Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort {US-HI}
#1217
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,627
I don’t know anyone who has paid cash for this property but I know a lot of friends and family members who have used points. As long as you don’t expect anything above a Doubletree-level experience, your points usage should be acceptable.
#1218
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 798
I am pretty sure bluezebra on here doesn't stay on points since he stays in napaua tower.
#1219
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: No. California
Programs: UA MP HH LTD
Posts: 1,900
And I doubt I would ever call the GW experience "DoubleTree level". Never stayed in a DoubleTree with anything other than a standard pool.
#1220
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 798
Correct, while it may be more in line with hilton than conrad/waldorf astoria it's definitely not doubletree level.
#1221
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,249
#1223
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.5MM/Lifetime UC, Qantas FF Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,061
I often pay cash since mostly on Maui to work nearby, but also enjoy 30% discount for rooms as a member. Has paid for itself so many times over.
#1224
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 754
I got bumped from my Grand Wailea bookings in Feb because SAP bought out the hotel (and the Four Seasons, Marriott and Andaz too). We had two rooms, so they put us in a unit of Ho'olei across the street. Sounded like a nice upgrade, but it was weird and unpleasant. Garden view, which meant some trees in between you and the road about 12ft away. Unit was privately owned. The owners had terrible taste, dark rattan faux-asian furniture, and it was poorly maintained. The internet was a $20 crappy router that didn't reach the any of the bedrooms. The pots/pans/dishes were pretty trashed and pretty disgusting. Kitchen was pretty amazing though, albeit useless for one night at the end of a trip. The sink had a cool instant hot water dispenser, but it was clogged with limescale, so it actually burned me when I first turned it on. All showers/faucets had a big problem with clogs from limescale. And even though it was huge, we actually had one less bed, as our 2 x 2 Queen rooms were replaced by just 3 beds, two of them doubles. Kinda lame.
Only thing that was nice was we did have use of the Grand Wailea pools, and it was only the international SAP folks who had arrived, so it was near empty. We often had the rope swing/slides to ourselves. 80% of pool chairs empty, all but a couple cabanas unused. Almost surreal. They were setting up for a Katy Perry concert on the lawn between the Grand Wailea pools and the Four Seasons. The pool at the Ho'olei was pretty nice, with a neat waterfall, but fairly small.
Only thing that was nice was we did have use of the Grand Wailea pools, and it was only the international SAP folks who had arrived, so it was near empty. We often had the rope swing/slides to ourselves. 80% of pool chairs empty, all but a couple cabanas unused. Almost surreal. They were setting up for a Katy Perry concert on the lawn between the Grand Wailea pools and the Four Seasons. The pool at the Ho'olei was pretty nice, with a neat waterfall, but fairly small.
#1225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 23,122
Is it foolish of me to assume that (hopefully) most of us on Flyertalk stay on pts? Cash prices for high end resorts are always gonna be absurd. On top of that, when paying cash, you gotta pay taxes/resort fees making it extremely absurd. Then you’re prob gonna spend hundreds on F&B which amounts to thousands of dollars … and for what?!?! I’m sorry but a lot of these resorts start to feel the same after a while … and with all the data points available, you gotta go points or go home.
we don’t have many Hilton points and I get confused by MS.
I got bumped from my Grand Wailea bookings in Feb because SAP bought out the …
Only thing that was nice was we did have use of the Grand Wailea pools, and it was only the international SAP folks who had arrived, so it was near empty. We often had the rope swing/slides to ourselves. 80% of pool chairs empty, all but a couple cabanas unused. Almost surreal. They were setting up for a Katy Perry concert on the lawn between the Grand Wailea pools and the Four Seasons. The pool at the Ho'olei was pretty nice, with a neat waterfall, but fairly small.
Only thing that was nice was we did have use of the Grand Wailea pools, and it was only the international SAP folks who had arrived, so it was near empty. We often had the rope swing/slides to ourselves. 80% of pool chairs empty, all but a couple cabanas unused. Almost surreal. They were setting up for a Katy Perry concert on the lawn between the Grand Wailea pools and the Four Seasons. The pool at the Ho'olei was pretty nice, with a neat waterfall, but fairly small.
#1226
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 7,656
I got bumped from my Grand Wailea bookings in Feb because SAP bought out the hotel (and the Four Seasons, Marriott and Andaz too). We had two rooms, so they put us in a unit of Ho'olei across the street. Sounded like a nice upgrade, but it was weird and unpleasant. Garden view, which meant some trees in between you and the road about 12ft away. Unit was privately owned. The owners had terrible taste, dark rattan faux-asian furniture, and it was poorly maintained. The internet was a $20 crappy router that didn't reach the any of the bedrooms. The pots/pans/dishes were pretty trashed and pretty disgusting. Kitchen was pretty amazing though, albeit useless for one night at the end of a trip. The sink had a cool instant hot water dispenser, but it was clogged with limescale, so it actually burned me when I first turned it on. All showers/faucets had a big problem with clogs from limescale. And even though it was huge, we actually had one less bed, as our 2 x 2 Queen rooms were replaced by just 3 beds, two of them doubles. Kinda lame.
Only thing that was nice was we did have use of the Grand Wailea pools, and it was only the international SAP folks who had arrived, so it was near empty. We often had the rope swing/slides to ourselves. 80% of pool chairs empty, all but a couple cabanas unused. Almost surreal. They were setting up for a Katy Perry concert on the lawn between the Grand Wailea pools and the Four Seasons. The pool at the Ho'olei was pretty nice, with a neat waterfall, but fairly small.
Only thing that was nice was we did have use of the Grand Wailea pools, and it was only the international SAP folks who had arrived, so it was near empty. We often had the rope swing/slides to ourselves. 80% of pool chairs empty, all but a couple cabanas unused. Almost surreal. They were setting up for a Katy Perry concert on the lawn between the Grand Wailea pools and the Four Seasons. The pool at the Ho'olei was pretty nice, with a neat waterfall, but fairly small.
We've stayed at Ho'Olei twice now and you're right, because they are privately owned they can vary quite a bit in quality. Our first stay was much better than the second - first was luxury and quality all the way, second time not so much. Both times garden view, first time was above the pool (which, btw, I do NOT think is "small" - as an anecdote, I was there with my daughter one day, and I said something like "if you booked a hotel, and found this to be the pool, how would you feel?" - "I'd be thrilled" she answered. Now, the grandkids spent 90% of their time over at, what they called "the big pool" (GW), and they did call the H'o pool the "little pool" - but only for informational purposes - "we're going to the little pool", or "we're going to the big pool". The "little pool" was very convenient for a swim after dinner.
Anyway, first stay above the pool afforded a great view. Second time we had a unit like you described - VERY close to the noisy road. But we did not have any of the plumbing/maintenance issues that you experienced. It was more the first owners had nicer taste than the second. And as far as kitchen supplies, we found them to be almost identical - same white dishes, same appliances, same cutlery, etc. It almost seemed that those things were standard issue from Hilton. I'm wondering if perhaps you got a unit that was not usually under Hilton's umbrella, but they let you use it and the GW pools because of the circumstances?
I still would recommend anyone who needs 2-3 rooms at the GW to compare the prices over at H'O before deciding. We found it to be a great savings over 3 rooms, or even 2 if we wanted to cram our kids and 2 teen grandkids into one room. Really loved the space.
#1227
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 19
"I am really sorry for saying this, part of Grand Wailea will be still under renovation during your visit (Bistro Molokini restaurant, spa and Haleakala wing and either Wailea or Molokini wing will be under renovation)."
#1228
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 23,122
Have a great honeymoon and hyatt andaz is nearby via car and they’ve got Morimoto’s and it’s gorgeous albeit not a Hilton. I love going to Hawaii with my spouse and our child.
#1230
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 23,122
have a great stay.