I just came back from Harbour Club on Sunday night (7/12). All rooms are being totally remodeled in Jan 2020. Looks like they are removing the large jetted tubs in the bedrooms and replacing them with nicer/bigger bathrooms and separate tub/shower. All new carpet and furniture as well. The lobby was just done. We love Harbour Club and how close it is to everything.
Thanks so much for the update
We already love the layout of the villas at Harbour Club, but the only drawback we found was the older dated condition.
Now with the new renovations and new furniture & fixtures, it'll be the nicest of the
non-Big 3 Marriott resorts.
I'd say Monarch
should take that spot, but the size of their units cannot be made larger (they are much too small in
every room)
and even with the current renovation & updating that won't change, so imho it drops below Harbour Club now
(regardless of Monarch's oceanside location).
Since I mentioned Monarch, I'll elaborate because Monarch will be undergoing renovations too, if not completed already!
Monarch's second BR is tiny, smallest of any BR at any HH Marriott, and only holds 2 twin beds.
The master BR is also the smallest master BR of any HH Marriott.
The LR is cramped and the dining table takes up almost half of the open space,
and it's hard to walk around it. Best suitable for a couple or a couple with small children. A family, or two couples, would probably be claustrophobic.
Kitchen is very small too.
I truly wish Monarch were different because it has such a nice beachfront location.
We've rented there many times over the years, and each time I've said "no more". I'll stick to that now. If ONLY they could enlarge the units, it would be a gem. But even with the ocean so close, I cannot overcome the size issues, plus the parking outside is not good--- sometimes there's no spot near your building.
There is only one restaurant next door..."Coast"...and altho it started out very good, it has fallen a lot recently, imho, and to others as well.
Last two trips with other couples, we were served inedible dishes... the soup was horribly rancid, even tho the waiter said it was the
best chowder on the island.....not. Sandwiches were mediocre at best too.
Only other restaurant near Monarch is down and across the street at Links (in golf course clubhouse).
Altho Monarch is not immediately near any walkable restaurants or shops of note, Monarch is obviously closer to all the
driveable multitude of restaurants outside Sea Pines by a scant minute's drive as compared to HC, but it's not an issue.
Driving to HH's best restaurants requires a drive of several minutes outside of Sea Pines, plus 1-8 miles or more.
Only two small shops are in the area of Monarch---
one a "resort shop" at Sea Pines Beach Club, other is in golf/tennis clubhouse--
so it's very limited shopping in the immediate area....
so you must drive to South Beach, Harbour Town, or outside Sea Pines.
Harbour Club, on the other hand, is in Harbour Town, and has numerous restaurants within easy walking---- steps away actually,
including the highly rated CQ's next door, Crazy Crab, Quarter Deck, & Harbour Town Bakery & Cafe....far more than near Monarch.
And there are many shops at Harbour Town, steps from Harbour Club-----fine upscale boutiques, men's shop, several ladies' shops, T-shirt shops, several gift shops, art shops...plus origination point for most island tours----far more stuff than around Monarch. And yet HC is situated over in a private, quiet corner. Both HC and Monarch are very quiet and peaceful, no problem there.
Very happy to hear of Harbour Club renovations. We'll definitely spend extra time there in addition to our other ownership weeks at HH.
Great resort, great location.
