II - Hawaii Marriott vs. Westin vs. Ko Olina

[WolfpackFan]

We've decided to go ahead and put in our request for an II exchange to Hawaii. Basically I'm going to ask for a 1BR anytime from March 2008 to November 2008. I'm going to request the Marriott Ko Olina on Oahu and the Marriott and Westin on Maui. My concern is this though, I've been reading about the Marriott on Maui over on Trip Advisor and I've read some bad reviews of it. Some folks have said the beach isn't very nice and also that there is a lot of construction taking place. I'd really hate to go to Hawaii and end up with a view of a construction site. They also said the 1BR's don't have regular kitchens. From pictures it looks like the place is kind of older looking. Am I'm missing something here - from posts I've read here it sounds like it is very popular and hard to get into. What is the resort really like. I looked at the Ko Olina website and it looks really nice. And the Westin looked nice also.

Final question - I haven't been able to get to that II website that shows the various DVC exchanges. The one you can link to from the DVC member site. The page seems to be missing. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[dvc_john]

I've stayed at Maui Ocean Club, and thought it was very nice. The main difference between it and the other two you mention, is that Maui Ocean Club is a hotel conversion, and the others are purpose built.

Yes, the kitchen in the 1-br is not full size. But on the plus side, the 1-br has 2 bathrooms. The beach there can be somewhat narrow. And they are building new purpose built units there. One building on each side of the main building. I'm not sure of the current construction status. Another plus for Ocean Club is the location - I prefer it's location over the Westin.

Both the Westin and Ko Olina are great resorts.

 

[WDWLVR]

We stayed at Ko Olina this past February and loved it! Having said that there is construction going all around it and I think very few of the views wouldn't have some type of construction in them. We really didn't pay much notice to it and really enjoyed the week we spent there. We were only able to get an efficiency for our trade but that worked out fine for us.

 

[dwelty]

We went to add on points in March at DLR. My guide had just been to the Westin on Maui (She is a DVC member who traded her points) She shared her pictures with us, and it was spectacular. She said she really enjoyed it. My wife and I swore that if we ever trade for Hawaii, this would be the place to stay.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I think I'm going to throw in a fourth choice - the Marriott on Kauai also. DW and I got to talking and we realized we had been at that resort. While on our cruise last year, we actually walked over to the resort and had lunch at Dukes there.

Of the three islands and four resorts, I'm not sure it really matters which we get. DW says she will be happy at any of them, just so long as she is in Hawaii and can sit out on the beach . I've checked air rates and there really isn't that much difference between the three islands. Since we've been to all three islands, we kind of know what to expect. I'll probably tell MS to search in this order - Maui Marriott, Maui Westin, Kauai Marriott, Oahu Marriott.

I do have another question - as DVC members when we get an exchange how do they decide what kind of view do we get? Of course I'm hoping to get a nice ocean view, but do we have any choice in the matter? I hope it's not the situation where they say that since this is an exchange, they give us an inferior view automatically.

 

[Dean]

These are the top resorts in HI at least on the II-DVC exchange list. Each has it plusses and minuses so to speak. If you get closer and things aren't working out, you may want to add the Sunterra resorts to your list to improve your chances. For Maui, both the Marriott and Westin are great resorts in a great area though the Marriott may be a little closer to it all.

I do have another question - as DVC members when we get an exchange how do they decide what kind of view do we get? Of course I'm hoping to get a nice ocean view, but do we have any choice in the matter? I hope it's not the situation where they say that since this is an exchange, they give us an inferior view automatically.

As for view, you'll get what they give you for an exchange. With both Westin and Marriott expect to get the worst view possible, likely an island type view. One can make a request but as a non owner at the resort in question or even in each system, you will be at the bottom of the priority list. Each system will give priority to the owners at that resort first and then to owners within their system second. To give you an example, most Marriott give priority in this order.

1. Multiple week owners
2. Single week owners
3. Multiple week Marriott exchangers.
4. Single Week Marriott Exchangers.
5. Cash guests.
6. Multiple week non Marriott exchangers.
7. Single week non Marriott exchangers.

My daughter will be at the Marriott in Sept and I'll be at the Westin in Jan, 2008 through a non DVC II exchange. For our second week in 2008 we're staying at the Fairfield (Wyndham) resort that's part of the new beachwalk. This was an exchange received through RCI.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Well I've submitted our exchange request. I did restrict my search more than I had planned. I asked for a 1BR at either the Maui Marriott or Westin with a search start date of March 2008. But I left it open ended as far as end date. I figured we're both retired and can go anytime. The MS lady did confuse me some what, she said the Westin showed two sections and asked which I wanted. I wasn't sure what she was talking about (and she didn't know either), so I said either section. So I guess we'll just have to sit back and wait and see what happens. If we haven't heard anything by this Fall, I'm going to call back and add Ko Olina and the Maui Sunterra resorts into the mix. The problem is this uncertainty kind of puts on hold any plans we might make for using points for 2008 until we hear about an exchange.

 

[aring75]

Keep us updated if you would. DH and I are thinking about a Hawaii trip, and I would love to hear the outcome of your exchange. Thanks!

 

[dvc_john]

As for the sections at the Westin: The resort was built in phases. One side first, then the other. I suspect that's what the sections represent.

And for Kauai: there are 2 Marriott resorts there. The first one is a hotel conversion (it was a Westin hotel. Then after Hurricane Iniki, Marriott took the property over and converted part of it to timeshare, and kept part as hotel.) The other Marriott is at Poipu area, and is a purpose built timeshare.

 

[Dean]

Well I've submitted our exchange request. I did restrict my search more than I had planned. I asked for a 1BR at either the Maui Marriott or Westin with a search start date of March 2008. But I left it open ended as far as end date. I figured we're both retired and can go anytime. The MS lady did confuse me some what, she said the Westin showed two sections and asked which I wanted. I wasn't sure what she was talking about (and she didn't know either), so I said either section. So I guess we'll just have to sit back and wait and see what happens. If we haven't heard anything by this Fall, I'm going to call back and add Ko Olina and the Maui Sunterra resorts into the mix. The problem is this uncertainty kind of puts on hold any plans we might make for using points for 2008 until we hear about an exchange.

You want to put both sections for Westin. They will have a third section and the Marriott will have a second section. I'm not sure when they open and it likely will be a couple of years later after they open before DVC adds the new sections. This is important for resorts that are already open and on the list like this. Lets take the Westin for example and assume all 3 sections are open but only the two are on the DVC list. DVC will only let you get an exchange to the sections on their list but the destination resort will put you where they want usually in the section that wasn't on the exchange list. Most of the exchange activity will actually come from the new portion. I saw this in action a few months ago for the Westin at Kierland where the new section wasn't on the DVC list but there were exchange units online with II for the new section that were the exact things this DVC member wanted. DVC wouldn't let them exchange since only the older section was on the DVC list.

Do call back in a month and about once a month ad see if they have added the newer sections just in case. Remember you can reserve time then cancel if you need to to have enough points. May, Sept and early Dec are the easiest times to get. Many of the units for March to June have already come and gone.

As for the sections at the Westin: The resort was built in phases. One side first, then the other. I suspect that's what the sections represent.

My point above was that it didn't matter once you had the exchange in hand. I think you're right that it really doesn't matter for the two now but the North section will be a different matter as it's behind and away from the beach. BTW, the resort that's now the MVCI Kauai Beach Club was the Kauai Surf, then the Westin and now Marriott.

 

[JimC]

We have stayed at the Marriott Maui Ocean Club and enjoyed it. It is our favorite island to visit, but agree that the beach in front of the Ocean Club is not the best if that is what you are looking for. Marriott (IMO) is overbuilding its Maui property just as it is doing with its Aruba property so when complete expect a very crowded situation.