Marriott's OceanWatch Villas at Grande Dunes

Located inside the massive, master-planned community of Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, Marriott’s OceanWatch is a condo-style hotel with two-bedroom, two-bathroom villas. Rooms are spacious with amazing ocean views, updated furnishings, and full-size kitchens. Because the hotel offers great rates compared to competitors, the property books fast during spring break and the summer tourist season. Three of the hotel’s five buildings are located directly on the beach, while the other two are set further back towards a wooded area. The outdoor pool complex (which houses five pools) offers plenty of space and lovely views of the Atlantic Ocean. The property has a family-friendly vibe, with lots of kid-tailored activities and a huge children’s play area. Inside the hotel, the lobby features brightly colored sofas and chairs in primary colors (think: red, blue, and yellow). There’s a Starbucks, mini marketplace that sells snacks, and two restaurants that offer limited options for lunch and dinner. There is no valet parking available, but free self-parking is an option. Guests have access to free Wi-Fi in the rooms and throughout the property.

Marriott's OceanWatch resort is located directly on a gorgeous stretch of sand within Grande Dunes, an upscale master-planned community on Myrtle Beach’s coastline. While it’s further away from some of the main tourist attractions (about six miles from the shopping and dining area at Broadway on the Beach), the Northwood Plaza Shopping Center is about a 15-minute walk away. A miniature golf course and several full-size golf courses are located within about two miles of the hotel. And the Family Kingdom Amusement Park and the NASCAR Speedpark, which are both popular with tourists, are located within 10 miles of the hotel. There’s a Food Lion grocery store about a mile, or a 12-block walk, from the hotel.

The hotel is set up like a condo building, as it is comprised of villa-style units instead of standard rooms. All are decorated in a typical, beach-style fashion found in most coastal Marriott properties. Each unit has a large master bedroom, a second bedroom with two double beds, and a separate living room area. There are also two bathrooms per unit: the master has a separate shower and oversized bath tub, as well as double sinks and granite countertops. The other bathroom is smaller, with only one sink and a shower/tub combo. Every unit also offers a washer/dryer and a full-size kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, oven, stove, microwave, dishwasher, coffeemaker, and utensils.Rooms facing the beach have huge balconies that wrap around the unit, and include a table with four chairs. Travelers seeking seaside panoramas should note that the higher the floor, the better the view from the oceanfront rooms.

Marriott's OceanWatch has a huge outdoor deck and a total of five pools surrounded by plenty of lounge chairs. Some of the outdoor pools are heated and overlook the white sands of Myrtle Beach. The "serenity pool" is meant to be the quieter option. There’s a spacious outdoor children’s pool area with a winding waterslide and waterfall features. Inside the hotel, there’s an indoor lap pool, steam room, sauna, and hot tub -- perfect for rainy days or colder winter months. There’s also a gym with plenty of cardio machines and weights.The outdoor kids' playground is impressive -- there’s a three-story, treehouse-style structure with a green tube slide that starts from the top and winds its way down. Other fun on-site activities include shuffleboard, basketball, beach volleyball, table tennis, and family bingo nights. The hotel offers a kids' activity center, as well as a cozy barbecue and fire pit area with ample seating. The Hibiscus Spa is a short walk away, located at the neighboring Marriott Myrtle Beach Hotel. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the property.