Please see original DanceTraveler posting from 1/27/06. You two seem to be the experts, and I%26#39;d really appreciate your feedback! (all responses are welcome!) As I continue my research, I%26#39;m starting to get a better handle on the layout of things, I found a map that shows the S.Ocean streets and the N. Ocean Streets and now know that North Myrtle Beach isn%26#39;t the same as the north part of MB. Also, I%26#39;ve read some comments that seem to indicate that the north part of MB is nicer than the south part?? (one reviewer called the south part the ghetto part of the beach??) What I don%26#39;t understand is how does the hampton Inn %26amp; Suites get such great reviews and #1 ranking if it%26#39;s not in a nice area? Aside from the Marriott at Grand DUnes, what is the nicest, newest hotel on the north side of Ocean Blvd? (Marriott has only regular rooms for $319--a bit steep for no kitchen facilites or LR area. WE%26#39;re looking for something as nice or nicer than the Hampton Inn %26amp; Suites at 1803 S. OCean Blvd--where we have a king suite w/ LR/kit/free breakfast %26amp; parking for $260/night.) MANY THANKS!!!
Dear MBConcierge and Beachlady...seeking your wisdom...and...
First off, thanks for the kind comments! Far from the expert..and yes, this area can be confusing! Thats an understatement.
Wow...nicest and newest hotel on the north end of OB..hmmmm. A number of new places are in the process, not sure on time line, but some are the Carribean Resort at 30th Ave N, The Sea Island Resort at approx 60th Ave N, the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes off of 82nd Ave N and the waterway...just to name a few. I know there are others, one right about 50th ave N that is beautiful, but cant think of the name :) The Mariott at Grande Dunes is really awesome..but that is a bit steep. I know the Marina Inn will open July 1st with both regular hotel rooms (but they are far from regular!) and ';villas'; which are anywhere from 1 to 4 bedroom condos...and they face the waterway and the golf course. I did post a reply on your other post, and I apologize that I dont remember when you are coming down...let me know if I can help with anything else!
Dear MBConcierge and Beachlady...seeking your wisdom...and...
I%26#39;ll add South Wind to the above list. www.thesouthwind.com.
Very, very nice. I believe its around 53th Ave. N. Great,convenient location. Also Maison-sur-Mer is very nice, but its just a little further north than what you want. Now of course this and the other hotels are pricy and especially during the July 4th week.
As far as the ';ghetto'; part of MB, I just think that the closer you are to the Pavillion area, the more crowded, busy and louder the streets become. I have never really seen any ';ghetto'; parts myself.
Dear MBConcierge:
Thanks so much for both of your responses. One decision is taken care of--we%26#39;ve definitely decided to stay oceanfront! The Hampton OF at 1803 S. looks the nicest to me for newer, more deluxe suite accommodations. (Other than the Marriott Grand Dunes which doesn%26#39;t have a suite available and is further north than we won%26#39;t to be anyway.) We do have a reservation at the Hampton, but others in my daughter%26#39;s dance group are staying at the Dayton House at 23 N(b/c suites are about $50/night cheaper and it%26#39;s closer to the convention center). The pool and beach area there look very nice, but from the photos online, the rooms and common areas don%26#39;t seem nearly as nice as the Hampton. Plus the Hampton offers the free breakfast and free internet. I was hoping to find something like the Hampton on north Ocean Blvd. from about 20 N to 25 N to be near her friends and a little closer to the convention center. Nothing there seems to be as nice and new as the Hampton, though.
I did have one concern about the neighborhood where the Hampton is located, as one reviewer made a very negative remark about the south side of OB. Is the 18 S area nice, just OK or of some concern?? Also, one reviewer mentioned that there will be construction at the Hampton when we%26#39;re going to be there (first week July)--do you know what side of the bldg the construction is closest to? Since we would have a lower floor OF corner unit there, I would want to request the south corner of the bldg, unless that%26#39;s where the construction will be.
Also, can you tell me a little about what type of stores/restaurants are right around both the Hampton at 18 S and the Dayton House at 23 N? (ie. convenience stores, supermarkets, coffee shops, diners, restaurants, gift shops, bike rentals, etc?)
Once again, many thanks for your thoughtful replies!
Thanks Beachlady...I thought it was ';wind..something';! ha! Terrible, I walk by it everyday..and couldn%26#39;t remember the name.
I dont really think there is a ';ghetto'; part of MB, just some areas are in older parts that others, and some owners will put the money back into their properties and others...well, they dont. I think the reason the Hampton gets rave reviews is that they do care about their property. I think all the Hamptons here at the beach are kept up nice. And the staff...well, when you have great staff, great service and a nice property..you get great reviews!
DanceTraveler - Now a question for you:
When exactly is the competition and can the general public come? We are coming to MB either the July 4 week, or the week before and my daughter would LOVE to see this. I%26#39;ve heard all about it from her dancing school and seen pictures in dance magazines. She has been taking dancing for 8 years now (she is 11).
Thanks.
MBConcierge -- Do you walk by the Sea Island Resort on your walks(it%26#39;s actually Sea Island on the Beach now)? They%26#39;ve launched their new website, but it doesn%26#39;t really show much yet (they won%26#39;t be opening until May 1). I was wondering what that area is like and how the property looks, including the pool complex. Are you familiar with it or know anything about it?
Thanks so much.
Hello again! And thanks to both of you for all the info. I just checked out the Southwinds and it is beautiful!! I wish it were right b/t 20-25 N. That would be the absolute perfect solution! ;-) Even at 53 N it%26#39;s something to consider. Would it be easier or about the same to get to the convention center from 53 N compared to 18 S. And any other thoughts regarding the Hampton 18 S vs. Southwinds 53N or Dayton 23N? THANKS AGAIN!
PS: The competition is the American Dance Championships (hosted by Showstoppers) and it will be at the convention center from July 2-8. Most, if not all, of the competitive events are open to the public and free admission. Sometimes the evening events and the final ';dance off'; championships have ticket requirements, but all the day competition events are free admission. My daughter is 12 and is currently the Junior Grand National Champion with Dance Masters of America--that comp. was at the Opryland convention center (nashville)this past summer when she was 11. It%26#39;s been an exciting 5 years of dance travel--at 10 she was 2nd in New York (Petite Miss Dance of America) (Marriott MArquis Times Square); at 9 she won the Petite National title in Virginia Beach with StarQuest and was 1st in age 7-9 with DMA in Las Vegas (Mirage); at 8 she won the Small Fry National Title in New York (Grand Hyatt); and at 7 she won 2nd in the age 7-9 DMA category in Orlando (Disney%26#39;s Coronado). Your should bring your daughter over early in the week and pick up a schedule of events, then you can come to see whichever events she%26#39;d be most interested in. I%26#39;m sure she%26#39;d enjoy it. There are usually plenty of vendors selling dance wear and accesories at good prices, as well.
You won%26#39;t be disappointed at the Hampton Inn. It%26#39;s been almost a couple of years since we were there, but the current reviews reflect our experience. It%26#39;s clean and well-kept and the rooms are very comfortable. The breakfast is great with many, many choices, and usually at least one hot item (the French toast sticks are really good). The lobby area and dining area are nicely decorated and very comfortable for reading, lounging or playing games/cards at night. We have reservations there for June, but I%26#39;m also considering the Sea Island Inn on the Beach or The Southwind and may switch to try something new. If you stay at the Hampton Inn, request the south side as the construction will be to the north.
The area around Sea Island is great. It is somewhat of a residential area, but alot of walking trails, easy access to grocery stores, and really neat restaurants (non-chain) and of course ICE CREAM! The beach there is one of the widest in the area. Sea Island set a bit by itself, but there is another group of hotels to the north (this is where the Ocean Reef and Long Bay are located as well as some great ocean front snacks!) and then to the south is where the Southwinds, Cherry Tree and a few other properties are..again with a few ocean front snack spots. The beach there does have lifeguards on duty, and you can rent chairs, umbrellas etc...not sure yet of the pool complex. Cant see that it will be much more than a pool (I dont remember them having much of a pool complex prior to remodeling either) The building itself is really well thought out. The balconies are nice! I love a great balcony :)
As far as for DanceTraveler, it would be approx the same distance from the 53rd N area or the 18 S area...just depends on where you want to be along the beach. Guess I tend to stay more north end, since that%26#39;s where I%26#39;m at, but like I said, the Hampton OF is a great property...and is really nice, the Dayton House is nice, not quite as nice as the Hampton, but would be a closer option to the convention center....the bus service does run the full length of Ocean Blvd, so that could help with transport, and some of the dance comps do offer their own type of transport system, so you may want to check with them. I know rooms at that time of year really book up fast! And usually have some type of minimum stay attached. Hope this helps! I know the competitions I have been to there are great! Its amazing how much effort goes into the competition! Even down to the length of the ribbon in the girls hair! Wow! I worked at what was the Radisson at the convention center and loved when the dancers would come in! Talk about active! Was great to see kids into something healthy!
Hi MB! Congrats on your ';expert'; designation! I haven%26#39;t been on the forum for about a week, and now I see many others are posting directly to you, aswell...guess I started a trend! :-)
ANyway, after feeling content with our reservations at the Hampton on 18 S, we found out this past weekend (while at another dacne competition in Reston, VA--the Hyatt Regency complex there is very nice!)that the families of my daughter%26#39;s closest friends are staying at the Forest Dunes. There are also some families staying at the Dayton House. Since FOrest Dunes is at 55N, I hurried to check availability at Southwinds, but they have no 1 or 2 BR units left for the first week in July. So back to the drawing board to see if there was something else temtping enough to steer us away from the Hampton to get a bit closer to friends at 55N (Forest Dunes). Then I reread some of our earlier discussions, and saw your mention of the Sea Island Inn at 60N. It%26#39;s set to reopen on May 1st, and they do have availability. Some questions for you about the property: will there still be construction disturbance in July? does it really look as nice as the online photos? they don%26#39;t show the pool facilities...have they been updated also? (they do say there%26#39;s a lazy river) any poolside bar? you mentioned that it%26#39;s a bit by itself...is there anything within walking distance? any little stores or eateries? what would the walk to forest dunes be like? since this is a bit further from the convention center, is the trip made any more convenient by coming in from the north side and by-passing some of the busier middle strand traffic? Anything else you can think of?? ANy request for particular locations within the bldg we should make? Overall, what do you think when comparing the Sea Island Inn to the Hampton, considering our location issues and desire for a more upscale atmosphere and accomodations?
MANY THANKS, and CONGRATS AGAIN!!!!
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