Great II trade in Michigan

[we luv dvc]

I read the boards all the time but I rarely post anything but this trade was so good that I had to talk about it. We just came back yesterday from a 7 night stay at the Inn At Bay Harbour in northern Michigan. It was fabulous!!! We made our reservations last Nov. and requested a one BR, that was not available so they offered us a 2 BR at 1 BR points, we took it. The suite was gorgeous and overlooked the Traverse Bay. We had a complimentary breakfast every morning, omlette station, waffles, fresh fruit and pasteries. The room was cleaned and linen changed daily and nightly turn down service, even mints on the pillows!!! The area around the resort was gorgeous, the resort itself kind of looks like the Grand Floridian and every bit as nice. I could go on forever about the resort and the great time we had but I won't. One last thing it is only 30 miles from Mackinac Island, in my opinion the prettiest place on earth, and the lilacs were in full bloom!!!!

 

[floridafam]

Yes, it certainly is a great place.

Did they have the huge lawn chess or checkers?


I'm glad you had a good time. We might head up there this Fall.

 

[we luv dvc]

Yes, they had both lawn checkers and chess. The resort had a nice heated pool with a pool side bar. They also had nightly campfires on the shore of the lake, s'mores but no CM's singing Disney songs

 

[goofy4dvc]

Thanks for the report. I've been wanting to go to the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island, but it's sooo many points. This would be a great trade-off. Maybe spend one night at the Grand Hotel. I have been wanting to go just before or after the Lilac Festival, which is in June. I didn't realize they were still in bloom in July. I love lilacs. I looked up the resort and have bookmarked it. Thanks again for the information.

 

[Beast fan]

Glad you had a great time. Mid and Northern Michigan (Lower Peninsula, that is), is one of the most beautiful places in this great country of ours. I've camped there, ridden a mountain bike there (done other things, but this is a family forum). The only "problem" I see is that there isn't a really close "decent" size airport to service the "average" tourist. (Those of you in Northern Michigan, please inform me where there is a decent size airport north of FNT.)

Have a great day.

Dave

 

[Poohs Pal]

Beast Fan: There is a airport in Pellston. It is small and I havn't used it. I noticed it on our drive from Mackinaw city to Traverse City. We did notice some decent size airplane's flying overhead on our drive through.Susan

We Luv Dvc: Did you visit the downtown area of Petosky during your stay. My DD and I both love this area for shopping. Susan

 

[kweaver]

I've studied the website for the Inn at Bay Harbor inside and out and it's *definitely* on my must visit list in the future!

 

[crazyaboutdisney]

what is the website? searched and could not find it.

 

[floridafam]

www.innatbayharbor.com

 

[Cora]

This place looks wonderful. I was wondering...what activities are there for kids (the 11 year old and up set).
Thanks

 

[lizziepooh]

I was just wondering how many points it took for this trade into II?

 

[floridafam]

They have been running some pretty good specials lately.

I'm not sure if we would be better off paying cash.

I'd also like to know how many points the trade took.

 

[Cora]

The points for World Passport Exchanges are:
One Bedroom/Two Bedroom
Low Season 124/207
Mid Season 144/252
High Season 160/270

Cora

 

[Beast fan]

Poohs Pal: Thanks for the info! That's the major "issue" I hear when I tell people where I've been up north. ("Isn't it a long ways from an airport?") Now I can suggest PLN as a viable possibility.

Dave

 

[we luv dvc]

We only used 144 points for the 7 days between June 25 to July 2. We did not see alot of planned activities for children except for the pool and lawn checkers. I'm originally from MI so we did alot of sight seeing so the kids enjoyed that. We drove from NC and it was a 17 hour drive,ugh!!! When we recieved our confirmation from II they put down directions from Pellston Airport and Traverse City Airport. We drove to Traverse city one day and it was a beautiful 60 mile drive. Any one that likes to bike they have a bike path from Habour Springs to Charlevoix, all along the Little Traverse Bay. The Inn is very close to Petoskey and that is a great little town, great shopping and a great deli, The Flat Iron deli. My only downfall of the Inn itself is that it is real "Posh" and some of the guests a bit "snooby". I am used to the down home feel of HHI. I just felt that I needed to be dressed a bit nicer to eat breakfast and be around the inn. I will definetly try for an exchange again, mid 70's sure beats the high 90's with high humidity that NC has today.

 

[WDWMom]

DH and I have stayed in Harbor Springs and we loved the town. It was in October when there was tons of fall color. Very pretty. The town is very welcoming. We would love to go back.

DD and I were on Mackinac Island last year during the Licac Festival. Very pretty time of year. Not busy either. I believe it was over Father's Day weekend. Things bloom a lot later in northern MI than in other places because it stays cold longer. I know the island gets really busy once the 4th rolls around.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We luv DVC, thanks for the post. Being from Metro Detroit this would be a great close by option for us (and save on airfare) if we ever found we had points that needed using (right now we are always borrowed from the next year, we always need more points. We want an add on, but instead we are getting and "add on" to the family in a few weeks (baby #2) and a add on to the house to make room for the baby.)

Funny that you came all the way from NC, normally we do our summer vacation at NC (the outerbanks, Ocracoke Island), but the drive was too much this year. (so we did Vero Beach in May insead and loved it.) We have family in NC, but can never get them to come to Michigan.

Anyway the Inn at Bay Harbor looks great. I had never heard of it before and I will keep it in mind for the future. The web site looks great.

 

[we luv dvc]

Forgot to mention the Inn also has a full service spa. My family tried the free chair massages they offered one night and they said they were great. All the lotions and shampoo they leave in the room are from Bath and Body Works and the coffee for the coffee maker is Starbucks. Kinda nice!!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Cora
The points for World Passport Exchanges are:
One Bedroom/Two Bedroom
Low Season 124/207
Mid Season 144/252
High Season 160/270

Cora

There are also points charts for studios and 3 BR but they are only listed in the yearly II disclosure. I don't have them with me but the studio starts at 106 and goes to 123 if memory serves and teh 3 BR in the mid 300's.