Westin Maui

[Dean]

We're currently in a 1 BR oceanside unit at the Westin on Maui. I'm not much into trip reports but if anyone has any questions, this might be one of the better opportunities to ask them. We had been told that unit assignments were normally for Gardenview for exchanges so we were happy to get an OV and pool view unit third floor. I do plan to go over to the Marriott resort in the next day or two to supplement my knowledge there.

This unit is large, probably as large or larger than an OKW 1 BR. So far I'd say Westin has outdone Marriott and DVC in their approach, amenities, units and service.

 

[jekjones1558]

Sounds wonderful, Dean! What did you trade and how long ago? I ADORE Hawaii!

 

[dianeschlicht]

For someone who doesn't like to do trip reports, you made a good start at it! Glad to hear Westin is doing well. We are thinking about going back to Hawaii again in the not too distant future too. It's been awhile since we did Maui. We tend to gravitate toward Hawaii and Kauai more. It's not that we don't like Maui, but we do find it to be more touristy than the other two.

 

[chris1gill]

Sounds wonderful, Dean! What did you trade and how long ago? I ADORE Hawaii!

Same question! Looking for either the Westin or Marriott for summer '09

We've stayed at the Westin before on a separate II exchange, the unit was beautiful, but we were located right next to building equipment as they were building next to us, so our view was lousy and noisy...

 

[Dean]

This is about as much a trip report as you'll get from me. I occasionally will do a more formal review of a resort for TUG or Timesharing Today but more from a factual standpoint. On dvctalk or DIS, I skip all threads with trip report in the title.

I traded weeks from Bluegreen resorts for both of our weeks this month. Thorugh RCI it was a Lodge Alley Inn 1 BR for a good week but not the highest ones, we got the larger 1 BR at the Wyndham Waikiki. For II, it was Harbour Lights in MB, also a 1 BR but 4th of July. Total cost for dues about $800 plus exchange fees, total value if I'd rented the points, maybe another $600-800. All were requested about 14 months out and matched around 12 months out.

Apparently the Westin does something called bulk spacebanking where they put a bunch of units in II all at once. You want to be searching when that happens because it saturates the market but it also lowers the trade power giving one the chance to match to a unit that normally wouldn't be eligible. I've seen DVC units show up a few at a time most every day and I'm convinced this is the reason they do it that way. I've even seen my non DVC options be able to trade to DVC for a given deposit or NOT depending on the number of deposits in II at that moment. I've had the experience of seeing my non DVC weeks match a specific resort and unit size one day but not the next or the same unit size one DVC resort but not another. You always want to be searching prior to the time when a resort could be deposited if at all possible and HI certainly is the poster child for that approach. Most deposits come in around a year out or match fairly short notice. Some resorts are more likely to be available around the time their yearly dues are paid, usually Dec/Jan.

For Sept, I used a 1 BR lowly Marriott to get a 1 BR at the Maui Marriott and a bonus week to get a studio at Ko'Olina for my daughter but that was using the Marriott preference.

 

[disneydenisel]

Dean,

Great unit and view you have! Enjoy your week with the whales . We will be there in March and I hope that there are still some left. You got a great exchange at a resort where my MFs are up to $1800!

I'll be interested to read about what you think of the Marriott when you visit.

 

[Dean]

Dean,

Great unit and view you have! Enjoy your week with the whales . We will be there in March and I hope that there are still some left. You got a great exchange at a resort where my MFs are up to $1800!

I'll be interested to read about what you think of the Marriott when you visit.

I've stayed at the Marriott when it was a hotel and walked down there today intending to just see the units but I did set up a tour when I was there. I had assumed I couldn't since I toured Ko'Olina last week but I was wrong. $1800, ouch.

 

[disneydenisel]

I've stayed at the Marriott when it was a hotel and walked down there today intending to just see the units but I did set up a tour when I was there. I had assumed I couldn't since I toured Ko'Olina last week but I was wrong. $1800, ouch.

MFs on the one bedrooms are around $1400. What a great exchange, I hope you are enjoying your stay!

 

[Dean]

MFs on the one bedrooms are around $1400. What a great exchange, I hope you are enjoying your stay!

Thanks, we are.

I was thinking earlier today that it's likely that the unit I used to exchange actually has higher trade power than DVC even though it's a much less expensive week at a lessor resort. The reason is that the trade power for DVC is averaged across the resorts and weeks somewhat.

 

[byoung]

Thanks for reporting Dean.

 

[lisareniff]

Thanks for the report. Nice to hear your view of different places. I would love to go to Hawaii but it will be many, many years before that happens.

...next we need to get you posting pictures!

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the report. Nice to hear your view of different places. I would love to go to Hawaii but it will be many, many years before that happens.

...next we need to get you posting pictures!

It doesn't have to be so. We will spend about $21-2200 total cash for 15 nights here for everything we spent cash or CC for including things we reserved prior to arrival. Used FF miles to get first class air and timeshares for 14 of the 15 nights with a "value" of around $1500 or so (150K miles) and timeshare exchanges with about $1100 additional for the 2 weeks including maint fees and exchange fees. For that we've eaten more and more expensive than we usually do, did the Luau Package with show at the Poly Cultural Center, 2 weeks of rentals cars (with $25 a day parking in Waikiki, OUCH), Warren and Annabelle's show and Whale Watching. I did not include our upfront purchase costs as they were minimal for what we used and we've already gotten our costs back in the first 2 years so it's free and clear. It's also not as liquid a commodity as is DVC though it can be rented somewhat easily if you plan.

Given I sent my daughter for 10 days in Sept and we were her 5.5 years ago for 2 weeks for 4 people all on similar or less of a budget, it can be done consistently. Simply Comparing to DVC at WDW for 2 weeks, we'd spend as much or more most trips of similar length, even with the FL resident specials.

The point is anyone can do the same if they educated themselves and plan accordingly, if you did this with DVC, just the accomodations themselves would cost as much as our entire trip.

 

[pampat]

Thanks for your good report Dean. We are booked in to the Westin in August for 4 nights, on a cash basis. It is very expensive, but it will be a once in a lifetime holiday for us (seems we have a lot of once in a lifetimes). Any further information you can post would be great, but first priority is to have a great time.

Pam

 

[Dean]

Thanks for your good report Dean. We are booked in to the Westin in August for 4 nights, on a cash basis. It is very expensive, but it will be a once in a lifetime holiday for us (seems we have a lot of once in a lifetimes). Any further information you can post would be great, but first priority is to have a great time.

Pam

You might check to see if they're doing preview tours for much cheaper.

 

[BCV23]

We were at the JW at Ko Olina earlier in the month and almost did the tour at the Beach Club. We ended up canceling though. What did you think of those units?

Hope your trip continues to be great.

 

[Dean]

We were at the JW at Ko Olina earlier in the month and almost did the tour at the Beach Club. We ended up canceling though. What did you think of those units?

Hope your trip continues to be great.

IMO, all the resorts I've seen except the Wyndham are as nice or nicer and all with nicer rooms than the DVC resorts. That's the Maui Ocean Club, Westin Ka'anapali and Ko'Olina. We did not see the converted rooms at the Marriott MOC so I would assume they would be a step behind. A 2 BR her at the Westin is in the range of $70-100K.

 

[pampat]

You might check to see if they're doing preview tours for much cheaper.

Thanks for the info, Dean. Good idea.

Pam

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Hey Dean,

Hope you continue having a great time and thanks for answering all of our questions on just about any topic.
Chris

 

[chris1gill]

We were at the JW at Ko Olina earlier in the month and almost did the tour at the Beach Club. We ended up canceling though. What did you think of those units?

Hope your trip continues to be great.

We've stayed at those units, and they are just beautiful... quite a good size, the furnishings were upscale and just beautiful. We are trying to find a way to trade back into it for summer '09... just a beautiful resort with great activities...

 

[PEANUT1]

i was glad i saw your post. i am dreaming of the westin for Oct 09 for my 10 year wedding anniversary. we are going to also put in for the marriott and the kannapali beach club, but only bc we have to choose 3 resorts right? I really want the westin but they all look pretty online and the reviews seem to be above average. We went to Kauai and maui for our honeymoon and have been so excited at the idea of going back. Have a wonderful trip.