Better options for Kauai and Maui

[Mongoose]

I currently own HGVC, Hyatt and WorldMark. I consider WM, my short stay star and middle market. I want better access to upscale resorts on Kauai and Maui. HGVC has many options on the Big Island and Oahu, one on Maui and none one Kauai. Hyatt has a great Kaanapali location, but it’s very hard to get access unless you own there. If I pick up a resale Westin Flex or StarOptions in Kierland or another mandatory resort is there much availability into Kauai or Maui? Is my best bet ongoing searches 2 years out wit II or RCI? Thanks!

 

[DeniseM]

[Vistana] has 3 resorts on Maui and 2 on Kauai. If you can travel off-season, there's almost always something available at exactly 8 mos. before check-in, at midnight eastern/9 pacific. For example, tonight at midnight eastern, Jan. 14th reservations open up.

IMNSHO, StarOption reservations are superior to II exchanges, because with StarOptions, you can choose your view, assuming of course that you own (or save up) enough Staroptions for the view you want. I don't think the Hawaii Vistana resorts are affiliated with RCI.

Of the 5 Hawaii resorts, they only deposit 2 Bdms. from Nanea into II.

But, I don't think you get StarOptions with resale Westin Flex - I will let someone else expand on that.

 

[alwysonvac]

See this thread regarding Westin Flex resale.

Updated Flex FAQ

This FAQ has been built upon the previous Flex FAQ by okwiater from 2016 and makes updates to include the Westin Flex and Aventuras Flex systems, as well as some other recurring questions that arise on TUG. I did invite the original author to collaborate on this revision; however, the offer was...

tugbbs.com

 

[daviator]

Westin has 3 resorts on Maui and 2 on Kauai. If you can travel off-season, there's almost always something available at exactly 8 mos. before check-in, at midnight eastern/9 pacific. For example, tonight at midnight eastern, Jan. 14th reservations open up.

Technically, there is only one Westin timeshare property on Kauai (Princeville.) The other Vistana property there is a Sheraton. IIRC, it's part of the Sheraton Flex trust and not part of Westin Flex.

 

[Shiba]

Can I take you in a different direction? How about a Marriott to use as a trader and you have access to Westin/Sheraton/Marriott via Interval International. I'm still a newbie, but I've been very happy with my trades. I scored a 2 bedroom Marriott Ko'Olina in Dec and a 2 bedroom Marriott Ocean Club Lahaina Tower in April. I used my Marriott Grand Chateau 2 bedroom lock off EOY. My MF are less than $800 each year, but you have to add the Interval International fees. The sightings forum has been awesome and helpful in locating a specific location. While searching in Maui, MOC was available and so was Westin Nanea during the dates I want to go.

 

[alwysonvac]

... I want better access to upscale resorts on Kauai and Maui...

I suggest picking up a resale mandatory Vistana week for StarOptions.

It will be similar to your HGVC ownership allowing you to choose your check-in date, at any Vistana resort, for any number of nights (no minimum) in any unit size/type.
Vistana also supports banking and borrowing. Similar to HGVC, availability will open up to all owners at 8 months (instead of 9 months) and high demand dates will need to be as soon as the booking window opens at midnight eastern.

Bonus feature - Vistana owners get priority exchange preference into both Vistana and Marriott resorts before II inventory opens up to everyone. The Marriott preference will occur after Marriott owners have access but before it opens up to all II members.

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

We do quite well with our Kierland trader and have used it for the 8 yrs we own in Hawaii each summer,. We typically stay in Maui but have used it in Princeville and at the Sheraton. We also own a Hyatt trader Pinion Pointe but it is more difficult to get into Kaanapali with it. We usually can get in early June with wait list 1 yr out

 

[Mongoose]

We do quite well with our Kierland trader and have used it for the 8 yrs we own in Hawaii each summer,. We typically stay in Maui but have used it in Princeville and at the Sheraton. We also own a Hyatt trader Pinion Pointe but it is more difficult to get into Kaanapali with it. We usually can get in early June with wait list 1 yr out

How does the Hyatt Kaanapali compare to the Westin?

 

[vacationtime1]

How does the Hyatt Kaanapali compare to the Westin?

Comparing the best view categories of each:

The "soft goods" at the Hyatt are superior.

The living room and the lanai at Hyatt are separated by a moving glass wall; the inside/outside is therefore superior.

The Westins are closer to the water.

The beach and the snorkeling are better at the Westins.

All are truly outstanding (assuming you are OV at Hyatt or OF at one of the Westins).

 

[vacationtime1]

I currently own HGVC, Hyatt and WorldMark. I consider WM, my short stay star and middle market. I want better access to upscale resorts on Kauai and Maui. HGVC has many options on the Big Island and Oahu, one on Maui and none one Kauai. Hyatt has a great Kaanapali location, but it’s very hard to get access unless you own there. If I pick up a resale Westin Flex or StarOptions in Kierland or another mandatory resort is there much availability into Kauai or Maui? Is my best bet ongoing searches 2 years out wit II or RCI? Thanks!

It is easy to reserve Westin Princeville at the eight month mark using StarOptions any time of year. It is fairly easy to get Ka'anapali with StarOptions, although summers and whale season may require flexibility.

I don't know about Westin Flex. It is unclear what inventory it owns (we know that it has no OF at any of the Ka'anapali resorts). A Westin Flex package will certainly pull Hawaii units at the twelve month mark, but how deep its inventory is is a separate question. If purchased resale, it does not convert into StarOptions at eight months; you would be limited to what that trust owns.

 

[DeniseM]

Technically, there is only one Westin timeshare property on Kauai (Princeville.) The other Vistana property there is a Sheraton. IIRC, it's part of the Sheraton Flex trust and not part of Westin Flex.

The OP is interested in what can be reserved with StarOptions, so this is not an issue, since both Westin & Sheraton are Vistana resorts which can be reserved with StarOptions.

 

[Rdub79]

Can I take you in a different direction? How about a Marriott to use as a trader and you have access to Westin/Sheraton/Marriott via Interval International. I'm still a newbie, but I've been very happy with my trades. I scored a 2 bedroom Marriott Ko'Olina in Dec and a 2 bedroom Marriott Ocean Club Lahaina Tower in April. I used my Marriott Grand Chateau 2 bedroom lock off EOY. My MF are less than $800 each year, but you have to add the Interval International fees. The sightings forum has been awesome and helpful in locating a specific location. While searching in Maui, MOC was available and so was Westin Nanea during the dates I want to go.

Shiba, did you have to use the whole 2 bedroom to get those trades or were you able to lock off and pay the upgrade size fee?

 

[Shiba]

I was able to lock off and pay the upgrade fees.

 

[rcv82]

Resale Westin Flex works well for the Hawaii Westins, allowing you to book 12 months out to get even high season reservations without being limited to 7 days and to be able to check in any day of the week; ocean view and resort/mountain view only. The maintenance fees are high however, although you should be able to pick it up cheap.

If you are fine with the low seasons, a resale mandatory such as WKV works great.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

How does the Hyatt Kaanapali compare to the Westin?

We prefer Hyatt Kaanapali as all 2 bedrooms are oceanfront with huge lanais. You fall asleep to sounds of the ocean and easy walk everywhere. We love the Westin as well as there is music at night, a fabulous snorkling beach right there, one of our favorite spots to snorkle and a free shuttle to Whalers and Safeway in Lahaina. Westin is much easier to get. There are less units. It's a safer bet

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

We prefer Hyatt Kaanapali as all 2 bedrooms are oceanfront with huge lanais. You fall asleep to sounds of the ocean and easy walk everywhere. We love the Westin as well as there is music at night, a fabulous snorkling beach right there, one of our favorite spots to snorkle and a free shuttle to Whalers and Safeway in Lahaina. Westin is much easier to get. There are less units. It's a safer bet

Should say. There are less units at Hyatt thus the challenge

 

[Mongoose]

S

The OP is interested in what can be reserved with StarOptions, so this is not an issue, since both Westin & Sheraton are Vistana resorts which can be reserved with StarOptions.

So I have the resale options of a mandatory staroptions resort with access at 8 months or a Westin Flex with access at 12 months but no oceanfront units? Seems Westin Flex might be better for me.

 

[Henry M.]

Should say. There are less units at Hyatt thus the challenge

An issue with Hyatt is that they only sold fixed weeks, so it is much harder to find the exact days you'd want to go. I much prefer the Westin floating times so I can choose exactly when to arrive.

 

[Mongoose]

An issue with Hyatt is that they only sold fixed weeks, so it is much harder to find the exact days you'd want to go. I much prefer the Westin floating times so I can choose exactly when to arrive.

The owner deposits a fixed when the another Hyatt owner can book 2-7 nights using points.

 

[Henry M.]

If you're an owner, how difficult is it to find a specific week other than the one you own? How hard is it to exchange? At Westin, weeks are available unless someone books it. At Hyatt they are only available if someone releases one, right?

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

If you're an owner, how difficult is it to find a specific week other than the one you own? How hard is it to exchange? At Westin, weeks are available unless someone books it. At Hyatt they are only available if someone releases one, right?

We own 3 Hyatts for trade and have never stayed in a week we own, going on 8 yrs now. We mainly use it for Maui but because our grandkids get out of school the end of May, it is fairly easy to book June. We also do Colorado in the summer with it. This summer we booked 2 weeks in a 1 bedroom in Maui, one is actually July but that's unusual, and we added 2 nights in a 3 bedroom that popped up. That said we easily at 8 months found 16 consecutive nights at the Westin Kaanapali but ocean view vs ocean front . Hyatts were less upfront cost but if I were to do it again I'd own 1 less Hyatt and another Vistana. Hyatt has some antiquated rules. You pay a booking fee, cancelation fee, split week fee. Vistana has none of those

 

[Henry M.]

Thanks for the perspective. I didn't buy at the Maui Hyatt because I was concerned about the fixed week. I travel at different times and would not want to be tied to a specific week. the multiple fees were also a turn off. I guess I'm committed to Vistana now that I have several weeks with them. I do like the Hyatt property a lot.

 

[ncaahockeyfan]

Can Star Options reservations be made at the 8 month window for less than a week?

All week long stays at the Hyatt Maui are Sat-Sat and we all know that's the most expensive day of the week to fly!

With a Tuesday arrival you might be able to save enough on airfare to cover the cost of Tue-Sat stay on Star Options?

 

[vacationtime1]

Can Star Options reservations be made at the 8 month window for less than a week?

All week long stays at the Hyatt Maui are Sat-Sat and we all know that's the most expensive day of the week to fly!

With a Tuesday arrival you might be able to save enough on airfare to cover the cost of Tue-Sat stay on Star Options?

StarOption reservations may be for any number of days up to twenty.

The potential problem with your strategy (at least for prime weeks) is that the reservation may no longer be available when you want to make it. The week was available because someone didn't make a Sat/Sat or Sun/Sun reservation, the first possible date to reserve those days was eight months in advance of that Sat or Sun, which is three days before you can make your reservation for the following Tuesday. If it's a prime week, it may be gone; you should have no problem during shoulder seasons.

 

[Mongoose]

We own 3 Hyatts for trade and have never stayed in a week we own, going on 8 yrs now. We mainly use it for Maui but because our grandkids get out of school the end of May, it is fairly easy to book June. We also do Colorado in the summer with it. This summer we booked 2 weeks in a 1 bedroom in Maui, one is actually July but that's unusual, and we added 2 nights in a 3 bedroom that popped up. That said we easily at 8 months found 16 consecutive nights at the Westin Kaanapali but ocean view vs ocean front . Hyatts were less upfront cost but if I were to do it again I'd own 1 less Hyatt and another Vistana. Hyatt has some antiquated rules. You pay a booking fee, cancelation fee, split week fee. Vistana has none of those

I also own at Pinion Pointe. I've never used it at Maui. Do you usually do a waitlist or find available inventory? Any suggestions on best way to setup a waitlist for Hyatt Maui? How do you compare your experiences between your Hyatt's and Westin Kierland?