Marriott's Ocean Pointe?

[BCV23]

Does anyone know anything about Marriott's Ocean Pointe Resort at Palm Beach Shores? How are the units, is there golf nearby, etc.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Dean]

Just stayed there for a week 4th of July. It's a top notch Marriott and the units are every bit the equal of DVC. It's on the Beach and there are a few restaurants nearby. Grocery stores about 1.5 miles away now with the new Winn Dixie that should be opened by now, Publix a little over 2 miles away.

The area off the island is a more industrial area and doesn't look that good. Apparently the West Palm area has the most golf courses inone county in the US but I didn't check any of them out so can't speak from experience.

Overall though I just didn't get that feeling of happiness I get at HH when we stay there. I'm glad we went but likley won't put it on our list again. If you do decide to go, I can give you some suggestions for the restaurants we found and a few other items. Good luck.

 

[Divamomto3]

I stayed there in April 2002. The units are very very nice. The resort itself has fabulous pools and is right on a beautiful beach. There were a lot of childrens' activities. Onsite food was limited to a VERY small convenience store and Pizza Hut personal pizzas were available. There were some good restaurants close by...sorry, I don't remember any of the names. There is a beautiful mall in West Palm Beach called City Point. There was a Legal Seafoods there that was great. The mall itself is upscale and I highly recommend a trip there. Dean is right, the area surrounding the Marriott property is not very nice.

 

[BCV23]

Dean and Divamom, thank you both.

It's funny that you mention HH, Dean, because that's another place we were considering. This is for spring break of next year and I was concerned HH would be too wet and cool then. When you write of the happiness you find, do you mean at DVC HH or Marriott or both?

Thanks again. I knew I could count on this board. I'll be back to ask for that restaurant advice if we decide to go for it, Dean.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by BCV23
Dean and Divamom, thank you both.

It's funny that you mention HH, Dean, because that's another place we were considering. This is for spring break of next year and I was concerned HH would be too wet and cool then. When you write of the happiness you find, do you mean at DVC HH or Marriott or both?

Thanks again. I knew I could count on this board. I'll be back to ask for that restaurant advice if we decide to go for it, Dean.

To be honest, I'm not a big DVC HH fan. I much prefer the locations and beachfront atmostphere of several of the Marriott's. That will be a tough time to get an exchange into the Marriott at Singer Island since it's high season there. An exchange into HH will be easier but Marriott's on HH don't have lockoff's so you won't have the choice of a 1 BR. And if you're using points, that will be far more expensive. If using DVC points I'd do VB or HH. It's true the weather will be hit or miss for HH and not all the pools at the resorts may be heated. The ocean certainly isn't, LOL.

Many people really enjoy HH during later March and April so I really think you'll be fine.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks for the added info, Dean. If we go to HH, my DH wanted to use some of his Marriott Rewards points so I think I'll look into that. We prefer to use our DVC points at WDW.

We also would prefer a 2BR anyway due to the ages of our offspring. A friend who owns Marriott at HH said they try to trade into Grand Ocean, I think.

I was able to find a cash price at Ocean Pointe for a king unit which I think means a 1BR? But from what both Divamom and you say, I'm not sure it's our cup of tea anyway. And we really do prefer a 2 BR... or else either my DH or I have to share the pullout with a child....not my idea of vacation for any of us! LOL

Thanks again!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by BCV23
Thanks for the added info, Dean. If we go to HH, my DH wanted to use some of his Marriott Rewards points so I think I'll look into that. We prefer to use our DVC points at WDW.

We also would prefer a 2BR anyway due to the ages of our offspring. A friend who owns Marriott at HH said they try to trade into Grand Ocean, I think.

I was able to find a cash price at Ocean Pointe for a king unit which I think means a 1BR? But from what both Divamom and you say, I'm not sure it's our cup of tea anyway. And we really do prefer a 2 BR... or else either my DH or I have to share the pullout with a child....not my idea of vacation for any of us! LOL

Thanks again!

Glad to help. I don't think you can get into the Marriott timeshares in HH using reward points but the Marriott Beachfront Hotel there is nice, you could always get two rooms. I own at Grande Ocean and agree it's the first choice. The rates for summer there are $400 or $430 per night depending on ocean front or ocean side, plus tax. I bet the king bed at OP is a studio and not a 1 BR as many of the studios there have a King plus pullout. If you want a 2 BR and are going for a full week, you might try trading in through DVC. It will likely be 244 points, a fair price. If your going for less than a week and avoiding at least part of the weekend, just stay at DVC, it is a nice resort as well.

 

[BCV23]

Oh, I bet you're right about that king unit at Ocean Pointe. It did seem too good to be true.

And you're also right about not being able to use rewards for the Marriott VC properties at HH at least for that time period. It shows it as an option for 150,000 points but when I actually tried to book Grande Ocean, it said NO properties in that classification were available in SC at that time. The hotel rooms are 160,000 points and I know my husband won't want to get two rooms at that point cost!

But we can pay cash for Ocean Pointe for $300+ depending on the package...golf, ocean front, ocean side, etc.. Is ocean front mcuh better than ocean side? It sounds as if view isn't guaranteed anyway.

Or maybe we'll stay 5 nights at HH DVC. I'm sure we'll want to try it someday anyway.

Thanks again for your help and patience.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by BCV23
Oh, I bet you're right about that king unit at Ocean Pointe. It did seem too good to be true.

And you're also right about not being able to use rewards for the Marriott VC properties at HH at least for that time period. It shows it as an option for 150,000 points but when I actually tried to book Grande Ocean, it said NO properties in that classification were available in SC at that time. The hotel rooms are 160,000 points and I know my husband won't want to get two rooms at that point cost!

But we can pay cash for Ocean Pointe for $300+ depending on the package...golf, ocean front, ocean side, etc.. Is ocean front mcuh better than ocean side? It sounds as if view isn't guaranteed anyway.

Or maybe we'll stay 5 nights at HH DVC. I'm sure we'll want to try it someday anyway.

Thanks again for your help and patience.

Unit assignments at most MVCI properties and specifically at GO are in the order of Owners, cash renters (possibly you), Marriott exchangers then other exchangers. So you should get a pretty good unit either way. There are a lot more ocean side units so your chances of getting a "good" unit are much higher. Actually there are few bad unit at GO or OP but some are better than others. I still think an exchange to Marriott HH may be your best option but VB and HH DVC would be great choices as well. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks again for all your help, Dean. As always, you're a great asset to these boards.

 

[Joeblack]

I own two platinum weeks at Ocean Pointe. I love the resort but would like more activities/restaurants around. The units are great and the beach is nice too. HH Grande OCean, however, is, IMHO, the best Marriott property there is. I traded both my OP weeks for two weeks in Grande Ocean this year.

 

[adamandallie]

We are going to stay at Ocean Pointe the first week in September. We were supposed to go a year and a half ago but had to postpone the trip (they wouldn't let me cancel or I would have lost my money). It was one of the deals they offer where they give you a reduced rate for sitting and listening to their one and a half hour timeshare talk. At the time I made the first reservations we were still on the fence about buying Marriott or DVC. Since then we went ahead and bought points at DVC. At least we'll have a nice beach vacation in a one bedroom villa. I did manage to sneak in a one night stay at WDW at the Pop Century. The rates for September were too good to pass up and since we are going to be down that way anyway, why not?