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How Do You Like DRI’s Version Of The Embassy/KBC?
I have been going to the Embassy/ KBC since the late 1990’s. I became an Owner in 2001. I can remember that for me a Big Plus about the Embassy was that the Embassy was Not like any other timeshare place I had been at before. I have been an owner of a timeshare week since the 1980’s. I have made over 97 exchanges.
I had never stayed at any timeshare Resorts that had daily clean up and towel exchange. I had never stayed at a timeshare Resort that had a daily Manager’s Reception with free drinks and Entertainment. I had never stayed at a timeshare resort that had daily and nightly Entertainment. I can think of only one resort that had a breakfast buffet and that was in Germany. And that same Resort had a Fine Restaurant for dinner. I saw a review in Trip Advisor and the statement was made that the Embassy/KBC was nothing special now without these services. There was nothing to make it stand out now. And I have to agree. But let’s hope DRI will make it special again in the future.
I would like to address each service that no longer is a part of the Embassy/KBC.
1) Daily clean up and towel exchange.
Towels don’t dry very well in Hawaii. I feel that not having a daily towel exchange (or at least every other day towel exchange) is a negative without having a washer/dryer in the unit. A resort that many consider a level below the KBC, Kahana Falls, has both daily towel exchange and in unit washers/dryers.
The Embassy has washers/dryers on the even floors and they are always in use. It can be very hard at times to find one available.
As an owner I really don’t like the looks of garbage being placed outside the door. The staff does try to remove it as soon as possible. But there always seemed to be garbage outside a door on our floor whenever we went out.
2) Manager’s Reception with free drinks and entertainment.
I’m sure that some people like the free dinks. But I never thought that they were very good. But I did like the Hawaiian Entertainment. Most of the time the same person or group played at the outside Grill about a hour later. The Manager’s Reception was also a time to get to know the other owners. This also was a time to talk with the owners about the Embassy/KBC and how they like changes under DRI. They don't have an Owners meeting at the KBC anymore. So, over all I would put down another negative for not have the Manager’s Reception.
3) Not Having Nightly Entertainment and a Find Dining Restaurant.
I can not believe that this was done for the benefit of the owners and the resort. The Ohana Grill is open but the menu is almost the same as for lunch. The food was good. There is now nothing to keep you at the Resort at night. So, what will most people do? They will go the Whaler’s Village. There are many Restaurants there, including the Hula Girl with nightly Entertainment. But there is also the Marriott's Maui Ocean Club. There are also several stands in Whaler's Village "Hawking" the Marriott's Maui Ocean Club and the Westin’s timeshare Resorts.
What do you have at the Marriot? A very nice find dining Restaurant with Nightly Entertainment.
So why would the DRI management think it better NOT to keep the possible timeshare buyers at the KBC? Where would you buy? At a Resort that has a good location and nice rooms but nothing to keep you there after 5:00 pm. Or at a Resort with a great location and many reasons (Shops, Restaurants, and Nightly Entertainment) not to get on the road after 5:00 pm. So again I would put a negative for the lack on a Fine Dining Restaurant and nightly Entertainment.
4) No Breakfast Buffet.
Breakfast for everyone in your unit (Up to 4 Adults) for $70 for the whole week. That is what we had when I bought.
When we go on a timeshare vacation we normally eat breakfast in and have lunch and dinner out. The Units at the Embassy/KBC have a partial kitchen. Eating breakfast in your unit is harder to do with a partial kitchen. And the garbage is then left outside the unit door. If you eat at the Ohana Grill, the breakfast takes forever because of size of the Grill's kitchen.
Again, I feel that not having the Breakfast Buffet is another negative.
So over all, my vacation experience was much better when the Resort was the Embassy. I think DRI needs to rethink the changes at KBC.
They only thing I can say is better at the Sunterra/KBC now is the updated rooms.
Walt
This is another Trip Advisor Review.
Kaanapali Beach Club - Traveler Reviews - Somewhat disappointing for the price - TripAdvisor
Our big complaint though was that for a "resort", we were surprised that there was very little going on. There was certainly enough to do with the beach etc. but when it rained, and it did several times, the hotel canceled planned activities (a "dive-in" movie which our daughter was really looking forward to) without substituting anything. This was our first night at the hotel, it was raining, there was nothing going on and it got us off to a bad start. In general, I would recommend the hotel with the understanding that you're pretty much on your own.
I had never stayed at any timeshare Resorts that had daily clean up and towel exchange. I had never stayed at a timeshare Resort that had a daily Manager’s Reception with free drinks and Entertainment. I had never stayed at a timeshare resort that had daily and nightly Entertainment. I can think of only one resort that had a breakfast buffet and that was in Germany. And that same Resort had a Fine Restaurant for dinner. I saw a review in Trip Advisor and the statement was made that the Embassy/KBC was nothing special now without these services. There was nothing to make it stand out now. And I have to agree. But let’s hope DRI will make it special again in the future.
I would like to address each service that no longer is a part of the Embassy/KBC.
1) Daily clean up and towel exchange.
Towels don’t dry very well in Hawaii. I feel that not having a daily towel exchange (or at least every other day towel exchange) is a negative without having a washer/dryer in the unit. A resort that many consider a level below the KBC, Kahana Falls, has both daily towel exchange and in unit washers/dryers.
The Embassy has washers/dryers on the even floors and they are always in use. It can be very hard at times to find one available.
As an owner I really don’t like the looks of garbage being placed outside the door. The staff does try to remove it as soon as possible. But there always seemed to be garbage outside a door on our floor whenever we went out.
2) Manager’s Reception with free drinks and entertainment.
I’m sure that some people like the free dinks. But I never thought that they were very good. But I did like the Hawaiian Entertainment. Most of the time the same person or group played at the outside Grill about a hour later. The Manager’s Reception was also a time to get to know the other owners. This also was a time to talk with the owners about the Embassy/KBC and how they like changes under DRI. They don't have an Owners meeting at the KBC anymore. So, over all I would put down another negative for not have the Manager’s Reception.
3) Not Having Nightly Entertainment and a Find Dining Restaurant.
I can not believe that this was done for the benefit of the owners and the resort. The Ohana Grill is open but the menu is almost the same as for lunch. The food was good. There is now nothing to keep you at the Resort at night. So, what will most people do? They will go the Whaler’s Village. There are many Restaurants there, including the Hula Girl with nightly Entertainment. But there is also the Marriott's Maui Ocean Club. There are also several stands in Whaler's Village "Hawking" the Marriott's Maui Ocean Club and the Westin’s timeshare Resorts.
What do you have at the Marriot? A very nice find dining Restaurant with Nightly Entertainment.
So why would the DRI management think it better NOT to keep the possible timeshare buyers at the KBC? Where would you buy? At a Resort that has a good location and nice rooms but nothing to keep you there after 5:00 pm. Or at a Resort with a great location and many reasons (Shops, Restaurants, and Nightly Entertainment) not to get on the road after 5:00 pm. So again I would put a negative for the lack on a Fine Dining Restaurant and nightly Entertainment.
4) No Breakfast Buffet.
Breakfast for everyone in your unit (Up to 4 Adults) for $70 for the whole week. That is what we had when I bought.
When we go on a timeshare vacation we normally eat breakfast in and have lunch and dinner out. The Units at the Embassy/KBC have a partial kitchen. Eating breakfast in your unit is harder to do with a partial kitchen. And the garbage is then left outside the unit door. If you eat at the Ohana Grill, the breakfast takes forever because of size of the Grill's kitchen.
Again, I feel that not having the Breakfast Buffet is another negative.
So over all, my vacation experience was much better when the Resort was the Embassy. I think DRI needs to rethink the changes at KBC.
They only thing I can say is better at the Sunterra/KBC now is the updated rooms.
Walt
This is another Trip Advisor Review.
Kaanapali Beach Club - Traveler Reviews - Somewhat disappointing for the price - TripAdvisor
Our big complaint though was that for a "resort", we were surprised that there was very little going on. There was certainly enough to do with the beach etc. but when it rained, and it did several times, the hotel canceled planned activities (a "dive-in" movie which our daughter was really looking forward to) without substituting anything. This was our first night at the hotel, it was raining, there was nothing going on and it got us off to a bad start. In general, I would recommend the hotel with the understanding that you're pretty much on your own.
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