The Resorts at SOUTH SEAS RESORT

[annenp]

I just realized (New Owner) that all these HGVC resorts are located in the 132 acre South Seas Resort in Captiva. First which one of them has the "best location centrally located 2) on the beach 3) has nicer beach access?

Also is anyone of the resorts more on the modern side (similiar to the HGVC owned)? Is the resort fee required for all of them????

Captiva Island, Florida
The Cottages at South Seas Resort
Harbourview Villas at South Seas Resort
Plantation Bay Villas at South Seas Resort
Plantation Beach Club at South Seas Resort
Plantation House at South Seas Resort
South Seas Club at South Seas Resort

 

[sandcastles]

I think that Plantation Beach Club has by far the best location on the beach. It is right on the beach, every unit has a great view. Some of the other TS are more luxurious and some have a beautiful view of Redfish Pass and the boats going by but I prefer the beach. That's what I go to Captiva for. I don't think any of the others are right on the beach, although it's not a long walk.

Harbourview probably has the nicest interiors. South Seas Club has free golf. At Plantation Beach Club the amenity fees are not included in the Maintenance Fee. You can pay when you check in if you want them or opt out. I always opt out. I believe the Plantation House and either the Cottages or South Seas Club the amenity fees are included. They negotiated a cheap rate for them in the MF because the resort did away with their swimming pools. Plantation Beach Club has their own pool and tennis courts so the majority of owners were not interested in having the amenities fee included in MF. I don't know if all the rest of the TS have voted to include the fee in their MF. I'm sure someone else will chime in with the answer.

 

[pcgirl54]

I stayed at PBC the year before the hurricane. You could hear the jingle of the shells on the beach. Great spot and wonderful resort. Captiva was prettier than Sanibel. I don't know how it has changed since the hurricane though. The units were clean and the decor was casual. The beach was great.

Just watch those terrible no see ums. My legs were bit pretty bad. I itched for 2 weeks. I never knew there was such a bug before then and I did not see them.

 

[Talent312]

Not having stayed there myself, I cannot tell you which buildings are newer or more upscale than the others. I've stayed at the far less toney "T'ween Waters Inn" down the street. However, you can find a ton of information about South Seas at: http://www.southseas.com/index.cfm
There's a map at: http://www.southseas.com/pdf/Map.pdf

On the map shown, you enter from the right (South-end of the resort). The left side of the map is the North-end of Captiva. The bottom side of the map is the Gulf-side beach and the top side is the bay.

South Seas occupies a large chunk of Captiva. To get there, you drive the length of Sanibel+Captiva on a winding paved road, barely two lanes wide, with the Gulf on your left and the bay-side on your right. This drive alone is worth a visit. So is the "Bubble Room Restaurant." See: http://www.bubbleroomrestaurant.com/

 

[annenp]

avaliability

I called HGVC and made an inquiry about 2009 avaliability in Captivia.....unfortunately they had no avaliability at all for 2009 -- WOW!

I purchased this ownership to travel when i want.....not when Hilton wants.

Signed, very disappointed.

 

[Talent312]

I called HGVC and made an inquiry about 2009 avaliability in Captivia.....unfortunately they had no avaliability at all for 2009 -- WOW!
I purchased this ownership to travel when i want.....not when Hilton wants.

I would not be surprised if there simply were no units in the system for reservation. Many folk who buy TS's at HGVC-affiliated resorts such as this, keep their own TS's to themselves (for use, exchange or rental outside the HGVC reservation system), which severly limits use by others.

I suggest that you check back a few times over the course of the next few months, as inventory may be released to the HGVC-system at several points throughout the year. When I looked for dates in Cancun last year, it initially appeared that nothng was available. HGVC actually removed it from the online-system for a time. After checking for about three months, suddenly my preferred dates (any many others) became available.

HGVC is simply not as flexible as a hotel-reservation system (although their TS sales division make it sound like it is). Its also good idea to have a 2nd + 3rd choice as a fall-back.

 

[Steve]

Many, if not most, of the owners at the HGVC affiliated resorts on Sanibel and Captiva Islands do not belong to HGVC. They either use their weeks, rent them, or exchange them independently through II or RCI. As a result, availability in these areas through HGVC is extremely limited...especially during the peak winter season. It's also unfortunate that HGVC doesn't have any kind of a waiting list...and you can't book these Southwest Florida resorts online, either. So you have to keep calling back and hope that there is a vacancy at the time that you call. It's not a very user friendly system. I'm sorry you didn't know this before you purchased. I can understand your disappointment.

Steve

 

[annenp]

thank you for your feedback....I thought that once avaliability was gone its gone, so I'll keep checking back.

this is great advice and I appreciate.