2013 Hilton Head lovers thread

[JVL1018]

It is official, our waitlist came through. We are going to HHI June 23-28, 2013 in a 2 BR. I was getting nervous that our waitlist would not come through but it did. What an awesome early Christmas present!!!
Once we get back from Disiney next month, I can start planning on trip down to HHI from Pittsburgh. Any suggestions, this will be our first car ride over 7 hours with our children ages 6 and 2???

We've been driving to HH every month since our kids were 6 months and 2 years old.

We leave on Saturday, drive 11 hours and the next day we get up and drive the last 3.
Because we're not trying to get there the first night, there's no stress. We stop to leisurely eat, we stop at rest stops (bring a ball), once we even stopped at Mt Vernon for 4 hours or so(that year we only drove 10 hours, so we had 4 hours the next day).
We just treat it as part of the trip, and the kids love it.
DVDs, iPads or Touches, books, snacks, car bingo, it's actually fun.
It's my limit-the 14 hours, I can't do the NJ to FL trip in a car..but the HHI car trip is fun, my kids actually look forward to it.

 

[okw2012]

Every month! How many points do you have ???

(I'm actually assuming it's a typo - going every year is actually great too! )

We've been driving to HH every month since our kids were 6 months and 2 years old.

We leave on Saturday, drive 11 hours and the next day we get up and drive the last 3.
Because we're not trying to get there the first night, there's no stress. We stop to leisurely eat, we stop at rest stops (bring a ball), once we even stopped at Mt Vernon for 4 hours or so(that year we only drove 10 hours, so we had 4 hours the next day).
We just treat it as part of the trip, and the kids love it.
DVDs, iPads or Touches, books, snacks, car bingo, it's actually fun.
It's my limit-the 14 hours, I can't do the NJ to FL trip in a car..but the HHI car trip is fun, my kids actually look forward to it.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

We will be driving from MN in March. We just rented a minivan so we'll have room for the DVD player, all the snacks, books, ipods, pillows...
We will likely drive straight through, mostly because we may be getting a later start than we planned due to DD9's dance competition that weekend.

I usually surprise the kids with a new DVD or two for a trip so they have something new to enjoy.

We're used to the long road trips. We drive to VA often as well as WDW. Not great fun, but it gets us there a lot cheaper than airfare for 4. My DH is good about doing a lot, if not all, the driving and he likes to drive at night (weather permitting), so we sleep a lot on the way. He's usually kind of tired when we arrive though. If it is WDW, he perks up pretty fast!

 

[lovin'fl]

Just made an offer, and it was accepted, for an 88 point resale...now we will have 163 points at HH. Not sure when we will go next (I'd like Thanksgiving or Xmas, but DH is not into that and only wants to go when it's hot).

 

[okw2012]

Just made an offer, and it was accepted, for an 88 point resale...now we will have 163 points at HH. Not sure when we will go next (I'd like Thanksgiving or Xmas, but DH is not into that and only wants to go when it's hot).

Congrats! I saw that one and was tempted to bid on it.

 

[lovin'fl]

Congrats! I saw that one and was tempted to bid on it.

Thanks! It was priced high but they took a lower offer. DH and I are having fun tonight talking about when we are going to go.

 

[rusafee1183]

Thanks! It was priced high but they took a lower offer. DH and I are having fun tonight talking about when we are going to go.

YAY! Congrats!

I thought about making an offer on that one also, but I want to keep my UY the same. I will probably end up going through Disney because a small Dec contract seems like it may take some time to come up....

 

[okw2012]

Thanks! It was priced high but they took a lower offer. DH and I are having fun tonight talking about when we are going to go.

Good luck passing ROFR! Current ROFR level seems to be somewhere between $40 and $50.

 

[JVL1018]

Every month! How many points do you have ???

(I'm actually assuming it's a typo - going every year is actually great too! )

Hahaha!! Every YEAR!
A 14 hour one way drive every month, would not be enjoyable.

We did skip one year. We went to WDW twice instead. My son was in preschool at the time-I was driving with him a month or so before our spring WDW trip(that was taking the place of our normal HH trip) and I said, I'm going to miss you next year, when you're in Kindergarten..and he says..you know what I'm going to miss?
I said no, what?
He said, Hilton Head! Because you're MAKING me go to DISNEY WORLD instead!!!
Poor 5 year old, forced to go to WDW!

 

[mickeyplanner]

THank you for all the advice on travelingt 12 hours with our children. We are thinking of leaving Friday afternoon and driving for a few hours that day before dinner, then drive again on Saturday with making lots of stops/activities then spending the night outside of HHI, then arriving at HHI on Sunday. Any suggestions on where to stop outside of HHI on Sunday? We can get to HHI early and use a beach house/bathroom to change in before our room is ready?

 

[mickeyplanner]

YAY! That is awesome news!


I am still thinking about what we are going to be doing for our car ride from Pittsburgh also. We are still up in the air about that...

Looks like we will be just missing your family for both trips. We are going to WDW Jan 20 - 25th and then HHI May 12 - 17

Yes, we will just keep missing each other. Where are you staying in January? We are doing a split stay BLT and our first time at AKV-Kidani.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just made an offer, and it was accepted, for an 88 point resale...now we will have 163 points at HH. Not sure when we will go next (I'd like Thanksgiving or Xmas, but DH is not into that and only wants to go when it's hot).

I vote for Thanksgiving. We've been there for the last 7 Thanksgivings, and I just noted on our calendar the day the 11 month window opens so we can reserve for next year again. We've never gone when it's hot-too many horror stories about crowded grocery stores, long waits at resturants, and heavy traffic.

 

[lovin'fl]

I vote for Thanksgiving. We've been there for the last 7 Thanksgivings, and I just noted on our calendar the day the 11 month window opens so we can reserve for next year again. We've never gone when it's hot-too many horror stories about crowded grocery stores, long waits at resturants, and heavy traffic.

What do you do for Turkey Day dinner? Can you order a pre-made dinner from the grocery stores there? I'd rather not cook from scratch but could handle heating a meal...or going to a restaurant if any are open.

Edited to add: Just looked up grocery info and Piggly Wiggly does turkey dinner orders and they have a new Piggly Wiggly in Shelter Cove. Perfect!!! I am SOLD!!!! When is the 11 month window...it's coming up and I have to get through closing on the new points. I have 77 points that will be available in our current membership, so I could book 3 nights now and add 2 more nights later.

 

[Simba's Mom]

What do you do for Turkey Day dinner? Can you order a pre-made dinner from the grocery stores there? I'd rather not cook from scratch but could handle heating a meal...or going to a restaurant if any are open.

Edited to add: Just looked up grocery info and Piggly Wiggly does turkey dinner orders and they have a new Piggly Wiggly in Shelter Cove. Perfect!!! I am SOLD!!!! When is the 11 month window...it's coming up and I have to get through closing on the new points. I have 77 points that will be available in our current membership, so I could book 3 nights now and add 2 more nights later.

Many places have precooked dinners, including the resort itself, which delivers to your villa. We've done the one from the Piggly Wiggly, but lately we've been doing the one from Signe's Bakery. Hers is just for two people, the "Lovebird", perfect for the two of us.

 

[rusafee1183]

Thanksgiving sounds like a great time of year to head to the beach! I'm glad to hear you still love it so much even though it's not a 'typical' beach time in the middle of summer/hot/ etc etc.

My DH and I are headed down in early May, to celebrate my 30th birthday together - I hope it's not too crowded then!

Has anyone done a day trip to Savannah? I can't remember if I already asked, so I'm sorry if I did! We are looking at a few hop on hop off tours, and they aren't too expensive - but I was curious if they were worth it or if we should just wing it and try to see everything ourselves.

My top choices are the haunted tour through Oglethorpe or a segway (never done one!) tour.

http://www.oglethorpetours.com/

http://www.segwayofsavannah.com/tours

Yes, we will just keep missing each other. Where are you staying in January? We are doing a split stay BLT and our first time at AKV-Kidani.

We are doing 1 night in VWL in a studio, and then moving over to AKV Kidani for the rest of the trip in a 1BR. It's our first time having a full kitchen, so we (ok... it's mostly me) are pretty excited! I ordered through Garden Grocer and planned out all our meals. I feel like such a nerd being this excited about groceries.

 

[lovin'fl]

Thanksgiving sounds like a great time of year to head to the beach! I'm glad to hear you still love it so much even though it's not a 'typical' beach time in the middle of summer/hot/ etc etc.

My DH and I are headed down in early May, to celebrate my 30th birthday together - I hope it's not too crowded then!

Has anyone done a day trip to Savannah? I can't remember if I already asked, so I'm sorry if I did! We are looking at a few hop on hop off tours, and they aren't too expensive - but I was curious if they were worth it or if we should just wing it and try to see everything ourselves.

My top choices are the haunted tour through Oglethorpe or a segway (never done one!) tour.

http://www.oglethorpetours.com/

http://www.segwayofsavannah.com/tours



We are doing 1 night in VWL in a studio, and then moving over to AKV Kidani for the rest of the trip in a 1BR. It's our first time having a full kitchen, so we (ok... it's mostly me) are pretty excited! I ordered through Garden Grocer and planned out all our meals. I feel like such a nerd being this excited about groceries.

We've been to Savannah and to Tybee Island (where we popped over to Savannah for the day). I LOVE Savannah. We did a walking tour...we followed a map and paid as we went, for tours at places like the Mercer House and other historical places (you can pre-pay a flat fee for a days worth of tours I think). We also did a night time ghost tour on a bus. We also drove to some cemetery, on our own, where a child is buried (who's story was mentioned in the ghost tour...can't remember the story now). There are tons of cool places to eat too...we did a dinner at the Pirate's House. We shopped some too...there are plenty of places for that. You could do Savannah on your own (w/out a tour).

 

[Conan the Librarian]

Could it have been the story of Gracie?

http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/savannahgaattractions/ss/bonaventure_2.htm


When I was very young, they had a jar on the grave that you could slip coins into to help pay for the upkeep.

We did the night ghost tour a few years ago. It's a hoot.

If you go to Tybee, go to the parking lot across from the Light house and eat at the North Beach Grill. Great Food. Plan on waiting for your food, as they can be a little slow sometimes.

We do day trips to HHI every few months. The reverse should be easy.
(got to get our Mickey Premium fix!)

 

[lovin'fl]

Could it have been the story of Gracie?

http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/savannahgaattractions/ss/bonaventure_2.htm


When I was very young, they had a jar on the grave that you could slip coins into to help pay for the upkeep.

We did the night ghost tour a few years ago. It's a hoot.

If you go to Tybee, go to the parking lot across from the Light house and eat at the North Beach Grill. Great Food. Plan on waiting for your food, as they can be a little slow sometimes.

We do day trips to HHI every few months. The reverse should be easy.
(got to get our Mickey Premium fix!)

YES!!! Gracie. I envy you...would love to live in Savannah (or Tybee Island).

Tybee also has dolphin tours and the place we took the tour from had a bar/pub at the pier that we had a couple drinks and the kids played Foosball or something...very low key little beach town that we loved (of course we were there in September, not sure what it's like in prime beach season).

 

[csharpwv]

We are going to HHI for New Years! We will be there for 5 nights - SO excited!
Can't wait to see what the weather is going to be like - I REALLY hope we get to at least go in the ocean a little - I know it will be cold, but I can't wait!

We spent July 4th week there this year, and a couple nights last year on the way down and back from WDW after Thanksgiving last year. We are SO glad we bought points at HHI!

If anyone has any suggestions for New Years Eve at HHI - by all means, SHARE!

We have friends that will be coming along with us - can't wait!

 

[okw2012]

We are going to HHI for New Years! We will be there for 5 nights - SO excited!
Can't wait to see what the weather is going to be like - I REALLY hope we get to at least go in the ocean a little - I know it will be cold, but I can't wait!

We spent July 4th week there this year, and a couple nights last year on the way down and back from WDW after Thanksgiving last year. We are SO glad we bought points at HHI!

If anyone has any suggestions for New Years Eve at HHI - by all means, SHARE!

We have friends that will be coming along with us - can't wait!

If you want to be added to the roll call, please give me your exact dates.

Not sure what to do on new year's eve, I suggest calling the resort to see what's happening at the resort.