Aulani booking advice: WWYD?

[lawboy2001]

I have an Aulani contract and a BLT contract.

I want to book one week next July in a two bedroom pool view villa at Aulani, but am 32 points short. So...WWYD?

a) book six nights at 11 months, and then try to book the seventh night at seven months, using points transferred from the BLT contract?

b) book seven nights in an island view two bedroom at 11 months, and try to switch to a pool view at seven months, again using transferred points to make up the deficit?

c) try to arrange a points transfer with another Aulani owner so I can book the full week in the pool view unit at 11 months?

Thanks for your advice/perspective!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you really want pool view, c.

Otherwise, b.

 

[BillPA]

Do you have to go in July? If you go in June before the 26th you save 12 points a night. As far as view. I would not go to Hawaii and NOT be able to see the ocean. We have not been to Aulani, but have 3 trip to Oahu, 3 to the Big Island and 1 to Maui, One time was not Ocean front, never again, all the others were ocean front. If I can't see the ocean after traveling 5,000 miles I would just stay home. JMHO

 

[Anal Annie]

We had to go with an island view when we finally went to Aulani (long story) anyway it's not that bad, really. It is NOT the end of the world. Sure pool or OV is nicer BUT I would definitely go ahead and do B and grab the island view just to secure something so that I'm not stressing over it then I would try to upgrade at the 7 month window. As a non-owner I HAD to wait for the 7 month window and it was so nerve wrecking. But I was trying to get the IV as we didn't want to borrow any more points than we had to and those views are in more demand because of the lower points. That's why I would go ahead & snag it.

 

[DenLo]

We own at Aulani and I would do A; book the 6 nights ocean view and then add the one night at 7 months. I think you will be fine doing that for July. June would be harder as many more members try for a June Aulani reservation both at the 11 month and 7 month marks.

 

[rwcmath]

I would go with "a"since at 7 months there may not be 6 nights in the view I really want!

 

[SuperRob]

Do you have to go in July? If you go in June before the 26th you save 12 points a night. As far as view. I would not go to Hawaii and NOT be able to see the ocean. We have not been to Aulani, but have 3 trip to Oahu, 3 to the Big Island and 1 to Maui, One time was not Ocean front, never again, all the others were ocean front. If I can't see the ocean after traveling 5,000 miles I would just stay home. JMHO

If you're spending that much time in your room, you're doing Hawaii wrong.

But seriously, the point premium is so high on those view rooms, I just can't stomach paying it, particularly when the ocean view from on the beach is so much better. I'd rather have a worse view and use the same points to stay longer. Not to mention that you don't really get waves around Aulani, which is what I would really want with an ocean view. You'd be better off staying on the North Shore if that's what you want

 

[drusba]

You should have a good chance of getting a week or a single night in a dedicated 2BR pool view at 7 months out at Aulani in July as long as you are not looking for July 1 through 5.

Before 2016, July was a mixed bag with early July filling most rooms before 7 months out through July 5, and thereafter it was hit or miss the rest of the month for other views including even ocean view. Reservation patterns for July changed for Aulani effective 2016 because July went from being magic season to premiere season. Before July 6 was comparable to the prior year with most things being gone before 7 months out. After July 5, 2016, pool view dedicated 2BRs were open all month at 7 months out. In fact all pool view rooms and ocean view rooms were open except for a couple days toward the end of July when pool view studios (and resulting 2BR lock-offs) disappeared before 7 months out. Island Garden view was somewhat of a different issue; studios and 2BR lock-offs were gone about 8 nights after July 5 at 7 months out and dedicated 2BRs 3 nights.