Swallowtail in Sea Pines - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

rdh1947 · April 13, 2008, 10:35 AM

We've been Swallowtail owners for several years, having purchased in its last Marriott year. In the recent adjustment of classifications Swallowtail has dropped from 5 star to nothing. Not even the second tier Select. I can understand not being Premier due to the lack of amenities. If anything I believe it has improved somewhat under the new management. We will be there next month and I will be sure to bring this up at the monday morning breakfast.

luv2vacation · April 13, 2008, 11:08 AM

Swallowtail was our very first timeshare stay ever, back in 1997. We were given an II week as a bonus week for purchasing our Flagship week, and we booked Swallowtail (shoulder season - was either late spring or early fall, can't remember), which was then still with Marriott. It was just Hubby and I (kids were still in school and my mom stayed with them), and we were amazed at the size of the unit. Anyway, on that first stay, we fell in love with TS in general and Hilton Head Island in particular. While there that week, we bought our week at Royal Dunes, which was just being built. Needless to say, I knew nothing about resale back then! But Swallowtail will always represent the start of our love affair with timeshare!

MULTIZ321 · April 13, 2008, 11:43 AM

Bob,

Isn't Swallowtail now being managed by the Club Group which is being audited right now for "financial irregularities" in connection to the Dennis Gerwing suicide?

Richard

rdh1947 · April 13, 2008, 12:29 PM

Richard:

You are right about it being managed by Club Group, but I can't imagine the recent problems there have any influence with the change. When I was in HHI last month I tried to get any additional info, but was told everything is in the Islandpacket paper.

Deb from NC · April 13, 2008, 01:02 PM

Hi,
I own at HH Spicebush, and II did the same thing to Spicebush. I've gotten good trades from II in the past, now I'm worried. And I also think Spicebush has actually improved under the Club Group's management in spite of their current "issues" ! Please let me know if you find anything out.....
Deb

DebBrown · April 14, 2008, 01:41 PM

How do you know Swallowtail was "demoted"? I'm looking at II online right now and my Swallowtail week has a little symbol next to it that means "Premier Resort - The highest level of recognition, providing an outstanding vacation experience, with state-of-the-art conveniences, and modern features and appointments." That sounds pretty good to me.

Deb

Deb from NC · April 14, 2008, 03:42 PM

Interesting...when I look at II online, neither Swallowtail nor Spicebush have a symbol by them! Where are you looking? In the resort directory?

rdh1947 · April 14, 2008, 04:19 PM

I too just looked at the II online Resort Directory and fail to see any symbols next to Swallowtail or Spicebush.

DebBrown · April 14, 2008, 05:14 PM

OK... I see what you mean. It is definitely missing in the directory. Under exchanges, where it shows my units, the resort still has the premier designation.

It's interesting that I have only heard of II changing their grading policy here at TUG. Did II notify people? Was the info in our latest directory?

Deb

Dave M · April 14, 2008, 05:15 PM

If you own at Swallowtail, look at your own II timeshare ownerships, not the II Resort Directory. Log in and then click on "Exchange" and then "View Your Units". Look at the symbol (and highlight it for an explanation) to the right of the name of your resort.

rdh1947 · April 14, 2008, 05:44 PM

If I look under Exchanges and View My Units, I still don't see any symbol. No rating as shown under the Resort Directory.

Deb from NC · April 14, 2008, 08:20 PM

Bob...same here...I don't see any symbol next to the Spicebush unit I have available for exchange. It's a 2009 week, would that make a difference, do you think?

DebBrown · April 14, 2008, 08:37 PM

Maybe the symbol is still showing up next to mine because I have a 2007 week with an exchange request?

Deb

rdh1947 · April 14, 2008, 09:32 PM

I only have 2008 and 2009 weeks showing. It looks like the difference is that the 2007 week still carried the high rating.

Deb from NC · April 15, 2008, 09:19 AM

All in all, it's very disappointing. I see some resorts that still have gold crown ratings that I don't consider nearly as nice as either Swallowtail or Spicebush. (And I've stayed at both resorts) I wonder how II made their ranking decisions, does anyone know? To go from gold crown to nothing (!), especially with our fabulous Sea Pines location doesn't seem right to me.....

DebBrown · April 15, 2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb from NC

I wonder how II made their ranking decisions, does anyone know? To go from gold crown to nothing (!), especially with our fabulous Sea Pines location doesn't seem right to me.....

If I had to guess, I'd say amenities such as markets and onsite activities. As you know, Swallowtail doesn't need this. The resort is not a destination in itself. Sea Pines is the destination.

I wouldn't worry overly much. Do you think it will effect your trade power? Demand is demand regardless of II ranking. I suppose there will be people who won't request Swallowtail or Spicebush based on the lack of designation. These are the same people who would be disappointed that these resorts aren't Grande Ocean.

Deb

Deb from NC · April 15, 2008, 02:47 PM

Deb,
Good point..hopefully it won't affect trade power all that much. And if I don't get a trade I want, I'll just go to Spicebush..a "no lose" situation !

DebBrown · April 16, 2008, 03:37 PM

I just got off the phone with II. They called with one of those updates on my ongoing request.

The rep told me that Swallowtail has an 88% customer satisfaction rating. The new designations are based on this along with amenities, upgrades, etc.

Deb

April 13, 2008, 10:35 AM	#1
rdh1947 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Midlothian, Virginia Posts: 78 Resorts: Marriott Manor Club Sequel; Marriott Ocean Watch; Marriott Monarch in Sea Pines; Swallowtail at Sea Pines.	Swallowtail in Sea Pines We've been Swallowtail owners for several years, having purchased in its last Marriott year. In the recent adjustment of classifications Swallowtail has dropped from 5 star to nothing. Not even the second tier Select. I can understand not being Premier due to the lack of amenities. If anything I believe it has improved somewhat under the new management. We will be there next month and I will be sure to bring this up at the monday morning breakfast. __________________ Bob H.

April 13, 2008, 12:29 PM	#4
rdh1947 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Midlothian, Virginia Posts: 78 Resorts: Marriott Manor Club Sequel; Marriott Ocean Watch; Marriott Monarch in Sea Pines; Swallowtail at Sea Pines.	Richard: You are right about it being managed by Club Group, but I can't imagine the recent problems there have any influence with the change. When I was in HHI last month I tried to get any additional info, but was told everything is in the Islandpacket paper. __________________ Bob H.

April 14, 2008, 04:19 PM	#8
rdh1947 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Midlothian, Virginia Posts: 78 Resorts: Marriott Manor Club Sequel; Marriott Ocean Watch; Marriott Monarch in Sea Pines; Swallowtail at Sea Pines.	I too just looked at the II online Resort Directory and fail to see any symbols next to Swallowtail or Spicebush. __________________ Bob H.

April 14, 2008, 05:44 PM	#11
rdh1947 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Midlothian, Virginia Posts: 78 Resorts: Marriott Manor Club Sequel; Marriott Ocean Watch; Marriott Monarch in Sea Pines; Swallowtail at Sea Pines.	If I look under Exchanges and View My Units, I still don't see any symbol. No rating as shown under the Resort Directory. __________________ Bob H.

April 14, 2008, 09:32 PM	#14
rdh1947 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Midlothian, Virginia Posts: 78 Resorts: Marriott Manor Club Sequel; Marriott Ocean Watch; Marriott Monarch in Sea Pines; Swallowtail at Sea Pines.	I only have 2008 and 2009 weeks showing. It looks like the difference is that the 2007 week still carried the high rating. __________________ Bob H.

April 13, 2008, 11:08 AM	#2
luv2vacation TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Sep 16, 07 Location: South Jersey Posts: 805 Resorts: DVC, Marriott's Ocean Point (platinum & gold), Island Links -HHI (platinum), Royal Dunes -HHI (bronze 3BR), Flagship -AC	Swallowtail was our very first timeshare stay ever, back in 1997. We were given an II week as a bonus week for purchasing our Flagship week, and we booked Swallowtail (shoulder season - was either late spring or early fall, can't remember), which was then still with Marriott. It was just Hubby and I (kids were still in school and my mom stayed with them), and we were amazed at the size of the unit. Anyway, on that first stay, we fell in love with TS in general and Hilton Head Island in particular. While there that week, we bought our week at Royal Dunes, which was just being built. Needless to say, I knew nothing about resale back then! But Swallowtail will always represent the start of our love affair with timeshare!

April 13, 2008, 11:43 AM	#3
MULTIZ321 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: FT. LAUDERDALE, FL Posts: 3,595 Resorts: CELEBRITY RESORTS PALM COAST; CELEBRATION, ORLANDO; SEAWATCH AT ISLAND CLUB, HHI; RHC (POINTS)	Bob, Isn't Swallowtail now being managed by the Club Group which is being audited right now for "financial irregularities" in connection to the Dennis Gerwing suicide? Richard

April 13, 2008, 01:02 PM	#5
Deb from NC TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 10, 05 Location: Clemmons, NC Posts: 364 Resorts: Port O'Call & Spicebush in Hilton Head and FF Alexandria	Hi, I own at HH Spicebush, and II did the same thing to Spicebush. I've gotten good trades from II in the past, now I'm worried. And I also think Spicebush has actually improved under the Club Group's management in spite of their current "issues" ! Please let me know if you find anything out..... Deb

April 14, 2008, 01:41 PM	#6
DebBrown TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Posts: 967 Resorts: Swallowtail HHI, Foxrun NC, Villa del Mar PV	How do you know Swallowtail was "demoted"? I'm looking at II online right now and my Swallowtail week has a little symbol next to it that means "Premier Resort - The highest level of recognition, providing an outstanding vacation experience, with state-of-the-art conveniences, and modern features and appointments." That sounds pretty good to me. Deb

April 14, 2008, 03:42 PM	#7
Deb from NC TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 10, 05 Location: Clemmons, NC Posts: 364 Resorts: Port O'Call & Spicebush in Hilton Head and FF Alexandria	Interesting...when I look at II online, neither Swallowtail nor Spicebush have a symbol by them! Where are you looking? In the resort directory?

April 14, 2008, 05:14 PM	#9
DebBrown TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Posts: 967 Resorts: Swallowtail HHI, Foxrun NC, Villa del Mar PV	OK... I see what you mean. It is definitely missing in the directory. Under exchanges, where it shows my units, the resort still has the premier designation. It's interesting that I have only heard of II changing their grading policy here at TUG. Did II notify people? Was the info in our latest directory? Deb

April 14, 2008, 05:15 PM	#10
Dave M Moderator TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 16, 04 Location: Sun City Hilton Head, SC Posts: 11,351	If you own at Swallowtail, look at your own II timeshare ownerships, not the II Resort Directory. Log in and then click on "Exchange" and then "View Your Units". Look at the symbol (and highlight it for an explanation) to the right of the name of your resort.

April 14, 2008, 08:20 PM	#12
Deb from NC TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 10, 05 Location: Clemmons, NC Posts: 364 Resorts: Port O'Call & Spicebush in Hilton Head and FF Alexandria	Bob...same here...I don't see any symbol next to the Spicebush unit I have available for exchange. It's a 2009 week, would that make a difference, do you think?

April 14, 2008, 08:37 PM	#13
DebBrown TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Posts: 967 Resorts: Swallowtail HHI, Foxrun NC, Villa del Mar PV	Maybe the symbol is still showing up next to mine because I have a 2007 week with an exchange request? Deb

April 15, 2008, 09:19 AM	#15
Deb from NC TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 10, 05 Location: Clemmons, NC Posts: 364 Resorts: Port O'Call & Spicebush in Hilton Head and FF Alexandria	All in all, it's very disappointing. I see some resorts that still have gold crown ratings that I don't consider nearly as nice as either Swallowtail or Spicebush. (And I've stayed at both resorts) I wonder how II made their ranking decisions, does anyone know? To go from gold crown to nothing (!), especially with our fabulous Sea Pines location doesn't seem right to me.....

April 15, 2008, 02:47 PM	#17
Deb from NC TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 10, 05 Location: Clemmons, NC Posts: 364 Resorts: Port O'Call & Spicebush in Hilton Head and FF Alexandria	Deb, Good point..hopefully it won't affect trade power all that much. And if I don't get a trade I want, I'll just go to Spicebush..a "no lose" situation !

April 16, 2008, 03:37 PM	#18
DebBrown TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Posts: 967 Resorts: Swallowtail HHI, Foxrun NC, Villa del Mar PV	I just got off the phone with II. They called with one of those updates on my ongoing request. The rep told me that Swallowtail has an 88% customer satisfaction rating. The new designations are based on this along with amenities, upgrades, etc. Deb

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