So what's the story with rental beach chairs and umbrellas in front of the Barony?

[Steve A]

I woke up this morning at the Barony to see that the life guards had covered the beach with two rows of rental chairs and umbrellas. They have taken up all the best spaces running from the Westin down passed the Barony. Why do they get to take the best spaces? And btw, they spend most of their time renting stuff and not life guarding.

 

[laxmom]

There have been rental chairs and umbrellas on the beach in front of Barony for as long as we have been going there. The lifeguards are not employees of Marriott but of Hilton Head Island as Marriott does not own the beach - only the property ajoining it. We have never found it to be an issue. We just go closer to the water since that is why we are there to begin with.

 

[Dave M]

Those are Hilton Head - not Barony - lifeguards. Hilton Head offers umbrellas and beach chairs for rent in numerous places along the beach. It's a benefit that many of us take advantage of on every visit.

As the tide goes out (it's close to high tide now - I'm down the island at Grande Ocean), you'll see that there is tons of space for your own set-up if you prefer.

Do the lifeguards spend a significant amount of time with rentals? Yes, they do. Thus, are they lifeguards who double as rental agents or are they rental agents who double as lifeguards. Either way, the city has decided that's how they want to staff the function. With only one lifeguard per station, you'll likely see no lifeguard there during lunch and other breaks, especially starting Tuesday, unless there happens to be a relief lifeguard available. Again, that's how the city - many years ago - decided to staff the function.

I don't recall ever reading of complaints about the program - either here or in the Island Packet.

Incidentally, can you plan on joining a group of TUGgers tomorrow morning at 10 at Cafe Europa in Harbour Town in Sea Pines? There's a thread about it on the Eastern forum.

 

[Steve A]

I was aware that the guards don't work for the Barony. I was reacting to the double row of chairs and the length of them while during the week there had only been a single row and there had been many fewer. They seem to have all the best spots.

Leaving tomorrow morning we can't join they other tuggers.

 

[Dave M]

Again, that's not unusual. Weekends are typically the busiest times for rentals. Similarly, in front of GO today, there were more rental umbrellas than I have ever seen on a weekday.

 

[pedro47]

The beach does not belong to Marriott's and that is why the life guards can rent beach chairs and umbrellas on the beach.

 

[pwrshift]

Dave ... how is the weather in HH this week? I was booked with my dog into the Westin hotel and cancelled earlier in the week (you can do that with hotels) when I saw the weather forecast - but sometimes they are wrong. Right now it shows isolated thunderstorms all week long.

I've rebooked for the end of Sept. which might be a little better for the dog and I to romp on the Barony beach! The hotel says dogs are welcome on the beach before 10 am and after 5 pm.

Brian

.....As the tide goes out (it's close to high tide now - I'm down the island at Grande Ocean), you'll see that there is tons of space for your own set-up if you prefer.

......Incidentally, can you plan on joining a group of TUGgers tomorrow morning at 10 at Cafe Europa in Harbour Town in Sea Pines? There's a thread about it on the Eastern forum.

 

[Steve A]

1, I am aware that Barony does not own the beach.
2. I am aware that the "life guards" work for HHI.
3. I am aware that HHI owns the beach, the chairs, and the umberallas.

What I resented was that those who chose not to rent from HHI are treated as second class citizens. The best spaces are usurped for renters. The area between the two rows, 15-20 feet, was totally wasted. No one set up their chairs there. And btw, when the tide came in there was only 10 to 20 feet for non-renters in front of the beach.