Hawaii , Newport Coast or ???

[catharsis]

Looking for some very general holiday advice.

We have for various reasons ended up as the proud 'owners' of an encore package expiring in September 2017.

We can use this for effectively anywhere within the MVC US (+STVI, Aruba) portfolio.

We've stayed in MFC previously, have limited interest in any of the east coast properties or Florida over the summer, and will on this occasion only be travelling as a couple with 2 y.o. toddler.

To my mind that leaves NCV or the various HI properties. Maui doesn't have availability on dates that work for us but all of the others do.

So I guess my question is as follows.

Should we pick 4 nights in a hotel room/efficiency at any of the Hawaiian islands (and if so which property?) to add to our scheduled upcoming week stay in KBC and use our encore that way?

Or should we instead go for a 4-night stay in a 2-bedroom in NCV during July or August ?

We're coming from Europe, but while airfare is a factor in having a second trip it's not too important as I would probably be passing through LAX sometime over the summer anyway so this would just be adding a couple of days stopover.

I have heard that NCV is a lovely property and worth a visit, and while I am quite worried that we will be underwhelmed in HI after having visited places like French Polynesia I certainly think we should still at least visit Hawaii and get it ticked off the list, and perhaps adding 4 nights on would allow us to experience a second island, if that is not trying to squeeze too much into a single trip

Or is there anywhere else in the marriott portfolio that we should be sure not to miss between May and September? - nothing springs out at me but I'd be very interested in feedback.

 

[SmithOp]

I'm biased since I live near NCV, so many things to do in the LA area.

You already have a week on Maui, so if you decide to do another island, Oahu-Ko Olina is a good choice. You could even add on another night at the Disney Aulani in a studio to get access to that property. There are some direct flights to Maui but many stopover in Honolulu Oahu anyway.


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[2disneydads]

Newport Coast is a lovely resort, in a spectacular Southern California setting. The resort is close to so many great places, including Disneyland. If you could use this package at a new Pulse resort, San Diego would be worth considering. The resort on Oahu, Ko 'Olina, is very nice, too. Very spacious.

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[catharsis]

I never even considered the Pulse options but now that you mention it, since the Big Island property on HI is included perhaps the pulse properties are included too? - I must check as any of SAN, BOS, NYC, MIA or WAS would actually be ideal for us for a 4-night minibreak.

[edited to add]

So I called and despite them not being listed on my encore package, pulse properties ARE included on the encore availability option list for me.

San diego, no high season, 1 bedroom.
Miami - Jan-Apr high season (+$700) hotel room
NYC - Apr-Oct(!) high season ($+700) hotel room
Washington - no high season - hotel room.

Thought I'd post this in case that information is useful to anyone else.

 

[TXTortoise]

Your Encore package includes Hawaii? The only reason I ask is when we were offered one it was either CONUS or Hawaii, each with different number of days and rewards. Just would be sure.

 

[catharsis]

Your Encore package includes Hawaii? The only reason I ask is when we were offered one it was either CONUS or Hawaii, each with different number of days and rewards. Just would be sure.

Yes, 4 nights/5 days in a hotel room on any of the 4 islands. I was offered when I called before a free upgrade to a 1 bedroom at many of the HI properties during certain date periods but as of that week this no longer seems to be on offer.

 

[Bill4728]

There are owners at NCV that can't get reservation during July and Aug because there are so many people wanting to go there.

If you can get into NCV during that time GO FOR IT.