Waiohai Island View

[gblotter]

We are back at Waiohai this week after an absence of many years. Very pleasantly surprised with changes made at the resort. Especially glad they now have towel service at the pool. Interior decorating is modern (as seems to be the trend at all MVCI resorts), but I'm happy the styling still retains some island accents.

We reserved an Island View unit using timeshare points. Island View at Waiohai sometimes means parking lot view or dumpster view, so I held my breath at check-in time. We were VERY pleasantly surprised with our unit assignment. I wouldn't call it Ocean View, but certainly we get an Ocean Glimpse. From what I can tell, they treat points reservations like owned weeks when allocating room assignments. That is a big plus versus trading in via Interval International.

During a holiday week like this, the resort is packed (no surprise). I have never seen the Waiohai beach so full of people (too much for me - we will drive elsewhere for our beach days). Reserving activities and restaurants is also a challenge. Rental car prices are off the charts this week as well, but gratefully we nailed a last-minute Hot Rate deal on Hotwire (recommend others check the Hotwire website, too).

The weather is perfect and life is good. This will put me in a better mood for paying all those timeshare maintenance fees coming due soon.

 

[GregT]

That is a nice room location!! That's good to know that point reservations are treated well. I've visited Waiohai but have never stayed there -- enjoy your trip!!!

Best,

Greg

 

[Fasttr]

Looks much better than the view out my window today. Enjoy!!!

 

[hangloose]

Great “island view”. Enjoy Kauai! I’m sure weather is much nicer than the cold temps on the east coast right now. Jealous!

 

[WalnutBaron]

Looks beautiful. What a nice unit assignment. Enjoy Poipu and the southern end of Kauai. And have a Puka Dog while you're there! The Pineapple Field menu choice is fantastic!

 

[taffy19]

That is a nice view and certainly when you had lower expectations. Enjoy Kauai and your coffee on the Lanai when you get up.

Have you seen the single swan? I wished he had company.

 

[mjm1]

Very nice room assignment. We traded in via II last December and had an island view room opposite from you. We were happy with it, but your view is definitely better. Have a great time!

Best regards.

Mike

 

[gblotter]

And have a Puka Dog while you're there! The Pineapple Field menu choice is fantastic!

A little on the sweet side.

 

[gblotter]

Beach crowds not bad today.

 

[gblotter]

New Year’s Eve sunset.

 

[gblotter]

Christmas lights at the resort.

 

[gblotter]

Our week here at Waiohai is drawing to a close and it has been wonderful.

After January 2nd, the holiday crowds cleared out significantly. Lots of empty loungers by the pool, and the beach has not been crowded at all. Easy to find parking spaces in the garage.

My opinion of Waiohai has risen significantly during this trip. Previously, it always felt more like an apartment complex than a resort. This trip I have noticed and appreciated resort amenities like bellman service, towel service at the pool, and a full schedule of fitness classes. I also like the smaller scale of the Waiohai resort (my only real gripe is the small size of the Waiohai swimming pools).

We attended a low-pressure timeshare sales presentation for 15K MRPs, but did not buy anything. They have a small sales staff of only 6 people here at Waiohai.

The fish and shrimp tacos at Island Tacos (in Poipu and Waimea) are heavenly. Pie lovers like me will find nirvana at The Right Slice (in Kalaheo and Lihue). Our kids love Uncle's Shaved Ice (in Poipu and Lihue).

The island of Kauai is spectacular (we already knew that). Kauai's natural beauty simple cannot be beat.

 

[GregT]

Those are fantastic pictures, thank you for posting! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed your trip to Waiohai and I hope to stay there in the coming days. I’m glad you met Jeremy and that it was been such a successful trip. Thanks again!

Best,

Greg

 

[gblotter]

Those are fantastic pictures, thank you for posting!

Kauai's incredible beauty makes everyone look like a great photographer (all those photos were taken using my iPhone).

 

[gblotter]

I’m glad you’ve enjoyed your trip to Waiohai and I hope to stay there in the coming days.

I have no doubt we will return to Waiohai at some point, but our kids all voted that Maui Ocean Club is still their favorite of all the MVCI Hawaii timeshare properties. That Maui Ocean Club pool is hard to beat.

 

[hangloose]

Great photos! While we also prefer Maui Ocean Club (location, pool, etc), it is hard to beat the true natural beauty of Kauai. No other Hawaiian Island can compare, in my view. The Napali Coast, Waimea Canyon, and just the lushness of Kauai is fantastic. Glad you had a great trip! We'll be in Oahu and Maui very soon, but skipping Kauai this trip. I think next trip I need to hit Waiohai, as I've yet to stay there. Aloha!

 

[Fasttr]

Nice Pics....looking forward to my visit to Kauai in April.

 

[tjcutler]

Gorgeous shots of Kauai! We will be there in a couple weeks, staying at Waiohai for the first time. I'm trying to figure out building/unit you were in, hoping to request a similar room as I've reserved Island view with points as well.

 

[dioxide45]

Those are fantastic pictures, thank you for posting! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed your trip to Waiohai and I hope to stay there in the coming days. I’m glad you met Jeremy and that it was been such a successful trip. Thanks again!

Best,

Greg

Did I miss something ?

 

[GregT]

Did I miss something ?

Different Jeremy

 

[jpc763]

Great pics! I just got a trade into Waiohai for next January (5-12) so I look forward to my "dumpster view" room. No biggie, it's KAUAI!!!

 

[BobG7734]

Wonderful pics!!! Looking forward to our return next year...this year it is off to Ko Olina in August using accumulated points for entire family.

Is Troy still there doing water aerobics and other "physically challenging" activities...he was very engaged and ran great programs.

 

[pedro47]

Thanks for sharing your review, observations and photos.

 

[taterhed]

Great pics and great room. We own there and love it too.

FWIW: By asking and doing our research (here on TUG somewhere) the priority for room assignments starts with Waiohai multi-week owners using multiple weeks, and trickles it's way down thru Marriott owners to the owner/exchangers, exchangers and then other non-owners and some types of MR points or vacation packages or ????
As a Waiohai owner, they indicate that you shouldn't be in the p-lot hale. As a Marriott owner on exchange, they say you also shouldn't be in the p-lot hale.
We'll see: I'm using an owned and exchanged week in Feb. Hopefully, we'll be as lucky as you!

 

[gblotter]

Is Troy still there doing water aerobics and other "physically challenging" activities...he was very engaged and ran great programs.

I saw the water aerobics class underway in the pool while I was walking to the beach. Can't say if the instructor's name was Troy, but he was very enthusiastic.