posted 04-16-2005 09:22               

We just got back from the OceanWatch Villas in Myrtle Beach, SC. I wrote up a review and it's in the review database (please see the review for details). This place is still under construction but they have two of the three towers completed. I have some pictures of the exterior as there seemed to be limited pictures available on the web for that. http://www.picturetrail.com/thespicers The album starts with TUG... and is not password protected.

[This message has been edited by Spicer (edited 04-16-2005).]

[This message has been edited by Spicer (edited 04-16-2005).]

posted 04-17-2005 07:18            

Tina

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You can see my timeshare photos here:

http://community.webshots.com/user/ciscogizmo

posted 04-17-2005 08:43               

Brian

posted 04-17-2005 10:43               

The first 2 building do have oceanview. They call them Ocean Front on the ends and Ocean Side on the sides. Actually the third building will be set bac, between these two overlooking the pool and will be sold as Ocean Front. Don't get me started on how they could be considered Ocean Front.

posted 04-17-2005 11:02               

Thanks for the feedback on the pictures.

Regarding the above questions:

Pat, we didn't attend a presentation and we didn't think to ask about the third building's configuration however my suspicion is that, since they did such a nice job view-wise on the North and South tower, that they would make the third tower with front facing rooms only - just a guess.

Tina, we flew into MYR (Myrtle Beach International). It's very convenient - about five minutes South of Myrtle Beach proper and about fifteen minutes South of the Villas. As a side note, we flew United but they are experiencing serious challenges. We were delayed about four hours in Chicago because the flight crew didn't show up; on the way back, our flight was canceled. The employee moral appears to be very low and it's affecting their outward business appearance as well. Delta was very nice and re-routed us through Atlanta.

Brian, yes, the pool shots were taken later in the day. Not to worry however, you get plenty of sun at the pool (trust me on this ) and it will only get better for summer as the sun gets higher in the sky.

Hope this helps. Sorry I didn't take any inside shots but the ones they show of the model on the website pretty much do it - very nice. We are very happy with our Marriott and the trades we've visited and are considering purchasing another.

posted 04-17-2005 20:30               

quote:

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Originally posted by Spicer:
Pat, we didn't attend a presentation and we didn't think to ask about the third building's configuration however my suspicion is that, since they did such a nice job view-wise on the North and South tower, that they would make the third tower with front facing rooms only - just a guess.

Ryan

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posted 04-17-2005 21:37               

They are not giving any incentive points for the Platinum season. The third building will be all "oceanfront". It will be situated between the 2 buildings at the back end, It will be about 250 feet back from the other oceanfront units in the existing buildings.There will be 5 units on each floor, all facing the ocean, none on the backside of the building.We stopped at the front desk twice over the last 2 days and both times, there were owners complaining about the "side" oceanfront units they were assigned. There is only one true oceanfront unit in each building. The other 2 oceanfront units has the master bedroom and the balcony facing the ocean. The living room is set back from the balcony with the windows on the side of the building. They are set up for more complaints with the third building so far back.

There will be 2 more buildings in the plan set about 500 feet behind these buildings, across the parking lot and small lagoons. They will be called Garden View at the lower floors and Oceanview at the higher floors. The view for the south building will be between the Marriott hotel and the existing OceanWatch villa. The sales rep said it will not be completed for another 4 years. Does not sound like they are selling as quickly as they would like.Successful Marriotts are sold out in 5 or 6 years. OceanWatch has been in sales since March 2003, based the the price list they showed us.

posted 04-18-2005 04:39            

Can you pass on the unit numbers for the north side of the new Scallop building? I believe that is the side you are on. From watching the construction last July, it appeared those units would have beautiful views of the sunrise. Do you? I would like to know the order of the numbers from further from the ocean to closest. Thanks! I hope to put in a request for one of those villas.

Also, can you comment on the front pool, the one with the waterfall? I was told at last summer's owners meeting that when the pools were redone this winter, that Marriott's new standards required that pool be heated. Spicer's review suggested it is still only the top pool that is heated.

Concerning Gardenview units, when I purchased one in March 2003 I was told to expect at least six years of being placed in a Oceanside unit. Marriott was using that as an incentive to purchase GV and OV. Their plan at that time was 2010 or 2011 for completion of the last building.

posted 04-18-2005 21:31               

We are in the Scallop building. There are 9 units on each floor. The odd numbered units are on the north side , facing the Grande Dunes Ocean Club and the even numbered units are facing the south side and the pools. Unit 1 and 2 are the farthest from the ocean. Therefore, units 1,3 and 5 are the oceanside units and unit 7 is the corner oceanfront unit facing north and the Ocean Club. Units 2.4.and 6 are the oceanside units and unit 8 is the corner oceanfront unit facing south, the pools and the first building. Unit 9 is the center oceanfront unit. We are in unit 2075 (second building, seventh floor and unit 5, next to the corner oceanfront unit). Yes, we can see the sunrise from every window. Since we have so much privacy on this side, we do not close the dark curtains and wake up to the sunrise. It has been spectacular.

It is curious that they put a photo of the Ocean Club on the MVC website. We are not allowed to even enter it. never mind use it. We are also not allowed to use the Marriott hotel pools.

They will be installing high speed internet access at the Conch Building tomorrow. They are also coming to test each units fire alarms and we were notified the water will be shut off tomorrow at 8:30Pm for 6 hours. Growing pains, but will be ready for you when you get here.

posted 04-20-2005 08:28               

Looks as if they're moving right along with new construction there. In that sense it kind of reminds me of Ocean Pointe where they seemed to "grow" another building each year. Of course we've finally reached build-out at OP. Looks as if Myrtle Beach will also move forward at a robust pace.

posted 04-20-2005 17:10               

[Deleted message which has nothing to do with this thread. Dave M]

[This message has been edited by Dave M (edited 04-20-2005).]

posted 04-20-2005 21:57               

To answer your questions

They will install the internet access in the Scallop building after they finish the Conch building. They said within a month.

Smoking floors are the even floors in the Conch building. There are no smoking floors in the Scallop building.

Seems like we really lucked out. I was told this is the first FULL week they had sunshine and warm weather every day this year.

posted 04-21-2005 09:43            

I have really enjoyed your updates. It is nice of you to take some time from your trip to do this.

posted 04-21-2005 11:36               

quote:

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Originally posted by JimC:
... It appears that this resort has some privacy to it -- not much built up around it.

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Jim, good point and something I hadn't considered. Emi can probably add to this however when we were there we did notice that North of the complex there was of course, the Ocean Club - which is not too imposing, and then a new tower going up next to a newer looking condo complex. Beyond that there were some beautiful new homes so I don't believe there would be any development there (for a while anyway).

South of the complex is the Marriott run hotel but after that there is just a stretch of a mix of older homes and some very nice remodeled homes. You can see in the first picture what it looks like South of the complex. You can even make out the crane next to the new condo (I'm just guessing that's what it is) building, North of the complex.

With that, hopefully you won't have an influx of hotels on either side for some time to come.

posted 04-21-2005 12:13               

When we looked down the beach you could see about a mile of empty sands in front of the residences before the crowds could be seen in a distance to the south and just a handful of Grand Dunes residents were out towards the north. This will be one of the best places to enjoy the beach around.

Most posts on Myrtle Beach talk about how built up that area is. MOW gives the best of both worlds... a more posh resort with a less crowded beach but still only a short drive to the "action".

-Matt

posted 04-21-2005 13:32            

I jogged both directions from MOW, and I don't see where future crowds are going to come from (other than MOW's own growth). Most of the land is accounted for. A mile to the south of MOW is where I found the crowded beach that I feared would be at OceanWatch.

At the owners meeting the management was very apologetic about the construction noise and other issues that come with a growing resort. Truly though, I will probably look back on this period as the good old days! In the mornings I had the pool to myself, my children never had problems playing in the waterfall since there were so few other kids, and the ping pong table and grills were always open. Other than the foos ball table, I never waited for anything.

The Columbus Dispatch ran a front page story on Grande Dunes in their Travel section a couple of weeks ago, and they pointed out the Marriott properties as evidence of the "new Myrtle Beach". It's a great location, and a big relief to someone like me who bought sight unseen (preconstruction) when staying in Hilton Head.