edgewood49

Marriott over Courtyard. The Courtyard is a poorly executed rehab. Small pool, lame food choices, in fact the IHOP across the street is best dining option over the "hotel" restaurant which is really outsourced and poor at best.

Rooms are real small haphazard layouts. If you stay get a room either pool side or the auxiliary tower, street side rooms are really loud.

The regular Marriott is great, rooms are clean and inviting. Have been staying there almost since the first day it became a Marriott!

MaineFlyer16

So glad to hear they are adding wireless. I was here in February with my Macbook Air (no LAN port) and had to buy a USB adapter at the apple store. On the plus side, at least the apple store was a few blocks away. Not sure I would go back to Waikiki though, felt like Miami Beach except 14 hours away instead of three.

LarkSFO

I was in Waikiki for a week (2 nights Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, 6 nights HHV) in April, then in South Beach for a long Memorial Day weekend in May (at the Ritz SoBe).

I would say that only two things are comparable between the two places: 1) High End Shopping and 2) Artificial / man made beaches due to natural erosion (still nice, not as nice as a natural beach though).

Other than that I would say the two locations are incredibly different! We found both to be quite enjoyable. And, from SFO, flying to MIA or to HNL is about the same for us...

flysfromPIT

I totally understand what you mean here. I need to use MIA as a stopover from south america about 8 times a year, and I need to use HNL as a stopover from the South Pacific about 4 times a year.

Yes, there are differences, but they do feel VERY similar.

I ALWAYS grab a car in HNL though, and really just use the marriott in Wkki as a place to put my head. There's too much fun exploring other parts of the islands beaches than to be anywhere near wkki...

carole_d

My husband and I had a reward stay at the Waikiki Beach Marriott from 10 June through 15 June. I emailed the property beforehand and requested a complimentary upgrade if a room was available. They upgraded us from city view to a room on the 32nd floor with a view of the ocean and Diamond Head. Nice!

The staff was great and we really enjoyed the stay. (Well, except for the woman working in the Marriott Vacation Club office. IMO, she could only be described by a term I won't type in mixed company...)

C17PSGR

Just stayed at the Waikiki Courtyard for several days. Staff is nice but the hotel is ... blah. No upgrade for a Plat Premier apart from a high floor looking at another building. Location is no better/worse than any other locations off the beach in Waikiki.

In contrast, when I stayed at the Marriott, I was upgraded to a suite with an ocean view.

AATrout

The Resort - when I last stayed there in 2009/2010 was an average property but better pools than the CY. I understand some renovations have made a difference since then but I actually liked the area around the CY better and got better treatment. In 2011 a few months before the Edition folded and went out of the Marriott aegis, I stayed there a week on business.

But I'm going back in September, Edition is gone in the Marriott lineup and I am interested in the Resort this time. Was wondering if they finally have a decent FITCEN and if any of the rooms were renovated in the last few years?

edgewood49

It's a shame about the Edition and the CY is a sad case of trying to get a lower cost flag in Hawaii. by the by the CY in Kona is no better, like the Waikiki CY it's an old real old hotel converted to a CY. Poor execution.

rln

I have stayed a number of times at each property. Has anybody, recently, mentioned price? The Courtyard, usually, is offering a AAA or other rate that is significantly lower than anything available at the Marriott. Heck, get a $80 or so night savings, walk over to the Marriott and get the nightly buffet for "free."

Yes, what was once a very shabby workout room at the full service Marriott has been upgraded. Interesting point: The one thing that bothers me at the Courtyard are the relatively few television channels available in the rooms. In its workout room, the monitors are hooked up to a different service and many, many more channel options are available.

As a platinum premier, I've been upgraded most of the time at both properties. With the exception of one stay, I've gotten a suite at the Courtyard - sometimes, a suite at the Marriott resort.

There are a lot of great restaurants around the Courtyard - many of them on the street one past Kuhio - Jimmy Buffets and a whole lot of others. The Italian restaurant incorporated into the Courtyard and the "lobby bar" are both participants in the dining program affiliated with many airlines. When staying there, I charge meals separately and get five points per dollar spent on my Alaska miles and two points per dollar spent on my Marriott account - makes up for fact that at Courtyards - credit card points aside - you don't earn points for meals.

It is not a long walk from the Courtyard to the Marriott. I really think, in the end, it comes down to dollars. Yes, the pool (s) are nicer at the Marriott, but is that worth $80 a night?

edgewood49

I do agree with you about the ease of getting to restaurants and I use to go across the street to the IHOP for breakfast.

Yes there is a price point which when I am there on business I have looked to compare the CY to others. Of note there is now a Hyatt Place competing and a much nicer rehab.

maltasr

Just returned from the CY in Bali and have stayed twice at CY in Waikiki. Why the property in Bali is branded as a CY dumbfounds me. This is one of finest Marriotts we've patronized in years. The CY in Waikiki is a fair value for the $98 senior rate we paid. We love having the IHOP across the street and the easy walk to the Royal Hawaiian for the stellar brunch. And as Plats, we always get at least a peek-a-boo view of the Pacific.

Michigan Czar

I stayed at the CY Waikiki in 2010 and I was less than impressed. The rooms are small and not up to CY standards, the staff was less than friendly and I am platinum. I also had an issue during my stay but I do not remember what it was but they gave me 15k points after I complained.

edgewood49

I sure wish there was someone from Marriott out there reading this. I have written them after each stay regarding these same issues.

maltasr

I'm fairly certain that Marriott has an appointed individual on the payroll who does nothing but report back what's being said here and at similar outlets. They're very good at listening and responding (IMHO).

edgewood49

One can only hope as the operator of the CY in Honolulu and Kona need to go back to Marriott 101