Westin Maui, Ka'anapali, Hawaii [Master Thread]
#346
Join Date: May 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, Fairmont Pres Club, Starwood Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 109
#347
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,007
If they treated a Plat on a full revenue premium view room rate that way, you probably can imagine how you'd be treated.
I thought this property was a franchisee, but in another thread, I learned it is corporate owned - there is no excuse for how this property is being run or the wild and uneven customer "service" delivery.
Book elsewhere until Starwood wakes up. The Sheraton Maui next door is not bad at all, or select a resort from a competing chain. You can't really go wrong at the Grand Wailea.
I thought this property was a franchisee, but in another thread, I learned it is corporate owned - there is no excuse for how this property is being run or the wild and uneven customer "service" delivery.
Book elsewhere until Starwood wakes up. The Sheraton Maui next door is not bad at all, or select a resort from a competing chain. You can't really go wrong at the Grand Wailea.
#348
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
First off - for all you resort fee haters, the Grand Wailea charges a $20/day resort fee. This Starwood only resort fee is a big myth on these forums.
The pool area gets really crowded at the Wailea - often with screaming kids. Want a drink or food, break out a lot of cash. It's a hugely expensive property. Pool chairs at a premium. If you said you were moving to the Hyatt or Marriott I could buy that story.
Also, don't stay at the Westin, stay at the Sheraton. More relaxing - better upgrades - less stress.
I'm not going to plug in a billion dates, but lets take May 8 - May 15.
Least expensive, non-view room at Wailea is $399 - Westin about $250. Expect parking lot for both properties at those rates with no status.
Want an ocean view room at Wailea, try $619 a night - yep, about double of a AAA rate Westin deluxe ocean view - you can't even book a room above $450 at the Westin.
Ok, so I have cash to spend in Hawaii - A 1 bedroom suite at the Maui Ritz Carlton, same dates above, which is a phenominal property, is $595/night - less expensive than an ocean view room at Wailea.
#350
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHX
Posts: 623
#351
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,007
I would be more concerned if someone at corporate was taking the attitude that the property is running an annual avg occupancy of 85% (a guess, not a fact), so they don't really care if the odd demanding customer is put off by service lapses and won't go back.
#352
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston (IAH,HOU) / Kāʻanapali (JHM,OGG)
Programs: UA GS 2MM, AA P 2MM, DL PM, US P, VS G, SPG LT P, HH D, HYATT P, PC P, AVIS PC, HERTZ PLAT
Posts: 970
If you are concerned about service quality just stay at the Sheraton, you will not be disappointed. That being said I still plan on staying at the Westin as I like some of the amenities better (ie Spa, Dining). That is really the crux of the problem. The service lapses are not enough to prevent me from coming back; They just enough to be inconvenienced.
#353
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,007
I am afraid you might be on time something here.. nail.. head.
If you are concerned about service quality just stay at the Sheraton, you will not be disappointed. That being said I still plan on staying at the Westin as I like some of the amenities better (ie Spa, Dining). That is really the crux of the problem. The service lapses are not enough to prevent me from coming back; They just enough to be inconvenienced.
If you are concerned about service quality just stay at the Sheraton, you will not be disappointed. That being said I still plan on staying at the Westin as I like some of the amenities better (ie Spa, Dining). That is really the crux of the problem. The service lapses are not enough to prevent me from coming back; They just enough to be inconvenienced.
#354
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston (IAH,HOU) / Kāʻanapali (JHM,OGG)
Programs: UA GS 2MM, AA P 2MM, DL PM, US P, VS G, SPG LT P, HH D, HYATT P, PC P, AVIS PC, HERTZ PLAT
Posts: 970
Absolutely. If it wasn't for the poor internet connection speed (although ok at night) and alternative 4g CLEAR service not having signal (REQUIRED for WORK), I would push all my hotel stays in Maui to the Sheraton.
#355
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,564
You left out better beach/snorkeling. To me that's the biggest win for the Sheraton. It's not like the walk to Whaler's Village is that long either.
#356
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,007
Oh, definitely - Black Rock is *the* place to be for easy snorkeling on Maui and you'll see more coral and fish there than on most of the paid cruises.
#357
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
Yes, but I wouldn't charge back to the room, where you're registered, for the dining. It comes back across as miscellaneous and does not earn points. It's better to pay at the property if you are not a registered guest there and show them your SPG card to earn points. I know this from experience two years in a row. (Apparently a slow learner!)
#358
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Starwood Platinum, AA Gold
Posts: 141
The pools at the WM are at least heated a little bit, which helps if you're visiting in February.
And that walk to Whaler's from the Sheraton is kinda long if you're making a late night run to the ABC store to get something your wife is craving! WM is much closer.
Otherwise I felt that the Sheraton was set a lot further back from the water than the WM which would mean not as good ocean views as the Westin. Also, a conventioneer from the Sheraton was sitting next to me at the bar at Leilani's one night, and he told me the wait staff at the Sheraton's restaurant was downright rude. May have been a simple case of YMMV...
#359
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
The rap I heard on the Sheraton is that the pools aren't heated. I did a walkthrough of the property during my stay at the WM in February, but I neglected to stick my hand in a pool there to see how cold it was. How cold are they?
The pools at the WM are at least heated a little bit, which helps if you're visiting in February.
And that walk to Whaler's from the Sheraton is kinda long if you're making a late night run to the ABC store to get something your wife is craving! WM is much closer.
Otherwise I felt that the Sheraton was set a lot further back from the water than the WM which would mean not as good ocean views as the Westin. Also, a conventioneer from the Sheraton was sitting next to me at the bar at Leilani's one night, and he told me the wait staff at the Sheraton's restaurant was downright rude. May have been a simple case of YMMV...
The pools at the WM are at least heated a little bit, which helps if you're visiting in February.
And that walk to Whaler's from the Sheraton is kinda long if you're making a late night run to the ABC store to get something your wife is craving! WM is much closer.
Otherwise I felt that the Sheraton was set a lot further back from the water than the WM which would mean not as good ocean views as the Westin. Also, a conventioneer from the Sheraton was sitting next to me at the bar at Leilani's one night, and he told me the wait staff at the Sheraton's restaurant was downright rude. May have been a simple case of YMMV...
I stay at the Sheraton all the time - but never stayed at the restaurants on property - to expensive - the walk to the ABC store (5-7 minutes) is longer than the Westin - but I usually do my ABC run when in Lahaina or go to the Safeway and stock up.
A lot of the plat upgrades at the Sheraton to a suite are not ocean front, but they are ocean view - but they are good with upgrades. You can get stuck with Mountain view at Westin if unlucky.
I will say though - I've gotten some great oceanfront upgrades at the Westin, it is just not as reliable as the Sheraton.
#360
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,564
The rap I heard on the Sheraton is that the pools aren't heated. I did a walkthrough of the property during my stay at the WM in February, but I neglected to stick my hand in a pool there to see how cold it was. How cold are they?
The pools at the WM are at least heated a little bit, which helps if you're visiting in February.
And that walk to Whaler's from the Sheraton is kinda long if you're making a late night run to the ABC store to get something your wife is craving! WM is much closer.
Otherwise I felt that the Sheraton was set a lot further back from the water than the WM which would mean not as good ocean views as the Westin. Also, a conventioneer from the Sheraton was sitting next to me at the bar at Leilani's one night, and he told me the wait staff at the Sheraton's restaurant was downright rude. May have been a simple case of YMMV...
The pools at the WM are at least heated a little bit, which helps if you're visiting in February.
And that walk to Whaler's from the Sheraton is kinda long if you're making a late night run to the ABC store to get something your wife is craving! WM is much closer.
Otherwise I felt that the Sheraton was set a lot further back from the water than the WM which would mean not as good ocean views as the Westin. Also, a conventioneer from the Sheraton was sitting next to me at the bar at Leilani's one night, and he told me the wait staff at the Sheraton's restaurant was downright rude. May have been a simple case of YMMV...