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Room Choice [Oceanside at either Grande Ocean or Barony Beach?]

csalter2

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Marriott Ko Olina
Marriott Aruba Surf Club
Marriott Ocean Pointe
Diamond Resorts Gold
Next summer, I have the choice of a Grande Ocean Oceanside unit or a Baroney Oceanside Courtyard view unit. I understand that both of these resorts are very nice. Will I get to see the ocean from any of there views? Are there any significant differences in the units? I’m using DC points. Is Grande Ocean the real granddaddy of all the resorts on Hilton Head or is it just hype and Barony should be given equal consideration?
 

2boysmom

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If you look at the reviews for each specific resort you can get a lot of detail. Spend a little time in the review section of each and you will see many comments on unit design, view, activity menu etc. Both are great. Bottom line is that it's entirely possible to have an 'oceanside view' at either of these and not be able to actually see the ocean from your unit's balcony but the view would be lovely, lush, tropical if not waterview. It's luck of the draw. The units themselves are very similar at each as far as finish level. Grand Ocean is a much larger footprint with many activities although Barony is actually closer to the ocean and also has many activities for all ages.
 

jme

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Marriotts:
Grande Ocean x 6
Barony x 2
OceanWatch x 1
Manor Club x 1
.
Waterside by Spin x 2
Sheraton Bdw Pln x2
ChurchSt/Charleston x2
We own at both Barony (2 weeks) and Grande Ocean (6 weeks), first purchase in 1998 and a few later....
We've stayed at Barony about 20-25 times, at GO about 80-85 times (seriously).
I have never noticed or felt that Barony was any closer to the beach than GO.....
if it is, it's by mere steps, totally irrelevant in actual distance or feel, and that can be seen clearly in links below.

One big difference, GO's beach is much wider and flatter. It has the widest stretch of beach on the island,
where the original William Hilton Inn stood (built in 1959)...Marriott bulldozed it and constructed GO.
The stone dolphin at WHI still sits outside the Dolphin Grille at GO---I played on it as a child, and my children played on it.
At either resort, you're on the beach within 1 minute from OF units, 2-3 minutes from farthest back OS buildings.
Important to note that Barony only has 2 OF buildings, while GO has 4.

GO's units are slightly larger in square footage, which is noticeable to me. Both resort's units are top notch,
and their on-schedule renovations have always been superb. I particularly like Barony's last one in color scheme
and retiling of the shower and adding glass doors. Very nicely done.
Owners at all of Marriott's "Big 3" at Hilton Head are intensely loyal, with good reason---all of them are great resorts,
and folks like them for different reasons, all reasons being valid. All three reign above any other HH resorts, imho.
GO is currently undergoing a renovation---removing the large jetted tubs and replacing them with a more conventional tub,
and enlarging the shower (adding glass doors) and reworking the bathroom layout. Should be great.

Direct ocean views, especially with an OS villa, are much more plentiful at GO than Barony.
All top level floors (floor 5) at GO see the ocean, and several level 4 floors see the ocean. A handful of OS 3rd floors see the ocean.
We've stayed in almost every unit in GO more than once, so I know them well.
Barony has very few OS units that see the ocean....you can count them on your hands, perhaps on just one hand.

(Compare the distances of buildings from beach...and figure in the pools in front.)
Barony:

Grande Ocean:
 
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Big Matt

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This is a really hard question because both options are rock solid. I think it may come down to some other variables that you didn't ask for.

Crowds and people everywhere - Grande Ocean will be a swarm of people whereas Barony can be more quiet. Summer is very busy regardless.

Location on the Island - Grande Ocean is within walking distance to restaurants and bars. You get a pass to Seapines too. Barony is surrounded by the gated Port Royal Plantation and feels very residential. You have to drive to everything except the Westin (next door) and the clubhouse at the golf club in Port Royal. Barony is closer to Shelter Cove and the north end of the island.

Biking - Grande Ocean has better access to bike paths

Beach - Grande Ocean is on a stretch with a lot of public beach access points and a new Hilton next door, but not as much as you go south towards Seapines. Barony is less crowded due to mostly residential beach goers.

I've been probably about 20% of what JME has to each place. You can't lose IMO.
 

normab

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We’ve stayed at both a couple of times. We like both. In addition to what others have provided:

To me it feels like Barony is more compact in the front buildings, and closer to the beach. We were there once when my husband had just had hip surgery, and he felt like it was a short distance to everything he needed. (You’re not asking about the garden view buildings which are great if you like a quieter pool and don’t care about proximity to the beach.)

If you like the pool bar, Barony’s is central to a more compact area, whereas GO’s is on the south end, a hike if your building is on the north end. The pools there are close together so you’re not that far from the bar or the beach.

GO is bigger than the rest of the Marriotts, so you have more options of pools and you get the Sea Pines Pass which is nice.

Over the years the beachfront Marriotts in Hilton Head have all copied each others’ best practices. So they all are great as they continue to improve and update their offerings. :cheer:
 
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needvaca

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This is my “Oceanside” view at GO. Lots of treetops, glimpse of ocean.
A2E17FEC-3411-442D-9BE3-B1CFD4DEA3AD.jpeg
We’re here on an interval exchange. It’s beautiful here. Ask for a high floor, if possible. Haven’t seen Barony
 

Fasttr

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Marriott's Grande Ocean (Enrolled)
MVC Trust Points
^^^^ I see it....I see it!!!
 

needvaca

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Better get out the tree pruner soon...
Lol. Actually I think they trimmed today or yesterday. I can see a bit more ocean
Really I'm not complaining. It's an Interval exchange
 

Superchief

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The one downside of GO is that it is difficult to get a decent villa assignment there unless you are an owner. I am a chairman MVC owner who have received bad villa placements even when using DC points for off season stays. I've had much better luck at Barony and Surfwatch.
 

jme

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Marriotts:
Grande Ocean x 6
Barony x 2
OceanWatch x 1
Manor Club x 1
.
Waterside by Spin x 2
Sheraton Bdw Pln x2
ChurchSt/Charleston x2
For what it's worth, I took this photo this afternoon from our balcony, so this is our Oceanfront view at Grande Ocean....
Family just checked in Sunday, but I only got here around 3pm today.
View of ocean is direct and we can see the ocean fully in both N & S directions. It's one of the better ones.
Weather is perfect...low 80s and brisk ocean breeze. We spent the afternoon on the beach, and it's fairly crowded.
Could not be better, and the whole week's forecast is looking nice.
I spent all my time holding my 15-month old granddaughter while we walked in the surf, played on the beach,
and walked up the beach a ways to see a most magnificent kite, which fascinated her.
This trip is her first time seeing the ocean, and she's loving every minute of it. It's sensory overload, and she couldn't get enough.
When we got back to the villa, all she wanted to do was go back out on the balcony and watch & listen to the waves.

View from Oceanfront corner villa overlooking Grande Ocean's North Pool
1591147974233.png
 
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Superchief

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I spent all my time holding my 15-month old granddaughter while we walked in the surf, played on the beach,
and walked up the beach a ways to see a most magnificent kite, which fascinated her.
This trip is her first time seeing the ocean, and she's loving every minute of it. It's sensory overload, and she couldn't get enough.
When we got back to the villa, all she wanted to do was go back out on the balcony and watch & listen to the waves.


View attachment 21606
These moments are lifetime memories that can't be replaced. I still remember our first trips with each of our daughters. I'm glad you are now passing your great family traditions to another generation. Enjoy!
 
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jme

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Marriotts:
Grande Ocean x 6
Barony x 2
OceanWatch x 1
Manor Club x 1
.
Waterside by Spin x 2
Sheraton Bdw Pln x2
ChurchSt/Charleston x2
Oh, yeah.....and my wife took this one yesterday morning at sunrise.
Nice one, Sweetheart!!!!! Sorry I missed it.


1591149901611.png
 

jme

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Marriotts:
Grande Ocean x 6
Barony x 2
OceanWatch x 1
Manor Club x 1
.
Waterside by Spin x 2
Sheraton Bdw Pln x2
ChurchSt/Charleston x2
still at Grande Ocean
Just getting started with the Greek Salads....
1591150345235.png



Baked spaghetti & homemade meatballs followed, with garlic toast and two of my favorite Italian wines...
1591150569634.png



And my reason for living......
1591150651514.png
 
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Steve Fatula

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Lol. Actually I think they trimmed today or yesterday. I can see a bit more ocean
Really I'm not complaining. It's an Interval exchange

If you have an ocean view, do I have a pool view? See it??
98F65420-DBD7-4962-8E95-43BBBA9F8590.jpeg
 

Dean

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Both great choices and for DC points, it's unlikely you'll see much ocean from the unit either way. For resort and location, we prefer GO. I own 9 units there and 2 at Surfwatch. Do you have the choice currently available, I don't see anything right now for GO for June or July.
 
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pedro47

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Both resorts are awesome IMHO.
This time I am going with GO because of their location and your access to Sea Pines Plantation.
Plus, everything jme, stated in their post is 110% correct. LOL:whooopie:
 
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csalter2

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Marriott Ko Olina
Marriott Aruba Surf Club
Marriott Ocean Pointe
Diamond Resorts Gold
Both great choices and for DC points, it's unlikely you'll see much ocean from the unit either way. For resort and location, we prefer GO. I own 9 units there and 2 at Surfwatch. Do you have the choice currently available, I don't see anything right now for GO for June or July.

Next July 4th in 2021.
 

jme

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Marriotts:
Grande Ocean x 6
Barony x 2
OceanWatch x 1
Manor Club x 1
.
Waterside by Spin x 2
Sheraton Bdw Pln x2
ChurchSt/Charleston x2
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