Maui Bay Villas

[jsparents]

I just returned sort of (July 21-25) from Maui Bay Villas. Wanted to give some info, but did not want to hijack a previous thread https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/maui-bay-villas-impressions.365347/

I have some photos and other info to share as well.

We stayed at Grand Wailea on July 20 on a HH reward. Was going to extend a 2nd night, but at a $1000 a night I changed my mind. Grand Wailea is beautiful and was enjoyable. We were upgraded from a parking structure view to a garden view that actually had a partial ocean view. I'll take it. Pools were not very crowded, but it was still difficult to find loungers. Can't image another 100-150 people in the pool. Wonder where they would sit. The pool picture below was taken at 12:39pm so you can see how few people there were in it.

 

[jsparents]

We arrived at Maui Bay Villas at about 2:00pm and our room was not ready. We went to the restaurant for some snacks. They were okay. View was great, but sure windy. I remember when HGVC announced the building of this location how people said it was not a good location. Very windy in the afternoon and the beach was not really swimmable. Plus, kind of far from restaurants. I have to 100% agree with all of those comments. I enjoy walking to restaurants when I go on vacation. Getting in the car to go somewhere all the time sucks.

The resort is beautiful and new. Staff was friendly, but still new. Went to the bar and asked about the cups/pins like at Kingsland. Bar Manager told me that they are coming as so many people have asked about them. Was told they are trying to model themselves after Kingsland.

At about 3pm our room was ready. After getting our room keys, we had to talk with the salesperson, I mean concierge to get our discounts. Offered the usual owners update which I did in Orlando in 2023 so I said no. Was offered a 32 minute update with 100K HH points. Really tempted, but passed.

We had booked a 2Bdrm Plus. We were in building 2 which only opened two weeks prior on the ground floor. Building/room smelled new and I believe we were probably the second person to stay in the room. There are three buildings under construction with one opening in August, one in November and one in 2025. After that, they will put out three more buildings for bid and then start construction. I photographed the property map so you can see what is being built/open. NB means not built (4 out of 12 open). Last will be building #1. (don't laugh at my high tech labeling)

Construction noise was there, but did not bother me much. The pools were absolutely dead. I would say there were never more than 30 people at the pool area at any one time. It was really nice, but as the resort grows it will be interesting to see how crowded it gets.

 

[jsparents]

The resort has a very small activities/kids club. Grab & go cafe is new with a very limited menu/items. Eventually there will be ice cream to scoop.

Here is the pool how dead the pool was one day when were returned at 12:20PM. Not a one person in it so I had to photograph it.

So all in all it is a very nice resort, but I am not sure I would return. Due to the location and high points value, I feel there are better options for me.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

Due to the location and high points value, I feel there are better options for me.

couldn't agree more. Nice way to "bury the bugspray" there at the end.
No pics of the Grand Wailea beach?

 

[jsparents]

This is all I got

 

[rickandcindy23]

32 minute presentation for 100K HH points? I would have been on that! Ironically, we have never been on a Hilton presentation. I would definitely go for 100K HH points. I have the Aspire CC and know how tough it is to build those points.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

have the Aspire CC and know how tough it is to build those points.

if you have the Aspire CC, it is easy if you get HGVC MFs and as long as you get mucho bonus pts for those. 14 pts/ $ I think?

 

[rickandcindy23]

if you have the Aspire CC, it is easy if you get HGVC MFs and as long as you get mucho bonus pts for those. 14 pts/ $ I think?

HGVC is one product we have never owned, never been to a presentation. Hilo Hattie's on Kauai probably has a booth for Hilton. I should walk in and see. Last time we were there, Diamond was at that booth. I could use 100K HH points for our nights on the road.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Thanks for the nice review and pictures. We are headed to Maui Bay Villas in may, so like the advance info and pictures of the resort. The resort always seems deserted in all of the pictures or youtube videos I see,

 

[Lakeshore]

Thanks for the pictures and review. We passed by it when we were in Maui last November while driving from Wailea to Kaanaplai. It looks like it is coming along.

 

[Reddart]

Nice review! We spent 6 nights there in early July. Definitely agree, the main negatives for us was the location and that afternoon wind. Very nice resort otherwise.

In fact, if it weren’t for the wind in general, Maui would be almost perfect. Though we were Maui newbie’s, 6 nights was maybe 1 night too long.

If we go to Maui again, I’d probably try to do 3 weeknights there because of the point cost, and then 2 nights at the WA in Wailea using 2 FNC.

 

[Shmiddy]

We were there April 2023 - lots of progress. Totally agree on the location, mainly a residential area with no restaurants unless you drive and the 20+mph winds every afternoon. We were really excited about this property, waiting through years of promises by HGVC that a Maui resort was coming, so our disappointment was palpable.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

So how far is the drive to restaurants from MBV?

While its great to be able to walk to dinner, there are quite a few locations very locations with few or no places to eat withing walking distance for me.

 

[Reddart]

Not too far, start hitting restaurants about 1 1/2 miles south.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Not too far, start hitting restaurants about 1 1/2 miles south.

Thanks, that aligns with my guess based on a past drive by before MBV opened. We almost always drive to dinner while staying at Kings Land and other big island resorts. Heck even in Kaanapali we might drive depending on where we are going.

 

[Yzfguy06]

So how far is the drive to restaurants from MBV?

While its great to be able to walk to dinner, there are quite a few locations very locations with few or no places to eat withing walking distance for me.

If you go south form MBV there is quite a bit to eat. Depending on how much you want to walk. As stated above probably around a mile or so.

 

[Yzfguy06]

Im glad to hear that building is coming along. We stayed in building 6 on the end closet to the construction in December and all the noise sucked. We liked building 6 and will stay in it again when we go. We are booked to stay there in November but may have to change our reservations.

 

[letsgobobby]

going in 8 weeks, very excited. Appreciate this review.

We'll probably plan to hang out locally in the morning, when it's less windy. Get our running in, go to the pool. Then get in the car and get lunch and do our afternoon thing. dinner later.

 

[pedro47]

Maybe those five new building will block some of that wind in the afternoon and evening

 

[Luanne]

Maybe those five new building will block some of that wind in the afternoon and evening

Doubt it.

 

[Shmiddy]

So how far is the drive to restaurants from MBV?

While its great to be able to walk to dinner, there are quite a few locations very locations with few or no places to eat withing walking distance for me.

Maui Brewing Company is up the road - take Hywy 31 south to Lipoa, make a left and it's up that road a bit on the left. Good food, a play area for kids and sometimes they have live music. If you go to Wailea, there are a lot of good places to eat - we went to Ruth's Chris and Monkeypod, both places are really good.

 

[Shmiddy]

going in 8 weeks, very excited. Appreciate this review.

We'll probably plan to hang out locally in the morning, when it's less windy. Get our running in, go to the pool. Then get in the car and get lunch and do our afternoon thing. dinner later.

If you like tequila - visit Waikulu Distillery, they make a local agave spirit that is REALLY good. Can't get it on the mainland, but it is served in some of the local restaurants.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Maui Brewing Company is up the road - take Hywy 31 south to Lipoa, make a left and it's up that road a bit on the left. Good food, a play area for kids and sometimes they have live music. If you go to Wailea, there are a lot of good places to eat - we went to Ruth's Chris and Monkeypod, both places are really good.

Thanks we have been to Maui Brewing a few years back and enjoyed it.

 

[ghgecko]

Last October we stayed in Building 9 for ten nights. We don’t eat out a lot so driving a couple miles down the road was fine. Costco is very close to the airport, so we shopped there before heading to the resort on our first day. We also went to the Kamaole beaches, there are three. We really liked Kamole Beach III the best, for snorkeling.

 

[h2oflyboy]

I just returned sort of (July 21-25) from Maui Bay Villas. Wanted to give some info, but did not want to hijack a previous thread https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/maui-bay-villas-impressions.365347/

I have some photos and other info to share as well.

Pools were not very crowded, but it was still difficult to find loungers. Can't image another 100-150 people in the pool. Wonder where they would sit. The pool picture below was taken at 12:39pm so you can see how few people there were in it.

TBH - I found that rich people going for sales incentives or conferences are the worst at saving chaises - they get up before dawn place a towel and a book down and do not return until their lunch break. I stayed at this gorgeous location and reserved a cabana for one of my (adult) pool days - but I found with 9 separate pools and seating areas the number of "marked" chaises was astronomical!

Not to be outdone - the MBV has 7 separate pools (not including the jacuzzis) on a much smaller scale of acreage. AND for the past 3 years the # of units opened have led the pools to be deserted! You can find 6 chaises per guest! and the cabanas are FREE!