Maui Ocean Club - help me understand the differences?

[Gemini Chica]

I am looking at Maui, and I see Maui ocean club, Molokai, Lahina towers etc and just no clue about it all, I guess once been once it all becomes clear, just looking on Redweek for example you can search under several for Maui. Can some explain to me simply how it works? TIA

 

[jwalk03]

Maui Ocean Club is an older hotel that was converted to timeshare units. These units do not have a full kitchen.

Lahaina & Napili Towers towers were the purpose built timeshare units at the same site that do have full kitchens.

 

[Fasttr]

Maui Ocean Club is an older hotel that was converted to timeshare units. These units do not have a full kitchen.

Molokai & Lahina towers were the purpose built timeshare units at the same site that do have full kitchens.

Lahaina & Napili Towers are the purpose built ones.

 

[alwysonvac]

From the resort sticky thread

Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club
► MOC and Sequel View Categories and Floor Plans - Courtesy of iconnections.

 

[Gemini Chica]

From the resort sticky thread

Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club
► MOC and Sequel View Categories and Floor Plans - Courtesy of iconnections.

thank you!

 

[Gemini Chica]

So are are the new villas more popular/nicer than the original converted ones? Or all down to personal preference? Probably kitchen is a make or break factor.

 

[Fasttr]

Fill kitchen and clothes washer/dryer in villa are the big differences.

You do get an extra bathroom in the originals that were converted from hotel rooms. I believe the originals are getting a renovation to add a bit for functionality to the kitchen area.

 

[ljmiii]

So are are the new villas more popular/nicer than the original converted ones? Or all down to personal preference? Probably kitchen is a make or break factor.

For us the W/D in Lahaina and Napili is a much bigger deal than the difference in the kitchen - the kitchenette in the original towers is more than adequate to make breakfast, the occasional packed lunch, and late night snacks (which is really all we use it for). We own an OF MOC Sequel week (Lahaina and Napili) and over our three weeks at MOC have probably used the oven thrice. But we like to travel light and so pack only 4-ish days of clothes.

But some people prefer the three bathrooms of the original towers and others (who stay oceanfront) really like how close the OF rooms are to the waves. If I were to stay on points (and didn't have a bunch of extra points that I wanted to use) I think I would book sequel Island View - those villas are only in Napili and the vast majority have beautiful views of the West Maui mountains. Obviously, YMMV.

 

[jwalk03]

Lahaina & Napili Towers are the purpose built ones.

O yes, of course! I posted this too early in the morning before caffeine! lol

 

[Gemini Chica]

For us the W/D in Lahaina and Napili is a much bigger deal than the difference in the kitchen - the kitchenette in the original towers is more than adequate to make breakfast, the occasional packed lunch, and late night snacks (which is really all we use it for). We own an OF MOC Sequel week (Lahaina and Napili) and over our three weeks at MOC have probably used the oven thrice. But we like to travel light and so pack only 4-ish days of clothes.

But some people prefer the three bathrooms of the original towers and others (who stay oceanfront) really like how close the OF rooms are to the waves. If I were to stay on points (and didn't have a bunch of extra points that I wanted to use) I think I would book sequel Island View - those villas are only in Napili and the vast majority have beautiful views of the West Maui mountains. Obviously, YMMV.

So in ocean front the original ones are closer to the ocean?

 

[Fasttr]

So in ocean front the original ones are closer to the ocean?

In the Molokai wing (original) vs Napili (new), certainly yes....see link below.

Marriott's Maui Ocean Club - Molokai, Maui & Lanai Towers · Hawaii Tax ID # TA, 100 Nohea Kai Drive, 070 692-2496-02, Lahaina, HI 96761

âââââ · Hotel

www.google.com

 

[gln60]

So in ocean front the original ones are closer to the ocean?

Yesterday..I posted a few pics of an Ocean Front studio from the Molokai Tower in Marriot “view from the balcony” thread.

 

[Gemini Chica]

Yesterday..I posted a few pics of an Ocean Front studio from the Molokai Tower in Marriot “view from the balcony” thread.

I'll go have a look, thank you!

 

[Gemini Chica]

When booking with points is there anyway to know which tower you are booking for example Molokai I now know is nearer to the Ocean or it just depends on what you get? I guess if the unit is Ocean Front then more likely to be Molokai?

 

[ljmiii]

When booking with points is there anyway to know which tower you are booking for example Molokai I now know is nearer to the Ocean or it just depends on what you get? I guess if the unit is Ocean Front then more likely to be Molokai?

No. You get to pick original or sequel, but can be placed in any tower (subject to view category). So if you reserve original Oceanfront, you won't be in Maui because there are no OF rooms in Maui. But if you choose sequel, only OF is in both towers.

 

[gln60]

When booking with points is there anyway to know which tower you are booking for example Molokai I now know is nearer to the Ocean or it just depends on what you get? I guess if the unit is Ocean Front then more likely to be Molokai?

I booked that OF studio using Abound Points…I did request the Molokai Tower..I did chat with the room co ordinator 11 days before my son and wifes honeymoon arrival…the woman I spoke to was very nice…they loved the first floor corner unit and were able to hear the waves,sitting on the balcony in the evening.

 

[ljmiii]

I booked that OF studio using Abound Points…I did request the Molokai Tower..I did chat with the room co ordinator 11 days before my son and wifes honeymoon arrival…the woman I spoke to was very nice…they loved the first floor corner unit and were able to hear the waves,sitting on the balcony in the evening.

And for what it's worth, the three times we've used our MOC week as a week we've always been put into the tower we requested - twice Napili and once Lahaina. The MOC rooms control people are quite nice and do their best at what must all too often be a thankless job.

 

[JIMinNC]

As others have noted, the decision to book the original Molokai/Maui/Lanai towers or the purpose-built Lahaina/Napili towers is personal preference.

We own in the original towers but have stayed in the purpose-built Napili tower twice - in 2022 and 2023. After the 2022 Points stay in a 1BR OF Napili, my wife was a big fan of the newer towers and was a little down on the 2BR OV EOY Original towers that we owned - mainly thanks to the washer/dryer and full kitchen in the purpose-built towers.

For 2023, we booked our owned 2BR OV unit in the original towers, but added a second week using Points for a 1BR OF that wound up again being in Napili. That trip would be unique in that we would be staying in the original section for week one and then the newer section for week two, offering us an immediate and direct comparison. Prior to the trip, I was expecting one of the following outcomes:

1) My wife was going to say that from now on, we need to elect our 2BR OV Original Towers for Points and add some of our Trust points so we can book the newer towers every trip.

OR

2) She was going to suggest that we sell our 2BR OV Original and buy a 2BR OV or OF in the newer towers.

Much to my surprise, after the benefit of a back-to-back comparison, she came away liking our OV unit in the original section the best. Her reasons were:

• The original tower units seem bigger. The master bedroom in the newer towers is fairly small.
• The high floor views from original tower OV units (we've always been in Lanai tower) can be spectacular with the pool in the foreground, the ocean, and the island of Lanai. By comparison, the direct OF view in Napili was a little blah. I totally concur with this assessment.
• We don't really use the full kitchen in the new towers to any extent.
• While the washer/dryer is nice in the newer towers, for the first time on this trip she did a load of laundry in the community laundry on the first floor and said that was not a big negative.
• The original section's master bath will be getting a walk in shower with the major bath renovation scheduled to take place with the plumbing drain replacement project over the next couple of years, so that will improve that space for us and having the extra bathroom in the Original Towers was very nice for adults (We had friends traveling with us that first week who used the second bedroom/bath).
• The door configuration into the master bath area in the newer towers is choppy and not well designed, plus the big tub is a huge waste of space.
• The older towers have more lanai space, although we do like the larger table on the lanai in the newer buildings.

Also, the original towers require fewer points if booking through Abound.

You can't go wrong with either the original towers or the newer towers - it is Maui after all - but I just wanted to post this to offer an alternative perspective on the conventional wisdom that the newer towers are always superior.

 

[gln60]

And for what it's worth, the three times we've used our MOC week as a week we've always been put into the tower we requested - twice Napili and once Lahaina. The MOC rooms control people are quite nice and do their best at what must all too often be a thankless job.

i called the room control office 21 days before my sons arrival…a very nice associate explained to me that room assignments were made 11 days before arrival and that I should call back in 10 days..which I did.

 

[zentraveler]

As others have noted, the decision to book the original Molokai/Maui/Lanai towers or the purpose-built Lahaina/Napili towers is personal preference.

We own in the original towers but have stayed in the purpose-built Napili tower twice - in 2022 and 2023. After the 2022 Points stay in a 1BR OF Napili, my wife was a big fan of the newer towers and was a little down on the 2BR OV EOY that we owned - mainly thanks to the washer/dryer and full kitchen in the purpose-built towers.

For 2023, we booked our owned 2BR OV unit in the original towers, but added a second week using Points for a 1BR OF that wound up again being in Napili. That trip would be unique in that we would be staying in the original section for week one and then the newer section for week two, offering us an immediate and direct comparison. Prior to the trip, I was expecting one of the following outcomes:

1) My wife was going to say that from now on, we need to elect our 2BR OV Original Towers for Points and add some of our Trust points so we can book the newer towers every trip.

OR

2) She was going to suggest that we sell our 2BR OV Original and buy a 2BR OV or OF in the newer towers.

Much to my surprise, after the benefit of a back-to-back comparison, she came away liking our OV unit in the original section the best. Her reasons were:

• The original tower units seem bigger. The master bedroom in the newer towers is fairly small.
• The high floor views from original tower OV units (we've always been in Lanai tower) can be spectacular with the pool in the foreground, the ocean, and the island of Lanai. By comparison, the direct OF view in Napili was a little blah. I totally concur with this assessment.
• We don't really use the full kitchen in the new towers to any extent.
• While the washer/dryer is nice in the newer towers, for the first time on this trip she did a load of laundry in the community laundry on the first floor and said that was not a big negative.
• The original section's master bath will be getting a walk in shower with the major bath renovation scheduled to take place with the plumbing drain replacement project over the next couple of years, so that will improve that space for us and having the extra bathroom in the Original Towers was very nice for adults (We had friends traveling with us that first week who used the second bedroom/bath).
• The door configuration into the master bath area in the newer towers is choppy and not well designed, plus the big tub is a huge waste of space.
• The older towers have more lanai space, although we do like the larger table on the lanai in the newer buildings.

Also, the original towers require fewer points if booking through Abound.

You can't go wrong with either the original towers or the newer towers - it is Maui after all - but I just wanted to post this to offer an alternative perspective on the conventional wisdom that the newer towers are always superior.

FWIW, we also have liked the original towers. Kitchens are quite functional for what we need, the second bath is really nice to have and the units feel spacious. The laundry situation is fine for us; maybe once on a trip and a nice set up.

 

[MDteX]

We will be at MOC in 2 weeks. A 3BR OF in Napili/Lahaina and a 2BR OF in the Lanai/Molokai since we could not find one in the newer buildings. It will be interesting to compare. The last few years we've only stayed in Napili in a studio or 1BR. This time we are taking the family so we need more space. I think the in unit W/D will be helpful with a 3 year old and a 7 month old. Otherwise we have never needed one.
Hopefully I remember to post in "Views from the balcony".

 

[Gemini Chica]

No. You get to pick original or sequel, but can be placed in any tower (subject to view category). So if you reserve original Oceanfront, you won't be in Maui because there are no OF rooms in Maui. But if you choose sequel, only OF is in both towers.

What's sequel - The Napili & Lanai, so both of them only have OF?

 

[Gemini Chica]

We will be at MOC in 2 weeks. A 3BR OF in Napili/Lahaina and a 2BR OF in the Lanai/Molokai since we could not find one in the newer buildings. It will be interesting to compare. The last few years we've only stayed in Napili in a studio or 1BR. This time we are taking the family so we need more space. I think the in unit W/D will be helpful with a 3 year old and a 7 month old. Otherwise we have never needed one.
Hopefully I remember to post in "Views from the balcony".

Would be interesting to have your comparison! Have a brilliant time!

 

[Gemini Chica]

As others have noted, the decision to book the original Molokai/Maui/Lanai towers or the purpose-built Lahaina/Napili towers is personal preference.

We own in the original towers but have stayed in the purpose-built Napili tower twice - in 2022 and 2023. After the 2022 Points stay in a 1BR OF Napili, my wife was a big fan of the newer towers and was a little down on the 2BR OV EOY Original towers that we owned - mainly thanks to the washer/dryer and full kitchen in the purpose-built towers.

For 2023, we booked our owned 2BR OV unit in the original towers, but added a second week using Points for a 1BR OF that wound up again being in Napili. That trip would be unique in that we would be staying in the original section for week one and then the newer section for week two, offering us an immediate and direct comparison. Prior to the trip, I was expecting one of the following outcomes:

1) My wife was going to say that from now on, we need to elect our 2BR OV Original Towers for Points and add some of our Trust points so we can book the newer towers every trip.

OR

2) She was going to suggest that we sell our 2BR OV Original and buy a 2BR OV or OF in the newer towers.

Much to my surprise, after the benefit of a back-to-back comparison, she came away liking our OV unit in the original section the best. Her reasons were:

• The original tower units seem bigger. The master bedroom in the newer towers is fairly small.
• The high floor views from original tower OV units (we've always been in Lanai tower) can be spectacular with the pool in the foreground, the ocean, and the island of Lanai. By comparison, the direct OF view in Napili was a little blah. I totally concur with this assessment.
• We don't really use the full kitchen in the new towers to any extent.
• While the washer/dryer is nice in the newer towers, for the first time on this trip she did a load of laundry in the community laundry on the first floor and said that was not a big negative.
• The original section's master bath will be getting a walk in shower with the major bath renovation scheduled to take place with the plumbing drain replacement project over the next couple of years, so that will improve that space for us and having the extra bathroom in the Original Towers was very nice for adults (We had friends traveling with us that first week who used the second bedroom/bath).
• The door configuration into the master bath area in the newer towers is choppy and not well designed, plus the big tub is a huge waste of space.
• The older towers have more lanai space, although we do like the larger table on the lanai in the newer buildings.

Also, the original towers require fewer points if booking through Abound.

You can't go wrong with either the original towers or the newer towers - it is Maui after all - but I just wanted to post this to offer an alternative perspective on the conventional wisdom that the newer towers are always superior.

Thank you for such a detailed post, I think when travelling with family/kids I would prefer to have the full kitchen & laundry facilities but when just two of us that would not be so important!

 

[Gemini Chica]

I think this is why its so confusing for me, on Redweek they have 5 listings for it -
Is the first one for the original part? What's the difference between Villas & Towers for Lahaina & Napili?