USirritated

That is probably a very good strategy. Please come back and let us know whether it worked out for you.

dayone

It's worked for me, twice (at other hotels).

Ineedmoremiles

The only detail is the Desert Ridge is not in Scottsdale, but in North Phoenix.

Ineedmoremiles

It has also worked for me before. Good luck!

skiermsm

We just had a very nice 1 night stay to meet up with friends staying the week. We were able to get ocean front rooms next to each other. We got the amenity, wine and choc macadamia nuts for our late night snack. As always, the adult infinity pool was my main location for the stay. We do staycations here frequently and always get upgraded to an ocean view/front room. Everyone goes out of their way to help us.

jtwiz

Has anyone stayed at both the Wailea Marriott and the Maui Ocean Club? I would love a comparison between the two. I currently have reservations at both for 7 nights in November, although the price at Wailea is slightly better. They seem to get mixed reviews, although most comments are generally positive.

It's just Mr jtwiz and me, and we like being able to walk out at night to different restaurants, happy hours, etc. I'm concerned that the Maui Ocean club will be full of kids, but equally worried that we won't find enough choices for things to do at night in Wailea. It appears that there are nice options for pool and beach at both.

Any thoughts?

bdschobel

I've stayed at both and prefer Wailea. There's plenty to do at night in the general vicinity (Kihei, mostly).

Bruce

jtwiz

Thanks Bruce! I appreciate the feedback.

kar120c

Each to his (or her) own I wouldn't turn down either one, but we like the Kaanapali area better. Although I agree there was certainly enough to do in Kihei, we found the walking better from the Ocean Club, while Kihei is a drive (as is Lahaina from Ocean Club, to be fair). I'm also ignoring the fact that at the Ocean Club we've always had a 1 BR (sometimes a timeshare swap, but we've paid for it too), while at Wailea we just had a room, although with a better view.

Although there's also a lot to be said for the infinity pool at Wailea, no kids, relatively quiet . . .

As I said, each to his own. Just depends on your preferences.

beckoa

Did this in April with two nights at the CY. (1st and last)

Agreed. This was my preference.

It was a great beach to walk on, not so much for swimming. But miles & miles of sand, and we caught the tail end of a luau performance at the Hyatt IIRC. Also the BBQ Grills were a huge plus as I like to cook (Other guests like to look on too)

As a Marriott Elite I didn't get any special treatment at the OC. Wasn't expecting anything, but an upgrade would have been nice. Oh and had issues with the a/c. Much better view at the FS Marriott (upgraded). A kitchen is great to have to cook.


That pool was cool! The OC had a lot of selection, and I even went down the water slide a couple times but to have a pool end like that- and quite the view too :-: Overall a more resortish feeling to the FS Marriott.

And to add the CY. Its a new build and very convenient to both OGG and Costco Great place to overnight if arriving late, or leaving early, and even as a base camp for an early drive up Haleakala ^.

kar120c

beckoa, I agree with pretty much everything you said. No upgrade at the OC (even when I was platinum), small upgrade at Wailea to better view on a points stay. (IIRC Bruce once posted he was upgraded to a suite at Wailea on points, no such luck for me.)

The OC has kitchenettes with microwave, toaster and stovetop I think, so much more ability to cook, and a blender for our own drinks (we stop at Costco off the plane and buy rum and mix). Wailea was just a room, had a frig and coffee maker I think. I think there were some grills at Wailea too (the OC has a bunch) but I can't remember for sure. Since we swim in the pools, not the ocean, the beach is for walking and Kaanapali is pretty long, there's also a paved walking path right next to the beach that goes pretty far, at the north end there's a hotel (Sheraton?) that has a cliff diver at sunset, and you can walk further north by crossing a golf course to another paved path.

The Wailea had a luau 3 or 4 nights the week we were there, our room was right next door, so we saw it for free, if at a short distance. After a couple of times, the novelty wore off and we ignored it

Wailea definitely felt more "resortish" and seemed quieter and less "kid friendly" but because of no kitchens we spent more on food and drinks, and had to drive more to get to non-hotel things (although there is one mall right next door with several restaurants).

I'm ready to go back to either one.

jtwiz

Ha! Your responses kind of prove out my dilemma, which is that you probably can't go wrong at either one. And that is not a bad problem to have.

Unless something changes, I will most likely stay at Wailea, if for no other reason that I got a great rate there. Why not save some $$ on the hotel and have it for eating out, etc.

Thanks SO much to all of you for responding!

convict

Long time reader, not much of a poster here. My wife and I are wrapping up 5 nights at the Wailea, so I thought I would do a quick summary.

Stayed here on points. I'm platinum... got upgraded the week before check in to an ocean front room in Hala 7. Just an awesome view from the room.

My overall impression of this hotel is that its all about the location. The views from the room and the infinity pool are just superior. The close proximity to a couple of world class beaches is also great.

However, in my opinion, the category 8 classification is ludicrous. I know the property is relatively aged, so I came into the vacation with tempered expectations. However, there are details that are just really unacceptable for a property like this. Examples:

- Really cheap shower amenities (cheap shampoo, conditioner). No body wash (important for a resort), and a couple of small bars of soap.
- Coffee in the room is the standard Marriott coffee maker - fine. But, powdered cream?
- Literally ZERO available power outlets on the bed side of the room. Had to unplug lights to plug in my iphone near the bed.
- The service at the Mala lounge is really poor. Had a couple of bad experiences there, and just refuse to go spend any more money there.
- Birds (non-exotic) are in abundance. I know wildlife is just something you need to deal with when going to any island, but birds literally eating fries from your plate by the pool and bird crap on pool chairs (and even on the chairs at the Mala lounge) is really annoying.
- There's a weird vibe to this place too. Very little local music played, the tiki's are only lit for a couple of hours at night, the pools all close at sunset, and there's only one outdoor bar (the waitresses at the infinity pool are fabulous and will get the drinks for you despite the walk). If it wasn't for the weather and the open lobbies, I'm not sure I would know if I was in Maui or the Caribbean.

The activities (beach, outdoor massage, adult pool, cabana rentals overseeing the beach, etc) makes it seem like its a location for couples looking for a distinguished getaway without the "party" atmosphere. But its not really run that way. As a picky traveler, the details really matter to me. I purposely take my vacations at higher end hotels so I don't have to worry about the little things. At hotels where the age shows, like the Wailea, the little things should matter more. That hasn't been my experience here.

Overall, my recommendation is this is a good resort if you can find a good rate. I don't think the points required for a cat 8 hotel is good value here - unless you really prioritize the view (which is great) and a great quiet pool location (the infinity pool). In comparison, I stayed on points at the JW in Orlando last month, which is a Cat 7... and that hotel just completely blows this one away.

I love the island - but if/when we come back, I'll probably look elsewhere. Let me know if there are any questions I can help answer about this property.

Iguana0

Thanks for the review. We stayed here last year and really enjoyed the quiet atmosphere, good choices for beaches on either side, the infinity pool and the close proximity to the mall for food.

I booked again this year as a combined paid and points stay for 9 nights. I am gold and I'm wondering how best to score an upgrade. Did you call to request before arriving?

USirritated

+1

I stayed at Wailea on a combo of paid and points and had a great experience. I was upgraded to a one bedroom end cap suite in the first building (the taller building to the right as you face the open lobby from the street, and as Bruce will probably agree (I think he told me he got the same room I did), the view is just kick-a** up the coast and out the point to the ocean jetty. The smoothies at the infinity pool were dynamite, and there were good restaurant choices nearby. When I revisit Maui, I will definitely stay at Wailea!