Boy was that quick! We got our Hawaiian exchange!

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Last thursday I reserved and then did a request first exchange from Marriott's Grand Chateau to three different Hawaiian Marriott's. This morning, just 6 days after my request, I looked at my I.I. account and saw that we were confirmed into MAW for week 10 of next year. Needless to say my wife is excited.

For reference, we exchanged a 2 bedroom master suite of a 3 bedroom Grand Chateau unit, week 10 (should be NASCAR week next year). We are condirmed into a 2 bedroom MAW week on Kauai. IMO, not a bad exchange and surprising it came through so quick.

The one bedroom portion of our 3 bedroom MGC was put up as a deposit first with a request to exchange into Timber Lodge for the last 3 weeks of July. I'm sort of excitied to see how fast that exchange comes through once owners at Timber Lodge can start reserving weeks and depositing them with Interval.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

It's a great resort. I love it there. Have fun.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Doug, I found the Waiohai map I was telling you about today but it has no numbers. We stayed in Hale 8 and our condo number was #8308. We liked the view and the palm trees should be taller now so more ocean view. I have a Waiohai album under Picture Trail. We also liked the resort very much.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Thanks Emmy. Looks like the majority of the units are going to be "Island View" or interior looking. This is nice to know so we won't be dissapointed when we arrive. From the way the buildings are laid out, it appears Marriott has done a good job of not having parking lot views with this resort. It appears that almost every unit will look over landscaping.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Our first Hawaii exchange was in 1999. Since we were already searching online then, there was no waiting . . . it was immediate.

As to the excitement, I can relate to that. I was over at a neighbor's house, probably planning a trip to SOCAL with them, to Carlsbad, for a Chiefs road game against the Chargers, and they thought what I was doing was pretty neat.

At that time we only had our original crappy Orlando traders and when I was playing around on their computer, and saw that we actually pulled something in Kauai, I was glazed and amazed. I ran home and asked DW if she wanted to go to Hawaii.

Why of course!!!

Before it was over I booked a second week and we invited her brother and his wife to join us. Then the week before we left I upgraded from 1-bedroom units not on the beach to 2-bedroom Gold Crowns on the beach. We wound up with oceanfront oceanview both weeks.

Anyway, the first day I booked Hawai I also booked our first trade to SOCAL, to the Carlsbad Inn, so it was a memorable day.

I was sorting and pitching the other day and that Hawaii trip was really, really memorable. I pitched my letters to RCI, Poipu Point and the Hawaii Real Estate Commission. Then there was the file of correspondence with the Hawaii Bureau of Investigation concerning the fraudulent air fare I purchased, and the vendor who turned up dead during the investigation!!!!

[thinze3 Member Find all posts View Profile Close thinze3]

Thanks Emmy. Looks like the majority of the units are going to be "Island View" or interior looking. This is nice to know so we won't be dissapointed when we arrive. From the way the buildings are laid out, it appears Marriott has done a good job of not having parking lot views with this resort. It appears that almost every unit will look over landscaping.

Doug, some units are more quiet than others. If you want quiet and have confirmed into an Islanview, I would suggest an interior facing unit in Hale 5 or 6. This is what I booked for a Tugger that I did a direct exchange with. She had top floor (4th) facing the Lagoon with a good view of the mountains off to the right.

There is an adult pool just outside Hale 7 and a kids play area just outside Hale 8. I personally ask for Hale 8 rooms 8402 or 8404. I love the angled view and the closeness to the water.

Congrats on the trade. After reading so many of Emmy's posts, I hope to make my next trip in March instead of the usual summer trip.

Here is another aerial view.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

If you're there next March, you might just run into us. We're there March 6th thru the 13th.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

That was quick....Good for you! Enjoy!

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

When I was last at the Marriott Waiohai, I was in Hale 6 in a higher level unit. It was fantastic. I could see the ocean and most of the pools from my unit.

[thinze3 Member Find all posts View Profile Close thinze3]

If you're there next March, you might just run into us. We're there March 6th thru the 13th.

Unfortunately, I own EOY odd at Waiohai.
Ko Olina and Westin Ka'anapali this year, however.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Speaking of Hawaii, things sure have changed.

Peak season is the same as SW FL, January-March, and it usetabe that you never saw anything available in Hawaii after Dec. 15.

Well, next year there is nothing available (through RCI) in SW FL Jan-Mar, but there are 93 exchanges available in Hawaii.

Wow!!

Must be the long drive . . . and the car getting wet.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Speaking of Hawaii, things sure have changed.

Peak season is the same as SW FL, January-March, and it usetabe that you never saw anything available in Hawaii after Dec. 15.

Well, next year there is nothing available (through RCI) in SW FL Jan-Mar, but there are 93 exchanges available in Hawaii.

Wow!!

Must be the long drive . . . and the car getting wet.

When we were there last January, we were told by the locals that we were there during the rainy slow season. Judging by how empty the beaches were I couldn't disagree with them but, I could wonder how much was "slow" season and how much was just the economy gone south. I know a co-worked was amazed that she could see significant stretches of sand without a body on it soaking up sun.

They have snorkel kits for trucks forging rivers. You think they've come out with a kit for cars driving to Hawaii?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Yes, it is rainy season, too, but it has always been high season.

It rained almost every day we were there, for two weeks. But it was busy.