Ocean Tower Waikoloa Village - Renovated Room Review

[Tyrael-36]

Good afternoon everyone. I just came back from a stay at Ocean Tower at Waikoloa Village (09/28 - 10/04). Here are my thoughts on the current status of the renovation and what the new rooms are like. First off, the rooms as a stand alone are fantastic. I stayed in a King Suite (Studio Resort View, STD) and everything was spacious and well designed. The bathroom has a very large walk-in shower and a fancy bidet toilet with heated seat and water. The kitchenette has a full-size fridge and freezer with an ice maker. The furnishings, floors, and paint are all fresh and new and fantastic. It will be nice when the rest of the hotel is complete.

Notes:
- The Palace Tower was under construction across the way. I did not hear any construction noise unless I was sitting on the lanai during the day.
- The Birds. I didn't expect the birds to be as noisy as they were. In the trees located in the far eastern section of the interior of the Ocean Tower lives a flock of birds that make noise into the late hours of the evening and early morning before they leave for the day. There is absolutely nothing the resort can do besides remove the trees, and I don't really want that to happen, so I can live with it. It was just really unexpected.
- The Walking. Many have mentioned it before, but the hike from Ocean Tower to the Parking/Valet/Shuttle is easily 0.5 mile. The tram is simply too slow and is only effective if you happen upon it.
- The Tram. Poor thing. The AC was not working in two cars, and it looks like it is just limping along. I know it is slow for safety, but I can walk faster. If I had a magic wand I would add a second rail and have two shuttles running.
- I would not recommend for anyone that has trouble walking any distance comfortably.
- Food options are limited and expensive. Thankfully I rented a car and went to the KTA grocery store in Waikoloa Village at the beginning of the week for basic foodstuffs.

I regret not taking pictures of the room when it was all pretty. I was so exhausted from my flight that I simply forgot.

tl:dr - Room 10/10, Ambience 8/10, Food 6/10, Overall 8.5/10. Would come back if the deal was right.

 

[Shmiddy]

If it was the only HGVC option in the area, I would consider it. But when compared to Kings, Kohala or Bay Club I have it as a no-go. Room size, amenities, pool - all a minus in comparison, IMO.

 

[h2oflyboy]

Severely dissapointed with the 2BR. The 2nd bedroom had no windows. ...at the time we visited only 1 tram and NO boats - my family left the Kona pool and had just missed the tram - I left 5 minutes behind them - walked and they got back to our room :30 minutes after I did. I was staying in a "ocean front penthouse - on the 3rd floor" in the forward helix which had a direct view of the golf course. I did get extra robes for my guest - on request.

 

[Harry]

There are certain 2 bedroom units with windows I believe.
The tram is dated and needs to be improved. I mostly walk but agree this is not a good resort for non walkers.
Parking is ridiculous and a big owner and guest complaint.
The birds can be annoying but so are the parakeets in Kauai. After the first night they are tolerable.
We return in February.

 

[Tamaradarann]

Severely dissapointed with the 2BR. The 2nd bedroom had no windows. ...at the time we visited only 1 tram and NO boats - my family left the Kona pool and had just missed the tram - I left 5 minutes behind them - walked and they got back to our room :30 minutes after I did. I was staying in a "ocean front penthouse - on the 3rd floor" in the forward helix which had a direct view of the golf course. I did get extra robes for my guest - on request.

Do you mean that the 2nd bedroom had NO windows or just that they couldn't open? We have a problem with windows that don't open all the time and we like living in Hawaii without air conditioning but we must have windows or an Lanai door that opens.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Do you mean that the 2nd bedroom had NO windows or just that they couldn't open? We have a problem with windows that don't open all the time and we like living in Hawaii without air conditioning but we must have windows or an Lanai door that opens.

There are some sections of Kingsland where the 2nd or 3rd bedroom has no windows. This is usually where the bedroom is located next to an interior hallway, so a window would be just weird. I have not seen that at Ocean Tower, but since the hallways are enclosed I could see this situation existing.

 

[dayooper]

Ocean 22 has bedroom windows (the 2nd bedroom) into the hallway. They have curtains and no way to open them without breaking the glass.

 

[Tamaradarann]

There are some sections of Kingsland where the 2nd or 3rd bedroom has no windows. This is usually where the bedroom is located next to an interior hallway, so a window would be just weird. I have not seen that at Ocean Tower, but since the hallways are enclosed I could see this situation existing.

Ocean Tower had open hallways in the section we stayed at in April. We haven't been to Kingsland in many years so I don't recall those hallways. We just stayed at the Maui Bay Villas Building 6 and were pleased that they had open hallways. We live in Wakiki on the 14th Floor and with open hallways and leaving the front door open with a gated door we get a mountain to ocean breeze almost all the time and don't need air conditioning.

 

[Tamaradarann]

There are some sections of Kingsland where the 2nd or 3rd bedroom has no windows. This is usually where the bedroom is located next to an interior hallway, so a window would be just weird. I have not seen that at Ocean Tower, but since the hallways are enclosed I could see this situation existing.

My opinion is that if they designed a building with no window for a bedroom it is a bad design. We live in a 2 BR unit is Honolulu and have windows or Lanai doors in both bedroom. A window is essential for ventilation as well as fire safety. How would one get out of a burning house or condo unit where the fire started in the kitchen, which is very typical, without a window that opens.

 

[h2oflyboy]

Do you mean that the 2nd bedroom had NO windows or just that they couldn't open? We have a problem with windows that don't open all the time and we like living in Hawaii without air conditioning but we must have windows or an Lanai door that opens.

No window! I was appalled.

 

[h2oflyboy]

There are some sections of Kingsland where the 2nd or 3rd bedroom has no windows. This is usually where the bedroom is located next to an interior hallway, so a window would be just weird. I have not seen that at Ocean Tower, but since the hallways are enclosed I could see this situation existing.

I forgot about the 3rd Bedroom at Kingsland. Yes... another bad one for guests.

TBH - the 2 Bedroom (Premium) at GW at the HHV had no openable windows in the Primary Bedroom or the entire unit! It was aircon the entire stay - the good news was the secondary bedroom had their own balcony - Nice for the guests. There were 2 balconies - so those were the only 2 - sliding glass doors that opened.

 

[h2oflyboy]

Good afternoon everyone. I just came back from a stay at Ocean Tower at Waikoloa Village (09/28 - 10/04). Here are my thoughts on the current status of the renovation and what the new rooms are like. First off, the rooms as a stand alone are fantastic. I stayed in a King Suite (Studio Resort View, STD) and everything was spacious and well designed. The bathroom has a very large walk-in shower and a fancy bidet toilet with heated seat and water. The kitchenette has a full-size fridge and freezer with an ice maker. The furnishings, floors, and paint are all fresh and new and fantastic. It will be nice when the rest of the hotel is complete.

Notes:
- The Palace Tower was under construction across the way. I did not hear any construction noise unless I was sitting on the lanai during the day.
- The Birds. I didn't expect the birds to be as noisy as they were. In the trees located in the far eastern section of the interior of the Ocean Tower lives a flock of birds that make noise into the late hours of the evening and early morning before they leave for the day. There is absolutely nothing the resort can do besides remove the trees, and I don't really want that to happen, so I can live with it. It was just really unexpected.
- The Walking. Many have mentioned it before, but the hike from Ocean Tower to the Parking/Valet/Shuttle is easily 0.5 mile. The tram is simply too slow and is only effective if you happen upon it.
- The Tram. Poor thing. The AC was not working in two cars, and it looks like it is just limping along. I know it is slow for safety, but I can walk faster. If I had a magic wand I would add a second rail and have two shuttles running.
- I would not recommend for anyone that has trouble walking any distance comfortably.
- Food options are limited and expensive. Thankfully I rented a car and went to the KTA grocery store in Waikoloa Village at the beginning of the week for basic foodstuffs.

I regret not taking pictures of the room when it was all pretty. I was so exhausted from my flight that I simply forgot.

tl:dr - Room 10/10, Ambience 8/10, Food 6/10, Overall 8.5/10. Would come back if the deal was right.

Magic Wand not needed - there are 2 tracks between the Convention Bldg and the Palace Tower there is a passing zone. I was there 9/10-13. I never did ask the question, but if the tram was OOS because of a mechanical issue, why weren't there boats to back-fill that need. I walked by the tram garage - it looked like there were 2 trams inside. During our stay - my guest noticed that the waterway was clogged with algae and plants - and while there we saw workers cleaning out the channels 2 days in a row. That's why I didn't ask about the boats!

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I forgot about the 3rd Bedroom at Kingsland. Yes... another bad one for guests.

I personally prefer having windows in a bedroom when I stay there. However on our last trip to KL, we had our 2 year old grandson in that room, and my son and DIL thought it was great that the lack of windows made the room dark and quiet for naptime...

 

[Tamaradarann]

I forgot about the 3rd Bedroom at Kingsland. Yes... another bad one for guests.

TBH - the 2 Bedroom (Premium) at GW at the HHV had no openable windows in the Primary Bedroom or the entire unit! It was aircon the entire stay - the good news was the secondary bedroom had their own balcony - Nice for the guests. There were 2 balconies - so those were the only 2 - sliding glass doors that opened.

No windows in the Primary Bedroom or entire unit? When we say no windows we mean no sliding doors to the Lanai either. In the Condo we live in there are no operable windows in the Living Room or Master Bedroom but we have a 20 foot window wall in which there are 2 large Sliding Doors leading to a 124 aq. ft. Lanai. We keep the Lanai doors open all the time except when it gets a little chilly watching TV at night. We open them again when we go to bed since we sleep under a sheet.

 

[h2oflyboy]

No windows in the Primary Bedroom or entire unit? When we say no windows we mean no sliding doors to the Lanai either. In the Condo we live in there are no operable windows in the Living Room or Master Bedroom but we have a 20 foot window wall in which there are 2 large Sliding Doors leading to a 124 aq. ft. Lanai. We keep the Lanai doors open all the time except when it gets a little chilly watching TV at night. We open them again when we go to bed since we sleep under a sheet.

In the premium 2BR unit - it is Ocean front facing and the only two "glass things" that open are the 2 sliding glass doors in the Living, and secondary Bed Rooms. All other windows (thing with glass) are permanently closed - they do not open; a cross breeze cannot be achieved in the Primary Bedroom.

 

[h2oflyboy]

I personally prefer having windows in a bedroom when I stay there. However on our last trip to KL, we had our 2 year old grandson in that room, and my son and DIL thought it was great that the lack of windows made the room dark and quiet for naptime...

Kids are sometimes easy to please - I'm the owner... and when I take guests with me, I will give up the luxuries of the primary suite for my guests. I'm taking you on a wonderful vacation... Enjoy your dark cave! LOL

 

[Tamaradarann]

In the premium 2BR unit - it is Ocean front facing and the only two "glass things" that open are the 2 sliding glass doors in the Living, and secondary Bed Rooms. All other windows (thing with glass) are permanently closed - they do not open; a cross breeze cannot be achieved in the Primary Bedroom.

We have not stayed in a 2BR unit at the Ocean Tower, however, the decription that you give is very similar to our Condo in Honolulu. For us having the 2 Sliding Doors are the same as having operable windows so we are cool. As I said sometimes so cool that we need to close the Sliding Doors at night to sit comfortably watching TV.

As far as cross ventilation in our Condo we have great cross ventilation with the front door open and our security gate locked for security. That cross ventilation is primarily in the living room, which opens to the dining room and front hallway and front door, the breeze that comes through the Bedroom Lanai Door gives plenty of ventilation to the Master Bedroom without having any windows. There is no way that the Master Bedroom can have cross ventilation windows since it backs up to bathrooms and the second bedroom which has 2 operable windows.