Hawaii-2008,2 1BR's- Your thoughts??

[deerh]

We are (AGAIN), thinking of going to Hawaii with another couple in summer 08.
I have narrowed it down to a few places in Maui that I will list. My question-What are my chances? I gave up trying for a 2BR based on Dean's Reccomendation of a snowballs chance in H...! SO.... I thought 2 1BR's might be doable.
Here are my places:

1.Sands of Kahana
2.Westin Kannapali
3.Maui's Marriott Ocean Club
4.Kaanapali Beach Embassy Suites
5.Maui Banyon (I don't like this one much!)

Now, let me know what you think...

P.S. I want to treat my friends to a 1BR with my points
In 1 BR: DW, me, DD, DS
In the other: 2 Adults

Thanks!
DeerH

 

[phyllisnnj]

Sorry I don't know about II exchanges into Hawaii during peak season but another option is renting your points and using the cash to get a two bedroom condo

For example:
http://www.vacationsfrbo.com/stcount.php?world_zone_id=0&link_id=10&region_id=2#2
http://www.aliiresorts.com/index.htm

 

[hoopsrob]

I will be interested to follow this thread --- keep us posted on what you find out. I love MAUI and want to see how hard it is to book there.

 

[Dean]

I personally would eliminate SOK and the Banyon though a 2 BR at SOK might be a possibility. You may also want to talk to some of the independent exchange companies like SFX, Trading Places Int, Platinum Interchange, Dial an exchange USA (formerly Donita's), HI exchange and Trading places Maui. All of those have an in to HI in one way or another and will give you potential access to other resorts and additional inventory. If you go that route, add the Whaler to your list as well as the additional phases of the Marriott and Westin that you will not be able to get through DVC even if available for II.

Here's a true story to illustrate. Recently someone contacted me and posted on TUG trying to trade DVC for a Hyatt pit west. Since many times phases resorts are listed as separate components through II, they may actually function as multiple resorts through II though they are managed as one. Since DVC tends to wait a couple of years before adding new resorts, they had not added the new phase (separate membership listing with II). So even though the resort was easily available through II, it was the new phase and thus not available through DVC II exchange. Really quirky but true.

I have an exchange request through II and through DVC both for next Sept and early Oct for Maui only for the resorts I listed above in a 1 BR. We will see how it goes.

 

[deerh]

Dean,
Do you think my chances ARE better for 2 1BR's as opposed to a 2BR??
Thanks for the advice, also, how do you feel about VRBO??? Vacation rentals by owner..

Any luck on those? I like what I see on the VRBO boards!

DeerH

Your's or anyone else's thoughts on VRBO??

 

[Dean]

Dean,
Do you think my chances ARE better for 2 1BR's as opposed to a 2BR??
Thanks for the advice, also, how do you feel about VRBO??? Vacation rentals by owner..

Any luck on those? I like what I see on the VRBO boards!

DeerH

Your's or anyone else's thoughts on VRBO??

Absolutely. I think you're chances for a 2 BR at the Marriott or Westin are about zero through II.

 

[K9pal]

We put in for a 1BR at 3 of those resorts, with a 5-week window in September and October - that was 18 months ago, and it hasn't come through yet.

 

[fabshelly]

We are (AGAIN), thinking of going to Hawaii with another couple in summer 08.
I have narrowed it down to a few places in Maui that I will list. My question-What are my chances? I gave up trying for a 2BR based on Dean's Reccomendation of a snowballs chance in H...! SO.... I thought 2 1BR's might be doable.
Here are my places:

1.Sands of Kahana
2.Westin Kannapali
3.Maui's Marriott Ocean Club
4.Kaanapali Beach Embassy Suites
5.Maui Banyon (I don't like this one much!)

Now, let me know what you think...

P.S. I want to treat my friends to a 1BR with my points
In 1 BR: DW, me, DD, DS
In the other: 2 Adults

Thanks!
DeerH

SOK is homey, Westin's closest to a Disney resort, Maui Marriott and ESuites are just like the ones all over the Mainland, but on Maui, and the Banyan - good call. My dad likes to stay there when he goes interisland for business, it's cheap, clean and safe, but if you're accustomed to Disney go for the Westin.

 

[disneydenisel]

For a summer week, I think that your best chance of getting what you want is to rent from an owner at the resort you want to stay at. In addition to vrbo.com, You can try the classifieds on www.tugbbs.com, www.redweek.com, and www.myresortnetwork.com. There are always a lot of rentals on craigslist.com, too.

We own at the Westin Ka'anapali, so of course I am partial to that resort . The 1 bedrooms are HUGE (950 square feet) to me, compared with a BCV 1 bedroom. An exchange would be really difficult, I think. Most summer weeks are taken by owners or else rented out. If you rent/trade your DVC points, and rent from an owner, you can save on exchange fees too, and not have to worry about what week you are getting! Good luck!