Club Intrawest - Sandestin

[BWV Dreamin]

Does anyone know if you trade DVC for this, where do you stay in Sandestin? Is it Bayside Wharf or are there hotel choices?

 

[dallasdisneymommy]

I would like to know the answer as well...

 

[Dean]

You can trade directly for it starting 7 months out for 6 days or more, I think it's 4 months for 5 days or less, $95 fee. The resort is not on the beach but there is a shuttle. One can also trade in through RCI if you are a member. The resort mostly has 1 BR units with a few 2 BR lockoff units. The points are not that far off from those that a DVC resort would cost. The large problem is availablity during peak times, there really isn't going to be much the way CI system works.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

You can trade directly for it starting 7 months out for 6 days or more, I think it's 4 months for 5 days or less, $95 fee. The resort is not on the beach but there is a shuttle. One can also trade in through RCI if you are a member. The resort mostly has 1 BR units with a few 2 BR lockoff units. The points are not that far off from those that a DVC resort would cost. The large problem is availablity during peak times, there really isn't going to be much the way CI system works.

Thank you Dean!! What is the name of the resort?

 

[snappy]

I am not Dean of course, but my understanding is that Club Intrawest owns the entire Sandestin resort (purchased from previous owner a few years back). I think Club Intrawest is based in Canada. They have properties in Canada, one in Mexico, several out west. As with their other properties, club Intrawest has built a nice "village" in Sandestin that has lots of restaurants, shops, live music venues. I really like the village. They also do an excellent job with keeping up the landscaping throughout the resort.

We stayed at the property they call Club Intrawest on Sandestin several times (my sister and her husband own a small Club Intrawest contract and they have taken us several times on 4 night getaways during off season). It is a high rise (5 stories), I would bet built in late 80's early 90's. As Dean said it mostly has 1 and 2 BR's. It is not beachfront but you take a shuttle to the beach. There are other properties in the Sandestin resort that are beach front. The beach there is wonderful, very white sand, clear water.
Club Intrawest guests have access to a pool on the beachfront as well as a nice beachfront deck. There are 2 pools behind the resort as well, with 2 hot tubs. There is a movie theatre where you can pick the movies to be shown about 3 times daily.

The front desk calls the free shuttle for you to go to the village, other Sandestin resorts, other closeby retail and restaurants. There are phones at each place the shuttle ddrops off for you to call them to pick you up on the return. It is much more convenient than driving and trying to park at the village for instance which is very popular and has limited parking.

 

[Dean]

Thank you Dean!! What is the name of the resort?

My understanding is it is "Club Intrawest-Sandestin" and is RCI ID #6738. The address is below if you want to see the location within the resort complex and the proximity to the beach vs bay:

8626 Bay Town Ave. W.
Destin, FL 32550

Bay Club is a Fairfield resort that has been on the DVC II list but came off fairly recently. I'm not optimistic for availability given the exchange setup and the fact that all other CI owners are ahead of you. Their system works such that you really don't have a home resort priority to it's a free for all when reservations start. Think of it like a CI member trying to get DVC in December.

 

[snappy]

I am not Dean of course, but my understanding is that Club Intrawest owns the entire Sandestin resort (purchased from previous owner a few years back). I think Club Intrawest is based in Canada. They have properties in Canada, one in Mexico, several out west. As with their other properties, club Intrawest has built a nice "village" in Sandestin that has lots of restaurants, shops, live music venues. I really like the village. They also do an excellent job with keeping up the landscaping throughout the resort.

We stayed at the property they call Club Intrawest on Sandestin several times (my sister and her husband own a small Club Intrawest contract and they have taken us several times on 4 night getaways during off season). It is a high rise (5 stories), I would bet built in late 80's early 90's. As Dean said it mostly has 1 and 2 BR's. It is not beachfront but you take a shuttle to the beach. There are other properties in the Sandestin resort that are beach front. The beach there is wonderful, very white sand, clear water.
Club Intrawest guests have access to a pool on the beachfront as well as a nice beachfront deck. There are 2 pools behind the resort as well, with 2 hot tubs. There is a movie theatre where you can pick the movies to be shown about 3 times daily.

The front desk calls the free shuttle for you to go to the village, other Sandestin resorts, other closeby retail and restaurants. There are phones at each place the shuttle ddrops off for you to call them to pick you up on the return. It is much more convenient than driving and trying to park at the village for instance which is very popular and has limited parking.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am not Dean of course, but my understanding is that Club Intrawest owns the entire Sandestin resort (purchased from previous owner a few years back). I think Club Intrawest is based in Canada. They have properties in Canada, one in Mexico, several out west. As with their other properties, club Intrawest has built a nice "village" in Sandestin that has lots of restaurants, shops, live music venues. I really like the village. They also do an excellent job with keeping up the landscaping throughout the resort.

We stayed at the property they call Club Intrawest on Sandestin several times (my sister and her husband own a small Club Intrawest contract and they have taken us several times on 4 night getaways during off season). It is a high rise (5 stories), I would bet built in late 80's early 90's. As Dean said it mostly has 1 and 2 BR's. It is not beachfront but you take a shuttle to the beach. There are other properties in the Sandestin resort that are beach front. The beach there is wonderful, very white sand, clear water.
Club Intrawest guests have access to a pool on the beachfront as well as a nice beachfront deck. There are 2 pools behind the resort as well, with 2 hot tubs. There is a movie theatre where you can pick the movies to be shown about 3 times daily.

The front desk calls the free shuttle for you to go to the village, other Sandestin resorts, other closeby retail and restaurants. There are phones at each place the shuttle ddrops off for you to call them to pick you up on the return. It is much more convenient than driving and trying to park at the village for instance which is very popular and has limited parking.

I am very interested in this resort! Thanks for all your help. I was checking on airfare from BWI, and it looks like the discount carriers don't fly into Ft. Walton airport. Airfare looks pretty high with the other carriers. Do you have another airport that is close by that might have better airfare? I am definitely going to check this place out. The village looks really nice, as well as the beach. I am all for the shuttle, we would just get a cab from the airport to the resort. Thanks for any info.

 

[nisiemouse]

I just wanted to add that Sandestin is a great place to visit. DH has family there so we have been there multiple times. We love the Baytowne Wharf area.

 

[Tine731]

I am very interested in this resort! Thanks for all your help. I was checking on airfare from BWI, and it looks like the discount carriers don't fly into Ft. Walton airport. Airfare looks pretty high with the other carriers. Do you have another airport that is close by that might have better airfare? I am definitely going to check this place out. The village looks really nice, as well as the beach. I am all for the shuttle, we would just get a cab from the airport to the resort. Thanks for any info.

You may want to try Pensacola, Fl or Mobile, Al. They are about 1 hr 15 min to 2 hours away. Both are a very easy drive to Sandestin.

 

[snappy]

I am sorry, I can't help with airports, we always drive. It is only about a 5-6 hour drive from home to Destin.

Sorry about the double post.

 

[Dean]

I am very interested in this resort! Thanks for all your help. I was checking on airfare from BWI, and it looks like the discount carriers don't fly into Ft. Walton airport. Airfare looks pretty high with the other carriers. Do you have another airport that is close by that might have better airfare? I am definitely going to check this place out. The village looks really nice, as well as the beach. I am all for the shuttle, we would just get a cab from the airport to the resort. Thanks for any info.

All airports in the area are more regional. Mobile is the closest larger airport but it is not really that large and hasn't had any better fares from what I've seen. You'll be about 7 hours from Atlanta or Orlando and 5 from J'ville. Pensacola does seem to do better as it seems to be the best run and cheapest of the regional airports in the area, esp for continental. Tallahassee will also be about 2 hours away. Birmingham is also 5 hours and Montgomery about 3.5. Overall no great choices. Look at all and see but remember you can't schedule until 7 months out for the resort itself through DVC.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

All airports in the area are more regional. Mobile is the closest larger airport but it is not really that large and hasn't had any better fares from what I've seen. You'll be about 7 hours from Atlanta or Orlando and 5 from J'ville. Pensacola does seem to do better as it seems to be the best run and cheapest of the regional airports in the area, esp for continental. Tallahassee will also be about 2 hours away. Birmingham is also 5 hours and Montgomery about 3.5. Overall no great choices. Look at all and see but remember you can't schedule until 7 months out for the resort itself through DVC.

Thanks Dean! Since we won't be renting a car, have to use taxi, and that would be quite expensive 2-7 hours away! I'll just keep watching the airlines to get a feel for the price flying into Ft. Walton airport (VSP). Yep, have to wait for 7 mos., but I'm hoping first week of May would be more available. I do see your point about the rooms...on the website they don't look all that. But the resort looks great not to mention the beach. Thanks for your info!!

 

[Dean]

Thanks Dean! Since we won't be renting a car, have to use taxi, and that would be quite expensive 2-7 hours away! I'll just keep watching the airlines to get a feel for the price flying into Ft. Walton airport (VSP). Yep, have to wait for 7 mos., but I'm hoping first week of May would be more available. I do see your point about the rooms...on the website they don't look all that. But the resort looks great not to mention the beach. Thanks for your info!!

Frankly I don't see how you could to this area without a car. I guess you could be it'd be a little like going to HH and not having a car. Same for PC down the road. Is there a reason not to get a rental car as it couldn't be any cheaper not to and the limitations are fairly dramatic without one.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Frankly I don't see how you could to this area without a car. I guess you could be it'd be a little like going to HH and not having a car. Same for PC down the road. Is there a reason not to get a rental car as it couldn't be any cheaper not to and the limitations are fairly dramatic without one.

I thought the shuttle would be enough to get us around the resort. Is the resort just too big for just the shuttle alone? Also, we do not know this area at all. I also read the traffic was really bad getting around the area. So....I guess I don't which way to go now!!

 

[Dean]

I thought the shuttle would be enough to get us around the resort. Is the resort just too big for just the shuttle alone? Also, we do not know this area at all. I also read the traffic was really bad getting around the area. So....I guess I don't which way to go now!!

By the time yo pay a shuttle each way, it'll be around the same as a car for the week. I guess part of it is that I can't imagine being confined to the resort for the entire time. To me that's part of the charm of this entire area is getting out and exploring a little, of course my wife has to go to the outlet malls. There really aren't enough restaurants on property to keep us entertained for more than a day or two anyway. Again, must like HH.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

By the time yo pay a shuttle each way, it'll be around the same as a car for the week. I guess part of it is that I can't imagine being confined to the resort for the entire time. To me that's part of the charm of this entire area is getting out and exploring a little, of course my wife has to go to the outlet malls. There really aren't enough restaurants on property to keep us entertained for more than a day or two anyway. Again, must like HH.

Ok, I thought the shuttle was free. Well, then it does make more sense to rent a car. We have a GPS system, so that should help us out. Thanks for your info Dean!!

 

[Dean]

Ok, I thought the shuttle was free. Well, then it does make more sense to rent a car. We have a GPS system, so that should help us out. Thanks for your info Dean!!

I think the shuttle within the resort is free, it's the too and from the airport that's the issue.

 

[Sammie]

Club Intrawest is on the Bay side of Sandestin and the shuttle is very efficient, similar to being on Disney property using Disney buses. However if you wish to the leave the resort you will need a car. The shuttle will take you a few place off property such as Grand Sandestin, a dining and shopping area and to the outlet mall.

It is a beautiful resort but it is not on the beach. The shuttle is free within the resort, airport transportation is not. Sandestin recommends Marquee Transportation.

I would not compare it to being at Hilton Head DVC, as they don't have a full service restaurant, where Sandestin resort has 20 restuarants and you have several new ones at Grand Sandestin.

Also check air fare to Panama City, Fl.

For more on the resort see www.sandestin.com

 

[nisiemouse]

Ok, I thought the shuttle was free. Well, then it does make more sense to rent a car. We have a GPS system, so that should help us out. Thanks for your info Dean!!

You shouldn't have any trouble getting around. When you leave the resort everything is pretty much on one road which is why traffic gets backed up. We have stayed at Sandestin many times. Dh's mom used to work there. It is a wonderful place to vacation.