Don't take Harbour Lake. You can easily get Cypress or Grande Vista in August which are both much better for kids with your age ranges. Just remember that Florida residents go back to school early to mid-August so those travelers are already out of the mix.
 

elaine

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
5,343
Reaction score
2,298
Location
DC
Resorts Owned
HGVC Eagles Nest, DVC-AKV, HHI
you might also consider adding Aruba.
 

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
May 20, 2006
Messages
50,790
Reaction score
22,298
Location
NE Florida
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
I wonder why they matched you to Harbour Lake when you didn't include it in your search? Did you accept it based on a call from II trying to offer you substitutions?
 

kelm

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2015
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Location
NY
I wonder why they matched you to Harbour Lake when you didn't include it in your search? Did you accept it based on a call from II trying to offer you substitutions?

I received a phone call from them and they left a message. Never received an an email, like I usually do. I just received the message yesterday and they said to call to confirm but I haven't called back. I will not take Harbor Lake.
 

kelm

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2015
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Location
NY
Frenchman's cove could be had. Don't take Harbour Lake. You can easily get Cypress or Grande Vista in August which are both much better for kids with your age ranges. Just remember that Florida residents go back to school early to mid-August so those travelers are already out of the mix.

The only reason we go in August! - Fl residents are back to school!!
 

kelm

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2015
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Location
NY
Frenchman's cove could be had. Don't take Harbour Lake. You can easily get Cypress or Grande Vista in August which are both much better for kids with your age ranges. Just remember that Florida residents go back to school early to mid-August so those travelers are already out of the mix.

you might also consider adding Aruba.

I didn't know if Aruba would be boring? My kids are used to water parks and amusement parks. The beach for a week!? We live 40 minutes from a beach, granted not as nice as Aruba I'm sure.

Sorry for the many separate quotes. I didn't know how to put them in one reply.
 

Fasttr

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2013
Messages
6,496
Reaction score
3,780
Location
Connecticut
Resorts Owned
Marriott's Grande Ocean (Enrolled)
MVC Trust Points

ThreeLittleBirds

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2011
Messages
630
Reaction score
9
We just got back from Grande Vista today. It is very close to the water parks ( you can take the trolley).

That said, I've never been to Harbour Lake so I cannot compare.

I used a one-bedroom non-marriott to trade into a 2 bedroom Thanksgiving week, so I would imagine a less busy week would be even easier.
 

suzannesimon

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
1,892
Reaction score
147
Location
Destin, FL & Bethany Beach, DE
Resorts Owned
Marriott Frenchman's Cove, Hyatt Sunset Harbor, Harborside at Atlantis, Marriott Aruba Surf Club, Marriott Grande Ocean, Westin Kierland Villas, Westin Lagunamar
I'm a Harborside owner and we're actually here now. We love it here but it's been pretty windy all week. There is actually a thread on the Starwood forum with discussion about summer availability and that there is nothing available at all until the last week of August.

Aruba Surf Club is fun for kids with a lot of activities and a lazy river. Frenchman's Cove is very nice and there's a lot to do in the area if you rent a car or cab it.

You can buy resale at Harborside pretty cheaply if you don't mind the maintenance fees.
 
Top