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Kauai Newbie Questions

weh8625

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We are looking to buy our first timeshare in March. We love going to Kauai and would like to buy there. It seems like trading values are high, and we would be happy going there every year if we don't trade.

1. Are there any resorts you would recommend buying or not buying?

2. Is Ebay the cheapest place to buy a resale?

3. Is there a reason certain resorts keep popping up on Ebay?

4. How hard is it to find a 2 bedroom, it seems like there are a lot of 1 bedroom and studio units.

Thanks for your help.
 

aliikai2

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Before I can really answer your questions

I need to know what you expect from your resort.

Do you want/need the 5* type accommodations?

Do you want to be ocean front?

Do you have a planned budget for this purchase?

Are you looking for just 1 week per year?

Let me know. Greg

We are looking to buy our first timeshare in March. We love going to Kauai and would like to buy there. It seems like trading values are high, and we would be happy going there every year if we don't trade.

1. Are there any resorts you would recommend buying or not buying?

2. Is Ebay the cheapest place to buy a resale?

3. Is there a reason certain resorts keep popping up on Ebay?

4. How hard is it to find a 2 bedroom, it seems like there are a lot of 1 bedroom and studio units.

Thanks for your help.
 

weh8625

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Answers

Greg,
Thanks for the quick response, please see my answers below:

Do you want/need the 5* type accommodations?
Of course I would like 5*, but I'm probably not willing to pay for it. If you are familiar, we have stayed at Nihi Kai the past two times and were happy with that. I just need a comfortable bed, a working kitchen, and the basics.

Do you want to be ocean front?
I want to be walking distance to the beach. Ocean view would be a bonus.

Do you have a planned budget for this purchase?
Based on what I have seen listed (very limited knowledge) I would like to bring $5K or less to closing, with maintenance fees of $1500 or less. Is that realistic? As we spend more time timesharing we may want to upgrade over time.

Are you looking for just 1 week per year?
Yes.
 

aliikai2

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Greg,
Thanks for the quick response, please see my answers below:

Do you want/need the 5* type accommodations?
Of course I would like 5*, but I'm probably not willing to pay for it. If you are familiar, we have stayed at Nihi Kai the past two times and were happy with that. I just need a comfortable bed, a working kitchen, and the basics.
OK, that opens up several resorts in Poipu and Kapaa. The Lawai Beach, Kappa Shores, Pono Kai , Poipu at The Point , Banyon Harbor, Wyndam Kauai Beach Villas, the SHell program and the WM and VI program.
Do you want to be ocean front?
I want to be walking distance to the beach. Ocean view would be a bonus.

Do you have a planned budget for this purchase?
Based on what I have seen listed (very limited knowledge) I would like to bring $5K or less to closing, with maintenance fees of $1500 or less. Is that realistic? As we spend more time timesharing we may want to upgrade over time.

Great time to be picking up a bargain, all of these except maybe an OF Poipu at the Point, can be purchased for under your 5k, the Shell resort and the Poipu at the Point have annual fees very close to your $1500, the rest are all around $800-1000.
The only area you eliminated is the Princeville area, they are all up on a bluff, no real walking distance to any beaches.
Are you looking for just 1 week per year?
Yes.

Ebay is the best place to find a great bargain. It is a buyers market, enjoy.

Greg
 
Last edited:

Bill4728

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There are a few of old "PAHIO" resorts (now Wyndham) which could fit your plans. They is just one word of caution. The guy who sold Pahio to Wyndham has been telling stories to the closing companies in Hawaii. He has been telling them that he has ROFR on several PAHIO weeks which he doesn't have. So you need to find a title company which will require him to prove his claim of ROFR, otherwise he'll steal the week from you with his false claim of ROFR.

There are several threads here on the subject. Take a look.
 

weh8625

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Thanks

Greg and Bill thanks for your help.

I can't wait to sip something frozen and fruity next year...
 

alanraycole

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There is one correction to what has been posted.

There is one resort in Princeville from which you can walk to the beach. Hanalei Bay Resort sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean with the best view of any resort. I have seen units that have sold for under 5K, although it is very rare. There is a paved path down the bluff to the beach. You can make it in just a few minutes. If you prefer, you can call for a ride up and down the path on a golf cart (The ride is free as far as I know... I have never used it because the walk short and is beautiful and offers good exercise.).
 

DeniseM

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Welcome to TUG! :hi:

TUG has extensive reviews of the Kauai Resorts but you have to be a member to access them. You can join here. There are several instant options to join, but if you use Paypal a human being actually has to process it, so the other options are faster. After you join, you will be sent a specific code to add to your profile to change your status from guest to member.

I would take my time and do my homework. It's a buyers market right now and there are some tremendous deals out there, and with maintenance fees coming due the next 2 months, I think we will see even more. Personally, I just bought an ocean front unit on Kauai on ebay yesterday, for $98 total - INCLUDING CLOSING! :eek:

If it were me, I would look for an ocean front unit. I definitely would not buy inland - if you're in Hawaii, don't you want to see the ocean?

One more thing about Kauai: The north end (Princeville) is lush and tropical, but it also gets more rain. The south end (Poipu) is not as lush, but gets more sunshine & less rain. Some people love one, some the other.

You will pay top dollar for the Marriott and the Westin, but there are many other mid-level resorts that you can buy for less than $1,000.

Look at the maintenance fees - they are HIGH in Hawaii.

Ask a lot of questions and when you find resorts you are interested in use the search function "Search This Forum" to search through the old posts, and the TUG reviews.

Good luck!
 

weh8625

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Thanks

Denise,
Thanks for the post.
I have joined Tug and am enjoying the content.

Do you or someone else know when MF bills go out and
due dates for some of the middle of the road Kauai resorts?

In other words, when will people be deciding not to keep their
interval and trying to sell? Now?
 

DeniseM

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Denise,
Thanks for the post.
I have joined Tug and am enjoying the content.

Do you or someone else know when MF bills go out and
due dates for some of the middle of the road Kauai resorts?

In other words, when will people be deciding not to keep their
interval and trying to sell? Now?

It varies, but most resorts send their bills out in December.

Congrats on becoming a TUG member! I see that you are still listed as a guest. You should have received a code to put in your user profile to change your status to member. Let me know if you need help with that.
 

Mimi

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weh8625, We own 2 units at Pono Kai (1br) purchased on eBay. We like Pono Kai for several reasons. It is not luxurious, but it is comfortable. The staff is friendly and helpful. MF's are reasonable, especially for Hawaii accommodations. Pono Kai units are floating, so you can reserve the week you want and if you reserve early, you can snag an oceanfront unit which are located in Buildings A, B, C or D. Oceanview units can also be found in Buildings E, F, and G. Situated in Kapaa, you are centrally located with a short drive to the northern Princeville area or south to Poipu. Kauai is my favorite island in Hawaii. :banana:
 
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