[ARCHIVE to 2019] Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort {US-HI}
May 20, 2018, 9:19 pm
#2341
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 27,628
You will get the credit irrespective of the room type you book.
What you are missing here is that it is up to others to decide where and how to spend their money and what to think of a particular property. If you think that Grand Wailea does not offer enough for the rates they charge it does not mean that others are of similar views. Not everyone thinks that a rate of a certain level must come with breakfast and/or other amenities. No need to preoccupy yourself with thinking about why others choose to stay here as their reasons obviously won't persuade you to decide to do the same. What is 'adequate' is a very personal judgement after all. Everything is relative - a US$750 rate means different things to different people. Moreover, rates here are often cheaper than what you quoted. It is only during busy and popular periods that they are this high.
I have just come back from the Grand Wailea and had a great time. I certainly do not think that it is a mediocre property and can see why it appeals to those who stay here. I love how they renovated the rooms and I love the grounds/pools. I was upgraded to a great Deluxe Ocean view room and granted a complimentary 5pm checkout. It is not a property to vacation 'on the cheap,' but I don't think Hawaii is a cheap destination in general.
What you are missing here is that it is up to others to decide where and how to spend their money and what to think of a particular property. If you think that Grand Wailea does not offer enough for the rates they charge it does not mean that others are of similar views. Not everyone thinks that a rate of a certain level must come with breakfast and/or other amenities. No need to preoccupy yourself with thinking about why others choose to stay here as their reasons obviously won't persuade you to decide to do the same. What is 'adequate' is a very personal judgement after all. Everything is relative - a US$750 rate means different things to different people. Moreover, rates here are often cheaper than what you quoted. It is only during busy and popular periods that they are this high.
I have just come back from the Grand Wailea and had a great time. I certainly do not think that it is a mediocre property and can see why it appeals to those who stay here. I love how they renovated the rooms and I love the grounds/pools. I was upgraded to a great Deluxe Ocean view room and granted a complimentary 5pm checkout. It is not a property to vacation 'on the cheap,' but I don't think Hawaii is a cheap destination in general.
but I cannot decide about joining the membership. Argh the math makes sense but I get so confused! My recent stay included 4 cabana days for $2500 total, just for cabana.
May 21, 2018, 12:09 am
#2342
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
In fact it's going to be at least 18 hours travel time to Thailand or Bali. Hawaii is so easy from SFO.
May 24, 2018, 12:31 pm
#2343
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 91
Returned last week from a week at WG. This was our fourth stay there. This was the first time we did not experience a conference while we were there and it was great. The facilities were not overcrowded as in the past. I don't know if it was because of the no conference or the volcano scare, but it was great. A portion of the lazy river was closed the whole time we where there. I was given 12 Kula Cafe $15 certificates when I arrived. The name and dates were not filled in. I used two one day and when I redeemed them, they were treated as cash and I wasn't asked anything. I then handed my wife two more and she went and immediately redeemed them. In all, it turned out to be a great week and enjoyable stay.
May 24, 2018, 1:03 pm
#2344
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 258
Returned last week from a week at WG. This was our fourth stay there. This was the first time we did not experience a conference while we were there and it was great. The facilities were not overcrowded as in the past. I don't know if it was because of the no conference or the volcano scare, but it was great. A portion of the lazy river was closed the whole time we where there. I was given 12 Kula Cafe $15 certificates when I arrived. The name and dates were not filled in. I used two one day and when I redeemed them, they were treated as cash and I wasn't asked anything. I then handed my wife two more and she went and immediately redeemed them. In all, it turned out to be a great week and enjoyable stay.
May 25, 2018, 8:02 am
#2345
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 91
that is interesting about the vouchers. We will be there next week for 5 nights and assumed we would only get to use 2 per day so this is definitely good to know! In regards to the lazy river.....do you know what the reason was for the partial closure and if it would be reopened soon? Since next week is considered summer and a "peak travel time" I am hoping the luck you had with crowds will follow into our stay as well lol! We typically vacation at WDW so crowds are something we are accustom to and prepared for, but it would be nice to have is not as bad as we are anticipating. I've been checking online for room avail. and there seem to still be almost every room type still open with the exception of our last night when shows no avail for any rooms.
Jun 5, 2018, 8:19 pm
#2346
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 258
Just checked in to the GW today after a 2 night stay at Hyatt Regency Maui. Pool is still closed in the section the PP stated a few weeks ago. Bummer. Also our $15 vouchers for being Diamond members can be used at the Cafe, as well as the bistro and Humuhumhu, however they can only be redeemed between 5-8pm, which I was unaware of the time restrictions, and we were planning on using them for breakfast and lunch so going to have to change our strategy a bit since we had dinners planned off site. Did get an update from Terrance view to deluxe ocean and that is fantastic!
Jun 5, 2018, 8:33 pm
#2347
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,221
Just checked in to the GW today after a 2 night stay at Hyatt Regency Maui. Pool is still closed in the section the PP stated a few weeks ago. Bummer. Also our $15 vouchers for being Diamond members can be used at the Cafe, as well as the bistro and Humuhumhu, however they can only be redeemed between 5-8pm, which I was unaware of the time restrictions, and we were planning on using them for breakfast and lunch so going to have to change our strategy a bit since we had dinners planned off site. Did get an update from Terrance view to deluxe ocean and that is fantastic!
Jun 5, 2018, 10:31 pm
#2348
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 584
In addition to Bistro Molikini, Cafe Kula, and Humuhumu - can also be redeemed through Room Service. They were enforcing the 5-8pm timeframe at Cafe Kula. May want to pick up some breakfast items the night before and use the in room fridge.
Jun 5, 2018, 11:17 pm
#2349
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 258
correct I forgot about in room dining as well. And yes, I can second the inforcement of the times you can use. We tried for lunch and they said nope. Only 5-8
Jun 6, 2018, 5:58 am
#2350
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
This must be a new development. It was possible to use the vouchers at any time of the day (at Cafe Kula only) last month.
Jun 6, 2018, 7:11 am
#2351
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 173
We checked in May 21 and while we had a fabulous stay, this voucher issue was a problem. I had the vouchers that were good only for 5-8 pm (although the check-in guy told us they were good for breakfast when asked). When they were not accepted I questioned that, and some people had vouchers that WERE good for all day (I am a Diamond member so it wasn't due to that). Apparently the previous weekend the changes had been made.
Also it was a challenge using the vouchers at Cafe Kula from 5-8 pm. The voucher says Food & Drink. When I tried to simply buy drinks with my vouchers, they told me that I also had to buy food. When I tried to buy packaged snacks, they told me this won't work because this is considered 'retail' and not food. I therefore HAD to order a hot food item and drinks; it was very very frustrating. Otherwise it was a fabulous stay, we had been given a fabulous room and treated wonderfully, and after bringing this situation up to the front desk, they did give us a breakfast credit and apologized for the confusion. Still it's clear there has been a change in policy regarding breakfast vouchers here.
Also it was a challenge using the vouchers at Cafe Kula from 5-8 pm. The voucher says Food & Drink. When I tried to simply buy drinks with my vouchers, they told me that I also had to buy food. When I tried to buy packaged snacks, they told me this won't work because this is considered 'retail' and not food. I therefore HAD to order a hot food item and drinks; it was very very frustrating. Otherwise it was a fabulous stay, we had been given a fabulous room and treated wonderfully, and after bringing this situation up to the front desk, they did give us a breakfast credit and apologized for the confusion. Still it's clear there has been a change in policy regarding breakfast vouchers here.
Jun 6, 2018, 7:56 am
#2352
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,221
The Hilton My Way Benefits still show a Continental Breakfast for member and one guest at W-A's - I just don't see how they can ignore that without a change in the written policy.
Jun 6, 2018, 8:14 am
#2353
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 91
I checked out on May 19th and I was able to use the certificates anytime and on anything at Cafe Kula. I wish I knew about Humuhumu and the Bistro. We ate at both places once and I had left over certificates that I gave away.
Jun 6, 2018, 8:20 am
#2354
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 173
Yep that's the weekend when they switched over to the new vouchers with many limitations on usage; as I said, I was not allowed to use vouchers only for drinks in Cafe Kula, and not for any chips or other snack items.
Jun 8, 2018, 3:28 pm
#2355
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
There are obviously mis-rankings on Tripadvisor, but there is almost always a genuine impact on perceived "value" in the ratings. Participants will give higher ratings to hotels that they feel deliver better value. This is why, in most cities, the "extended stay" hotels tend to score very well, as average customers get lots of stuff "for free" and feel more charitably toward those properties. On the flip side, regular hotels -- with no freebies and very high hotel rates -- tend to get mediocre scores even if they are, objectively, "better hotels." The Grand Wailea seems like the poster boy for such a hotel!
BTW, if I had to pay $750/night for a resort in Hawaii, I would NEVER stay at a resort in Hawaii. Kind of like I never pay to stay at a resort in Bermuda: they can be nice, but the value is horrific. It's a big world. Honestly, at $750, if you live on the West Coast, you're better flying a bit further across the Pacific and going to Southeast Asia for your vacation. For example, I think a comparable Balinese resort would cost 1/6th this price. And all your other expenses would be far less than half. I have a hard time believing that the folks who are spending this money don't realize this, or care.
BTW, if I had to pay $750/night for a resort in Hawaii, I would NEVER stay at a resort in Hawaii. Kind of like I never pay to stay at a resort in Bermuda: they can be nice, but the value is horrific. It's a big world. Honestly, at $750, if you live on the West Coast, you're better flying a bit further across the Pacific and going to Southeast Asia for your vacation. For example, I think a comparable Balinese resort would cost 1/6th this price. And all your other expenses would be far less than half. I have a hard time believing that the folks who are spending this money don't realize this, or care.
If I had a choice, I would not go to Hawaii but in my severely constrained life, I'll make do with Hawaii.