Peace and quiet in T and C hotel advice: Sands, OC? etc January
Dec 28th, 2012, 09:59 AM
#1
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Peace and quiet in T and C hotel advice: Sands, OC? etc January
My adult daughter and I are booked for 6 nights at the Sands, a one bedroom, hoping the sofa bed is ok 
We want the quietest of the lot in terms of the other guests and vib, hope to find places to read or relax without lots of loud kids and adults. We do want to have access to beach equipment and be able to walk to restaurants.
I also wish to pay $400 a night or less.
THanks!
We want the quietest of the lot in terms of the other guests and vib, hope to find places to read or relax without lots of loud kids and adults. We do want to have access to beach equipment and be able to walk to restaurants.
I also wish to pay $400 a night or less.
THanks!
Dec 28th, 2012, 10:39 AM
#2
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The Sands is great...there are lots of small areas around the free form pool with just 2 chairs all by themselves PLUS the beach is huge there and you can pull chairs away from others for privacy. Easy walk West to Bay Bistro, Somerset & Regent Palms resorts for their restaurants and just beyond the R. Palms is Mango Reef at The Alexandria. Also--you can walk the road East to many others.
Dec 28th, 2012, 12:23 PM
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Maybe rent for a couple of days ( Grace Bay Car Rentals is great ) then check out Chalk Sound, Taylor Bay ...drive to Coco Bistro for dinner--one of the best on island. Drive to DaConch Shack for lunch. Also if you get the car when you arrive --stock up at the Grocery store-snacks, etc . They will bring the car to the resort or meet you at the airport to save cab fare. Cabs charge per person, btw
Dec 28th, 2012, 04:24 PM
#7
Not to disagree, because I think Sands is an awesome resort, but you're going peak season, and Sands is very kid friendly! Ocean Club is just as kid friendly.
For a tiny bit over budget, (1 bedroom 1099 sq ft, living room full kitchen with 5th night free) you could stay at the luxurious but quiet West Bay Club. For less you could stay in their studio room. Very luxurious for the money, great beds! On the quiet end of Grace Bay Beach, perfect for what you are looking for.
You do need a car on that end, but sounds like you were considering one anyway. It's a 5-10 minute drive to everything. I recommend cars anyway, as everything is in clumps and eventually you need transportation.
Rates also include breakfast, which would cost the difference anyway.
Don't know the rates, but Le Vele might work for you too.
There are other quiet properties but they are above your budget.
For a tiny bit over budget, (1 bedroom 1099 sq ft, living room full kitchen with 5th night free) you could stay at the luxurious but quiet West Bay Club. For less you could stay in their studio room. Very luxurious for the money, great beds! On the quiet end of Grace Bay Beach, perfect for what you are looking for.
You do need a car on that end, but sounds like you were considering one anyway. It's a 5-10 minute drive to everything. I recommend cars anyway, as everything is in clumps and eventually you need transportation.
Rates also include breakfast, which would cost the difference anyway.
Don't know the rates, but Le Vele might work for you too.
There are other quiet properties but they are above your budget.
Dec 28th, 2012, 06:38 PM
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Blamona, that is a great suggestion except I need two separate beds so their studio does not work.
My choices seem to be: $2500 for a 1 bedroom botanical at Sands or same at Ocean Club west, $1880 for twin standard view at Ocean club, or two twins in a small room at Windsong. I may be able to get a twin beds at royal west indes for $1700.
Cannot decide
Thanks.
My choices seem to be: $2500 for a 1 bedroom botanical at Sands or same at Ocean Club west, $1880 for twin standard view at Ocean club, or two twins in a small room at Windsong. I may be able to get a twin beds at royal west indes for $1700.
Cannot decide
Thanks.
Dec 28th, 2012, 07:01 PM
#9
Of those choices, Windsong comes closest to what you seek. Also very luxurious, and quiet. Closer to WBC, so again, I recommend a car.
One thing to keep in mind, is a particular rooms type beds aren't usually guaranteed, I'm surprised they will guarantee that at Sands. Most units are 1 king size bed.
I've known others wanting certain type beds, requesting them and not getting them. Are they offering that to you?
Alexandra also has some units with 2 twin beds.
2 separate beds will be twin size.
Sibonne has 2 full size beds in many of the rooms, as does Ports of Call Resort (the old Comfort Suites). Less kids at these, but downgrade in resorts, more budget travelers.
For $1950, you could rent Grace Bay Townhomes. They are a block from the beach, 2 story, 2 bedroom units quite luxurious, granite counters, travertine tile floors, flat plasma TVs. Walkable to quite a bit, nice and quiet.
Windsong did a unit with twin beds, but I think it's part of a 2 bedroom. Doesn't hurt to ask though.
One thing to keep in mind, is a particular rooms type beds aren't usually guaranteed, I'm surprised they will guarantee that at Sands. Most units are 1 king size bed.
I've known others wanting certain type beds, requesting them and not getting them. Are they offering that to you?
Alexandra also has some units with 2 twin beds.
2 separate beds will be twin size.
Sibonne has 2 full size beds in many of the rooms, as does Ports of Call Resort (the old Comfort Suites). Less kids at these, but downgrade in resorts, more budget travelers.
For $1950, you could rent Grace Bay Townhomes. They are a block from the beach, 2 story, 2 bedroom units quite luxurious, granite counters, travertine tile floors, flat plasma TVs. Walkable to quite a bit, nice and quiet.
Windsong did a unit with twin beds, but I think it's part of a 2 bedroom. Doesn't hurt to ask though.
Dec 29th, 2012, 07:10 AM
#14
I'll jump in here with our favorite, it's pluses and minuses.
We love Ocean Club West. Much better location for walking than Ocean Club East or Royal West Indies. Yes, it is a bit older but the layout of the grounds. restaurant and pool is perfect for us.
MINUSES
The one thing I would watch if you are renting through the resort itself is the location of the room (not the private owned units for rent on vrbo.com) For 3 years we rented privately and had very good location and views from our balcony. The one year we rented through the resort itself we had a room with a street light right outside our window and a noisy repair building making noise early in the morning. If you choose a unit overlooking the pool you can avoid that mistake. We did complain but they wouldn't change us to a different room.
PLUSES
That said, it is our only complaint about the resort. The low rise buildings are easy to get in and out---no walking through a big lobby to get to the beach. The wide beach is outstanding with always enough lounge chairs and umbrellas for all. The restaurant and rest rooms are right on the beach for very easy access. The food is good and reasonable by island standards. You can walk to the grocery store (about 5 min.) and back if you don't have a lot of heavy things, otherwise take a cab back. They did have a shuttle to the store but only at certain times. MDH likes to golf(10 min. away by free resort shuttle) in the morning and I find this resort very easy for me to be alone on the beach for a few hours. The pool is a river style with many private corners and an island with grills if you wish to use them.
The resort is between the luxury of "Grace Bay Club" and "7 Stars" for all the high end places you could want. We would go there for cocktails many evenings. You can walk to many restaurants. We could walk to "Coco Bistro" and "Coyaba" (2 of the best.) "Bay Bistro" is another favorite but you need a car or cab.
The cabs are very expensive so on our 4th trip we rented a car at a very reasonable price and got around a bit more. Lunch at The "Conch Shack" was great, Turtle Bay has some good restaurants for dinner, and Chalk Sound is a must for lunch--gorgeous.
If you're interested, here's my last trip report from March,2012. You will find the previous years reports if you click on my name and look under my trip reports.
http://www.fodors.com/community/cari...-grace-bay.cfm
I know that most posters reccommend the high end, beautiful, luxury resorts on Grace Bay. Can we afford to stay there? YES, but we prefer they layout of Ocean Club West. If you insist on high end luxury choose another place, but if you want a great beach location (with a wider beach area than a lot of other places) lovely pool and grounds, convenient shops and restaurants, check out Ocean Club West. The furnishings are older, but acceptable, in the resort owned rooms. The private units are updated to a higher standard.
For this March, 2013 we will head back to Ocean Club West for our 5th time. After 20+ islands, this is the place for us.
We love Ocean Club West. Much better location for walking than Ocean Club East or Royal West Indies. Yes, it is a bit older but the layout of the grounds. restaurant and pool is perfect for us.
MINUSES
The one thing I would watch if you are renting through the resort itself is the location of the room (not the private owned units for rent on vrbo.com) For 3 years we rented privately and had very good location and views from our balcony. The one year we rented through the resort itself we had a room with a street light right outside our window and a noisy repair building making noise early in the morning. If you choose a unit overlooking the pool you can avoid that mistake. We did complain but they wouldn't change us to a different room.
PLUSES
That said, it is our only complaint about the resort. The low rise buildings are easy to get in and out---no walking through a big lobby to get to the beach. The wide beach is outstanding with always enough lounge chairs and umbrellas for all. The restaurant and rest rooms are right on the beach for very easy access. The food is good and reasonable by island standards. You can walk to the grocery store (about 5 min.) and back if you don't have a lot of heavy things, otherwise take a cab back. They did have a shuttle to the store but only at certain times. MDH likes to golf(10 min. away by free resort shuttle) in the morning and I find this resort very easy for me to be alone on the beach for a few hours. The pool is a river style with many private corners and an island with grills if you wish to use them.
The resort is between the luxury of "Grace Bay Club" and "7 Stars" for all the high end places you could want. We would go there for cocktails many evenings. You can walk to many restaurants. We could walk to "Coco Bistro" and "Coyaba" (2 of the best.) "Bay Bistro" is another favorite but you need a car or cab.
The cabs are very expensive so on our 4th trip we rented a car at a very reasonable price and got around a bit more. Lunch at The "Conch Shack" was great, Turtle Bay has some good restaurants for dinner, and Chalk Sound is a must for lunch--gorgeous.
If you're interested, here's my last trip report from March,2012. You will find the previous years reports if you click on my name and look under my trip reports.
http://www.fodors.com/community/cari...-grace-bay.cfm
I know that most posters reccommend the high end, beautiful, luxury resorts on Grace Bay. Can we afford to stay there? YES, but we prefer they layout of Ocean Club West. If you insist on high end luxury choose another place, but if you want a great beach location (with a wider beach area than a lot of other places) lovely pool and grounds, convenient shops and restaurants, check out Ocean Club West. The furnishings are older, but acceptable, in the resort owned rooms. The private units are updated to a higher standard.
For this March, 2013 we will head back to Ocean Club West for our 5th time. After 20+ islands, this is the place for us.
Dec 29th, 2012, 07:16 AM
#16
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I love West Bay Club, and IF you can swing it, I think it ticks all the boxes on your list and more. If not, a word of caution about Windsong. I reviewed some hotels on the island around Thanksgiving, and the lowest category rooms at Windsong are some of the smallest of any I'd seen, plus had almost no view. The resort itself is gorgeous in a great location, although the beach is quite narrow. Good luck w/ your choice!
Dec 29th, 2012, 07:24 AM
#17
Hello, again, unless you find a unit on VRBO, (which RWI and OC have, Sands does not) there will be no guarantee on the bed configuration. AND if you get the wrong beds chances are they may not change it for you.
Other than that, all 3 are lovely properties and fairly equal in pros vs cons.
Sands is the nicest, but will have kids
RWI is a little more adult and walking distance to everything, but right next to Club Med which can get loud
OC is well maintained and clean but furniture could use an upgrade
Other than that, all 3 are lovely properties and fairly equal in pros vs cons.
Sands is the nicest, but will have kids
RWI is a little more adult and walking distance to everything, but right next to Club Med which can get loud
OC is well maintained and clean but furniture could use an upgrade
