At Starwood Westin [Mission] Hills now

[Cathyb]

In Bldg. 46 which is at the furthest pool; on first floor with golf course view. First time in the 'newer' units and the smaller size one bedroom.

Although the furnishings are pretty nice, I am disappointed in the size of this smaller unit. Kitchen consists of L-shaped two walls. Small dishwasher, no garbage disposal and although I am 5'9, I have to reach high to get a dish.

Unit appears dark, even on sunny days. Might be because carpeting is dark olive (yuk); :ignore: wood is dark brown and the chairs are dark maroon patterns.

There is a very small dining table in the center where kitchen and living room meet -- that seats four. If there were four of us here, there would be no room on table for serving dishes as the placemets overlap when down -- that's how dinky it is! Bathroom, comparatively, is huge; master is good sized.

The complex appears far from full. Parking so far has been easy. We do the 'update' today for 5,000 Starpoints. They gave us a nice Green bag with their logo on it at the Front Orientation desk. Golf course is brown and green and looks blah -- but I know it is for a good reason! Weather so far has been perfect -- 65-70 degrees.

Open for questions if anyone has some.

 

[clsmit]

What did they try to sell you? Lagunamar? Did you hear anything else interesting?

 

[DeniseM]

Which resort is this?

 

[SDKath]

So funny how different people have different impressions. I think Cathy is talking about the WMH smaller 1br? If so, we stayed in that unit in the Fall. I found it VERY spacious. It was me and my DH (I am 5ft 9 and DH is 6 ft) and our 2 kids, 7 and 12yo. They took the living room pullout and we took the master.

Unlike most other resorts, we never felt on top of eachother. The kitchen was very spacious for a smaller one bedroom (it is NOT a kitchenette but a full kitchen). I am not sure what you mean about "small dishwasher" as all dishwashers are standard size and it was the same size as the bigger 1br. The dining room table seated us 4 comfortably and we ate many meals on the table without problems. Also, it was great to have a full size fridge in the unit given that it was the smaller 1br.

Overall, I think it's a much bigger "smaller side" unit than most others we've been to. Ours was light and airy too, although we were on the 2nd floor. It may have felt more dark if you were on the first floor. We had ample parking too although the resort was sold out according to the front desk. That's one of the things I love about WMH -- we can always park really close to our unit. There are 3 pools in the complex? Which one are you farthest from? The resort pool is pretty far but we never used it since the main pool of the timeshares is so huge and lovely.

The new furnishings are very similar to Kierland and are hip and modern and pretty nice, I have to say! I laugh when I see how different we felt in that unit compared to what you describe because it makes me realize how subjective impressions can be! It's like eating the same meal with your best friends. Some love it and some think the meal is aweful. But you are all eating the same food!

Katherine

 

[Ken555]

WDW has a small dishwasher on the small side. I thought WMH was the same, but it's been years since I've stayed there. Building 46 is WMH.

 

[oneohana]

WMH has a smaller dishwasher in the 1 bed deluxe villas.
We love Building 46. It is away from the main pool and parking isn't as bad than if your in the middle of the resort.

 

[jarta]

I have found the smaller 1-br to be rather spacious (560 sq. ft.) for 2 people. However, it is smallish compared to the larger 1-br (880 sq. ft.). Mystarcentral describes the kitchen as a kitchenette.

The smaller 1-brs at Kieland and WMH are very similar in design and layout. Both are a little cave-like to conserve energy since summers in Phoenix and Palm Springs are torrid.

I have always found parking at WMH to be iffy. If my wife and I get back to the resort early enough, we usually can park close to our room. If we stay out late, the walk back to our room can be fairly long.

Overall WMH is a pretty nice place to stay. (I own there and will be there this February for 2 weeks in a larger 1-br.) I would have given the resort and the smaller 1-br a more positive review than the OP. ... eom

 

[Cathyb]

Our 'hot seat'

What did they try to sell you? Lagunamar? Did you hear anything else interesting?

Didn't mention Lagunamar at all. Tried to convince us that Mission Hill and the other newer desert location sales are booming and that our EOY is now selling at over 20K -- yeh, right. Claims the other location is sold out for 2012 and they are now selling 2013.

She did bring up SPG items I didn't know like staying in a 4 star hotel for some points and $69 per night and one I forgot like getting 10-14 days at your resort by splitting the unit into two or breaking them up into 2-3 nights each.

She mentioned a NEW resort to be built in Kauai in the Poipu area.

The meeting went well -- no hard sell to us.

 

[Cathyb]

Denise

Which resort is this?

We are at Westin Mission Hills and beautiful weather at least for now.

 

[Cathyb]

Beg to differ

So funny how different people have different impressions. I think Cathy is talking about the WMH smaller 1br? If so, we stayed in that unit in the Fall. I found it VERY spacious. It was me and my DH (I am 5ft 9 and DH is 6 ft) and our 2 kids, 7 and 12yo. They took the living room pullout and we took the master.

Unlike most other resorts, we never felt on top of eachother. The kitchen was very spacious for a smaller one bedroom (it is NOT a kitchenette but a full kitchen). I am not sure what you mean about "small dishwasher" as all dishwashers are standard size and it was the same size as the bigger 1br. The dining room table seated us 4 comfortably and we ate many meals on the table without problems. Also, it was great to have a full size fridge in the unit given that it was the smaller 1br.

Overall, I think it's a much bigger "smaller side" unit than most others we've been to. Ours was light and airy too, although we were on the 2nd floor. It may have felt more dark if you were on the first floor. We had ample parking too although the resort was sold out according to the front desk. That's one of the things I love about WMH -- we can always park really close to our unit. There are 3 pools in the complex? Which one are you farthest from? The resort pool is pretty far but we never used it since the main pool of the timeshares is so huge and lovely.

The new furnishings are very similar to Kierland and are hip and modern and pretty nice, I have to say! I laugh when I see how different we felt in that unit compared to what you describe because it makes me realize how subjective impressions can be! It's like eating the same meal with your best friends. Some love it and some think the meal is aweful. But you are all eating the same food!

Katherine

Kathleen: Did you know that the first part of Mission Hills with the jacuzzi tub in the bathroom is very different in layout than the second? We do not have a full kitchen! One wall next to front door ha small DW, sink and four cabinets -- that is it. The other wall has more cabinets and frig -- that is it. I am sitting looking at it as I type -- no way could you call this a full kitchen and I sure miss have a garbage disposal -- it sucks!

 

[Cathyb]

Forgot one thing

So funny how different people have different impressions. I think Cathy is talking about the WMH smaller 1br? If so, we stayed in that unit in the Fall. I found it VERY spacious. It was me and my DH (I am 5ft 9 and DH is 6 ft) and our 2 kids, 7 and 12yo. They took the living room pullout and we took the master.

Unlike most other resorts, we never felt on top of eachother. The kitchen was very spacious for a smaller one bedroom (it is NOT a kitchenette but a full kitchen). I am not sure what you mean about "small dishwasher" as all dishwashers are standard size and it was the same size as the bigger 1br. The dining room table seated us 4 comfortably and we ate many meals on the table without problems. Also, it was great to have a full size fridge in the unit given that it was the smaller 1br.

Overall, I think it's a much bigger "smaller side" unit than most others we've been to. Ours was light and airy too, although we were on the 2nd floor. It may have felt more dark if you were on the first floor. We had ample parking too although the resort was sold out according to the front desk. That's one of the things I love about WMH -- we can always park really close to our unit. There are 3 pools in the complex? Which one are you farthest from? The resort pool is pretty far but we never used it since the main pool of the timeshares is so huge and lovely.

The new furnishings are very similar to Kierland and are hip and modern and pretty nice, I have to say! I laugh when I see how different we felt in that unit compared to what you describe because it makes me realize how subjective impressions can be! It's like eating the same meal with your best friends. Some love it and some think the meal is aweful. But you are all eating the same food!

Katherine

We are in Bldg 46 almost at the end and furthest from the lobby and are next to a small pool area. We have had the two bedroom on the other side 3x and I agree the small bedroom unit was nice -- this is not the case here, Katherine. you will have to eat humble pie when you get one over in the second phase and see I am correct in my description.

 

[Cathyb]

Ken

WDW has a small dishwasher on the small side. I thought WMH was the same, but it's been years since I've stayed there. Building 46 is WMH.

You are right -- we have a SMALL dishwasher. Katherine may not know that in the second phase they changed a lot of stuff but since we have owned since it was built we were aware of some 'major' changes in the small unit.

 

[Cathyb]

Jarta

I have found the smaller 1-br to be rather spacious (560 sq. ft.) for 2 people. However, it is smallish compared to the larger 1-br (880 sq. ft.). Mystarcentral describes the kitchen as a kitchenette.

The smaller 1-brs at Kieland and WMH are very similar in design and layout. Both are a little cave-like to conserve energy since summers in Phoenix and Palm Springs are torrid.

I have always found parking at WMH to be iffy. If my wife and I get back to the resort early enough, we usually can park close to our room. If we stay out late, the walk back to our room can be fairly long.

Overall WMH is a pretty nice place to stay. (I own there and will be there this February for 2 weeks in a larger 1-br.) I would have given the resort and the smaller 1-br a more positive review than the OP. ... eom

Thank you for sharing about cave-like for summer coolness -- I didn't know that. I guess I was very harsh on my review -- probably because I have always had the two bedroom full unit and on the other 'older' side so this was a shock for me. Did you notice difficulty in getting glasses and cups off the shelves? It is a full reach to get to them.

 

[YYJMSP]

Claims the other location is sold out for 2012 and they are now selling 2013.

It was my understanding almost a year ago when we bought at WDW that there were no EOY Even's left in the existing buildings, and only a handful of EOY Odd's (i.e. starting 2013 usage).

I assume that the new building is close to done, and they're starting to add 2013 inventory from there...

 

[LisaRex]

I'd love to visit WMH during the Indian Wells tournament, but I'm too cheap to pay 148,100 SOs to stay there. Anyone know if it's routinely available on II?

 

[jarta]

Cathyb, ... "Did you notice difficulty in getting glasses and cups off the shelves?"

No.

"Didn't mention Lagunamar at all."

Maybe the Starwood salespeople read your prior comments about Mexico on TUG.

I did not refer to your review as harsh. Harsh would be too harsh. I just would have given a more balanced review about WMH. Sure, the smaller 1-br is dark. The living rooms of the smaller 1-brs at WMH and WKV have no window. The window and balcony are off the bedroom.

WMH isn't perfect or even comparable to FSA. But, it doesn't claim to be perfect or comparable. It's just a very nice, comfortable place to visit and bake in the sun. ... eom

 

[pointsjunkie]

I'd love to visit WMH during the Indian Wells tournament, but I'm too cheap to pay 148,100 SOs to stay there. Anyone know if it's routinely available on II?

when is the Indain wells tournament?

 

[LisaRex]

when is the Indain wells tournament?

3/5-3/18/12 this year.

 

[cwn]

Hello I just visited there in December while staying at the Marriott Desert Springs. I looked at the rooms, but didn't see the one you are in. I greatly appreciate your detailed descriptions! I looked at the Desert Willow property as well.
I have found a good deal on a one bedroom at Sheraton Broadway Plantation which would trade me into WMH with II - but, not sure if buying in SC where I am pretty sure I will never go is a wise choice. I have heard the TUGG rule is to buy where you will go 2/3 of the time. I live in Ca and for now travel within the area and Hawaii. Was also hoping to trade SBP if I buy it to Maui, where I have stayed on Starpoints.
From what you are describing, not sure I will love it at Mission Hills. So, I may research more before I make the purchase. I am looking at an EOY and it will be my first Starwood ownership. I have used my SPGpoints for many years.
When I was there last month, t was rainy and windy most days- glad you are having beautiful weather!
I always welcome ant thoughts!

 

[ragdoll]

She mentioned a NEW resort to be built in Kauai in the Poipu area.

What is this? Does anyone know more about this? Or is it just hot air from the sales department?

 

[BradC]

What is this? Does anyone know more about this? Or is it just hot air from the sales department?

There was talk at one time of adding timeshare units at the Sheraton Kauai site, but I assume that's on indefinite hold at this point.

 

[DeniseM]

In this economy, it's nearly impossible to get financing for new resorts - it will be a long time before this happens, but they have been talking about it for years. There was some talk that it would be across the street from the Sheraton Hotel.

 

[Cathyb]

cwn

Hello I just visited there in December while staying at the Marriott Desert Springs. I looked at the rooms, but didn't see the one you are in. I greatly appreciate your detailed descriptions! I looked at the Desert Willow property as well.
I have found a good deal on a one bedroom at Sheraton Broadway Plantation which would trade me into WMH with II - but, not sure if buying in SC where I am pretty sure I will never go is a wise choice. I have heard the TUGG rule is to buy where you will go 2/3 of the time. I live in Ca and for now travel within the area and Hawaii. Was also hoping to trade SBP if I buy it to Maui, where I have stayed on Starpoints.
From what you are describing, not sure I will love it at Mission Hills. So, I may research more before I make the purchase. I am looking at an EOY and it will be my first Starwood ownership. I have used my SPGpoints for many years.
When I was there last month, t was rainy and windy most days- glad you are having beautiful weather!
I always welcome ant thoughts!

We also own at Marriott Desert Springs I where we will be moving to tomorrow. IMHO, Starwood's SPG program is the best -- much better than Marriott Rewards. Both resorts have their pros and cons -- we prefer Westin for getting Starwood weeks somewhere; but like Marriott for their programs like II classes, Owner's meetings while onsite, etc.

As for Mission Hills, the full two bedroom unit is MUCH BETTER than the full Desert Springs unit. It's when you get the Phase II small bedroom at Westin that my gripes were directed. For getting Maui -- maybe Marriott would be better because they have several choices to choose from. It is a hard exchange during school holidays. Good luck in your decisions!

 

[Cathyb]

Acqua Restaurant special

They have an ongoing special for three course meal for $15.99 or early bird for $12.99. We sat at the beautiful waterside table and had the best Wild Mushroom Soup, Angus meat meatloaf and Tiramisu for the $12.99. Serving size was very generous on all of it.

Was even entertained by the ducks

Oh, this is at The Rivers -- down Bob Hope Blvd almost to Hwy 111.

 

[BradC]

There was some talk that it would be across the street from the Sheraton Hotel.

Several years back while waiting for a flight, I chatted with a guy at a Vancouver airport bar who happened to be working on the design for the Poipu site. He briefly showed me the plans (wish I would have had a camera-phone back then), and the timeshare buildings were going to be on the northwest section of the existing hotel property (near where the self-parking lot and tennis courts are now). I couldn't tell from my quick look whether the timeshare buildings were adjacent to, a remodel of, or a replacement of the existing hotel buildings on the makai side of the Sheraton hotel property.

Even though the timeshare buildings would be across the street from the ocean, there would be no other buildings between them and the water, and many would still have some decent ocean views.