We are going to be here for 7 days in April, It will be our first time here and was hoping that some of you that have visited before could help me out as to what to expect. We are in an deluxe ocean front room, how is that different from a non deluxe ocean front room?
We have a car rented, is on site parking a problem? My understanding is that it's $10.00 a day for self parking or Valet!
How is the Spa...the wife is really looking forward to that!
Anything thing around the area that is a must see?
Any traffic concerns around the area?
Geez...sorry for all the silly questions, just trying to get a visual picture of what we are in for.
TIA for all of your help
This is a great, informative sight
Dave

There is a current thread only a few lines down below your post.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=385392

There are probably many others in the search function.

Parking is $12/day.

Nice golf course, nice beach, nice restaurants, and great rooms.

I don't know the difference between deluxe and regular OV.

I do not rent a car when I stay at this hotel as I dive with Ocean Concepts and they provide shuttle service, do the pool and beach, golf, and just relax. If I do rental car, I do it on the last day or two and use those days to explore and also use the car to get back to the airport. Hertz is at the Hotel, so I pick the car up there, use it for the last day or two, and then drop it off at the airport prior to checking in for my return flight. If you decide to pursue this, make sure you check rates and compare a weekly rate to that of a day or two rental from the Hotel with airport drop off. The last time I did this it was very affordable, $48 for 1 day, but I just checked again and it quoted $96/day for March. It may depend on what time of year you are there. Also another suggestion is to always, always check car rental rates the weeks preceding your trip as many times as the dates get closer and they have not rented all their cars the prices will drop significantly.

Sights to see: North Shore, hike Diamond Head, snorkeling the lagoons in front of the hotel. I scuba dive and I have seen things snorkeling in those lagoons, like the largest trumpet fish I have ever seen and an octopus out and about in daylight, that I have not seen diving. Scuba Diving with Ocean Concepts if you are certified divers, Discover Scuba if you are not certified and want to try it, and also snorkeling tours. As mentioned earlier they provide shuttle service and are just up the coast in 85-371 Farrington Hwy. Waianae, HI 96792 and may be reached at 808-696-7200. They are a really top notch operation and very safety oriented.

Deluxe ocean front room faces the awesome swimming pool and the hotel's private lagoon. non deluxe ocean front faces the ocean directly and does not overlook the swimming pool and the lagoon. - I had stayed at the deluxe ocean view room and they were nice enough to upgrade me to that room. I had only booked a standard room with the Hawaii 7 nights hopper deal.

Don't know what is awesome about THAT pool... I like the front building as you look out to sea...

I agree with that

I think we would rather have the room face the ocean only so that we can hear the surf at night and look out directly on the water. I'm not really interested in looking at the pool!
Any places near by to grab a quick bite or some snacks other than the $$$$ hotel resteraunts

I would also like a non obstructed view looking out to sea. This is what I thought I was getting with the deluxe ocean front room.
Can you give me an idea about what I should be asking the hotel for? Is there a certain wing that only has these views

I think that is what you will be getting as the rooms in this picture are deluxe oxean view. We were uprgaded to one a couple years ago, an interior picture of it can be found here and here. Your view from the room will look like this and this and if you look down you will see the pool. I wouldn't worry about it as your room will be fine. Frankly I book the mountain view rooms and if I get upgraded then fine, if not all of the rooms are very large and nice and other than sleeping, waking up, showering, etc. I am out of the beach, at the pool, on the golf course, under water scuba diving, or in one of the restaurants eating.

Moderator-- there are two threads on this same topic running next to each other. Any possibility of consolidating them to take it easier for everyone to get the most complete information about this resort?

You want to ask for a 3rd or 4th story room in the front building, not the main one. There's the tall hotel tower & then this much smaller building in front - it's either 3 or 4 stories - I can't remember.

Thats just the kind of info I was looking for! Thanks

Those are awesome photos...thanks a million!!