Mar 29, 15, 2:29 am
Last edit by: JDiver
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Hilton Waikoloa Village {US-HI}
Nov 5, 16, 5:51 pm
#106
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 7,659
We're in the Palace tower. I booked the cheapest cash room (Ocean tower resort view) and then took the very reasonable points upgrade to Hale Ike Palace tower ocean view. They offered a cash upgrade to Makai Ocean-Side in the Lagoon tower for $30 per night but I didn't bite.
I've stayed in all three towers and Lagoon seems to have the most Mynah bird noise followed by Ocean tower. Palace tower has basically no Mynah noise since there isn't really a large enough space space with enough trees surrounded by the structure as is the case with Ocean and Lagoon. In any event, the birds are really only noisy at dawn and dusk.
I've stayed in all three towers and Lagoon seems to have the most Mynah bird noise followed by Ocean tower. Palace tower has basically no Mynah noise since there isn't really a large enough space space with enough trees surrounded by the structure as is the case with Ocean and Lagoon. In any event, the birds are really only noisy at dawn and dusk.
)I'm staying on points and Ocean Tower was not even available (it would have been a "standard room"), but no such thing for my dates.
My choices were Palace or Lagoon, minimal difference in points, but I chose Lagoon because of early coffee in the morning and close to the big pool.
Nov 5, 16, 8:19 pm
#107
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,635
We're in the Palace tower. I booked the cheapest cash room (Ocean tower resort view) and then took the very reasonable points upgrade to Hale Ike Palace tower ocean view. They offered a cash upgrade to Makai Ocean-Side in the Lagoon tower for $30 per night but I didn't bite.
I've stayed in all three towers and Lagoon seems to have the most Mynah bird noise followed by Ocean tower. Palace tower has basically no Mynah noise since there isn't really a large enough space space with enough trees surrounded by the structure as is the case with Ocean and Lagoon. In any event, the birds are really only noisy at dawn and dusk.
I've stayed in all three towers and Lagoon seems to have the most Mynah bird noise followed by Ocean tower. Palace tower has basically no Mynah noise since there isn't really a large enough space space with enough trees surrounded by the structure as is the case with Ocean and Lagoon. In any event, the birds are really only noisy at dawn and dusk.
and is it true that the in-room PS3 has unlimited free movies, which I would assume is movie streaming?
Nov 5, 16, 10:24 pm
#108
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 4,981
Darn! I booked Lagoon Tower because I read that they had the least amount of bird noise...but dawn and dusk are fine, I heard reviews that 1, 2, 3 am in the Ocean Tower was noisy birds (I keep wanting to type "Angry Birds" because of my grandson )
I'm staying on points and Ocean Tower was not even available (it would have been a "standard room"), but no such thing for my dates.
My choices were Palace or Lagoon, minimal difference in points, but I chose Lagoon because of early coffee in the morning and close to the big pool.
)I'm staying on points and Ocean Tower was not even available (it would have been a "standard room"), but no such thing for my dates.
My choices were Palace or Lagoon, minimal difference in points, but I chose Lagoon because of early coffee in the morning and close to the big pool.
For the movies they now give golds and diamonds a card that provides free DVDs at kiosks located around the resort (IIRC it's two free DVDs per day, but it might be one - I wasn't paying much attention). We're not big TV watchers so unlikely to use this benefit at all.
I also need to issue a small retraction. Upon returning to the Palace tower tonight there were Mynah birds in the central area of the tower making a squabble. Since the sun has set silence has returned...
Nov 6, 16, 12:27 am
#109
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,635
What view do you have in Lagoon? If it's Ocean Side I think you'll be very happy. Watching the dolphin pools from the balcony is one of our favorite memories from here.
Is it 10,000 points for your entire stay or per night?
For the movies they now give golds and diamonds a card that provides free DVDs at kiosks located around the resort (IIRC it's two free DVDs per day, but it might be one - I wasn't paying much attention). We're not big TV watchers so unlikely to use this benefit at all.
I also need to issue a small retraction. Upon returning to the Palace tower tonight there were Mynah birds in the central area of the tower making a squabble. Since the sun has set silence has returned...
Is it 10,000 points for your entire stay or per night?
For the movies they now give golds and diamonds a card that provides free DVDs at kiosks located around the resort (IIRC it's two free DVDs per day, but it might be one - I wasn't paying much attention). We're not big TV watchers so unlikely to use this benefit at all.
I also need to issue a small retraction. Upon returning to the Palace tower tonight there were Mynah birds in the central area of the tower making a squabble. Since the sun has set silence has returned...
So if you want to get free movie, you have to pick up dvd at the front desk ? wonder how big of a selection to pick your free movies from...
Nov 6, 16, 2:58 am
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,040
Not quite.
At check in you get a card. At each tower there are a couple of kiosks that you swipe your card and choose a movie ( We picked one most days we were there in July to watch in the evening after dinner). The selection was reasonable with quite a few recently released movies. You then have 24 hours to watch and return the movie.
Regards
TBS
Nov 6, 16, 4:15 am
#111
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 7,659
Our view is mountain side in Lagoon. We are staying on points, and mountainside was 56,000 per night and Ocean side in Lagoon was 80,000. Big difference.
Nov 6, 16, 8:06 am
#112
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 45
Spa services are not free. Sauna, Shower, Spa, equipment is free use.
It's great to know that we can still use shower after we check out and before we go to airport for our redeye flight.
further question: what counts as "free use of Kohala Spa" (regardless of checking out)..?? Can you only use locker, shower, etc? Or do you also get free message or other usual spa services?
Are there going to be long line waiting for shower at 6 pm or 7pm-ish?
further question: what counts as "free use of Kohala Spa" (regardless of checking out)..?? Can you only use locker, shower, etc? Or do you also get free message or other usual spa services?
Are there going to be long line waiting for shower at 6 pm or 7pm-ish?
Nov 6, 16, 8:10 am
#113
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 45
You'll be looking over the parking lot. See if you can at least change to the Ocean tower unless you have mobility issues.
Nov 6, 16, 8:42 am
#114
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 7,659
Nov 6, 16, 6:34 pm
#115
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 4,981
Agreed. The Makai benefits are really nothing special. I would aim for a better view in Ocean or Palace at a similar amount of points to what you're paying for a parking lot view in Lagoon.
Nov 12, 16, 2:14 pm
#116
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Heading to Costco for more popcorn...
Programs: UA 1K 2MM Flier, SPG Plt, Hilton Dia
Posts: 8,460
Sunrise this week was around 6:30 - in our experience they would start around 5:15 or 5:30 and were generally done (and gone) by 6:15. Sunset was around 5:45 and they were loud from about 5:30 for an hour. While we could hear them from inside our room, we didn't think they were loud enough to wake someone up unless a very light sleeper. As mentioned upthread, Diamonds receive complimentary Big Island Breakfast - not including gratuity and the "diamond benefits" card does specify that it applies to the buffet only (unfortunately I didn't think to ask if one could use it for menu choices). Very nice buffet with a lot of options, both hot and cold including an omelet station which had long lines most mornings.
We booked and stayed in Ocean Tower/Ocean View at 55k points/night.
Nov 12, 16, 4:08 pm
#117
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 7,659
We just returned from a stay in the Ocean Tower and when the birds were at their peak your "angry birds" reference would pop into my mind. Sunrise this week was around 6:30 - in our experience they would start around 5:15 or 5:30 and were generally done (and gone) by 6:15. Sunset was around 5:45 and they were loud from about 5:30 for an hour. While we could hear them from inside our room, we didn't think they were loud enough to wake someone up unless a very light sleeper.
As mentioned upthread, Diamonds receive complimentary Big Island Breakfast - not including gratuity and the "diamond benefits" card does specify that it applies to the buffet only (unfortunately I didn't think to ask if one could use it for menu choices). Very nice buffet with a lot of options, both hot and cold including an omelet station which had long lines most mornings.
We booked and stayed in Ocean Tower/Ocean View at 55k points/night.
Sunrise this week was around 6:30 - in our experience they would start around 5:15 or 5:30 and were generally done (and gone) by 6:15. Sunset was around 5:45 and they were loud from about 5:30 for an hour. While we could hear them from inside our room, we didn't think they were loud enough to wake someone up unless a very light sleeper. As mentioned upthread, Diamonds receive complimentary Big Island Breakfast - not including gratuity and the "diamond benefits" card does specify that it applies to the buffet only (unfortunately I didn't think to ask if one could use it for menu choices). Very nice buffet with a lot of options, both hot and cold including an omelet station which had long lines most mornings.
We booked and stayed in Ocean Tower/Ocean View at 55k points/night.
We had a lot of rackety birds at the Grand Wailea and I liked them - there, too, it was just dawn and dusk. But I had read reviews where some said the birds squawked all...night...long. Didn't make any sense to me unless they were in an area with so much artificial light at night they didn't know if it was day or night.
Nov 12, 16, 6:50 pm
#118
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle WA, USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, AS Lounge
Posts: 3,475
I couldn't find Ocean Tower Ocean Front (as opposed to Ocean View) rooms to reserve for large stretches of time next year so I called to ask about it. They said the Ocean Tower rooms are being converted to timeshares as has been reported here previously. They are taking rooms out of inventory over time and the rooms probably will not be back. So if you have a reservation for the Ocean Tower for next year you might watch it. I saw some Ocean View rooms and some Resort View rooms so depending on when you're going you might be OK.
I'm disappointed as we really enjoyed the rooms facing Buddha Point. The Lagoon Tower doesn't appeal to us as much so we'll probably go somewhere else.
I'm disappointed as we really enjoyed the rooms facing Buddha Point. The Lagoon Tower doesn't appeal to us as much so we'll probably go somewhere else.
Last edited by Westcoaster; Nov 12, 16 at 6:55 pm Reason: to clarify
Dec 1, 16, 2:52 pm
#120
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 45
Just got back. Two prototypes are being converted on the 7th floor of the tower. Wasn't able to see them. Was told that there was no way they were going to be able to start the project before April first.
