Marriott's Oceanwatch At Grande Dunes

“Sun and Sand - What's Not To Like...”

The villas are spacious and offer two comfortable bedrooms, making them great for relaxing or spreading out. There’s no shortage of things to do—activities run daily, and we especially enjoyed the water aerobics. The sunrises and ocean views are absolutely beautiful. Be sure to try the "Murder Mys… more

The villas are spacious and offer two comfortable bedrooms, making them great for relaxing or spreading out. There’s no shortage of things to do—activities run daily, and we especially enjoyed the water aerobics. The sunrises and ocean views are absolutely beautiful. Be sure to try the "Murder Mystery Dinner." It was a blast, and it’s an easy way to meet other guests. The unit is also conveniently close to shopping, which made quick trips super easy. One thing to keep in mind: the kitchens are quite small.

less

“Great beach resort”

Best beach resort closest to Charlotte. Getting a bit worn around the edges. Could use some updating. Always wonderful service, particularly Ani at lunch.

“No Consideration for Accessibility Needs”

While we have been vacationing at the Marriott OceanWatch Villas for over 10 years, this was by far the most disappointing experience. The resort, and in fact all Marriott Resorts -according to the management team-, are no longer setup in the most accessible manner. Prior to check in, I spoke to a … more

While we have been vacationing at the Marriott OceanWatch Villas for over 10 years, this was by far the most disappointing experience. The resort, and in fact all Marriott Resorts -according to the management team-, are no longer setup in the most accessible manner. Prior to check in, I spoke to a representative on the phone to confirm that we had an oceanfront accessible villa with a roll-in shower plus bench. She assured me that we would receive the accommodation. So, at check-in, I asked the assistant manager who checked me in if the villa had a roll-in shower plus bench. He said yes. When I transported my mother (who requires a shower benches or chairs) upstairs and did a walk through of the villa, the shower was a roll-in; however, it did not have a bench. When I returned to the front desk, and informed the same assistant manager, he offered an apology and stated he was not aware that they had removed the benches from the villas in the Starfish building. As an assistant manager or manager, he should be fully aware of this type of change, particularly when it impacts the safety and comfort of patrons. He went on to state, which was confirmed by another manager that I spoke to, that Marriott’s Corporate Office decided to remove all durable accessible medical equipment from their villas for liability purposes. Moreover, they do not intend to replace any of the accessible medical equipment, such as the shower benches or chairs. The assistant manager gave me a list of places that I could rent or purchase a shower bench from for our stay. When I shared with him that this was unacceptable, particularly because they NEVER informed me prior to my visit of the need to provide my own shower bench for my mother. If I knew this information in advance, I could have brought one of her portable benches from home. Now we have an added expense and major inconvenience, particularly given we checked in at 8:00pm on a Sunday and every medical store was closed. Additionally, only one of the four places on the list rents/sales shower chairs. I learned this after calling, as the staff was not even aware of this information. While I love this resort based on proximity to the beach, cleanliness, and activities/amenities, it does not provide reasonable accommodations or take into consideration how those who require accommodations are impacted by structural, operational, or seemingly legal issues. I asked the assistant manager did their corporate office consult anyone versed in ADA, given providing a shower bench or chair is a standard reasonable accommodation and requirement under ADA. If you remove the equipment, then a viable alternative must be provided. Legally, they are out of compliance. Moreover, in the main parking lot, they have 4 handicap parking spaces but nearly 20 spaces for people who are checking in. Make that make sense.

less