Which Marriott in Hilton Head do you like most?

[iftravel]

I have a feeling Marriott's Harbour Club is going to be a good choice as my first visit to Hilton Head but curious others preference and expereince.

 

[wuv pooh]

Depends what you want and time of year. If you want the beach, then no. If you want sea pines and the golf tournament then yes.

Marriott has 4 beachfront/side resorts - Grande Ocean, Surfwatch, Barony Beach, and Monarch. I like them in that order but have never stayed at the Monarch so not clear on that. Surfwatch has the best indoor pool and Grande Ocean has a free pass to Sea Pines. Think they are all solid choices for beach vacation and just being picky for personal preference.

If it is non beach vacation then your choice is between Harbour Town (down by the marina/lighthouse in Sea Pines plantation) and sound side at the Shelter Cove Marina. Both areas have shopping, things to do, and restaurants. I prefer Sunset/Ocean Pointe in Shelter Cove due to the low cost in points. Can't beat it if you just want to relax and dine out. I have seen the Harbour Town resorts, but never stayed in them. They would also be very convenient for the pro golf tournament in April??

 

[iftravel]

Depends what you want and time of year. If you want the beach, then no. If you want sea pines and the golf tournament then yes.

Marriott has 4 beachfront/side resorts - Grande Ocean, Surfwatch, Barony Beach, and Monarch. I like them in that order but have never stayed at the Monarch so not clear on that. Surfwatch has the best indoor pool and Grande Ocean has a free pass to Sea Pines. Think they are all solid choices for beach vacation and just being picky for personal preference.

If it is non beach vacation then your choice is between Harbour Town (down by the marina/lighthouse in Sea Pines plantation) and sound side at the Shelter Cove Marina. Both areas have shopping, things to do, and restaurants. I prefer Sunset/Ocean Pointe in Shelter Cove due to the low cost in points. Can't beat it if you just want to relax and dine out. I have seen the Harbour Town resorts, but never stayed in them. They would also be very convenient for the pro golf tournament in April??

I’m aiming for a late summer end of August visit with a kid. Guess I cannot go wrong with the beach front. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[jmhpsu93]

Depends what you want and time of year. If you want the beach, then no. If you want sea pines and the golf tournament then yes.

Marriott has 4 beachfront/side resorts - Grande Ocean, Surfwatch, Barony Beach, and Monarch. I like them in that order but have never stayed at the Monarch so not clear on that. Surfwatch has the best indoor pool and Grande Ocean has a free pass to Sea Pines. Think they are all solid choices for beach vacation and just being picky for personal preference.

If it is non beach vacation then your choice is between Harbour Town (down by the marina/lighthouse in Sea Pines plantation) and sound side at the Shelter Cove Marina. Both areas have shopping, things to do, and restaurants. I prefer Sunset/Ocean Pointe in Shelter Cove due to the low cost in points. Can't beat it if you just want to relax and dine out. I have seen the Harbour Town resorts, but never stayed in them. They would also be very convenient for the pro golf tournament in April??

I'll just add that of the four beach-oriented/front locations, Monarch lacks in activities and on-site amenities like a restaurant/snack/bar. Also much smaller than the other two. Grande Ocean is huge, Barony is pretty big and compact, but it has a garden view section that doesn't really feel like it's part of the resort. Surfwatch is super spread out.

I'd swap GO and SF for my ranking, but I think they're pretty equal, Barony just a touch below, then Monarch (though Monarch is cheaper with Abound points, so if you don't need as many activities/amenities it's just fine, and you'll be fine with the slightly smaller units with a small group like yours.

Really can't go wrong in HH.

 

[smdavenport]

We have stayed at all of the Marriott resorts on Hilton Head except for Monarch. Our favorite for the overall experience is Surfwatch. If has varying size villas, a variety of views, access to the beach, great amenities, indoor and outdoor pools, great activities. I agree with the rankings from jmjpsu93.

One thing I'd add is that Harbour Point and Sunset Point (essentially one resort) located at Shelter Cove are the best "bang for the buck" on Hilton Head. The points requirements or dollar expense are a fraction of the larger beachfront resorts. They are not located on the beach, but have a lovely view of Shelter Cove. The villas are well-appointed and we love the on-site pickleball and basketball courts. In my view these are the "hidden" gem on HHI.

 

[Dean]

We prefer Grande Ocean by far followed by Surfwatch then Barony then Monarch. I'm OK with all but HP or SP though. For exchanges realize that SW & Barony have Gardenview, for OF and possibly for OS, I'd prefer Barony. Opinions vary.

 

[Pamplemousse]

I’m aiming for a late summer end of August visit with a kid. Guess I cannot go wrong with the beach front. Thanks for the suggestion.

You don’t say how you intend to book the beachfront resorts especially are hard to get for summer.
You might want to aim for all 4 or at least 3 and see what you can get.

 

[iftravel]

You don’t say how you intend to book the beachfront resorts especially are hard to get for summer.
You might want to aim for all 4 or at least 3 and see what you can get.

I saw Surfwatch 2-bed a couple times in August and plenty of Shelter Cove or Harbour town right now without preference.

 

[grupp]

I like Hertiage Club for the 12 rounds of golf.

 

[dioxide45]

We've stayed at the four beachfront properties and will be staying at the four not on the beach this January that we booked cheap with Club Points. For now I just have a video comparing the "Big 3" (Grande Ocean, Barony and Surfwatch), but after we go to the other four, I will do a video comparing the other four along with Monarch.

 

[Pamplemousse]

I saw Surfwatch 2-bed a couple times in August and plenty of Shelter Cove or Harbour town right now without preference.

I said beachfront- not HT or SC.
what do you mean by ”preference”? Is this an II exchange?

 

[dioxide45]

I think late August exchanges are easier through II. A lot of people book and deposit those under gold season, thinking it will matter for more trade power.

 

[iftravel]

You don’t say how you intend to book the beachfront resorts especially are hard to get for summer.
You might want to aim for all 4 or at least 3 and see what you can get.

In II, if you own deeded Marriott units, you have the preference to pick before non-brand. So the beach front ones are gone before I can see them but still occasionally. Non-beach ones are less desirable and I can see plenty with non- Marriott deposit to exchange.

 

[Pamplemousse]

In II, if you own deeded Marriott units, you have the preference to pick before non-brand. So the beach front ones are gone before I can see them but still occasionally. Non-beach ones are less desirable and I can see plenty with non- Marriott deposit to exchange.

Yes I‘m familiar with exchanging on II. You hadn’t mentioned that.
In that case I would request GO, SW, & barony asap if you want beachfront- ideally you would have done this 12-13 months in advance.
Search manually too in case there is a cancellation that ends up in general inventory before the request filter runs.
Since the HHI units are not lock offs owners may be less inclined to deposit and it is harder to boost your trading power by accepting a smaller unit.
Do you own an MVC?

 

[iftravel]

Yes I‘m familiar with exchanging on II. You hadn’t mentioned that.
In that case I would request GO, SW, & barony asap if you want beachfront- ideally you would have done this 12-13 months in advance.
Search manually too in case there is a cancellation that ends up in general inventory before the request filter runs.
Since the HHI units are not lock offs owners may be less inclined to deposit and it is harder to boost your trading power by accepting a smaller unit.
Do you own an MVC?

No MVC points but yeah that’s the plan.

 

[iftravel]

BTW, Shelter Cove and Harbour town are up for grab now so I was asking if that’s a good enough first visit.

 

[Fasttr]

BTW, Shelter Cove and Harbour town are up for grab now so I was asking if that’s a good enough first visit.

How old is your child.

 

[iftravel]

How old is your child.

7

 

[Fasttr]

7

I’d hold out for one of the big 3 beachfront resorts. More to do for a 7 year old. We stayed at Shelter Cove MVC for 4 nights prior to a MGO resy in Sept, and after 1 day at the resort, we utilized our day pass privileges as an owner at MGO to utilize MGO’s facilities vs hanging around Shelter Cove resort. There was just not much going on at the Shelter Cove resorts, even for 2 adults, let alone for a 7 year old. I assume Harbour Town resorts would be similar.

 

[iftravel]

We've stayed at the four beachfront properties and will be staying at the four not on the beach this January that we booked cheap with Club Points. For now I just have a video comparing the "Big 3" (Grande Ocean, Barony and Surfwatch), but after we go to the other four, I will do a video comparing the other four along with Monarch.

Thanks for the video. Think my kid would vote Grande Ocean #1 as the lazy river seals the deal. I will put in a request now.

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the video. Think my kid would vote Grande Ocean #1 as the lazy river seals the deal. I will put in a request now.

That is a tiny lazy river, I would not let that option alter my decision. I still like GO best because of it's location and beach situation and I think that's even more important for an exchange due to the 2 next best options having garden view units.

 

[AlmostRetired]

Owned in HHI since 1996, been going going off and on since 1992. I owned 2 Monarchs which I no longer own and currently own a Grande Ocean. In addition to my HHI ownership, I get at least 2 additional weeks through II. We trade into either the Monarch or Grande Ocean by choice. I have nothing negative to say about the the SW, & barony because I have never stayed and based on what I have read over time, this is little negative to be found.

The Monarch - They are smaller older units that have 2 single beds in the second bedroom. Great for my two boys (2 and 5 when we started) until going into college. The property footprint is smaller because it has only 126 units and the pools are smaller. The smaller pools were actually better for me with my kids, as kids. The Monarch was not built by Marriott so it doesn't look like a Marriott. I do not think this is a bad thing. Some Garden View units have better ocean views than many Oceanfront units at HHI Marriott's. Oceanfront units at the Monarch were actually a view, not a direction. There is no Marriott on the beach, closer to the beach than the Monarch. There is no food on site but there is a beach club next store that is closer to walk to than from some of the pools to the food concession at the Grande Ocean. If you are a resort homebody (not meant as a bad thing) other than meals, I would agree this will be your last oceanfront resort choice.

The Grande Ocean - Nothing to say that is bad about the Grande Ocean. After college, I needed the more space. The only choice for me to be explained later. Pools great, added a small lazy river much better than I thought it would be when initially planned. I also had no idea my 2 year old would have so much fun when I used it with her. This is basically for kids.

50% of the reason we like the resort has nothing to do with the resort but it's location on HHI. We could not stay at any Marriott resort that is not either on Sea Pines or have access to Sea Pines a short distance away. The bike riding on Sea Pines is second to none for both miles of bike paths and safety. Comment on safety, bike rider impacts 70% of this, paths the other 30%. The park in Harbor Town was a favorite for my kids as was bike riding to Harbor Town and the South Beach Marina. Buying chicken, string and a net was a favorite for crabbing off the Harbor Town peer. Some years we caught many and some years we caught a few. We always threw them back in. It didn't matter, a chance to spend time together. if I add a cooler with beer, it still is today. My kids liked to horse back ride at Lawson Stables. One year we stayed at the Heritage Club in Sea Pines. We biked or rode our car the 7 minutes to get to the beach club. Most of the restaurants we go to for lunch and dinner tend to be closer to both resorts.

There are no bad choices. The best choice has more to do with what is important to you

 

[ocdb8r]

We could not stay at any Marriott resort that is not either on Sea Pines or have access to Sea Pines a short distance away.

Which resorts include access to Sea Pines?

 

[Dean]

Which resorts include access to Sea Pines?

GO plus all the ones in Sea Pines (Monarch, Heritage, Harbour Club). Sometimes you have to pay to access SP initially but recently I think guests have been able to pick up passes at the main entrance office. For GO, no issue since it's outside the secondary gate.

 

[iftravel]

GO plus all the ones in Sea Pines (Monarch, Heritage, Harbour Club). Sometimes you have to pay to access SP initially but recently I think guests have been able to pick up passes at the main entrance office. For GO, no issue since it's outside the secondary gate.

What’s to see in Sea Pines?