JW Ihilani
 

Looking at Hawaii summer of 2005. I'm Platinum with *wood and will stay five nights at the Princeville. We want to do five nights on another island. My wife felt that the second island should have some sightseeing - such as Pearl Harbor.

Any feedback on JW Marriott Ihilani? It will be two couples with no kids. Do you know what the first day I can apply for a free room on points if my hoped for date of arrival is Aug 2, 2005?

Thanks - Steve

Steve

Welcome to FlyerTalk. There has been much discussion on the Ihilani in the past - if you search this forum, you should be able to find the posts on it. In short, it's a very, very nice property, but somewhat isolated and removed from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki.

I'd like to invite you over to the FT - Travel - Hawai`i Forum if you have any questions as to what to do/see on your trip.

Aloha!

And the rule of thumb on room availability for Marriott seems to be the first Saturday, 50 weeks out, which I think puts your first "call" date at around July 17 (socrates, please correct me if I'm wrong).

We've stayed at the Ihilani once or twice a year almost since they opened. If you will e-mail me at [email protected] I'll be happy to e-mail my review of the resort to you.

There are some good scenes of the Marriott timeshare and the beach area around the Ihilani each week on the new (and boring) TV show "North Shore". Despite the name of the TV show, these properties are located on the western shore of Oahu.

Check out TripAdvisor.com for many good reviews (including mine!). Loved the hotel - be sure you get one of the rooms in the front 4 story building, not the tall one - much quieter & nicer. They gave us 2 rooms for 7 nights on points alone, so you're not a 2nd class citizen here using points. Really only drawback here, besides small crowded pool, is really poor food - typical Marriott - very overpriced & just not that good at all. One of the weakest breakfast buffets I've ever seen. Unfortunately, not a whole lot around to go eat at, except a strip mall by KMart. One thing we did enjoy, tho, was sitting at the upstairs bar - very friendly barmen & you could order off any of the restaurant's menus & have the food delivered there.

Another secret - there is a pool off the spa that no one ever seems to be at - if you want peace & quiet... Do buy a floaty at KMart - absolutely wonderful to float in the lagoon as no waves - also bring snorkelling equipment if you plan to do a lot. Pick up drinks & munchies while you're at KMart, too. Ok snorkelling - better than I expected for a new man-made reef - huge schools of fish over to the left at the ocean's entrance.

I agree the meal prices at the Ihilani are simply outrageous. I believe it is now $19.95 for the breakfast buffet. But I think the buffet is one of the best I've seen (but not for the price!). Eggs and omelettes are made to order. I can't imagine what would be missing.

Initially we also liked the rooms in the 4 story beachfront building, but then we had to stay in the tower section once and found the rooms we had there were bigger, so we've stayed there ever since. If you don't mind a little smaller room in the beachfront wing, it is nice to leave the doors open at night and listen to the sound of the waves.

We have never found the pool crowded except on weekends when some locals and military people make use of it. I believe they offer discounted rates to Hawaiian residents and local military.

It's a terrific resort...close to the big city but far enough away to be "away from it all"....if you're looking for something with a FLL feel to it you'd be happier on Waikiki

I was more dissappointed with the cold food table - terribly under ripe chopped fruit, teeny little tasteless pastries, yougert, cold cereal & that's about it. I'd expect eggs to order at the minimum for a hot buffet, tho.

We looked at the tower rooms & I thought they were smaller than ours in the front building - interesting - do they have the same large private veranda balconys? The front rooms are so large for a standard room that I'm really impressed if most of the Tower's are larger - wow!

We were there last August & it was packed - more big Japanese groups than locals, tho. Still, the beach was blissfully quiet & beautiful!

We stay here every other year. (with kids) We think the Breakfast Buffet is one of the best. We like the restraunts, staff, rooms, bathrooms, lanai's, golf, etc. Never bothered to try the spa, although we see may guests crossing to it in their robe. Great place!

brendamc- I love their pastries (just have to eat more of them as indeed they are small !!) and have never found anything wrong with the fruit. I don't know what else they could put on a cold buffet except cereals, pastries, fruit, and breads. Only complaint I have is the price. And if you think $19.95 is pricey for breakfast buffet, the dinner buffet is $40 (plus tax and tip). We always leave the resort for dinner.

The rooms in the tower can vary, as the building isn't square. Some corner rooms are just enormous, but then their balconies are about 1/2 size. All the rooms in the tower section we have stayed in have been at least 20% larger than those in the oceanfront building and have had the same size balcony, except for the time we had a corner room (which was at least 50% larger inside).

Thanks - another question!
 

Thanks to all for the warm advice. I could also use points for 5 days at the Ritz Carlton on Maui instead of the Ihilani on Oahu. As I said, I'll definitely be at the Princeville (Kawai). Any thoughts on the hotel/island? Thanks again.

Steve

Steve

Please look for information on Princeville in the Starwood Forum - Here's a good thread to begin with.

Information on Ritz-Carltons are in the Travel - Luxury Hotels Forum as well as here (I know, confusing!). Here's one thread from there on the Kapalua, Maui property http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=304342

Please look for information on general travel questions to Kaua`i (or any Hawaiian island) in the Hawai`i forum.

Thanks, and hope you have a great time!

Actually, info wanted on Ritz!
 

Sorry for my confusing wording. The info I'm asking for is on the Ritz Carlton. The Princeville is a given, so I'm choosing bewtween the Ihilani and the Ritz. Any thoughts on the latter. Thanks again!

Expect a lot more rain at Princeville than at Poipu on Kauai and much more rain on Kauai than on Oahu or Maui.

Could you give us more information on what you're specifically looking for on this trip? Since the Ihilani is on O`ahu and the Ritz on Maui, perhaps which island you most want to visit should ultimately decide which hotel you stay at. If you're at the Ihilani, just make sure to avoid the "haunted" floor. Do a Google search.

aloha