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| Relaxing beach week. | ||
| Date Of Visit - Oct 19, 2013 | ||
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| For 84k Wyndham Vacation Points and a VIP (within 60 days) upgrade, we went from a studio to a 1-bedroom unit for a Sat to Sat week. We supposedly got the unit everyone loves (?) - a one bedroom ocean FRONT. Our expectations were not met. The daytime weather turned out to be pleasant, although the evenings were cool. The AC/heat worked perfectly. we were always comfortable, even just watching TV and catching up on reading. The weather was pleasant for latter Oct., but turned hat and jacket cold and windy by Friday the 24th. There’s a covered drive-up area to unload, close to the elevators. Lobby is on third floor, it was busy. Check-in and check-out is a bit of a mess since there are very limited parking spaces for unloading and loading luggage. Parking is in a multi-level garage across the street (so carts were hoarded, kept too long...and many guests checking out ended up schlepping their luggage by hand). The Cherry Grove Beach location is in a quiet residential area at the outer limits of North Myrtle Beach. This remedied the stress of driving through the touristy business strip at the end of the drive down from up north. The staff was always friendly. We participated in no Planned Resort Activities, if there were any. The accommodations were not satisfactory. Although in a swell Location, it has a somewhat updated “Dated Hotel" feeling. We had a sixteenth floor 1BR ocean front unit with a small balcony off the living room. Unit 1632 could use some serious interior decorating. Very dark, had to keep lights on in bath room and bedroom. Being that high up, the ocean front view has no beach reference until you get within 3 feet of the patio sliding glass. That’s how close the tower is to the water’s edge. From within the unit there was no view of anything but big ocean and sky. The whole front was window wall but half was covered by heavy drapery. There is a matching sized balcony with two chairs and a tiny table. Looking straight down over the railing, you can see the hot tub and river-pool. It has what most resorts have except luxury and roominess. Very plain and claustrophobic! The unit was clean and had full-sized kitchen appliances and place settings for 4. There’s no foyer area. Entrance is directly into the bedroom (king bed & dresser with nice TV. The closet shelving and dresser drawers had to be utilized for storing small kitchen appliances. The bedroom closet also included a vacuum cleaner, ironing board, iron, broom, and dustpan. The bed was a comfy. Beyond the bedroom is the very small kitchen. It had all the amenities needed for meal preparation, including a blender, coffee maker and toaster, but lacked counter space and grocery storage cabinets. There’s 18 inches of granite counter top over the dishwasher, between sink & range. Silverware and cooking utensils were housed in canister racks placed on the stove. Minimal lighting in kitchen was a florescent tube over the sink. We offloaded the counter and range for use. Thankfully the dresser, coffee table and TV stand had sizable drawers. Food prep tools occupied the range rear burners. The cutting board and paper towel holder balanced on rear ledge of sink. Quite silly. This bath was opposite the “kitchen” row of range, dishwasher, sink & fridge. It has jet tub/shower with nice plastic shower curtain (no towel bars or wall shelf) and an average sink and commode. There is also a night light. Living/dining/kitchen area was small with a small square table with 4 chairs, couch and chair, a coffee table and a TV/DVD stand. There was a pull-down Murphy bed in the living room. We enjoyed having washer and dryer, but had to move the dining table to gain access to the small closet. There were no throw pillows on sofa. Nothing of color. I slid the coffee table in front of the easy chair as no place is provided for computer use. In room Wi-Fi worked swell and was free. The open but covered pool is located beside the ground level drive-up area. The pools were OK, the hot tubs nice and large. Beach access was very handy. Temperature was warm enough a few days to actually lie out on the beach. We stuck with hot tubs and strolling the nice, clean, wide beach. Exercise equipment is on the 5th floor. Two computers are available for free, located on the Lobby floor. All kitchen appliances worked well. Plenty of beach/pool towels are provided in the unit. The location is in the Cherry Grove Beach, a residential area just up the beach from North Myrtle Beach. An IGA store is 3 blocks and Wal-Mart a mile away and Myrtle Beach is about a 30 minute drive. Gasoline prices were $3.04 (the lowest prices south of Washington, DC. Fantastic restaurants are many only a few miles away --- toward downtown and up northeast toward Little River. Whenever we’re coming east from I-95 (Florence) on US-501, we circumvent the awful traffic of Myrtle Beach proper by using Veteran’s Hwy 22 at the Knotty Branch exit. Then travel Carolina Bays Hwy 31 to Robert Edge Pky (which is Main Street into North Myrtle Beach once you cross US-17). If we’re heading southward from Raleigh or Richmond we use I-40 then use bypass I-140 to connect with US-17 to avoid Wilmington traffic. US-17 is then a straight shot to North Myrtle Beach. There were 2 elevators in the garage and 4 in the tower. They were the best functioning and most prompt we have experienced anywhere. We like coming to Myrtle Beach for dining out and the music theaters. This time we enjoyed an outstanding calamari appetizer and split an 18oz prime rib meal at Clark's Seafood and Chop House, an upscale restaurant at 720 Highway 17, in Little River. The prices were $$$, but well worth the cost. We also caught Happy Hour (4 – 8) at Flying Fish Market and Grill (at Barefoot Landing) 4744 Highway 17 S, in North Myrtle Beach. Their calamari appetizer was a real deal. The oysters on half-shell were delicious but small sized. We like their extensive menu. Happy Hour is on the lower level only, not up in the dining area. For us, the key area attraction is the beach. The resort is perfect for relaxing. We would stay at the Towers again, but never in a 1 bedroom. The Towers are not as fancy as many ---- but all the basics are covered. Compared to the Wyndham resorts with 8s and 9s, we rate this resort a 5.5. I'm glad we only gave up 84k Wyndham Vacation Points for the week. ________ RDB |
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Robert -
Robert, believe it or not this is a fairly new timeshare. You and I have the same thought. It was DARK!!!! I felt it was very masculine. When I am at the beach I like light and airy. I haven't eaten at any of the restaurants you mentioned. Did you go to any others I recommended or/and made it to Main St NMB??? HOTOS is very popular near where you were staying. shaggy -
For 84k Wyn points, we can't complain too much.
It appeared to be a made over hotel. I can't believe Wyndham would engineer such a building. This is the first I've heard of Hotos and we were only 3 blocks from there. Harold's wasn't open the couple of times when we looked. Duffy Street Seafood Shack we thought was dumpy when we walked in. Our first impression, we should have stuck with. Their special, fried oysters, wasn't our cup-a-tea. We did Crab Catcher's On The Waterfront, 4474 Water Front Ave, Little River, SC. My recommendation; don't bother trying to find the place. Not the best tasting or service. Beings as it’s next door to a casino ship dock, more than likely that's how they get away with the prices. We've been spoiled by Sea Captains House, T-Bonz, Flying Fish Market and the like. You would think with all being so close to the ocean there wouldn't be GOOD food at some places and NASTY at others. RobertOriginally posted by shaggy View PostRobertComment
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