hockeyinsider

If it's Monday to Friday, I ask for the general manager. If it's after-hours or the weekend, I ask for the duty manager.

Fizzer

My experience is that the SPG properties rarely waive the fee but when internet is included in resort fee amenities they are required to provide an alternative amenity for Platinums. Only for the internet and only if the internet speed in the Resort Fee is the same as the highest speed internet ( which Platinums are entitled to anyway). Not sure if it applies to Golds too. At the Westin Moana the alternative was 250 points/ per day. The SPG Lurker had to intervene to resolve this with the Resort because Front Desk repeatedly denied that there was any alternative amenity requirement ( it had been in place many months at the time of request). It seems from FT comments that many resorts are reticent about providing this without being pressed on it.

hockeyinsider

I know the Westin Moana didn't charge a resort fee on some rates, including government. I received the points each day when I stayed there in February without asking for them. They only had one internet network, which anyone could connect to if they walked off the beach. The same for the Marriott Waikiki, which only has one internet network that's also open to anyone -- yet they charge for it with the resort fee.

cmculp

margarita girl

HereAndThere

I stayed at the Waikiki Marriott several times a year over a period of several years. I complained often about the resort fee and usually got it waived, but it was always an annoyance. The issue of supposedly getting free wifi as a result of being an elite member and then being charged for it via a resort fee is simply a scam. The issue has been discussed various times on Marriott's own discussion boards and nothing has changed. Maybe it will take an attorney general or some such lawsuit to make Marriott deliver free internet as promised.

I am not optimistic about the management of the hotel or corporate headquarters doing anything different. I had some very frank talks with the hotel managers the last couple times I stayed there about the internet charges and the resort fee. I don't go to Hawaii as often as I used to and have now taken to staying in a condo rental. I also stopped in at the Marriott the first time I stayed in the condo to let the manager know about the income he was losing. He was apologetic and offered to waive resort fees for me in the future as I recall, etc. Nevertheless, I decided I like the condo better than the hotel so I haven't been back to the Waikiki Marriott for about three years or so.

For years I had a very positive image of Marriott overall. But with the mandatory resort fees and charging platinum members for free internet via a mandatory fee (among other issues) Marriott's image has moved down several notches in my mind.

vg247

Kacee

This property is not on the beach, it's across the street. Note also that because of the way the towers are oriented, the property has very few rooms with a direct ocean view ("ocean front"). The rooms they call "ocean view" are on the sides and do not look directly at the water.

Platinum benefits are pretty minimal, though that should change on August 1 with breakfast being added.

I do like being at this end of Waikiki and an easy walk to Marukami for udon

Finkface

Agree on both counts. This end of Waikiki is much better (my place is down this end). And nothing beats Marukame. The only thing I will ever line up for.

hockeyinsider

Hmm. Doesn't SPG guarantee rooms for platinums with 72 hours notice?

But as for the Waikiki Marriott, it's a massive hotel. Like 1,000 rooms. You shouldn't have an issue getting an upgrade ahead of time, especially if you ask for it. The front desk manager is Lorelie Rodriguez, [email protected]. I would take a king-sized bed on the highest floor over a suite on a lower floor because of noise from neighboring hotels and the street.

As for the beach, it's across the street. I prefer the beach by the Moana because there are no homeless vagabonds down there. The beach directly across from the Marriott Waikiki attracts the homeless at night and they're often slow to clear out in the morning. The hotel has a massive pool deck with lots of chairs for sunbathing and two decent pools.

Kacee

So I was just here for a quick cheap overnight. I posted in the SNA thread about my issues with the SNA upgrade not working properly. Eventually I was confirmed into an "Ocean Front Junior Suite." When I arrived, they tried to palm off one of the Ocean View junior suites as "Ocean Front." It was on the 8th floor directly over the pool, with a balcony over Ohua Ave. An awful room totally exposed to the noise of Waikiki, including blaring music from the terrace bar. Called front desk immediately, and wound up in a regular room on 30th floor of the Paoakalani Tower with a view of Diamond Head. Much quieter (and better view), but the decor was extremely tired and dated.

Two positives. Staff were great, and the breakfast benefit (full buffet in Kuhio Grill) is legitimate. Note also that they've started room renovations in the Paoakalani Tower.

Good advice. I would add in addition, "stay somewhere else."

Majuki

I've given up on this hotel. You can get a better experience, especially with the resort fee, elsewhere among the Marriott properties in the area. For the money of the resort fee, you can get a nicer breakfast at Eggs 'n Things and, depending on the time you head down, have a shorter wait.

Kacee

I hear ya, I'm done as well.

But I'll note Sheraton and Moana are typically at least $50-100 more expensive than this place (closer to $100 for my nights). Guess you get what you pay for . . . I just wasn't interested in paying over $300 for a 14 hour stay. Hilton was a little cheaper, but I had the $40 AMEX offer for Marriott, which equalized the price plus there's the Marriott stay credit.

Didn't have to wait for breakfast. Most of the guests were school tour groups and I assume they did not have breakfast included in their group rates.

hockeyinsider

They have a new general manager. So, it will be interesting to see how this property changes, if at all.

Did you get the resort fee waived or an alternative replacement amenity included, @Kacee?

If I was only in Honolulu for 14 hours and had a rental car, I might consider the Courtyard on the North Shore of Oahu, if I was staying loyal to Marriott. It's typically a lot cheaper than the Waikiki properties. Yes, it's on the North Shore, but it doesn't seem like you were in Honolulu for a Waikiki vacation.

Majuki

Keep us posted the next time you're there. I stayed at the Hilton last December - and made the reservation before the resort fee kicked in - so my most recent data point is December 2017. At that time the front desk was practically laughing at the request to waive the resort fee. We did manage to get a second breakfast coupon before that was officially a benefit pre-merger, but that was about it. Also, there was a back and forth about them honoring the resort fee at the time of booking, which had increased by the time of our stay. Having such an adversarial attitude with your guests made me not want to return.

I second the Courtyard in Laie if you're just spending the night.