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katiemack · 05-01-2009, 12:46 AM

You mention the area more than the resort....could you tell us more about the resort, besides the smell of smoke. How are the units configured? How well supplied is the kitchen? Are the linens and towels in good condition? These are some of the things we are all interested in....are there activities? How did management treat you? Was the bed comfortable?

chriskre · 05-01-2009, 12:59 AM

The resort is a small condo complex with about 4 units per floor. Most of the units over look the back bay. The units need remodeling. The kitchen was adequate with all you need for a comfortable cooking of a basic meal like pasta or chicken etc. I wouldn't get elaborate in that kitchen. There was a full sized washer and dryer inside the unit. The bathroom is a little inconvenient because it is in the bedroom and whoever sleeps in the living room has to come into the bedroom to use the bathroom. The towels were average cheap motel towels which we washed in the washer and dryer. The bedroom has a pocket door. The balcony is off the living room. There is free wi-fi in the rooms. THe staff were okay, not overly friendly but not rude either. The bed was okay, not a pillow top or anything fancy like that. They had formica furniture and mirrors on the walls (80's style). Maybe it's better now it's been a few years since I've been there. The units themselves are not huge. I'd say about 550 sq. ft. if that including the balcony. I did like the place but it doesn't live up to the neighborhood. Hope this helps.

Nancy · 05-01-2009, 09:20 AM

Stayed there a few years ago and I want to add that there is no dishwasher in unit. Not that we did that many dishes, but weren't sure how sanitized they were from previous tenants. The unit we had, don't remember the number, overlooked the restaurant next door and was very noisy at both late night and early morning.

We would return just because of the location.

Nancy

JLB · 05-01-2009, 10:04 AM

This is one of our favorite little lesser SW FL resorts for our January vacations, and one I don't ever expect to get again. I know it so well that you could blindfold me and I could find any unit using either stairwell.

To correct the layout question, there are eight one-bedroom units per floor on the first three floors and two 2-bedroom penthouse units on the top floor. An owner has/had been trying to acquire all or most of the penthouse units and you will likely never see them available.

The resort is situated on the bay side (Estero Bay) at Big Hickory Pass. The units are oriented N-S-E-W, with units ending in 01 being the south unit on the west side. That means 02/03 face south (a parking lot/tree view), 04/05 face east (a parking lot/condo/restaurant/marina/dumpster view) 06/07 face north (Estero Bay view), & 08/01 face west (a Big Hickory Pass/swimming pool/hot tub view). From the screen lanais 08/01 have a partial bay view to the right, and 04/05 to the left .

There is a sundeck/sunset party deck on the roof at the top of the west stairwell.

Estero Bay is both beautiful and exceptional, with the midrise condos of the Golf and Beach developments and the Cocoanut Hyatt across the bay.

The resort is Spartanlike, well managed, and the owners (at least in Snowbird Season) like it just the way it is. They don't care much about RCI or trading or most of the topics we talk about here. They handle their own resales, most commonly by word of mouth. There is lady who handles resales . . . although she is not a resort employee, she has a presence and a desk in the office. There is no problem finding a buyer for Snowbird weeks.

We like(d) it because it is homey and comfortable. Each LR has a screen lanai with sliders across the wall, so when the temp is right, it can be open-air. Of course, the pontoon boats were/are a big plus for us.

& the proximity to Rapmarks and Conch Man.

We miss our pontoon outing with our friends and the dolphins.

There is a boat ramp immediately adjacent to the resort and extra slips in the dock, so you could bring a boat.

The two pictures in the RCI online directory are excellent, and you can see a private boat in one of the slips. The exterior picture you normally see is from the back (bay) side, the units ending in 06 & 07. Our favorite unit, 307, is one at the upper right, face on. You can also see how the lanais from the 05 and 08 units have a partial bay view.

Week 53 is offered to owners for $500, which goes to the association. We got one of them three or four years ago because we had become owner-like.

Our favorite unit is 307, the highest bay/pass view. I knew our trades in would end when we arrived there three years ago, Week 1, and that unit/week was posted on the for sale board, for just $2000!!! I knew it would be bought to be used and RCI would never see it again. I went down to buy it at the first opportunity, 8 AM, Tuesday, January 2, at the weekly welcome gathering, but it had already been sold.

Since then I have not seen anything at BR&C available for any time between Dec. 15 and April. It is frequently available the rest of the year. Here is the next two years:

August 2009 [4]
September 2009 [3]
October 2009 [4]
November 2009 [1]
December 2009 [1]
May 2010 [3]
June 2010 [2]
July 2010 [3]
August 2010 [2]
September 2010 [4]
October 2010 [4]
November 2010 [3]
December 2010 [1]

We would see the same people every year weeks 1 and 2, and they are from Canada, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, places like that. Of the 26 units there were normally only 2 or 3 exchanges or rentals, but the exchanges have ended.

JLB · 05-01-2009, 10:06 AM

Oh yeah, it is an OF resort.

There is a sign in the office that says, "Unattended Children Will Be Sold Into Slavery."

chriskre · 05-10-2009, 03:14 PM

So JLB why were you banned from TUG 4 times?

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