Westin Ka'anapali Ocean resort villas [Master Thread]
Oct 19, 2005, 11:41 am
#46
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Boulder, CO. 80302
Programs: UA MM 1K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 65
Not much luck
There may be a difference since we own 2 OceanFront weeks. There are only 12 of these, perhaps it is due to there being so few of these units??? So, I paid a LOT more money to be told no. I was unable to get time for next June or next August when I called during the 4 month owners only reservation timeframe...
Oct 19, 2005, 12:48 pm
#47
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Programs: AA PLT, SPG GLD, PC PLT SPIRE
Posts: 4,531
[QUOTE=smcmona]
Can the villas that are being sold as hotel rooms be booked using points for award stays? Or are they only available for paying customers (i.e. not availalbe because they are not a standard room and not available as an upgrade using more points)?
We are planning a Hawaii vacation for early 2006 and I would like to have stayed in a villa in Maui (kitchen is convenient for having two kids) but we ended up reserving two rooms at the Sheraton Kauaii.
Originally Posted by sfbenning
...The way I understand it is that the number of villas available to owners is based upon the number that have been sold. The remainder of the inventory is sold as hotel rooms...
We are planning a Hawaii vacation for early 2006 and I would like to have stayed in a villa in Maui (kitchen is convenient for having two kids) but we ended up reserving two rooms at the Sheraton Kauaii.
Oct 19, 2005, 12:57 pm
#48
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
[QUOTE=onedog]
Can the villas that are being sold as hotel rooms be booked using points for award stays? Or are they only available for paying customers (i.e. not availalbe because they are not a standard room and not available as an upgrade using more points)?
We are planning a Hawaii vacation for early 2006 and I would like to have stayed in a villa in Maui (kitchen is convenient for having two kids) but we ended up reserving two rooms at the Sheraton Kauaii.
Not according to the Terms and Conditions of Membership in SPG. See sub-heading Starwood Vacation Ownership.
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
Originally Posted by smcmona
Can the villas that are being sold as hotel rooms be booked using points for award stays? Or are they only available for paying customers (i.e. not availalbe because they are not a standard room and not available as an upgrade using more points)?
We are planning a Hawaii vacation for early 2006 and I would like to have stayed in a villa in Maui (kitchen is convenient for having two kids) but we ended up reserving two rooms at the Sheraton Kauaii.
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
Jan 4, 2006, 11:06 am
#49
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 3
You sound like an advertisement for the property. I just stayed there a few weeks ago and had an aweful time. I booked 2 ocean view rooms that turned out to be facing a construction site. Don't get me wrong, if I bent over the railing a looked through the branched on the trees, I got a glimpse. I went to the front desk and all I got was a cold appology and informed that they weren't going to move me. By the way construction began every morning at 7am sharp - not quite how I had planned to awaken every morning.
On the second day, I want back to my room to pick something up and my door was proped wide open. I thought that housekeeping was in my room, but as it tourned out there was nobody in the room and nobody in the hall. I stood there for 15 minutes and still nobody showed up. Anyone could have had free access to my belongings. I called housekeeping and the manager came and appologized.
The food was some of the worst I had ever had at a Westin. The chicken was dry, the Filet was oreder med. rare and came to the table well done and was the smallest filet I had ever had - maybe an 1/8in thick and dry, dry, dry.
The grounds and the rooms are very nice and the kids had a great time but it didn't make up for all the other stuff that was bad.
On the second day, I want back to my room to pick something up and my door was proped wide open. I thought that housekeeping was in my room, but as it tourned out there was nobody in the room and nobody in the hall. I stood there for 15 minutes and still nobody showed up. Anyone could have had free access to my belongings. I called housekeeping and the manager came and appologized.
The food was some of the worst I had ever had at a Westin. The chicken was dry, the Filet was oreder med. rare and came to the table well done and was the smallest filet I had ever had - maybe an 1/8in thick and dry, dry, dry.
The grounds and the rooms are very nice and the kids had a great time but it didn't make up for all the other stuff that was bad.
Jan 19, 2006, 8:24 am
#50
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: ferndale, AR
Programs: spg platinum: aa platinum
Posts: 83
wow,
sounds like you had a terrible time. We have never experienced that and have been visiting Maui at different Westin properties at least once a year for almost 15 years. Thank your lucky stars you had decent weather in January - It can be really bad!! On your room view, according to hawaii state law, you did have an ocean view room. If you want an unobstructed view, you have to book ocean front. That great definition comes from Hawaii law, not Westin.
I would definitely write a letter to the villa manager, and detail all your problems, if not for own benefit, then so that they can address them and hopefully fix them for everyone who stays at the villas.
sounds like you had a terrible time. We have never experienced that and have been visiting Maui at different Westin properties at least once a year for almost 15 years. Thank your lucky stars you had decent weather in January - It can be really bad!! On your room view, according to hawaii state law, you did have an ocean view room. If you want an unobstructed view, you have to book ocean front. That great definition comes from Hawaii law, not Westin.
I would definitely write a letter to the villa manager, and detail all your problems, if not for own benefit, then so that they can address them and hopefully fix them for everyone who stays at the villas.
Originally Posted by Travel Mama
You sound like an advertisement for the property. I just stayed there a few weeks ago and had an aweful time. I booked 2 ocean view rooms that turned out to be facing a construction site. Don't get me wrong, if I bent over the railing a looked through the branched on the trees, I got a glimpse. I went to the front desk and all I got was a cold appology and informed that they weren't going to move me. By the way construction began every morning at 7am sharp - not quite how I had planned to awaken every morning.
On the second day, I want back to my room to pick something up and my door was proped wide open. I thought that housekeeping was in my room, but as it tourned out there was nobody in the room and nobody in the hall. I stood there for 15 minutes and still nobody showed up. Anyone could have had free access to my belongings. I called housekeeping and the manager came and appologized.
The food was some of the worst I had ever had at a Westin. The chicken was dry, the Filet was oreder med. rare and came to the table well done and was the smallest filet I had ever had - maybe an 1/8in thick and dry, dry, dry.
The grounds and the rooms are very nice and the kids had a great time but it didn't make up for all the other stuff that was bad.
On the second day, I want back to my room to pick something up and my door was proped wide open. I thought that housekeeping was in my room, but as it tourned out there was nobody in the room and nobody in the hall. I stood there for 15 minutes and still nobody showed up. Anyone could have had free access to my belongings. I called housekeeping and the manager came and appologized.
The food was some of the worst I had ever had at a Westin. The chicken was dry, the Filet was oreder med. rare and came to the table well done and was the smallest filet I had ever had - maybe an 1/8in thick and dry, dry, dry.
The grounds and the rooms are very nice and the kids had a great time but it didn't make up for all the other stuff that was bad.
Jan 19, 2006, 7:29 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: SPG Platinum,Hilton Diamond,Hyatt Diamond,WN Companion Pass, AA Plat, Hertz Plat
Posts: 226
Hi,
Thanks for all the great info. We are scheduled to stay at this property in March. Has anyone ever stayed in a room designated "Island View"? If so, was your room away from the construction?
Thanks for all the great info. We are scheduled to stay at this property in March. Has anyone ever stayed in a room designated "Island View"? If so, was your room away from the construction?
Jan 19, 2006, 11:21 pm
#52
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Starwood Gold, Starwood Owner - Maui and Scottsdale
Posts: 123
Originally Posted by onefreetraveler
Hi,
Thanks for all the great info. We are scheduled to stay at this property in March. Has anyone ever stayed in a room designated "Island View"? If so, was your room away from the construction?
Thanks for all the great info. We are scheduled to stay at this property in March. Has anyone ever stayed in a room designated "Island View"? If so, was your room away from the construction?
Bldg. A is the one closest to construction, Bldg. B is the one on the other side of the pool, and Bldg. C is the one closest to the Hwy. The building between A and B is the lobby.
Bldg. A - room #'s start with 2
Bldg. B - room #'s start with 3
Bldg. C - room #'s start with 4
Jan 20, 2006, 3:07 pm
#53
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cambria, CA
Programs: AA Plat, STW Plat, Hyatt Plat, Avis Pref
Posts: 185
Note to Travel Mama: You might consider writing to the property manager, however, if you're not an owner at Ka'anapali, you get the villas that haven't already been snapped up by the owners (translation -- oceanview facing construction and island view facing the highway). Also, if you were not happy with your meal, you should have dealt with it right then and not accepted a meal that wasn't up to snuff, just as you would in any restaurant. Finally, do a spell and grammar check before submitting your letter. You'll probably get a better response 
.
BTW, I am an owner at Ka'anapali but only every other year on the odd year. When I checked in about a week ago, I was dismayed to learn that I was booked into an island view villa since this is an even year. After a couple of days of heavy road noise, I decided to moved to another villa that had been offered the day I checked in but one I had declined because it wasn't as spacious. This one faces south and has a great view of Lanai'i and much less road noise.
Based on this experience, we were motivated to acquire an every other year unit at the new North complex currently slated to begin occupancy in 2007 and 2008. The preconstruction prices were't all that bad!
.BTW, I am an owner at Ka'anapali but only every other year on the odd year. When I checked in about a week ago, I was dismayed to learn that I was booked into an island view villa since this is an even year. After a couple of days of heavy road noise, I decided to moved to another villa that had been offered the day I checked in but one I had declined because it wasn't as spacious. This one faces south and has a great view of Lanai'i and much less road noise.
Based on this experience, we were motivated to acquire an every other year unit at the new North complex currently slated to begin occupancy in 2007 and 2008. The preconstruction prices were't all that bad!
Jan 20, 2006, 5:19 pm
#54
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: SPG Platinum,Hilton Diamond,Hyatt Diamond,WN Companion Pass, AA Plat, Hertz Plat
Posts: 226
Originally Posted by DeniseM
An island view room will most likely be in building C, which is away from construction, and probably won't have a view of the ocean. It is closer to the Hwy. At the bottom of this page there is a link to construction pictures - WKORV construction pictures
Bldg. A is the one closest to construction, Bldg. B is the one on the other side of the pool, and Bldg. C is the one closest to the Hwy. The building between A and B is the lobby.
Bldg. A - room #'s start with 2
Bldg. B - room #'s start with 3
Bldg. C - room #'s start with 4
Bldg. A is the one closest to construction, Bldg. B is the one on the other side of the pool, and Bldg. C is the one closest to the Hwy. The building between A and B is the lobby.
Bldg. A - room #'s start with 2
Bldg. B - room #'s start with 3
Bldg. C - room #'s start with 4
Thanks for all the great info!! While we may not have an ocean view it sounds like we should try to get something in Building C. I'm just not into construction noise waking me up at 7am.
I also looked at your webpage and found your photos and diary to be great!!
Aloha and Mahalo!!
Jan 22, 2006, 7:34 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,194
Originally Posted by onefreetraveler
Hi,
Thanks for all the great info. We are scheduled to stay at this property in March. Has anyone ever stayed in a room designated "Island View"? If so, was your room away from the construction?
Thanks for all the great info. We are scheduled to stay at this property in March. Has anyone ever stayed in a room designated "Island View"? If so, was your room away from the construction?
It's safe to say, though, that nearly any unit will either have a glimpse or a sound of the construction. It's quite extensive, and since it's just next door, audible. We did, even in building C this past October.
Jan 23, 2006, 7:26 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Boulder, CO. 80302
Programs: UA MM 1K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 65
Request the park side of bldg B
Originally Posted by DeniseM
An island view room will most likely be in building C, which is away from construction, and probably won't have a view of the ocean. It is closer to the Hwy. At the bottom of this page there is a link to construction pictures - WKORV construction pictures
Bldg. A is the one closest to construction, Bldg. B is the one on the other side of the pool, and Bldg. C is the one closest to the Hwy. The building between A and B is the lobby.
Bldg. A - room #'s start with 2
Bldg. B - room #'s start with 3
Bldg. C - room #'s start with 4
Bldg. A is the one closest to construction, Bldg. B is the one on the other side of the pool, and Bldg. C is the one closest to the Hwy. The building between A and B is the lobby.
Bldg. A - room #'s start with 2
Bldg. B - room #'s start with 3
Bldg. C - room #'s start with 4
Jan 29, 2006, 4:51 pm
#57
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: New York / New Jersey
Programs: *Wood Gold, Hyatt Plat, AA Gold, UA 1K
Posts: 178
We're heading there in August '06
Hopefully some of the loud noise will be over by then. What about the noise on the beach - was it audible? We are also planning a day trip to another island - any recommendations? We have been to Hawaii already and walked the volcano to the hot lava and will start the week in Honolulu.
Thanks in advance...
Thanks in advance...
Jan 30, 2006, 7:09 am
#58
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,194
Originally Posted by NJTravelers
Hopefully some of the loud noise will be over by then. What about the noise on the beach - was it audible? We are also planning a day trip to another island - any recommendations? We have been to Hawaii already and walked the volcano to the hot lava and will start the week in Honolulu.
Thanks in advance...
Thanks in advance...
The construction noise will, unfortunately, be going on for many more months.
Jan 30, 2006, 6:14 pm
#59
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Starwood Gold, Starwood Owner - Maui and Scottsdale
Posts: 123
Originally Posted by NJTravelers
We are also planning a day trip to another island - any recommendations? We have been to Hawaii already and walked the volcano to the hot lava and will start the week in Honolulu.
Thanks in advance...
Thanks in advance...
We really enjoyed our Trilogy II catamaran trip to Lanai, which leaves Lahaina at 10:30 a.m. and returns at sunset, as you sip champagne on the deck of the catamaran. It's pricy, but it is one of the best activities we have ever done in Hawaii.
Discover Lanai Sunset Sail
Or you can take a tour through the ferry company - Lanai Ferry Tours
We also had a great week on Molokai. Both islands are far less developed than the other islands, so if you go, you will want to do some research in advance and have a plan. Day-tours of both islands are also offered through the ferry company, and the Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) coloney on Molokai is also a fascinating and touching trip. If you visit Molokai, I would recommend that you join an organized tour, because the ferry returns to Maui fairly early (4:00) and if you are on your own, it would be easy to waste a lot of time trying to figure out where to go and how to get there. If you can squeeze in an extra night or 2 and stay on Molokai, it would be even better.
Molokai Ferry
Feb 21, 2006, 6:57 pm
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: United MM- Marriott Titanium - Air France/KLM Flying Blue Platinum
Posts: 4,835
Just came back from a week at the villas.. was assigned a villa on building B with a nice view of Black Rock.. This is my third stay as an owner and for the first time, I was not impressed.. The property was full last week and the commun areas were very very crowded.. they added reclining chairs on the lawns around the pool. Construction is going full force next door on the new generation villas and the salespeople are working overtime to sale that new baby.. Countless amount of people touring the property and receiving the same speech (counted 18 in 15 minutes one morning while sipping my coffee in the lobby !). Food was very inconsistent.. stay with the burger and you will be safe.. Had my usual sales presentation for owners (only 4500 starpoints this year compare to 10000 last year to attend).. They now have an elite system for owners depending on how many weeks you own.. You can get Platinum for life if you own 4 or more weeks.. Didn't bite and the sales guy was really pest, barely escorting us out.. bad attitude..
Lots of whales !!!
Lots of whales !!!