Originally Posted by
HIFlya
I am a Hyatt guy, but I just wanted to make sure you understood what you are getting into with HR Waikiki. My wife, in spite of the HR hosting our wedding and the only room we ever experienced was one of their comp'd top floor suites, doesn't want to stay at the HR for a staycation even with the lounge benefits which I have tried to sell to her numerous times. When I asked her why, she said that the HR just feels too crowded. I have been to the Marriott for dinners, and their property has a MUCH larger footprint than HR, so if you are like my wife and the feel/crowdedness of the property is important to you, this might be food for thought.
Of course, my wife is also not a fan of spending a staycation at the HHV, and so we spend our FNAs from the Aspires on neighbor islands at Waikoloa and next spring at Grand Wailea. So what she desires for a staycation may be a lot different than what you are looking for in a property.
I think we live in a smallish townhouse, so she is looking for something completely different when we actually staycation, and our mainland trips are usually filled with stays at HPs and HHs.
Thank you for the warning. Unfortunately, NOTHING will come close to the Sheraton benefits when they were with Starwood and Kelly Sanders was the GM. Here are just a few:
- Elite check in: usually 2 agents dedicated to elite line and if the line wasn’t moving fast enough, a FDA from the non-elite line would invite you to their counter.
- upgraded to a 1000 sq ft suite 90-95% of the time (no SNAs required), sometimes I had to wait a day for a suite to open up (I always had an ocean front room as a bare minimum even though I always booked the cheapest city view room with a BRG)
- late checkout as late as I wanted (if the suite was needed, they would offer me a regular room around 1 pm where I could move my things and shower later in the day).
- welcome gift in the room (large fruit platter, cheese plate, etc)
- additionally, gift bag that you fill yourself at the gift shop (they still do this)
- front row seats at the Edge pool for Plat members that could be reserved months in advance.
- pool staff would hand out frozen grapes, POG juice and clean your sunglasses
- the most incredible large penthouse lounge with stunning views of Diamond Head at sunrise, as well as fabulous sunset views.
- large hot and cold selection in the lounge at breakfast and dinner (free wine and beer in evenings)
- waived resort fees until very recently.
So it doesn’t matter where I go, I will probably be disappointed, even though the new Sherriott has set the bar very low, so maybe not! I’ve also never stayed at the Marriott Waikiki so can’t compare that. (Moana Surfrider was my second favorite hotel.) I figure that if I’m going to try the HR, I might as well do it while I have Glob status. But I do appreciate the heads up.
I’m pretty attached to Oahu/Waikiki. Some people hate it, but I love the night life, the large commercial area, the tiki torches and the proximity of everything I enjoy.