Memorable trips outside of disney?

[bbluvsdis]

I'll give you one in the concierge collection. We stayed last year at the Fairmont in San Francisco and it was fabulous! It sits at the top of Knob Hill and the view from our signature room was unbelievable! It was our first visit to SF and I felt like royalty. This hotel is called the White House of the west as many presidents have stayed here. You can see our views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate.

 

[TINKERIFIC]

Enjoyed the shows, Table Lake and visit to the Big Cedar Lodge (also on DVC's approved list). Big Cedar grounds/buildings are beautiful and perfectly "themed." We got a tour of one of the cabins and all agreed, "We would enjoy staying here."

I was SERIOUSLY thinking of trying to book here with our points. It just seemed to be really beautiful and fun for everyone in our family. Although, I have heard difficult to get with points. Maybe it might be more beneficial to pay cash. Who knows. Plus I want to stay in the cabins and I was not sure if you get the cabins with a point reservation.

 

[bwvBound]

I was SERIOUSLY thinking of trying to book here with our points. It just seemed to be really beautiful and fun for everyone in our family. Although, I have heard difficult to get with points. Maybe it might be more beneficial to pay cash. Who knows. Plus I want to stay in the cabins and I was not sure if you get the cabins with a point reservation.

I currently see 36 weeks available at the Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar (RCI #6311) between now and the end of the year. There is a mix of studio, 1BR and 2BR units. I can't tell if these are cabin units ... or units in the main lodge. Reviewing the floorplans offered on the Bluegreen website, I think 2BR (6/6) are Cabins and 2BR (8/6) are Lodge. Each of the 2BR weeks currently shown to me on RCI are 8/6 configurations -- so likely Lodge. If the goal is "cabin or bust!" then one would need to do more research through TUG reviews, the resort itself or Bluegreen owners before accepting a trade.

Then again, from the Bluegreen webpage ... the 2BR Lodge layout look great! (I think I'd prefer it over the cabin layout?)

The resort's spacious lodge accomodations & luxury cabins are designed to be your home-away-from-home. All units include a television, DVD players and microwave. 2BR units OCC: Max 8/Pri 6 have 2 baths, 2 king beds and 2 queen sleep sofas. 2BR units OCC: Max 6/Pri 6 have 2 baths, 2 king beds and 1 queen sleep sofa. 1BR units OCC: Max 4/Pri 4 have 1 bath, 1 king bed and 1 queen sleep sofa. Studio units OCC: Max 4/Pri 2 have 1 bath,1 king bed, 1 queen sleep sofa and a partial kitchen. Cabin #'s 2003-2043. Activity and dining arrangements should bemade prior to your stay by contacting the Vacation Planning Department:417/335-2777.Contact the resort front desk upon arrivalto make parking arrangements for boats, RV's or trailers. *Only 1 parking space per unit.* This resort is a non-smoking resort and NO pets are allowed. There willbe a US$5 per night incidental service feecharged at the resort. A security deposit of US$150 is collected at check-in. Check-in time: 4pm, Check-out time: 10am. For resort and unit layout information, visit us at: www.bluegreenonline.com

The onsite restaurant and golf course, called Top of the Rock is currently closed for remodeling. There are several other restaurants to choose from onsite and guests can still golf at nearby Branson Creek. No pets or RVs are allowed. Resort is 9 miles outside of Branson. There is a $5 per night mandatory amenities fee. All units are non smoking. Most units are in the lodge, others are cabins. Units 2003 to 2043 are cabin units. All others are in the Lodge.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Ok...this is a small suggestion

We've visited but not stayed at the Club Intrawest in San Destin, Fl. It is very nice, but not directly on the Gulf of Mexico. The point charts are very reasonable.

This is still Disney...but we also like Disney's Hilton Head resort. It is a short drive from Savannah Georgia which is absolutely wonderful!

 

[CocosMeme]

We have done 2 ABD trips -Viva Italia and Southwest Splendors. We use points for 1 of us and pay cash for the other. It suits our needs and points.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Wow! Lots of great info here! Thanks

 

[Simba's Mom]

Outside of WDW, our favorite by far is DVC's resort on Hilton Head Island. DH even confessed he prefers it there to going to WDW (gasp!)

 

[buzz5985]

Outside of WDW, our favorite by far is DVC's resort on Hilton Head Island. DH even confessed he prefers it there to going to WDW (gasp!)

My DH and DS 17 both prefer Hilton Head and Vero Beach!!!

 

[com_op_2000]

We have used our points for stays at:
DVC - HHI & VB
RCI - Ft Myers & Ft Lauderdale
Would not do Ft Myers again
Ft. Lauderdale - Would do again, went during their annual fleet week, looked down from the 5th floor pool area at a SR-71 Blackbird (this plane can fly at greater than 60,000 feet) flying under us.
Concierge Collection - Miami (Doral) & Grove Park Inn, Asheville NC
Doral, Miami - Played the Blue Monster
Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC - Different view from the top of a mountain
DCL - 7 cruises fully or partially on points

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We didn't book this using points, but it is on the RCI list for DVC.

Last summer we stayed three nights at the Wyndham Sedona resort.
Loved the area. Sedona is beautiful, great hiking.

The resort, we paid around $100 per night for a one bedroom unit using a discount site.
Enjoyed the pool area, very clean.
Every day they had free sno-cones at the pool. An employee would come around with a cart, shave ice and make whatever flavor you wanted. Kind of fun while sitting in the hot tub. DD enjoyed it.
Our unit was quite spacious. Nothing really remarkable about the decor.
Comfortable bed and sofa.
It was clean. They put us in a HA unit, which wasn't needed, but for three nights we didn't ask to switch.
Very large patio. Ours overlooked a road, but I know other units had nicer views. Again, for three nights it didn't bother us.
Nice landscaping.
Very easy drive to area attractions.

The only thing that bothered us was the pressure to attend a sales meeting, and subsequent phone calls. We didn't attend, and eventually just unplugged the phone. I had read on TUG that this is an issue with Wyndham.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

double post

 

[judydvc]

I had a lot of points built up that I had to use so I booked the Lowes Regency hotel in NYC a few years ago to celebrate my sister's (& my Birthday) but I believe this hotel is being remodeled and no longer in the concierge collection. I know it's not the best use of points but I didn't feel like doing something else and had so many points. I also used a voucher from being bumped from. Southwest for my sister's flight. The fact that I had so many unused points helped me decide to sell some of my points this year.

 

[Bellecruiser]

We have stayed at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in DC several times. Once we stayed in a city side room over July 4...it was amazing...the fireworks came in our bedroom practically!

 

[crisi]

HHI was lovely - and on points its a good value because its in the system. I'll definately go back - but probably not during the Summer - I don't need to sit on a beach, I'm fine going in the Fall or Spring or even in Winter - South Carolina is warmer than Minnesota!

We did an ABD trip to Germany - and it was fantastic. We paid cash - its doable on points, but I have very few points and use them at Disney - I pay cash for my own wanderlust. DVC is too expensive and not flexible enough for my needs.

 

[bwvBound]

Last November, we booked The Manhattan Club through DVC using our points. Enjoyed the experience very much; the write-up is located: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3203822