Surfwatch 3 BR "Ocean Side"

[amanda14]

Hi.

Finally snagged a 3BR Oceanside at Surfwatch for July of 2018. We have stayed here prior and I'm wondering if the 3 BR Oceanside villa would be in the building closest to the boardwalk down to the beach?

Thanks!

 

[SueDonJ]

Hi.

Finally snagged a 3BR Oceanside at Surfwatch for July of 2018. We have stayed here prior and I'm wondering if the 3 BR Oceanside villa would be in the building closest to the boardwalk down to the beach?

Thanks!

No, that entire building is "Oceanvista." The "Oceanside" units are in the two buildings next-closest to the beach; see this post for a complete property description.

 

[amanda14]

THANKS

 

[tschwa2]

It sounds like an II exchange. Does marriott honor the codes for exchanges there? I thought that for the most part SC exchanges the codes were ignored and the resorts had their own priority. If you are exchanging through the DC you should get the view listed although within the category you would still be lower in priority than owners booking home week.

 

[SueDonJ]

It sounds like an II exchange. Does marriott honor the codes for exchanges there? I thought that for the most part SC exchanges the codes were ignored and the resorts had their own priority. If you are exchanging through the DC you should get the view listed although within the category you would still be lower in priority than owners booking home week.

That's a good point. SurfWatch is among the HHI resorts that use a Priority Placement system which doesn't automatically honor the view attached to II confirmations. Generally, they advise that II exchangers are low on the list and should expect to be placed in a Gardenview unit, but I think that's more to set low expectations than it is to guarantee a Gardenview placement. It's not unheard of for II exchangers to be placed into either Oceanside or Oceanvista because it's dependent on how many units of each type are booked by Owners using their own Weeks, DC Points users and cash guests (who all get placed into the view type that they booked.) Then II exchangers, preview guests and any others are assigned resort-wide, with SurfWatch Owners using something other than their owned Weeks and MVC system Owners having the top two priority slots within that subset.

Note that if this is an II exchange, at some point prior to check-in the confirmation may reflect a change to Gardenview in your online accounts. Again, that's not a guarantee of Gardenview but instead a means of setting the lowest expectation.

 

[hangloose]

Our last II exchange into SurfWatch indicated unit HDBBV, which is a Marriott Deposit with Ocean Vista view. We were placed into the Ocean Dunes building (closest to the ocean) in an Ocean Vista view (same as II view) about 3rd floor facing the marsh. A great unit. This was a late July check-in.

While I enjoyed the Ocean Vista view over the marsh, it's just too far from the ocean for me. I think I'd prefer Garden view at Surfwatch. I'll be there in a 3BR Garden View in a few weeks...so can comment back on that. Also via an II exchange.

 

[SueDonJ]

Our last II exchange into SurfWatch indicated unit HDBBV, which is a Marriott Deposit with Ocean Vista view. We were placed into the Ocean Dunes building (closest to the ocean) in an Ocean Vista view (same as II view) about 3rd floor facing the marsh. A great unit. This was a late July check-in.

While I enjoyed the Ocean Vista view over the marsh, it's just too far from the ocean for me. I think I'd prefer Garden view at Surfwatch. I'll be there in a 3BR Garden View in a few weeks...so can comment back on that. Also via an II exchange.

I'm confused. If "Oceanvista" is too far from the ocean, why would you prefer "Gardenview" which is furthest from it?

 

[hangloose]

I'm confused. If "Oceanvista" is too far from the ocean, why would you prefer "Gardenview" which is furthest from it?

Sorry. Let me clarify. "Ocean Vista" view is the closest you can get to the ocean at Surfwatch. "Garden View" is definitely much further away from the water.

To my knowledge, Surfwatch is the only MVC resort with an "Ocean Vista" view category. Rightly so, as the Ocean Vista view is unique to Surfwatch. It overlooks the marsh with the ocean about a football field out. Very natural and pretty. But for me, it is just far enough away from the water to leave me wanting to be closer. I prefer to be "OF or OV" where I can be close enough to hear the waves, etc. With "Ocean Vista", you cannot. You are too far away.

As a result, I personally like the interior garden views at Surfwatch which I find very serene, natural and well manicured overlooking the ponds, plants, trees, etc. Even though they are further from the ocean with no view of the water.

In reality, any week at Surfwatch in summer is fantastic. One of my favorites on HHI for certain!

 

[SueDonJ]

Sorry. Let me clarify. "Ocean Vista" view is the closest you can get to the ocean at Surfwatch. "Garden View" is definitely much further away from the water.

To my knowledge, Surfwatch is the only MVC resort with an "Ocean Vista" view category. Rightly so, as the Ocean Vista view is unique to Surfwatch. It overlooks the marsh with the ocean about a football field out. Very natural and pretty. But for me, it is just far enough away from the water to leave me wanting to be closer. I prefer to be "OF or OV" where I can be close enough to hear the waves, etc. With "Ocean Vista", you cannot. You are too far away.

As a result, I personally like the interior garden views at Surfwatch which I find very serene, natural and well manicured overlooking the ponds, plants, trees, etc. Even though they are further from the ocean with no view of the water.

In reality, any week at Surfwatch in summer is fantastic. One of my favorites on HHI for certain!

Ah, now I get it!

SurfWatch is my favorite, no question, any time of year. I love the marsh view and my favorite thing about OV is the birdwatching. A high floor OS, though, gives you the view of the marsh out to the ocean plus the feature pool below so you feel like you're right in the middle of everything happening at the resort. We haven't stayed in GV but whenever we're there I walk the property a couple times a day and you're right, that area is very pretty. In the cooler months I'm sure I'd be very happy in GV because it's much more convenient to the indoor pool.

 

[amanda14]

It sounds like an II exchange. Does marriott honor the codes for exchanges there? I thought that for the most part SC exchanges the codes were ignored and the resorts had their own priority. If you are exchanging through the DC you should get the view listed although within the category you would still be lower in priority than owners booking home week.

It was not an II scenario - directly through Marriott using points.

 

[amanda14]

Sorry. Let me clarify. "Ocean Vista" view is the closest you can get to the ocean at Surfwatch. "Garden View" is definitely much further away from the water.

To my knowledge, Surfwatch is the only MVC resort with an "Ocean Vista" view category. Rightly so, as the Ocean Vista view is unique to Surfwatch. It overlooks the marsh with the ocean about a football field out. Very natural and pretty. But for me, it is just far enough away from the water to leave me wanting to be closer. I prefer to be "OF or OV" where I can be close enough to hear the waves, etc. With "Ocean Vista", you cannot. You are too far away.

As a result, I personally like the interior garden views at Surfwatch which I find very serene, natural and well manicured overlooking the ponds, plants, trees, etc. Even though they are further from the ocean with no view of the water.

In reality, any week at Surfwatch in summer is fantastic. One of my favorites on HHI for certain!

So a question- We have a 3BR Ocean View. Is the Ocean Vista a category that is considered "better"? Does Ocean Vista demand higher points?

 

[Fasttr]

So a question- We have a 3BR Ocean View. Is the Ocean Vista a category that is considered "better"? Does Ocean Vista demand higher points?

There is only Garden View, Ocean Side and Ocean Vista.

 

[SueDonJ]

So a question- We have a 3BR Ocean View. Is the Ocean Vista a category that is considered "better"? Does Ocean Vista demand higher points?

There's no such thing as "Oceanview" at SurfWatch. Weeks were sold as Oceanvista, Oceanside and Gardenview, which are designated as OC, OS and GV in the DC Points chart. (On marriott.com, they're "partial ocean view," "courtyard" and "gardenview.")

To your questions, yes. Whether you're talking about the prices at which Marriott sold Weeks, the amount of DC Points for which enrolled Weeks can be converted, or, the amount of DC Points required to book intervals, Oceanvista has higher values than Oceanside which has higher values than Gardenview.

 

[tschwa2]

So a question- We have a 3BR Ocean View. Is the Ocean Vista a category that is considered "better"? Does Ocean Vista demand higher points?

Yes it costs more points to book
Garden view in July 3 BR 5000 points
Oceanside in July 3 BR 6175
Ocean Vistas in July 3 BR 6500

As the discussion indicates what people consider "better" varies.

 

[amanda14]

Thanks. I meant Oceanside, not view. Ok, I'm pretty darn content with the Oceanside I was able to get, but if Vista opens I may go for that

 

[dioxide45]

Thanks. I meant Oceanside, not view. Ok, I'm pretty darn content with the Oceanside I was able to get, but if Vista opens I may go for that

Off topic, but I am curious what a "Pool Education Team Member" is?

 

[amanda14]

Off topic, but I am curious what a "Pool Education Team Member" is?

Um. When I saw his post, I was like what the heck are you talking about. I have no idea what that is or why it's in my profile. So odd

 

[amanda14]

How do I get rid of that? No clue how it got there

 

[Fasttr]

How do I get rid of that? No clue how it got there

Don't know, but in the mean time, teach us about pools.

 

[dioxide45]

How do I get rid of that? No clue how it got there

I have asked about it here.

 

[amanda14]

I have asked about it here.

well thank you! We have a pool but I'm not sure how much I could educate anyone on it. It has sides, a bottom and holds water. It's nice to have in the summer.

 

[tynian16]

How do I find out what view this code is at the Surfwatch? HTBBV

Thanks!

 

[tynian16]

I found the answer to my question. Thanks!