Honeymoon on Oahu?

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

No, not this old fogie

My niece is getting married next March and we decided to give them a honeymoon at the place of their choice and they chose Oahu, specifically the Honolulu area.

I'm familiar with Marriott KoOlina, but they would prefer to be more in the middle of the action. The bride is 28 and the groom is 23.

So far, I've sent them info on Hilton Hawaiian Village.

We're going to use the bonus week from our Marriott Grand Chateau holiday week deposited with SFX as our trader and I'm looking for a 1BR unit with a Sunday check-in. From a quick perusal of RCI and II resorts, the Sunday check-in seems to be the problem in many cases.

OK, I don't make requests very often, but, since a Marriott appears to be out, I'm in uncharted territory. Any ideas?

Pat

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

So far, I've sent them info on Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Pat I've been looking at things for a while and I have absolutely NEVER seen Hilton Hawaiian on-line.

Can you talk them into another island maybe Maui or Big Island?

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

Hmm... I tend to agree with your suggestion, and did make a half-hearted effort, but I didn't want to sound too "pushy" with our gift. They want to see Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, Diamond Head and the other side of the island, where my wife and I got married (Kahana Bay). I could suggest wiki-wiki for day trip to Oahu, but I don't know if they'd want to travel around that much in one week (which is all the time they can take off from work).

The two timeshares in Honolulu that SFX lists as "regulars" are below:

http://www.vacationinternationale.com/resorts/rk.html
http://www.imperialofwaikiki.com/ihvc/index.htm

I would also like to add that the newlyweds are not "sophisticated" travelers, so aren't looking for SPG/MVCI/HGVC type accomodations. If they have a clean condo with a kitchen they can cook in and be reasonably close to a beach and some fun places, they'll be quite happy.

I'm assuming March in Hawaii (specifically March 18-25) is shoulder season, given when Easter is next year. Corrections are appreciated.

Regarding HHV, as SFX acquires units differently than we search for them online with II and RCI, I'm assuming that it doesn't hurt to ask

I want them to feel that I've exhausted all resources in finding them a nice accomodation in their preferred location before I start telling them where they should stay

Pat

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

Pat,
I did an RCI check for the time you are looking for with a pretty good trader and did not have anything show up.
Fairfield has opened up their new property in Waikiki but as far as I know they are only booking it with Fairfield points right now, but you could ask your exchange company about it.
Their are also a couple of the Outrigger properties that book thru Fairfield and I think can also be booked thru Trading Places (don't know if you can use Trading Places or not) but these are hotel rooms not condos.
Most of what I see pop up thru RCI for Oahu are usually hotel rooms or sometime studios with partial kitchen.
Actually I just checked again with RCI and don't see anything in Hawaii for those dates.
Sorry couldn't be more help.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I stayed at the Imperial a few years back. It is right in the center of it all so the location is good. The rooms are hit or miss. The first room we had was a nightmare. The 2nd room we got 2 days later was nice.

Out of the 4 islands we liked Kauai the best and Oahu the least. but if they want more excitement then Oahu is the place. They might however feel that they are in Japan.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Hmm... I tend to agree with your suggestion, and did make a half-hearted effort, but I didn't want to sound too "pushy" with our gift. They want to see Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, Diamond Head and the other side of the island, where my wife and I got married (Kahana Bay).

I want them to feel that I've exhausted all resources in finding them a nice accomodation in their preferred location before I start telling them where they should stay

Pat

Ken makes a good suggestion when he brought up Trading Places. They seem to have more Oahu resorts than others.



Celebrity Resorts Waikiki — Honolulu, Oahu
Hawaiian Princess Makaha — Waianae, Oahu
The Imperial Hawaii — Waikiki, Oahu
Makaha Resort Golf Club — Waianae, Oahu
Royal Kuhio Resort — Honolulu, Oahu

I really can't advise as I've never stayed in a timeshare in Oahu ( we stayed 3 nites in the Outrigger Reef before our trade into Kauai ).

The Waiane properties look very nice and IF we were to spend a week on that island I would prefer to be there rather than Waikiki. Waikiki was New York City on the beach.

http://www.tradingplaces.com/rentals...properties.asp

and Dial An Exchange You can join free and you only pay the exchange fee when confirmed $125 for Hawaii:

USA Hawaii Oahu Celebrity Resorts Waikiki
USA Hawaii Oahu Hawaiian Princess
USA Hawaii Oahu Hawaiian Sun Holidays At
USA Hawaii Oahu Imperial Hawaiian Vacation Club
USA Hawaii Oahu Kuhio Banyan
USA Hawaii Oahu Lifetime In Hawai / Royal Kuhio
USA Hawaii Oahu Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club
USA Hawaii Oahu Royal Aloha Vacation Club/Waikiki
USA Hawaii Oahu Royal Hawaiian Adventure Club
USA Hawaii Oahu Sunterra Resorts Royal Kuhio
USA Hawaii Oahu Sweetwater At Waikiki Banyan Tower II
USA Hawaii Oahu Tri-com Imperial Hawaii Resort
USA Hawaii Oahu VI - Fairway Villas
USA Hawaii Oahu VI - Royal Kuhio
USA Hawaii Oahu Waikiki Banyan
USA Hawaii Oahu zzLeisure Resorts White Sands

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Remember we have Hawaii timeshare exchange here. They might be able to get what you want. Sonya from HTSE has been very helpful.

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

Thanks for the suggestions....

As SFX exchanges into the Royal Kuhio, I'll check that one out more.

The only issue I have with the other exchange companies is that I'd have to deposit a week with them to get the exchange. Since all we own is NCV, other than that MGC GOT I picked up for this deal, I don't particularly want to deposit a good Marriott interval for a lesser resort. I wouldn't think twice if they wanted to go to MOC or MAW or Princeville or KoOlina, but so far they don't.

I'm trying to save a couple of our good weeks to get 2 weeks in Hawaii to spend a nice anniversary in the islands where we got married

I sent my niece the link to this thread so she can read your opinions. We still have a long ways until the wedding, so I'm not in any hurry.

Thanks again!

Pat

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

Why don't you rent something? It's so much simpler and you get what you pay for like an ocean view or ocean front room.

What's wrong with a hotel room for only two people? If you give up your 2 br NCV's condo, you will only be trading down. JMHO.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

How about Trading places Hot deals for rentals?

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

Why don't you rent something? It's so much simpler and you get what you pay for like an ocean view or ocean front room.

What's wrong with a hotel room for only two people? If you give up your 2 br NCV's condo, you will only be trading down. JMHO.

Good point Emmy

However, this trip is precisely why I deposited the MGC interval with SFX, in order to get a bonus week based on its trade power that I could use to provide my relatives a nice honeymoon at a price I can afford (the price of the bonus week). If you know of any place, even a hotel room, that I can get for a week for 399.00 (the price of the bonus week), I'm listening very intently

If exchanging becomes problematical (and I am waiting for the betrothed to narrow down the choices I give them), then I will surely look at rentals. This is why I started early

Adding, it looks like, in the Waikiki area, the Imperial Hawaiian is only property Trading Places has listed in its rental area with any regularity. It appears Sunday is an acceptable day for check-in. I'm seeing private rentals for less money than Trading Places listings, but perhaps not as well timed.

Pat

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

Pat,
I just did an RCI check for the time you are looking for and nothing showed up.

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

Pat,
I just did an RCI check for the time you are looking for and nothing showed up.

Thanks for that. I'm assuming, given the location, that more opportunities will present themselves at the 6 month mark. Encouraging my niece to view the process might cause a wider search area to become of interest, as their time is inflexible, but location can be.

Good exercise for me too, since I'm used to just booking our intervals and forgetting about it

Pat

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I'm seeing private rentals for less money than Trading Places listings, but perhaps not as well timed.

Pat

As a premier access member in TPI I get and additional 25% off "Hot Deals" if you decide to go that route. I'd be happy to help you out.

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

In April, SFX booked me into the new Fairfield Hawaii at Waikiki for June 2007 - 1 Bd. Perhaps that might be an option - I don't really know when the Fairfield will open, but SFX seems to be able to book next year in that resort.... Noelle