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Westin Maui Ocean Front: South Studio vs. North 1 Bedroom

S

sdtugger

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I have a Westin Maui South studio OF premium (direct ocean view) booked for 2 people in September. A 1 bedroom Westin Maui North OF just came up in a search. I have now watched several videos of the North OF units. While not straight on ocean views, they appear to be terrific views too. So, I am thinking that the dramatically larger size of the 1 bedroom, including the larger lanai is worth the tradeoff of the less straight on ocean view. The difference in staroptions is tiny. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this. For example, one concern is getting a unit behind the restaurant which I've seen described on here as a blocked view. True? Any other potential problems? Thanks for your insights!
 
It all depends on whether it's in building 5 or 8 and if its a low or high floor.
 
If it's the same price, I would take the 1br at the North, for space and full kitchen. But since you are paying more StarOptions, plus dramatically higher Hawaii occupancy taxes for 1br compared to a studio (~$29 per night vs ~$4 per night), I would not be that sure if space and full kitchen outweigh a probably slightly better view and significant savings, especially if it's just two people.
 
Here is a map of both sections of the resort - the pink areas are oceanfront. Bldg. 5 can be more of an ocean view than oceanfront, so it just depends on whether view or space is your first priority:

WKORV view map new.png
 
sdtugger said:
I have a Westin Maui South studio OF premium (direct ocean view) booked for 2 people in September. A 1 bedroom Westin Maui North OF just came up in a search. I have now watched several videos of the North OF units. While not straight on ocean views, they appear to be terrific views too. So, I am thinking that the dramatically larger size of the 1 bedroom, including the larger lanai is worth the tradeoff of the less straight on ocean view. The difference in staroptions is tiny. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this. For example, one concern is getting a unit behind the restaurant which I've seen described on here as a blocked view. True? Any other potential problems? Thanks for your insights!
Click to expand...
Here are some examples of the blocked views

tugbbs.com

Vistana views from a BALCONY - Post your best photos!

Westin Lagunamar - building 13, fifth floor. Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
tugbbs.com tugbbs.com

tugbbs.com

Vistana views from a BALCONY - Post your best photos!

Westin Lagunamar - building 13, fifth floor. Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
tugbbs.com tugbbs.com
 
So, how big of a risk would it be of getting the dreaded blocked OF view? I can't even imagine spending extra staroptions/tax dollars and ending up behind a wall or building instead of looking at the ocean. Obviously I am not booking at 12 or even 8 months out and I understand that time stamp matters most. I would be booking 4 months or so out. If it helps, I am chairmans club. If the blocked view is a significant risk, then it isn't even worth considering. But, I think my spouse would really like the space in spite of the extra costs, just as long as the view is decent.
 
At 4mos out, I would think you're going to get low floor, so your view likely isn't going to be as good as the unit you booked earlier?
 
sdtugger said:
So, how big of a risk would it be of getting the dreaded blocked OF view? I can't even imagine spending extra staroptions/tax dollars and ending up behind a wall or building instead of looking at the ocean. Obviously I am not booking at 12 or even 8 months out and I understand that time stamp matters most. I would be booking 4 months or so out. If it helps, I am chairmans club. If the blocked view is a significant risk, then it isn't even worth considering. But, I think my spouse would really like the space in spite of the extra costs, just as long as the view is decent.
Click to expand...
There are about a dozen units behind Pailolo's in building 5 which should not have been sold as ocean front -- out of about 90 OF units total. Given the late timestamp you would have, I would prefer the true OF studio you have at South.
 
I booked the original studio reservation 6 months out. I also shortened the reservation at 5 months out, but kept the same reservation number (not sure if that hurts my placement). Any idea how much difference 6 months vs. 4 months would make? I'd call them and ask. But, I suspect that would just be the opinion of whoever I spoke with and certainly wouldn't include any commitments.
 
Well, I decided it wouldn't hurt to call. Spoke with a very nice front desk agent at the north property. She put into my 1 bedroom north reservation that I wanted a high floor and to not be put behind the restaurant. I asked her "which would you choose" between a south studio at 6 months and a north 1 bedroom at 4 months? She said she would choose the 1 bedroom. She said that arriving on Friday gave me some benefit in room placement. But, of course, she didn't say for sure that I wouldn't be behind the restaurant.

So, I guess the question is whether I'm willing to take the risk of getting the blocked view in the 1 bedroom. Hhhmmm.
 
By the way, she said that there are only 6 units that are blocked (three 2 bedroom units). Is that true?
 
sdtugger said:
Well, I decided it wouldn't hurt to call. Spoke with a very nice front desk agent at the north property. She put into my 1 bedroom north reservation that I wanted a high floor and to not be put behind the restaurant. I asked her "which would you choose" between a south studio at 6 months and a north 1 bedroom at 4 months? She said she would choose the 1 bedroom. She said that arriving on Friday gave me some benefit in room placement. But, of course, she didn't say for sure that I wouldn't be behind the restaurant.

So, I guess the question is whether I'm willing to take the risk of getting the blocked view in the 1 bedroom. Hhhmmm.
Click to expand...

She doesn’t know. She’s just being nice.

I wouldn’t risk it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
My understanding is they take the units for that checkin day and start allocating from highest floor to lowest floor in your booking timestamp order checking your special requests as they go along.

So first timestamp gets highest floor, unless they special requested something else. Then they process next timestamp and give them highest remaining unit, unless they requested something else.
 
Both the Center and Corner 1Bd villas at the south resort have a direct OF, the corner villa also has a view of the south/north along the beach and the mountains (e.g. can look back at pool area). They also have windows on the side, unlike the center villas. There are no bad 1Bd OF views in the south resort. We have been on every floor of the OF corner.

The OF views at the north resort can be poor.

As a SO stay - go with the south resort.
 
We sit outside a lot when we are in Hawaii. So a room without a nice baloney is IMHO not a good choice since the south studios has almost no baloneys I'd go with the 1 bd unit in the north bldgs.
 
Bill4728 said:
We sit outside a lot when we are in Hawaii. So a room without a nice baloney is IMHO not a good choice since the south studios has almost no baloneys I'd go with the 1 bd unit in the north bldgs.
Click to expand...
The OF studios at South all have lanais; that shouldn't be the deciding factor.
 
vacationtime1 said:
The OF studios at South all have lanais; that shouldn't be the deciding factor.
Click to expand...

And the South OF studio lanais are much larger than any studio lanai at North.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I decided not to risk sitting behind the restaurant in the north. I checked abound, staroptions and cash and there were no 1 bedroom of available anywhere. My conclusion was that I was very low on the view pecking list and it wasn’t worth the risk.

Im actually very much looking forward to trying the south studio. We’ve never been in a studio that had laundry, full size fridge, dishwasher, etc. the view should be at least decent even on the bottom floor. If we like it, I can see us going this route often.
 
sdtugger said:
I decided not to risk sitting behind the restaurant in the north. I checked abound, staroptions and cash and there were no 1 bedroom of available anywhere. My conclusion was that I was very low on the view pecking list and it wasn’t worth the risk.

Im actually very much looking forward to trying the south studio. We’ve never been in a studio that had laundry, full size fridge, dishwasher, etc. the view should be at least decent even on the bottom floor. If we like it, I can see us going this route often.
Click to expand...

All Westin and Sheraton small units have washer/dryer, etc. It’s a major reason many of us bought into this network years ago vs Marriott.

Enjoy!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
If view is important I wouldn’t risk the north 1 bedroom. We paid extra star options for a 1 bedroom north OF, booked right at 8 months and got a disappointing view so decided it wasn’t worth the extra star options if at the north. But……we also like the space of 1 bedroom so we rarely book a studio.
 
I wouldn't risk it, ive gotten the room behind pailolos.. they were able to swap my room half way through the stay but that was a hassle. Ask yourself what's more important, view or interior space. if it's the view and patio, stick with Studio south.
 
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