Jasper2009

My guess would be that the hotel has imposed a minimum stay requirement for all bookings made via the website/GDS/similar channels, and this restriction may not be applicable when booking via any of the points portals you mentioned.

Just a guess, but such restrictions are imposed my many hotels during the holidays/special dates.

Mary2e

That week also includes President's Day on Feb 18th, and would explain why the hotel set a minimum stay.

somogyi03

Currently at the keal lani. Originally had a mountainside suite confirmed using my free nights and suite upgrades. Upon check-in asked about an upgrade. We were offered a 3 bedroom villa for $500/n. We previous stayed in the villa during renovations a year ago and payed around$1100.00/n. we took it because we love the villas!!!( and I am on a business trip). The hotel is near capacity currently.

qbrain

Was that an additional $500/night, or $500/night total?

somogyi03

Each night was $500 for a total of $1000 for a 3 bedroom ocean view view for two nights

pickles1107

Same experience as others. Redeeming 4 nights of Chase certs here (mine + wifes). Originally booked into a mountain view, called to apply suite upgrade and was upgraded to Garden View. I have called 3 times to inquire about a Partial Ocean View suite to no avail. Even offered to pay the difference in price...they said it cannot be done.

With that said, is it a waste of a suite upgrade to go from Mountain view to garden view?

Mary2e

I contacted them and asked to use 2 suite upgrades to get the better view and they agreed. They confirmed us into partical ocean but we ended up with full ocean.

pickles1107

We are using our other suite upgrade at the Fairmont Orchid for the last part of the trip.

Snow Goose

Definitely a much better use for the certificate.

SG

pickles1107

I agree!
Using in conjunction with a 3rd night free cert, I booked a winter saver room rate of $279 for 2 paid nights. Cheapest suite available now for my dates is $1054/night.

qbrain

Are you calling the hotel directly or the Fairmont reservations? Are ocean view rooms available for your dates?

Dealing with the hotel directly, if there are rooms available, I am surprised they won't offer you a paid upgrade. If there is a strong possibility of selling out, it makes sense to hold ocean view rooms back. Maybe the policy has changed since the last time I booked a room, or maybe the upgrade policy at the hotel specifically excludes Chase free nights.

I have never stayed in a Mountain or Garden, but the suites are almost all identical (the Kilohana suite is different in that it has more windows and a wrap around lanai). My guess, looking at the http://behindthecockpit.files.wordpr...4/img_2595.jpg is that the lowest level would be overlooking the parking lot while the next level up would be looking north from the north wing or south from the south wing. Not going to have much view, but on the north side, you will be able to enjoy a shaded balcony all day when you want to get out of the sun. Each semi circle on that map is a lanai, so there are no rooms where there are no semicircles.

I always have leftover suite upgrades, so waste wouldn't be the word I would use. It certainly isn't an awesome value saving hundreds of dollars a day.

pickles1107

I tried once with the central reservations and twice with in-house reservations. We are checking in on Easter, so maybe there is some merit in holding rooms back(?) Partial ocean view rooms are still available on the website direct ($709/night).

I mentioned that I knew of other people using the suite upgrade cert to get into a POV room, the nice lady told me that they recategorized the suites and now have a suite tier that wasn't there before. They also told me that ordinarily I could "pay the difference" (my words, not theirs), but not when redeeming the Chase certificates.

Both in-house reservationists happily made notes on my reservation requesting an upgrade to POV at check-in.

pancakex

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ac/elite

The rooms were renovated in the last two years or so. To each his own, but I think the rooms are very nice and I love this property.

josephstern

I think there are two issues here:

-The hallways are dim and institutional and feel like a WWII bunker.

-The rooms are pretty fresh and large and new(ish) and are quite nice.

You spend a lot less time in the hallways, depressing as they are. I'm OK with the trade-off.

I have to say, I just got back from my second trip there, with kids, in one suite. It really works quite well. And I think I even prefer the grounds to the 4S and the Grand Wailea. At the 4S everyone is packed in like sardines at the pool (with that ridiculous and loud fountain in the middle), although they do have great restaurants. And at the Grand Wailea, there is no serenity at all, although for very young kids, the water features might be nice.

I'd be happy to do the Fairmont again, no question.

Biggest problem there was actually the water pressure. I'm sure they could change it, but likely have it low for conservation reasons. But it is LOW. And coupled with their creamy soap, you feel like you need an hour in the shower to make any progress.

And, yet, I'm sure the water saved in the sinks and showers is nothing in comparison to how much they use to wash the barge-load of pool towels they go through everyday.

Tip for sandy swimsuits: use the bath faucet. It has real pressure.