Aug 10, 2015, 1:11 pm
Last edit by: Westcoaster
Hotel website: Waikoloa Beach Marriott (Kona, Hawaii)
Daily resort fee of USD 30 in addition to room rate includes self-parking, cultural activities, beach rentals and more. NOTE: Effective September 14, 2017 they no longer include self-parking in with resort fee benefits. Parking is charged separately.
Daily resort fee of USD 30 in addition to room rate includes self-parking, cultural activities, beach rentals and more. NOTE: Effective September 14, 2017 they no longer include self-parking in with resort fee benefits. Parking is charged separately.
Waikoloa Beach Marriott (Kona, Hawaii) [Master Thread]
Jul 26, 2013, 10:48 am
#406
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL FO, HHonors Gold, MR Gold, ICH Plat, National EC
Posts: 255
No resort fee charged. If you have elite status, you can check-in at the HHonors desk where they pretty much know everything there is to know about bennies and what not. This means you shouldn't have to tell them anything. They advised me the resort fee is waived for point stays. Still get the bennies as if you paid it, but no charge.
Jul 26, 2013, 10:50 am
#407
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Wine Country, Finger Lakes
Programs: LFFRS BOD
Posts: 1,355
No resort fee charged. If you have elite status, you can check-in at the HHonors desk where they pretty much know everything there is to know about bennies and what not. This means you shouldn't have to tell them anything. They advised me the resort fee is waived for point stays. Still get the bennies as if you paid it, but no charge.
Jul 26, 2013, 7:11 pm
#408
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL FO, HHonors Gold, MR Gold, ICH Plat, National EC
Posts: 255
My apologies...I was thinking of the Hilton when referring to the HHonors desk. We stayed there 10 nights prior to the 6 nights at the Marriott. So, no Elite bennies at all for Golds or Silvers at the Marriott.....well, not exactly nothing....we DID score a very nice ocean view upgrade as a Gold 
Sep 29, 2013, 2:49 pm
#409
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: OGG
Programs: AA PLT, UA Silver, Hyatt PLT, Marriott PLT
Posts: 298
No resort fee charged. If you have elite status, you can check-in at the HHonors desk where they pretty much know everything there is to know about bennies and what not. This means you shouldn't have to tell them anything. They advised me the resort fee is waived for point stays. Still get the bennies as if you paid it, but no charge.
Feb 27, 2014, 7:49 am
#412
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: AA EXP, UA Gold,Marriott PP,Hilton Diamond, National EX, Hertz PC
Posts: 114
Just got back from this hotel and not real impressed. I am PP and was on an awards stay, when I checked in I asked if any upgrades where available? They said sorry they were sold out but if I want to upgrade with cash they could find something for me. They pretty much gave the impression that they do not upgrade for award stays. After a few days noticed I was not getting a paper, they said I would have to request it even though it is on my profile. Only good thing is they forgot to offer me a Platinum gift so they gave me $100 resort credit. Great location but if going back to the big island, I think I would pay cash to stay at a neighboring property. They seemed a lot nicer and more up to date.
Feb 27, 2014, 10:45 am
#413
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5
Just got back from this hotel and not real impressed. I am PP and was on an awards stay, when I checked in I asked if any upgrades where available? They said sorry they were sold out but if I want to upgrade with cash they could find something for me. They pretty much gave the impression that they do not upgrade for award stays. After a few days noticed I was not getting a paper, they said I would have to request it even though it is on my profile. Only good thing is they forgot to offer me a Platinum gift so they gave me $100 resort credit. Great location but if going back to the big island, I think I would pay cash to stay at a neighboring property. They seemed a lot nicer and more up to date.
Mar 3, 2014, 12:32 pm
#414
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 20,404
Just completed a stay here as a Gold.
Room was a "pool view," and that's what was booked. No upgrades available, even if I was willing to pay.
The room was on the second floor, looking directly over the hot tub, and right in front of a walking path. Let's just say there was no changing in the room; only the bathroom.
So the room was in a crappy location.
Pool service starts at 11am. The sun is up and strong by 9-9:30am. I thought that was weak.
Ate at the Hawaii Calling for a snack, and the service was pretty slow. (I had to get out of my seat to get our server so we could pay & leave on time for the airport.)
The self-parking lot was very full in the evenings; to the point of there being no spots available. So the options were valet or just hideout until somebody left.
Resort fee was charged ($25). As a result, there was no real Gold benefit since it included wifi.
Staff lacked that typical aloha/ohana attitude.
I'd avoid this property in the future, at least while it's under current management. It's a shame because the grounds and location are otherwise nice.
Room was a "pool view," and that's what was booked. No upgrades available, even if I was willing to pay.
The room was on the second floor, looking directly over the hot tub, and right in front of a walking path. Let's just say there was no changing in the room; only the bathroom.
So the room was in a crappy location.
Pool service starts at 11am. The sun is up and strong by 9-9:30am. I thought that was weak.
Ate at the Hawaii Calling for a snack, and the service was pretty slow. (I had to get out of my seat to get our server so we could pay & leave on time for the airport.)
The self-parking lot was very full in the evenings; to the point of there being no spots available. So the options were valet or just hideout until somebody left.
Resort fee was charged ($25). As a result, there was no real Gold benefit since it included wifi.
Staff lacked that typical aloha/ohana attitude.
I'd avoid this property in the future, at least while it's under current management. It's a shame because the grounds and location are otherwise nice.
Last edited by UNITED959; Mar 3, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Mar 3, 2014, 3:20 pm
#416
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: UA, bmi, AA, CO, DL, B6, AMEX, Hertz, Most Hotels
Posts: 3,002
afaik, Hyatt as well as Hilton are two chains that waive the resort fees for top elites.
As a Plat though, I was offered a discount on the daily breakfast buffet. iirc, the resultant charge was in the $15 or $20/pp range.
fwiw, I did receive an upgrade to a partial ocean view and enjoyed my stay there.
May 2, 2014, 12:32 pm
#417
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,921
One night stay ( 20th April )
Hi,
I stayed at the Waikoloa Marriott for one night in late April before moving to the hilton.
I requested a pool view room and got room 5280 in the Kamehameha wing
The room was large, well maintained, quiet with a good a/c and had a fridge.
The balcony had two chairs and a small table.
The bed was comfortable.
The Kings shops with a general store is just across the road and the Queen's , market place is just a few minutes walk away ( the Island gourmet market in the Queen's market place was cheaper for water ( 24*500ml bottles for $9.99 against $15 for the same water at the King's shops)
Breakfast buffet at Hawaii calls was $28 ( but the resort charge gives a 25% discount ) and was pretty good.
The pools were large and good with a water slide and the beach is a short walk away.
As I was moving to the Hilton Resort, I asked for a 130pm check out and this was offered with no problem.
Overall it is a good hotel and had a good short stay there.
Regards
TBS
I stayed at the Waikoloa Marriott for one night in late April before moving to the hilton.
I requested a pool view room and got room 5280 in the Kamehameha wing
The room was large, well maintained, quiet with a good a/c and had a fridge.
The balcony had two chairs and a small table.
The bed was comfortable.
The Kings shops with a general store is just across the road and the Queen's , market place is just a few minutes walk away ( the Island gourmet market in the Queen's market place was cheaper for water ( 24*500ml bottles for $9.99 against $15 for the same water at the King's shops)
Breakfast buffet at Hawaii calls was $28 ( but the resort charge gives a 25% discount ) and was pretty good.
The pools were large and good with a water slide and the beach is a short walk away.
As I was moving to the Hilton Resort, I asked for a 130pm check out and this was offered with no problem.
Overall it is a good hotel and had a good short stay there.
Regards
TBS
Aug 30, 2014, 2:17 am
#419
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: MM / UA 1K
Posts: 473
I checked in here earlier today having booked the room using the Marriott Reward Rate. The rate for the room I booked states "Pool View, Guest room, 1 King or 2 Double, Balcony". I'm a Gold via my United Premier account.
A couple days earlier I was contacted by reservation team as to when I thought I'd be arriving. I gave them an estimate and offered to check in later if it would help them with inventory.
Upon checkin I was told I'd be getting a double room. I mentioned that I'd requested a King size bed. After checking, the agent Tracey told me they had no King rooms left. I asked her if there were any King rooms in a different category - after checking, the answer was no. When I asked the front desk agent about the "Guaranteed Room Type" she seemed not to know what I was talking about.
To add salt to the wounds, while I was waiting, a single lady was checking in next to me who was a non-elite, got an Ocean View King at a lower rate than mine (Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival rate) and was apparently upgraded to boot
So as mentioned by others up thread, Gold Status appears to have to no little value here.
A couple days earlier I was contacted by reservation team as to when I thought I'd be arriving. I gave them an estimate and offered to check in later if it would help them with inventory.
Upon checkin I was told I'd be getting a double room. I mentioned that I'd requested a King size bed. After checking, the agent Tracey told me they had no King rooms left. I asked her if there were any King rooms in a different category - after checking, the answer was no. When I asked the front desk agent about the "Guaranteed Room Type" she seemed not to know what I was talking about.
To add salt to the wounds, while I was waiting, a single lady was checking in next to me who was a non-elite, got an Ocean View King at a lower rate than mine (Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival rate) and was apparently upgraded to boot
So as mentioned by others up thread, Gold Status appears to have to no little value here.
Aug 30, 2014, 5:18 am
#420
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
Escalate it to a manager and tell them you are invoking the Room Type Guarantee. You can also call Marriott Customer Service to help you out as well, if they continue to say that they don't know anything about the Guarantee (which is $100 to you.) Note that to get the $100 from the Guarantee you have to invoke it before you check-out.