The Colony is a rare timeshare resort that permits owners to bring one small
pet, and it is the timeshare resort in Virginia Beach with the largest units.
They are about 1,200 sf. There are four on each of the 11 floors, numbered
from the left 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, etc. up to 1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004
(as you face the beach from the unit.) The 11th floor is "Penthouse units,"
numbered PH01, PH02, PH03 and PH04. All units are oceanfront and look out
on the ocean through huge windows, and the units on the 8th through
Penthouse floors are high enough to look over the neighboring building on the
north to give those units a 180 degree view of the ocean. Lower units have 90
to 120 degree views of the ocean.
All units (including penthouses) are approximately the same size, but the end
units (01 and 04) have the living room and master bedroom on the front facing
the ocean, and the middle units (02 and 04) have the living room and two
bedrooms facing the ocean. The end units have one extra window in the
master bedroom facing the ocean, and two windows in the kitchen and
hallway looking inland, so that the end units feel more open. The ocean
windows are huge, 9 foot sliding glass doors in the living rooms, and 8 foot by
5 foot windows in the master bedroom (with an extra 2 foot by 5 foot window
alongside the main window in the end units). Since the windows come down
close to the floor in the bedroom and to the floor in the living room, the views
are great. There is a 6 foot by 12 foot balcony in front of the living rooms,
with narrow ballisters so you can see the ocean easily from the living room
through the railing.
The kitchens are very well equiped, though the refrigerator in our 801 unit is
showing some age. The microwave, stove and dishwasher appear new, as do
smaller appliances--toaster, coffee maker, blender and trash compacter.
There is a stacked washer-dryer also in the kitchen. The bathrooms have all
been renovated with granite counter tops and are attractive. The living room
furniture is in the process of being replaced, with new sectional couches. The
beds will be replaced with platform beds in the next year and the work has
already started.
There are two new elevators in beautiful condition and new roofing has
apparently eliminated a problem of over-heating from the sun in the
penthouses. The lobby is very small but tidy. There are new security cameras
many places to keep the residents safe, and a security guard is on duty all
night in the lobby. The pretty outdoor pool is on a deck between the building
and the ocean, with lots of chaise longues on the deck with a view to the sea.
The deep sandy beach in front is one of the best on that Atlantic Ocean. All in
all, the building, units and furnishings are in good repair now, or all will be
completely before the end of 2009. The location is outstanding.
The building was originally built to be condominiums and turned into
timeshares early in its history, which explains the size and comfort of the
units. There is a sauna on the same floor as the pool, but no other amenities.
There is one numbered parking space for each unit under and in front of the
building which faces on Atlantic Ave.
There are many nearby restaurants and other tourist businesses. All units look
over the boardwalk to the ocean. In December there are cars driving by on the
narrow road between the oceanfront buildings and the boardwalk, as carloads
of people ogle the spectacular Christmas lights that have been built for many
blocks facing the sea. It costs $10 per car to drive through the lights, but
residents at the timeshare can see some of the lights from the units.
The Colony is a great place to stay while in Virginia Beach, quiet in the fall,
winter and spring. It's filled in the high season, summer, and may not be as
quiet then although the management encourages those staying there to
respect the quiet for their neighbors. It's unique in Virginia Beach, a great
value. Lots of units can be purchased or traded into through RCI easily.
We have stayed there twice, in 1996 and again in 2008 just after we
purchased a unit on the 8th floor. Resale prices are a little higher for the
penthouses, but there's little difference between them and the rest of the
units, at least on floors 8, 9 and 10. The office is on the second floor, which
also has three timeshare units, 201, 202 and 204 that have direct level access
through their hallway to the swimming pool deck. They would be good for
handicap access.