blamona and other TCI people
 

Please read my question on the Regent Palms thread. We love TCI and would like to return in 2011 but need something new.

Check out our favorite right next door...The Somerset www.thesomerset.com

I know you're a big fan of Ocean Clubs, but can you tell me more?
Increase budget?
Rent a car?
Love to snorkel?
Do you ever explore?
What do you usually do, where do you usually eat when there?

I think OCs are well maintained and good for the money, but starting to look dated and the bathrooms are terrible--you can get so much more for your money these days with sleeker shinier resorts. Can't blame you for wanting something new-it will make it feel like a new vacation.

Looked at The Sommerset site and it does look very luxurious but we had dinner at O'Soleil and were treated badly so I doubt if MDH would consider it.

We've been paying around $350-$400 at OCW for a jr. suite and less for a studio. We would go up to 5-ish if we felt it was special. Could we pay 7 or 8? Yes, but don't feel it's necessary unless for a larger unit to bring the grandkids along. When we rented privately through VRBO, the units were much better than through the hotel itself(in decor, price, & location of room). Last year we rented directly through the OCW hotel at the last minute and the location & condition of the room was terrible.

What we like:

The location to walk to so many restaurants(taxis are outrageous) and the grocery store. We love Coco Bistro,Coyaba(at least twice each), Mango Reef, Grace Bay Club, Calico Jacks & Danny Bouys(for real casual)Tiki Hut, I liked the place at the Ganesvoort, but MDH hated it.

The low rise(no walking through a huge lobby to the beach). And that fantastic beach.

Casual 3 meal restaurant right on the beach with easy access to bar & restrooms.

Enough umbrellas so no early morning run to snag one.

Free shuttle to golf course and very easy for me to beach it alone while MDH is gone in the morning.

We did explore one year with another couple and this year maybe we will get a car---we always talk about it, and then it's all so convenient at OCW that we don't do it. We'd like to get to Chalk Sound, etc. We were avid snorkelers for years, but after an incident in Barbados have put that aside.

While there we've gone in and looked at Grace Bay Club,Seven Stars & Regency(nice, but a bit stuffy), Sands(Hemingways was nice but we didn't like the beach or the location), RWI & Tuscany(too far away).

Now that I write this, it does sound like OCW is perfect for us if we book in time to get a good place from a private owner. We just thought maybe we could change it up a bit. We are happy to just relax on the beach and have some good meals & easy golf for MDH.

Any suggestions would be welcome.Even thought it doesn'tsound like it, we are open to change.

As far as another island goes, we've been to most and the only one that compares is Anguilla, but that is too hard to get to.

You really need a car if your going to "upgrade", are these upgraded properties worth the price? I think so.

Villa Renaissance and Regent Grand sound like they might work for you. Same management as the golf course, and to my knowledge, the only ones that offer transportation to it. It's closer to the other edge of the "hub" by Salt Mills and Regent village. (I don't know what you mean by Regency-maybe Regent Palms?) Both properties are much nicer than Ocean Clubs, and you can find some units directly on vrbo.com/ Neither have a restaurant, but you're close by to Vix, Vino Tempo, Saltmills Cafe, Thai orchid, Yoshi, Grace's Cottage. However, I think you still need a car to get to CoCo Bistro, etc. and lately I personally wouldn't be walking around in the dark (including from Ocean Club.) Not that anything might happen to you, but times are changing.

I don't know your incident at Barbados snorkeling, but I can tell you Coral Gardens is terrific for beginners. There is soft sand leading up to the main corals, at waist deep water, you decide if you want to swim around where it gets deep.

As for transportation, they just recently passed a law to not allow resorts to transport-must be car rental or taxi. I don't know how well it's enforced, but something to consider to get a car rental.

Personally, I get from your post that you'll regret not staying at OC--sounds like a creature of habit, nothing wrong with that. My only problem for me personally is that there are so many nicer properties for the money, for example the excellent West Bay Club, but you do have to have a car if staying there. RWI is nicer than OC, and still walkable to some of your requirements.

Alexandra is the same stretch of beach that Sands is on, so you may not like that, even though it's a nicer property. RWI is nicer than OC too, but you'll need transportation.


you could consider splitting your trip up--"baby steps." You can see how nice a property such as West Bay Club or Villa Renaissanse truly is, but then end with your comfortable Ocean Club.

PS The Somerset is worth every penny.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response.

I don't know where I came up with Regency, but in looking at the map, it was The Regent Grand where we visited some new friends from the plane.

I'm starting to check on VRBO and take a better look at some different properties. West Bay Club looks interesting.

As far as snorkeling, we have done that for years, we'd jump off a boat anywhere, then in Barbados MDH and I were chasing some turtles about 100 yds. out when he had a heart incident. Somehow I got him to shore and got some help. He was in the hospital 2 days in Barbados(and we have nothing but good things to say about his treatment). When we got home he had 4 by passes. That was 4 yrs. ago and he is absolutely fine now, but we are both leery of swimming far out, and because of our vast experience with "good" snorkeling, we just don't have any interest in close to shore snorkeling. This is probably way too much info, but I do tend yo go on.

We aren't against renting a car or driving on the left(we just returned from Ireland and drove all over), so that is a good possibility.

BTW, how is that restaurant Vix? We walked by it and thought it looked nice. Also,anything go in where Iguana Steak House was before? I know it didn't get all that great reviews, but we liked it.

Again, I do appreciate your taking the time to help. You seem to be the one to go to for TCI questions. Once the snow starts flying in Wisconsin, we'll get the "beach bug".