Dean?

[twinmomplus2]

I am looking at a trade at the Villages at Doral, Miami. do you have any info on this property? It says its under construcyion?? I am looking for a good Miami/ Ft Lauderdale trade for summers end, So I should be able to find somthing.Any feedback would be most appreciated....

 

[Werner Weiss]

I'm not Dean, but I can provide some information to you. (You might get more responses if you pick topic names that reflect your questions.)

I assume that when you wrote, "Villages at Doral, Miami," you meant Marriott's Villas at Doral.

Keep in mind that there are two ways to stay at the Doral in Miami through DVC.

The main resort (the Doral Golf Resort and Spa) is available as part of the Concierge Collection for nightly stays. The rooms are regular hotel rooms, not suites or condos.

Marriott's Villas at Doral, across the street from the main resort, is available for 7-night stays through the World Passport Collection. All units are 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condos. Guests at Marriott's Villas at Doral have full access to the main resort's facilities, including the Blue Lagoon, a spectacular pool area with a long water slide. The Marriott Villas resort also has its own pool and spa.

The Marriott Villas resort will be developed over a number of years, so at any time, there may be one or two additional buildings under construction.

The Doral is a long distance from the beach — approximately 20 miles, with the possibility of heavy traffic during commute times. Some people might just assume that any Miami resort is a beach resort. But the Doral was built as a golf resort, west of Miami's airport.

But the Doral is a good base for day trips to the Everglades, the Miami Metro Zoo, and other Southern Florida attractions. Of course, golfers might not want to leave the Doral grounds.

We stayed at the Marriott Villas earlier this year (but not through DVC). It was great week at a very nice resort.

Earlier this year, I posted some pictures of the Blue Lagoon, which is the pool area for guests of the Doral Golf Resort and Spa. It's also available to guests at the Marriott Villas at Doral. Here they are again:

 

[Werner Weiss]

Here are some pictures of Marriott's Villas at Doral.

 

[twinmomplus2]

Thank you so much! I am not real interested in the property being beachside. we live on the Cape so the ocean is in our back yard. I am looking for more of a resort experience, Pools and the like. I can not thank you enough for your time and photos! Thanks again. Lauren

 

[Dean]

Werner's Pictures are great and it sounds like the Marriott at Doral would fit your needs and desires. Don't forget about Beachplace towers and Ocean Pointe as well, two great Marriott's. OP would meet more the resort experience and isn't that far near West Palm Beach. Also consider Sanibel/Captiva for a great experience, not a bad place on the II exchange list though some might fit your needs better than others as some are smaller resorts.

 

[twinmomplus2]

Thanks Dean!

 

[Richyams]

My office is about a mile from there in Doral. Three of my client schools are Doral Ele..., Doral Middle..., and the Doral Charter High Schools.

Its real nice to live and work here where people look to go for vacations.

The way Werner described the area, I thought he was a neighbor....at 9 or 10 in the AM, it would probably take an hour or an hour and a half to get to Miami Beach on any weekday.

 

[twinmomplus2]

You think an hour and a half to say South Beach?
UUUUgh I am looking to be close to Collins ave.. and the Hollywood area near Marthas resturant. It looks like maybe the Diplomat would be a better choice for me then. Thanks.

 

[Richyams]

With traffic, an hour to an hour and a half easy. At 11:00 am you caould do it in under an hour....Doral is way out West, even with no traffic, its a good half hour.

I watched them implode the old Diplomat. Hollywood is way easier, the Diplomat is almost on the ocean. You will find getting around way easier from Hollywood.

My daughter's school is in Hollywood and I also bought an investment property in Hollywood.

 

[twinmomplus2]

I had the misfortune to stay at the old Diplomat right before they imploded it. February of maybe 1996? I had stayed many years ago in it's hey day. And did not know it had gone so far down hill. It was sure a mess on my last stay. I remember hearing shortly there after they were tearing it down! Yikes, poor planning on my part.
I guess I had better go back to my drawing board. I am more comfortable with the Hollywood area to begin with. My sister lived on the Beach across from Martha's. Walnut Ave. I guess I had better start searching again in that area.

 

[Dean]

If you're thinking an exchange, there's not much else I'd consider in that area. If you can look beyond the II-DVC exchange list, I'd think twice about the two Hollywood Beach choices. Consider things like the two Westgates one in Miaimi and on South Beach and the Marriott Beach Place in Ft. Lauderdale. Maybe someone else can tell you the likely driving distances for those areas as well. Just remember there are ways to get exchanges to other resorts that aren't on the DVC list.

 

[twinmomplus2]

I agree with you on the other Hollywood Beach choices they were not very good as a cash customer, so I will not go back. I am still trying to decide exchange or not? My DVC points seem to be worth more than some of the exchanges (to me anyway) It seems cash is probably the way for me to go. Thanks!

 

[spiceycat]

you can post an add on the trade/rental site on this board - say that you have DVC points and you are willing to trade them for --------.

I won't stay in Westgate - but if that is your only choice.