Intrawest Sandestin

[bmekl]

Were new to DVC and are thinking about going to Intrawest Sandestin Florida in April of 2010. Has anyone stayed there? How easy is it to use DVC points for Intrawest? Do you think Easter week would be available? Were a family of four with two girls 11 and 7.

Thanks

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Dh and I did a self guided tour of the San Destin Club Intrawest several months ago, when I was down at Eglin AFB for work.

The public facilities (pool, hot tub, etc.) seemed really nice. The exterior of the resort is very pretty. I've seen pictures of the interiors. I have to admit that I am put off by rooms that have the large sunken tubs in the Master Bedroom. I guess its romantic, but really...it can stay in the bathroom.

I think you can get a tour of the resort on the Club Intrawest Website, or maybe look on trip advisor.

I was surprised by how distant the resort was to the beach. There is a free shuttle. I've also read that the beach chairs and umbrellas are complimentary.

You are within walking distance to Baytown Wharf. This is an upscale shopping district. I have to admit, Baytown Wharf was so good...it could have been imagineered by Disney.

I know that some dissers have come back from Sandestin CI and wanted to purchase there. I think that is the best possible recommendation.

I think the point charts are very reasonable, and have seriously considered staying there, because we live about 3 hours from Destin.

Seriously, if I were willing to pay cash for a vacation to Destin...I would probably choose the Emerald Grande Condo resort. Here is the website. http://www.emeraldgrande.com/ That place was cool!

 

[famgel]

We called DVC to inquire about same but was told they were not doing Intrawest anymore due to the fact that the Intrawest people were outnumbering the DVC. So they had to stop it, that was 4-5 months ago I would call DVC first before you check into properties.

 

[kapeman]

That is strange considering they still have the listing on the DVC page and even the 2010 points charts.

I just called MS and they told me that while they were temporarily halting bookings into CI, they have resumed.

They were "out of balance" and now things are back to normal.

I also highly recommend the CI resort at SanDestin, it is a very nice facility and we look forward to staying there again.

We recently took advantage of a cheap stay and sat through the sales pitch. It was very low pressure and our sales person was very nice, but BOY are their points expensive!!!

If I recall correctly it was like $16K for 80 points which won't even get you a full week. You can check the point charts on the DVC member site for more details.

I'll stick to trading in for now.

 

[mouthdoc]

Greetings,

We are brand-new to DVC, just bought in to BLT. We were interested to find Sandestin is a DVC option. We have owned a condo in Sandestin for a few years now and we absolutely love it. I have never visited the Intrawest building but it looks nice. It looks out over the bay. The gulf can't be seen, requiring a shuttle ride, bike ride, or long walk. The resort is within walking distance of the Village - a restaurant, shopping, entertainment area that is first-rate. There is also a marina there. I would highly recommend the resort - well maintained, safe, and the beaches are beautiful.

 

[snappy]

I have stayed twice at this resort with my sister and her husband who have points. They have the minimum, enough for 6 days in a 1 bedroom, but they have done several getaways for the the nice 2 bedrooms.

The Sandestin beaches are some of the best in the panhandle. I love the village, nice shops, a variety of restaurants, and LIVE MUSIC!

You call for the little tram and it comes almost immediately to take you to the beach, other resorts, or the village. We even stayed in one of the penthouses once, great view of the bay, lovely landscaping. We rented bikes once as well. There is also a small theatre where they screen several movies nightly that you can choose.

Several pools and a hot tub. There is a Publix very close too and a trendy sort of development with more shops and restaurants that the tram will also take you to.

There are complimentary umbrellas and chairs on the beach and guests have access to a deck that faces the beach as well. We found a place too that has live music right on the beach.

I can't wait to go back.

I think you can buy points resale for a lot less.

 

[loveswdw]

Friends of ours just stayed there over Labor Day weekend. They absolutely loved it. Booked another stay in April 2010 and are contemplating buying in. I've pointed them to some resale markets. They said it was one of the best vacations they've ever taken. I told her if they bought in maybe we could trade them a week in Sandestin for a week in DVC--we'll just trade reservations.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

What is the nearest airport? Are there rental cars available or must one catch a cab? Is it advisable to have a car with the shuttle available at the resort?

 

[kapeman]

I think you can buy points resale for a lot less.

Technically you can, but they are hard to find and the price isn't all that much cheaper than buying direct.

At least, that is what I found. YMMV.

What is the nearest airport? Are there rental cars available or must one catch a cab? Is it advisable to have a car with the shuttle available at the resort?

Airline service is available through the Fort Walton Beach airport, which is actually located on nearby Eglin Air force Base, a 30-40 minute drive from Destin. This facility is also known as the Northwest Florida Regional Airport and the airport identifier is VPS .

While you don't need a rental car, I would strongly recommend you get one. There are many good restaurants and shopping areas in the area that you would need to drive to.

 

[DisFamily2006]

yes a rental car is a must. I live in Ft Walton Beach which is about 15-20 miles from this resort. My wife and I rode over one Saturday to check it out. It's nice and even has a movie theater (bring your own movie) in it. The only downside is the fact that it isn't actually "on" the beach, but rather just up the road from it. The shuttle actually takes you to the Sandestin Hilton for beach access. The Hilton shares the beach front with other resorts. The Hilton is a really nice resort as well, but as you can imagine, you can't use our DVC points there. A good place to go for beach reservations is www.resortquest.com. This company has local offices and rents condos here in the Destin/Sandestin area. This is what my family and I do when we want a "stay-cation" and a long weekend on the beach. Some pretty good deals can be had but the best thing about it is the fact that these are "condos" so you have multiple bedrooms and a kitchen just like a timeshare resort.

Scott

 

[Sammie]

You can also fly into the Panama City Airport, a rental is a must, much like it is HHI. You could manage using the shuttle but you would miss out on alot of what is wonderful about the area by not having a car.