Hilton Head Experts - Have Questions

[esulerzy]

I may be planning a golf trip to Hilton Head in May 2008; I currently own points at SSR.

1. How difficult will it be to make reservations at the 7 month window for a mid-May trip (perhaps Sat May 10th - Sat May 17th)? This time frame avoids Memorial Day crowds and, I'm hoping, the summer crowds (since schools will still be in session).

2. How crowded is it in mid-May?

3. What's the weather like - averge temperature; rainfall, etc.

TIA

 

[KLR-wlv]

Although we're now passed the 7 month window - I'd think you'd still have a good shot since school is still in. I just made 7 month ressies for June after school is out and got them. (there are more 2 bedrooms than studios - so depending on what size room you want will effect availability).

As for weather - we used to live in SC and May should be nice - but it can still be iffy. I'd say you have an 80% chance of nice warm weather. Today - it snowed down there! So you do get very unseasonably cool weather in fall and spring.

Good luck! We love HH resort!

 

[starbox]

We made reservations for Spring Break/Easter right at 7 months w/out a problem (and we live in GA, so lots of Spring Breakers around HH that week).

I agree - the weather can be iffy in May. If you are from the north, it will likely feel warm. For those of us from the south - it's still a little on the cool side for ocean swimming. Crowds should not be bad at all - the season for HH and the other SC beaches really starts after Memorial day.

 

[Dean]

Mid May is fairly easy for HH in general. For DVC, a 2 BR is likely much easier than other size units.

 

[esulerzy]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We just did 5 day-by-days reservations at the 7 month mark for 1 bedroom in June 2007. I think you will be in good shape.

 

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

I have another questions for you HH experts. We are looking for a restful Thanksgiving 2007 trip. Has anyone been to HH for Thanksgiving?

 

[Simba's Mom]

I have another questions for you HH experts. We are looking for a restful Thanksgiving 2007 trip. Has anyone been to HH for Thanksgiving?

Just came back from Thanksgiving at HHI! It was pretty restful for us, but partly that was because the weather was horribly cold (not the norm), much too cold to go out a few days. The resort's at capacity at that time, so take a number if you want to get on the pool table in Big Murgie's Den! And on two days the workout room was so busy when I went (around 10:00) that there wasn't anything available except the weights. We've never been in the summer, always off-season, so this was pretty busy too us. But still fairly quiet and laid-back. Feel free to PM me if I can answer any more questions.

 

[mmmcq]

We made reservations just past the 7 month mark for this coming April and although the 2BR as Dean pointed out was easily available, I was not able to get the extra studio that I needed. We have waitlisted and have reserved a studio for cash, but I'm not sure it will come thru - so we'll pay out of pocket. If I had been a bit more diligent and sure of our plans....I probably would have been able to get it on a day to day basis. But I was working with the schedules of two very busy professionals....my DH and his golf partner who is a pastor of a very large parish - and this plan was a moving target. It's taken me 2 years to get them this close to a trip that I promised them both as an xmas present many moons ago.

When the only dates that worked were over spring break....I informed them I wasn't going to sit home with our girls while they were in a resort with a pool near the beach. So the whole family is going whether they like it or not! They just have to drag themselves to dinner after 18+ holes of golf each day.

 

[Dean]

We made reservations just past the 7 month mark for this coming April and although the 2BR as Dean pointed out was easily available, I was not able to get the extra studio that I needed. We have waitlisted and have reserved a studio for cash, but I'm not sure it will come thru - so we'll pay out of pocket. If I had been a bit more diligent and sure of our plans....I probably would have been able to get it on a day to day basis. But I was working with the schedules of two very busy professionals....my DH and his golf partner who is a pastor of a very large parish - and this plan was a moving target. It's taken me 2 years to get them this close to a trip that I promised them both as an xmas present many moons ago.

When the only dates that worked were over spring break....I informed them I wasn't going to sit home with our girls while they were in a resort with a pool near the beach. So the whole family is going whether they like it or not! They just have to drag themselves to dinner after 18+ holes of golf each day.

May before the holiday weekend is generally easier than April. And it's likely you would have been successful if you had called day by day. Did you wait list day by day or for the entire event? Remember if you wait list day by day and what you end up with is not workable for you, you can still cancel. So unless you will have to borrow points, I'd make sure your wait list is day by day otherwise days that do come available are likely going to others who got on the wait list after you.

 

[starbox]

May before the holiday weekend is generally easier than April. And it's likely you would have been successful if you had called day by day. Did you wait list day by day or for the entire event? Remember if you wait list day by day and what you end up with is not workable for you, you can still cancel. So unless you will have to borrow points, I'd make sure your wait list is day by day otherwise days that do come available are likely going to others who got on the wait list after you.

Schools in GA are getting out the beginning of the last week in May - so most families around tha HH area will have the week before Memorial day as their first full week of summer vacation.

In my experience, HH has been the most difficul resort to book in season. I am guessing it's the combination of short season/small resort/it being the closest major beach to many areas in the south.

I called in early June last year and tried to get anything from late June to mid-August and nothing was available but a random 2bedroom for a single weekend night. There was plenty of ablility at VB and various Disney resorts.

 

[Dean]

Schools in GA are getting out the beginning of the last week in May - so most families around tha HH area will have the week before Memorial day as their first full week of summer vacation.

In my experience, HH has been the most difficul resort to book in season. I am guessing it's the combination of short season/small resort/it being the closest major beach to many areas in the south.

I called in early June last year and tried to get anything from late June to mid-August and nothing was available but a random 2bedroom for a single weekend night. There was plenty of ablility at VB and various Disney resorts.

Overall most schools aren't out until the holiday weekend in May or after. For the southern east coast you see a blip upward in demand around late March/early April for about a 3 week period (will vary a little with Easter). Then for late April through week 21 (week that covers the May holiday) you see it fairly flat in demand and a little lower than Easter. Demand picks up somewhat for week 22 (first full week of June) then you see it max out for mid June through the first full week of August. Then it declines steadily through August and is moderately low by week 35 (Sept Holiday weekend). It remains low but steady through Sept then starts to decline again. It is very low for Dec through mid Feb when it starts to tick up again, other than Xmas which is only a little higher in demand. Put another way, Mid June through early to Mid August is in very high demand. April, May, last August are next but considerably lower than summer with Easter being the best of the time, esp. when it occurs in April. Next is the grouping of March, Sept and Oct which is lower still. The rest is very low overall.

DVC may be a little different in some aspects for some days but it seems to follow these patterns overall. Due to the numbers a 2 BR will likely always be easier. Another point is that if one is looking for a trading week for II or RCI, a fixed week 23 in HH or even 22 or a floating week that is not prime season but that can be booked those weeks, can be a great option.

 

[gharrer]

We just got a 2 BR at HH for the third week in June at the 7 month mark, called day by day and had no trouble. Last year, same thing. Nancy

 

[mmmcq]

Thanks Dean. I am waitlisted day by day.....and there were studios available for the days at the end of the week when I first called. But I didn't pull the trigger fast enough (had to get final confirmation from DH & friend) and by the time I called back (literally hours) Sun-Wed of that week 4/14-21 was gone. I can't be that far down the waitlist and I'm hopeful that it will come thru....but I've got a cash room anyway so we're covered either way. Looking forward to our first trip to HH.