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Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort {US-HI}

Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort {US-HI}

Old Mar 13, 23, 11:54 am
  #1216  
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 17
Just checking, is construction finished now? We're planning a trip later this year.
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Old Mar 13, 23, 10:08 pm
  #1217  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,627
Originally Posted by comeflywme
Is it foolish of me to assume that (hopefully) most of us on Flyertalk stay on pts?
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.
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Old Mar 14, 23, 6:24 am
  #1218  
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 798
Originally Posted by smmrfld
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.
I am pretty sure bluezebra on here doesn't stay on points since he stays in napaua tower.
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Old Mar 14, 23, 6:59 am
  #1219  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Posts: 1,900
Originally Posted by Beachchaser
I am pretty sure bluezebra on here doesn't stay on points since he stays in napaua tower.
Correct. I have used the cash/points option todrop the cost of staying in Napua.

And I doubt I would ever call the GW experience "DoubleTree level". Never stayed in a DoubleTree with anything other than a standard pool.
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Old Mar 14, 23, 7:02 am
  #1220  
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 798
Originally Posted by BlueZebra
Correct. I have used the cash/points option todrop the cost of staying in Napua.

And I doubt I would ever call the GW experience "DoubleTree level". Never stayed in a DoubleTree with anything other than a standard pool.
Correct, while it may be more in line with hilton than conrad/waldorf astoria it's definitely not doubletree level.
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Old Mar 14, 23, 7:32 am
  #1221  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
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Originally Posted by Beachchaser
Correct, while it may be more in line with hilton than conrad/waldorf astoria it's definitely not doubletree level.
On the plus side, WA gives you a better F&B credit than if it were a Hilton.
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Old Mar 14, 23, 7:39 am
  #1222  
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 798
Originally Posted by Cledaybuck
On the plus side, WA gives you a better F&B credit than if it were a Hilton.
absolutely the $50 daily typically covers breakfast at the Cafe and part of lunch at aloha pony.
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Old Mar 15, 23, 7:56 pm
  #1223  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
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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.
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Old Mar 16, 23, 8:53 pm
  #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.
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Old Mar 17, 23, 7:08 pm
  #1225  
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Originally Posted by comeflywme
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.
My spouse & I have paid cash - $700/night or so, plus $675-ish/day for cabana rental. 2017-2019. Fun memories because we’re not returning at $1300/night when the water elevator is broken.

we don’t have many Hilton points and I get confused by MS.

Originally Posted by tjbrooks
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.
Super surreal! I loved the rope jump. Wow.
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Old Mar 17, 23, 7:39 pm
  #1226  
 
Join Date: May 2009
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Originally Posted by tjbrooks
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.

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.
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Old Mar 25, 23, 1:34 pm
  #1227  
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 19
Originally Posted by maxiedaniels
Just checking, is construction finished now? We're planning a trip later this year.
Unfortunately not. I reached out for a status update last month because I'm traveling there for my honeymoon in mid-May. Some aspects are done, like the Botero Lounge, the grand dining room, and some of the rooms. Email from a customer service rep is below:

"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)."
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Old Mar 25, 23, 10:49 pm
  #1228  
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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.
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Old Mar 26, 23, 1:40 pm
  #1229  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 29
Chapel wing

I was told I am ocean view chapel wing… is it a far walk to lagoon wing to get to pool?
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Old Mar 26, 23, 9:49 pm
  #1230  
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Originally Posted by luniz97
I was told I am ocean view chapel wing… is it a far walk to lagoon wing to get to pool?
it’s a few minutes with lovely views. Plus elevator to descend. If you were above the pool you’d still walk from room to elevator to pool so it’s still a few minutes. Enjoy the ocean view. I’ve walked to the kids club which is around the chapel area. Super tranquil.

have a great stay.
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