Starwood Preferred Guest - Yikes! Did The Beaches Chaises Go Up To $50.00 Per Day At The Westin Maui?

If this is true then this is highway robbery! Last March they were $30.00 per day, which we gladly paid because Nate the attendant was great, but $50.00 per day seems a lot to pay when their resort charges just went up to $18.00 per day.

We are heading back there in 4 weeks, but won't pay these prices, if they are true.

Couldn't you just buy your own lounge chairs from Walsmart and take it to the beach with you?

We were there in October and there wasn't much of a beach in front of the hotel though.

What makes the attendant service so special to be worth $30-$50 / day?

I have had the Westin Maui on my list of hotel to visit for a while.If it is true that they charge $50 a day for a beach chair then not any longer. I can not stand places that Rip you off to such a hugh extent.

How can the possibly charge you $50 a day for a hotel beach chair. Even $ 30 os a P... Take. Why do we stand for this ??

Can some one who has stayed at this location plesae confirm , that you have to Pay $30 a day or $50 a day to use a beach chair. I thought this is wat you paid resort fee's for.

I should have made myself a bit more clear. I heard that the beach cabana's went up to $50.00 per day. I also heard that they are now charging $10.00 per day for a regular chaise without the cabana on the beach.

I don't want to be lugging a beach chair around the resort and the airport. I guess we will just be at the pool the whole visit. When we were there in March the pool was too crowded to find chairs, so we went down to the beach. We happen to know Nate the attendant from all the years we have been going there. He is a great guy who has been there for 22 years.

If this is true, its ridiculous! While I could see paying for a beach cabana, $50 daily is exhorbitant; and the idea of simply paying for a chair to use when you are paying luxury hotel prices is absurd...

When we visit the islands, we rarely stay at the hotel's beach anyway, preferring to venture out to other beaches. In Maui, we make a stop near the airport and always pick up a couple cheap chairs and an umbrella (I am not permitted to spend time in the sun). Before we leave, I pass them off to someone checking in to the hotel, and only request that they do the same when they depart.. If we are continuing to another island, I simply duct-tape them together and check them with the regular luggage, giving them away at my final destination. My (wishful) thinking is that someday, the islands will be full of passed-on beach chairs, and one or two might come back to me!

Robin

people pay alot more for this service in vegas so I don't see what the big deal is.

peace
wwonka

people pay alot more for this service in vegas so I don't see what the big deal is.

peace
wwonka


The Big deal is that it is a con. Why should people accept it. Why not charge to sit in a chair in the Loby?????. Even in Rip of Britain, where we are acustomed to being riped off for everything , you would not get away with this.

[QUOTE=svenskaflicka]I should have made myself a bit more clear. I heard that the beach cabana's went up to $50.00 per day. I also heard that they are now charging $10.00 per day for a regular chaise without the cabana on the beach.
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NO, you should have made yourself VERY more clear. Beach chairs are NOT $50 per day, as your "sky is falling" topic suggests. Cabana's are $50 a day.

The hotel is in a business to make money. Many people who stay there think $50 is nothing to spend for a cabana. There are a limited number of cabanas, as well. Have you not heard of supply and demand. There are some that will pay, and some that won't. Enough will.

Aloha

(PS. I live on Oahu and have nothing to do with this hotel!)

[QUOTE=svenskaflicka]I should have made myself a bit more clear. I heard that the beach cabana's went up to $50.00 per day. I also heard that they are now charging $10.00 per day for a regular chaise without the cabana on the beach.
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QUOTE]

NO, you should have made yourself VERY more clear. Beach chairs are NOT $50 per day, as your "sky is falling" topic suggests. Cabana's are $50 a day.

The hotel is in a business to make money. Many people who stay there think $50 is nothing to spend for a cabana. There are a limited number of cabanas, as well. Have you not heard of supply and demand. There are some that will pay, and some that won't. Enough will.

Aloha

(PS. I live on Oahu and have nothing to do with this hotel!)

Isn't this "cabana" everyone is referring to just two beach chairs with a folding umbrella/tent thing that can be pulled over. Not exactly what most would think of when they think of a cabana.

Isn't this "cabana" everyone is referring to just two beach chairs with a folding umbrella/tent thing that can be pulled over. Not exactly what most would think of when they think of a cabana.

Yep. There's a little table between the 2 lounges as well.

They used to be $30, but there were 2 of them on the upper pool deck that sat out by themselves on points overlooking the ocean. Those they charged a premium of I believe $55 a day (they offered a discounted rate after 3pm, I believe). I wonder what those 2 "specials" rent for now?

Heck...I thought they were overpriced to begin with!

These resort charges ( in addition to the "Resort fees") are ripoffs. An umbrella at the nearby Hyatt Regency Maui cost $25/day. Also ridiculous.

We simply drove to Costco on our second day and bought 2 umbrellas at $12 EACH.

If this RUMOR is true then I feel that it is a total ripoff to the guest. Clublounger has a point, but these "covered chairs" on the beach were $30.00 a day only a few months ago. It seems they may be trying to cover the cost of the new spa with new and improved rate hikes. The prices at some of the Hawaii SPG's have gone up hundreds of dollars per room, per day in the last few years. They say that high speed internet access is included in the resort fee. It seems odd that since they installed this the resort fee went up $5.00 per day. Now the new spa went in and they raise prices on the beach cabana's. How many more things can they raise prices on to cover improvements that the hotel needs anyway?

The resort fee scheme needs to be replaced with just raising the room rates -- especially since the resort fees are almost always mandatory. And then charging for the use of standard pool/beach chairs!?!?! Ridiculous!

The Four Seasons, Maui and Kona charge higher rates. There is no dispute about that. Moreover, when pool or beach attendants arrange our lounges and we can comfortably move between the lounges and the "cabanas" and, periodically, offer us Evian "spritzes" to cool us off, I feel that the higher price, with the built-in amenties is well worth it. I may be paying more for the daily rate, but that rate includes great service; service which makes me feel pampered and not ripped-off.

$50 for a private, reserved cabana, with two chairs and a table (and room for visitors), for the day is about the going rate at the true "resorts" in Hawaii. It's more at the Grand Wailea (non-SPG on Maui), where lots of cabanas ring the extensive pools, so $50 is simply the market price. It is an extra luxury that is certainly optional.

Lounge chairs by the pool are always free, at every resort I've been to. The same with umbrellas by the pool: free.

Umbrellas by the beach are charged at some resorts, not charged at others. Some resorts also charge a fee, about $10 a day, for special double lounge chairs that have sun shades built into them: these look noticably different from a typical lounge chair.

However, I agree that a $10 charge for simply having a "free" pool chair placed on the beach is absurd. I haven't ever come across a fee for that service in Hawaii but I'd certainly balk at paying $10 for having a chair located 20 - 40 feet from the the "free" ones.

If this is true, its ridiculous! While I could see paying for a beach cabana, $50 daily is exhorbitant; and the idea of simply paying for a chair to use when you are paying luxury hotel prices is absurd...

When we visit the islands, we rarely stay at the hotel's beach anyway, preferring to venture out to other beaches. In Maui, we make a stop near the airport and always pick up a couple cheap chairs and an umbrella (I am not permitted to spend time in the sun). Before we leave, I pass them off to someone checking in to the hotel, and only request that they do the same when they depart.. If we are continuing to another island, I simply duct-tape them together and check them with the regular luggage, giving them away at my final destination. My (wishful) thinking is that someday, the islands will be full of passed-on beach chairs, and one or two might come back to me!

Robin

That is a perfectly simple solution to those who feel that $50.00 for an extremely watered down “cabana” is too much. ^ (Regarding the $50.00 rental fee:The right side of my brain sez GEDOUTAHERE, while the left side of my brain thinks it’s high profit/low cost dream for the property)
I also hope that some day you will run into a set of your chairs! :)

The Four Seasons, Maui and Kona charge higher rates. There is no dispute about that. Moreover, when pool or beach attendants arrange our lounges and we can comfortably move between the lounges and the "cabanas" and, periodically, offer us Evian "spritzes" to cool us off, I feel that the higher price, with the built-in amenties is well worth it. I may be paying more for the daily rate, but that rate includes great service; service which makes me feel pampered and not ripped-off.

Just to be clear here, the Four Seasons Maui, while a bit pricey does NOT charge extra for cabanas, or lounge chairs anywhere, whether it is on the beach or around the pool. As mentioned the Evian spritzes, and cool fruit are complimentary. There is even complimentary sunscreen available in pump containers at the pool stations. All of the exercise classes and activities (except for maybe two - a golf clinic and canoeing) were also complimentary. The valet parking was also complimentary. I really appreciate the wonderful quality of the Four Seasons and the absence of getting nickle and dimed to death.

When we stayed at the Westin VILLAS in Maui, it was a $65 (gasp!) charge for cabanas by the pool or on the beach. Needless to say, we didn't bother. Also most of the classes that were offered at either the Maui Westin or Sheraton had fees attatched. Bad form Starwood!

The resort fee scheme needs to be replaced with just raising the room rates -- especially since the resort fees are almost always mandatory. And then charging for the use of standard pool/beach chairs!?!?! Ridiculous!

^ "Resort fees" should be illegal. Charge five hundred bucks a night for the room if the market will bear it - that's fine. But do away with these deceptive charges - it's bait and switch. (Yes, I know that sometimes you can find out about them on the website when you book. But sometimes you can't and, given cancellation policies, finding out when you reach your room is too late.)

Can you imagine if you went to the grocery store to buy a 99-cent can of green beans, and were charged $1.50 for them at check-out? 99-cents plus 10 cents government tax plus 41 cents Supermarket Fee... IMHO is it a valid function of government to regulate in the area of consumer deception. It wouldn't restrict the free market - and this should be done for nearly ALL travel-related industries. They are all engaging in deception.

If there are no resort fees, I don't have a problem with them charging whatever they can get for the beach chairs or cabanas. I personally will pay a maximum of $0 for something like this, but if others will pay, so be it. As long as they are forthright about the charges, I'm fine with it.

Sorta OT, but when we were wandering the property of the Grand Wailea, we noticed that nearly all of the cabanas were empty. (We were staying at the Ren Wailea.) I don't know what they were charging for them, but whatever it was was clearly too high for the guests there at the time. I'm surprised the hotels don't lower the charge to fill up the cabanas - knowing that once people are there they are apt to buy a steady stream of $11 Mai Tais. I know I can generate more booze revenue when somebody is bringing me a fresh drink every 15 minutes than if I'm walking up and down the strip at Wailea buying one from each hotel bar. :D

^ Sorta OT, but when we were wandering the property of the Grand Wailea, we noticed that nearly all of the cabanas were empty. (We were staying at the Ren Wailea.) I don't know what they were charging for them, but whatever it was was clearly too high for the guests there at the time. :D

The Grand Wailea charges (as of my last visit in June 04) $100 a day to reserve a cabana. They used to rent for $70 for a whole day/$40 for a half day (back in October 03, my previous visit), but they no longer offer half day rentals.

So $50 a day at the Westin is not a bad deal, if you are into renting cabanas. The only place I've done so has been a couple times at the Grand Wailea, but I'd rather have 12 tropical drinks by the pool with my $100!

Just to be clear and if comparing...at the Westin it is not a traditional Cabana like the small tents or rooms you rent at most resorts. It's simply a pair of lounge chairs with a folding canopy we're talking about at the Westin Maui.

Just to be clear and if comparing...at the Westin it is not a traditional Cabana like the small tents or rooms you rent at most resorts. It's simply a pair of lounge chairs with a folding canopy we're talking about at the Westin Maui.

Exactly... $50 daily for a traditional cabana would be a reasonable, if not bargain price, for the privacy and space they provide. The Grand Wailea (one of my least favorite resorts) has both types, and even there the "beach cabanas" rented for only $40 daily (still unreasonable I believe), and there was no charge for lounges or chairs on the beach. There are basically 5 things that beach cabanas provide that regular lounges do not: 1) Shade, from the pull down canopy over the two lounges, often not enough to actually keep out of the sun. 2) Cushions on the lounges. 3) Menus with little cards or flags to flag down a food/drink server, who you can flag down yourself to order from. 4) A "reserved" table between the chairs, also obtainable by picking one up yourself poolside or using an extra lounge for dining. 5) The most important thing is a "reserved" space, so that you can leave periodically throughout the day and return to have a place to relax and not have to search for available chairs all over again.

They DO serve a purpose, but herein lies the biggest problem with all resorts: They simply do not have enough "free" chairs to accomodate all their guests on a booked weekend. My last (and only) visit to the Grand Wailea proved all pool and beach chairs to be taken by 10am (maybe even 9), and no poolside cabanas available for the entire week (even though they were not permitted to be reserved in advance of arrival). People were renting beach cabanas out of desperation; they simply needed a place to sit! (And some of them resented having to do so). Shade is a rare commodity as well. People like me, who are required not to sit in the direct sun, are not given much choice: rent a cabana, rent an umbrella, get up at the crack of dawn and hope to get a shady space, or stay inside all day. I have no problem with paying for anything I require, but by the time I return from an early morning dive, there IS no shade available, even to rent (as in umbrella), at some of these resorts (frankly the Westin Maui is better than others, as you can usually rent an umbrella next door if needed). This is why I simply bring my own. Maybe someday there will be a frivolous lawsuit over skin cancer, causing these resorts to provide service to their guests equal to the prices they charge. Until then, I will avoid them as much as I can, and bring my own seating and shade to whatever beach I am visiting.

Jeesh, didn't really mean to sound so bitter, but the "poolside resort chair shuffle" is one of my pet peeves..

Robin

The Grand Wailea charges (as of my last visit in June 04) $100 a day to reserve a cabana. They used to rent for $70 for a whole day/$40 for a half day (back in October 03, my previous visit), but they no longer offer half day rentals.

So $50 a day at the Westin is not a bad deal, if you are into renting cabanas. The only place I've done so has been a couple times at the Grand Wailea, but I'd rather have 12 tropical drinks by the pool with my $100!

How hilarious is it that these cabanas cost more than a mid-scale hotel room? No wonder they were nearly all empty...

How hilarious is it that these cabanas cost more than a mid-scale hotel room? No wonder they were nearly all empty...

Not a mid scale hotel room in The Hawaiian Islands. Perspective is an important thing to remember here.

Ken in Phx

Not a mid scale hotel room in The Hawaiian Islands. Perspective is an important thing to remember here.

Ken in Phx

Actually, there are many, many options for 3-star hotels (and a few 4*'s) in the Hawaiian Islands if your budget calls for $100/nt. Nice places that might even fall on the high side of "mid-scale".

(Not that this is relevant at all to what Grand Wailea charges for beach chairs. They are going to charge whatever their market will bear, and their market is not the same people that are scouring Priceline or off-the-beaten-path hotels looking for cheap deals. I was merely making an observation. :))

fishbait writes:

There are basically 5 things that beach cabanas provide that regular lounges do not: 1) Shade, from the pull down canopy over the two lounges, often not enough to actually keep out of the sun. 2) Cushions on the lounges. 3) Menus with little cards or flags to flag down a food/drink server, who you can flag down yourself to order from. 4) A "reserved" table between the chairs, also obtainable by picking one up yourself poolside or using an extra lounge for dining. 5) The most important thing is a "reserved" space, so that you can leave periodically throughout the day and return to have a place to relax and not have to search for available chairs all over again.

I know you were probably talking about the Grand Wailea there, but at the Westin Maui you can usually get all but #1 (the pull down canopy) for free. While most of the lounge chairs on the lower deck are pretty much standard non-cushioned types, on the upper deck the lounge chairs are indeed cushioned. The small tables are plentiful, and the service flags are available from the server or up at the bar. As far as #5 the reserved thing goes, we just stake out our chosen spot by leaving our books/magazines, suntan lotion etc behind on them if we leave for an hour or two. We'll also tell our waitress we'll be returning shortly.

Our lounge is our "base" as it were. We leave them often for a dip in the ocean or pool or a stroll down to Black Rock for a quick snorkel and such by the Sheraton. We love having lunch (and drinks, of course) on the upper deck at our lounges. So as far as we are concerned at the Westin...the only thing you get for your $50 is the pull down canopy. Which to us makes the additional expense even more questionable.

You can see the standard free cushioned lounges in this picture (more clearly on the pair off to the right). Ignore that ugly guy on the right there. ;)

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