Hawaii Resorts Availability

[rjp123]

Hokulani (not at HHV; off site property)
1 Bedroom 480 960 4,800
1 Bedroom Plus 620 1,240 6,200
Note: Club Reservation window starts at 6 months (instead of the normal 9 months)​

HHI and Waikiki is excellent. We are staying at the Hokulani in September and are excited to check out the new property.

 

[Tamaradarann]

Wow! This is really discouraging to see as someone with kids in school who can only travel around vacation period. What’s the benefit of a timeshare point system if so many holidays dates are almost impossible to get or need to be “gamed” with strategies (i.e. walk a reservation). Overall do you feel a HGVC membership (even resale) is worth it both financially and accessibility wise?

Well, since you brought up the question of the "benefit of a timeshare point system if so many holiday dates are almost impossible to get" I want to address that. Others have already stated that if you want peak vacation periods when the kids are out of school you should own what size unit and where you want to vacation. I totally agree with that. Furthermore, if this was a traditional timeshare weeks system an owner would have to deposit their precious school recess timeshare week for one to be able to exchange into it. In addition, if you own say the 2nd week in July in a traditional timeshare week system you MUST go that particular week no other during the summer for you to use you week. Otherwise, you would need to deposit your week and hope someone else deposited a week at your resort for the summer week you want. I know with my Grandkids summer camp and my Son-in Law's work schedule the 3rd week in August is the time when we can vacation with them. So even if we owned another summer week it wouldn't work for us to vacation with them.

 

[ljmiii]

Wow! This is really discouraging to see as someone with kids in school who can only travel around vacation period. What’s the benefit of a timeshare point system if so many holidays dates are almost impossible to get or need to be “gamed” with strategies (i.e. walk a reservation). Overall do you feel a HGVC membership (even resale) is worth it both financially and accessibility wise?

Actually, I think HGVC does the best job of combining home resort peak time access with around the world access and flexibility. Like you we are limited to the school calendar and HGVC does a better at this balance than MVCI and DVC.

I bought in the Lagoon tower because I knew I wanted to stay there during President's Week for the then foreseeable future and we have had no availability issues for over a decade. This year we are travelling in summer to HI and again had no issues getting into Lagoon. Meanwhile, I used my second Lagoon week to travel to Miami and (soon) the Big Island. And while I know I will have to be proactive if I want to go to Scotland or Spain next summer I know Orlando and Las Vegas are no problem.

 

[alwysonvac]

HHI and Waikiki is excellent. We are staying at the Hokulani in September and are excited to check out the new property.

Have a wonderful stay.
This is the only Oahu location I haven’t visited but it’s on my bucket list

Here are some Hokulani videos.

Here are some additional videos of the Hokulani (recently went myself)

Room:

Entrance and Lobby:

Elevator and Rooftop Sky Lounge:

Accessibility:

 

[Vkothari916]

There are lots of threads regarding the Oahu resorts and room types. I provided some links in post #3.

Here’s a high level summary.

For some folks, it’s all about the number of points required
- Lagoon and Kalia Towers are popular due to the lower point requirement
- Lagoon and Kalia Towers are the only towers that offer studio units (2200 Points for the week)

For some folks, it’s all about the view and the balcony
- no ocean view (aka standard view, Mountain View, resort view)
- partial ocean view
- ocean-view (some are better than others)
- oceanfront (only available in the Lagoon Tower - two bedroom premier)
- penthouse (two and three bedroom penthouse units in Lagoon, Waikikian and Islander)

For some folks, it’s all about the amenities in room washer/dryer, separate tub and shower, etc
- Grand Islander is the newest (opened in 2017) and will offer the latest and greatest
- Grand Waikikian (open ten years ago in 2008) offers more than the older two towers
- Kalia Tower is a hotel room conversion
- Lagoon Tower is an older apartment building conversion

I’ve been following your posts across different threads and you really do a thorough job providing useful and relevant info on various HGVC related topics. Great work and thank you!

 

[Vkothari916]

That was availability at the Lagoon tower which is one of 4 towers at the Hilton Hawaiian Village (HHV). It doesn't mean the others had limited availability during this timeframe.

Don't be discouraged. You can reserve something in the summer at HHV as long as you book when the window opens and have some flexibility. Depending on what is available, you may need to book a different travel date, different room types and/or split your stay across multiple towers at HHV.

Here's another screen capture in September 2017 while looking at 2018 summer availability at the Lagoon Tower. This was actually at the 9 month mark. The Club Reservation window was available through June 11 checkout. A three night minimum would be a 6/8 checkin with a 6/11 checkout.

The key with traveling during high demand times is to have some flexibility. August was bad for two bedrooms but June was much better.

This definitely looks much better. Unfortunately my kids are on vacation only in July and August so looks like I wil be fighting the masses for room availability.

 

[Vkothari916]

Wow! This is really discouraging to see as someone with kids in school who can only travel around vacation period. What’s the benefit of a timeshare point system if so many holidays dates are almost impossible to get or need to be “gamed” with strategies (i.e. walk a reservation). Overall do you feel a HGVC membership (even resale) is worth it both financially and accessibility wise?

Thanks for the valuable feedback. My question wasn’t necessarily about HGVC per se but the value of timeshares in general. I understand that it may pay if you tend to vacation in the same spot more often than not. However I had believed a point system is better suited for those who want a more varied vacation experience. But if it entails being awake at midnight 9 months in advance to the day and for almost every night for a week thereafter to book a vacation (and no guarantee that will even work), then why pay all those high upfront costs of purchase (even in resale) as well as annual dues and fees? If i had to book a straightforward hotel room in Hawaii 9 months in advance I am sure I would have little trouble finding something.

Basically what is the advantage of timeshare vs hotel bookings? And is there a different point based timeshare system with generally greater availability (Marriott?). Would appreciate any feedback.

 

[GregT]

Thanks for the valuable feedback. My question wasn’t necessarily about HGVC per se but the value of timeshares in general. I understand that it may pay if you tend to vacation in the same spot more often than not. However I had believed a point system is better suited for those who want a more varied vacation experience. But if it entails being awake at midnight 9 months in advance to the day and for almost every night for a week thereafter to book a vacation (and no guarantee that will even work), then why pay all those high upfront costs of purchase (even in resale) as well as annual dues and fees? If i had to book a straightforward hotel room in Hawaii 9 months in advance I am sure I would have little trouble finding something.

Basically what is the advantage of timeshare vs hotel bookings? And is there a different point based timeshare system with generally greater availability (Marriott?). Would appreciate any feedback.

Timeshares are not for everybody — frankly, timeshares are not for most people. But TUGgers tend to be supporters/sometimes zealots of the the timeshare concept.

Although getting the reservation can be work, we love the extra space (1BR or 2BR) afforded by a timeshare, plus the full kitchen allowing us to eat in the unit when we wish to. The quality of the units and the property amenities tend to be very high, and point systems can be useful to allow you to move between different locations. Because I own timeshares, I vacation more frequently and bring friends/family with me that I would not do if I was paying rack rate or VRBO rental.

I’m now to the point where I dislike staying in a hotel room because of the lack of space and infrastructure. But I am willing to work for the reservation and enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to maximize each of the different systems that I own.

There is a lot of data on this website on the advantages/disadvantages of timeshares and they are not for everybody.

Best,

Greg

 

[ljmiii]

My question wasn’t necessarily about HGVC per se but the value of timeshares in general....Basically what is the advantage of timeshare vs hotel bookings? And is there a different point based timeshare system with generally greater availability (Marriott?).

Generally speaking there are two advantages to timeshares - staying in a villa/suite instead of a room and price.

If you usually travel with kids, grandparents, friends, etc. having the ability to reserve a 1, 2, or 3BR is wonderful. This is why we first got into timeshares with Disney. We splurged on a 2BR 'on property' and LOVED having a little apartment with kitchen, living room, washer/dryer, etc. But the price was ridiculous...so we bought into DVC. We found the same to be true in Hawaii - the price beachfront hotels want for suites is astronomical. So we bought EOY (Every Other Year) weeks on Oahu and Kauai.

If you are happy with a 'normal' hotel room the price vs flexibility equation is more difficult. But I know there are TUG folk out there who timeshare into studios (often at off-peak times) who are ecstatic at the value they get out of their timeshare purchase.

All of this is a lot easier/cheaper if there is somewhere you know you want to travel at least EOY for the foreseeable future. The HGVC home week advantage is great - we reserved the Lagoon tower on President's Week for a decade with no issues. And many resale MVCI weeks (which for the most part can't be enrolled/elected into points) are great values.

Lastly, points availability in HGVC is generally much better than MVCI. The flip side is that Marriott has more locations...many of which MVCI points owners constantly complain are 'never' available at peak times.

 

[hurnik]

Thanks for the valuable feedback. My question wasn’t necessarily about HGVC per se but the value of timeshares in general. I understand that it may pay if you tend to vacation in the same spot more often than not. However I had believed a point system is better suited for those who want a more varied vacation experience. But if it entails being awake at midnight 9 months in advance to the day and for almost every night for a week thereafter to book a vacation (and no guarantee that will even work), then why pay all those high upfront costs of purchase (even in resale) as well as annual dues and fees? If i had to book a straightforward hotel room in Hawaii 9 months in advance I am sure I would have little trouble finding something.

Basically what is the advantage of timeshare vs hotel bookings? And is there a different point based timeshare system with generally greater availability (Marriott?). Would appreciate any feedback.

Agreed it's not for everyone. If I'm going for a week, I prefer something with a full kitchen to help save on costs for meals. Plus a washer/dryer is quite handy as well.

My sister has a family and prefers a 2 BR setup so they get a room separate from the kids. Very few hotels have a 2 BR setup with full kitchen/laundry. And the ones that do (even in say, Orlando) are going to run far more than $145/night (she got her HGVC for free, so that's just her MF/club due cost if she used a home week reservation).

However:
A case in point is we went to Honolulu this Feb over Valentine's week. I booked (HHonors points) a year in advance and there was only ONE room type. 9 months in advance (even using cash) there was only one room type left at $550+/night. We had 5 nights (5th night free) WITH free breakfast and drinks (embassy suites). Now, I could've gotten into Lagoon Tower, but by the time I used my points (no free breakfast AFAIK with HGVC since I don't own there), it was cheaper to use Hhonors points.

NYC W57th is another case in point.
Even when I can manage to snag 1-2 nights, with the fees/points (booking fee, and $85 cleaning fee) I can usually get a hotel with free breakfast cheaper.

So sometimes it's cheaper with a timeshare and sometimes not.

I've been able to leverage my SFX account to get some really good/cheap (IMO) at Vidanta/Grand Luxxe (by the time I pay all the fees/etc. I think it worked out to like $900 for a 2 BR for a week).

But it takes some work, you have to be flexible and a little saavy sometimes to decide which is better/cheaper.

If you have a very limited vacation window, I'd probably advise against a timeshare, UNLESS:
a) You plan to visit a specific area often
and
b) can get that specific week in a purchase

 

[CalGalTraveler]

For some vacationers cheapest is the primary criteria. For us, where we stay matters especially in Hawaii where you use the room a lot. I would take Lagoon any day over a hotel not on the beach - even if it costs a bit more.

 

[Cyberc]

For some vacationers cheapest is the primary criteria. For us, where we stay matters especially in Hawaii where you use the room a lot. I would take Lagoon any day over a hotel not on the beach - even if it costs a bit more.

I agree. When we go to NYC we would stay at west57, it’s Location location location and the niceness of the rooms. If we ever went to Hawaii we would want to stay on the beach again location location location.

 

[csodjd]

For some vacationers cheapest is the primary criteria. For us, where we stay matters especially in Hawaii where you use the room a lot. I would take Lagoon any day over a hotel not on the beach - even if it costs a bit more.

Agree. That's why I've got two weeks in Lagoon tower, ocean view, a 1-bed (6200 pts) and a 2-bed (8400 pts). For now, while I still have one left in school, it means we have the home week booking -- so I've got 2019 Spring Break and 2019 July 4 week already booked. When she's off to college, and we can go in the fall, our 14,600 points will stretch out to 16 days for a 1-bedroom ocean view, and a bunch more if we opt for a studio. So, once you get outside the "prime" times (when school is out), there is great flexibility. But, if/while you are stuck with school out dates, owning where you want to go gets you there. I've had no problem getting my home week even during the primary times of spring break and August.

I know what an oceanfront or good ocean view "suite" costs in Hawaii. TS annual fees are way less, and you get more (like a kitchen, which saves a lot of $ on breakfast alone in Hawaii)!

And, once the school anchor is gone, we may buy some additional "cheap" points at another location, and use them for a longer fall stay in Hawaii.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

+1 agree with csodjd. For us, the school anchor continues into college (and possibly grad school). Then someday we will need the school anchor again for grandkids (!)

The notion of having a longer vacation in a 1 Bdrm or Studio in HI sounds appealing. Does anyone have photos of the 1 bdrm and studio rooms at Lagoon and views on the Diamond Head side? (we have only stayed in the 2 Bdrm OF units.)

 

[Tamaradarann]

I agree. When we go to NYC we would stay at west57, it’s Location location location and the niceness of the rooms. If we ever went to Hawaii we would want to stay on the beach again location location location.

I can understand that you would rather a timeshare unit when you go to NYC just as we like it when we go to Honolulu. You stated that when you go to NYC you stay at the West 57th street property. However, unlike Honolulu I noticed that there was an $85 cleaning fee for short stays at the West 57th Street property while there wasn't at the Residences property. Why do you want to stay at the West 57th Street property?

 

[Vkothari916]

Agree. That's why I've got two weeks in Lagoon tower, ocean view, a 1-bed (6200 pts) and a 2-bed (8400 pts). For now, while I still have one left in school, it means we have the home week booking -- so I've got 2019 Spring Break and 2019 July 4 week already booked. When she's off to college, and we can go in the fall, our 14,600 points will stretch out to 16 days for a 1-bedroom ocean view, and a bunch more if we opt for a studio. So, once you get outside the "prime" times (when school is out), there is great flexibility. But, if/while you are stuck with school out dates, owning where you want to go gets you there. I've had no problem getting my home week even during the primary times of spring break and August.

I know what an oceanfront or good ocean view "suite" costs in Hawaii. TS annual fees are way less, and you get more (like a kitchen, which saves a lot of $ on breakfast alone in Hawaii)!

And, once the school anchor is gone, we may buy some additional "cheap" points at another location, and use them for a longer fall stay in Hawaii.

Any idea what the going rate is for Lagoon Tower resales (1 or 2 bedroom)? Haven’t found much on ebay. Thanks.

 

[ljmiii]

Redweek has eight listings at the moment - some 1BR, some 2BR, some Every Other Year, some annual, some Garden View, some Ocean View - ranging in price from $3950 to $13,500. Ebay tends to attract distressed sellers so while great deals can be found better weeks/resorts are less common.

 

[csodjd]

+1 agree with csodjd. For us, the school anchor continues into college (and possibly grad school). Then someday we will need the school anchor again for grandkids (!)

The notion of having a longer vacation in a 1 Bdrm or Studio in HI sounds appealing. Does anyone have photos of the 1 bdrm and studio rooms at Lagoon and views on the Diamond Head side? (we have only stayed in the 2 Bdrm OF units.)

We just added the 2-bedroom. We've had the 1-bedroom (6200 pt) for a few years. We've been on the Diamond Head side, ocean view, each time.

Here are some pictures taken from our 1-bedroom OV balcony in March 2016. This was room 2261. (My notes say any of the rooms xx61-xx65 are good, with floors 20-23 being best.) Top picture was late in the day, middle one is fairly early morning, third one is looking left of the Rainbow Tower toward Diamond Head.

Main "issue" of these rooms, versus the 2-bedroom ocean front, is that the Rainbow Tower obscures part of the view toward Diamond Head.

Below the three 2016 22nd floor pictures are some pictures from 2017, which was room 1664 (16th floor), also a 1-bedroom ocean view.

Here are from room 1664, a 1-bedroom OV on the 16th floor. As you can see, the view toward Diamond Head is mostly obscured. But the ocean view is still good.

 

[csodjd]

Redweek has eight listings at the moment - some 1BR, some 2BR, some Every Other Year, some annual, some Garden View, some Ocean View - ranging in price from $3950 to $13,500. Ebay tends to attract distressed sellers so while great deals can be found better weeks/resorts are less common.

They actually have more than that listed. They have two "sections" that list Lagoon Tower rooms. There is the one that says "Lagoon Tower." But also a section just labeled, "Hilton Grand Vacations Club (HGVC) at Hilton Hawaiian Village." It, for instance, has two 9600 pt 2-bedroom Ocean front units in the Lagoon Tower for sale for $28-29,000, and an ocean view (8400 pt) for $18,500. So, basically, you're paying $10k more for ocean front vs ocean view, 9600 pt vs 8400 pt.

The ocean front rooms are great, to be sure. I stayed there in 2013. But I think it's a better "deal" to get "cheap" points elsewhere and use them to "upgrade" to those ocean front rooms outside the prime times of spring break and August, and "settle" for the ocean view until the kids/school anchor is gone.

 

[alwysonvac]

... Does anyone have photos of the 1 bdrm and studio rooms at Lagoon and views on the Diamond Head side? (we have only stayed in the 2 Bdrm OF units.)

Tug member Maverick1963’s 2014 Lagoon Tower studio photos - https://get.google.com/albumarchive.../AF1QipPtJNbhyVGS_hZUEozE58iTwHhkdAcx-p70WgZ2
Note:Only the Lagoon Tower studios on the penthouse floor have a balcony the others do not.

My 2010 Lagoon Tower one bedroom ocean view photos - https://www.flickr.com/photos/40089311@N05/albums/72157623716277326

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

Thanks for the valuable feedback. My question wasn’t necessarily about HGVC per se but the value of timeshares in general. I understand that it may pay if you tend to vacation in the same spot more often than not. However I had believed a point system is better suited for those who want a more varied vacation experience. But if it entails being awake at midnight 9 months in advance to the day and for almost every night for a week thereafter to book a vacation (and no guarantee that will even work), then why pay all those high upfront costs of purchase (even in resale) as well as annual dues and fees? If i had to book a straightforward hotel room in Hawaii 9 months in advance I am sure I would have little trouble finding something.

Basically what is the advantage of timeshare vs hotel bookings? And is there a different point based timeshare system with generally greater availability (Marriott?). Would appreciate any feedback.

What do you value? That is the most important question.

Price? Flexibility? Location? Size? Amenities? Availability? Depending on what you value among these questions, those values describe the best fit for your needs.

Hotels are the most flexible. No buy-in required, lots of choice for availability, easier to reserve closer to usage. Drawback. Highest price per square foot, smallest place to stay. Hotels tend to have a particular amenity set.

Timeshares cover a large range currently, so it is hard to generalize. the more classic timeshare style tends to be more spacious, much cheaper per square foot, and have a different amenity set. Also you tend to be limited to where you own, and you have to pay for the timeshare every year, whether not not you use it.

Because the limitation of where you can vacation with classic timeshares, various "fixes" have been implemented to provide more flexibility. The first was the exchange corporations, such as II and RCI. The big systems themselves got into providing more flexibility, with selling "season" period timeshares, and later with points systems. This was done to help sell the timeshares, by getting more people to buy a more "hotel" like property. Each system is a unique entity, with different rules and advantages. And different prices. . .

You mentioned the Marriott points system in passing. There is competition for high demand periods, just as much as classic timeshares. There are only so many rooms, and so much demand. Marriott rations by price. Let me give you a comparison.

A typical summer 2 bedroom Marriott Hawaii timeshare week runs around 6,000 points. (Some a little more some a little less.) Peak weeks (New years, for example), can run upward of 9,000 points. What does that cost on a daily basis? Well. . . with MFs at 57 cents a point, that would be $3420, or for 7 night $488 a night. For New Year's, that would be $5130, or $732 a night. (Or so, depending on view). That is how Marriott deals with high demand weeks, by charging more points to reduce the demand.

On the other hand, I own at Bay Club (Big Island) My current MF are around $1650 a week, or $235 a day. But I don't have ocean front, ocean view, or super fancy swimming pool. And to get the weeks I want, I have to plan a year (or more) in advance. (And I can't book New Year's or Christmas at all . . .) I value price over short term flexibility or fancy amenities. That's a personal choice and no one is required to make the same choices.

 

[csodjd]

I'd add one more TS characteristic. It creates something of a sense of obligation to take that vacation. It's a bit like when you belong to a gym. If you have an appointment with a trainer you're probably a lot more likely to go than if you just have to self-motivate to go. When you own a TS, you tend to feel committed to use it, and that's a good thing I think. It helps ensure you will take vacations.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Thanks @csodjd and @alwysonvac for the helpful photos.

Good to know that the studios do not have a lanai. Is there a reservation code to book the studio in the Penthouse?

@GT75 A suggestion: IMHO...it would be helpful to add these photos indexed to descriptions about the property in the stickys so people can find these and don't have to repeat asking about this info. I know there are some indexed already and find them very helpful.

 

[Tamaradarann]

Thanks @csodjd and @alwysonvac for the helpful photos.

Good to know that the studios do not have a lanai. Is there a reservation code to book the studio in the Penthouse?

@GT75 A suggestion: IMHO...it would be helpful to index posts with room photos to descriptions about the property in the stickys so people can find these and don't have to repeat asking about this info.

In the Lagoon Tower the only studio's that have Lanai's are the Penthouse Studios which are Studio Premiers. The Regular Studios and Studio Pluses don't have Lanai's. I believe that the Kalia Tower Studios, the only other Studios in the Hilton Hawaiian Village do have Lanai's.

 

[Vkothari916]

What do you value? That is the most important question.

Price? Flexibility? Location? Size? Amenities? Availability? Depending on what you value among these questions, those values describe the best fit for your needs.

Hotels are the most flexible. No buy-in required, lots of choice for availability, easier to reserve closer to usage. Drawback. Highest price per square foot, smallest place to stay. Hotels tend to have a particular amenity set.

Timeshares cover a large range currently, so it is hard to generalize. the more classic timeshare style tends to be more spacious, much cheaper per square foot, and have a different amenity set. Also you tend to be limited to where you own, and you have to pay for the timeshare every year, whether not not you use it.

Because the limitation of where you can vacation with classic timeshares, various "fixes" have been implemented to provide more flexibility. The first was the exchange corporations, such as II and RCI. The big systems themselves got into providing more flexibility, with selling "season" period timeshares, and later with points systems. This was done to help sell the timeshares, by getting more people to buy a more "hotel" like property. Each system is a unique entity, with different rules and advantages. And different prices. . .

You mentioned the Marriott points system in passing. There is competition for high demand periods, just as much as classic timeshares. There are only so many rooms, and so much demand. Marriott rations by price. Let me give you a comparison.

A typical summer 2 bedroom Marriott Hawaii timeshare week runs around 6,000 points. (Some a little more some a little less.) Peak weeks (New years, for example), can run upward of 9,000 points. What does that cost on a daily basis? Well. . . with MFs at 57 cents a point, that would be $3420, or for 7 night $488 a night. For New Year's, that would be $5130, or $732 a night. (Or so, depending on view). That is how Marriott deals with high demand weeks, by charging more points to reduce the demand.

On the other hand, I own at Bay Club (Big Island) My current MF are around $1650 a week, or $235 a day. But I don't have ocean front, ocean view, or super fancy swimming pool. And to get the weeks I want, I have to plan a year (or more) in advance. (And I can't book New Year's or Christmas at all . . .) I value price over short term flexibility or fancy amenities. That's a personal choice and no one is required to make the same choices.

That Marriott comparison was helpful. Thanks