TGM Poster Rips HH

[Dean]

If you drive your car to that wonderful beachfront resort, how do you avoid the sea salt? It would seem to me to be no different than when I drive to the beach and park in the DVC parking garage. Maybe the fancy places like yours have a system in place to prevent sea mist from blowing in from the ocean?

Of course you can borrow my car - it's a '77 Dodge stationwagon, with a little rust (matches the color of the car, so it doesn't show too much), but I'll be happy to share it with you Dean. I usually either leave the keys under the floor mat (rear seat- passenger side) or in the ignition - but please don't tell anyone as I'd hate to have the car stolen - it's great beach transportation and I don't mind a little sand (or salt). We always use the shower provided at the Beach House anyway- so we don't really have a problem tracking sand into the car - you ought to try that sometime - it has always worked for me and Granny.

If we can't get the Dodge running (it's a bit tempermental at times, but I can usually get it to turn over by tweaking the carburator a little and kicking the door just below the handle - only takes a few minutes - but sometimes, Granny does have to push until I can pop the clutch to start it) then we either walk or take the resort shuttle. Since public transportation makes us feel right at home, we don't mind at all. (Many don't realize that when the resort shuttle stops for the day, there is also the Palmetto Dunes Buggy - a free service of the plantation merchants - where you can still get a ride to/from the resort.) We like using the free transportation and we can keep those bus tokens for when we get back home.

You're also welcome to drive our car to dinner, since I now know that you get all cleaned up for your meals. That's good to know and I'm sure the restaurants all appreciate it.

Sorry to hear that your resort doesn't have a restaurant - was it a fire, health department violation or did they never have one in the first place? Did they just use that extra space to put in more fancy rooms ... or something really cool - like a bowling alley?

I am glad for you though that Grande Ocean is closer to many more of the nice restauarants at HH - I know how important that can be. It seems we just have to keep driving farther and farther for good places to eat at our end of the island now that they closed down Cracker Barrel and I just haven't found many drive-thrus that do tater tots the way I like them (you know- a little crunchy on the outside and real chewy in the middle).

Do you have a chauffeur too or do you need to do all of that driving without any help? I know how tiring that can be.

LOL, I accept your offer of the car. I'll let you know when I need it. I was talking about sand and salt IN the car, which frequently happens when you get in after a beach trip, but I suspect you actually knew that. I'll make every attempt to avoid that when I borrow yours. Since neither DVC nor any of the Marriott's, most timeshares in general at HH and to a degree elsewhere, don't have a restaurant; I don't think we can use that as a criteria one way or another. I was thinking as we were driving back to Seabreeze tonight. As many inquiries as I've had about rentals over the years (DVC and HH), I've never had one for DVC at HH. I've suggested it to a few people when I had rented my 2 GO weeks but no one was ever interested.

I know many were were when the CB closed.

 

[Dean]

I did not realize we were discussing the general timeshare world, I thought we were dicussing options on HHI. Your statement above lead me to believe you feel that many prefer DVC HHI, due to lack of knowledge.

Is that not what you said?

No, as far as I know we are only talking HH and comparing DVC HH as a resort AND location to other options. I think there are many reasons why people like DVC HH. It's a great resort overall plus the internal reservation priorities and the flexibility of # of days, unit size and the like. However, I feel many DVC members in general know little of the rest of the timesharing world. Although, I think that has changed over the years to a degree at least if the members of DIS are any indication. However, if one doesn't have some other life experience to compare to, you simply can't compare. Thus one can say they like DVC but can't say they like it better or worse than X, Y, Z. That's simply what I said, you can agree or disagree.

 

[Sammie]

No, as far as I know we are only talking HH and comparing DVC HH as a resort AND location to other options. I think there are many reasons why people like DVC HH. It's a great resort overall plus the internal reservation priorities and the flexibility of # of days, unit size and the like. However, I feel many DVC members in general know little of the rest of the timesharing world. Although, I think that has changed over the years to a degree at least if the members of DIS are any indication. However, if one doesn't have some other life experience to compare to, you simply can't compare. Thus one can say they like DVC but can't say they like it better or worse than X, Y, Z. That's simply what I said, you can agree or disagree.

Totally agree, just not sure at times how one can be sure if the person has other experiences to compare to and is simply not advertising the fact.

I would have never known Doc was a frequent visitor to the island prior to this discussion until it came out in this discussion.

 

[Dean]

Totally agree, just not sure at times how one can be sure if the person has other experiences to compare to and is simply not advertising the fact.

I would have never known Doc was a frequent visitor to the island prior to this discussion until it came out in this discussion.

I think Doc has a lot more timeshare experiences than he has generally let on with DIS. If I recall, and nothing has changed, he owns in Gatlingurg with the Amber Vacation Club and has for a long time, I don't recall if he has other ownerships.

As I hinted, when I first started on DIS, there was little timeshare experience here. Now there is a lot more, much more varied and that's good for the members here. The more info and different experiences the better. There are also a number of people who are her and on TUG which helps both Boards IMO. DVC takes a bad rap there, I think some are jealous to be honest, and it's nice it's not just me anymore defending DVC and correcting misinformation.

 

[Doctor P]

I think Doc has a lot more timeshare experiences than he has generally let on with DIS. If I recall, and nothing has changed, he owns in Gatlingurg with the Amber Vacation Club and has for a long time, I don't recall if he has other ownerships.

As I hinted, when I first started on DIS, there was little timeshare experience here. Now there is a lot more, much more varied and that's good for the members here. The more info and different experiences the better. There are also a number of people who are her and on TUG which helps both Boards IMO. DVC takes a bad rap there, I think some are jealous to be honest, and it's nice it's not just me anymore defending DVC and correcting misinformation.

Frankly, I think there a lot of issues getting rolled up into one discussion and it is clouding things a bit. I will definitely agree that the most typical DVC owner likely does not have broad knowledge of the working of timeshares and the timeshare industry. Second, from the little that I do know from my own research (prior to buying our HH points especially), as a timeshare considered in isolation, the average person can find a lot of timeshares on HH that have better trade power and more amenities than the DVC resort has in terms of the timeshare operations (especially in terms of the broad internal networks offered by timeshares like Marriott Vacation Club and the ability to be an individual member of II and get the additional access to weeks via that route). That said, DVC met our needs better, partially because we were already owners at OKW, were willing to stay in studios, and liked the flexibility of putting together stays the exact days we wanted for the length of stay we desired. As Dean has said, we are the type of people for which DVC was an appropriate choice.

However, the place where I take issue is the attempt to evaluate the relative merits of the various resorts and their locations. The price at which the resorts sell may or may not be an indicator of the quality of the resort or the location. It takes into account the timeshare network which is not what is being discussed as I said above. But, even if price was an appropriate comparison, DVC's current direct price of $25,200 (comparing apples to apples) and resale price of about $21,000 favorably compares with that of the Marriott and other resorts from what I have seen, especially those of similar age. As a golfer, I can tell you that there are many people that go to HH who are not well informed about the golf options and gravitate to Harbour Town because that's what they know from television. While the golf options are great at Sea Pines, they are even better for the avid golfer at other places on the island. Thus, depending on what one is seeking at HH, different resorts will have different appeal. My point is that I disagree that there are objective criteria by which the beach and non-beach resorts can be compared in a direct way. For many people, the HH DVC is not an acceptable resort, for others it is heaven away from home. On HH, there are literally hundreds of options for accomodations in a variety of price ranges. Personal preference defines which one is best for you based on what you value most. In our case, DVC fits the bill nicely (though staying at other resorts on the island using our Marriott hotel points would also be something we would consider--I have also considered buying another timeshare on HH for both stay and trade purposes while still retaining DVC). We like HH and we like the HH DVC because it meets our needs and preferences. Others don't because their preferences are different, or, in some cases, they are not aware of the menu of options that allow DVC to be a good choice for some people.

 

[bwbuddy5]

I think Doc has a lot more timeshare experiences than he has generally let on with DIS.

As the original poster, let me just say "who cares". I have no desire to over-analyze my timeshare purchases as you folks seem to do (although I admire your talent and time to do so).

Can we just get back to likes and dislikes of DVC HH? I already know I'm going, I'm not a beach person, I like walking, & I like the idea of the peacefulness the marsh apparently offers. Plus, we're getting tire of WDW every year - that's the only reason we're even considering HH.

 

[Sammie]

As the original poster, let me just say "who cares". I have no desire to over-analyze my timeshare purchases as you folks seem to do (although I admire your talent and time to do so).

Can we just get back to likes and dislikes of DVC HH? I already know I'm going, I'm not a beach person, I like walking, & I like the idea of the peacefulness the marsh apparently offers. Plus, we're getting tire of WDW every year - that's the only reason we're even considering HH.

Based on what you like, then I say you will greatly enjoy HHI/DVC. There is a lot of shopping and dining within walking distance. The pines around the resort are so refreshing. In case anyone did not know, pine trees are nature's air purifer. I love sitting on the huge porches watching the sun rise or set on the marsh and the observing the wildlife. Bring some binoculars with you. We enjoy fishing off the dock.

 

[Judique]

Can we just get back to likes and dislikes of DVC HH? I already know I'm going, I'm not a beach person, I like walking, & I like the idea of the peacefulness the marsh apparently offers. Plus, we're getting tire of WDW every year - that's the only reason we're even considering HH.

I just thought I would mention that since you are not normally a beach person, but like walking, that the Hilton Head Island beaches are really great for walking. Once you cross the dune onto the beach, the sand is hardpacked and you can even ride a bicycle on it. Off season, you will find tons of walkers at the beach, even though the water may be too cold for swimming.

And you are so right about your idea of the peace that the marsh offers. It is a whole different world. You may enjoy visiting the Pinckney Nature area just as you cross from the mainland onto the island. There are several walking trails you can take there.

I am not a conventional beach person, but I absolutely love the beach. I like to walk on it in the first light and at sundown and when it is raining and windy.....I love the power of nature. One of the reasons I love Disney's resort - I feel closer to nature there and I feel as if it is somewhat more valued. Nature comes out to play on Longview Island,whether it is a bunny hopping in the marsh as I walk on the boardwalk, fiddler crabs under the pier, those big old birds high in the live oak, or the cardinal that always seems to be eating the sunflower seeds in the birdfeeder by the grand villa's garden.

My dislikes- I really dislike when it rains at the resort in March and there are huge puddles at the villa entrances when I am trying to stay pretty on my way to dinner somewhere else on the island! And - I didn't always feel the beds were all that comfy, but they seem to have upgraded the mattresses -they felt much better last summer. I think the washers and dryers are dinky small, but I guess they are better then nothing. I would like screened in balconies. And to have 'A Private Affair' back. I still haven't forgiven Disney for cancelling my date with Chef Gordon. <g> Not everything is perfect, but I'm pretty happy there after about 8 years of visiting 2-4 times a year. Plus we have DVC friends we see trip after trip. Ran into a couple of them at Disney (F&W) in October - it makes a visit just a little more special.

 

[Dean]

I just thought I would mention that since you are not normally a beach person, but like walking, that the Hilton Head Island beaches are really great for walking. Once you cross the dune onto the beach, the sand is hardpacked and you can even ride a bicycle on it. Off season, you will find tons of walkers at the beach, even though the water may be too cold for swimming.

That fits me as well, but not the rest of my family. Actually I like best watching the beach and ocean with a glass of tea or soda in my hand. But HH is great for walking on the beach.