How Hard Is It To Get HHI?

[BWV Dreamin]

We own a Marriott on HHI every other year and have been numerous times both in high season and off season. We are waiting ROFR on HHI DVC points so we can get there every year.

We love HHI. We have never experienced the traffic night mare either. Nor the crowded beaches. We don't feel that HHI is overdeveloped as a matter of fact, the city just bought all the car dealerships on the island and moved them off island. They are leaving the land as greenspace. They have strict controls on paint colors of businesses, use of neon is not permitted and buildings can only be 5 stories or less. The strip malls that are there are hidden from view of the main drag by bushes and trees.

I consider International Dr. or Virginia Beach overbuilt. HHI does not fit into that category at all. But then, that is just my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own. I would say try it once. Form your own opinion.

Thanks Laxmom! The resort looks so beautiful, and the DH loves everything nature. I will have to try it once for sure.....I'll just plan for more of the off season, May or Sept.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

DH wants to try it. He loves VB so I know HHI won't be to his liking.

I think you are right. DW really wanted to try something new (other than VB) and so we tried HHI (second time). We loved the nature, but Mary Beth and I both agreed that we really missed VB...... Can't wait for this summer.

VB is just so.... wonderful.

 

[Laxmom]

Thanks Laxmom! The resort looks so beautiful, and the DH loves everything nature. I will have to try it once for sure.....I'll just plan for more of the off season, May or Sept.

Our favorite thing to do is walk the beach at night. You see some really cool critters. We always take a flashlight with us in case there isn't a full moon. The sunrise walks are great too. We even get the teenagers out of bed for that one!!

We went in mid Feb for the first time - usually go in the summer. That is what made us decide to buy DVC. We want a different experience than our Marriott and it is just a getaway for DH and I. Kids are now old enough. Anyway, it was a terrific time of year. Too chilly for ocean but pools were heated. It was 65-70 and lovely compared to snowy Ohio!!

 

[MinnieGi]

Thanks for your comments. I grew up visiting Ocean City, MD beaches. I really dislike them now for all of the over development, crowded beaches, coastal highway traffic, bay bridge traffic, strip joint shops all the same every 1/2 mile, and yes, very expensive dining. Thats why I am having a hard time convincing myself to visit HHI. I read every trip report. But I would be heart broke to go there,and it be the same as up here as Maryland beaches! So thanks for your candidness.

Oh wow, HHI is so NOT Ocean City, MD!!!!!! DH and I cannot stand Ocean City b/c of all that you describe. HHI is so much more visually appealing or at least it is to us. There are no in your face signs for stores, restaurants etc... The signage at HHI is very mellow and down on the ground. There is lots of greenery all over the island in parking lots. It makes it very pleasant.

Now all the people who say how bad the traffic is during the summer have me scared. As we were there first week in August and thought it was fine. Traffic moved along from stoplight to stoplight. Now talk about traffic nightmare and Rt. 1 along the DE beaches and through Ocean City, MD comes to mind!!!! We are going to HHI the third week in June this year so I will see what difference the month makes.

Same with the beach we didn't think it was crowded at all!! Their beach is very wide and holds alot of people. But I'm used to seeing Rehoboth and Ocean City crowds where on summer weeks it is blanket to blanket people!!

We have young children so the ocean water at HHI was so pleasant. It has very gentle rolling waves, no rip tides. Its also very shallow and no slope of shelf to worry about it. Actually as an adult I had such a good time in the ocean water jumping the rolling waves!! I have never spent as much time in the ocean water as I did at HHI!!

As if you can't tell we are one of those families who fell in love with HHI and can't wait for our return!

 

[Laxmom]

MinnieGi, the island has been doing a beach renovation. The beach seemed even wider when we were there in Feb. Not sure when they did this because we hadn't been there since summer '06.

 

[disissue]

Hi everyone! I'm in the process of purchasing DVC at BWV. How hard is it to get Hilton Head in the summer? I would like to plan a summer vacation there next year.

Ummm I have tried year and years I own at the BW and VB never was able to get to HHI in the summer....

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Oh wow, HHI is so NOT Ocean City, MD!!!!!! DH and I cannot stand Ocean City b/c of all that you describe. HHI is so much more visually appealing or at least it is to us. There are no in your face signs for stores, restaurants etc... The signage at HHI is very mellow and down on the ground. There is lots of greenery all over the island in parking lots. It makes it very pleasant.

Now all the people who say how bad the traffic is during the summer have me scared. As we were there first week in August and thought it was fine. Traffic moved along from stoplight to stoplight. Now talk about traffic nightmare and Rt. 1 along the DE beaches and through Ocean City, MD comes to mind!!!! We are going to HHI the third week in June this year so I will see what difference the month makes.

Same with the beach we didn't think it was crowded at all!! Their beach is very wide and holds alot of people. But I'm used to seeing Rehoboth and Ocean City crowds where on summer weeks it is blanket to blanket people!!

We have young children so the ocean water at HHI was so pleasant. It has very gentle rolling waves, no rip tides. Its also very shallow and no slope of shelf to worry about it. Actually as an adult I had such a good time in the ocean water jumping the rolling waves!! I have never spent as much time in the ocean water as I did at HHI!!

As if you can't tell we are one of those families who fell in love with HHI and can't wait for our return!

Please give a trip report MiniGi after you go. Your opinion's will be valued as you know what my concerns are! If things are great during this June trip, will this would be the worst it would get! So please let us know!

 

[CastleLight]

I booked a studio at 7 mos for a week beginning 4th of July. I called each day right when MS opened though. This is my first trip to HHI; I'm really looking forward to it!

 

[CKDKMK]

I just called last month and was able to get 3 nights in June. However I was flexible to the whole summer. There was lots of nights open around the teens in August but to play it safe with a kid in school I went with June. (not sure when school will start this year). There was also every weekend open in June. July is all booked. I was flexible to Studios and 1 bedrooms. I got a 1 bedroom.

Best of luck.

 

[Dean]

Ok, now I'm not so sure!! See, this is what I wanted to avoid, the traffic...I wonder if I stick to off season, this could be circumvented. However, the commercialism,,hmmm. I'll keep reading the trip reports for now, see if anyone posts any pictures of these strip malls!

The traffic is manageable other than noon to late afternoon on Fri to Sunday. It is difficult to get but actually seems to have NOT gotten any harder as the system has grown. I think that'll change at some point and I would not count on getting Mid June to Mid August for HH though you might get lucky some years if you call day by day when they open.

 

[Judique]

Ok, now I'm not so sure!! See, this is what I wanted to avoid, the traffic...I wonder if I stick to off season, this could be circumvented. However, the commercialism,,hmmm. I'll keep reading the trip reports for now, see if anyone posts any pictures of these strip malls!

Not a bit like OC! No tacky Sunsations, or Doughrollers,ugh!

Traffic - once you are on the island, you can take 278 local to the resort, which means a few stoplights, or you can take the toll road, which is 50 cents and brings you in near Sea Pines and the back way. In over a hundred visits, I have never sat in traffic. However, I usually don't leave on Saturdays, which is the big timeshare turnover day. If you can avoid arriving on Friday afternoon or Saturdays, you will have moderate traffic.

Okay - I have to admit I have sat in traffic - when I tried to go to the outlets one year on Black Friday! Won't bother with that again.....

 

[starbox]

In over a hundred visits, I have never sat in traffic. However, I usually don't leave on Saturdays, which is the big timeshare turnover day. If you can avoid arriving on Friday afternoon or Saturdays, you will have moderate traffic.

Okay - I have to admit I have sat in traffic - when I tried to go to the outlets one year on Black Friday! Won't bother with that again.....

We've been to HHI three times - twice to DVC on Easter Week/Spring Break and last year on NYD - no traffic either way either time.

BUT - when we stayed last year the first week of July, getting off the island was INSANITY. We left in the morning and figured we'd stop for lunch around Augusta. We ended up eating lunch at the gas station/McDonalds right before you even get on 1-75. And seriously, traffic to get onto the island was standing still backed up on the interstate.

I don't think that's normal - but it is a head's up for people traveling around the fourth. I'd have gotten up a whole lot earlier and tried to get off the island by 7am if I'd have known my leisurely morning and breakfast were going to cause me to sit in traffic for 2+ hours.

 

[Laxmom]

We have always planned our arrival and exit carefully. Part that helps is since we are driving 11 hours to get there, we are usually on the road by 6 am to leave so no traffic. Getting there, we try to avoid rush hour. Yes, HHI does have a rush hour. It is when the people who work on island get off work and the timeshare peeps head to dinner. We usually try to arrive by 4 or after 6.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

With 2 trips to WDW in 2007 and 3 trips to WDW in 2008, we are going to take a break from the World next year. Now, I'm already trying to plan our first trip to HHI for late August 2009. I'll call and do DBD ressies starting in late January when the 7 month window opens up. I've read that I shouldn't expect to get anything at 7 months other than a 2br villa.

 

[starbox]

With 2 trips to WDW in 2007 and 3 trips to WDW in 2008, we are going to take a break from the World next year. Now, I'm already trying to plan our first trip to HHI for late August 2009. I'll call and do DBD ressies starting in late January when the 7 month window opens up. I've read that I shouldn't expect to get anything at 7 months other than a 2br villa.

Late August will probably be fine at 7 months. The southern states surrounding HHI are all back in school. Labor day may be tough.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Late August will probably be fine at 7 months. The southern states surrounding HHI are all back in school. Labor day may be tough.

Thanks, Starbox. I hope you are right. It would be for one of the last 2 weeks in August but my kids start school around Labor Day so we would be gone by then. A 1br might be fine for us but if we can convince some others to join us then we may be looking at needing a 2br.

 

[Dean]

With 2 trips to WDW in 2007 and 3 trips to WDW in 2008, we are going to take a break from the World next year. Now, I'm already trying to plan our first trip to HHI for late August 2009. I'll call and do DBD ressies starting in late January when the 7 month window opens up. I've read that I shouldn't expect to get anything at 7 months other than a 2br villa.

You could also ask for an exchange into one of the top Ocean Front Marriott's, a fair amount less points (270 v 330 and about the same a a 1 BR) for a week and you might get something 12-13 months out rather than having to take your chances at 7 months. The top 3 are all superior to DVC in location if you like the beach and at least equal ignoring location, IMO. Of course you'd be limited to a full week in a 2 BR (or possibly a 3 BR at Surfwatch but more points though still a LOT less than a 3 BR at DVC). If you don't match prior to the 7 month window opening, you could then try for direct DVC reservations. If you golf, Heritage has 4 rounds daily for exchangers included though it's certainly not the resort otherwise that DVC or some of the other Marriott's are.

 

[Laxmom]

The Marriotts aren't any easier to get into during summer months. Not impossible but certainly not a given. Another option might be a direct trade with a Marriott owner on Redweek. Just a thought.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

You could also ask for an exchange into one of the top Ocean Front Marriott's, a fair amount less points (270 v 330 and about the same a a 1 BR) for a week and you might get something 12-13 months out rather than having to take your chances at 7 months. The top 3 are all superior to DVC in location if you like the beach and at least equal ignoring location, IMO. Of course you'd be limited to a full week in a 2 BR (or possibly a 3 BR at Surfwatch but more points though still a LOT less than a 3 BR at DVC). If you don't match prior to the 7 month window opening, you could then try for direct DVC reservations. If you golf, Heritage has 4 rounds daily for exchangers included though it's certainly not the resort otherwise that DVC or some of the other Marriott's are.

Thanks, Dean. I never thought about doing an exchange for HHI. At least, I've got some options.

 

[Dean]

The Marriotts aren't any easier to get into during summer months. Not impossible but certainly not a given. Another option might be a direct trade with a Marriott owner on Redweek. Just a thought.

Actually for mid to late August there is a decent to good chance of success in this situation (esp weeks 33 & 34) if one placed the exchange request by say early to mid July 13 months out esp. Regardless it'll give the OP additional options at a time when they can't book HH anyway thus if they don't match they have lost nothing. Then at the 7 month window one can still call day by day and book with HH directly if available and wait list if needed. At that point you have to regroup and decide if you would prefer DVC or one of the exchanges and thus whether to cancel the exchange request or not. Those last 2 weeks of the Platinum season go last so the ones that are not diligent often end up getting those weeks and frequently deposit to try to go elsewhere or get a better week through II.

Direct exchanges with Marriott owners are a little problematic in that most want a week for a week and thus it would cost more than the 270 exchange points for a prime week and negate much of the benefit of an exchange in this situation. But you would get to select your view type and have an owners preference on requests and it certainly would be negotiable. I know when I've discussed a direct exchange using my HH Platinum weeks this is the stance I've taken. Actually I'd link 350 DVC points to my GO Oceanside week (usually 4th of July) with more for the Ocean Front and less for the Gardenview at Surfwatch.