Maui Ocean Club - Island View questions

[klpca]

After much back and forth about meeting my daughter in Auckland, she has decided to meet me in Hawaii instead. Logistically, it is so much better. I will be flying to Hawaii a week early and meeting her there.

I went online last night and booked the only week available with the check in date needed - a one bedroom at Maui Ocean Club - MMO. Perfect. The unit code indicates an Island View. From what I have read these are the rooms on the back side of the Maui wing facing the golf course (fine) but having a glassed in balcony (hmmm not so sure about that). Can anyone offer me their experience with that room? I have visions of the balcony being hot and steamy, but perhaps it's not as bad as that? It probably isn't that big of a deal as we usually spend most of our time outside the room, but I am trying to adjust my expectations. At any rate, I will be so excited to get to spend the week with my daughter that I probably won't care at all!

Any first hand experience would be greatly appreciated. Btw, I am going to add e-plus to try to get a unit in the newer units with the in-unit w/d (she will be coming to Hawaii after spending 2.5 months traveling through Europe, Australia, and NZ) - so things may change.

 

[taffy19]

I have never heard of that. If I were in your shoes, I would call the front desk and ask them where it is and what it is like. They are pretty helpful at the front desk and they have no idea if you are a future hotel guest or an exchanger.

808-667-1200

 

[MOXJO7282]

The unit code indicates an Island View. From what I have read these are the rooms on the back side of the Maui wing facing the golf course (fine) but having a glassed in balcony (hmmm not so sure about that). Can anyone offer me their experience with that room? I have visions of the balcony being hot and steamy, but perhaps it's not as bad as that? It probably isn't that big of a deal as we usually spend most of our time outside the room, but I am trying to adjust my expectations. At any rate, I will be so excited to get to spend the week with my daughter that I probably won't care at all!

Any first hand experience would be greatly appreciated. Btw, I am going to add e-plus to try to get a unit in the newer units with the in-unit w/d (she will be coming to Hawaii after spending 2.5 months traveling through Europe, Australia, and NZ) - so things may change.

Never heard of a enclosed balcony so don't think that is accurate. Some IV units will actually be on the front side but very low like floors 1 and 2. Some will be very conveniently located by the pool.

 

[klpca]

I just called them and they confirmed that some of the island view rooms have sliding doors on the balcony which you "can choose to close". (Lol - it's a feature!). Here's a link to the page on Marriott's website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/photo-tours.mi?marshaCode=hnmmh&pageID=HWGRD_SUITES&imageID=3

It seems positive that no one has had one of these units. Maybe there aren't a lot of them. I'm pretty low maintenance, but I like having some fresh air in the room. Oh well, if I wind up in one of these I'll just run the a/c for the week - unless I am out by the pool or having a mai tai!

 

[MOXJO7282]

Looking at the picture if that is the room I think you'll love because it looks like it has a killer mountain view.

 

[klpca]

Looking at the picture if that is the room I think you'll love because it looks like it has a killer mountain view.

I agree - it's a lovely view. I'll be fine no matter what.

 

[BocaBoy]

I just called them and they confirmed that some of the island view rooms have sliding doors on the balcony which you "can choose to close".

It seems positive that no one has had one of these units. Maybe there aren't a lot of them. I'm pretty low maintenance, but I like having some fresh air in the room. Oh well, if I wind up in one of these I'll just run the a/c for the week - unless I am out by the pool or having a mai tai!

Or you can just choose to not close the sliding doors on the balcony (the "lanai" in Hawaiian terms). These are different from the doors between the unit and the lanai. And as you suspected, there are not a lot of these units.

 

[klpca]

Or you can just choose to not close the sliding doors on the balcony (the "lanai" in Hawaiian terms). These are different from the doors between the unit and the lanai. And as you suspected, there are not a lot of these units.

Lol - I knew the lanai vs balcony usage would come up - I went with the terminology used by Marriott. It's all good.

Have you stayed in one of those rooms? Do they get much air circulation with the windows open? They seem like they would be pretty stuffy even with them open.

 

[BocaBoy]

Lol - I knew the lanai vs balcony usage would come up - I went with the terminology used by Marriott. It's all good.

Have you stayed in one of those rooms? Do they get much air circulation with the windows open? They seem like they would be pretty stuffy even with them open.

No, I have never been in one of them. I have only stayed in ocean view and ocean front units at MOC.

 

[klpca]

No, I have never been in one of them. I have only stayed in ocean view and ocean front units at MOC.

I'll be the guinea pig!

FYI - I called back to see if all of the Island View units have enclosed balconies (lanai's) and the answer from the room assigner was that they have recently enclosed all of the balconies to abate the noise, as these units are near the receiving area. So for future reference, all Island Views in the original phase are on the back of the Maui building and all of the balconies are enclosed, but there are sliding doors that open to allow for ventilation. Also, all of these rooms face the golf course and the mountains. They are quite a ways away from Honoapi'ilani Highway, much farther than the units at WKORV.

The unit code is ISVW

 

[taffy19]

I wonder if there may be a second reason too. When we were staying at the very last unit on the top floor in the Molokai tower, we had a wrap around balcony and a window on the side of the living room as well as facing the ocean.

It was a super nice location but there were a few times that the trade winds were so strong that we were afraid that the window was going to break on the side as the glass as well as the window frame were making a noise and even moving too.

We had to close all our windows and lanai doors completely so that the drapes wouldn't fly all over the place. I wonder if some windows may have broken? The trade winds seem to come over that mountain or whip around the building.

You should see the sun rise over the top so very nice and we could see the sunset too but not the sun sinking in the ocean but we saw the beautiful sky and clouds over the ocean.

 

[klpca]

I wonder if there may be a second reason too. When we were staying at the very last unit on the top floor in the Molokai tower, we had a wrap around balcony and a window on the side of the living room as well as facing the ocean.

It was a super nice location but there were a few times that the trade winds were so strong that we were afraid that the window was going to break on the side as the glass as well as the window frame were making a noise and even moving too.

We had to close all our windows and lanai doors completely so that the drapes wouldn't fly all over the place. I wonder if some windows may have broken? The trade winds seem to come over that mountain or whip around the building.

You should see the sun rise over the top so very nice and we could see the sunset too but not the sun sinking in the ocean but we saw the beautiful sky and clouds over the ocean.

Good point about the wind - and the sunrises! I'm fine with it - I'm going to be in Hawaii after all, and seeing my daughter for the first time in almost 3 months.

 

[DanaTom]

Last year we traded into three rooms at MOC for a group of us. OV, MV and IV rooms... The resort is very nice, the rooms are nice and the location is perfect. While the IV rooms don't have very good views, our guests were not unhappy at all. The noise from the delivery/receiving area was there at times, but it is not all the time and I don't recall any complaints from our guests about noise in the evenings.

You have the right attitude and I think you will enjoy the resort.

 

[NJMOM2]

From he Marriott link to island view lanai:

The sliding glass door opens to an enclosed balcony with sliding glass windows you can open as desired

Therefore even though the lanai is enclosed in glass you can still open the windows to get fresh air.