Andaz Maui REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Mar 3, 2021, 10:31 am
#3616
Join Date: Sep 2020
Programs: AA EXP, BA Gold, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,938
Gotcha - I'll have to confirm with my TA if she's booking us via Virtuoso or Prive, which I'm not entirely sure that matters as far as room to room vs suite to suite upgrades. Honestly we're quite happy with a true ocean view room, so we booked into that category and figured we may have a chance booking through our TA for the upgrade.
Mar 3, 2021, 10:33 am
#3617
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
Marriott Wailea is a solid property and the rooms and pool are super close to the ocean, but I don't think it compares to the Andaz overall. The rooms aren't nearly as nice, the pools always felt a little small and crowded. I also didn't like the beach setup. Things may have changed, but back then there wasn't any chair service on the smaller quieter beach to the north of the property and the Marriott just had a small number of chairs on one corner of Wailea beach right next to the Grand Wailea chairs.
I don't require a ton of service, but in my limited experience I thought the Andaz and Marriott were both more than adequate making dinner reservations, confirming car service and golf pickups, etc. The Grand Wailea is one of my least favorite properties in the world, and I am still shocked people spend so much money to stay there. We only stayed 2 nights, but it was like Disneyland and a cruise ship company developed a luxury resort. It was too huge, too crowded and way too $$$. I have some good friends that absolutely love it, so YMMV, but I will not ever return.
Your chances of an upgrade to a suite are very low without offering to pay additional $$. I guess anything is possible, but I would have 0 expectations of an upgrade to a suite.
Yes, there are connecting rooms, but I can't remember what categories or how many. I inquired about connecting rooms on one of our first stays at the property, and I want to say they offered a paid upgrade to a premier suite with a connecting bedroom, but the upgrade charge was so high, we just kept the separate rooms.
I don't require a ton of service, but in my limited experience I thought the Andaz and Marriott were both more than adequate making dinner reservations, confirming car service and golf pickups, etc. The Grand Wailea is one of my least favorite properties in the world, and I am still shocked people spend so much money to stay there. We only stayed 2 nights, but it was like Disneyland and a cruise ship company developed a luxury resort. It was too huge, too crowded and way too $$$. I have some good friends that absolutely love it, so YMMV, but I will not ever return.
Your chances of an upgrade to a suite are very low without offering to pay additional $$. I guess anything is possible, but I would have 0 expectations of an upgrade to a suite.
Yes, there are connecting rooms, but I can't remember what categories or how many. I inquired about connecting rooms on one of our first stays at the property, and I want to say they offered a paid upgrade to a premier suite with a connecting bedroom, but the upgrade charge was so high, we just kept the separate rooms.
Excited to try the Andaz as we've always wanted to stay, but just this year we are putting our spend towards Hyatt properties, so we'll actually be globalist after this stay.
While I know May in general is quieter in Maui than in summer months / winter months, but overall, from what I've seen during past visits, this property seems to not have many families staying here - would I be correct in that assessment? We are a young-ish couple (early 30s) and we're bringing our parents in their 60s and we'd prefer to have a quiet vacation / hotel (i.e. opposite of GW experience). I'm also curious if Hawaii continues to cap capacity to 50% at hotels even in May - I have a feeling they will, only because of their past history during COVID and not wanting to let up "too soon."8.6.1
Last edited by kthpence; Mar 3, 2021 at 10:51 am
Mar 3, 2021, 11:16 am
#3618
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,734
Gotcha - I'll have to confirm with my TA if she's booking us via Virtuoso or Prive, which I'm not entirely sure that matters as far as room to room vs suite to suite upgrades. Honestly we're quite happy with a true ocean view room, so we booked into that category and figured we may have a chance booking through our TA for the upgrade.
Mar 3, 2021, 11:48 am
#3620
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,734
Never heard of a Virtuoso rate not being valid on a specific room type at Andaz. I see Partial ocean view rooms open for sale for the whole month of May
Just make sure you aren't being directed to a wholesale channel if Hyatt points and status is important to you.
Mar 3, 2021, 12:06 pm
#3621
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
While I know May in general is quieter in Maui than in summer months / winter months, but overall, from what I've seen during past visits, this property seems to not have many families staying here - would I be correct in that assessment? We are a young-ish couple (early 30s) and we're bringing our parents in their 60s and we'd prefer to have a quiet vacation / hotel (i.e. opposite of GW experience). I'm also curious if Hawaii continues to cap capacity to 50% at hotels even in May - I have a feeling they will, only because of their past history during COVID and not wanting to let up "too soon."8.6.1
Mar 3, 2021, 12:14 pm
#3622
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 1,394
While I know May in general is quieter in Maui than in summer months / winter months, but overall, from what I've seen during past visits, this property seems to not have many families staying here - would I be correct in that assessment? We are a young-ish couple (early 30s) and we're bringing our parents in their 60s and we'd prefer to have a quiet vacation / hotel (i.e. opposite of GW experience).
Mar 3, 2021, 12:42 pm
#3623
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA & DL / SPG & HGP
Posts: 1,723
This is pre-covid observation, but i would not use the word "quiet" to describe the Andaz. I found the Andaz to have a limited number of kids (relatively...it is certainly not zero) which led to less screaming. And it is smaller so you don't get the feeling of overcrowding in the common areas. However, while it's not quite like a W, there's definitely a vibe going...which i've always found to be on-brand for the Andaz...and something that we sought out when we were in out early-30s. But "quiet" is a bit off the mark in my experience.
Mar 3, 2021, 11:35 pm
#3624
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
So we did some math, and figured out how to get to globalist status by our stay (big tax bill coming our way) - with that, when booking into a King Ocean View, what suite would a Globalist be booked into? Also, when booking 2 rooms, will both rooms get globalist perks (waived resort fee, breakfast, etc.) ?
Mar 4, 2021, 7:46 am
#3625
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
So we did some math, and figured out how to get to globalist status by our stay (big tax bill coming our way) - with that, when booking into a King Ocean View, what suite would a Globalist be booked into? Also, when booking 2 rooms, will both rooms get globalist perks (waived resort fee, breakfast, etc.) ?
Officially, unless you are using your points to make a Guest of Honor booking for the second room you only get the Globalist benefits for one room. That said, most properties have extended benefits to multiple rooms for me in the past. The Andaz did as well, but the last time we had multiple rooms there was several years ago, so things could have changed.
Mar 4, 2021, 10:18 am
#3626
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
For the suite upgrade, the Andaz Suite has to be available and there aren't very many so it can be difficult to use a suite upgrade at this property. If you are able to use a suite upgrade for those nights you can book the cheapest room instead of spending the extra money on the ocean view room since the upgrade is the same either way. Also note that the Andaz Suites are first floor suites with almost no view if a view is important to you.
Officially, unless you are using your points to make a Guest of Honor booking for the second room you only get the Globalist benefits for one room. That said, most properties have extended benefits to multiple rooms for me in the past. The Andaz did as well, but the last time we had multiple rooms there was several years ago, so things could have changed.
Officially, unless you are using your points to make a Guest of Honor booking for the second room you only get the Globalist benefits for one room. That said, most properties have extended benefits to multiple rooms for me in the past. The Andaz did as well, but the last time we had multiple rooms there was several years ago, so things could have changed.
Mar 4, 2021, 2:11 pm
#3627
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,027
Can you even still purchase a suite for your dates?
Mar 4, 2021, 2:22 pm
#3628
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
I was also curious if booking into an ocean view room (i.e. not the base category) would help the chances for an upgrade as a globalist vs booking a base room or booking on points. It sounds like a lot of globalists aren't upgraded when they book on points, but I don't have a ton of DPs on upgrades when Globalists book the highest room category available, in this case the king ocean view.
Mar 4, 2021, 2:44 pm
#3629
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,027
My point wasn't that you should buy the suite - it was that if no suites were available for purchase (as is the case with the dates for my next stay) then you could be pretty sure that you wouldn't get a complimentary one.
But I would guess (totally a guess) that yes, paying for a higher room category would give you a better shot at a suite over a customer with a less-expensive room category, all things being equal. Other variables would be what time you check in (pretty random) and how you ask at check-in, assuming you aren't already upgraded at that point.
But I would guess (totally a guess) that yes, paying for a higher room category would give you a better shot at a suite over a customer with a less-expensive room category, all things being equal. Other variables would be what time you check in (pretty random) and how you ask at check-in, assuming you aren't already upgraded at that point.
Mar 5, 2021, 10:58 am
#3630
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
Officially, unless you are using your points to make a Guest of Honor booking for the second room you only get the Globalist benefits for one room. That said, most properties have extended benefits to multiple rooms for me in the past. The Andaz did as well, but the last time we had multiple rooms there was several years ago, so things could have changed.
