Andaz Maui REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Sep 7, 2013, 10:45 am
#61
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
Did you check into whether you can upgrade into a suite with points? The cert is pretty valuable, I tend to do 5 night minimums with the certs, but understand sometimes stay credits need to be accumulated. But, your 3 nights are going to count toward 1 stay (that is if your objective is to qualify GP by stays).
Or were you wanting to stay longer but the availability wasn't there?
Sep 7, 2013, 10:53 am
#62
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA (EXP), HH (Diamond), SPG (Platinum), HGP (Diamond), National Car (Exec Elite)
Posts: 153
That's the only length of time I have available at the hotel on this trip. I have 3 upgrade certs that all expire early next year with no vision of usage necessary for the rest of the year.
They did offer me to use points to upgrade, but at a higher room rate.
I don't have any 5-day vacations coming up prior to expiration.
Don't need the stay credit or nights since already qualified for Diamond through 2/15.
They did offer me to use points to upgrade, but at a higher room rate.
I don't have any 5-day vacations coming up prior to expiration.
Don't need the stay credit or nights since already qualified for Diamond through 2/15.
Sep 7, 2013, 10:56 am
#63
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
That's the only length of time I have available at the hotel on this trip. I have 3 upgrade certs that all expire early next year with no vision of usage necessary for the rest of the year.
They did offer me to use points to upgrade, but at a higher room rate.
I don't have any 5-day vacations coming up prior to expiration.
Don't need the stay credit or nights since already qualified for Diamond through 2/15.
They did offer me to use points to upgrade, but at a higher room rate.
I don't have any 5-day vacations coming up prior to expiration.
Don't need the stay credit or nights since already qualified for Diamond through 2/15.
Your chase suite nights.. when do they expire? I guess if after January 1st, 2014 you've already evaluated if you get enough value elsewhere than Andaz Maui, for stay qualification after next year.
Sep 7, 2013, 11:12 am
#64
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA (EXP), HH (Diamond), SPG (Platinum), HGP (Diamond), National Car (Exec Elite)
Posts: 153
The basis of my usage in Maui is that it's part of my 40th birthday trip and I wanted to guarantee myself into a Suite with the least money spent for the 3 nights. Right now it will cost me $368 (+ tax), 2 suite awards, 1 upgrade cert.
I'm always open to being educated in better value. I wanted to use all points for the last night, but the hotel wouldn't let me. They also said it would be $659 (plus tax) and 6K GPs for that 3rd night. While I do see the better value in that, I just don't see me using the saved upgrade for anything prior to 2/14.
Sep 7, 2013, 12:26 pm
#66
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 14
Arrived Friday, beautiful place. Will update with more thoughts later, but I know everyone is wanting to see some pictures so here goes. We are in a partial ocean view king.
http://imgur.com/a/Dyjnz
http://imgur.com/a/Dyjnz
Sep 7, 2013, 1:23 pm
#68
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: South Florida
Programs: UA Gold (1MM), Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 302
Here is a picture of the pool(s) - http://i.imgur.com/DGGB9ZG.jpg
Sep 7, 2013, 1:35 pm
#69
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: South Florida
Programs: UA Gold (1MM), Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 302
Few more:
Entry - http://i.imgur.com/TVWG6II.jpg
Lobby - http://i.imgur.com/ElTAsvv.jpg
Hallway - http://i.imgur.com/kB1JO4g.jpg
View from partial ocean room - http://i.imgur.com/86tP2bD.jpg
Welcome gift - http://i.imgur.com/OAJpJjI.jpg
Entry - http://i.imgur.com/TVWG6II.jpg
Lobby - http://i.imgur.com/ElTAsvv.jpg
Hallway - http://i.imgur.com/kB1JO4g.jpg
View from partial ocean room - http://i.imgur.com/86tP2bD.jpg
Welcome gift - http://i.imgur.com/OAJpJjI.jpg
Sep 7, 2013, 3:59 pm
#70
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: AUS, ORD, SFO, SIN
Programs: United 1K 2MM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 50
Long time lurker on FT but wanted to chime in on the property as we got here last night.
I'm literally sitting in the room wearing my noise cancelling headphones because the generic Hawaiian music is so loud. It started around 8:30am and had we not been up already, it would've woken us as the music piped into the common area easily filters through the glass doors like having a very noisy neighbor. Initially I thought it might be a ploy to disguise construction noise but there isn't any that seems to be going on at the moment. People come to Hawaii to hear waves crashing and the breeze through the trees, not what they're playing for sure. I've lived downtown in major cities for the past 15 years so noise pollution is something I'm used to but even the Andaz Fifth Ave is NYC is more tranquil than this.
Like an earlier poster noted, the property does otherwise seem like it's been open for a while as it runs smooth with only one exception I could find so far. Last night we had the lights turn on multiple times and the blackout shades lift then drop about 30 minutes later. After waking up the third time at 4am from it, we just left the lights on and struggled back to sleep. Apparently it's a setting that is supposed to wow the guest upon seeing the room the first time the door is opened by turning on lights and then lifting the shade. Why it didn't get properly reset or turned off I'm still trying to figure out and haven't gotten much response on if it'll happen again or not.
Other than those growing pains, the location is great, internet is fast, staff is very friendly (perhaps too much actually), breakfast is amazing and the design of the hotel is beautiful.
Not sure if I'd suggest others to come here yet, down the line probably but if I had to book a return trip to Wailea I'd stick w/the other standards down the street.
I'm literally sitting in the room wearing my noise cancelling headphones because the generic Hawaiian music is so loud. It started around 8:30am and had we not been up already, it would've woken us as the music piped into the common area easily filters through the glass doors like having a very noisy neighbor. Initially I thought it might be a ploy to disguise construction noise but there isn't any that seems to be going on at the moment. People come to Hawaii to hear waves crashing and the breeze through the trees, not what they're playing for sure. I've lived downtown in major cities for the past 15 years so noise pollution is something I'm used to but even the Andaz Fifth Ave is NYC is more tranquil than this.
Like an earlier poster noted, the property does otherwise seem like it's been open for a while as it runs smooth with only one exception I could find so far. Last night we had the lights turn on multiple times and the blackout shades lift then drop about 30 minutes later. After waking up the third time at 4am from it, we just left the lights on and struggled back to sleep. Apparently it's a setting that is supposed to wow the guest upon seeing the room the first time the door is opened by turning on lights and then lifting the shade. Why it didn't get properly reset or turned off I'm still trying to figure out and haven't gotten much response on if it'll happen again or not.
Other than those growing pains, the location is great, internet is fast, staff is very friendly (perhaps too much actually), breakfast is amazing and the design of the hotel is beautiful.
Not sure if I'd suggest others to come here yet, down the line probably but if I had to book a return trip to Wailea I'd stick w/the other standards down the street.
Last edited by hawkswin; Sep 7, 2013 at 4:03 pm Reason: cause a typo
Sep 7, 2013, 4:27 pm
#71
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 563
Keep in mind, this resort is catering to the younger and hipper crowd. I don't find the island music loud and I find it funny you have to sit on the balcony with noise canceling headphones! 
This hotel does have a kid club but if you want a very kid-friendly go to the Grand Wailea.
There is an adult-only serenity pool that is silent aside from some construction at a neighboring property (I don't think this is long-term, they were just smashing rocks and it sounded like a train).
I agree the staff is just a little too friendly. They are fully staffed yet low occupancy so the staff is trying to give every guest a lot of attention so its difficult to walk around the resort without every single employee you pass greeting you or asking how your day is going. It's a little much. Once it's busy they won't have the time to talk to everyone.
This hotel does have a kid club but if you want a very kid-friendly go to the Grand Wailea.There is an adult-only serenity pool that is silent aside from some construction at a neighboring property (I don't think this is long-term, they were just smashing rocks and it sounded like a train).
I agree the staff is just a little too friendly. They are fully staffed yet low occupancy so the staff is trying to give every guest a lot of attention so its difficult to walk around the resort without every single employee you pass greeting you or asking how your day is going. It's a little much. Once it's busy they won't have the time to talk to everyone.