Andaz Maui REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Dec 11, 2013, 11:14 am
#511
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA & DL / SPG & HGP
Posts: 1,723
IMO it's simple in the U.S.
The government has (basically) created two minimum wages - one "regular" and high minimum for non-tip employees, one "exception" and very low (like one-fifth of the regular minimum) for those earning tips.
U.S. consumers must factor in tips into the pricing for the latter set of employees. Thus, if one is eating at a restaurant with waiter service, one must consider the pricing to be missing the "mandatory tip" component (or be IMO a rude and "bad" consumer and person if one fails to have this consideration and not tip and thus not pay the "real" price). We can call differ on opinions about the tip amount, but we all must recognize such employees are paid an insufficient wage without tips.
If the valet staff is being paid a tip earning wage, then as consumers IMO it's our obligation to recognize that the valet price is not $30, it is $30 plus a tip for each retrieval per day (thus, in my case, $36 or $40).
Being unhappy with the hotel's price of $30 is not relevant to the decision to tip a worker, IMO.
The government has (basically) created two minimum wages - one "regular" and high minimum for non-tip employees, one "exception" and very low (like one-fifth of the regular minimum) for those earning tips.
U.S. consumers must factor in tips into the pricing for the latter set of employees. Thus, if one is eating at a restaurant with waiter service, one must consider the pricing to be missing the "mandatory tip" component (or be IMO a rude and "bad" consumer and person if one fails to have this consideration and not tip and thus not pay the "real" price). We can call differ on opinions about the tip amount, but we all must recognize such employees are paid an insufficient wage without tips.
If the valet staff is being paid a tip earning wage, then as consumers IMO it's our obligation to recognize that the valet price is not $30, it is $30 plus a tip for each retrieval per day (thus, in my case, $36 or $40).
Being unhappy with the hotel's price of $30 is not relevant to the decision to tip a worker, IMO.
Dec 11, 2013, 11:48 am
#512
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA (EXP), HH (Diamond), SPG (Platinum), HGP (Diamond), National Car (Exec Elite)
Posts: 153
I tipped $2 every time I retrieved the car.
Why people complain about things like forced valet is nuts. You have the option to stay where you want. Each hotel explicitly tells you what is costs to stay at their hotel (where they are in the business of making money/a profit). In doing your research, you know what those costs are for every hotel (room, food, parking, resort fee, etc). Pick the hotel you feel good about. Sure you can stay at the Andaz and get free parking far from the hotel. Personally, paying $30+tip for someone else to park and bring me my car is fine. I kinda expect it from high end restaurants and hotels now.
Come on people, this is an upscale hotel. They want to provide you with all the services they can so all you have to do is "nothing". If you don't want that, look at the Days Inn down the road (probably free parking and no resort fee and cheap food). You want the best, you sometimes have to pay for the best. Most of us are already getting a heck of deal on the "free" room most likely (points, upgrades, etc), complaining about throwing down a few bucks here and there is just plain childish.
Elitist complaining if ever (yes, I am sometimes guilty of it too; just try not to).
Why people complain about things like forced valet is nuts. You have the option to stay where you want. Each hotel explicitly tells you what is costs to stay at their hotel (where they are in the business of making money/a profit). In doing your research, you know what those costs are for every hotel (room, food, parking, resort fee, etc). Pick the hotel you feel good about. Sure you can stay at the Andaz and get free parking far from the hotel. Personally, paying $30+tip for someone else to park and bring me my car is fine. I kinda expect it from high end restaurants and hotels now.
Come on people, this is an upscale hotel. They want to provide you with all the services they can so all you have to do is "nothing". If you don't want that, look at the Days Inn down the road (probably free parking and no resort fee and cheap food). You want the best, you sometimes have to pay for the best. Most of us are already getting a heck of deal on the "free" room most likely (points, upgrades, etc), complaining about throwing down a few bucks here and there is just plain childish.
Elitist complaining if ever (yes, I am sometimes guilty of it too; just try not to).
Dec 11, 2013, 11:48 am
#513
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: AA PLT, DL GM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 241
IMO it's simple in the U.S.
The government has (basically) created two minimum wages - one "regular" and high minimum for non-tip employees, one "exception" and very low (like one-fifth of the regular minimum) for those earning tips.
U.S. consumers must factor in tips into the pricing for the latter set of employees. Thus, if one is eating at a restaurant with waiter service, one must consider the pricing to be missing the "mandatory tip" component (or be IMO a rude and "bad" consumer and person if one fails to have this consideration and not tip and thus not pay the "real" price). We can call differ on opinions about the tip amount, but we all must recognize such employees are paid an insufficient wage without tips.
If the valet staff is being paid a tip earning wage, then as consumers IMO it's our obligation to recognize that the valet price is not $30, it is $30 plus a tip for each retrieval per day (thus, in my case, $36 or $40).
Being unhappy with the hotel's price of $30 is not relevant to the decision to tip a worker, IMO.
The government has (basically) created two minimum wages - one "regular" and high minimum for non-tip employees, one "exception" and very low (like one-fifth of the regular minimum) for those earning tips.
U.S. consumers must factor in tips into the pricing for the latter set of employees. Thus, if one is eating at a restaurant with waiter service, one must consider the pricing to be missing the "mandatory tip" component (or be IMO a rude and "bad" consumer and person if one fails to have this consideration and not tip and thus not pay the "real" price). We can call differ on opinions about the tip amount, but we all must recognize such employees are paid an insufficient wage without tips.
If the valet staff is being paid a tip earning wage, then as consumers IMO it's our obligation to recognize that the valet price is not $30, it is $30 plus a tip for each retrieval per day (thus, in my case, $36 or $40).
Being unhappy with the hotel's price of $30 is not relevant to the decision to tip a worker, IMO.
Dec 11, 2013, 4:40 pm
#515
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,171
i'll be staying here in Feb. Does anyone happen to have the GM's email address and contact info? As a diamond, I'll be celebrating my anniversary here. On other threads, it appears that if you email the GM and introduce yourself and being a diamond they may set a side a nice upgrade for a special occasion. Figured I may not have much to lose by sending a friendly email 
Dec 11, 2013, 6:54 pm
#516
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA & DL / SPG & HGP
Posts: 1,723
Andaz (like Hyatt) uses [email protected].
The GM is Michael Stephens.
The GM is Michael Stephens.
Dec 14, 2013, 10:02 pm
#519
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: AA PLT, DL GM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 241
Free breakfast is not a listed feature of a suite, so no. Like all Andaz properties, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages in the minibar are free.
Dec 17, 2013, 9:13 am
#520
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 42
Just wanted to share my review of The Andaz. I will start off by saying that this is by far the best hotel I've ever stayed at. I really cannot imagine there being a better hotel on Maui, or possibly all of Hawaii. Pictures do not do this gorgeous property justice.
Upon arriving, you will be greeted by the valet staff. Valet is mandatory and costs $30/day, however there are no resort fees at this hotel which somewhat makes up for this.
We were all given very beautiful real flower leis and instructed to leave our luggage in the car. We were then escorted to the open-air lobby and introduced to a young lady carrying an iPad who would be checking us in. She offered us freshly made lavender lemonade and gave us a brief tour of the lobby. The lobby itself is absolutely gorgeous and jaw dropping. It is situated on the 5th floor and overlooks the entire hotel grounds.
As we admired the view, our attendant acknowledged my Diamond status and informed me that we had been upgraded to a partial ocean-view room. I asked if there were any full ocean-view rooms available, but was told that all had been sold already. She went on to explain that we would be entitled to complimentary breakfast buffet at the hotel's restaurant, Ka'ana Kitchen, a $45 dollar per person value. We were then escorted to our room which was on the 4th floor overlooking the tranquility pool. The view was very nice, but I still would have preferred a fuller view of the ocean on a higher floor. Shortly thereafter, our luggage was brought up along with refillable water bottles for us to use. Purified water stations were located on all even-numbered floors.
The room is very modern with plenty of USB charging outlets. The shades open and close automatically with the touch of a button. The bathroom has a very strange layout, but I grew to love it over the course of my stay. Shutters divide the shower and bathtub from the main living area. If opened, you can admire the view while bathing. The shower is a rain-shower which I found to be fantastic. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are complimentary and refilled daily. We were left a pitcher of ice cold water and our beds were turned down nightly as part of the Diamond benefits.
Each morning we dined at the Ka'ana Kitchen. The buffet is one of the best you will ever experience. A wide range of pastries, fruit, charcuterie, as well as many hot selections inspired by American and Asian cuisines. If you don't see something to your liking, just ask. They will literally make you anything you want. Steak? No problem. Hamburger? Why not. There is also a juicer on staff that prepares freshly squeezed juice concoctions daily, and will even make custom smoothies if desired. Diamond members may also order half portions of all menu items if the buffet is not to your liking. Alcoholic beverages and tips were also removed from our bill, so my advice would be to save some money and get drunk at breakfast!
The pools and beach crew were all fantastic. Upon arriving at the pool, you will be asked to pick out a chair so that they may set it up with towels. You will also be offered complimentary sunscreen. The drinks and food at the pool bars are very expensive, but I wouldn't expect anything different at a hotel of this caliber. Most drinks are $16 and the food ranges around $12-$20. The bartenders are top notch and use only freshly squeezed juices in the cocktails. I sampled several of their specialty drinks and was never once disappointed. The food was also very good, but it's hard to justify paying $12 for a small order of onion rings.
Chairs and umbrellas at the beach are provided free of charge. Several times we were offered cold towels and frozen grapes and strawberries. The stretch of beach at this hotel is superb. The sand is fine like powder and not rocky at all. Snorkeling is offered for $10 a day which I highly recommend. We walked right into the water into reefs covered with tropical fish and sea turtles. Paddle boarding is also offered for $40/hour. Other activities like surfing lessons and outriggers are offered, but we didn't partake.
We also dined at the hotel's other restaurant, Morimoto. We were fortunate enough to have Mr. Morimoto at the restaurant the night we dined. He was very friendly and took several pictures with us. The food is very expensive, but definitely worth the cost in my opinion. It was one of the best meals I've ever eaten, and definitely the best meal of the trip.
Overall, I can't recommend this hotel enough. It is a real steal at 22,000 Hyatt points a night. The employees really go out of their way to make you feel at home. Anything at all that you need will be provided at the drop of a hat. I was on a first name basis with many of the employees by the end of my stay. It was really hard to leave, and I definitely plan on coming back.
There are other aspects of the hotel which I didn't cover, such as the spa, but this review is getting a little lengthy, so I'll cut it short here.
If you are planning a trip to Hawaii soon, do yourself a favor and stay at the Andaz!
Upon arriving, you will be greeted by the valet staff. Valet is mandatory and costs $30/day, however there are no resort fees at this hotel which somewhat makes up for this.
We were all given very beautiful real flower leis and instructed to leave our luggage in the car. We were then escorted to the open-air lobby and introduced to a young lady carrying an iPad who would be checking us in. She offered us freshly made lavender lemonade and gave us a brief tour of the lobby. The lobby itself is absolutely gorgeous and jaw dropping. It is situated on the 5th floor and overlooks the entire hotel grounds.
As we admired the view, our attendant acknowledged my Diamond status and informed me that we had been upgraded to a partial ocean-view room. I asked if there were any full ocean-view rooms available, but was told that all had been sold already. She went on to explain that we would be entitled to complimentary breakfast buffet at the hotel's restaurant, Ka'ana Kitchen, a $45 dollar per person value. We were then escorted to our room which was on the 4th floor overlooking the tranquility pool. The view was very nice, but I still would have preferred a fuller view of the ocean on a higher floor. Shortly thereafter, our luggage was brought up along with refillable water bottles for us to use. Purified water stations were located on all even-numbered floors.
The room is very modern with plenty of USB charging outlets. The shades open and close automatically with the touch of a button. The bathroom has a very strange layout, but I grew to love it over the course of my stay. Shutters divide the shower and bathtub from the main living area. If opened, you can admire the view while bathing. The shower is a rain-shower which I found to be fantastic. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are complimentary and refilled daily. We were left a pitcher of ice cold water and our beds were turned down nightly as part of the Diamond benefits.
Each morning we dined at the Ka'ana Kitchen. The buffet is one of the best you will ever experience. A wide range of pastries, fruit, charcuterie, as well as many hot selections inspired by American and Asian cuisines. If you don't see something to your liking, just ask. They will literally make you anything you want. Steak? No problem. Hamburger? Why not. There is also a juicer on staff that prepares freshly squeezed juice concoctions daily, and will even make custom smoothies if desired. Diamond members may also order half portions of all menu items if the buffet is not to your liking. Alcoholic beverages and tips were also removed from our bill, so my advice would be to save some money and get drunk at breakfast!
The pools and beach crew were all fantastic. Upon arriving at the pool, you will be asked to pick out a chair so that they may set it up with towels. You will also be offered complimentary sunscreen. The drinks and food at the pool bars are very expensive, but I wouldn't expect anything different at a hotel of this caliber. Most drinks are $16 and the food ranges around $12-$20. The bartenders are top notch and use only freshly squeezed juices in the cocktails. I sampled several of their specialty drinks and was never once disappointed. The food was also very good, but it's hard to justify paying $12 for a small order of onion rings.
Chairs and umbrellas at the beach are provided free of charge. Several times we were offered cold towels and frozen grapes and strawberries. The stretch of beach at this hotel is superb. The sand is fine like powder and not rocky at all. Snorkeling is offered for $10 a day which I highly recommend. We walked right into the water into reefs covered with tropical fish and sea turtles. Paddle boarding is also offered for $40/hour. Other activities like surfing lessons and outriggers are offered, but we didn't partake.
We also dined at the hotel's other restaurant, Morimoto. We were fortunate enough to have Mr. Morimoto at the restaurant the night we dined. He was very friendly and took several pictures with us. The food is very expensive, but definitely worth the cost in my opinion. It was one of the best meals I've ever eaten, and definitely the best meal of the trip.
Overall, I can't recommend this hotel enough. It is a real steal at 22,000 Hyatt points a night. The employees really go out of their way to make you feel at home. Anything at all that you need will be provided at the drop of a hat. I was on a first name basis with many of the employees by the end of my stay. It was really hard to leave, and I definitely plan on coming back.
There are other aspects of the hotel which I didn't cover, such as the spa, but this review is getting a little lengthy, so I'll cut it short here.
If you are planning a trip to Hawaii soon, do yourself a favor and stay at the Andaz!
Dec 17, 2013, 3:04 pm
#521
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,171
Very nice review Salvag! i'll be there in a couple of months and aminterested in the snorkling. I'm not a great swimmer and my daughter is 4 yos and she will want to try it. Could we litterally walk out and see fish and turtle or do we really need to swim out a ways? I was hoping to be able to walk out and hold her to see the fishes. I guess I can put a life vest on her and get her out. I haven't snorkel before but have heard that there are some reefs you can just walk out to and see fishes swim underneath you.
Dec 17, 2013, 4:19 pm
#522
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 754
Very nice review Salvag! i'll be there in a couple of months and aminterested in the snorkling. I'm not a great swimmer and my daughter is 4 yos and she will want to try it. Could we litterally walk out and see fish and turtle or do we really need to swim out a ways? I was hoping to be able to walk out and hold her to see the fishes. I guess I can put a life vest on her and get her out. I haven't snorkel before but have heard that there are some reefs you can just walk out to and see fishes swim underneath you.
I'd recommend renting one of these from Snorkel Bob's. $6.50/day, within walking distance of the Andaz.
If your child isn't a strong swimmer, be very careful. We liked the Stearns Puddle Jumper. USCG approved as a flotation device. Amazon link.
Dec 17, 2013, 7:57 pm
#523
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 42
Very nice review Salvag! i'll be there in a couple of months and aminterested in the snorkling. I'm not a great swimmer and my daughter is 4 yos and she will want to try it. Could we litterally walk out and see fish and turtle or do we really need to swim out a ways? I was hoping to be able to walk out and hold her to see the fishes. I guess I can put a life vest on her and get her out. I haven't snorkel before but have heard that there are some reefs you can just walk out to and see fishes swim underneath you.
Dec 18, 2013, 9:25 am
#524
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: MEM
Programs: DL PM, AA Plat, SPG Plat, HH Diamond, WN Companion
Posts: 62
Review - early October 5 night Stay
This is a couple months after the fact, but I wanted to contribute to the very helpful forums, so here goes -
My wife & I had a 5 night stay at the Andaz Maui as part of a week-long visit to Hawai'i. After 3 nights on Oahu, we flew to Maui, picked up our stereotypical Mustang Convertible, and drove down to Wailea. Our trip was the first to Hawai'i for my wife, and my first since childhood.
To get it out there first, as everybody else who has seen the photos or been there will attest, the lobby and view at the Andaz is simply jaw-dropping. Impressive, stylish, other hyperbole, etcetera, amazing, and so on.
The experience of pulling up, having a flock of helpful employees greet us, mild chaos, and so on, is really indicative of the staff at this property in general - when we were there it was clear they were not close to capacity, folks were fresh to their jobs (and the hotel industry in many cases), were incredibly chatty, warm, and helpful. And as a result of the guest/staff ratio, there was always a LOT of help available.
We were given tuberose leis - the nicest leis I've ever seen, and smelled beautiful for days afterwards. Check in was lovely, iPad equipped staff in a beautiful setting, welcome beverages provided, sitting on the swank furniture, amazing view. Overview of the resort provided, late check out agreed to, amenities & dining options explained, water bottles given out, and personally walked to our room.
And what a room - we were on the introductory (and shoulder season) cash price (I was hoarding GP points for a NYC trip this month) and therefore also had the chance to apply my last CSA of the year - and well worth it.
I may try to add some photos later, but it was pretty apparent that we had a suite in the same position as the one Mommy Points had reviewed earlier - on the end of the building closest to the ocean, facing away from the main pool complex... in other words, if you looked past the roofs of the villas, a completely ideal view.
The suite was pretty awesome looking - as others have mentioned, the furniture was a little "form over function" but I didn't think it was as uncomfortable as described. The couch was great for watching TV (for the little I did) but would not be ideal for napping on. The balcony hanging chair (appeared to be only on suite balconies) was great, the other balcony furniture could definitely use cushions for long periods.
We loved the room controls, the bathroom in general, especially the shower... pretty great, and very cool looking. The tub basically turned into a towel rack
The snack/beverage fridge was nicely filled, and thankfully I love Kind Bars Not quite the variety I've enjoyed at say, the NYC Andaz'. WiFi was plenty quick. We also heavily utilized the water bottles during the trip - great touch. The sandals we were more ambivalent on, but loved the beach bag they came in.
As others have mentioned, housekeeping was very spotty - we had to ask specifically several times to have them refill our fridge & snacks (including not-complimentary beverages) and their completeness in following up on the 'service' light was poor - without a doubt the low-point in service at the property.
Also - during check-in, they of course asked what Diamond amenity I would like - we were offered an in-room Mai Tai cart service as our food/beverage option, which we happily chose. Upon our call, they sent up a lovely woman and very cool portable bar cart to make us fresh Mai Tai's from scratch (squeezing, zesting, etc). Very tasty, very cool experience - definitely the most interesting & memorable Diamond Amenity I've ever had, and set a great tone for the stay.
We at at Ka'ana Kitchen each morning - our excitement over it went from 'blown away' on the first morning to (as others have mentioned) a little more bored by the end of 5 days. The food offerings were really awesome, but to get the full value of the 'experience' out of it, you really do have to ask for things - whether it's custom juice concoctions, eggs your way, off menu items, etc. By Day 3, the staff were getting used to seeing us and started making suggestions or trying things our on us - as an example, one day the manager asked if we'd like to try the bacon pancakes the chef was experimenting with (Umm, yes please) and they were fantastic! Another great example was the Fruit Guy, who would cut up fresh whatever you wanted - and which was typically much more tasty than the stuff lying out. All in all, great and original breakfast - as Diamonds, a true highlight of the trip - otherwise I'd probably be happy paying for it 1-2 times out of 5 days.
We also ate at the 24hr market - or more accurately grabbed flatbreads for our balcony one night - again tasty, great staff, and I really like the idea of combining the market/gift shop/24hr food service into one location for a hotel this size.
Morimoto was still being worked on during our stay - as compensation, we did get to see the filming of some part of Top Chef - we spotted Tom Colicchio on set, in addition to lots of crew/staff around the property during the last couple days of our stay.
We loved the bar vibe in the evenings - great solo musician/singer playing, food & drinks were very nice, though pricey - but with the view, it could become a quality hang out in the area.
The pool complex is pretty amazing - the view from the lowest of the 3 infinity pools (which also has the potentially-too-small-for-the-whole-complex-when-full hot tub) was fantastic. The bottom zero-entry pool is clearly the one best aimed at kids, and was very nice. The staff manning the area did a great job of getting you set up, asking for drinks/food, and offering ice water, etc.
The beach staff were great- really nice guys, good energy, and a real luxury honestly - umbrellas planted, spotlessly clean loungers, super friendly. This was probably the #1 thing we loved that we didn't know about going in.
We did the complimentary "outrigger experience" one morning and really enjoyed it - great guide, very mellow, saw several sea turtles swimming under the canoe, and got some great pictures. If we return with family, we would definitely think very seriously about doing the charter trip with pro photographer.
We did have a billing problem on the last day - when I checked our folio, I was being charged the full price for the suite, as opposed to the room rate - their computer didn't recognize my suite upgrade. When I called and asked, the staff basically acted horrified and told me they'd fix it... upon checkout they credited my account as an adjustment to get the rate to where it should have been and said they would work with GP later to get their accounting figured out - which honestly, was a totally fine resolution as far as I was concerned.
You'll also note I'm not complaining about the parking - we would call down just before walking out of the room, the staff were great, had our car ready by the time we got there, with top up or down based on their guess on the weather/time of day. Yes, $30 a day is stiff stuff, but we knew what we were in for, and although I would have taken a self parking option if available, it is what it is - at least there's no 'resort fee' on top of it.
All in all, a GREAT stay at an awesome property - it was very interesting to see how Hyatt is trying to not only branch out into the Andaz brand (which I've enjoyed at several other properties for work and recreation) but now stretching into resorts... we liked it well enough that when we go to Costa Rica next year, the new Andaz will be high on our list to try out.
My wife & I had a 5 night stay at the Andaz Maui as part of a week-long visit to Hawai'i. After 3 nights on Oahu, we flew to Maui, picked up our stereotypical Mustang Convertible, and drove down to Wailea. Our trip was the first to Hawai'i for my wife, and my first since childhood.
To get it out there first, as everybody else who has seen the photos or been there will attest, the lobby and view at the Andaz is simply jaw-dropping. Impressive, stylish, other hyperbole, etcetera, amazing, and so on.
The experience of pulling up, having a flock of helpful employees greet us, mild chaos, and so on, is really indicative of the staff at this property in general - when we were there it was clear they were not close to capacity, folks were fresh to their jobs (and the hotel industry in many cases), were incredibly chatty, warm, and helpful. And as a result of the guest/staff ratio, there was always a LOT of help available.
We were given tuberose leis - the nicest leis I've ever seen, and smelled beautiful for days afterwards. Check in was lovely, iPad equipped staff in a beautiful setting, welcome beverages provided, sitting on the swank furniture, amazing view. Overview of the resort provided, late check out agreed to, amenities & dining options explained, water bottles given out, and personally walked to our room.
And what a room - we were on the introductory (and shoulder season) cash price (I was hoarding GP points for a NYC trip this month) and therefore also had the chance to apply my last CSA of the year - and well worth it.
I may try to add some photos later, but it was pretty apparent that we had a suite in the same position as the one Mommy Points had reviewed earlier - on the end of the building closest to the ocean, facing away from the main pool complex... in other words, if you looked past the roofs of the villas, a completely ideal view.
The suite was pretty awesome looking - as others have mentioned, the furniture was a little "form over function" but I didn't think it was as uncomfortable as described. The couch was great for watching TV (for the little I did) but would not be ideal for napping on. The balcony hanging chair (appeared to be only on suite balconies) was great, the other balcony furniture could definitely use cushions for long periods.
We loved the room controls, the bathroom in general, especially the shower... pretty great, and very cool looking. The tub basically turned into a towel rack
The snack/beverage fridge was nicely filled, and thankfully I love Kind Bars
Not quite the variety I've enjoyed at say, the NYC Andaz'. WiFi was plenty quick. We also heavily utilized the water bottles during the trip - great touch. The sandals we were more ambivalent on, but loved the beach bag they came in.As others have mentioned, housekeeping was very spotty - we had to ask specifically several times to have them refill our fridge & snacks (including not-complimentary beverages) and their completeness in following up on the 'service' light was poor - without a doubt the low-point in service at the property.
Also - during check-in, they of course asked what Diamond amenity I would like - we were offered an in-room Mai Tai cart service as our food/beverage option, which we happily chose. Upon our call, they sent up a lovely woman and very cool portable bar cart to make us fresh Mai Tai's from scratch (squeezing, zesting, etc). Very tasty, very cool experience - definitely the most interesting & memorable Diamond Amenity I've ever had, and set a great tone for the stay.
We at at Ka'ana Kitchen each morning - our excitement over it went from 'blown away' on the first morning to (as others have mentioned) a little more bored by the end of 5 days. The food offerings were really awesome, but to get the full value of the 'experience' out of it, you really do have to ask for things - whether it's custom juice concoctions, eggs your way, off menu items, etc. By Day 3, the staff were getting used to seeing us and started making suggestions or trying things our on us - as an example, one day the manager asked if we'd like to try the bacon pancakes the chef was experimenting with (Umm, yes please) and they were fantastic! Another great example was the Fruit Guy, who would cut up fresh whatever you wanted - and which was typically much more tasty than the stuff lying out. All in all, great and original breakfast - as Diamonds, a true highlight of the trip - otherwise I'd probably be happy paying for it 1-2 times out of 5 days.
We also ate at the 24hr market - or more accurately grabbed flatbreads for our balcony one night - again tasty, great staff, and I really like the idea of combining the market/gift shop/24hr food service into one location for a hotel this size.
Morimoto was still being worked on during our stay - as compensation, we did get to see the filming of some part of Top Chef - we spotted Tom Colicchio on set, in addition to lots of crew/staff around the property during the last couple days of our stay.
We loved the bar vibe in the evenings - great solo musician/singer playing, food & drinks were very nice, though pricey - but with the view, it could become a quality hang out in the area.
The pool complex is pretty amazing - the view from the lowest of the 3 infinity pools (which also has the potentially-too-small-for-the-whole-complex-when-full hot tub) was fantastic. The bottom zero-entry pool is clearly the one best aimed at kids, and was very nice. The staff manning the area did a great job of getting you set up, asking for drinks/food, and offering ice water, etc.
The beach staff were great- really nice guys, good energy, and a real luxury honestly - umbrellas planted, spotlessly clean loungers, super friendly. This was probably the #1 thing we loved that we didn't know about going in.
We did the complimentary "outrigger experience" one morning and really enjoyed it - great guide, very mellow, saw several sea turtles swimming under the canoe, and got some great pictures. If we return with family, we would definitely think very seriously about doing the charter trip with pro photographer.
We did have a billing problem on the last day - when I checked our folio, I was being charged the full price for the suite, as opposed to the room rate - their computer didn't recognize my suite upgrade. When I called and asked, the staff basically acted horrified and told me they'd fix it... upon checkout they credited my account as an adjustment to get the rate to where it should have been and said they would work with GP later to get their accounting figured out - which honestly, was a totally fine resolution as far as I was concerned.
You'll also note I'm not complaining about the parking - we would call down just before walking out of the room, the staff were great, had our car ready by the time we got there, with top up or down based on their guess on the weather/time of day. Yes, $30 a day is stiff stuff, but we knew what we were in for, and although I would have taken a self parking option if available, it is what it is - at least there's no 'resort fee' on top of it.
All in all, a GREAT stay at an awesome property - it was very interesting to see how Hyatt is trying to not only branch out into the Andaz brand (which I've enjoyed at several other properties for work and recreation) but now stretching into resorts... we liked it well enough that when we go to Costa Rica next year, the new Andaz will be high on our list to try out.
Dec 18, 2013, 10:48 am
#525
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,171
You're probably not able to go out and watch a lot of fish under you, because you'd be standing on the coral.
I'd recommend renting one of these from Snorkel Bob's. $6.50/day, within walking distance of the Andaz.
If your child isn't a strong swimmer, be very careful. We liked the Stearns Puddle Jumper. USCG approved as a flotation device. Amazon link.
I'd recommend renting one of these from Snorkel Bob's. $6.50/day, within walking distance of the Andaz.
If your child isn't a strong swimmer, be very careful. We liked the Stearns Puddle Jumper. USCG approved as a flotation device. Amazon link.