Hey Dean! Would like your opinion on these II Hawaii locations..

[qqq]

We put in for a one or two BR anytime next summer at any of these locations:
Hanalei Bay Resort - Princeville
Marriott Ko Olina - Oahu
Marriott Kauai Beach Club
Marriott Maui Ocean Club

Not looking to squeeze the last dime of value from our points, but do want a decent exchange. Think these are OK?

 

[wvalx]

Sent you a PM.

 

[Dean]

All are great with the possible exception of Hanalei Bay. Was this through DVC? Have the added the Oahu Marriott? HB is worthwhile for a 2 BR but a 1 BR is questionable. They should also add the other Marriott, the two Embassy properties (just switched to II) and the Westin soon. I'd add these to my list as well.

Personally I'd take HB also but others have been disappointed including a DVC member that exchanged in and was very unhappy. Maybe they'll see this and respond. I doubt it's still in the system as it was a year or more ago.

 

[qqq]

Dean - yes the Marriott Ko Olina, Oahu is on the DVC II exchange list dated June 1, 2003. But still no Westins or Embassy in Hawaii. Will keep an eye out for changes. Thanks!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by qqq
Dean - yes the Marriott Ko Olina, Oahu is on the DVC II exchange list dated June 1, 2003. But still no Westins or Embassy in Hawaii. Will keep an eye out for changes. Thanks!

That's great, it's not listed on the DVC website yet. Was the other one on there for Kauai?

 

[wdwstar]

DEAN


questionable. They should also add the other Marriott, the two Embassy properties (just switched to II) and the Westin soon. I'd add these to my list as well.


Now does this mean they will add these properties or you would like to see them add these properties to the list.

i like the westin and would like to stay there, but if their not going to add them for a few years, i dont want to wait for them to add them to the list.

im sorry, im just so confused about this whole hawaii thing,who to trade out to where to look into, im on a waitlist for the marriott ocean for next year and i have been on the waitlist for 6 months now, and from reading these posts, it sounds like ill never get it.

and soon as a great airfare comes out, i want to book it, but if i dont have a place to stay, i dont want to be stuck with just airfare.

traveling to other places beside disney was part of the reason that we bought dvc., our guide told us no problem going to other places, he has no problem getting ressies anywhere.

i should call him up and tell him to get me ressies then, lol.

 

[Dean]

They should be added and I'd like to see them so. I expesct they will be added. I was just thinking in the shower about this thread. The Embassy's are not new resorts but are new to II. I expect little action early on so wouldn't be surprised if they are not added for a couple of years.

People need to know that the resort on Oahu is quite a way from the action, actually anything except the beach and maybe a couple of the luau's. Traffic in HI can be a Bear, it used to take me up to an hour an a half to go 12 miles to work in the morning, depending on when I left. Rush hour started about 5:50 am from where I lived there.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think the Hanalei Bay is a great place! Perhaps the person who had a "bad experience" there wasn't prepared for the laid back Hawaiin atmosphere of "no TV, no Phones". At any rate, I LOVE the Princeville area.

 

[ZachnElli]

So is Hawaii hard to get? And how far in advance do you have to try to get it? Sorry, I just bought into DVC last week and was of course told ressies were easy to come by. We really only go to Hawaii and DW, so it sounded perfect. I was planning a Hawaii trip through DVC in March 2005, I guess I'm just hoping now.

 

[xlstacey]

Okay, so I saw the post and I had to put in my 2 cents. My sister and I just stayed at Ko'Olina in May ... wonderful!! A lot of traffic going into Honolulu and Waikiki. Great SWAP meet at Ahoha stadium where you can get everything 1/2 off what you pay anywhere else ... t-shirts 10 for $20 and much much more.

We have also stayed at the Marriott Ocean Club and Embassy suites in Maui. Loved those too!! We prefer Maui, because of the laid back atmosphere and small towns ... although Ko'Olina runs just behind them.

You'll have a wonderful time at all of those places. You may want to check out www.tug2.net because they have reviews and rating of all the resorts through RCI and II. It does cost about $10/yr for membership, but well worth it to check all the resorts out.

Good luck

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
I think the Hanalei Bay is a great place! Perhaps the person who had a "bad experience" there wasn't prepared for the laid back Hawaiin atmosphere of "no TV, no Phones". At any rate, I LOVE the Princeville area.

It depends. The resort is not as receptive in fixing problems at times as they might be. 75% of the 1 Br units don't have much of a view. The kitchens, especially the 1 BR aren't that much too speak of. Some don't like that part of Kauai. Personally, I'd stay there but would not trade my DVC.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by ZachnElli
So is Hawaii hard to get? And how far in advance do you have to try to get it? Sorry, I just bought into DVC last week and was of course told ressies were easy to come by. We really only go to Hawaii and DW, so it sounded perfect. I was planning a Hawaii trip through DVC in March 2005, I guess I'm just hoping now.

HI is hard to get. You should start at least a year out, preferably closer to 2. Also, don't expect a match until 6 months or less before your travel. Always have a backup plan in the form of a rental or alternate vacation destination.

 

[Donald-n-Daisy]

Just spoke to MS and they told me Marriott Ko Olina was NOT on the list yet. Where is this June 1, 2003 II list?

 

[downontheBW]

I posted an ad on the Timeshare Users Group (www.tug2.net) offering BW for Oahu and I got 3 offers of Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki. I took one of those and looked around for a rental on Kauai. I didn't want to trade because I'm quite particular about where I stay. I was interested in Hanalei Bay Resort but wanted to choose the building we stayed in because of varying views and condition of the units. Some sites for rentals are:
http://www.summitpacificinc.com/hanalei_bay_resort.html
http://hanalei-bay-resort.com/index.html
http://www.remaxkauai.com/rentals.html (HBR and others)

I've since changed my mind and decided on the Ka'anapali area of Maui so have looked at rentals there. I just put a deposit on a rental at the Whaler - got a great deal. It wasn't worth using my DVC points.

Whatever you're looking for - search on Google, there are many site out there - either for renting or more information on resorts you may want to trade into.

Good luck!