Westin Kaanapali

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

I am at the Westin Kaanapali and will be here until Sunday. Maui still is my favorite island. It's wonderful just driving around the island.

I have a nice oceanview 1br unit. Nicely done in upscale Westin and slightly minimalist style.

In the past, I have always thought that the Westin the Maui MOC are the best timeshares on Maui. After staying here, I think I'd have to put the Marriott a bit higher on my favorites list. The primary reason for this is the location. The Westin is nice since it is somewhat removed from the hustle an bussle of Kaanapali Beach. But, I've decided thta I like that hustle and bussle. So, for location reasons, I prefer the Marriott.

The only issue with the Marriott is that the older units don't have full kitchens. The location makes up for that missing amenity.

I do have my own car here. I took the Hawaii SuperFerry. I'll add a post on that experience as well.

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

My experience on the Hawaii SuperFerry

I actually travelled on the SuperFerry yesterday from Oahu to Maui. It was a very nice trip.

I had to arrive before 6:00 am when they shut the gates. I was actually supposed to take it on Sunday, but I showed up at 6:05 am and they wouldn't let me on. Don't be late.

The SF left Oahu at about 6:30 am. We arrived to Maui at about 10 am. It took a full 1/2 hour to dock before we could exit the SF.

The main lounge is very nice. There is seating in 3 sections. A first class lounge up front was $20 for an upgrade. The mid and aft sections of the boat had seating along the sides, a cafe for food which was reasonably priced. I had a breakfast bento which included rice, spam, porteguese sausage and eggs. It was good for $5.

There is a gift shop, some game terminals, a kids play area, eating tables and very nice seating. Overall it was a very pleasant passenger lounge.

The hardest part of the trip was the stretch from Oahu to Molokai. For about 45 minutes we were rocking enough to make a lot of people seasick. It was calm when we travelled on the leeward side of Molokai. But, when we hit the Maui/Mololai channel, it got really rough again for another 45 minutes or so. I would highly recommend Bonine or dramamine. I didn't get sick myself, but I was on verge of it. I'm definitely taking some on the return trip on Sunday.

Got off the SF at 10:30 am. 4.5 hours from start to finish. It is very nice having your own car. And, you don't need to pack. Just put stuff in your trunk.

Would I do it again? Definitely if the price is right.

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

I just plugged in a week in Jan 2008 for comparison. Two passengers with a car is $296, plus $30 each extra if first class. The trip takes ~4 hours. Airfare is $188 for two, and is an hour flight. I think for me the air is still a better deal, especially since my wife is terrified of water. It's nice though to have an alternative for those that want it.

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

I just plugged in a week in Jan 2008 for comparison. Two passengers with a car is $296, plus $30 each extra if first class. The trip takes ~4 hours. Airfare is $188 for two, and is an hour flight. I think for me the air is still a better deal, especially since my wife is terrified of water. It's nice though to have an alternative for those that want it.

The thing you need to add to your comparison is the cost of a rental vehicle for the duration of time that you are there. Eitherwise, you can't get around. If you don't really drive, then you need to factor in $x amount for taxis plus the opportunity cost of not having the vehicle. When you add those all up, I think the comparison will be a lot closer, with the time factor being the only real difference.

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

I got the special $29 rate and the $55 rate of the car. So, total cost roundtrip including taxes was under $200. That is a smoking great rate. And, I didn't have to pack since I could just throw stuff into my car. That was worth something. Driving around in your own car is a lot better than renting a car. I think I'd be willing to pay about $100-200 more than the airfare plus rental car equivalent fee to travel this way.

Unfortunately, the teaser rates are supposed to go away after March. Jan - March has a $39 per person rate. It will be a lot more after that. But, I think they won't get much traffic if they keep it that high.

What I will do in the future is travel with my car and have my family that the cheap flights. Saves time for them and they don't have to take a chance at getting seasick.

It actually takes 4.5 hours. You have to get there 1/2 hour early to get your car on the SF. And, it takes them 1/2 hour to dock it. Adding the 3 1/2 hour trip and it's 4.5 hours total. You've got to really value having your own car in order for this to be worth it. I do.

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

Unfortunately, the teaser rates are supposed to go away after March. Jan - March has a $39 per person rate.

I put in Jan 19, with a return Jan 26, and apparently it didn't give me the teaser rate.

The thing you need to add to your comparison is the cost of a rental vehicle for the duration of time that you are there.

I had planned on a rental car. There is $55 included in the fare to transport the car. TO me, it's faster & cheaper to rent a car on one island, fly, and then rent another car on the second island.

As I said in my first reply, it's good there is an alternative to consider, and each individual can assess what works best for them.

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

I am at the Marriott until Friday, and I actually prefer the Westin. The reason is, plain and simple, quality. After staying twice at the Marriott, my impression of this resort is that Marriott has done everything it can to maximize its profit by putting the cheapest possible things at the resort, in order to make it look good on the surface, in a nice location, which it can sell for as much money as possible.

A prime example is the beds. The beds are cheap and so bad that anyone with any kind of sensitivity will be writhing in pain by the second night. My girlfriend came with me this trip, and without my even saying anything, she said to me on the first morning, "I don't know why, but my back really hurts."

This time I knew to ask for a bed board, which has made things a bit less painful. But the mattress is still sliding off the bed and there is still quite a bit of back pain each morning. The difference is that, unlike last time, now at least I can sleep through the night.

The furniture here is cheap. The restaurant, Longboards, is simply vile (and overpriced, to boot). Yet another way for Marriott to pass off slop onto its guests while charging them as if it were serving fine food. The fish served there is old. Not slightly old, but very old and fishy.

There is more, but the bottom line is that the Marriott charges premium prices for a mediocre product in a great location, and gets away with it because of the location. I would rather stay at a quality resort and drive a couple of miles to get to the heart of the action, rather than to stay in a mediocre resort in the center of things. Just a question of priorities, I guess.