Building or Room Preference at Frenchman’s Cove

I have seen several postings regarding Frenchman’s Cove but none really addressing whether there is building or room with a more desirable location and/or view. I will be there the week of 18 April 2008 and would appreciate any inputs from someone who has been there recently. I understand all rooms have an ocean view but are some obstructed or hindered by such things as the ongoing construction?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

brown2003 said:

I have seen several postings regarding Frenchman’s Cove but none really addressing whether there is building or room with a more desirable location and/or view. I will be there the week of 18 April 2008 and would appreciate any inputs from someone who has been there recently. I understand all rooms have an ocean view but are some obstructed or hindered by such things as the ongoing construction?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

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I believe all the building currently open are in the lower tier of the property near the pool, club house and beach......I had a unit on the lower floor of the second building and we had a nice view overlooking the pool and the channel into CA harbor to watch the cruise ships come and go.

I was sort of wondering the same thing--at Harborside we own a particular fixed week unit so we always get our 4th floor marina view--how do they decide on, for example, requesting a higher floor--is it luck of the draw or as you check in?? We are new to Marriott so have no idea whether to request in advance or at check in?? We are going middle of May so don't know how full it will be.

brown2003 said:

I have seen several postings regarding Frenchman’s Cove but none really addressing whether there is building or room with a more desirable location and/or view. I will be there the week of 18 April 2008 and would appreciate any inputs from someone who has been there recently. I understand all rooms have an ocean view but are some obstructed or hindered by such things as the ongoing construction?

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We will be there the following week. Any insights you can provide from your visit will be appreciated.

There should three buildings open right now. The resort is built into a hillside overlooking the harbor. There are two lower buildings complete Jost van Dyke or Bldg # 1 has good views from the 2nd thru 6th floors. The first floor is OK but not spectacular. There is a parking garage under all bldgs so the 1st residence floor is actually 1.5 story's up. This bldg is the one you check into when you arrive on the 5th floor. The other lower bldg, I believe its Bldg #2. is great but you have to get a high floor with certain rooms as the steeple over the restaurant/gym will block your view partially I'd say up to the 3rd floor. You will notice this as you drive in. Other than that either bldg is great with bldg #1 having a better view of the town and bldg #2 having a view of the harbor entrance and a direct sunset view.

The upper bldg behind # 1 and 2 I think is Bldg #5. Anyway I think you'll have to get floor 3 or higher there to have an unobstructed view over bldg's 1 & 2. I've never been in it as it opened a couple of weeks after I was there this year. I asked the desk about it and they said all floors have a good view but it didn't look that way from the ground. The big disadvantage of this bldg is if you are on the top floor, with probably the best view in the resort at this time, you will have to take an elevator down then walk across to bldg 1 or 2 and take another elevator down to get to the beach/pool area. This is a major design flaw IMO and I don't see how they can fix it.

All units face the harbor. All views are the same category, oceanview. There are no garden, island, mountain or other views. As I've said I've stayed twice now both times in unit 162, bldg 1, 6th floor room 2. If you get that one you'll be awestruck by the view from your bedroom sliding door, either balcony or the L/R window.

if anyone is interested I'll put a few powerpoint slides together with notes so you can get a better feel for the layout. Email me and I'll work one up.

Hey Jim

missed seeing you this Presidents week at FC

Jim is correct as usual

Buildings 1,2 and 5 are currently open

I requested and stayed in Building 2 / 5th floor and it was perfect

My quick synopsis

Building 5, which is located above Building 1, ultimately must use its own elevators, then come down Building 1 elevators toget to the ground level

Thus the Building 1 elevator is always packed from people in Building 1 and 5

Building 2 elevators were always empty, and from the top floor - no one is walking above you, and you have a perfect view of the harbor / ships coming in and Charlotte Amalie lights at night

When building 5B opens this summer, it will filter down thru Building 2 elevators as well

But not yet

Regarding when to request - call Marriott and have them add the request to you reservation, in addition, the week before you go down call directly to the resort and speak with the room assignments person to reiterate your request

have fun

- David

brown2003 said:

I have seen several postings regarding Frenchman’s Cove but none really addressing whether there is building or room with a more desirable location and/or view. I will be there the week of 18 April 2008 and would appreciate any inputs from someone who has been there recently. I understand all rooms have an ocean view but are some obstructed or hindered by such things as the ongoing construction?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

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I have a more basis question...when trading say at Frenchman's Cove or anywhere, should you call in advance and ask for a specific room? I am an II member, but I am pretty new...so I have just taken what has been given.

i always ask for a specific floor / building combo before i arrive at my resort

The only problem with requesting a particular room number is that if it is not available (i.e. check-in for that room was on Friday and you are checking in on Sun.) then the staff have to guess as to why you wanted that room. Was it the floor level, end unit, view, location near or away from the elevator and so on. In my experience I give them my reason for the request, such as: end unit, desired floor in building, direction of view etc. That way if a particular unit is not available I have a better chance of getting a room that is as good or perhaps better.


We were in building 2 in late Oct. The building directly behind us is the one that is now open. The first floor of rooms will definitely have an obstructed view. Being an owner at FC, I would never accept a room on that level. I would imagine Marriott owners elsewhere and trading into FC would not have to accept a unit on that floor either.

It is a beautiful property and we loved being there. It exceeded our expectations in so many ways. There has been so much talk about the reef in front of FC and how it is prohibitive to swimming in the cove. I totally disagree. We had no trouble swimming over the reef and swimming or floating on pool floats we brought with us. Even if there were no reef, this is a calm bay and has no wave action.

Have a great time!

djs113 said:

Hey Jim

missed seeing you this Presidents week at FC
- David

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Hi David
I went in January this year. Saved some bucks on the airfare. I'll there next year 6 FEB-6 MAR. The first week will be at morningstar unless I get lucky with a trade. How many floors does bldg 5 have and what's the lowest with a good view in your opinion. Airfares look like they are getting a little on the steep side for next year.

hey jim

i am going back feb 14-21 next year - presidents week of course

i just booked my airfare - running about $850 RT per person * 4 of us - UGH

We are flying Delta next year, we did Continental out of Newark last year, and American out of JFK the year before

the week before, feb 7-14 2009...... about $380 RT per person.............

the airlines certainly take advantage of the kids school vacation weeks

I am pretty sure that building 5 A and soon to open 5 B has 6 floors (worst case it was only 5)

We were 5th floor (top floor) of building 2 and we were below the parking level of Building 5 - So 1st floor of building 5 would look into the roof of Building 2 -
2nd floor of building 5 prob has the angle to look further into the harbor by Water Island and can see Charlotte Amelie lights at night
3rd floor and above of building 5 must have the right angle to see straight down into the ocean

this would be my guesses, not having stayed in that Building yet

How great was it to see Bobby at the full size bar this year instead of the little set up during inaugural opening week 2 Febs ago

A whole month ! thats insane! great for you!

We had lots of fun again this year, finding new restaurants, exploring new beaches - wife spending the usual money at her favorite jewelers who all know her by name already ! We thought it was a little cooler and windier this year than in the prior one.

Liked Yacht Haven mall this year with the extra restaurants and the close proximity to the yachts

We rented a car this year which was great - 100% improvement on taking taxis everywhere the prior year and i loved torturing my chicken wife on some of the very steep downhills on the way to Red Hook

- David

This is great info on this post. I just completed a purchase of a FC week. We'll be going next May for the first time and I can't wait! Would love to see recent pics if anyone can post when they get back.

christy

sending you an email

david - sent you one back! Thanks!

Thanks for the post info on location==just sent my request in for building 2 floor 5--
Less than 60 days till we leave!
I guess I really lucked out on our $129 each way flight from DC!
Based on one of the posts it sounds like Marriott at least tries to give owners better units than those who rent?? I am so used to Harborside where the unit I bought is the one I get unless I go another week.
I guess I will get used to not knowing where I will be==it does sound that as long as you are up high you will have a good view.
Also happy to hear that the beach seems better than some posters have stated. I have bought both of my grand kids water shoes so they should be good.
Has anyone snorkeled off the beach there?? When we finalized our purchase last August we did see a lot folks off Morningstar but not sure about the Cove beach.

Recently back

Hi:

We are owners in Aruba and traded for FC. Overall, very happy with it. Regarding buildings, my only request was a "high floor". We were assigned to Building 5, floor 4 and it worked out great. I will admit that the extra elevator stops going across and down another set was a tad inconvenient.

We had inquired about Buildings 1 and 2 but could only get as high as second floor since higher floors were reserved for owners at that property which I can understand.

I think if you can get at least floor 3 of buildings 1 and 2 you should be good. Personally, I liked not overseeing the pool. Did not get distracted by that activity. Our view in Room 542 was just outstanding.

Good luck.....

Passage route to pool from bldg 5 ?

Quinnly,
When on the ground floor of bldg 5, how did you get to the
ground floor of building 1 and 2 area just above the pool elevators? Did you go through the lower bldgs, if so where was the access from?

When we went down last June, we stayed in build. 2 room # 235. Very convenient to and from pool. View was good with just a small obstruction of the top of the steeple in front of the master bedroom balcony. I will post some pictures of what the view was like in the next couple of day's.

Building 5 guests walk across the road and enter the top floors of building 1 and eventually 2 and take the elevators from there down

We are New Owners. This will be our first time there

Hi we will be using our week for the first time this January. What will be the best building by that time. I don't understand the need for using two elevators. Can't you walk down from the ground floor of your building? Thanks a lot for the info.

Actually it's 3 elevators if you want to go all the way to pool level by elevator from bldg# 5. As an owner using your week in January you are likely to get a top floor in any bldg. If it's #5 you take the elevator to the bottom floor. You are now at the level of the top floor of bldg# 1 or 2. You walk across the roadway between the bldg's then take the elevator down to the bottom level. You are now two stories above the pool level. You cross the road separating the bldg from the pool/restaurant area and can take the elevator down or walk down the steps. I've stayed in bldg # 1 twice and rode the elevator down and then taken the steps down to the pool.

The resort is built up the side of a hill. Most of ST Thomas is built on a hillside. The Elysian, the Ritz Carlton hotel, Bluebeard's Castle and the Marriott Reef hotel all built on hills or promontories. It has not been a problem for me using the elevators but rather that there is only one elevator in each bldg. Housekeeping and maintenance use the same elevators and that leads to some wait time during certain times of the day. Last January I didn't experience any inconvenient wait time at all. Next year I'll be there in February and I'm anticipating longer waits.

Just got back... and bought our third week at the Cove another 3br came available - right time, right place - 2 newly available units sold in 3 hours. We were in 255 and would have to say that it is the best as far as view and privacy, though most anything 4th/5th floor of building 2 will be awesome for now. The last 20 units in building 5 opened Friday, so now all 60 are open... new welcome center to open end of year, and they are moving forward on the new ocean front units.

As relaxing as ever... we hated to leave...

Though... spent way too much on jewelry unless, that is, you ask my wife