Aulani's Angled Studios & other questions

[Airb330]

I'm trying to decide on what to book for 3 nights in early November. We own at AKV, so I can't book yet, but am obsessing anyways. We'll be on Maui at the Westin Villas, in a studio, for 7 nights prior to coming to Oahu. My husband (PhillyCPA) and I are taking his father for his 60th birthday. After 7 nights in a studio, we may all want some space. So, firstly, I am torn over a studio vs. 1-bedroom. Of course, we're also torn on the view! We were so spoiled by spot on Ocean Views at various Hilton's and Starwood's around Hawaii due to our elite status...but I'm thinking standard or island views for Aulani.

But let's say we go with a studio. I notice many are angled. This means the couch cannot face the tv, correct? Trust me we don't plan on being in the room much, hence my big dilemma on spending additional points for a one-bedroom. However, if one is going to have a couch...it stands to reason it'd be nice to sit and watch TV, even if only the news at night. Is there anyway to not get an angled room via request (ie odd rooms in a certain wing for example), or does the tv move so one can view it on the couch. I really have been spoiled by suites (thanks Hilton & SPG), and a large appeal of DVC was ensuring we have a couch on vacation. I hate reading, playing with an ipad or phone, or watching TV in a hotel room bed.

Also, I am not crazy to think a pool view studio (for us), and a standard studio (for FIL) for 129 points seems like a better value than an island view 1-bedroom for 132 points? While it'd be awesome to all share a nice large room, privacy really might be welcome after 7 days in a Westin studio! First world problems I know.

 

[wdrl]

I suggest you look at the maps and charts in the thread on Aulani's Villas and Views. Click here to jump to the thread.

The Aulani villas with the angled balconies are located on both sides of the Waianae Building (villas #xx02-xx13) and both sides of the long wing of the Ewa Building (villas #xx70-xx86). The Aulani villas with the non-angled balconies are located on both sides of the Ewa Building-Phase 1 (villas #xx50-xx59) and the short wing of the Ewa Building (villas xx60-xx69).

We stayed in a studio (#304) with an angled balcony. You are correct in thinking that the sofa does not directly face the TV. However, the flat screen TV is hinged on the wall and can be moved a little bit away from the wall and rotated a bit so you can watch TV from the sofa. It doesn't have a full 180 degree rotation, but there is enough to permit you to view the TV screen.

I've included a photo of our studio layout (you can see the TV) and a photo of the TV's frame and hinge. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of the TV when it was extended and rotated from the hinged frame.

Aulani is a great resort. When we return, we hope to get another villa facing the Waikolohe Valley, which is the name for Aulani's main pool and lazy river.

Hope this helps.

 

[lilpooh108]

We did this same trip lat year and stayed at Honua Kai with beautiful island and angled ocean views. That resort is close to Westin Kaanapali north. We moved to Aulani island view and faced a noisy parking lot and fan noise overlooking he convention center. It was a stark disappointing contrast from Maui even though I generally don't care for view categories especially in Hawaii. We ended up never using the lanai.

 

[Airb330]

We did this same trip lat year and stayed at Honua Kai with beautiful island and angled ocean views. That resort is close to Westin Kaanapali north. We moved to Aulani island view and faced a noisy parking lot and fan noise overlooking he convention center. It was a stark disappointing contrast from Maui even though I generally don't care for view categories especially in Hawaii. We ended up never using the lanai.

That place is gorgeous! We ate at Dukes one night there. We also had family friends that went there about one week after us (So November 2011) and loved it.

Thanks for the tip on Island view. I think I am leaning towards standard. We really do use our balcony in the morning and for drinking at night. I don't really care about my view, as long as it isn't noisy/smell/ugly. Some plants or even a parking garage is fine, but your view sounds terrible!

wdrl that helps a lot! That link is bookmarked for sure, and your descriptions helped me on the map there with the angled balcony. It's not really bad then, plus when sleeping you're not all next to each other. We only have 100 points, but are banking 60 this year...and really have no other plans for our 2013 UY due to vacation time off, but I still find myself being stingy with points!

 

[lilpooh108]

That place is gorgeous! We ate at Dukes one night there. We also had family friends that went there about one week after us (So November 2011) and loved it.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that place! It is "full ownership" and we were lucky enough to rent a higher floor corner unit island view which had an expanded lanai and a peek a boo oceanview towards the right of the lanai. If I had the $$$$$$$, I'd buy a vacation home there. It was seriously amazing. I looked up the 2 bedroom we rented and market price for it was approx $2.5M to 3M in this down market and I think when they built it during the boom it was at least $3.5M+ for a 2bedroom.

The first pic is of our makai side view and the 2nd pic is the second building at Honua Kai across from our lanai. It's now our favorite place on Maui and I like it about the same as Aulani (probably a little more since Ko'Olina is kind MEH).