II Trade to Maui - Advice/Tips/Info Appreciated

[Michelemouse]

Hi All,

Well, we've decided to try the World Passport Collection option with a trip to Maui. We've never been to Hawaii before so any info or advice you have would be appreciated.

Also, I've looked over the resort choices that II offers and I'm having trouble deciding which ones put on my search list. The Marriott looks lovely so that's a definite. The others all seem to be independently owned and their websites (when they have them) don't provide a lot of information. If anyone has exchanged to any of these resorts I'd love to hear your comments.

Finally, Maui sounds like it would be the best fit for our family (particularly because of Volcano National Park) but we're open to suggestions. If anyone has exchanged elsewhere in Hawaii I'd love to hear your comments too!

TIA!

 

[floridafam]

Have you thought about using pts to stay at Kapalua Bay? I think you can just book there without doing a trade.

I think this is where we will stay if we can get to Maui in the next year or two.

 

[Michelemouse]

Originally posted by floridafam
Have you thought about using pts to stay at Kapalua Bay? I think you can just book there without doing a trade.

I think this is where we will stay if we can get to Maui in the next year or two.

I did look into the Kapalua Bay but it runs 44 - 62 points per night. I can get an entire week in a 1BR for 128-160 points if I do an II exchange. While I am sure the Kapalua Bay is amazing I'd rather maximize my points (more trips that way!) and do an exchange.

 

[kathymc]

while I don't have any info on the trades (but hope to be able to trade some day myself) just wanted to point out that the volcano national park is on the big island of Hawaii not Maui.

We have been to Maui, Kauai, Hawaii and Oahu and prefer Maui and Kauai the most. Kauai is the most tropical and beautiful and very laid back. Maui has tons to do and cool nightlife. Oahu, except for Pearl Harbor was way to commercial for me. Hawaii was nice and the volcano park was cool (we actaully saw the lava flow) but I don't think I would spend a whole week there.

Returning for a week to just Maui this spring!

good luck and have fun!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by Michelemouse
Hi All,

Well, we've decided to try the World Passport Collection option with a trip to Maui. We've never been to Hawaii before so any info or advice you have would be appreciated.

Also, I've looked over the resort choices that II offers and I'm having trouble deciding which ones put on my search list. The Marriott looks lovely so that's a definite. The others all seem to be independently owned and their websites (when they have them) don't provide a lot of information. If anyone has exchanged to any of these resorts I'd love to hear your comments.

Finally, Maui sounds like it would be the best fit for our family (particularly because of Volcano National Park) but we're open to suggestions. If anyone has exchanged elsewhere in Hawaii I'd love to hear your comments too!

TIA!

YOu have me confused with that last statement! Volcano's National park is on the Big island of Hawaii, so not sure why you would stay on Maui. The Big island is definately our favorite because it is so diverse. Maui has a lot of commercial areas and also a lot of diversity, but no active volcanos! The volcanos takes a minimum of a whole day to see even if you are staying on the Big Island. I would think it would be difficult to see it on a day trip from Maui. You would have to fly into Hilo and rent a car there. That would mean you would miss the other best parts of the Big Island.

 

[Michelemouse]

Sorry...my typo. There is another national park on Maui that deals with volcanos (since Maui was formed from a volcano). That is the one I meant. While Volcano National Park would be great to see I'm not sure that we will get over to Hawaii. We want to spend two weeks in the islands with one on Maui and one elsewhere. We are thinking about Kauai although I would like the kids to see some of the sights in Honolulu. I'm guessing that we'll either end up on Kauai or the big island of Hawaii.

Thanks so much for the help so far. This trip is so far in the future that I"m really just getting into the planning.

 

[Dean]

Maui has Haleakala which is a 10,000 ft extinct volcano and a wonderful sunrise experience. If you haven't been to HI, I'd put Oahu and Maui as the first options. If you've seen Oahu, move on to Maui and either Kauai or the Big Island. Don't go for less than 1.5 to 2 weeks unless you're going from a gateway city or the West Coast, just too far to make the jet lag worth it.

The Marriott's plus Hanalei Bay and Kona Coast are the only ones I'd put on any par with DVC from the II DVC list. One Napili would be a possiblity as well. If the Embassy's and the Westin are added to the list, you should add them to yours as well.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree with Dean on the Kona Coast and Hanalei Bay. You might consider spending a couple of days in a hotel in Honolulu at the begining or end of your trip to take in the historic sites and other Oahu sights there. There are some great hotel rates out there for Honolulu as long as you stay a block or two from the beach. We usually start and end our trips there. A day at the beginging and a couple of days at the end. He love both Kauai and the Big Island. We have done Maui a couple of times, and while it is a great place, it can be a bit comercial for us.

What time of year are you planning to travel? If it is during the whale season, Maui is the best place for whale watching tous, but we saw plenty of them even at the end of the season when we were on Kaui last year.

 

[MiaSRN62]

What time of year are you planning to travel? If it is during the whale season, Maui is the best place for whale watching tous

Hi...
I was just wondering what the best time of year to visit is---and when is whale season ? Thanks.

 

[kem330]

The best time of year for whales is dec - april when the whales have migrated from Alaska to feed and birth their calfs. The weather is good year round, except the surf on the north shores of the islands are much rougher in the winter months. Jan/feb can be pretty windy and rainy on the north coasts as well. Late September/October are the hottest temperature wise.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Our last trip was the end of April and begining of May. It was very wet on all the island then because the trade winds were calm. Our favorite time to travel to HI is Jan.-Feb because that is the coldest here at home! It is also a great time to watch surfers on the north side of Oahu! We had virtually no surf watching our last trip. It was just too calm.

 

[wdwstar]

Not to burst your bubble about marriott maui , we have been on the waitlist since feb.2003 for april 2004 and have not heard anything yet,
i have also read about other people have went on a waitlist and their ressies never came through, especially reserving a year to 2 years out. just have a back up plan, we made plans for vero/bcv for that time, and if we get that call for maui, we will just cancel our vero/bcv

 

[Michelemouse]

Thanks for all the replies. They are most helpful.

I think we will put in a search request for the properties mentioned on Kauai and Maui. Then we can see what happens and go from there. Depending on what we get (if at all) we'll plan our other week around that.

Thanks again...and if anyone has anything else to add I'd love to hear it!

 

[vetteguy]

Hi,
we're also on the waitlist from March 2003 for a Sept 2004 to Maui and requested only Marriott. I called last week to have clarification about the new exchange fee rule(I wanted to be sure if I had to pay the fee upfront or just wait untill they find a match) and asked if the new Westin Villas are already added in our exchange possibilities. The CM told me that the Westin was now a new exchange possibility and we added it on our waitlist(still no match ). So, if someone is interested, you can now try exchanges at Westin Villas at Kaanapali .
Daniel

 

[MiaSRN62]

The best time of year for whales is dec - april when the whales have migrated from Alaska to feed and birth their calfs. The weather is good year round, except the surf on the north shores of the islands are much rougher in the winter months. Jan/feb can be pretty windy and rainy on the north coasts as well. Late September/October are the hottest temperature wise.

Thanks Kem330 for the info--it was very helpful.

 

[Rick-Toronto]

Michele

We are an owner at Maui Marriott as well as DVC. Prior to owning at Maui, we tried several times, unsuccessfully to trade into Marriott Maui from DVC.

As an owner, depending upon when you want to vacation (peak travel times etc.), it can be difficult to even make a reservation at Maui Marriott. I suspect the Westin will get that way too, although I have no personal experience with that resort since it just opened.

You might want to try an approach where you rent your DVC Points and then rent from an owner that owns at Maui Marriott. Usually, there are a handful of people out on the TUG Boards that have their Maui Marriott up for rent. It seems to me with what you could get for DVC points ($10) for the 1 or 2 bedroom, you could probably rent a similar sized unit at Maui Marriott.

Rick

 

[GrammieMame]

One of the reasons we booked at Kapalua Bay Hotel was the uncertainty of getting an good exchange. Although the points are high, you know you are going to have a room, and the hotel itself is beautiful.

 

[poj7]

Originally posted by Rick-Toronto
Michele

We are an owner at Maui Marriott as well as DVC. Prior to owning at Maui, we tried several times, unsuccessfully to trade into Marriott Maui from DVC.

As an owner, depending upon when you want to vacation (peak travel times etc.), it can be difficult to even make a reservation at Maui Marriott. I suspect the Westin will get that way too, although I have no personal experience with that resort since it just opened.

You might want to try an approach where you rent your DVC Points and then rent from an owner that owns at Maui Marriott. Usually, there are a handful of people out on the TUG Boards that have their Maui Marriott up for rent. It seems to me with what you could get for DVC points ($10) for the 1 or 2 bedroom, you could probably rent a similar sized unit at Maui Marriott.

Rick

Excellent idea. Otherwise, you'll be on a waitlist forever and you may never match. Tug2.net, vacationsonly.com and timesharesbyowner.com have several listings.

 

[raidermatt]

Can't offer any help on exchanges as we have not done one, but I do have one minor clarification... Haleakala is classified as dormant, not extinct.

We've been fortunate enough to make several trips each to Maui, Kauai and Oahu, and while Maui is my favorite, I don't think you can go wrong with any choice.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by raidermatt
Haleakala is classified as dormant, not extinct.

True!