Last edit by: margarita girl
Hotel email addresses:
Marriott Waikiki: [email protected]
Courtyard Waikiki: [email protected]
Waikiki Marriott is full buffet breakfast daily for elite+1 or 1,000 points - Plat arrival gift option
Resort fee: $37+tax
--- One macadamia nut candy (comes with 2 pieces of candy)
--- Fitness classes daily
--- Cultural classes daily
--- Enhanced internet
--- 60 minutes of long distance and international calls daily
--- Blu-ray or DVD rentals
--- Press Reader newspaper and magazine downloads
--- 1 introductory scuba or snorkel lesson, one per family (this is subject to availability as the shop needs to first have a paid booking before they can offer the free lesson in the morning)
Marriott Waikiki: [email protected]
Courtyard Waikiki: [email protected]
Waikiki Marriott is full buffet breakfast daily for elite+1 or 1,000 points - Plat arrival gift option
Resort fee: $37+tax
--- One macadamia nut candy (comes with 2 pieces of candy)
--- Fitness classes daily
--- Cultural classes daily
--- Enhanced internet
--- 60 minutes of long distance and international calls daily
--- Blu-ray or DVD rentals
--- Press Reader newspaper and magazine downloads
--- 1 introductory scuba or snorkel lesson, one per family (this is subject to availability as the shop needs to first have a paid booking before they can offer the free lesson in the morning)
Courtyard Waikiki or Waikiki Marriott
#586
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QR/AC Gold, VA Silver, IHG Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,581
The reason I asked was while Waikiki is fun, it is basically the Las Vegas strip on a public beach. Do you really want to go to Hawaii and eat at California Pizza Kitchen, Cheesecake Factory and the like? Unless you have the budget or know where to go, that's basically your culinary experience in Waikiki. Plus, Waikiki can be expensive and inconvenient if you have a rental car. Instead, I would recommend your family stay at the Courtyard on the North Shore of Oahu, by the B.Y.U. campus. Yes, it's not in Waikiki, but it's in a much nicer part of Oahu, is a short drive from amazing beaches and is still within driving distance (maybe 45 minutes, depending on traffic) of Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, etc.
#587
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,980
Aloha
#588
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If I look at a random 5 nights for the week before Easter in April 2019, which is when you said you will travel, paid rates at the Courtyard Waikiki are as low as $162 per night plus taxes and fees. For $216 per night, you can get a package with 5,000 bonus points. A 399-square-feet suite is $227 per night.
The full-service Laylow, Autograph Collection and Marriott Waikiki are $227 and $218, respectively. However, those properties charge resort fees per night ($37 at the Waikiki Marriott and $29 at the Laylow). Also, parking will be expensive. By contrast, the Courtyard Oahu North Shore, which like the Courtyard Waikiki doesn't have a resort fee, is $227 per night plus taxes. They also have a package at $284 per night that includes a $100 hotel credit, which could be valuable if it can be used for food and drinks.
Those paid rates are low enough that I would consider paying cash, as I suspect April will be busy with spring break/Easter break tourists. Absent a big sale, I doubt the paid rates will get any cheaper, though I've seen the Marriott Waikiki for around $180 per night. However, the Marriott Waikiki will be undergoing a renovation beginning this fall so you might want to avoid this property as I doubt they can finish a 1,000-room renovation by April 2019.
At legacy SPG properties, the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, which isn't on the beach but is in Waikiki, has paid rates in April 2019 as low as $195 per night plus taxes.
If I had family and planned on having a car, I would stay at the Courtyard on the North Shore.
Last edited by hockeyinsider; Jun 13, 2018 at 7:33 am
#589
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,269
The new category assignments are supposed to be released this month (June 2018). It will then be easy to decide whether it's better to book under current redemption requirements or to wait until August. It might be a good idea to book now, and then to cancel and rebook in August if that can be done with fewer points.
The town of Laie, where the Courtyard Oahu North Shore is located, is dry -- as in "no alcohol," not as in "no rain." For some, that makes no difference. For others, who dream of tropical drinks by the resort pool, that would be a big disappointment.
Because this thread was veered off to be a comparison of more than just the Marriott and Courtyard on Waikiki, allow me to mention Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club. Although, it's a Marriott Vacation Club (timeshare) resort, rooms are often available through Marriott.com, sometimes even with points. It's a wonderful report at a location with possibly the best climate on the island. It's a fine starting point for drives to the North Shore.
#590
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I've only driven by the Courtyard Oahu North Shore. Yes, it's a completely different experience on that part of Oahu. Hawaii Magazine has an article about it: https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/conte...rth-shore-oahu
The town of Laie, where the Courtyard Oahu North Shore is located, is dry -- as in "no alcohol, not as in "no rain." For some, that makes no difference. For others, who dream of tropical drinks by the resort pool, that would be a big disappointment.
The town of Laie, where the Courtyard Oahu North Shore is located, is dry -- as in "no alcohol, not as in "no rain." For some, that makes no difference. For others, who dream of tropical drinks by the resort pool, that would be a big disappointment.
As for it being a dry hotel, yes, that's the case. But there are stores nearby with alcohol. There's no prohibition against consuming alcohol at the hotel, only selling alcohol.
Because this thread was veered off to be a comparison of more than just the Marriott and Courtyard on Waikiki, allow me to mention Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club. Although, it's a Marriott Vacation Club (timeshare) resort, rooms are often available through Marriott.com, sometimes even with points. It's a wonderful report at a location with possibly the best climate on the island. It's a fine starting point for drives to the North Shore.
#592
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,269
Current Platinum Elite arrival/welcome gift at MVC: 500 points / also, points on incidentals charged to room, with Elite bonus
New Platinum Elite arrival/welcome gift (beginning August 2018) at MVC: 1000 points / also, points on incidentals charged to room, with Elite bonus
Other full-service resorts, including the five Marriott legacy full-service brands that currently exclude resorts, will offer daily breakfast for Member+1 as an option beginning in August (instead of 1000 points) for Platinum and higher -- but not MVC. Also, because of how timeshare inventory works, there are officially no Elite upgrades.
However, MVC rooms and suites in the state of Hawaii have kitchenettes or full kitchens, depending on the property and type of accommodation. Having breakfast on your own lanai can be better a typical hotel breakfast, especially if you have a nice view.
Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club is currently category 8 for a studio, with 1BR and 2BR condos sometimes available for a modest amount of additional points.
This might not be what the the person who asked the question last month was looking for, but anyone looking into Marriott on Oahu needs to realize what choices there are in addition to Waikiki.
#593
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
Also, did anyone else prefer the old McDonald's in Laie? (It was a Polynesian themed building, but it was torn down to make room for the Courtyard.)
I haven't stayed at the Courtyard Waikiki in 5 years, so I've missed the last 1 (or 2?) renovations. The fact that they keep having to go back and renovate the rooms so frequently is telling. During my one and only stay there the staff was friendly, there was no resort fee, and the rate I had managed to include valet parking. They even put me in a one bedroom suite in the back tower, but the room only seemed to have a cosmetic refresh.
#594
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The Courtyard Oahu North Shore is a nice, new hotel, but unless you're positioning yourself for a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center or North Shore activities, its location is far from the main tourists sites on Oahu that a first time visitor is likely to want to see. You talk about the lack of interesting culinary options in Waikiki, but what about Laie? Outside of the marketplace area at the PCC (which can be accessed without admission to the PCC), your options are pretty much the McDonald's on the other side of the hotel or the shopping plaza down the street in Hauula.
Yes, Laie has limited eating options, but there are plenty of choices within 20-25 minutes of the hotel, ranging from cafes and restaurant in and by Haleiwa to thefood trucks along Kamehameha Highway, near Kahuku.
If you want excellent beaches then the North Shore is your place. My favorite beach on Oahu is Pupukea.
#595
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,269
Splitting hotel nights on Oahu between Waikiki and somewhere else could work well for some visitors. It's less expensive and much less of a hassle than flying to another island for part of the vacation, but provides many of the same advantages.
Of course, if using points, five nights is the sweet spot because the fifth night is free. In that case, it's still possible to stay one place for 5 nights and several nights at another place -- with one of those places being Waikiki, and the other one not.
Of course, if using points, five nights is the sweet spot because the fifth night is free. In that case, it's still possible to stay one place for 5 nights and several nights at another place -- with one of those places being Waikiki, and the other one not.
#596
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QR/AC Gold, VA Silver, IHG Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,581
Thank you all for the responses.
Whilst I would like to get Elite benefits, it would not be the most important thing as I will most likely be the Gold Tier in the new program, which doesn't get me much anyway. For me the most important is to showcase Hawaii and USA to my wife and my small kids (aged 6 and 3), and let them have a good time, along with using up my 2 * 7-night certificates (if they are not converted into points by Marriott in August) which I can upgrade to level 8/9 if required. I am planning to use 1 at Oahu and one at either Maui or Big Island (which we haven't decide).
Having said that they would prefer to be centre of the action rather than driving back to Waikiki all the time. If we do stay at Waikiki I think we will spend one day driving up to North Shore as it seems to be nicer and quieter place.
Whilst I would like to get Elite benefits, it would not be the most important thing as I will most likely be the Gold Tier in the new program, which doesn't get me much anyway. For me the most important is to showcase Hawaii and USA to my wife and my small kids (aged 6 and 3), and let them have a good time, along with using up my 2 * 7-night certificates (if they are not converted into points by Marriott in August) which I can upgrade to level 8/9 if required. I am planning to use 1 at Oahu and one at either Maui or Big Island (which we haven't decide).
Having said that they would prefer to be centre of the action rather than driving back to Waikiki all the time. If we do stay at Waikiki I think we will spend one day driving up to North Shore as it seems to be nicer and quieter place.
#597
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For me the most important is to showcase Hawaii and USA to my wife and my small kids (aged 6 and 3), and let them have a good time ...
Having said that they would prefer to be centre of the action rather than driving back to Waikiki all the time. If we do stay at Waikiki I think we will spend one day driving up to North Shore as it seems to be nicer and quieter place.
Having said that they would prefer to be centre of the action rather than driving back to Waikiki all the time. If we do stay at Waikiki I think we will spend one day driving up to North Shore as it seems to be nicer and quieter place.
Waikiki is now a mass-market, Las Vegas Strip-esque destination that has little in common with the Old Hawaii romanticism of the 1930s through the early 1960s. Moreover, you'll feel like Japan won the war because over half the tourists are Japanese (not a bad thing, just weird -- especially at Pearl Harbor).
If you want them to experience the real Hawaii you either need to go to the North Shore or another island. Otherwise, all you're experiencing is a big city with too much concrete, too much traffic and a major homeless crisis that just happens to be on an island in the Pacific. Driving up to the North Shore for just a day is a waste of your time and their time. There is so much to do and see up there. You could spend a whole day just on some of the best beaches in the whole state of Hawaii
If I had up to 14 nights in Hawaii and didn't want to stay on the North Shore, I would fly into Honolulu, spend two nights, three days there seeing Waikiki, Honolulu and the North Shore. I'd then go to another island or even two other islands, each for five nights (utilizing the fifth night free with Marriott award redemptions), and then go back to Honolulu and fly home. You could spend your 14th night in Honolulu before flying home, as there are more flight options out of Honolulu than the other islands.
The Big Island is like two or three smaller islands put together in terms of places to visit and things to do. You could stay in two different hotels for five nights apiece.
#598
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,796
Is it just me or has this "Courtyard Waikiki - Waikiki Marriott" thread gone off the rails? I would recommend all the "real Hawaii" type conversation for another thread (if at all)...........
#599
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,980
#600
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