Seattlenerd

I had the same offer on my first trip to Maui, nearly a decade ago. It's a good deal.

mrstraveler

Please, any owner that would like to refer PM me.

stargazer10

I was upgraded last October as a Platinum. I booked two island view studios with points and ended up with a connected ocean view 1BR and studio. It helps to go during the off season, and to be very specific about what you want (connecting rooms were important to us).

The upgrade isn't guaranteed, of course. If you want guaranteed connecting rooms I'd either book with the extra points or deal directly with a timeshare owner (through redweek etc.).

The connecting rooms are really two separate units (often with a short hallway in between) so not ideal if you are planning to have kids in one unit and adults in the other. Otherwise the villas are great for traveling with kids.

I think the owners check in/out on Saturdays so sticking with that schedule may give the resort more flexibility to upgrade you...but be aware that there can be more lines at the front desk on Saturdays.

sparkzone

lookin for referral as well, please pm

TIA

YYJMSP

You booked with SPG points, right? So a different set of rules apply to your booking than to those booked using ownership, as those units came out of a different "pool" (weeks owned by SVO, or weeks converted by owners to SPG points).

Normal ownership (using home resort at 12-8 months out) check-in days are Fri/Sat/Sun; however, it is possible to check-in/out on other days if your booking is for more than a week (using StarOptions at less than 8 months out) -- either your check-in or check-out (but not both) have to fall on a Fri/Sat/Sun in that situation. If you booked for less than a week (StarOptions at less than 90 days out), any day is possible.

YYJMSP

Gotta remember that SVO owns some of those units directly, or was given use of them when an owner converted their week to SPG points, or through denied use if the owner didn't pay their MFs.

As long as they are keeping the unit pools completely self-contained (there is some speculation that SVO may be cherry-picking the good weeks/rooms/etc, as the process is not transparent to owners), they can happily upgrade away, etc. without impact to owners, as our unit pools are different.

Same issues apply to exchangers via II getting anything other than an Island View unit...

YYJMSP

I seem to recall seeing one at the Sheraton.

All of the major car rental companies have a location just up the highway before the regional airport -- they'll come pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, just call their local number.

The shuttle runs two loops, one (every 30mins?) between the two hotels and the villas and a second (every hour?) that heads in to Lahaina (stops at the Hilo Hattie I think it was) with stops at the Cannery Mall and the other mall across the street from there (can't remember the name of it)

milemission

I'd like to have some idea about the choice of 5000 Starpoints vs $75 resort certificate. Are the food and service in the resort over-priced and we can easily find restaurant elsewhere?

Thank you!

Seattlenerd

If you have a car, you can easily find food and beverage elsewhere. But the prepared food in the on-site "market" isn't horribly overpriced compared to other close options, as I recall.

The Starpoints would need to be redeemable at 1.5 cents per point or more to make it equivalent. That can be relatively easy to do. But it boils down to convenience.

milemonkey

Any way I could use just the Avis part of the offer? If so, anyone willing to PM me?

milemission

Thank you!

Fizzer

A car certainly opens up more options but if all you want to do is sit on the beach and dine out then it is not absolutely necessary.Our personal impression was that Pulehu, the Italian restaurant on site was a little overpriced and overhyped. The two more casual eateries are typical resort prices but the food is fine for casual dining.

If neither of those work for you Dukes is a 5 minute walk north alomg the beach and there are other restaurants a 5-10 minute walk south in neighbouring resorts. You can also catch the free shuttles to both Whaler's Village or Lahaina where you will have plenty of choices in all price ranges.

This link is to the Vacation Owners website and provides some photos and information that may be a little more detailed than on the spg.com or westin.com sites. It's a great resort and I would recommend it.

http://www.starwoodvacationnetwork.c...-villas-north/

milemission

Appreciated!

susan6103

We are island view owners here and SPG Gold.
We were upgraded to full ocean front upon checkin week (Easter week to boot!). The views this morning are stunning.

Si_Ting_ca

We were just there in July 2012 via a similar offer from Westin Vacations (mailer received in mid 2011), the only difference is we were offered 7,000 points the last time and we're only offered 5,000 points this time.

I don't really care cuz it's still a great deal $798 (no tax) for 6 nights plus $70 in taxes for a car is a darn good deal!!!

Before I get too excited, has anyone else gotten 2 offers in a roll and subsequently had their offer rescinded because they were given one within the last 2 years?