I think the buildings on the left side are the residences.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F...0/P1000636.JPG

The wing on the right side of the 4 levels of pools is the only one open so far (1 of 3).

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T...0/P1000639.JPG

Breathtaking view from the lowest pool level, at the pool bar.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F...0/P1000643.JPG

Friendly bartenders at the pool side bar.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I...0/P1000644.JPG

Open Concept Kitchen

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z...0/P1000646.JPG

Sunset

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e...0/P1000647.JPG

Saw one of the suites, it's very nice, but they definitely went for form over function (uncomfortable bench seating and couch) in the furniture choices in the living room side of the suite, nice bed, desk, tvs, views, great bathroom, beautiful tub, fabulous shower.

Others will be along to post pics of their rooms and suites.

Definitely a nice place.

Thanks for inviting me over for a drink.

-David

The lack of privacy on the balcony is shocking. The pseudo Arne Jacobsen chairs do not look too comfortable either. Very tough to transform a 1970´s building into something modern.

The pools look nice, but one can easily understand why nearly all guests so far complained about noise. :eek:

Diamonds (others?) don't pay resort fees on award travel, so implying that it's OK to pay $200 for a week of parking during a free stay because there's no resort fee isn't relevant.

I'm in Maui for a month, so a 1/4 mile walk in the nice weather won't take away from my quality time, if I'm saving a few hundred dollars.

I'm still not happy there's no self-parking, even for a small fee.

Does anyone know what is the maximum occupancy for a standard double room?

Hope that it is 4 people, 2 adults, 2 children. I am taking my Grandchildren there in June and do not want to use a suite upgrade because we then go over to the Grand Wailea.

I'm not happy neither, but looking on the bright side of the equation, we've visited Wailea for 10 years and see parking as a nominal cost to a service we use. In Calgary, $30 is the norm for downtown parking. Calgary had some if the highest parking rates in North America so I generally don't bat an eye to the parking charges. I find my time on vacation is valuable plus having two small kids, I like the convenience if valet parking. If I'm vacationing in a condo, then I would expect parking to be included, but most if our nights spent in Hawaii are in hotels. Haven't Spent a night in a condo in Hawaii now for ten years. We were at Valley Isle last.

Well, I'm not in the 20 something category and the incessant "music" from porte cochere to inside the room with the doors closed did not thrill me either.
After an hour or so of techno coming from the poolside DJ the first afternoon, I called the front desk to find out when the torture would end. The very short answer "24".
Yes, there is no music by the serenity pool, which is fine if your room faces that direction. If not, I suggest a quick move!

And don't expect ease in the rooms. The 1" deep sinks in the cool looking bathroom make it pretty impossible to rinse a swimsuit without a tiny tsunami and the wooden slats in lieu of counter top result in either very c-a-r-e-f-u-l placement or loss between the slats.

As to the staff, a little further training is in order for a few. At breakfast we were told all the produce came from the Andaz farm in Maui (?!) including the apples used to make the juice that morning. When I questioned this, I was assured it was the case.
That I'd pay to see!

The beach is stunning and I found the Hawaiian staff to be consistently good.

All I heard was soft Hawaiian music coming from the speakers mostly around the pool. Granted, I was only there for 2.5 hours yesterday, but you couldn't hear the music in the room I saw.

-David

Mommy Points was talking up farm-to-table there, but the fruit shown was cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon?!
https://twitter.com/mommy_points/status/376754821727916032
Cheap filler on the mainland, that you'd see at a Hampton/Residence/Holiday Inn, but nothing local/exotic. Local grown melon is incredibly expensive IME. Local papaya and passion fruit are dirt cheap, pineapple is cheap and plentiful too, and star fruit should be in season right now.
It's foolish either way, serving expensive mediocre fruit, or throwing around the term farm-to-table without knowing what it actually means.
I also wasn't aware of any local charcuterie/Brie producers.

I'm curious to see their cocktail menu though. They brought in a really talented mixologist for the menu. Even at $16, if they're true craft cocktails, cheapskate me will try a few. I was extremely disappointed with the GH Kauai's menu. Has anyone tried the drinks?