FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui [Master Thread]
Old Jan 12, 2024 | 3:56 pm
  #362  
ac/elite
30 Countries Visited
2M
80 Nights
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Platinum, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,144
Originally Posted by AustinFlyer76
I just finished a stay there. I'm lifetime titanium and active current year with 120 stays too. My best summary for the RC Maui/Kapalua is the resort itself is gorgeous, but you need completely zero expectations that you'll get any benefit from Bonvoy status. No recognition at check-in. Not even the standard "thank you for your status." And this was our 3rd stay at this property too, so i was floored.
Zero upgrade given. I was told there was a residence property that was available for upgrade and it was "$900/night but with my status she could do $750 per night." Still only a partial ocean view room. so just bigger sq ft, at $3500 more for the stay over what i already shelled out with points and cash.
Biggest frustration for me to share the heads-up, when i booked, on the marriott site and my email confirmation, there was nothing that indicated my room i picked with a cash upgrade charge gave the new Lounge as a per person charge. Her check-in process told me our 13yr old daughter was going to cost me another $100/day to get lounge access. I said 'huh'? i booked a room clearly with 2 adults and 1 child and paid for a view upgrade that came with Lounge access. Showed her the email and had to challenge why i disagreed with this. Reminded her of my lifetime titanium status and just thought she would smile and recognize this was silly but allow all 3 of us access. nope. she had to go back into a room to talk to a manager twice! finally the charge was removed/not applied begrudgingly. Yes - i use that word. It was a rather mortifying checkin experience to be challenged so vocally about a charge i was never told i was going to have.

checkout: this is post Sentry golf tourney and post xmas holiday, so kids are back in school. Hotel was a ghost town the last full day and even more scarce on my checkout day. I went to the desk and asked if i could get a late checkout. Was told no. I asked if she could check again with my status please and i got a "i can give you 1 extra hour to 1:00.". no hospitality room offer, nothing.

So IMO, there was just less than zero acknowledgement of anything with Bonvoy status here. truly disappointing. the hotel is a ritz in maui. so as a guest, it's great. as a guest that only gives 120 nights a year to have points for hotels like this, it's frustrating. So much that we are a 11 time visit to Maui and 3 to that Ritz - my wife even said she wouldn't go back to that property.

if you are looking to pay for an upgraded room, my $.02 on the new "firepit rooms" also did not seem worth it. the pictures are amazing and they imply it's a new building area and those are really upgraded rooms now. They aren't. mostly the east side wing ground floor rooms got a new flagstone patio extension with a pergola and a firepit and better flowers/landscaping. So the room is the same, its the outdoor patio that is visually better. But they are ground level, not elevated with ocean views at all. In our 5 days there, i never say one room even use their firepit. I almost grabbed one of these rooms during the website browsing and very glad i didn't pay the crazy upgrade $$.

if it helps - the Marriott Wailea beach is where we stayed first for a week. 4 coupons for Mai Tais, vouchers daily at starbucks or their coffee shop for continental breakfast, room upgrade, chocolates of the day that my daughter loved to get at the front desk. I'm sure there were other benefits i can't even remember. Just such a great stay and felt so appreciated every single day from checkin arrival (ex: knew my name and gave us juice/champagne before even getting in line - vs RC that did nothing of the sort) until checkout.

have a great stay - again, it's still the RC in maui. so it's awesome. But just be aware. enjoy the awesome as a guest. They don't care anything about your status at that property.
I also just completed a stay and had a completely different experience. I was booked into the lowest room category on points, during Sentry. My lifetime Titanium status was acknowledged at checkin and we were upgraded to a one bedroom residential suite. Technically a garden view, but the lanais had ocean views.
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