Oahu options

[fernow]

The facts: 3 families. 6 adults and 5 kids ( 5 - 12 yrs old). Multiple prior successful trips to the Big Island. My wife and I have been to Lagoon Tower but none of the other Oahu HGVC options. Have plenty of points ( Vegas)

The plan: Grandpa (me) wants to take everyone to Oahu to visit Pearl ( I’m former Navy) and do the Oahu stuff like surf Waikiki, hike Diamond Head, drive around the North side, etc. Want to book two 2 bdrm units. Dates flexible.

The question: Seeking advice on best tower and time of year where booking two units 9 months in advance has the highest chance of success. Understand GW can’t assure two beds in second bdrm. True? If so, that won’t work. Lagoon doesn’t have in-room washer dryer as I recall ( not optimal, but not a dealbreaker.). And I basically know nothing about the Grand Islander. The Kalia Tower as I understand it, only has one bedroom units so that is out.

Love to hear your thoughts and advice.

 

[h2oflyboy]

The GI is the newest building has its own pool, free cabanas, but the balconies are small and the balcony furniture uncomfortable. Oh…the elevators are not user friendly and often inputted with wrong floors.

Savingwise - the LT, but stay away from rooms near the elevator. If you can, the best room in the HHV is the lagoon front 2 bedroom.

I love the GW, rooms, views, elevators, and balconies with incredibly comfortable furniture. Shortest walk to groceries, Goofy’s, and Korean doughnuts.

 

[ljmiii]

The question: Seeking advice on best tower and time of year where booking two units 9 months in advance has the highest chance of success. Understand GW can’t assure two beds in second bdrm. True? If so, that won’t work. Lagoon doesn’t have in-room washer dryer as I recall ( not optimal, but not a dealbreaker.). And I basically know nothing about the Grand Islander. The Kalia Tower as I understand it, only has one bedroom units so that is out.

The only 2BRs at HHV that assure two beds in the second bedroom are the Lagoon Tower 2BX (aka Oceanfront or Premier) and the GI Penthouses. The Lagoon 2BXs are extremely difficult to book as Club reservations because of their low point cost/value (most owners use or rent them as we do) and the GI 2BR Penthouses are both quite expensive and quirkily difficult to book as you never know when fixed week owners will decide to use or rent them instead of relinquishing their week for points.

So my first piece of advice would be to rethink your people/unit allocation so that two beds in the second bedrooms aren't absolutely, positively necessary.

That said...we love Lagoon and own OF there.

We stayed in GI once for a shorter stay and found the unit annoyingly cramped. Plus the ventless dryer half of the W/D didn't really work. We also found the private pool to be too cold to use (in February)...but the adjacent large hot tub was quite nice. BTW, GI's Club Reservation booking window is 186 days not 276.

 

[Hoodwink]

Though it might not be optimal with children and the start of the school year, I've always found the week after Labor Day is usually pretty quiet (relatively speaking) at the HHV. There seems to be a descent amount of availability from then until the end of September.

Lagoon tower (as mentioned) is a good choice, but it's really difficult to get the room you want. There isn't laundry in room, but there is a laundry room near the elevators on each floor. I would throw a load or two in when I got up in the morning and have it back in my room and folded before heading out for the day. I think I might have seen someone else using a machine once during that time. One thing that I don't like about the Lagoon is that it is the loudest of the towers I've stayed at. Especially if you are on a lower floor. I was on the 4th floor once, on the pool side and it sounded like I was sitting next to the pool. If you are lucky enough to be able to get into the penthouse rooms, I don't think the noise would be a problem. Also, If I remember correct the 2 and 3 bedroom penthouses are the same point value (2 br is "ocean front", so more points) so that could eliminate the 2 bed second bedroom problem. It might be difficult to book two though, they go quick.

Between GI And GW, I think the GW has bigger rooms, but seems more dated to me. I was lucky enough to get a 2 bedroom GI penthouse once. It was resort view but still had an amazing city and ocean view. Lots of points though for the week. The shorter booking window on the GI can be problematic. If you are banking on availability there, you are basically committing to the GI then waiting and hoping that you can get what you want. I didn't have a problem with the GI elevators. You scan your room key and the screen will pop up which elevator to get on. You just have to pay attention and get on the right elevator. From what I remember of the GI pool is that is was cold and the wind really blew through that area. We ended up at other pools in the complex. I've stayed in the GW a few times and the rooms have always felt comfortable. Unfortunately I can't comment on the availability of 2 beds in the second bedroom. It's just the wife and I so we don't look at 2 bedrooms.

Just a few minor side notes about Pearl Harbor. They have a no bag policy, so look into that an plan accordingly. If you want to go to the Arizona memorial, know that you need to reserve tickets in advance, otherwise you are put into a standby line and as there is availability they will filter you in. Could be a long wait though. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum wasn't really worth going to for me, but absolutely the Missouri was.

 

[Wolfepack88]

The facts: 3 families. 6 adults and 5 kids ( 5 - 12 yrs old). Multiple prior successful trips to the Big Island. My wife and I have been to Lagoon Tower but none of the other Oahu HGVC options. Have plenty of points ( Vegas)

The plan: Grandpa (me) wants to take everyone to Oahu to visit Pearl ( I’m former Navy) and do the Oahu stuff like surf Waikiki, hike Diamond Head, drive around the North side, etc. Want to book two 2 bdrm units. Dates flexible.

The question: Seeking advice on best tower and time of year where booking two units 9 months in advance has the highest chance of success. Understand GW can’t assure two beds in second bdrm. True? If so, that won’t work. Lagoon doesn’t have in-room washer dryer as I recall ( not optimal, but not a dealbreaker.). And I basically know nothing about the Grand Islander. The Kalia Tower as I understand it, only has one bedroom units so that is out.

Love to hear your thoughts and advice.

I own (in the process of selling) a 3BR Grand Islander Ocean View Penthouse and I am headed their for trip this coming Friday. I will take pictures of a 2BR Penthouse for you. Grand Islander to me has modern decor and the penthouses have excellent room and amenities. The 3BR has two rooms with Kings and 1 BR with two queens or double beds. never thought about if they are queens or doubles. Plus the units have sleeper couches. The 2BR penthouse has king and then two queens/doubles. I will confirm if they are doubles or queens. Grand Islander penthouse has its own check in at the lounge. The loung serves a nice morning buffet of fruits, pastries including some excellent large muffins (my kids like th chocolate chip ones) and the fresh coffee and juices. You used ot be able to fill up your japanes tea tray and take it all back to your room. COVID hit and then they heavily discounted the hotels and people that stayed in some of the penthouses ruined by taking advantage and taking all of the soda's out of the refrigerator and being selfish and taking all the fruit, etc instead of being reasonable so now you have to sit and eat in the lounge. It was awesome that you could get some muffins, fruit, toast coffees, etc and bring it up to the family without everyone feeling they need to doll up to go eat. HUGE BENEFIT LOSS. The do an evening offering of hors d'oeuvres type items as well.

 

[letsgobobby]

The only 2BRs at HHV that assure two beds in the second bedroom are the Lagoon Tower 2BX (aka Oceanfront or Premier) and the GI Penthouses. The Lagoon 2BXs are extremely difficult to book as Club reservations because of their low point cost/value (most owners use or rent them as we do) and the GI 2BR Penthouses are both quite expensive and quirkily difficult to book as you never know when fixed week owners will decide to use or rent them instead of relinquishing their week for points.

So my first piece of advice would be to rethink your people/unit allocation so that two beds in the second bedrooms aren't absolutely, positively necessary.

That said...we love Lagoon and own OF there.

We stayed in GI once for a shorter stay and found the unit annoyingly cramped. Plus the ventless dryer half of the W/D didn't really work. We also found the private pool to be too cold to use (in February)...but the adjacent large hot tub was quite nice. BTW, GI's Club Reservation booking window is 186 days not 276.

the room descriptions for

2BR says "two twin beds or two double beds"

and

2BP says "two twin beds or two double beds"

and

2LX says "two twin or double beds"

 

[ljmiii]

the room descriptions for

2BR says "two twin beds or two double beds" and 2BP says "two twin beds or two double beds" and 2LX says "two twin or double beds"

You are of course, correct. As I paged through the room descriptions my mind misread some of the two twin or YYY choices as king instead of some being king and some being two doubles. At Lagoon it's only in the 2BR Lock-offs (2RL or 2PL) at that you run the risk of getting a King bed instead of two twins or two doubles.