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any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
#77238
12/03/2015 02:07 PM
12/03/2015 02:07 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 851 Harriston
megamania
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Hello there, it's that time of year again.Got an exchange thru RCI to a 2 bedroom at Belair. Have never stayed there? Any comments..how suitable for 2 couples? Possible a 5th person to use pullout sofa? Time frame is Jan 2 for a week
Randy and Meg Young
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: megamania]
#77239
12/03/2015 02:35 PM
12/03/2015 02:35 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Haven't visited there recently, but the second bedroom is VERY small.. Barely big enough for the bed to fit. You will need to have a discussion with the other couple about who gets the small bedroom. Not sure on the couch, as haven't visited there lately.
Carol Hill
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#77240
12/03/2015 02:45 PM
12/03/2015 02:45 PM
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megamania
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Thanks Carol,,,if you had your choice,,,between Belair and Divi ...which would you choose? I have never driven down to either of them, But if my hunches are correct,,they are not very close to La Vista where we stayed this past January...like not walkable is what I mean?
Randy and Meg Young
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: megamania]
#77241
12/03/2015 02:52 PM
12/03/2015 02:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I'm sorry, I have never been inside any of the units at Divi, so I cannot really advise you with regard to them. Frankly, I would not want to stay at either one of them, because neither is close to where I want to be, but that is just me. No, no WAY you could walk to LaVista from there. Divi is very close to P'burg and Belair is just a bit further, both are VERY far from Simpson Bay, in the walking sense.
Carol Hill
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#77242
12/03/2015 03:15 PM
12/03/2015 03:15 PM
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megamania
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thanks Carol,,,I assumed it was too far. I do like the Royal Palm for location. Stayed there back in 2010 or 2011?? loved it,,,but no exchanges into there yet. With the u.s. dollar vs Canadian dollar right now,,I have to use my exchange this year,,to pay for a place outright would just be too much right now. I do appreciate your comments, maybe someone else will share their opinion if they have been there recently. We always rent a car,so maybe will just have to not worry too much about actual location. The pics do like nice of the beach and view......will see??
Randy and Meg Young
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: megamania]
#77243
12/03/2015 03:24 PM
12/03/2015 03:24 PM
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Posts: 17,763 Ohio
ruralcarrier
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I stayed at Divi a long time ago and would still pick it over Belair IF you get a decent option on a room. There does not seem to be many complaints about Divi. You might message "jazzgal" as she spends her time at Divi.
Like Carol, other places would be my first choice but between the two you mentioned it would be Divi. We had a 1 bedroom there the time we stayed and it was huge.
J.D.
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: megamania]
#77247
12/03/2015 05:28 PM
12/03/2015 05:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Belair does have a very nice view from the balcony and living room, as all rooms are full ocean view, but it would be difficult for two couples. I actually don't remember whether there is only one bathroom there, as I only visited there, didn't stay.
Carol Hill
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#77248
12/03/2015 05:31 PM
12/03/2015 05:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I do seem to remember Divi has some kind of a 'resort fee' now, in addition to timeshare tax. Don't remember how much it is. And it is possible that Belair has one too, I don't know.
Carol Hill
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: Tom]
#77251
12/03/2015 06:53 PM
12/03/2015 06:53 PM
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megamania
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Exactly what I was looking for,,,someone with a lot of experience or who stays there often. I have some decisions to make...the only drawback so far for me,,,is the distance to places like Maho,,,Pineapple Petes, toppers, etc for night time,,,because it's nice to be able to walk if you happen to have had some drinks during the day.....I now know the location of Divi and Belair are too far for walking to those places. I have only been to sxm approx 5 times and each time I forget to look up these two resorts,,,this time I will. Decisions, decisions. Thanks you all for your comments, It's nice to have friends like you guys!!
Randy and Meg Young
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: RonDon]
#77253
12/03/2015 07:14 PM
12/03/2015 07:14 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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When was the last time you stayed at Divi? I understand that resort fee was pretty new, as of 2015, perhaps.
Carol Hill
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: Tom]
#77254
12/03/2015 07:17 PM
12/03/2015 07:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Carol_Hill
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Tom--I know, we all love the place we stay at the most, otherwise we wouldn't stay there! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" /> You DO have to admit though that the second bedroom at Belair is SMALL, and definitely not equal to the other one, so you need to make sure that the couple in the second bedroom is good with it..
Carol Hill
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#77256
12/03/2015 08:56 PM
12/03/2015 08:56 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Not sure that Royal Palm was ever part of the equation, as the OP was talking only about what they could get on an exchange, as they said they couldn't afford to just book it outright. The OP was unable to get RP or other places in Simpson Bay on an exchange, from what I gather.
Carol Hill
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#77259
12/03/2015 10:03 PM
12/03/2015 10:03 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,397 Hershey, Pennsylvania
Tom
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Carol, Second BR @ Belair is small, I would not suggest that it is not but some information on this thread was not accurate and we all need to make sure advice we offer is correct before we make recommendations. In fairness, Divi is larger (hundreds of units), newer, and as expected, would offer some advantages. Belair is smaller (70 units), older and more private and offers some advantages.
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#77261
12/03/2015 10:17 PM
12/03/2015 10:17 PM
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megamania
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Carol you are correct...so far the only exchange offered was a place in nettle bay,,which we were not interested in and just yesterday an exchange came thru for Belair Beach. However, I understand that most maintenance fees are paid around this time of year, so I may wait it out to see if anything else comes up. The first week in January was good for us, but we could chance a different week. I had mentioned the Royal Palm as we had stayed there before and I really liked the location. La Vista Beach was good as well, we stayed there last year. Fingers crossed,,,,for an exchange....I have till midnight tomorrow night to accept or pass on the Belair.
Randy and Meg Young
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: RonDon]
#77262
12/03/2015 10:54 PM
12/03/2015 10:54 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,961 Portland, OR
jazzgal
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RonDon said: As to Divi having a resort fee as Carol said, I'm not sure what that would be---maybe it's something charged to RCI exchanges? When we stay there we don't pay a resort fee. Are you an owner? I certainly paid one, and I'm an owner. It's relatively new and replaces the old "energy surcharge" and was instituted when they made the wifi, such as it is, free.
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: Tom]
#77264
12/04/2015 07:44 AM
12/04/2015 07:44 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I'm with you, larger is not necessarily an advantage to me personally.
Carol Hill
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: megamania]
#77265
12/04/2015 07:49 AM
12/04/2015 07:49 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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No one can tell you what to do, but if you don't have to have that particular week, I might risk waiting a while longer. I wouldn't want to stay in that area, because I perceive it's far from everywhere I want to be, but that's just me. We stayed at Guana Bay and in Pt Blanche area each one time and I kept thinking the whole time that I was doing a whole lot of driving because of where I was staying.
Carol Hill
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#77266
12/04/2015 10:25 AM
12/04/2015 10:25 AM
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I hear you Carol....thanks again for your help,,,we will figure something out. And thanks to everyone else for offering up their thoughts. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />
Randy and Meg Young
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#77267
12/04/2015 04:26 PM
12/04/2015 04:26 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,496 Rhode Island
RonDon
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Carol_Hill said: When was the last time you stayed at Divi? I understand that resort fee was pretty new, as of 2015, perhaps. We didn't go 2015 due to an operation. Thanks for the heads up for our 2016 visit---unless we stay at GCBC.
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: january]
#77269
12/04/2015 06:45 PM
12/04/2015 06:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,162 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem
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Beerman did enjoy staying there, but many others did not.We enjoyed staying at Nettle Bay back in the early 90's when it was a proper resort, but would not prefer staying there now.
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: january]
#77271
12/04/2015 11:24 PM
12/04/2015 11:24 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,961 Portland, OR
jazzgal
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january said: Jazzgall How can you say the energy and Wi-Fi are free if you are paying $13 a week extra.
I didn't say it; Divi did. They previously were charging separately for each. They announced wifi was now "free" but that they were instituting a resort fee.
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Re: any recent visits to Belair Beach Club 2 bedrooms?
[Re: jazzgal]
#77272
12/05/2015 08:41 PM
12/05/2015 08:41 PM
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january
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Scubaman You are right. The last time I stayed at the Belair there were no extra charges. Same was true for the Flamingo, Simpson Bay, La Vista, Royal Palm, Royal Islander la Plage, and the Towers. Unless things have changed recently, all the rest do in various amounts. To drop the term "energy", start calling Wi-F- free, and then adding a resort fee, seems like a little slight of hand.
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