Originally Posted by
alanslegal
Have some flights on hold to go back to Honolulu for the 7th time (coming in from Australia), and after reading this thread, the MS and RH threads - I am feeling uninspired by these properties. It seems like there is a minimal chance of suite upgrades (virtually zero when we get there over the Xmas/NYE period, even as Titaniums), while previously suites at the SW, oceanfront suites in the MS Tower Building (I don't like the Banyan wing; instead I would prefer to go to the RH and stay in a Garden view room), and ocean view upgrades at the RH was likely a few years back.
Then the actual provision of a continental breakfast only, and upselling for an entree at the properties, the hiring of chairs for a fee (yes has been around for a while now) but asking $70per chair / per day ... its nickel and diming in the truest sense. Maybe I will just cancel and go to Asia, at least for the cost of 2 beachchairs, I get a reasonable hotel, with excellent asian service, who will go above and beyond.
Waikiki strip hotels are generally not the place to be going if you're looking for a seamless, high quality, welcoming, low stress experience without nickel and diming. The holiday season takes that problem and amplifies it 10x. Maui won't be much better, and higher end resorts on the Big Island are sold out long ago for the festive season period and generally require a 10 night minimum stay.
So unfortunately I need to agree that another destination is probably a better choice. It's not totally the Sheraton's fault - you'll experience the same everywhere, even the Halekulani won't be stress free.