Weatherboy

That is correct...as of last summer. I spoke to a HWV employee about this and he mentioned at that time there was no plan to roll-out complimentary high-speed internet access beyond the suites/exec floor rooms there. But as technology demands of visitors change, I'm sure they're always re-evaluating what they should be doing there.

I have 2 trips to HWV slated for this year, so I'll update this if anything new happens.

LemonThrower

I can't really accept that. The property and HH devalued the points and the award.

joebeenyc

Follow Up:
Looks like I been rejected on the upgrade to an oceanview room. I called and they said they are sold out for the next week.

Also inquired about the breakfast coupons. I was shot down on that as well. They said they only provide the HHonors room with the aformentioned muffins/coffee.

Pretty lame of them considering the amount of biz required to get the points for an ALON.

J0HN

I suggest going to the check-in desk (yes I know it is along walk) and asking for your upgrade in person (I too was rejected over the phone, and went from a Mountain/Partial Oceanview to a perfect Oceanview room fifteen minutes later at the front desk - the hotel went from "fully booked" to open in a couple of minutes). The Hilton website looks like there is availability over the next several days (although I do not know what type of specific room you are looking for). Remember that the best views at HWV are not really from your room, but from the hammock.

Also, I didn't mind the birds, it was the carts going by on the tile walkway at 5:45am that woke me up every morning.

EWR-COflyer

It really depends on the time of year and exactly what room you're in, but in the Ocean Tower some of the rooms face in a direction so that the sun blazes thru the peephole and under the door frame... it would really light up the room. That definately woke me up!

Weatherboy

First joebeenyc, shame on you for spending so much time in Flyertalk online when you should be honeymooning!!

As far as the oceanview room, are they sold out in the Ocean Tower only or everywhere? If not everywhere, the Palace tower does offer some great ocean-view rooms too (although not as nice as the Ocean Tower.) Then again, unless you plan to spend a lot of time on your balcony, don't worry about the view.

The birds have been posted ad nauseum in here ...as have the reduced breakfast/water coupons ...so it sounds like you're getting the regular HHonors VIP treatment there.

Enjoy your stay ...and enjoy the company of your new bride!

Mahalo!

LLM

Lagoon Tower also has some nice OV rooms. We had two last April and they had new pillowtop mattresses as well. Preferred these rooms to the OV ones in the OT we had last August.

ac/elite

I just got back from an ALON (I'm Gold)Jan 21-27 and had a different experience from joebeenyc. Upon check-in on the 21st, I was told that I had been upgraded to the Ocean Tower, although they had no rooms available with an ocean view. I was given a room on the 2nd floor on the golf course side. In fact when sitting on the lanai, we did have a very nice ocean view.

The check-in agent gave me a card which outlined the benefits extended to Gold HHonors members. She told me that the lounge for breakfast for Gold members had recently been moved from the Palace Tower to the Ocean Tower, next to room 4093. She wrote this information in hand on the card. I asked if this was the Executive Lounge and was told that this was a separate lounge for Gold members and that the only difference between this lounge and the Executive lounge was that there are no evening hours. I asked specifically if the same breakfast was served in the Gold lounge as the Executive Lounge and was assured it was identical.

The next day my wife and I went to the Gold lounge in the Ocean Tower. The breakfast consisted of two or three different fruits, cold cereals, mini-muffins, danishes, two juices and coffee/tea. The second morning we went there as well, but after breakfast we decided to take a look at the Executive Lounge two floors up. Obviously the Executive Lounge is too small, as they had tables set up outside the lounge where some people were eating. I immediately noticed that they were eating items that we didn't recieve, such as yoghurt and bagels.

That afternoon I went to the hotel's front desk and approached the friendliest looking agent. I was very polite and started by saying that I had a problem that was not her fault, but a management decision and that I'd likely need to speak to a manager. She asked me to explain the situation and I told her that I had closely read the HHonors rules relating to Gold benefits (and I had a printout from the website with me)and that I didn't feel that the hotel was complying and I was unhappy about it. I told her that the hotel was required to put me on an Executive floor if there was availability. If there is no availability (which was the situation here), then they are required to give me access to the Executive Lounge or give me breakfast certificates. That is what the rules clearly say. The rules do not give the hotel a third option to provide a sub par lounge and force me to accept that instead of either Executive Lounge access or breakfast certificates. I did not raise my voice, and I said all of that with a smile on my face. She said that she would speak to a manager and would be back.

About three minutes later she returned and thanked me for not "ranting and raving" but being polite about my concern. She then offered me a choice of Executive Lounge access or breakfast certificates (to be used in the Palm Terrace or Orchid cafe) for the duration of my stay. She explained that if I chose the certificates, then I wouldn't have access to the Executive Lounge for the afternoon or evening service. I chose the breakfast certificates. On two of the remaining days we upgraded from the continental buffet to the full buffet for $6.25.

I never would have thought to take a printout of benefits or challenge the hotel's right to substitute a sub par lounge for breakfast certificates if I hadn't read a post by ananthar on another thread on the HWV before leaving. So thanks ananthar!




[This message has been edited by ac/elite (edited Jan 29, 2004).]

midnight sun

I am going to cancell my ALON for 2/14-2/20. Two rooms will soon be available. Hope this helps someone who needs them.I am going to do this tomorrow.

Jeeves

For which property?

midnight sun

Hilton Waikoloa Village
Sorry I forgot to give that info.

andrzej

Will a cancellation of an award stay open the possibility for another award stay if the property is fully booked? or can the property do with the rooms whatever they want?
Just curious.......

joebeenyc

Follow up.
You people are gonna love this one. I valet parked my rental car at the hotel during my stay. The 10 buck daily fee is just another example of the nickel and dime there.

I called the front desk on my checkout date and when I went outside there was a Mustang parked for me. I asked for my keys and then they realized the mistake. They gave my keys to another guest who drove away with my car!

Needless to say it caused me grief, I was responsible for returning the car and if any damage occurred I would be liable.

I talked to the valet mgr but no hotel mgr was available. Long story short, they got the car back from the other guest and returned it to Avis with a full tank of gas. I got a cab to the airport.

I think some compensation is in order since I didn't have access to my rental car which was paid for until my flight left. What is fair?

outoftown

I will be using my ALON at HWV the same week you are cancelling. I planned this months ago and actually was able to get DL FC ATL to HNL to get there. I doubt someone would jump at the chance to use an ALON on such short notice. Unless you are left coast, getting a reasonable flight to KOA would be difficult and award flight would be next to impossible. I think the room will be dumped back in regular inventory.

Weatherboy

FYI, in the Hyatt forums, I posted links to before/after pics of the Hilton Waikoloa Reosrt (when it was constructed as a Hyatt prior to the transition to Hilton.)

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum60/HTML/002183.html

Those that went to HWV may be curious to see what the landscape looked like prior to the resort being built.

Landscape transformation or not, this Hilton resort remains one of my most favorite Hilton properties in the chain.