FYI: I received a call from the Four Seasons last Friday informing me that they are beginning construction on the Spa center and Ferraro's. Construction begins Sept 3 and continues through December. Some spa services will not available, others will be available in one of their ballrooms. FS will not compensate you at this time. Unfortunately, I have my honeymoon reservation there for Sept 2 - 9. They do not know what times of day the construction will be going on but it will be heard from the pool/beach and maybe even your room.

WE have booked our honeymoon for the FS as well during the week of Sept 1- Sept 8. My travel agent seems to think it will not be too much of an impediment...

That's good to hear!

Assume the spa could still do the massages on the beach? Any thoughts?

I did email the hotel regarding any noise issues or other disruptions.

Thanks for the heads up.

I assume they still can on the beach. The only thing they told me was that they would be available in the ballroom and in your own room.

I can't imagine that the four seasons would jeopordize their stellar reputation....the massages will go on and I bet we won't even know that there is construction going on. This is the four seasons, not the holiday inn!

I just talked with Four Seasons (800 number). I was informed that guests in Sept. and Oct. '02 will receive a $50.00 per day credit to be used in the hotel. I was told that it may be "noisy" in the mornings.

I have a reservation for my honeymoon on Sept. 15-20. I am now considering a different hotel.

Does anyone know if the fitness center will be open during the renovation? Sounds like spa services can be done elsewhere, but like to be able to work off those big dinners.

the letter said that the fitness center would be open and that the only closures would be the steam room and some locker rooms

I am arriving at the FS Maui on Sept 8-14 for my honeymoon also and am very concerned about this construction.

I was not notified about this construction. Any ideas why I was not told? I really hate the idea of jackhammers rattling and lots of noise when I'm sitting at the pool. I want to call them to talk about the potential problem.

G-
i was informed by my travel agent who booked the vacation for us. THe construction is limited to the spa area and will not interfere with guests, as stated in the letter and as they told me on the phone. I don't think it' much to worry about

My travel agent received the formal written notification from Four Seasons. It sounded very ominous. When a hotel agrees to reimburse guests in advance, it's a good indication that the construction will cause a considerable inconvenience to guests. As a result, I have cancelled my reservation at the Four Seasons from Sept. 15-20th. In fact, I have completely changed my honeymoon plans. I am skipping Maui in favor of Kauai. We will be staying in a Junior Suite at Princeville (for less than the FS due to 5th night free promo). Thoughts?

Heard great things about Kauai and debating on doing the same (booked there at end of November so not sure if it will be better by then).

Kauai is less commercial than Maui (ie possibly less to do) but think it's more nature / hike oriented and should be great for a honeymoon. Friend just got back and highly recommended

the letter actually said nothing about reimbursement and when I called the 1800 number, they knew nothing of such a reimbursement...

Just got my message from the 4S Maui, where I am (was?!) staying for 8 days during my honeymoon on Maui.

Among the highlights:
"improvements start 9/3 and will continue for 'several weeks'"

"there may be noise during the day, and at times excessive noise as they, um, prepare to, um, enlarge those two areas"

"the health spa will remain open in a relocated area"

"ferraro's restaurant is closing, but our two other restaurants will still serve their full menus"

funny thing, they never used the word "construction" once.

I'm so disappointed.

THIS SOUNDS AWFUL. The health spa is simply the back breaker for me. I intended to literally spend hours in the gym every day, and using the steam/sauna/yoga, etc was high on my list of reasons to book the Four Seasons. I'm sure that all of these things will be available in a basement room on the property that has all the romance of a dungeon. I'm sure that I'll be able to work out, but I was really looking forward to working out "in style".

I'm canceling my reservation.

Let's put it in perspective people. I'm booked there also, but you're acting like they're going to set you up in tents out back by the parking lot. If they didn't upgrade the hotel you'd complain about that also.

Our decision is to stay there (making sure our room is far from the construction) and working out and using the spa at the Grand Wialeah. Still would rather stay at the FS than the larger properties.

Just got off the phone with reservations at (800) 334-6284 x59 (Maui Four Seasons direct #) and they said the following additional items

$50 credit per day per room during the length of the construction

barriers put up around the construction (yuck)

relocating the spa and the weight room

cardio room is in the same location (thus making my sweaty body have to trudge across the resort inbetween workout)

they will try to host special promotions such as beach BBQs to make up for the lack of Ferraro's

noise from 9am to 5pm every day

i can cancel my room up to 14 days in advance.

i have asked them to switch my reservation to 4S Big Island but was unable to confirm availability at this time due to being directly in touch with Maui.

I agree. I think it sounds awful too. I don't have reservations there but if I did, you can bet I'd change them. Lots of other luxurious properties to choose from..

awfly:
If you are planning to spend "literally, hours" of your vacation in a gym, why bother even going to Maui? What a waste of money! Maybe it would be a better honeymoon if you went to your local Gold's Gym. Cheaper too!

sounds like your fat ass hasn't seen a gym in years. It's lots of fun to spend time in the gym, especially a nice gym. Doing yoga with my bride was something that we both very much looked forward to.

the main issue here is that I made my plans unaware of these "improvements" and now I'm in the final wedding planning stages and I'm not pumped up to have to search for a new hotel, especially this close to the honeymoon when availability is certain to be low and prices much higher than when i made my reservation.