Hilton Head 2 bedroom in August?

[lisareniff]

..at the 7 month mark?

I hate doing one of these 'what are my chances' threads, but that darn new search 'feature' is really terrible.

So, if you'll indulge me... What kind of chance do I have of reserving a 2 bedroom at HH for a weekday week during the first half of August (most likely the second week)? Being a well trained DISer, I would of course call day-by-day, 9am at 7 months out. We would be driving so this would increase our flexibility and use of the waitlist but since our UY is Oct, I could only stay on the waitlist until the end of May.

Anyone have a guess? Should I try for DVC or just skip it and go for a rental at Marriott GO or other beach front property?

 

[Starr W.]

..at the 7 month mark?

I had doing one of these 'what are may chances' threads, but that darn new search 'feature' is really terrible.

So, if you'll indulge me... What kind of chance do I have of reserving a 2 bedroom at HH for a weekday week during the first half of August (most likely the second week)? Being a well trained DISer, I would of course call day-by-day, 9am at 7 months out. We would be driving so this would increase our flexibility and use of the waitlist but since our UY is Oct, I could only stay on the waitlist until the end of May.

Anyone have a guess? Should I try for DVC or just skip it and go for a rental at Marriott GO or other beach front property?

I would skip DVC and go for the Marriott rental. I'm biased but I want to be on the beach.

Personally I would stay at one of the Marriott's. I'm like you I want to be on the beach.

When do some of the southern schools start back? You might luck out. But you'd probably still need to call day by day to do the reservation.

 

[njmeisje]

We bought HHI to ensure we could get a 2BR at the 11 month mark somewhere between 4th of July and 2nd week of August. I had done a similar enquiry last year and found it hard to get unless you want June or last 2 weeks of August.

Best of luck to you. We're there from Aug 1st-9th! Hoping it's a great week!

 

[lisareniff]

Thanks. I wasn't sure about August. Sounds like the second week may still be difficult.

We now my girls were old enough we wanted to plan a driving trip down to the SE coast. I may just look at other places to rent.

Anyone else have comment on HH availability in August?

 

[Dean]

I'd say if you call day by day you have a good chance of success for a 2 BR for that week. I agree that the Marriott's might be a better choice if you want a 2 BR for a full week. Here's what I'd do. I'd put in a request now for 2009 (assuming that's when you're looking) for the 3 top Marriott's. Then at 7 months out, I'd try to make the reservation if you haven't matched Marriott. If you get the DVC reservation, at that point you can decide what your best option is, whether to keep the search going or just stay with the DVC reservation. The direct reservation 7 nights is 330 points and the exchange would be 270 plus $95, 60 points is nothing to sneeze at and IMO, the Marriott's are better resorts overall. Certainly there are some additional risks with an II reservation as we've seen highlighted recently so you'd have to take that into account. One should be able to rent one of those Marriott's for around $2300-2500 for a week but for a cancelable option, you're looking more in the $3500 range. One could also reserve a condo or similar as a backup with cash.

 

[lisareniff]

Thanks Dean, that was very helpful. Your stragety sound very good and low risk. I actually think in this situation II might be a possibility for us. Usually we are to locked in with flights and schools schedules and wanting things nailed down, scared to use II (new system to learn), etc. I really haven't remembered all the II exchange facts since I thought we wouldn't be doing an exchange for a number of years. Is it correct that you get your $95 back if you do not get a match or cancel the search?

What do you consider the top three HH resorts? I heard good things about Marriott Grand Ocean (Maybe from you! You own there right?) What others? Seawatch? Are the better units in these resort able to be reserved through II? or would we get the worst locations? Were a family of four, DD12 and 6, DH golfs, and we like lower density, nicely designed resorts (I'm a sucker for DVC resort theming)

Renting from an owner doesn't sound like a bad route either for ~$2500 for 7 nights, compared to the II route for 270 points plus $95. IF you can find the right owner with the right week and unit.

Making DVC HH into 6 nights (Sun - Sat) would lower the points to 231 making that a bit more reasonable.

Thank again!


DD6 wanted to add a few smilies...

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Thanks Dean, that was very helpful. Your stragety sound very good and low risk. I actually think in this situation II might be a possibility for us. Usually we are to locked in with flights and schools schedules and wanting things nailed down, scared to use II (new system to learn), etc. I really haven't remembered all the II exchange facts since I thought we wouldn't be doing an exchange for a number of years. Is it correct that you get your $95 back if you do not get a match or cancel the search?

What do you consider the top three HH resorts? I heard good things about Marriott Grand Ocean (Maybe from you! You own there right?) What others? Seawatch? Are the better units in these resort able to be reserved through II? or would we get the worst locations? Were a family of four, DD12 and 6, DH golfs, and we like lower density, nicely designed resorts (I'm a sucker for DVC resort theming)

Renting from an owner doesn't sound like a bad route either for ~$2500 for 7 nights, compared to the II route for 270 points plus $95. IF you can find the right owner with the right week and unit.

Making DVC HH into 6 nights (Sun - Sat) would lower the points to 231 making that a bit more reasonable.

Thank again!


DD6 wanted to add a few smilies...

I am watching closely your success at 7 mos. I too want to try something like this. I want to ressie a 1 bdrm. however, and this may be even harder at 7 mos. Let us know how it goes!

 

[lisareniff]

I'm not sure if we will be trying this for next year or not. We will be doing this trip within the next few summers. We need to plan out the next couple summers. Now that DD6 is older we are starting to see road trips in our future.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I'm not sure if we will be trying this for next year or not. We will be doing this trip within the next few summers. We need to plan out the next couple summers. Now that DD6 is older we are starting to see road trips in our future.

This is a big factor in trying HHI, being able to drive there. I wonder if it will get even more popular because more people will be able to drive there? If I try before you, I certainly will post my success or failure! But now all eyes are on VB for August!

 

[Dean]

Thanks Dean, that was very helpful. Your stragety sound very good and low risk. I actually think in this situation II might be a possibility for us. Usually we are to locked in with flights and schools schedules and wanting things nailed down, scared to use II (new system to learn), etc. I really haven't remembered all the II exchange facts since I thought we wouldn't be doing an exchange for a number of years. Is it correct that you get your $95 back if you do not get a match or cancel the search?

What do you consider the top three HH resorts? I heard good things about Marriott Grand Ocean (Maybe from you! You own there right?) What others? Seawatch? Are the better units in these resort able to be reserved through II? or would we get the worst locations? Were a family of four, DD12 and 6, DH golfs, and we like lower density, nicely designed resorts (I'm a sucker for DVC resort theming)

Renting from an owner doesn't sound like a bad route either for ~$2500 for 7 nights, compared to the II route for 270 points plus $95. IF you can find the right owner with the right week and unit.

Making DVC HH into 6 nights (Sun - Sat) would lower the points to 231 making that a bit more reasonable.

Thank again!


DD6 wanted to add a few smilies...

If you don't match or cancel without a match, you will get your money back. The top 3 resorts on the DVC exchange list are the 3 Marriott's of Grande Ocean, Barony and Surfwatch. Most would put GO #1, for exchangers I would put SW #2 simply because there's a good chance you'll get a garden view unit and there is quite a differential in the desirability of the GV units between Barony and SW. GO does not have GV units. SW is also the only one with 3 BR units, none are lockoff's. The other Marriott's are nice to very nice. Heritage offers free golf for 2 every day including for exchangers, you just pay the cart is my understanding but it's a notch below the others overall.

 

[dizhoni]

In 2006, early December, I called at 9AM each morning to wait list for a 2 bedroom for the 4th of July week. The 1st night was available and the rest came in during April. Just great luck I guess, but I'm going to try it again this December!!! Honi

 

[CarolA]

If you don't match or cancel without a match, you will get your money back. The top 3 resorts on the DVC exchange list are the 3 Marriott's of Grande Ocean, Barony and Surfwatch. Most would put GO #1, for exchangers I would put SW #2 simply because there's a good chance you'll get a garden view unit and there is quite a differential in the desirability of the GV units between Barony and SW. GO does not have GV units. SW is also the only one with 3 BR units, none are lockoff's. The other Marriott's are nice to very nice. Heritage offers free golf for 2 every day including for exchangers, you just pay the cart is my understanding but it's a notch below the others overall.

Overall I agree with Dean.

However, I would stay away from the Harbour Club. I was VERY disappointed with it last year.

My actual personal favorite is Monarch. It's older, but has a great location and the rooms were redone a few years ago. Plus I like being inside Sea Pines Plantation.