Staroption Reservation WKOR/WKORN/Nanea Question

[heckp]

I am planning to reserve one of the three Westins in Maui with our Staroptions. When Oceanview is reserved, is it guaranteed Oceanview? Does Nanea indicate Resortview, Oceanview and Oceanfront options too if available? If all three has an Oceanview available, which one would have a better Oceanview?

 

[vacationtime1]

If you reserve OV, you will get OV.

However, Nanea does not have an OV classification. At Nanea, it is either ocean front or resort view -- and the latter comes with the risk of a parking structure view.

OV at WKORV is a mixed bag; some suites have excellent ocean views; some have none (landscaping has grown in, etc.). OV units at WKORVN all have ocean views, although some units are distant from the water and too close to the highway imho.

Unit assignment for OV units will be more significant than which resort you choose, and I am unaware of what we can do to control that other than to reserve as early as possible (units are allocated according to time stamp).

 

[daviator]

What floor you are on has at least as much impact as location, as ocean view units on lower floors sometimes have views that are completely obstructed by landscaping etc. As others have said, the only way to ensure a good room location is to book as early as possible.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Try not to get Parking Lot view at Nanea. Personally, we don't see the appeal of Nanea.
Timestamp rules - so best advice is to reserve exactly at 8 months.
Also, it may matters if 1Bd or 2Bd as floor plans differ.

 

[heckp]

Thank you! If we decide to reserve 1BR Oceanfront if available WKOR or North? Yes I am aiming to reserve the 8 month out ( midnight )

 

[DeniseM]

EDITED: (Trying to watch football and write at the same time is not a good idea.) The south towers have the best OF views, IMNSHO. Except for the oceanfront deluxe studio, which is actually on the side of the building.

 

[vacationtime1]

Thank you! If we decide to reserve 1BR Oceanfront if available WKOR or North? Yes I am aiming to reserve the 8 month out ( midnight )

Take what you can get, but prefer South if you have a choice. The units are closer to the water and the views are dead-on.

North has a few OF units that are not really OF (they are behind the beach bar and views are blocked by it; this affects 6-12 one bedroom units out of 90 total).

 

[heckp]

Thank you! Hoping for oceanfront availability 8 months out

 

[heckp]

What is the difference between 1BR premium Villa and 1BR premium Villa STANDARD? Both are Oceanview

 

[mauitraveler]

The standard villa is the stand-alone 1BR villa. The 1BR premium villa is the lock-off portion of a 2BR villa.

 

[heckp]

The standard villa is the stand-alone 1BR villa. The 1BR premium villa is the lock-off portion of a 2BR villa.

Thank you!

 

[mauitraveler]

Thank you!

You're welcome and I hope you will get your desired reservation without too much difficulty. Happy travels to you and your family! CJ

 

[daviator]

By the way, I wouldn’t get my heart set on oceanFRONT… in 20 years of reserving at WKORV (I own oceanVIEW there) I’ve only seen OF come up a couple of times. It can happen and you might get lucky, but I think it’s far more likely you’ll find OV than OF.

To my thinking, unless you plan to spend a week sitting in the room and gazing out the window, the difference is not that significant. I have never felt my OV view was deficient in any way. But there are definitely folks here who feel differently.

 

[ocdb8r]

By the way, I wouldn’t get my heart set on oceanFRONT… in 20 years of reserving at WKORV (I own oceanVIEW there) I’ve only seen OF come up a couple of times. It can happen and you might get lucky, but I think it’s far more likely you’ll find OV than OF.

To my thinking, unless you plan to spend a week sitting in the room and gazing out the window, the difference is not that significant. I have never felt my OV view was deficient in any way. But there are definitely folks here who feel differently.

Fully agree with this. I will say that Maui over the past 12-18 months has seen more availability in SVN than immediately before and after COVID, but those OF rooms still tend to get used by their owners who have paid a nice premium to own them. I see them come up at Nanea a bit more often given that resort was sold solely as points (and so not as many have enough points for the OF premium).

 

[daviator]

Fully agree with this. I will say that Maui over the past 12-18 months has seen more availability in SVN than immediately before and after COVID, but those OF rooms still tend to get used by their owners who have paid a nice premium to own them. I see them come up at Nanea a bit more often given that resort was sold solely as points (and so not as many have enough points for the OF premium).

I feel like demand has been down since the fires and there is more reservation hesitancy – people waiting longer to book because they aren’t sure about going – and that has resulted in better availability. In the end, everything gets booked up and the timeshare resorts are full, but it hasn’t been as competitive as it usually is. I expect that will normalize over the next few years.

 

[ocdb8r]

In the end, everything gets booked up and the timeshare resorts are full, but it hasn’t been as competitive as it usually is. I expect that will normalize over the next few years.

I wouldn't be so sure...there is lots of broken week availability across the three resorts for Nov, Dec and Jan. There are even Ocean Front rooms available at Nanea including Thanksgiving and the day after. There are also more last minute II weeks posted on the sightings board than I have ever seen. At the end of the day, some of those rooms will go empty. I don't doubt that overall occupancy is still very high, but I would bet it's dipped from the immediate post-covid period (as it has generally in HI).

 

[DavidnRobin]

In goofing around with searches last night - I saw a 1Bd OF Deluxe (Corner) villa show up for Feb 8-15, 2025.

 

[daviator]

I wouldn't be so sure...there is lots of broken week availability across the three resorts for Nov, Dec and Jan. There are even Ocean Front rooms available at Nanea including Thanksgiving and the day after. There are also more last minute II weeks posted on the sightings board than I have ever seen. At the end of the day, some of those rooms will go empty. I don't doubt that overall occupancy is still very high, but I would bet it's dipped from the immediate post-covid period (as it has generally in HI).

I suppose it also depends on which buckets of inventory you’re looking at. The points products, which allow any day checkin and short stays, are inherently inefficient and result in lots of broken nights, thus leading to minimum stay restrictions and the like (often unpublished.) I wouldn’t be surprised to find a lot more broken nights at Nanea which is 100% points. And I suppose that’s partial justification for the Abound election “skim” as shifting inventory from weeks into Club Points is going to result in more breakage, which somebody has to pay for.

I agree that availability at the Maui timeshare properties is less tight than it historically has been, but most of those rooms do get filled in by the time the check in dates roll around. I hope the properties are able to use broken nights strategically (to do needed repairs and the like) and perhaps avoid having to purposefully take rooms offline as often.

in addition to the reticence of visitors to return after the fires, Hawaii in general is trying to discourage low-end travelers and are increasing fees and surcharges in lots of places. They want travelers who won’t balk at spending lots of money while visiting and apparently don’t care if they drive off those who won’t spend much. That will have impacts on our properties over the longer term too.

 

[GLehman]

I am planning to reserve one of the three Westins in Maui with our Staroptions. When Oceanview is reserved, is it guaranteed Oceanview? Does Nanea indicate Resortview, Oceanview and Oceanfront options too if available? If all three has an Oceanview available, which one would have a better Oceanview?

I own at Nanea and have stayed at all the Westin resorts. All oceanfront at Nanea directly face the ocean and there are no obstructions from any of the rooms. As others have mentioned, oceanview at the other two resorts are pot luck and some have virtually NO oceanview. We first purchased resort view at Nanea and later upgraded to oceanfront. Sitting on the lanai in the morning having coffee and looking at the ocean is a major reason we come to Hawaii, so the oceanfront is worth the cost for us.

 

[rickandcindy23]

If you request ocean view or inside view, and that doesn't happen, ask for a higher floor. Usually the front desk will honor a higher floor request. We had a top floor island view once. It was pretty nice. Last time we stayed, we had the best views we have ever gotten at any Westin without owning oceanfront. We were above the check-in area once on the 4th floor, and the second week they moved us to a beautiful ocean/ pool view. I was amazed. That was last year in March. Imagine our surprise via exchange.

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

Take what you can get, but prefer South if you have a choice. The units are closer to the water and the views are dead-on.

North has a few OF units that are not really OF (they are behind the beach bar and views are blocked by it; this affects 6-12 one bedroom units out of 90 total).

Is it correct that ocean front south studios have no balcony or is that just for other view categories

 

[vacationtime1]

Is it correct that ocean front south studios have no balcony or is that just for other view categories

All OF studios at South have balconies.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Is it correct that ocean front south studios have no balcony or is that just for other view categories

I have photos of the WKORV OFD studio balcony if interested. Plus 100s of 1Bd OFD balcony and 1000s of sunsets.

The 1Bd WKORV OFD is the only OF villa with an ~270 degree view and has windows on the two walls (corner).

 

[alwysonvac]

Just released WKORV Studio Oceanfront Center for 5 nights (3/23 - 3/28).

 

[vacationtime1]

Just released WKORV Studio Oceanfront Center for 5 nights (3/23 - 3/28).

View attachment 101598

Still there.