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Ko Olina recommendation for bldg and unit

D

DMSTWO

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2008
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Heading to Ko Olina in a couple weeks. Would appreciate any recommendations for which bldg, unit to request.

We are Marriott Platinum Owners but trading in through II to a unit code HTOVI (2 bedrooms)

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. ;)
 
DMSTWO said:
Heading to Ko Olina in a couple weeks. Would appreciate any recommendations for which bldg, unit to request.

We are Marriott Platinum Owners but trading in through II to a unit code HTOVI (2 bedrooms)

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. ;)
Click to expand...
I would request a high floor ocean view unit in Naia Tower.
 
Your unit code is for an Island/Mountain View so I'd ask for Naia. If it's for a single entry it will be in (or should be) in Naia so you might luck out. Most exchangers end up in Moana though and not much higher than the 7th floor. You might get lucky.
 
Its a single entry so more likely than not it will be naia. Just try to get as high as possible but it will probably be no higher than 5th floor as exchangers. Seems like room control has been pretty strict with exchangers 5th floor and below and even if your exchange is coded ocean view, they can assign you a mountain view unit. Which mko says is their right as you are exchanging in and only room size is guaranteed on an interval exchange.
If you get anything better as an exchange consider it a bonus!
 
Thanks for the input

Appreciate the guidance, thx to all of you:wave:
 
frank808 said:
Its a single entry so more likely than not it will be naia. Just try to get as high as possible but it will probably be no higher than 5th floor as exchangers. Seems like room control has been pretty strict with exchangers 5th floor and below and even if your exchange is coded ocean view, they can assign you a mountain view unit. Which mko says is their right as you are exchanging in and only room size is guaranteed on an interval exchange.
If you get anything better as an exchange consider it a bonus!
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Click to expand...

We are Four Seasons Aviara owners who have traded into Ko Olina through II at least half a dozen times before and our trip to MKO 2/14 is the first time we have ever been "downgraded" (at any resort) from what we were given from II. We had a trade coded for ocean view studio from II and have been assigned a mountain view. Probably a bad move to have taken a trade for Presidents week that also included a w/e day Valentine's Day! I requested a high floor but we will see what we get and I am not hopeful given what seems to be happening with trades there these days.
 
We got back from MKO a week ago and stayed in a 1 br through an II trade. The unit was designated mountain view (HVMT), and we were fortunate to receive a 9th floor pool/ocean view in the Hale Kona building. The resort seemed like it had a high occupancy, so it was a nice surprise. We are owners at this resort and have MR Platinum status, so maybe that was a factor. We had a great stay as usual!
 
Southdown13 said:
We got back from MKO a week ago and stayed in a 1 br through an II trade. The unit was designated mountain view (HVMT), and we were fortunate to receive a 9th floor pool/ocean view in the Hale Kona building. The resort seemed like it had a high occupancy, so it was a nice surprise. We are owners at this resort and have MR Platinum status, so maybe that was a factor. We had a great stay as usual!
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I think that is the key - owners at the resort. There seem to be a high number of owners for this week and of course they should get priority. I will be thrilled if our mountain view is not of the parking lot, although I would have loved our original ocean view room :).
 
Ask for the south wing of the Naia tower and even if you get a mountain view, you will have views of the ocean. I have traded in several times and whenever my code shows single entry, I have asked for and have received the southern wing. Here is a picture of the view out of my "mountain view" single entry. Not bad.
 

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larue said:
Ask for the south wing of the Naia tower and even if you get a mountain view, you will have views of the ocean. I have traded in several times and whenever my code shows single entry, I have asked for and have received the southern wing. Here is a picture of the view out of my "mountain view" single entry. Not bad.
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I will give it a try larue. When I called back yesterday and asked which building we would be in she said it would not be assigned yet but was going to be Kona or Moana because "that is where the studios are". I know that is not the case and was hoping she would tell me that had at least put us in the Naia Tower to make up for our downgrade, but she was not very friendly so I let it go. Will call back and make a specific request for Naia. I had called to put in another request for a high floor so at least we would not be overlooking a parking lot. Would be thrilled for the unit/view in your picture!

Also larue, what does "code shows single entry" mean? Was this an II exchange? I only ever get one code ...?
 
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DMSTWO said:
Heading to Ko Olina in a couple weeks. Would appreciate any recommendations for which bldg, unit to request.

We are Marriott Platinum Owners but trading in through II to a unit code HTOVI (2 bedrooms)

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. ;)
Click to expand...

We too are heading to Ko Olina in a couple of weeks. However we got a notice from the resort asking about any request we may have. However, I thought it said in that they dont take requests for views if your trading in from II. Also the web page response page had no place for views. My experience from calling in the past for this resort is that it doesn't make any difference. I just decided to let it roll and not stress out on the view. Although our reservation is for an Ocean view.
 
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zentraveler said:
We are Four Seasons Aviara owners who have traded into Ko Olina through II at least half a dozen times before and our trip to MKO 2/14 is the first time we have ever been "downgraded" (at any resort) from what we were given from II. We had a trade coded for ocean view studio from II and have been assigned a mountain view.
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Not sure I understand what your saying. When you say downgraded do you mean that the unit your surrendered to trade was an ocean view and the new reservation for Ko Olina indicates mountain view? That I understand and when you trade with II you have no guarantees of any views. View catagories are ignored.

Is that what you meant?
 
zentraveler said:
I will give it a try larue. When I called back yesterday and asked which building we would be in she said it would not be assigned yet but was going to be Kona or Moana because "that is where the studios are". I know that is not the case and was hoping she would tell me that had at least put us in the Naia Tower to make up for our downgrade, but she was not very friendly so I let it go. Will call back and make a specific request for Naia. I had called to put in another request for a high floor so at least we would not be overlooking a parking lot. Would be thrilled for the unit/view in your picture!

Also larue, what does "code shows single entry" mean? Was this an II exchange? I only ever get one code ...?
Click to expand...

TOVI is the code for a single entry mountain view 2 bedroom unit at Ko Olina.

Most of the single entry units are in the Naia Tower, and as an interval exchange you will almost certainly get a mountain view even if your view code is for ocean view. If you specifically request the south wing of the Naia tower, all of the rooms other than the first couple of floors have views of the ocean and harbor to the south.

Ask for Makana at the room assignment department. He is very helpful and a great employee for Marriott.
 
zentraveler said:
I will give it a try larue. When I called back yesterday and asked which building we would be in she said it would not be assigned yet but was going to be Kona or Moana because "that is where the studios are". I know that is not the case and was hoping she would tell me that had at least put us in the Naia Tower to make up for our downgrade, but she was not very friendly so I let it go. Will call back and make a specific request for Naia. I had called to put in another request for a high floor so at least we would not be overlooking a parking lot. Would be thrilled for the unit/view in your picture!

Also larue, what does "code shows single entry" mean? Was this an II exchange? I only ever get one code ...?
Click to expand...

Are there any Studios in Naia (other than off of 3BR units) or are all of the 2BR units dedicated? I thought there were some Studios in Naia, can anyone confirm?

When we go in March, we have a PH unit that we were going to request Naia, but we've also trade for a Studio for friends and I'd hoped we would all be in the same building. That may not be possible. Please comment and thanks!

Best,

Greg
 
zentraveler said:
I will give it a try larue. When I called back yesterday and asked which building we would be in she said it would not be assigned yet but was going to be Kona or Moana because "that is where the studios are". I know that is not the case and was hoping she would tell me that had at least put us in the Naia Tower to make up for our downgrade, but she was not very friendly so I let it go. Will call back and make a specific request for Naia. I had called to put in another request for a high floor so at least we would not be overlooking a parking lot. Would be thrilled for the unit/view in your picture!

Also larue, what does "code shows single entry" mean? Was this an II exchange? I only ever get one code ...?
Click to expand...

This is confusing, as your code HTOVI shows that you have a 2 bedroom unit. Have they put you in a studio when you traded to a 2 bedroom?
 
cp73 said:
We too are heading to Ko Olina in a couple of weeks. However we got a notice from the resort asking about any request we may have. However, I thought it said in that they dont take requests for views if your trading in from II. Also the web page response page had no place for views. My experience from calling in the past for this resort is that it doesn't make any difference. I just decided to let it roll and not stress out on the view. Although our reservation is for an Ocean view.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

We have traded into MKO through II (Four Seasons owners) many times and in the past there has always been a spot on the pre-arrival form to prioritize either building or high/low floor. And we have always done very well - gotten the view that II gave us and whatever we requested from MKO via the form or a phone call. This year they are apparently flooded with Marriott owners so the II trades are mostly going to be given mountain views on low floors, or at least that is what I have been told. And I know we have already been downgraded to mountain view. Trying to do what I can to at least get a high floor. Our week may be especially bad with Valentine's Day and President's holiday so YMMV.
 
GregT said:
Are there any Studios in Naia (other than off of 3BR units) or are all of the 2BR units dedicated? I thought there were some Studios in Naia, can anyone confirm?

When we go in March, we have a PH unit that we were going to request Naia, but we've also trade for a Studio for friends and I'd hoped we would all be in the same building. That may not be possible. Please comment and thanks!

Best,

Greg
Click to expand...

There are a handful of both ocean view and mountain view lock off units in the Naia Tower. They are very limited so they are hard to get.
 
zentraveler said:
I will give it a try larue. When I called back yesterday and asked which building we would be in she said it would not be assigned yet but was going to be Kona or Moana because "that is where the studios are". I know that is not the case and was hoping she would tell me that had at least put us in the Naia Tower to make up for our downgrade, but she was not very friendly so I let it go. Will call back and make a specific request for Naia. I had called to put in another request for a high floor so at least we would not be overlooking a parking lot. Would be thrilled for the unit/view in your picture!

Also larue, what does "code shows single entry" mean? Was this an II exchange? I only ever get one code ...?
Click to expand...

Sorry, just realized that you are not the original poster. If you have a studio, there are a handful of ocean view and mountain view lock off units in the Naia Tower. They are limited in supply so hard to get, so it will be pretty hard to get one.

Try calling Makana.

Makana Contrades
Customer Service Specialist
Toll-Free: 877-229-4482
 
GregT said:
Are there any Studios in Naia (other than off of 3BR units) or are all of the 2BR units dedicated? I thought there were some Studios in Naia, can anyone confirm?

When we go in March, we have a PH unit that we were going to request Naia, but we've also trade for a Studio for friends and I'd hoped we would all be in the same building. That may not be possible. Please comment and thanks!

Best,

Greg
Click to expand...




Greg; Yes, there are studios in Naia, but they are few and far between. As other posters have said, most units in Hale Naia are dedicated two bedroom villas.

When we were there we had friends stay also. We stayed in Hale Naia on the 11th floor, and they were placed into a studio on the 8th floor of Naia.

In any event, be sure not to be placed on the 3rd floor of Naia as one of their corridors runs from the from the front entrance (where the valet parking is located) to the bank of elevators. I can tell you that the hallway traffic is constant and must be annoying to anyone staying on that floor in that location.

Enjoy your trip!



.
 
GregT said:
Are there any Studios in Naia (other than off of 3BR units) or are all of the 2BR units dedicated? I thought there were some Studios in Naia, can anyone confirm?
Click to expand...

There are some studio units in Naia. We stayed in a 2 br lockoff unit in this building a few years ago.
 
cp73 said:
How do you know this? Did they change your reservation code from the resort?
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Yes. Our II confirmation had the code for ocean view and the resort gave us mountain view. There are disclaimers all over the place at Marriott (and presumably other resorts as well) that it is their discretion to assign the units. I think they try to use the villa type that II assigns and in 17 years of trading this is the first time it has happened that we have been "downgraded".

And larue, thanks for the Makana contact. Always helps to have some specific person to call. And about the studio, no we traded a studio and got a studio.
 
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I in believe there are 2 ocean lockoffs and 2 mountain lockoffs in naia tower per floor. Or 2 ocean lockoffs and 1 miuntain lockoff per floor in naia. Not very many for sure.
 
Thank you all for your responses.

Assuming Naia is a low probability because of few lock-offs, and my desire to have the Studio be in the same building as the Penthouse unit, can Ko Olina visitors comment on the relative desirability of Hale Moana versus Hale Kona?

I've always assumed I would prefer Hale Kona because of the many palm trees that Moana overlooks. But in a Penthouse, I would think you are high enough to not be impacted, in which case the direct ocean view might be preferable to the angled view.

This is truly a first world problem.

Can anyone comment on the Penthouse views from Kona vs. Moana? And any other intangible benefits/disadvantages to the two buildings? We would grill alot, which is the other thing that comes to mind.

Thanks very much!

Best,

Greg
 
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