Ocean Towers "incidentals"

[pacman]

Was going to book a studio at Ocean Towers in Waikoloa during open season. Gives a warning before booking about the $30/day parking (crazy), and $100/day deposit for incidentals, including the lodging tax. Anyone had experience what other costs, besides the tax that will be charged? $100/day seems exorbitant for a studio.

 

[GMan82]

Was going to book a studio at Ocean Towers in Waikoloa during open season. Gives a warning before booking about the $30/day parking (crazy), and $100/day deposit for incidentals, including the lodging tax. Anyone had experience what other costs, besides the tax that will be charged? $100/day seems exorbitant for a studio.

I’ve never actually booked or traveled there yet, but it appears to be on the website. HGV says they don’t own the parking and that the State or HI assess a lodging tax. The incidentals of $100/day deposit looks like it’s across the board. Going through a dummy booking gives me the same result.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

The $100 a day deposit is a soft hold against your credit line. Basically they are looking to make sure they are covered for incidentals. Not sure how many traveling, but $100 can go pretty fast if eat or drink at the resort...

As for the parking charge, coming from the Bay Area, $30 a day is not that bad. That said i agree it would be better if it was built into the points / MF for Ocean Tower. Unlike urban resorts such as HHV where lots of people skip a car, i think almost everyone has a car on the big island..

 

[Sandy VDH]

It is the only 1 of the 4 locations in Waikoloa that charge for parking.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Might be worth parking at Kingsland or elsewhere close by and taking the shuttle?

 

[2disneydads]

Might be worth parking at Kingsland or elsewhere closeby and taking the shuttle?

You need a parking pass to park overnight at Kings' Land, and I assume the same at Kohala Suites and Bay Club. I wouldn't depend on this plan to about the Ocean Tower parking fee. It is a bit extreme, especially at the points needed to stay.

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[MikeinSoCal]

For $30 a day, there should be a shuttle to the parking lot or an escalator at the very least. How long is that walk from the Ocean tower, through the lobby, down the stairs, pass the valet parking to your car?

 

[JIMinNC]

We just stayed at Ocean Tower for two nights at the end of our Hawaii trip, but in the standard hotel rooms that haven't been incorporated into HGVC yet (one night was planned using the free night with my Hilton Amex; the second night was unplanned and courtesy of a 16-hour American Airlines flight delay ).

To get to parking from Ocean Tower would entail riding the monorail/tram to the main lobby (which depending on time of day and how long you have to wait for the tram, could take up to as much as 10-15 minutes) or walk 10-15 minutes from Ocean Tower to the lobby. Guest parking is then down some steps and maybe a 3-5 minute walk from the Lobby. So plan for 15-20 minutes at a minimum to get from Ocean Tower to parking.

The logistics of moving around the huge Hilton Waikoloa Village seems to be an issue for staying there a full week, at least for us. Having said that, it's a beautiful, amazing resort, and I wouldn't hesitate to book there for 3 days or so to extend a trip after a week at one of the other HGVC Waikoloa locations. I would, however, probably reserve those days for just relaxing and enjoying the resort and do most of my coming-and-going while staying at the more traditional HGVC resorts in Waikoloa.

It's important to note that Valet Parking is $37, so only marginally more than self-parking. For our "planned" night we still had our car, so we just used valet. For our "unplanned" second night, the car had already been turned in, and we had to cab to the Hilton from the airport and back to airport after the flight was cancelled for Sunday night and delayed to Monday AM. (Plane had a problem Sunday PM with the wingtip lights, so couldn't legally fly at night and the problem couldn't be fixed in the field. They delayed to Monday AM, diverted us to LAX instead of DFW so we could land before dark, switched planes, and took us on to DFW where we arrived at 3am, just in time to catch a 5am flight back to North Carolina. Took almost 36 hours to get home from our first trip to the airport Sunday afternoon.)

 

[linsj]

I don't know why most people complain about the walk to the parking lot. The hallway is lined with sculptures, paintings, etc., so it's like walking through a museum or art gallery. I can walk it as fast as the train, which makes two stops between Ocean Tower and lobby.

 

[JIMinNC]

I don't know why most people complain about the walk to the parking lot. The hallway is lined with sculptures, paintings, etc., so it's like walking through a museum or art gallery. I can walk it as fast as the train, which makes two stops between Ocean Tower and lobby.

I think it's more about the time it takes, however you get there. Adds 25-30 minutes or so (roundtrip) to any trip off-property.

 

[MikeinSoCal]

I think it's more about the time it takes, however you get there. Adds 25-30 minutes or so (roundtrip) to any trip off-property.

Add carrying all the items you just bought at Costco/market and 90 degree heat/humidity plus the $30 a day that just charged you having a car.

 

[Luanne]

Add carrying all the items you just bought at Costco/market and 90 degree heat/humidity plus the $30 a day that just charged you having a car.

Remember, this was originally built as a hotel. I doubt anyone thought at the time guests would be toting in groceries.

 

[JIMinNC]

Remember, this was originally built as a hotel. I doubt anyone thought at the time guests would be toting in groceries.

Absolutely. It opened as the Hyatt Regency Waikoloa in 1988. We first stayed there on our honeymoon in 1992 before the changeover to Hilton in 1993. It really is still much more a hotel than a timeshare, but we truly do love the property. It is amazing, with a lot of great memories over the years. But having said that, HGVC did elect to co-locate a timeshare within this large complex, and that fact doesn't make the logistics any easier for the timeshare guests of today.

 

[Luanne]

Absolutely. It opened as the Hyatt Regency Waikoloa in 1988. We first stayed there on our honeymoon in 1992 before the changeover to Hilton in 1993. It really is still much more a hotel than a timeshare, but we truly do love the property. It is amazing, with a lot of great memories over the years. But having said that, HGVC did elect to co-locate a timeshare within this large complex, and that fact doesn't make the logistics any easier for the timeshare guests of today.

I agree the property is amazing. Over the years we've stayed at the Bay Club several times and at Kohala Suites. Dh and I always start our day with a walk and we'd walk over to the Hilton, going in the back way, then through the property stopping to get coffee at the little place at the boat landing. We stayed overnight one night in the hotel some years back with our daughters when we had a gap night between timeshares.

What I'm wondering is who exactly is going to want to be staying there as a timeshare stay? It sounds like the units are small and do they have full kitchens and washer/dryers in the units? With a parking fee and the hold on the credit card for incidentals personally I'd rather stay in one of the other properties. And unless they are no longer giving privileges at the pools for those staying at Kingsland or Kohala Suites I'm not sure what advantage there is to staying on the hotel grounds.

 

[pacman]

"What I'm wondering is who exactly is going to want to be staying there as a timeshare stay? It sounds like the units are small and do they have full kitchens and washer/dryers in the units? With a parking fee and the hold on the credit card for incidentals personally I'd rather stay in one of the other properties. And unlees they are no longer giving privileges at the pools for those staying at Kingsland or Kohala Suites I'm not sure what advantage there is to staying on the hotel grounds"

Luanne
Well, I just booked 5 days there, in a studio no less, and so I am one that wants to try it out. We have stayed all the HGVC properties in Waikoloa, and like them all. I think what makes Ocean Towers unique is that some of the unit have an ocean view, which is not available at any of the others.
We actually booked a penthouse ocean view on the open season window.

I do wonder though, how we are going to haul our groceries all that way. Maybe concierge will have a cart??

 

[1Kflyerguy]

"What I'm wondering is who exactly is going to want to be staying there as a timeshare stay? It sounds like the units are small and do they have full kitchens and washer/dryers in the units? With a parking fee and the hold on the credit card for incidentals personally I'd rather stay in one of the other properties. And unlees they are no longer giving privileges at the pools for those staying at Kingsland or Kohala Suites I'm not sure what advantage there is to staying on the hotel grounds"

Luanne
Well, I just booked 5 days there, in a studio no less, and so I am one that wants to try it out. We have stayed all the HGVC properties in Waikoloa, and like them all. I think what makes Ocean Towers unique is that some of the unit have an ocean view, which is not available at any of the others.
We actually booked a penthouse ocean view on the open season window.

I do wonder though, how we are going to haul our groceries all that way. Maybe concierge will have a cart??

I agree the ocean view is what separates this resort from other 3 HGV resorts. As for hauling stuff to the room, I am sure the bellman will deliver everything to your room.

Every resort has some some good and bad features, and we don't all want the same thing every trip. I am sure the Ocean Tower will be very popular.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I agree with @Luanne I want to see the ocean. Plus the resort amenities and asian/Hawaiian atmosphere are very nice vs. staying at condos. Pricey though so will have to be smaller midweek stay with fewer pts.

 

[pacman]

I agree with @Luanne I want to see the ocean. Plus the resort amenities and asian/Hawaiian atmosphere are very nice vs. staying at condos. Pricey though so will have to be smaller midweek stay with fewer pts.

Pricey when using points, yes, but if you can book during open season, pretty reasonable. The ocean view rooms are not much more than the standard rooms during open season.

See this other post of mine...
I owned HGVC years ago, when the open season rates were a bargain. I've just purchased back in, and see that now, not so much.
What I am seeing though, is that the open season is still worthwhile for the premier units. For example, I just booked a Penthouse studio premier unit at Ocean Tower in Waikoloa. Club season points for one week is 12,400, vs a regular studio of 3,400 points.
HOWEVER, in open season, the Penthouse studio is only $1,317 vs $1,004 for a normal studio.
I think this is actually a great deal. So, in limited circumstances open season still makes sense.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Pricey when using points, yes, but if you can book during open season, pretty reasonable. The ocean view rooms are not much more than the standard rooms during open season.

See this other post of mine...
I owned HGVC years ago, when the open season rates were a bargain. I've just purchased back in, and see that now, not so much.
What I am seeing though, is that the open season is still worthwhile for the premier units. For example, I just booked a Penthouse studio premier unit at Ocean Tower in Waikoloa. Club season points for one week is 12,400, vs a regular studio of 3,400 points.
HOWEVER, in open season, the Penthouse studio is only $1,317 vs $1,004 for a normal studio.
I think this is actually a great deal. So, in limited circumstances open season still makes sense.

Thanks for the tip Did not know that. About the price of a maint fee without having to own. Does that work for high season too?

 

[pacman]

Thanks for the tip Did not know that. About the price of a maint fee without having to own. Does that work for high season too?

Works for all seasons, yes.

 

[Luanne]

"What I'm wondering is who exactly is going to want to be staying there as a timeshare stay? It sounds like the units are small and do they have full kitchens and washer/dryers in the units? With a parking fee and the hold on the credit card for incidentals personally I'd rather stay in one of the other properties. And unlees they are no longer giving privileges at the pools for those staying at Kingsland or Kohala Suites I'm not sure what advantage there is to staying on the hotel grounds"

Luanne
Well, I just booked 5 days there, in a studio no less, and so I am one that wants to try it out. We have stayed all the HGVC properties in Waikoloa, and like them all. I think what makes Ocean Towers unique is that some of the unit have an ocean view, which is not available at any of the others.
We actually booked a penthouse ocean view on the open season window.

I do wonder though, how we are going to haul our groceries all that way. Maybe concierge will have a cart??

The one night we stayed in the Ocean Towers, when it was still a hotel we did have an amazing view. But, we weren't ocean front or all that close to the ocean.

I was talking to my daughter about this. While the bellmen are very happy to help with luggage when you are a hotel guest, I wonder how happy they'd be lugging groceries. I guess for a nice tip they wouldn't mind. Don't know about carts being available, maybe that is something they already have, or will add to make it easier for the timeshare owners. Let us know how you like your stay.

 

[Luanne]

I agree the ocean view is what separates this resort from other 3 HGV resorts. As for hauling stuff to the room, I am sure the bellman will deliver everything to your room.

Every resort has some some good and bad features, and we don't all want the same thing every trip. I am sure the Ocean Tower will be very popular.

I'm sure for a nice tip the bellmen will be willing to cart groceries for you. Ca ching, ca ching.

 

[Tamaradarann]

The one night we stayed in the Ocean Towers, when it was still a hotel we did have an amazing view. But, we weren't ocean front or all that close to the ocean.

I was talking to my daughter about this. While the bellmen are very happy to help with luggage when you are a hotel guest, I wonder how happy they'd be lugging groceries. I guess for a nice tip they wouldn't mind. Don't know about carts being available, maybe that is something they already have, or will add to make it easier for the timeshare owners. Let us know how you like your stay.

The Bellman make their money on having the carts and you don't. They are NOT going to make the carts available to timeshare owners so that they can more easily more their stuff and miss out on the tip possibilities. I agree for a nice tip they will carry anything you want them to carry to your room. But how much is a nice tip?

 

[Luanne]

The Bellman make their money on having the carts and you don't. They are NOT going to make the carts available to timeshare owners so that they can more easily more their stuff and miss out on the tip possibilities. I agree for a nice tip they will carry anything you want them to carry to your room. But how much is a nice tip?

This guideline is for luggage, but you could adapt it to groceries. Would one bag of groceries equal one suitcase? Or should it be two (or three) to one. And remember bags of groceries are much more likely to go sliding around on a cart than nice heavy pieces of luggage. Again, it would be added cost to your vacation.

Customary tip: $1 to $2 per bag, or a flat $5 plus $1 per bag, for storing bags or taking them to your room; $1 to $2 for a standard delivery.

 

[geerlijd]

At HHV the bellman load your groceries into plastic totes, stack those in the cart and have no problem with a large load of groceries. I would expect they would do the same here.

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