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We spent 9 nights here starting August 18th. Checkin was no problem. Our room was 732, facing the mountains (and the strip mall below), but it was a renovated room. Gorgeous!! Marriott Grande Ocean quality, with a Plus for the great bathroom (big Jacuzzi, marble/granite everywhere, a lot of floorspace, typical of Embassy). The lanai was long and very narrow. Too windy to use it most of the time, so it didn’t make much difference.
No need for a rollaway since our 11 yr old fit nicely in the two big comfy chairs put together, his older brother slept on the comfy couch. The unit is ideal and luxurious for a couple. For a family of four it is manageable if you can do with the one bathroom. The king bed in the master was very comfortable. The pillows weren’t as bad as Marriott, but not great. There is a big tv in both living room and master.
Kitchenette consists of a toaster, coffeemaker, microwave and fridge.
Our room was on one of the many 'atriums' in the hotel. The hallway floors in the atrium are done in ceramic tile, a bit uneven and with lots of grout in between. This makes for a lot of 'bump bump bump' every time someone wheels a cart or suitcase on any floor nearby... The hallways connecting the atriums (atria?) are carpeted, so perhaps may be a bit quieter, not sure.
This is a big 'hotel' resort. A couple of full service restaurants, bar, cafe, etc.. We liked the Ohana Grill, more for its setting than food, but the food was serviceable. The other restaurant had bad reviews and was expensive, so we didn't bother.
The view from the pool/beach/Ohana grill was gorgeous. The sun sets right in between Lanai and Molokai, can't get a better spot. I liked the view here better than the view at the beach at the Marriott Maui Ocean Club, a little further south, though the view there is beautiful, too, though it's just Lanai in the distance.
Extra charges: $12/day for parking (if you leave to go to Hana overnight, be sure to tell them ahead of time, they tried to stick us with the charge anyway); $10/day WiFi access (heftiest I've ever paid); $12/day pp for bkfst (optional); kids 1/2 price. If you want a rollaway, it’s $20/day. There is also a Hawaii occupancy tax that came to about $10/day (though we only paid $6/day at the Marriott, hmmm). Embassy used to charge $85 per room per week for bkfst, but Sunterra has done away with that.
They are offering promo stays, check their website for details, it might pay since the pesky daily charges may be included.
There is one free breakfast which is really a 'tour pitch.' It lasts forever and the food was just awful. We walked out. They are still offering the ‘manager’s cocktail reception’ with free drinks daily from 4 – 6 pm. Only catch is you can’t take your drink out of the cocktail area, and it’s not particularly nice to sit in there. I wonder if they keep you there since that’s where the concierge desk is for booking tours and getting signed up the ‘sales presentation…’ They are also offering a shorter ’15 minute update,’ for which they will give you 2 free nights at an Embassy hotel. Despite my aversion to the 'salesly' environment, I must say that Manon at the concierge desk was delightful and very helpful.
Beware they are still renovating rooms and won't be done until mid- to late October (’06), it can be noisy but they don't start til 9 am. Ask for a renovated room if traveling before then. The rooms with ocean views are saved for Embassy owners (not sure how Sunterra plays into this yet).
The beach is small right at the hotel. It gets a little bigger further to the right. It is not really on the big stretch of Ka’anapali Beach, despite the name. You have to drive to Whaler’s Village, but it’s a short ride. You will need to pay to park at Whaler’s Village, but if you eat there you can get your parking ticket validated and not have to pay. The Embassy pool is really nice and big. I liked it better than the Marriott pool since it was easier to keep an eye on the kids. But the kids rated the slide at the Marriott a LOT better than the Embassy slide… The pool at the Embassy closes at 10, Marriott closes theirs at 9…
If you want to do the 'sales pitch,' sign up early in the week with the concierge and cut the best deal you can. They will give you $100 in gift certificates plus a discount on all tours booked through them (we didn't do it, we did a Marriott presentation instead). Depending on the tour, the discount can be off the wholesale rather than the retail price. Don't waste your time at the "Activities Warehouse' places all over Lahaina and elsewhere, they are also pitching the same resort. There is a Trilogy desk on Ka'anapali Beach near the Marriott offering Trilogy discounts for Marriott tours, and there is a guy in Lahaina working a discount tour desk for Sands of Kahana.
Best things we did on Maui: spending the night in Hana (and power hang gliding there), driving up to Haleakala, driving north of Ka’anapali and Kapalua around the north coast (buy Maui Revealed, check out the big blowhole and spend some time at the Olivine Pools). Black Rock was great, good rock jumping and decent snorkeling. Shave Ice at Lorraine’s (only open Memorial Day through Labor Day). Day trip to Lanai. Dinner at Mama’s Fish House ($$$$ but worth it).
Best tip I can think of: Buy a cooler and some ice packs, keep it in your car with water and lunch so you can end up 'wherever' without worrying about finding a restaurant. OHHH, one more tip: fill your car up in Lahaina/Kahului/Kihei before venturing anywhere north or east...
No need for a rollaway since our 11 yr old fit nicely in the two big comfy chairs put together, his older brother slept on the comfy couch. The unit is ideal and luxurious for a couple. For a family of four it is manageable if you can do with the one bathroom. The king bed in the master was very comfortable. The pillows weren’t as bad as Marriott, but not great. There is a big tv in both living room and master.
Kitchenette consists of a toaster, coffeemaker, microwave and fridge.
Our room was on one of the many 'atriums' in the hotel. The hallway floors in the atrium are done in ceramic tile, a bit uneven and with lots of grout in between. This makes for a lot of 'bump bump bump' every time someone wheels a cart or suitcase on any floor nearby... The hallways connecting the atriums (atria?) are carpeted, so perhaps may be a bit quieter, not sure.
This is a big 'hotel' resort. A couple of full service restaurants, bar, cafe, etc.. We liked the Ohana Grill, more for its setting than food, but the food was serviceable. The other restaurant had bad reviews and was expensive, so we didn't bother.
The view from the pool/beach/Ohana grill was gorgeous. The sun sets right in between Lanai and Molokai, can't get a better spot. I liked the view here better than the view at the beach at the Marriott Maui Ocean Club, a little further south, though the view there is beautiful, too, though it's just Lanai in the distance.
Extra charges: $12/day for parking (if you leave to go to Hana overnight, be sure to tell them ahead of time, they tried to stick us with the charge anyway); $10/day WiFi access (heftiest I've ever paid); $12/day pp for bkfst (optional); kids 1/2 price. If you want a rollaway, it’s $20/day. There is also a Hawaii occupancy tax that came to about $10/day (though we only paid $6/day at the Marriott, hmmm). Embassy used to charge $85 per room per week for bkfst, but Sunterra has done away with that.
They are offering promo stays, check their website for details, it might pay since the pesky daily charges may be included.
There is one free breakfast which is really a 'tour pitch.' It lasts forever and the food was just awful. We walked out. They are still offering the ‘manager’s cocktail reception’ with free drinks daily from 4 – 6 pm. Only catch is you can’t take your drink out of the cocktail area, and it’s not particularly nice to sit in there. I wonder if they keep you there since that’s where the concierge desk is for booking tours and getting signed up the ‘sales presentation…’ They are also offering a shorter ’15 minute update,’ for which they will give you 2 free nights at an Embassy hotel. Despite my aversion to the 'salesly' environment, I must say that Manon at the concierge desk was delightful and very helpful.
Beware they are still renovating rooms and won't be done until mid- to late October (’06), it can be noisy but they don't start til 9 am. Ask for a renovated room if traveling before then. The rooms with ocean views are saved for Embassy owners (not sure how Sunterra plays into this yet).
The beach is small right at the hotel. It gets a little bigger further to the right. It is not really on the big stretch of Ka’anapali Beach, despite the name. You have to drive to Whaler’s Village, but it’s a short ride. You will need to pay to park at Whaler’s Village, but if you eat there you can get your parking ticket validated and not have to pay. The Embassy pool is really nice and big. I liked it better than the Marriott pool since it was easier to keep an eye on the kids. But the kids rated the slide at the Marriott a LOT better than the Embassy slide… The pool at the Embassy closes at 10, Marriott closes theirs at 9…
If you want to do the 'sales pitch,' sign up early in the week with the concierge and cut the best deal you can. They will give you $100 in gift certificates plus a discount on all tours booked through them (we didn't do it, we did a Marriott presentation instead). Depending on the tour, the discount can be off the wholesale rather than the retail price. Don't waste your time at the "Activities Warehouse' places all over Lahaina and elsewhere, they are also pitching the same resort. There is a Trilogy desk on Ka'anapali Beach near the Marriott offering Trilogy discounts for Marriott tours, and there is a guy in Lahaina working a discount tour desk for Sands of Kahana.
Best things we did on Maui: spending the night in Hana (and power hang gliding there), driving up to Haleakala, driving north of Ka’anapali and Kapalua around the north coast (buy Maui Revealed, check out the big blowhole and spend some time at the Olivine Pools). Black Rock was great, good rock jumping and decent snorkeling. Shave Ice at Lorraine’s (only open Memorial Day through Labor Day). Day trip to Lanai. Dinner at Mama’s Fish House ($$$$ but worth it).
Best tip I can think of: Buy a cooler and some ice packs, keep it in your car with water and lunch so you can end up 'wherever' without worrying about finding a restaurant. OHHH, one more tip: fill your car up in Lahaina/Kahului/Kihei before venturing anywhere north or east...
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