- Joined
- Jul 8, 2012
- Messages
- 1,474
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- Location
- Living Aloha in Kaneohe, HI
- Resorts Owned
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Marriott G. Château
HVC Sedona Summit
VVR The Colonies
We're on the tail end of back-to-back exchange weeks in Hawaii. We spent one week at Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, and are on our final day at Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club. Our experience and unit assignments were vastly different.
Let me first say, happiness is being in Hawaii! I know exchangers are at the bottom of the pecking order when getting an assigned unit. I also (now) realize none of the following matter, but wanted to list them: I’m a Marriott owner, Lifetime Titanium (from hotel stays, not TS ownership), and I informed both resorts that we were celebrating DW’s 50th birthday (Hawaii 5-0 birthday?) when the pre-arrival email was sent. I would have thought the combination may have put us near the top of the bottom; I was wrong.
We checked into Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club on Easter Sunday. At check-in, I was informed we were in Hale Moana. When I asked about moving to a different Hale, I was told it was not possible. When we arrived in our room, we realized we received the worst view in the entire resort. It was the 5th floor parking garage view in Hale Moana. Okay, one floor down was the absolute worst, but I’m very surprised we were put there, given my ownership and lifetime status (again I realize exchangers are at the bottom of the priority list). We spent enough time outside the room, touring and/or time on the grounds, that we didn’t have to deal with the view often, but it would have been nice to start and end the day with a decent “mountain” view. I expressed my disappointment with the staff when we checked out. I probably should have expressed it to management, but we were there on an exchange…and I was happy to be in Hawaii.
In contrast, Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club welcomed us with birthday cookies, and upgraded us from an Island View in Hale Five to an Ocean View in Hale Four. The upgraded view was definitely not expected, but absolutely welcomed. While Hale Four is at the back of the property, we were centrally located and were able to see the ocean straight ahead! When I met the general manager, I expressed my appreciation for our check-in rep. Needless to say, we were very pleased with the unit, and will be forever grateful to our check-in rep. I’ve attached a picture from our balcony at Waiohai.
Let me first say, happiness is being in Hawaii! I know exchangers are at the bottom of the pecking order when getting an assigned unit. I also (now) realize none of the following matter, but wanted to list them: I’m a Marriott owner, Lifetime Titanium (from hotel stays, not TS ownership), and I informed both resorts that we were celebrating DW’s 50th birthday (Hawaii 5-0 birthday?) when the pre-arrival email was sent. I would have thought the combination may have put us near the top of the bottom; I was wrong.
We checked into Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club on Easter Sunday. At check-in, I was informed we were in Hale Moana. When I asked about moving to a different Hale, I was told it was not possible. When we arrived in our room, we realized we received the worst view in the entire resort. It was the 5th floor parking garage view in Hale Moana. Okay, one floor down was the absolute worst, but I’m very surprised we were put there, given my ownership and lifetime status (again I realize exchangers are at the bottom of the priority list). We spent enough time outside the room, touring and/or time on the grounds, that we didn’t have to deal with the view often, but it would have been nice to start and end the day with a decent “mountain” view. I expressed my disappointment with the staff when we checked out. I probably should have expressed it to management, but we were there on an exchange…and I was happy to be in Hawaii.
In contrast, Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club welcomed us with birthday cookies, and upgraded us from an Island View in Hale Five to an Ocean View in Hale Four. The upgraded view was definitely not expected, but absolutely welcomed. While Hale Four is at the back of the property, we were centrally located and were able to see the ocean straight ahead! When I met the general manager, I expressed my appreciation for our check-in rep. Needless to say, we were very pleased with the unit, and will be forever grateful to our check-in rep. I’ve attached a picture from our balcony at Waiohai.