Help/Opinions Please...Williamsburg, VA. trade out...

[IslandHap]

Please help me decide which timeshare resort to trade out to, for our Spring 2003 Colonial Williamsburg vacation. Looking at the DVC members site, there appear to be four options:

Option #1 - Williamsburg Plantation

Option #2 - Marriott's Manor Club at Ford's Colony

Option #3 - Marriott's Manor Club Sequel

Option #4 - Turtle Cay (@ Virginia Beach)

Has anyone stayed at any of these resorts? Any suggestions as which might be the nicest? We will be looking to book a one bedroom, having a rental car to mainly visit the historic sites, and could care less about playing golf.

I know I could probably make a cash reservation at one of the above, rent my points, and make money on the deal, but that's not what we bought our points for.

Any help/suggestions are much needed, and would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Sorcerer]

I can give you an opinion on staying at Virginia Beach since I live here

It's wonderful, but very cool in the spring. You didn't say when you were going to be visiting the area, specifically. Va. Beach is about an hour from Williamsburg, so unless you were only planning on spending a little time in 'burg proper, I would plan on using one of the other three resorts. There is so much to see and do in this area that you might want to plan a separate vacation just to the beach! The fall is a wonderful time to visit

Good luck, please email if I can be of any other help.

 

[Dean]

For Williamsburg, either of the 2 Marriott's are fine. The main difference is that the sequel units are lockoff's and therefore give you the possibility of a 1 BR or studio unit. W. Plantation is an acceptable choice as well. I can't speak for VB.

 

[lrodk]

I've been to the Manor Club at Fords Colony and it is very impressive IMHO. The decor is colonial, with all of the buildings made up of the traditional brick exterior(very stately). My only complaint was that it was about a 15 minute drive to Busch gardens and about 10 minutes from the Colonial area. We were used to staying closer to BG and the historic area, but then again the Manor Club is a cut way above any of the other resorts in town. As far aesthetics go, Fords Colony is a great choice. I would definitely stay there again, all things considered. I can't remember the name of the main restaurant there, but it was ranked among the best in the state. The food was delicious. The Manor club is consistently ranked in the top ten most visited timeshare resorts in the world by TUG.

Click on this link for a virtual tour of the resort

http://www.marriottvacationclub.com...lony/Virtual+Tour.asp?VTID=Master+BR+elegance

TUG Ranking

http://www.timeshare-users-group.com/topten/2000-topten.html

 

[IslandHap]

Thank you to all who've replied.

lrodk... the Marriott link is excellent!

 

[brandtmd]

Our daughter just had a wedding reception at Fords colony and most of us stayed in the manor club. I would look carefully at potential discounts on booking directly as we were able to get internet special rates and AAA rates that put the most desirable 2 bedrooms at around 219/ night over memorial day weekend. Good location overall- distances to attractions are as noted. We were in the process of buying bcv at the time of the weedding and felt that the prices we were able to get were such that we would not get value out of disney points. Nice facility though.
Susan Brandt

 

[IslandHap]

Well, I did it!

Just got off the phone with MS, and now have one week booked in a two bedroom unit @ Marriott's Manor Club at Ford's Colony. The points were the same as that for a two bedroom DVC unit for the same time period (314). Not a great bargain, but at a personal value per point of $5.00, not all that bad either. Besides, we bought our points to use for family vacations (not just Disney), and aren't all that worried about maximizing their $$ value.

Thanks again for everyone's help.