OceanFront booking at Ocean Pointe

[dasty10]

I am about to purchase an OceanFront 2 br lockoff at the Ocean Pointe and have a couple of qs that you might be able to help me with. I am a newbie to the Marriott system so pls bear with me.

Am I guranteed an OceanFront room each year (assuming I call exactly 12 months out-I plan on going in Jun to Aug period). If not, what is the advantage of paying more for an oceanfront unit? Is the unit confrimed when you book or its only confirmed on check-in?

Also are there any restrictions on booking the units depending on whether you purchased resale (yes, I am purchasing resale) or directly thru Marriott. I know about the Rewards restriction but is there any other restriction on buying resale.

Lastly for existing OceanPointe owners, are there any special assessments due in current or future years?

Many thanks for your help.

 

[Stefa]

You are guaranteed an oceanfront room as long as you are booking through Marriott as oppsed to trading back in through Interval. You don't have to call exactly 12 months out either (although that is best to get the dates you want). Since you can only book the view and season you own, oceanside owners cannot book oceanfront even if they call before you. Since you are buying gold season, you can only reserve gold season through Marriott. If you want to travel in another season you will need to trade through Interval.

There are no restrictions (other than trading for points) on using your week if you buy resale. You have the same access to the resort as everyone else.

 

[thinze3]

You are guaranteed OF every time you make a reservation. You will not know the unit number until you arrive.

There are a certain number of OF units available to be reserved for each date. If you call early enough you will get one. If you call a few minutes late for premium dates, like July 4th, you may be out of luck in getting a reservation and will have to settle for a different date.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

No restrictions as of this writing when not buying direct from Marriott other than Reward Points. There have been rumors that things may change down the line, however they are just rumors as of right now and no one knows for sure.

If you're buying an OceanFRONT unit then you are guaranteed an OceanFRONT week when you reserve. You may not get the exact week which you want, but the week you reserve will give you an OceanFRONT Villa.

You won't get a specific unit other than a guarantee that you will get an OceanFRONT Villa somewhere within the 5 building complex.

Ocean Pointe uses a pecking order there, and the more weeks you own then the better chance you have of getting on a higher floor in a certain requested building....

Best of luck in your purchase.

 

[dasty10]

Thanks all. The reason I asked the qs was when I called up Ocean Pointe they transferred me to a timeshare salesman. He really got me wound up by saying that owners who purchased direct from Marriott will get the OceanFront rooms and that there were many restrictions on when one can even book the rooms if purchased resale.

Of course I didn't believe him but just wanted to check anyways. I am a Hilton resale owner and have had the same issues with these timeshre sales guys there.

Tug to the rescue once again!!!

Thanks.

 

[Superchief]

Keep in mind that some of the lower floor oceanfront rooms do not truly have a view of the ocean. I am pretty sure that all OF units on the fourth floor or higher have good ocean views. As an owner using your own unit, you should not have trouble being assigned a higher floor, but if you exchange for a week in a higher season, you will be lower on the assignment priority list. Welcome to the OP ownership ranks. We love this resort.

 

[dasty10]

Thanks Superchief. Are there any special assessments due in the next few years? I heard they will be renovating the units..... Tx

 

[Quilter]

As thinze3 mentioned, that July 4th date may be tricky to reserve for someone with only 1 Marriott week. You have to remember that at OP there are 7 floors to the first 4 buildings and 5 floors to Kingfish. On each floor of Sailfish, Dolphin, Cobia and Pompano there is only (1) 2 bedroom oceanfront unit and (1) 3 bedroom oceanfront unit. That means there are only 7 available 2 bdrm. and 7 available 3 bdrm. July 4 weeks in each of these buildings (more in Kingfish). Each of these units will have a gold owner for each of the gold weeks all competing for the summer weeks.

This concept was explained to us when we were first purchasing at OP and had school age children. President's Week was the vacation time we would most likely want to visit the resort. Instead of buying oceanfront we ended up buying oceanside as there was more available inventory for the reservation competition. As our children grew and we were able to visit during weeks not as dear as President's week or Easter we sold 2 of our oceanside weeks and purchased 2 oceanfront weeks. These oceanfront weeks are still the most difficult of our 4 OP weeks to reserve as desired weeks get taken by other multiple week owners.

I'm not trying to sway you either way in your purchase, just trying to give you a fuller picture of how the reservations go if you're thinking it will be easy to grab the 4th of July week.

 

[dougp26364]

Thanks Superchief. Are there any special assessments due in the next few years? I heard they will be renovating the units..... Tx

No special assessments are planned.

 

[Smooth Air]

Dasty, We own 2 Oceanside weeks @ OP.
No assessments that I am aware of. Your other Q has been answered so I will not address it.

We love OP! Have you ever stayed there?


Smooth Air

 

[dioxide45]

Most Ocean Pointe ocean front units are located in the Kingfish building. If you don't want to be exiled there half the time, I suggest buying ocean side instead.

 

[dougp26364]

Most Ocean Pointe ocean front units are located in the Kingfish building. If you don't want to be exiled there half the time, I suggest buying ocean side instead.

We've owned Ocean Front at Ocean Pointe since 2001. The only time we've been "exhiled" to Kingfish was when we requested placement in Kingfish. Otherwise we've been in the main complex every year we've been owners. Room control does an excellent job of placing you in one of three buildings you can request. If you don't request Kingfish, chances are you won't be placed in Kingfish.

 

[jimf41]

I am currently "exiled" in Kingfish as per my request. I am in the top (5th) floor 3bdrm OF unit. It is absolutely the best ocean view in the resort. The 2nd best is the 2bdrm OF unit on the opposite corner of the bldg.

The discussion about Kingfish goes on indefinitely. I am in the minority of folks that like it here. That's a good thing because I always get a high floor with a good view. There is always ample parking and about a half dozen of the luggage carts are always available. I could go on but then more folks would request it and I'd have trouble getting a high floor.

 

[dougp26364]

I am currently "exiled" in Kingfish as per my request. I am in the top (5th) floor 3bdrm OF unit. It is absolutely the best ocean view in the resort. The 2nd best is the 2bdrm OF unit on the opposite corner of the bldg.

The discussion about Kingfish goes on indefinitely. I am in the minority of folks that like it here. That's a good thing because I always get a high floor with a good view. There is always ample parking and about a half dozen of the luggage carts are always available. I could go on but then more folks would request it and I'd have trouble getting a high floor.

I'm with you on the Kingfish building. After years of avoiding it like the plague I finally talked my wife into giving it a try. Now it's her favorite building.

 

[dasty10]

Most Ocean Pointe ocean front units are located in the Kingfish building. If you don't want to be exiled there half the time, I suggest buying ocean side instead.

Is the Oceanside view quite good or only a partial view overlooking other properties?

Pardon my ignorance but why is the Kingfish bldg so bad?
Thanks

 

[Transit]

Is the Oceanside view quite good or only a partial view overlooking other properties?

Pardon my ignorance but why is the Kingfish bldg so bad?
Thanks

This was my experience.I did not like this area of the resort.Others do like it so you would have to judge for yourself.

 

[dougp26364]

Is the Oceanside view quite good or only a partial view overlooking other properties?

Pardon my ignorance but why is the Kingfish bldg so bad?
Thanks

Kingfish is set apart from the main resort. There is a big pink condo building that Marriott was not able to buy out and it seperates Kingfish from the rest of the complex.

Some find it inconvenient, others find it more private and relaxed. The beach area is different in that you have the inlet and a big ugly sand dredge machine at the end of a stone pier. Most of us overlook the dredge as it can be interesting watching the ships come and go from the Port of Palm Beach.

Kingfish has it's own pool, it's own fitness center, it's own hot tub, it's own gas grills and it's own High Tides Bar. IMO it has better parking as well. The issue for some is having to walk 1/4 mile up the beach to get to the convenience store, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Tiki Bar et....... For some it's a deal breaker. For others like us it's paradise.

As for ocean side views, you'll looking directly across at another building with a partial view (if you're on a high enough floor) of the ocean. I'll take ocean front any day over ocean side.

Here is a picture of the only ocean side view we've ever had while staying at Ocean Pointe.



And this is the "worst" ocean front view we've ever had as ocean front owners booking during our season.



Again, the ONLY time we've ever been exhiled to Kingfish was when we REQUESTED to be there. Otherwise we've always been in the main complex as that was what we had requested.

 

[Stefa]

Is the Oceanside view quite good or only a partial view overlooking other properties?

Pardon my ignorance but why is the Kingfish bldg so bad?
Thanks

Some of the oceanside views can be quite good, but the oceanfront will always be better. If the price difference isn't significant, you should go with oceanfront. I find it hard to believe that an owner using their oceanfront unit would be stuck on the lowest floor with no view.

Kingfish is removed from the other buildings. There is a building of private condos between Kingfish and the rest of the Ocean Pointe buildings. Some folks don't like being apart from the rest of the resort.

My opinion is that if you aren't buying Platinum you don't have to worry about not getting a unit in an acceptable location. I have heard complaints from Platinum owners, but none from gold/silver owners.

 

[Stefa]

Wanted to add that I am (slightly) in the camp that prefers the other, non-Kingfish buildings. I have three kids and like to walk around the grounds at the resort. I have stayed in Dolphin and Kingfish and, while I preferred Dolphin, I wouldn't be upset to be placed in Kingfish next time I visit Ocean Pointe.

 

[rsackett]

I have been to OP once. This is the view I had in an Ocean Side room:

 

[dougp26364]

Some of the oceanside views can be quite good, but the oceanfront will always be better. If the price difference isn't significant, you should go with oceanfront. I find it hard to believe that an owner using their oceanfront unit would be stuck on the lowest floor with no view.

Kingfish is removed from the other buildings. There is a building of private condos between Kingfish and the rest of the Ocean Pointe buildings. Some folks don't like being apart from the rest of the resort.

My opinion is that if you aren't buying Platinum you don't have to worry about not getting a unit in an acceptable location. I have heard complaints from Platinum owners, but none from gold/silver owners.

During Platinum season, compition can be pretty stiff for location. It's during the most popular weeks that one risks being on a floor lower than 4 or exhiled to Kingfish.

 

[dougp26364]

I have been to OP once. This is the view I had in an Ocean Side room:

There are definatly good views from ocean side rooms but, the chances of getting a great view as an owner favors the ocean front owner. For ocean side, one must have a high floor and preferably closer to the ocean side of the building than the island side. Even though ocean side may have a nice view the view directly out the picture window is going to be the next building. Ocean front units will never face another building.

Ocean side looking out the picture window.



Ocean front looking out the picture window.

 

[tatmtr7]

We only own oceanfront units and have since the opening of this resort so for about 10 years. And yes it is more difficult to book but we are not unhappy. As we don't have children with us anymore which might influence my decision. Remember that OF 3 bedrooms have higher fees, substantially higher.

 

[Stefa]

Stop it, Doug! You're killing me with those pictures. I have to wait over eight months before my next visit to Singer Island. I just hope my oceanside room at Oceana Palms has a good view.

To the OP, you will not be disappointed if you buy oceanfront. We were on the fourth floor (as exchangers) and the view from our oceanfront unit was lovely. I agree with Doug that it makes a huge difference when you have a great view from inside your unit.

 

[dougef]

To those who like Kingfish Bldg. - a question. Is there ample shade available at the pool? I have always stayed on the "main campus" and have managed to get a chair in the shade every day. I cannot sit in the sun, and last time I checked out the pool at Kingfish, it seemed to be almost entireley sunny with very few umbrellas. That has been my only hesitation in requesting to be there.

Thanks.