posted 04-21-2005 22:37               

I believe the internet access is wired, because they said it will take 30 minutes to install in each room. I will see if I can find someone who knows for sure tomorrow. Or maybe one of you techies know for sure what requires a 30 minute installation.

The pool bar is not open yet. I'll see if anyone knows in the morning when it will be opened.Lots of inhouse activites, but it's so quiet here this week, there was not much participation.It'll be great fun here in the summer.

Sorry did not attend the owners meeting. Found out it was being run by the concierge, the lady that books the Marriott tours. If it was the GM giving the update, I would have surely attended. Be interesting to find out who runs the owners update in most of the Marriotts. In Aruba, its the GM and Front Desk Manager, in Maui, it's always the sales reps.Tells you a lot about the management, doesn't it?

Grande Dunes is prime real estate. The condos being built on the other side of the Ocean Club House starts at over $1 mm for a 2500 sq ft condo. The houses in the area sells for over $800k. The Ocean Watch 1100 sq ft condo is probably valued at over half a million. It's always nice to own timeshares in expensive areas because you have true real estate value. Kanaapali, Maui 2 BR condos are well over $1.5mm. OceanWatch may get there in a few years.They could not have found a better piece of property on Myrtle Beach to build this timeshare.

There is a piece of land between Ocean Club House and the new condos being built. The sales rep said Marriott is looking at purchasing it. It's just sales talk I am sure. Anyway it's up for sale but whatever goes in there is going to have to be more set back and cannot block those multi million $ condos next door.

One of the great appeal to this Marriott is the low density housing in the area. On one side of the hotel are single family homes, about 15 blocks of it. On the other side of the villas, you have the Ocean Club House, open land, the 2 condo buildings and about 10 blocks of very upscale, large single family homes. This beach will not be crowded, it's well protected. When the Grande Dunes get fully developed, you may have more home owners using the beach.

The front desk rep name Sowella is the best we have ever encountered at a Marriott. She is efficient, friendly, and very professional. She said because of the owners feedback, she has gained the title of employee of the quarter. I'm sure she will be able to answer any questions you folks may have before coming here. Maybe she can help get you a great room too. She said the 4th and 5th floor will be opened this weekend and the entire Scallop building will be open by the following weekend. Also, they checked in 42 rooms at the Marriott hotel for previewers today. She was working quite late today.I hope she gets promoted as this resort grows.

We hope Ocean Watch will be a fabulous success and congratulations to those of you who purchases. Good choice.

Signing out from OceanWatch.

posted 04-23-2005 15:55               

The internet access is wired, not wireless.

The pool bar will be opened on April 29th.

We received a Marriott VIP card from the concierge with discounts at restaurants. We tried Atlantic Grill and Sam Snead with 15% off. Both were excellent.

We also purchased a discount certificate at Restaurant.com for half price ($5) and received $25 off at The Original Benjamins Buffet. This is one of the better buffets.

Do not bother with the Myrtle Beach VIP Card advertised on the tourist sites. All the discounts available are also in the free discount coupon books you can pick up at the airport.