Alternatives to FHR booking with late flight out of OGG?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 498
Alternatives to FHR booking with late flight out of OGG?
We're doing a quick 48-hour trip to Maui after a timeshare week in Kauai -- found cheap UA first class seats that included a ORD-OGG lie-flat segment whereas nothing comparable price-wise was available for one-stop flights from the mainland to LIH.
Our OGG-LAX flight leaves around 10 pm, so basically any resort mandating noon or earlier checkout leaves us without a room for the afternoon. We have SPG Platinum, Hilton Gold, and Hyatt Discoverist status but late checkout is always going to be subject to availability at resorts. Virtuoso/Visa bookings also say that late checkout is subject to availability, but with two young kids in tow I don't want to take any chances. Does this mean AMEX FHR, which appears to guarantee a 4 pm checkout, is our only realistic option?
Our OGG-LAX flight leaves around 10 pm, so basically any resort mandating noon or earlier checkout leaves us without a room for the afternoon. We have SPG Platinum, Hilton Gold, and Hyatt Discoverist status but late checkout is always going to be subject to availability at resorts. Virtuoso/Visa bookings also say that late checkout is subject to availability, but with two young kids in tow I don't want to take any chances. Does this mean AMEX FHR, which appears to guarantee a 4 pm checkout, is our only realistic option?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
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Posts: 12,079
We're doing a quick 48-hour trip to Maui after a timeshare week in Kauai -- found cheap UA first class seats that included a ORD-OGG lie-flat segment whereas nothing comparable price-wise was available for one-stop flights from the mainland to LIH.
Our OGG-LAX flight leaves around 10 pm, so basically any resort mandating noon or earlier checkout leaves us without a room for the afternoon. We have SPG Platinum, Hilton Gold, and Hyatt Discoverist status but late checkout is always going to be subject to availability at resorts. Virtuoso/Visa bookings also say that late checkout is subject to availability, but with two young kids in tow I don't want to take any chances. Does this mean AMEX FHR, which appears to guarantee a 4 pm checkout, is our only realistic option?
Our OGG-LAX flight leaves around 10 pm, so basically any resort mandating noon or earlier checkout leaves us without a room for the afternoon. We have SPG Platinum, Hilton Gold, and Hyatt Discoverist status but late checkout is always going to be subject to availability at resorts. Virtuoso/Visa bookings also say that late checkout is subject to availability, but with two young kids in tow I don't want to take any chances. Does this mean AMEX FHR, which appears to guarantee a 4 pm checkout, is our only realistic option?
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 498
If we book a FHR property and check out at 4, that still allows to grab a leisurely early dinner, return the rental car, and be at OGG between 7 or 8 pm. Or we could hang out at the Maui Mall first?
#5
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Location: Intermountain West
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How would that work, if the cheap hotel (where we presumably wouldn't want to stay the night before) doesn't allow check-in until hours after we have to check out of any non-FHR property? We'd basically be making a four or five-hour booking.
If we book a FHR property and check out at 4, that still allows to grab a leisurely early dinner, return the rental car, and be at OGG between 7 or 8 pm. Or we could hang out at the Maui Mall first?
If we book a FHR property and check out at 4, that still allows to grab a leisurely early dinner, return the rental car, and be at OGG between 7 or 8 pm. Or we could hang out at the Maui Mall first?
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 498
Fair enough -- we thought about our itinerary a bit more and have decided to leave Kauai a day early, giving us three full days in Maui instead of two. Then we looked around some more and decided that the VRBO condo route made more sense given our kids. Once you factor in valet and resort fees, we were able to book a 2 BR ocean view space in Kaanapali for four nights at a price less than what a 1 BR suite would've cost for two nights at the Ritz, Andaz, etc. Thanks to all for the input!
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
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Fair enough -- we thought about our itinerary a bit more and have decided to leave Kauai a day early, giving us three full days in Maui instead of two. Then we looked around some more and decided that the VRBO condo route made more sense given our kids. Once you factor in valet and resort fees, we were able to book a 2 BR ocean view space in Kaanapali for four nights at a price less than what a 1 BR suite would've cost for two nights at the Ritz, Andaz, etc. Thanks to all for the input!
#8
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Join Date: Apr 2003
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That seems like an all but sure way to end your trip on a low point. Many hotels also have a hospitality day use room. I've done this at the Andaz many times, where we made an almost full day of it at the pool or beach, showered in the hospitality room (which is a common use room), dined wherever, and then made our 9 or 10 p.m. departure back to HNL.
Whether that keeps things "low stress" is in the eye of the beholder, but we certainly don't mind doing that. With kids, I would want a hotel that provides private hospitality rooms though.
Whether that keeps things "low stress" is in the eye of the beholder, but we certainly don't mind doing that. With kids, I would want a hotel that provides private hospitality rooms though.