I'm planning my honeymoon to Hawaii for next summer, and could use some help settling on hotels. I have done some initial research but am not too sure which might be in better locations.
The plan is to spend a week in Maui, then a few days sightseeing on the big island. We might also do a night in Oahu on the way home, but I will figure that out later. In Maui we plan on relaxing at the resort a good amount of the time, but we also get bored easily so will go on sightseeing excursions as we feel up to it. On the big island the main reason we are going is to see the volcanos, and maybe some other sites while we are there, so the "resortyness" of the hotel may not be as important, but it is our honeymoon!
I'm hoping to stay at Marriott or Starwood properties so that I can use points and hopefully take advantage of my platinum status for an upgrade. Here are the properties I have scoped out:
Maui:
Westin Maui Ka'anapali - looks to be very nice, but unlikely to be upgraded
Sheraton Maui - Also in Ka'anaplai. Supposedly not as nice as the Westin, but more likely to be upgraded (Price in points is the same)
Wailea Beach Mariott - from the pictures this looks very nice and has favorable reviews
Any thoughts on which of these locations might be better suited for us? I know Ka'anapali has a lot going on. Are there restaurants or things to do near Wailea? Any additional comments on the Sheraton vs Maui (I have read the long threads in the Starwood forum already)
Big Island:
Waikoloa Beach Marriott
Sheraton Keauhou Bay
Neither of these resorts looked particularly attractive from the pictures, but I could be wrong. Are there restaurants or attractions within reasonable distance of these properties? By this time (after a week in Maui) I'm guessing we will be more anxious to get out of the hotel and explore towns etc. Would it be worth paying money <:eek:>to stay in a hotel in a better location?
Also, how long would you recommend we spend on the Big Island to see the volcano and a few other must see sites?
Recreation
Jun 3, 11, 11:51 am
Maui has two major resort areas: Wailea is the "Beverly Hills" of the area. Beautiful, sleepy and swanky. It's the desert part of the island so you rarely have to worry about rain. The wind tends to be fiercer here, though, especially in the afternoon. The Marriott is located in the middle of all the resorts, but it's probably the least nice of all the resorts in terms of curb appeal. For instance, there is no sandy beach right out in front and much of the grounds consists of grass because it's so expansive. However, it sits on a beautiful walking path which makes it a breeze to visit neighboring resorts and restaurants. If you're into spas, Wailea has nicer ones, IMO.
Wailea is closer to the airport, Haleakala, and the Road to Hana. It's more elegant than Ka'anapali but IMO a bit sleepy.
Ka'anapali is farther north and less refined than Wailea. Tons of middle-of-the-road resorts are found here. Most, such as the Sheraton and Westin, are nice but a notch or two below the Fairmonts and Four Seasons of the world.
Ka'anapali is closer to Lahaina (the "town" on Maui, with shopping/restaurants and one of the only deep water harbors on the island).
Of the hotels you mentioned, I'd be torn between the Sheraton and the Westin villas. If the Renaissance Wailea were still around, I'd select that for honeymooners for its location and elegance, but they tore it down a few years back. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of the Marriott there. It's a former Outrigger, with a collection of low rise buildings (instead of a traditional 10 story hotel) and while it's directly on the water, there's no sandy beach out front, but instead has huge lava boulders, which are beautiful but not really practical.
The Sheraton would probably be my first choice because it's romantic and you have a good possibility for an ocean front upgrade. And it's right on Black Rock, which an outstanding snorkeling spot. Plus, it's at the end of the the Ka'anapali ocean front path. However, a studio at the Westin Ka'anapali villas shouldn't be excluded. They are pretty new and are really beautiful, plus they give you the convenience of a washer/dryer and kitchenette. If you visit Maui second, you might need that washer/dryer. The downside is that the resort is a bit off the beaten path. If you choose them, ask for the north side, which has more of an adult crowd plus actual balconies off the studios. Note that all Starwoods have a great shuttle system that allow you to visit the other properties and Lahaina without worrying about parking. It's great to go out for dinner and drinks and hop on a shuttle home.
As far as BI goes, we stayed at the Marriott Waikoloa there last year. I didn't get any upgrade at all, but the resort is ocean front. The rooms could use updating, IMO, but that's probably true of any of the older hotels. You'll do a lot of driving on Big Island, so I don't think it really matters where in Kona you stay.
If you want to see the volcano (and who wouldn't?) then I'd highly recommend packing and staying at a B&B near Volcanoes National Park. It's a 2-3 hour drive from Kona and there's no need to spend 5 hours on the road when there are plenty of affordable places to spend the night.
My recommendation for BI is to fly into one airport (e.g. Kona) and out from the other. That will limit your time driving.
Favorite activities on Big Island are the night manta ray snorkel, Volcanoes National Park, and ziplining.
Recreation
Jun 3, 11, 11:57 am
Neither of these resorts looked particularly attractive from the pictures, but I could be wrong. Are there restaurants or attractions within reasonable distance of these properties? By this time (after a week in Maui) I'm guessing we will be more anxious to get out of the hotel and explore towns etc. Would it be worth paying money <:eek:>to stay in a hotel in a better location?
Also, how long would you recommend we spend on the Big Island to see the volcano and a few other must see sites?
Oh, to answer your questions. I would absolutely not pay extra money to stay at a nicer hotel if you can get the Marriott or Sheraton with points. There is so much to do in Hawaii, and Hawaii is so naturally beautiful, that it's nearly impossible not to love it.
Both Wailea and Ka'anapali have plenty of restaurants and attractions within driving distance. I personally prefer Ka'anapali because it's more my speed, but I wouldn't be unhappy at any of the places you mentioned.
Re Big Island. Personally, I'd spend at least 4 days on BI if I could. We only spent 3 nights and we could have used one more. I'd stay in Kona for two or 3 nights and Hilo for 2, so that I could get a full day and a half to explore the park.
Oh, and check out Wizardpub.com to get aerials of the hotels you are considering. That helped me more than anything to get an idea of its "feel."
I'm planning my honeymoon to Hawaii for next summer, and could use some help settling on hotels. I have done some initial research but am not too sure which might be in better locations.
The plan is to spend a week in Maui, then a few days sightseeing on the big island. We might also do a night in Oahu on the way home, but I will figure that out later. In Maui we plan on relaxing at the resort a good amount of the time, but we also get bored easily so will go on sightseeing excursions as we feel up to it. On the big island the main reason we are going is to see the volcanos, and maybe some other sites while we are there, so the "resortyness" of the hotel may not be as important, but it is our honeymoon!
I'm hoping to stay at Marriott or Starwood properties so that I can use points and hopefully take advantage of my platinum status for an upgrade. Here are the properties I have scoped out:
Maui:
Westin Maui Ka'anapali - looks to be very nice, but unlikely to be upgraded
Sheraton Maui - Also in Ka'anaplai. Supposedly not as nice as the Westin, but more likely to be upgraded (Price in points is the same)
Wailea Beach Mariott - from the pictures this looks very nice and has favorable reviews
Any thoughts on which of these locations might be better suited for us? I know Ka'anapali has a lot going on. Are there restaurants or things to do near Wailea? Any additional comments on the Sheraton vs Maui (I have read the long threads in the Starwood forum already)
Big Island:
Waikoloa Beach Marriott
Sheraton Keauhou Bay
Neither of these resorts looked particularly attractive from the pictures, but I could be wrong. Are there restaurants or attractions within reasonable distance of these properties? By this time (after a week in Maui) I'm guessing we will be more anxious to get out of the hotel and explore towns etc. Would it be worth paying money <:eek:>to stay in a hotel in a better location?
Also, how long would you recommend we spend on the Big Island to see the volcano and a few other must see sites?
If Marriott and Sheraton are anything like Hyatt and Hilton, you will get plenty of upgrades just by letting them know you are on your Honeymoon. On our honeymoon in April we were treated very well. We did have Platinum status with Hyatt and Gold with Hilton, so that helped.
It's not on your list, but I do recommend the Hyatt on Maui. You can get Plat staus and two free nights by picking up their credit card. We booked the cheapest resort view and got put in a partial ocean view for the first night since we arrived so late, but were asked if we'd be willing to move and got a great oceanfront room for the other 4 nights. We used the 2 free nights and 3 more on their Stay certificates as the cheapest room for the week we were there was going for $476 per night! The oceanfront we ended up in was pricing almost $700 per night for that week.
As for time on the Big Island, I agree, 4 nights is a good amount, more wouldn't be overkill. You'll want at least one full day in VNP. There's some cool stuff on Hilo side, like the Kapoho Tide Pools, a couple volcanically heated pools, the Banyans in Hilo proper, the waterfalls north of town. I can recommend this private home http://www.fourgeckos.com/ in Keau'u as a great base for Hilo-side exploring. Have stayed there twice now.
elkhornne
Jun 5, 11, 2:22 pm
We returned from the BI recently and stayed at the Hilton. We got a 1500 Sq. Ft Suite upgrade. Everytrhing about the hotel was great. Just a thought. Enjoy your trip.
doctor15
Jun 6, 11, 9:49 am
Wow, thank you for the detailed replies!
I didn't realize the Marriott didn't have a real beach... The Westin Villas are a cat 6 now (almost double the price) and I'm not really a big fan of most of those studio type units, so it seems like the Sheraton may be our best bet on Maui.
On the Big Island, we were not really planning on spending more then 2-3 nights there, as I figured Maui would be better for relaxing at resorts. Are the resorts in Kona anywhere near as nice as the ones in Muai?
Is there any reason to stay in Kona for a short trip, or should we just find a B&B in Hilo?
Recreation
Jun 6, 11, 1:12 pm
We stayed in Kona because I wanted to the night manta ray snorkel, which I highly recommend. But, honestly, the biggest draw to BI IMO is the active volcano. Very cool. And it's a totally different experience than staying on Ka'anapali Beach or Kona. It's cooler and wetter. We needed jackets and long pants in June. Since you'll have spent a week at Ka'anapali Beach in Maui, I'm not sure that Kona is a must-do.
That being said, most flights back to the mainland leave out of Kona (vs. Hilo) so if you're booking BI at the end of your trip, you might book a night or two in Kona before departing for home, so that you're last experience on Hawaii is a gorgeous sunset on a tropical beach. :)
edscholl
Jun 6, 11, 7:49 pm
Maui:
Westin Maui Ka'anapali - looks to be very nice, but unlikely to be upgraded
Sheraton Maui - Also in Ka'anaplai. Supposedly not as nice as the Westin, but more likely to be upgraded (Price in points is the same)
Wailea Beach Mariott - from the pictures this looks very nice and has favorable reviews
out of these 3, i prefer the sheraton, for the reasons mentioned by Recreation. however...
Oh, to answer your questions. I would absolutely not pay extra money to stay at a nicer hotel if you can get the Marriott or Sheraton with points. There is so much to do in Hawaii, and Hawaii is so naturally beautiful, that it's nearly impossible not to love it.
however, this i disagree with. :D if you can afford it, go ahead and splurge. it's your honeymoon. we went with the four seasons in wailea and absolutely loved it. way better than the westin, sheraton, or marriott. :D
Recreation
Jun 7, 11, 6:55 am
however, this i disagree with. :D if you can afford it, go ahead and splurge. it's your honeymoon. we went with the four seasons in wailea and absolutely loved it. way better than the westin, sheraton, or marriott. :D
The best vacations I've ever been on have nothing to do with the quality of the hotel and everyting to do with who I spent it with. Seriously. IMO, when you have the Pacific Ocean at your doorstep, nothing can compete with that -- not even turn down service and chocolates on your pillow.
Well, maybe chocolates on your pillow, but it has to be REALLY good chocolate.
edscholl
Jun 8, 11, 3:14 pm
The best vacations I've ever been on have nothing to do with the quality of the hotel and everyting to do with who I spent it with. Seriously. IMO, when you have the Pacific Ocean at your doorstep, nothing can compete with that -- not even turn down service and chocolates on your pillow.
Well, maybe chocolates on your pillow, but it has to be REALLY good chocolate.
oh, i absolutely agree.
but extra nice accommodations on a special occasion makes it better anyways- it's just more likely to add another "that was awesome" memory. :D
Jon Maiman
Jun 12, 11, 8:02 pm
Wow, thank you for the detailed replies!
I didn't realize the Marriott didn't have a real beach...
I have stayed at both the Marriott Wailea and the Marriott Ocean Club (Ka'anapali). I wouldn't rule at the Marriott Wailea because it isn't directly on the beach. If you're willing to walk about 10 minutes, there are beautiful beaches on either side of the Marriott Wailea. When we were there, we were able to do it easily with my three year old in tow. There is also an adults only infinity pool with an awesome view at the Marriott Wailea.
Personally I liked Wailea better than Ka'anapali, though both are really nice. If you want more night life within walking distance of the property, Ka'anapali is a better bet. I also felt that area was much more crowded. If you want more laid back and still have access to good services (dinning, etc.), than Wailea would be the better choice. Either way, you can't go wrong with Maui!
--Jon
Ancien Maestro
Jun 15, 11, 10:30 pm
I have stayed at both the Marriott Wailea and the Marriott Ocean Club (Ka'anapali). I wouldn't rule at the Marriott Wailea because it isn't directly on the beach. If you're willing to walk about 10 minutes, there are beautiful beaches on either side of the Marriott Wailea. When we were there, we were able to do it easily with my three year old in tow. There is also an adults only infinity pool with an awesome view at the Marriott Wailea.
Personally I liked Wailea better than Ka'anapali, though both are really nice. If you want more night life within walking distance of the property, Ka'anapali is a better bet. I also felt that area was much more crowded. If you want more laid back and still have access to good services (dinning, etc.), than Wailea would be the better choice. Either way, you can't go wrong with Maui!
--Jon
I've walked Mariott Wailea and through the hotel as well..
Definitely ocean front which is nice.. you can still lay around the pool or along the grass..
doctor15
Jun 16, 11, 10:14 am
Is the (nice) beach by Wailea a public beach or part of the resort?
Since we are going all the to Hawaii for the ocean, we want to spend more time beachside versus poolside. Does the Marriott cabanas/chairs (and drink service :D) at the beach? If not we will stick with the Sheraton.
Recreation
Jun 16, 11, 11:50 am
Is the (nice) beach by Wailea a public beach or part of the resort?
Since we are going all the to Hawaii for the ocean, we want to spend more time beachside versus poolside. Does the Marriott cabanas/chairs (and drink service :D) at the beach? If not we will stick with the Sheraton.
All beaches in Hawaii are public. In fact, each resort has to designate a few free parking spaces for beach goers, though few non-locals know where to find them.
FYI, there are sandy beaches (Elua and Wailea) flanking the Marriott, but no sandy beach directly out front. It's very rocky and not hospitable for entry in and out of the water. This shot gives you a pretty good idea of what I'm talking about. It's beautiful, but not your typical sandy beach.
As such, you won't be able to rent cabanas/chairs on the beach at the Marriott, though you're more than welcome to sit on one of their free lounge chairs, though:
All beaches in Hawaii are public. In fact, each resort has to designate a few free parking spaces for beach goers, though few non-locals know where to find them.
FYI, there are sandy beaches (Elua and Wailea) flanking the Marriott, but no sandy beach directly out front. It's very rocky and not hospitable for entry in and out of the water. This shot gives you a pretty good idea of what I'm talking about. It's beautiful, but not your typical sandy beach.
As such, you won't be able to rent cabanas/chairs on the beach at the Marriott, though you're more than welcome to sit on one of their free lounge chairs, though:
Cabanas and chairs are generally rented on property.. and many with an ocean view.. just not directly on the beach sand.. although I've seen some loungers set up at Polo Beach by Fairmont and beach by Four Seasons.. so definitely some equipment used.. we sat on some lounge chairs provided by the hotel over the years..
Jon Maiman
Jun 17, 11, 10:10 am
Is the (nice) beach by Wailea a public beach or part of the resort?
Since we are going all the to Hawaii for the ocean, we want to spend more time beachside versus poolside. Does the Marriott cabanas/chairs (and drink service :D) at the beach? If not we will stick with the Sheraton.
The Marriott has cabanas for rent at the adults only infinity pool. The cabanas are actually on peninsula's in the pool. So there are effectively little plunge pools on either side of them.
--Jon
doctor15
Jun 17, 11, 10:13 am
Sorry, I phrased that wrong. I understand the beaches are public, but don't some resorts provide beach side services such as drinks and chairs, etc? That is what I am looking for.
DeirdreTours
Jun 17, 11, 11:21 am
For a "resort" feel on the BI, one should go north to Kohala. There are numerous resorts there and the weather is superior to Kona. We usually book spg properties, but the Sheraton on the BI in not even close to a comparable resort experience as the other resort choices in Kohala. The Sheraton is of Kona, an area that tends to be much cloudier and voggier than the Kohola resorts. The Sheraton has no beach and it is loud with many kids. I am not against kids, have several of my own, but this is your honeymoon.
My favorite resort on BI is the Hapuna Prince. That resort offers a combination of reasonable rates with one of the world's best beaches. An oceanfront room can usually be had there for under $300 per night.
Recreation
Jun 17, 11, 11:49 am
Sorry, I phrased that wrong. I understand the beaches are public, but don't some resorts provide beach side services such as drinks and chairs, etc? That is what I am looking for.
Grand Wailea may rent beach chairs and umbrellas (and you may need to be a registered guest to rent one) that you can haul to the beach, but generally speaking, no. Since most resorts are beach side, they usually offer food/drink service and cabana rentals poolside instead of on the beach.
It's odd but Hawaiian tourists don't flock to the beach like you're used to seeing at other places. Most sit by the pool instead. It could be because the only people in the water are the snorkelers. The shelf is too steep for your casual swimmer.
Ancien Maestro
Jun 18, 11, 1:28 am
For a "resort" feel on the BI, one should go north to Kohala. There are numerous resorts there and the weather is superior to Kona. We usually book spg properties, but the Sheraton on the BI in not even close to a comparable resort experience as the other resort choices in Kohala. The Sheraton is of Kona, an area that tends to be much cloudier and voggier than the Kohola resorts. The Sheraton has no beach and it is loud with many kids. I am not against kids, have several of my own, but this is your honeymoon.
My favorite resort on BI is the Hapuna Prince. That resort offers a combination of reasonable rates with one of the world's best beaches. An oceanfront room can usually be had there for under $300 per night.
Kohala^
Kohala is the area on Big Island that has desert like conditions.. and only approximately 8 inches of rian per year.. so almost a certainty to get some sun..
Kohala Coast is probably the most sought after part of BI imo.. because of the generally dry hot weather
BA_Jfan
Jun 20, 11, 5:15 pm
I stayed at the Westin Kaanapali last June for free with SPG points. It is a beautiful resort. Beach was nice. There are 5 pools, all good. Adult pool has a hot tub and bar. Nite that Seating by the pool is hard to find as it was always packed during the 4 days I spent there. Cabanas looked nice. Pool bar, as well as all Westin eateries was VERY PRICEY. Breakfast in the main restaurant was $27 or $28 a person, which i believe didn't include tax and tip. I balked when bartender quoted a price over $4 for a relatively small soda. Rooms are a bit on the small side, but as we only slept, showered, and ate in them it wasn't a big deal. Bathroom has standard Westin shampoos/soaps. In room Kona coffee was pretty good and Starbucks hot cocoa was heavenly. We had rooms overlooking golf course and mountains. I think a pool/beach view would have been nicer. There were only about 8 full time concierges so lines were a bit disappointing. THEY WERE DOING A VERY HARD PUSH FOR TIME SHARE VILLAS DOWN THE ROAD. It was quite aggravating to be offered a timeshare presentation what felt like every few steps.
Starwood has a shuttle between it's 2 Westins (hotel and villas) and Sheraton. There is snorkeling by the Sheraton (Black Rock is next to it) but the day I went it had already closed when I arrived around 4ish. I walked around the Sheraton a bit and it had a very confusing layout and no staff or signage to help.
Whalers village is next to Westin resort. It's small and nice. There is a rather expensive Haagen Dazs (well there's no cheap Haagen Dazs :) ). On lower level there's a place called yogurt land that has frozen yogurt and a lot of toppings for about 55 cents an ounce which wasn't bad.
If you are on Kaanapali definitely go to the Hyatt one day. They have a beautiful lobby with penguins and other animals.
Anyone who wants more info could PM me. I also have a few pictures I could send to anyone interested.