I will be arriving to Hawaii for 10 days with the following itinerary
Apr 20: Arrive to Kona
Apr 25: Fly from Kona to Honolulu
Apr 30: Depart Honolulu

I am still confused regarding what hotels to choose on both islands (I am member of Marriott and Starwood programs so choices are limited as this would be reward trip).

Kona:
1) Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa
2) Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Honolulu:
1) Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
2) Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
3) Sheraton Waikiki
4) The Royal Hawaiian
5) W Honolulu - Diamond Head
6) Sheraton Moana Surfrider

your comments re what hotels (from the list above) to choose in KOA and HNL will be greatly appreciated. For me, hotel preferences would come in the following order:
- less crowded (if that is at all possible) :)
- availability of upgrades on award stay (free or by using extra points)
- less families with children
- Quality pool
- Quality fitness center
- Quality beach (but absence of the beach is not a problem if there's a public beach nearby).

Best regards, AX

It's abit hard to answer the first option without knowing the part of the Big Island you will be spending most of your time at and what types of activities you are interested in.

For example, if you're a big golfer, you won't find a course anywhere near the Keahou Bay property (unless you drive up to the Big Island Country Club), but there is plenty of golf up in the Waikoloa and Mauna Kea residential areas.

Keahou Bay should fill all your requirements...few families (except Kama'aina/Kanaka inter-island vacationers), fairly quiet, decent upgrade track, interesting pool, decent fitness center and lots of beach options nearby.

Keahou Bay is also close to Kona/Kailua town, a decent drive time to Volcano/Hilo and other must-dos. Waikoloa is closer to Waimea and abit less of a drive over to Hilo/Waipi'o/Falls/Mauna Kea stargazing.

Some people object to the industrial/ulitarian look of the Sheraton Keahou Bay, as well as the somewhat spartan room decor - the Waikoloa property is abit more spiffy looking - but honestly think of how much time you will be spending in your room before deciding how important that is.

As for Waikiki, I would stick with the Moana Surfrider - choosing between a 'classic' room in the historic Banyan Wing, or opting for an updated modern room in the Towers. With stayone-playall, you can stay at the Moana and still use the restaurants, pools, fitness rooms and beach of the Sheraton Waikiki and Royal Hawaiian.

Although I don't have the exact date of transfer handy, the W Honolulu is leaving SPG shortly to go independent.

As for the Princess K - just stay away from that one. If you're on a super-tight budget, you can book a Manor Wing room at the Sheraton Waikiki and try and upgrade out of it with points/status.

You'll find lots of specific info on the Starwood hotels in that forum. Just search on Hawaii.

The Waikoloa Beach Marriott will still be under construction by the time you get there. However, I had a great stay there despite the construction (minimal noise, staff that went above and beyond to make up for the construction). More pictures here:
http://slippahs.smugmug.com/gallery/1747013 (password: flyertalk)

Can't comment from experience on the Kona hotels, but here's what I know first-hand about the ones you mentioned for Honolulu:

My first choice would definitely be the Moana Surfrider. It's centrally located, decent beach area and a classy hotel overall. I would opt to stay in one of the original "classic" rooms - but be warned: no closets in the rooms. I'd lump the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Sheraton Waikiki, and The Royal Hawaiian into the same middle-grade category. Nothing special, nothing bad.

The W (in my personal opinion) doesn't make much sense in Hawaii. It's not on a beach -- it's across a parking lot from a beach. It has no pool and it's a good ways (10 minutes or so by car) from Waikiki. The interior of the hotel is fine, but nothing great. Based on what you say you're looking for, I'd avoid the W.

Hope you enjoy your stay!

Thanks all of you to analyse my post and offer suggestions... From what I read, it is better to stay at the Marriott in KOA and choose one of Starwood options at HNL (choices are wider)...
Also I have not mentioned that up front (and sorry for that) - I will not have enough points to stick to one of the hotel chains, so if I will choose Marriott for KOA it has to be Starwood at HNL and vice versa.

The Waikoloa Beach Marriott will still be under construction by the time you get there.

Marriott site claims that construction will be finished by March 31, 2007 - i.e. before my planned stay... how reliable is this information?

To Linsj: thanks for the advise but as it usually happens, in SPG and Marriott forums hotels are compared within chains, so this forum is almost only place where one can get an advice regarding both chains and particular circumstances.

AX

Marriott site claims that construction will be finished by March 31, 2007 - i.e. before my planned stay... how reliable is this information?
Seeing how Marriott originally claimed that the construction was to be done by the fall of 2006... not very.

loking at all options at HNL... nobody gave any comments on W Diamond Head... from what I got from reviews -

advantages:
- least crowded from all HNL hotels

Disadvantages:
- no swimming pool

Would like to solicit opinions...
1) whether it is indeed least crowded hotel from all SPG properties
2) whether absence of decent swimming pool on property is compensated by access to swimming pools at another properties via stayone-payall program?
3) Whether they have decent fitness center

AX

I did mention that the "W" was leaving SPG shortly - not sure if that makes a difference for you. I am not a fan of W hotels to begin with, and I think you will find both better value and a more welcoming "Hawaiian" experience by selecting the Moana Surfrider, or a renovated room at the Sheraton Waikiki

There are a couple more non-Waikiki O'ahu options (non SPG) if you want to stay away from the hustle and bustle.

It's abit hard to answer the first option without knowing the part of the Big Island you will be spending most of your time at and what types of activities you are interested in.

For example, if you're a big golfer, you won't find a course anywhere near the Keahou Bay property (unless you drive up to the Big Island Country Club).

What? How could you forget about the Kona Country Club? It's only minutes from Keauhou Bay. Two great courses.

Phiil

What? How could you forget about the Kona Country Club? It's only minutes from Keauhou Bay. Two great courses.

Phiil

Duh! You're right, and I've only driven past it a hundred times and even almost had dinner there. Not sure why it escaped my mind, except I spent alot of time on the Mamalahoa Hwy recently and kept passing the Big Island CC so it was fresh in my memory.

I just returned from Kona..

STAY AWAY from the MArriott at all costs till the construction is complete.
It is an utter disaster!!

It should be nice when finished..however, it is in such a disruptive state now..starting from the parking,check in, pool, rooms,etc...there is not one thing I could say nice about the state of this property.
Even the staff seems to be surley regarding the constuction since I'm sure they have been pounded time and time again by unhappy guests.They are at the point now that they are very denfensive.

For the Big Island I would recommend that you use (gasp) cash rather than points and stay at the Hapuna Prince. It's frequently available through priceline for under $200 night. It has a great beach (*much* better than the Sheraton), fitness center and pool.

If you're long points and short cash you could use coupon connection to trade the spg or marriott points you would have used for the trip for hotel giftcerts to pay incidentals. Given the cost of golf and dining here, you'll have plenty of those.