We spent 4 days at Grande Ocean and the accomodations were above average. The Villa was nicely decorated and very clean. However, because we were there on a package deal so they could try to sell us a time share, they put us in the worst location, farthest from the pool and ocean. I understand the owners get first choice at oceanfront but the resort wasn't even half full. Overall, unless you golf, Hilton Head is pretty boring and this Resort fit right in with that theme. The only really bad part was that they charge $30 per day to rent a chair at the beach, which seemed terribly out of character for the usual Marriott customer service quality!

VERY nice ocean front property - maybe the nicest on HHI. Plenty of pools, deck chairs. Beach is clean and easily accessible.

Tend to be an older crowd, but we were there with our 3.5 and 1.5 yr old boys. Not kid centric, but plenty to keep busy b/t the beach and the pools.

Villas are top notch. Very nice furniture, granite full kitchens and huge bedrooms. Guessing 1400 feet.

Must do's:
Old Fort Pub for dinner - amazing sunset - don't bring the kids.
Commander Zoidiac - see ~100 dolphins, many come right up to the boat.

This 5* Marriott Resort is a true "gem" and a perfect "10". SItuated directly on the beach, the service, quality, staff assistance and friendliness and room conditions are unsurpassed for a timeshare resort. We own several timeshare resorts and do a lot of traveling, but this is by far one of our favorite resorts and the nicest of all Hilton Head Resorts and sits just outside Sea Pines directly on the beach in a residental area. Hilton Head is also a Biker's Dream with Bike Paths throughout the island. Coligny Plaza with shops and eatieries is only a 7 minute bike ride away. This resort has an excellent Tennis Program, 4 pools, an indoor pool and most buildings have recently been completely renovated including all new furniture and appliances, complete with a full-sized washer and dryer. All units are 2 bedroom (now with 2 double beds in the 2nd bedroom), 2 full baths, MBR with King bed and jacuzzi tub. 3 TV's, full gourmet kitchen, living room with balcony. Organized daily activies...Pool Bar Jim makes the best frozen drinks and had 2 books out on "Drinks". The pictures don't do it justice. You won't regret staying here.

In the midst of wedding preparations, Marriott International called to offer a 3-night stay at Surf Watch for timeshare promotion. When I called to book the trip, we were upgraded to Grande Ocean, and the usual disclaimers about attending a “low-pressure 90-minute presentation” were explained. Having been suckered into a shabby timeshare deal when he was in college, my husband warned me it would be hard to say no and, despite the Marriott name, was dubious about the condition the suite would be in,

When we arrived, we had to check in at Surf Watch then transfer to Grande Ocean. The two-bedroom suite was beautifully appointed and had a view of the pool. I loved the large Jacuzzi tub and comfy king bed in the master bedroom. Free wi-fi and TVs with DVD players made it feel like home. The kitchen had plenty of cookware and dishes as well as a little welcome package of coffee, laundry detergent, and toiletries. We were a short walk to the un-crowded beach that had chairs for rent and a nice stretch you could bike or run on. By the way, dogs are allowed on the beach, alcohol is not.

On property there are a few main swimming pools, spa pools, a lap pool, an indoor pool, and some kid pools (unfortunately, no adult only pool). They offer aqua aerobics on weekday mornings and various water sports, like volleyball, in the afternoons. They have a recreation area in the reception building with pool and ping-pong tables as well as a whole area for kids. A list of daily activities is posted and a daily message of weather and events are left on your room’s voicemail every evening. The activities are divided into “Mazes” for kid, adult, and family. There are no real restaurants on the property but you can grab a bite and a tee-shirt at the small on-site market. By the pool is an afternoon grill and a bar. The resort does not have a spa but they do have an innovative therapist, Greg, who does massage for $80/hour.

We went to the timeshare presentation on our last day and were greeted by the #2 sales rep in the company. Since my husband and I have a policy of giving every major purchase a night to sleep on, we knew we were not going to sign on the dotted line that day. The Marriott program is impressive, especially with all of the options you have. You could literally buy your timeshare on one property and never spend a day there for all of the trading you can do. Right off the bat you earn enough reward points to get a free trip including airfare. You have also invested in future vacations so as family grows, you don’t have to come up with nearly as much cash per trip as you would if you stayed in a hotel. For a good resource on timeshares in general, Google "7 tips for buying a timeshare."

We looked at the gold ocean side unit in Myrtle Beach – it had a trade-in option during the gold weeks of two for one and was worth 80,000 reward points per year that you could exchange. Yearly dues were close to $800 and the cost of ownership was in the 20K range. At the outside, I think this would be a good deal if you could write a check for at least half the amount on site and are not bothered by the fact Marriott is making a ton of money off of you. We wrestled with the decision all night but in the end decided we did not want to be tied down to Marriott sponsored properties. We like B&Bs and local flavor too much. However, we are enrolled in the rewards program so we can still take advantage of free trips, it will just take longer to earn them.

It had been 15 years since I was last in Hilton Head and it seems like the same low-key island I remember. The island itself is great for families with children and golf-loving empty-nesters. There is not much of a single’s scene unless you are 14. As for Grand Ocean, I wish my parents would have stayed there when I was younger – there is so much to do a week (let alone 3 days) is not enough to fit it all in. It is a great, family oriented destination and you can see a lot of friendships that have grown there year after year. As a young couple without kids though, we were not a good fit for this particular resort.