Hawaii exchanges

[MCHESS]

I need help! Planning a trip to Hawaii seems to be quite a daunting task. When to go? Where to stay? What to do?
As for the "Where to stay", does anyone have any opinions on the exchanges we have offered through DVC? Especially Maui.
We are a family of 5 (3 teens) so it sounds like the traditional Hotel room just won't work. (Who wants that after staying in a 2 BR DVCLUB home anyway?)
Thanks all for your help!

 

[Dean]

Here goes. My picks for Maui through DVC are Marriott, SOK, One Napili. For Kauai, Intrawest maybe (only checkin on Sun), Marriott, Hanalei bay and possibly Lawaii Beach if you get desperate. For the Big Island, it's Knoa Coast only. Now there are many others places I'd consider either that aren't on the list (some only RCI) or that I'd stay at but not worthy of a DVC trade. You may want to talk to Trading Places and San Francisco Exchange which are 2 independent exchange companies. SFX gets a lot of Embassy deposits and TP manages Lawaii Beach. Someone also does the Schooner but can't remember if it's TP or Platinum interchange.

Remember the studios at the Marriott's do not have even a mini kitchen (I think that's right). One Napili are 3 BR and SOK I think are all 2 BR.

Other resorts that I'd consider that aren't on the DVC list are the Embassy's , Puhio at Shearwater, Bay Club, New Marriott's when open, Westin, Hilton Rainbow, maybe Maui Lei, Whaler, maybe a couple of the other Pahio's.

 

[downontheBW]

I know you're looking at Maui but I've been looking into a Hawaii trade also and saw this on TUG. It seems that DVC members traded through MS and had a very bad experience at Hanalei Bay on Kauai. I usually discount one bad review when all the rest are good but this one is hard to overlook, especially since DVC was mentioned. Here's a quote from the end of the review:

"Based on the described events endured by these 4 Disney Vacation Members, we are herewith requesting that Interval International re- credit us with 1 week of accommodation in a 2 bedroom unit as was initially contracted by our Disney exchange, OR, that II appropriately compensate the Disney Vacation Club so that the 232 points used for the exchange be refunded to our account.

Furthermore, we STRONGLY urge that the Hanalei Bay Resort be immediately removed form the inventory of acceptable II exchange properties for Disney Vacation Club members. We fully anticipate that any member accustomed to the level of accommodations provided by Disney, or by the other 5* resorts available to members through an II exchange, will be exceptionally disappointed by the dilapidated condition of the units awaiting them at this resort."

Does anyone else have any comments?

 

[Dean]

I went and read the review. I think there are some important points here. This illustrates a point I've made all along; that there are few resorts up to DVC standards. There are many positive reviews of the resort, it simply sounds like an appropriate unit was not available and was never made available to the DVC members. It's a shame and II should credit a week desposit back plus the exchange fee. The points would not be available and there's no way for II to refund them nor for DVC to recoup them. Frankly, it's still a resort I'd put on my list if I intended to go to Kauai. I know exchangers that have been unhappy with OKW as well.

 

[MCHESS]

Thanks for your replys. It's still a difficult decision. After staying in the quality of resorts that Disney has to offer, I'm afraid that I could be easily dissapointed in an exchange that might not measure up.
Thanks again!