dlangrock

Planning a trip to Hilton Head 7/10/15 - 7/17/15 and was looking to stay at the Omni Resort or the Marriott Grande ocean resort with my wife and 3 teenage boys (18, 15 &14) any help on which one you think is the better of the two or if you have some where else. Any tips on what to do there would be helpful. Bringing the golf clubs but not the greatest golfers, would prefer a par three if there are any.

Gretchen

So many more attractive places than Hilton Head for anything and everything you want, but you can't fault their PR.

dlangrock

What do you suggest?

Gretchen

Litchfield/Pawley's Island area.

DRJ

As a HHI resident for 33 years, I resent the depreciation we sometimes receive. That said, HHI is a town of about 40,000 (maybe 100,000 when Atlanta arrives for the summer).

Both your resort choices will be fine. You will have at least a dozen golf courses to chose from, a hundred or so restaurants and the beaches are wonderful.

I've been to Pawley's. Its cute.

SeaF

I stayed at the Marriott Grand Ocean. It was nice. I liked the fact that it faced the ocean, the building we were in, anyway. So it made for convenient walks on the beach every morning.

HappyTrvlr

We spent many Spring Breaks on HH with our kids and friends. It is a great destination for kids, lots to do, bike riding on the beach is fun.

jamie99

I stayed at the Marriott six years ago on a timeshare trade and really enjoyed it. I like the fact that Hilton Head is kind of low key, in fact a few times I would have to scout out places for dinner during the day, no neon, etc. They also have some good places for early bird dinners.

Brian_in_Charlotte

dlangrock, take that first response with a grain of salt. That poster is constantly bashing Hilton Head on this site even though I think she only visited one day a long time ago for a tennis tournament and was too hot.

If you're looking for a nice wide beach, lots of bike paths, many choices for good restaurants and some of the most beautiful tree-covered natural areas on any SE coast, then HH will suit you fine.

Sorry I can't help specifically with those 2 resorts as we say in houses, but I can tell you that the Marriott will have easier access to more restaurants/shops if that's important to you. But then the Omni is closer to Shelter Cove, which lots of people love. You can't really go wrong with either.

dlangrock

Thanks Brian, I was surprised with that other persons negative comment about HHI all I had ever heard were good things. Looks like it's going to be the Omni we have not been able to get a reservation at the Marriott Grande Ocean for the dates we picked.

Gretchen

Sorry Brian, that was NOT me or my experience. I have NO doubt that people LOVE HH. I find it a huge sterile housing development built on a beautiful site near the ocean. It is a long drive to get in past the ever present housing architecture.
I don't find it a pleasant beach experience for us--and since people tend to believe PR, sometimes need a dissenting opinion to at least think about other possibilities.

And just for giggles, take a look at this quote from above by the resident That said, HHI is a town of about 40,000 (maybe 100,000 when Atlanta arrives for the summer).
Oh, boy, yeah!!! LOL

BritishCaicos

Hilton Head is diabolical.

As I am well aware, there many aspects of life which many people adore but I find diabolical.

Edisto, Sullivans, Pawleys, Bull : some Sea Islands which are anything but diabolical.

sf7307

We've been to Hilton Head on vacation. I was not a fan of the hard-packed beach, but I suppose if you want to ride a bike on the beach, it has to be!

nlg

We go the HH every year and stay several weeks. We love it. The bike trails are great and also riding bikes on the beach is an experience you don't get everywhere. There are lots of nice restaurants: Sea Shack, Frankie Bones, Black Marlin, Bomboras.

barbrn

I've been to Hilton Head twice and loved it. Of course you can probably take what I say with a grain of salt as I have not been to other islands to compare it to.

The first time I went was for a week's conference on medical research. It was mainly geared towards doctors but my friend and I (nurses) were fortunate enough to garner an invite. We stayed at the Westin Resort and it was pure luxury. That probably influences much of my opinion on Hilton Head.

The second time I was paying and it was at one of the Marriott resorts. I am from the Midwest so any island on the ocean would be wonderful for me. We spent a lot of time on the beach, bike riding and walking and also drove to Savannah for a day.

DRJ, lucky you living there. I would love to wake up to the ocean close by. I hope you enjoy your trip diangrock.

hudsonguz

Britishcaicos, diabolical Wow, that is very rude of you to say that!

dlangrock

Thanks everyone. I am booked at the Omni as of now. Looking to rent bikes for the week if any one has someone I should rent from let me know, also, any suggestions on things to do and places to eat would be welcomed.

Gretchen

I just looked at the Omni site. Beautiful. Looks just like where we used to go yearly to a first class Mexican or Caribbean resort for medical meetings and we LOVED it.

for those of us who revere the "beach" memories we have from our families, and we have tried to give our families, this is why we suggest other places than Hilton Head. I know you didn't ask, but I thought I would sort of 'splain where we're comin' from since people seem to not understand.
We prefer beaches that don't have 14 story towers lining the beach, but you can look over a dune (as we do at Litchfield) and see people walking on the beach in front of you (you still can't walk ON the dune).

There is so much more, but it is just a difference in what "the beach" means to you. Have at it. But try an "old fashioned Carolina beach" some time. They are not the same as even when we took our kids, let alone when DH went, but they sure are fun and less complicated.

SeaF

I went off-season (early November). I think if you live somewhere where you never see water you would like it. Otherwise, I found it surprisingly dull. Lots of old folk about.

Everything was beige, taupe and brown to blend in with the scenery. It all looked the same to me, I could never tell if I was a mile or 5 miles from the condo resort, as it all looked alike.

I had planned to rent a bicycle, but never did for fear I would not find my way back!

It's nice place to visit once or twice, but some people go every year--that I would not do. But that's me, others apparently can't get enough.

starrs

Totally agree with SeaF. Great description of the sameness of HHI. For me, it's like a gated community transported to a coastal island. All the draw of being on a coastal island is lost. So monotonous.

If you list a dozen coastal islands to visit, HHI would be #12 on my list. But it's #1 for others, so different strokes and all that.

I've gone over a dozen times because there have been a lot of work events - usually at the Marriott. I have nothing bad to say about the Marriott and have to admit I've enjoyed staying in an oceanfront suite paid by someone else.

You'll have sand. You'll have ocean. You'll have a good time. It may be the perfect beach vacation for you. Many of us would rather have sand and ocean along with a "beachy" or "island" vibe.