First things first.....We are a family of 4-8 depending on who comes along. Our travel style is casual and we do not utilize resort excursions/activities. We prefer to take in all the area has to offer. That being said we stayed in unit 2217 of Southwind II in Shipyard Plantation. For those of you who are considering any resort, Shipyard is great. You get the privacy of your own home/townhouse in areas that are not touristy. Shipyard Plantation is a gated community with golf courses, bike paths, trees dripping with spanish moss. Best of all you have a private beach club at the Crowne Plaza Resort. Southwind II is located at 51 Collonade Drive, approximately 10 minutes from Coligny Center and about a mile from the entrance of the Shipyard Plantation Golf Club clubhouse. Check in takes place 5-10 minutes away in a central office for all the properties in the Southwind family.
Check in was fast and friendly. We arrived early ( several hours) and they took our cell # to notify us when the unit was ready for us. Our check in host didn't really seem very knowledgable about local recommendations, but he checked us in fast! There was no pressure for a sales presentation. When we completed check in later when the unit was ready, we received a packet with 4 keys, parking passes, local info., brochures, and instructions for everything. We had a friend meeting us from Florida who would arrive later and they made the process of having a pass at the gate very easy. Too bad we didn't tell our friend which gate!
Upon arrival at the unit we found plenty of parking, the pool located extremely close (30 second walk), and a bike stotage room with 2 complimentary bikes. The unit was on the 2nd floor and there about 12 steps to the front door. There were another 5 or 6 steps from the tiled landing (great for shoes and sandy toys) to the living/dining area. To the right was a spacious (clean) kitchen with ample cabinet and counter (granite) space. The kitchen had a granite breakfast bar that seated 4 as well. Appliances were fairly standard Kitchen Aid: glasstop cooker, electronic oven, large microwave with turntable, basic fridge with ice maker. All appliances were clean and in good condition with the exception of the dishwasher. It was LOUD and the drawers needed some wd40. One other note incase you are very fussy.....The inside of the microwave had a small rust spot along the seam that was no wider than a toothpick. There were plenty of glasses and cookware for our party of 7. We kept running out of the plates, mugs and bowls faster than we could run the dishwasher or wash things. There was also a blender and a coffeemaker. The blender won't handle your frozen drinks and the basket filter on the coffeemaker has definitely seen better days. The kitchen came with 6-8 garbage bags, 2 towels, 2 dishcloths, 2 packets of dishwasher powder, 1 small bottle of dishwashing liquid, 1 load box of laundry detergent,1 roll of paper towels and a sponge.
The dining area consisted of a carpeted area with a glasstop table that seated 8 easily. The carpeting was clean and in good condiition. The lighting left a little to be desired. It was always too dark read. The ceiling fan was a nice touch to keep the air moving though. The living room area had a sleeper sofa, loveseat, 2 endtables/lamps, and a coffee table. There was a large entertainment unit with 3 large drawers and DVD player. There was also an IHome in the unit. The couches were in good shape with no signs of wear or staining. The pillows were a bit faded and worn though. There were sliders that led onto the deck. A table and 4 chairs overlooked the lagoon and woods. On the first floor, there were 2 large bedrooms each with a jacuzzi tub, glass enclosed shower, double vanity and good lighting. Toilet paper, soap and plenty of towels were included. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained except for some of the jets were a bit worn in the jacuzzi and the undersink cabinet in one of the bathrooms was cracked in several places under the sink. Again, depending on how picky you are....there were areas that the paint job along the molding was not the greatest and the finish work was not Bob Villa quality, but for a week vacation it was fine. The king sized beds in both bedrooms were on the soft side. Extra bedding was available for the sleeper sofa. Each bed came with 2 pillows and a spongy type of blanket in addition to the bedspread. There was a great deal of closet and drawer space in each bedroom as well. The carpets and walls were in good shape. Both bedrooms had a t and the master had a door leading to the deck.
From the dining room was a staircase with about 12 steps leading to the 3rd room with 2 twin beds. This room had a large closet, double windows, dresser and a nightstand/light. The bathroom had a standard tub with a rouded shower curtain rod. There were many towels and the same bedding as downstairs. Another celing fan kept things cool. One note, the railing on the top of the landing was very loose and I would have been frightened if I had young children sleeping up there. The bedroom and bathroom on the top floor were in good condition.
The unit came with 2 bicycles. They were 26" models and in poor condition. The parts were all rusted and the seat could not be adjusted because the quick release mechanisms were rusted shut. There were 2 locks, but no helmets. The baskets were broken and the foam padding on the handlebars was missing and replaced with pieces that were too short. We rented bicycles from the Bike Doctor. The bikes there were in excellent condition and Craig could not have been friendlier or more helpful.
The pool at the complex was clean and had lots of seating. Bathrooms were clean. There was also a recycling location at the pool. A 10 minute bike ride from the condo was the beach. There was planty of parking for bikes and cars (rememember----it's October) and we could have someone drop off chairs and toys at the boardwalk entrance before. There were showers and bathrooms before walking onto the beach. A small boardwalk led through the dunes to the beach. Beach loungers and umbrellas could be rented from the lifeguard on the beach. The beach was immaculate (except for the ocean debris like driftwood, reeds, shells, etc.) The sand here is well...like butter. It's like walking in flour it's so soft. Yet at the same time, it packs so hard when wet you can ride your bike on it. Water temps were in the mid 70's. Locals were in sweatshirts and pants while those of us from the northeast sunbathed and got in the water. All in all the week was amazing. Some other notes....Piggly Wiggly is close but pricey and lacks selection. Publix was great all around. Try Harbour Hotdogs in Coligny. YUM! Looking for a piece of jewelry? The Goldsmith Shop had a great selection and good customer service.