Just back from a week at Hilton Head with pics!! Update started!

[SnowWitch]

First, let me say we had not been to HHI since '99 so we considered this a new adventure for us.

We stayed in a 2 bedroom, Building 22, marsh view. Could not have asked for a better location!

Weather was great as a whole, a few wicked thunderstorms at night but other than that beautiful.

Will update with photos tonight!!

Introductions:

The room!

The building

The gang, minus me, photographer.

The playset behind building 22 just to the left of the porch/balcony.

One of the 2 grills right behind building 22.

Will continue later today!

 

[jamie@dvcstore]

Hi SnowWitch,
Glad to hear you had such a great trip and thanks for sharing! Looking forward to seeing your pictures.
________
AMATURE **** TUBE

 

[JVL1018]

Can't wait to see the pics and hear about your trip!

 

[SnowWitch]

A little report mixed with pictures. We were looking for a laid back trip to HHI and got just that. The few CM's we interacted with were wonderful, the girls at checking were some of the sweetest I have ever encountered. We arrived around 1:30 in the afternoon and found that our room was ready. So we unpacked and settled in a bit before going out for dinner. We didn't feel like exploring that night so we walked over the bridge into shelter cove.

We decided on KingFisher which is right over the bridge from the resort. No one was starving and we were tired from the drive so we decided we would order the pasta/salad combo. I have read several pleasant reviews of this place and I am going to assume we just ordered the wrong thing. The meal was okay but would not order the pasta again. The salad was just petiful, no presentation and the quality was well .....just okay. We ordered the pasta/salas combo for myself, son, and gf, the little ones ordered basic kids menu items, total for dinner was $80. After our meal we decided we needed a stroll on the beach to work off some pasta. So we walked back to the resort and retrieved the auto and drove over to the beach house. (1.5 miles away per resort info)

Anna and Gracie on the boardwalk going from the beach house to the beach.

My son, Cole, and GF Tiffany.

First look at the beach. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Couldn't keep the girls out of the ocean. After 10 years of only going to VB, I was amazed by the sand here, it almost felt like baby powder, it was so soft!! The water temp was perfect. And if you have small children or children who are not very strong swimmers and your family is debating VB or HHI. Let me help you, HHI without a doubt.

After wrapping up a long walk on the beach, finding a few shells and a few jelly fish who had swam their last lap, we headed back to resot for some r&r.

 

[SnowWitch]

Cole & Tiff went parasailing one afternoon.

Plenty of beach time:

Loved the ability to bike almost anywhere.

Playground at the resort:

On Memorial Day they had a Pirate BBQ: Loved it, everybody had a ball. They offered facepainting, tatto's, snowcones, DJ at the Pool, all kinds of cool games. The food was super good!

Getting ready to go

Getting prepared for pirate activites

Balloon sword fights

Menu

This was so worth the cost per person!!!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Fantastic pics! I'm going to snag your beach pic. I don't have anything that shows how much different from VB it is. Looks like you had a wonderful time. So, you didn't do the parasailing? I've never seen a double seater. Not that I have that much experience.

Glad you all enjoyed!

 

[AnnaS]

Loved the pictures and report. Thank you so much for sharing.

 

[SnowWitch]

No way would you find me parasailing...I don't think. You can choose between a singale or tandem. For the tandem it was $117, I'm not sure about the single.

 

[SusieBea]

Can you share the company your son and his GF used to parasail? We'll be there over the 4th, and my daughter and her BF would like to do that. Thanks!

 

[SnowWitch]

Palmatto ???, we found the ad in the tourist info they give you at checkin. The photos were takin by one of the guys on the boat, extra $20 but I didn't know how the little ones would do on a smaller boat so I opted to pay the $20for them to take photos.

 

[ajf1007]

 

[ldo]

When I called DVC HHI a few weeks ago, they said you could do the party without paying for the BBQ (it will be on Tues nights for the rest of the summer)--but how did they do this? Did you have a wristband or something for food? Or was the front desk wrong and you can only go if you pay? We have picky eaters (who are adult prices now), so I would rather not pay, if that is allowed. thanks, Elaine

 

[SnowWitch]

The flyer stated for Memorial Day with no other dates so I'm not sure if its being offered all summer. Everyone we saw had on a wristband that you rec'd at time of payment and there didn't appear to be a big crowd at the pool. When we checked in the CM's said the activites were part of the BBQ and it states that in the description.

We thought it was a great value, the ribs and chicken were great! They did have grilled burgers and hot dogs if your group will eat those. I always hated it when my boys were in that 12-14 range and really didn't eat enough to justify the childs price let alone the adult price.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

When I called DVC HHI a few weeks ago, they said you could do the party without paying for the BBQ (it will be on Tues nights for the rest of the summer)--but how did they do this? Did you have a wristband or something for food? Or was the front desk wrong and you can only go if you pay? We have picky eaters (who are adult prices now), so I would rather not pay, if that is allowed. thanks, Elaine

It is allowed. We arrived on Memorial Day, about 3:30 in the afternoon. You were supposed to make reservations for the dinner by 2pm, but they said we could attend if we made ressies right away. We asked if you had to pay for the BBQ to participate in the pool games and they said no. Our party of 10 decided it would be too much of a rush. Plus, DH & I were treating the family to the accommodations, and some of the family were not able to afford that price to eat. They came with food to cook in the room all week.

Anyway, those who pay for the BBQ get a wristband. That way, the CMs know who can eat from the buffet. We were able to join in the games that you sign up for as well as those set up around the pool. Everyone joins in the pool party and dance time as well.

I think after last week, the BBQ will move to Tuesdays in place of the former Star Spangled Tuesdays.

 

[sisaaliyah]

Thanks for your TR. It looks like a great time, and your two little ones are adorable. I look forward to staying at HHI some time.

 

[CocosMeme]

Just curious - since we went to HHI last May and our kids saw our pictures they really want to go. How far out did you book your trip? Is it hard to get a 2 bedroom in June or for Memorial Day week? I assumed it would be impossible if we do not own there. We own at AKL and love it but would like to take our kids to HHI and will need to wait for school to be out. Your trip report is great.

 

[SnowWitch]

We also only had the 7 month window to work with, we own at the BWV's. We had been going to VB for the last 10 years but couldn't get into any Sun-Thurs this summer in a 2 bedroom. So we tried HHI inside the 7 month window, we got the Mon-Thurs night with the first call and waitlisted for Sun. It came thru maybe 3 months before our arrival. From what I understand the 2 bedrooms are the easier to get becasue that is what HHI has the highest inventory of but June, July and August is the high season at HHI. Maybe we snuck in right before summer season started.

 

[SnowWitch]

So on with the picture report. Below I'm just going to post various pics of what we spent doing.

First and formost the BEACH!!

Ping pong at the Beach House

The kiddy pool

The lighthouse

Shopping

Bikes

More to come tonight.

 

[SnowWitch]

Clarification if you notice Gracie's red eye in the last photo, sweet baby got sand in her eye and then rubbed some sunscreen in it to make it feel even better. By the way palin visine is $7 in the resort gift shop.

 

[loveswdw]

Thanks so much for sharing your photos! We have a trip booked for HHI in October and I was curious as to what my 2.5 year old DS is going to have to keep him busy. Your littlest daughter looks like she's 2 or 3? Did she have a good time? Looks like the playground will definitely be visited. Did you bring the bikes or rent them? Neither of my boys ride yet so I wasn't sure if they'd have bikes with training wheels to rent.

We are really looking forward to this trip as its our first to HHI.

Thanks!