Posts: 1277
From: Bloomsburg, PA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 05-16-2005 12:44               

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Looking at my exchange options for HHI during 2006 spring break. We stayed at Barony but haven't seen the others. How would you rank them and why?

Jack

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Life's short. Fish hard.

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Posts: 6740
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-16-2005 12:52               

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Take a look at this past thread, which compares the three. Although the discussion is related to ownership, I think you'll find it is equally applicable to exchanges.

The winner in that thread was Grande Ocean.

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Posts: 2763
From: Disney's Old Key West, Marriott's Grande Ocean, Marriott's Harbour Pt. and La Cabana, Aruba
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-16-2005 19:01               

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I agree that the ownership vs exchange options are very similar. But they are not the same. GO only has ocean side and ocean front. Barony has garden view plus the other two and the ocean side are less desireble, IMO. SW will have the other 3 essentially although it will have Ocean Vista, a little less than ocean front. If you're I'd put GO first, SW second and Barony third. If you can change directly with an owner, I'd take the best unit type over which resort.

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Dean
My Home Page

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Posts: 233
From: Brentwood, TN USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 05-16-2005 19:21               

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I have no first-hand experience, as I have not seen or stayed at either resort. However, I have a friend that owns at both Grand Ocean and Barony Beach. They prefer Grand Ocean and try to trade their Barony Beach week each year to have two weeks at Grand Ocean. Usually are not successful, however.

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Posts: 403
From: Jamestown, NC, USA Own: Marriott's Royal Palms, Orlando; Marriott's Grande Ocean, Hilton Head; Marriott's Barony Beach, Hilton Head
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 05-16-2005 20:05               

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I own Oceanside at both GO and Barony and like both for the differences between them. However, GO still wins by a mile! I have seem or stayed at about half of the Marriotts, and I'm not sure there is a more enjoyable resort, overall.

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Posts: 1277
From: Bloomsburg, PA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 05-17-2005 10:35               

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Thanks for opinions. We'll probably trade to Grand Ocean, but won't feel badly if we wind up at either of the other two. All three are showing availability for next spring break at the moment.

Jack

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Life's short. Fish hard.

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Posts: 618
From: East Coast VA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-17-2005 11:39            

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GO and Barony are great resorts. If you can exchange into an ocean front unit at either resort the view are breath taking in morning.

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Posts: 177
From: Raleigh, NC
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 05-17-2005 12:18               

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It would be very difficult to trade into an OF room at either resort. Unless something has changed, they assign rooms to owners that occupy first and even though the person who gave up the week might be an OF owner you would not get that room. The views are not part of the trade.

Also, at Barony they have those Garden View rooms that are quite a hike from the beach. A person that trades into Barony should expect to be assigned a room with GV. I would personally never trade into Barony for that reason. At least the rooms at Grande Ocean that do not have great views are close to the beach.

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Posts: 6740
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-17-2005 12:42               

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Agreed.

Also, many renters will get oceanfront units, if that is what was listed with Marriott by an owner. It costs extra to rent an oceanfront unit from Marriott, but a renter will generally know in advance whether he/she is paying for oceanfront or for another category.

[This message has been edited by Dave M (edited 05-17-2005).]

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Posts: 107
From: Upstate NY
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 05-17-2005 14:35            

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There are no absolutes in the exchange world. For Spring Break 05, I exchanged into a 4th floor OF corner unit at Barony. My wife requested one of the OF buildings in Feb. 05 when visiting her parents on HHI. I was hoping for a side OV unit & needless to say, I was totally surprised when I was given the OF corner unit. The view was awesome. Maybe I used up my luck quota for awhile.

Rich

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Posts: 177
From: Raleigh, NC
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 05-18-2005 05:24               

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It can happen, I received an OF room at Monarch several years ago when I traded in and I didn't even call about a room request. I think the difference at Monarch is they have fixed week and units so when someone give one up you get what they gave up. That doesn't happen with the floating resorts because there are no room assignments at the time of the deposits (unless it is a last minute deposit).

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Posts: 403
From: Jamestown, NC, USA Own: Marriott's Royal Palms, Orlando; Marriott's Grande Ocean, Hilton Head; Marriott's Barony Beach, Hilton Head
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 05-18-2005 19:55               

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I received an OF room when I exchanged back into Grande Ocean last July 4th. When I received notification of the exchange from II, I noticed that the relinquished unit was an OF. So I placed my request with Owner Services for an OF unit.

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Posts: 597
From: Augusta, Georgia, USA; OWNER: Marriott Grande Ocean(3 weeks) and Marriott Barony Beach Club(2 weeks)
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-22-2005 19:50               

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I agree with Grande Ocean being the best by far. No comparison. (We own GO & Barony, and won't even be considering Surf Watch.)Someone said to "get the best unit available" over the resort.... That would not be my advice. Anything at Grande Ocean is superior to either of the other two, even an oceanfront at Barony, and we own two weeks there at Barony. We trade them. We never trade Grande Ocean. My wife & kids would kill me. Even the buildings farthest from the ocean at GO are still very close to the ocean compared to the other resorts, and even the oceanSIDE buildings/units at GO (i.e., non-oceanfront) still have an ocean view if you're on or above the 3rd floor. In other words, there are no "bad" units at GO.....You WILL need to see a chiropractor after staying at Barony if you're trying to see the ocean from anything but an oceanfront BALCONY. G.O. living room windows most often see the ocean, and balconies definitely do! Also remember: the views at G.O. which do not see the ocean are only because the view is blocked by the gorgeous gnarly little oak trees, which are beautiful in their own right, and those oak tree/lagoon views are very enjoyable too. We've grown to love them because we always get those when we rent extra days or off-season weeks at owner's discount. They're very romantic and peaceful.....(We happen to be renting for several nights Memorial day weekend, then returning for two owner weeks in June! Can't wait!!!!) Marty (jme)

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Posts: 61
From: Akron, Oh
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 05-23-2005 05:26               

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I think we are generally in the minority here..but we prefer Barony over GO! We bought Barony several years ago after staying at GO. Don't get me wrong..we loved GO as well, but overall felt that the property at Barony is more beautiful. We also bought oceanfront, so view isn't an issue. I agree that staying in the other buildings isn't the best..especially the garden units. Also, when we bought, our children were 1,3 and 5. The zero entry pool for these past several years has been priceless to me. Also, there was something about the way the second bedroom at Barony was set up that was better than GO, but honestly...I can't remember what it was!! Senior moment.. The other thing to take into consideration for us..is with small kids, we don't tend to pack them up every night and go out. After a long, fun day at the beach and pools, we don't like to make them get showered and dressed to go sit in a crowded restaurant. So, the location of Barony isn't a problem. We grill almost every night while the kids play in the hottub right next to us, swing on the swings, play shuffleboard, the indoor pool is awesome, and they love the ping pong... They stop long enough to eat..and go right back in the pool, often til 10 o'clock at night and then drop into bed!! For us, that's our idea of a vacation! We relax with a bottle of wine..Sure beats tired kids in a restaurant! Now, all that being said..when they are teenagers, maybe we'll start trying to exchange into GO because of the location. When they want to start going out and meeting up with other teens..they may become bored with Barony. But..for now, it's just paradise!! And..we really feel like we get our money out of Barony. Many times people just go and go..and never really stop and enjoy the resort! Good luck in your decision!

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Barony Beach Club, Platinum 2 wks.
Franz Klammer Lodge

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Posts: 3
From: marriott barony beach platinum
Registered: May 2005

posted 05-24-2005 06:01            

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love and own at barony. bbq grills are immaculate cleaned daily by staff. beach and property are in pristine condition.need more pool chairs. see you on 7/3. no reason to belong to ii.just vacation here!!

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