longtail

OK. I just spoke with a travel agent to get a sense of pricing. Just found out that Kapalua Bay Hotel has just been sold. Since we are planning on going next June, she rcommended that we consider booking at the Ritz instead. What does everyone think? Should I stay with the Kapalua (even though it may not be the same next year), or consider the Ritz. Not sure if the Ritz would be too fancy or formal for us. Also not sure if it has that Hawaiian atmosphere.

iamq

I would not necessarily view the sale of KBH as a negative. It may end up being a positive. Did your agent give you any specific reasons why she thought you should not stay there? If that is where you want to stay, reserve there and then monitor the hotel over the year watching for "red flags". The hotel has gone through different owners and management over it's almost 30 years in existence. It is a lovely place.

longtail

iamq:

Yes - we really had our heart set on Kapalua. My agent (A Virtuoso) mentioned that she would not recommend booking there because she had no idea what would be happening over the next year regarding plans for renovations or if they would remain open. My gut tells me to stick with Kapalua, but I'd hate to find they were planning a major renovation during our stay. Is there a resource online to find out more about this and who bought the property?

longtail

Hi everyone. Just discovered one more option in Kauai that I wanted to get your opinion on. It was recommended that we check out the B&Bs on Kauai and I discovered Gloria's Spouting Horn in the Poipu area. From the website. it looks like a beautiful romantic place. Only downsides I can see is the beach is too rocky for swimming. A swimming beach is within walking distance, though. Any thoughts or experiences with this place, or other B&Bs in Kauai that we should consider?

bonniebroad

Longtail, I have never heard anything but absolute raves about Gloria's, and would love to stay there sometime myself. It's one I have my eye on......... it is expensive, but if you don't mind that, I understand it is perfection! The only thing that would sound more perfect to me is if she were on the North Shore (for a summer visit!)

longtail

That's great to know. Thanks, Bonniebroad.

here_today_gone2Maui

The Kapalua Bay Hotel has been purchased by Maui Land & Pineapple, the owners of the Kapalua Resort and the property surrounding the hotel and villas. By purchsing the hotel they hope to better integrate the property into the resort. This is part of their master plan for world domination, er, I mean their new vision, their shift of focus.

The hotel is scheduled to be closed in the fall for renovations, but the actual dates have not yet been determined.

Travelermebe

Something must be going on at the Kapalua Hotel. Costco is offering a 7 night package for a partial ocean view room, includes breakfast and rental car for $1171, including tax. Travel between 9/1/04 and 12/15/04

bonniebroad

Travelermebe, that's per person, right? From Costco........... must be. Even so, sounds pretty good for Kapalua!

Travelermebe

Yes, that is per person

longtail

heretodaygone2maui: Thanks so much for the info. I hadn't been able to find out anything online about who purchased the property.

I'm guessing the Costco rate is for those that don't mind staying at Kapalua during renovation time.

soquel

In May of this year we stayed at the Hyatt, the Sheraton, and also the Princeville for our 30th anniversary. We just couldn't decide between them. At the Hyatt the rooms, food, pools and atmosphere were fantastic; it really felt like an Hawaiian hotel. The Sheraton was special in that our room was right on the shore, the waves were so loud that we had to shut our sliding glass window to hear each other.......a wonderful problem to have..but the food wasn't great there. Many great restaurants nearby though. The Princeville was beautiful, fantastic view, wonderful room (they upgraded us since is was a big anniv. and delivered champagne) but was almost too stuffy for us. In a way it worked out great for us going to all three places, they each offered different things and different beautiful views. Now we are going again in Sept. and are renting a condo, just to try and do it at a more reasonable rate! Have a wonderful trip!

longtail

Soquel:

Thanks for your input. It's nice to get a sense of how these places compare.

Now we have a new issue. I just got the costs back from my travel agent. We need to keep our total vacation budget at $7000. A combination of the Kapalua and Hyatt or Kapalua and Princeville is between $8600 and $8900. This is 10 nights in an ocean view room and includes round trip airfare from Albany, NY, all breakfasts, car rental on both islands, $1000 food budget for 10 days and $500 for additional activities. Obviously $8000+ is over our budget, so we're investigating our other options.

1. Kapalua Bay and Gloria's B&B in Kauai for 10 days. Total cost is $7400.
2.Princeville for 7 nights only would be $6470.
3.Gloria's B&B for 10 nights would be $7520 or $5870 for 7 nights.

Here are my questions:
1. We had our hearts set on seeing both Maui and Kauai. We could choose Kapalua and Gloria's, but Gloria's is not commissionable. If my agent is working with a supplier to obtain a package rate, she would probably have to book Gloria's separately. She's probably also need to charge a service fee and I'm guessing we wouldn't get a package rate. We could probably swing $7400 but anything more would be too much.

2.We could choose to stay at either the Princeville or Glorias for only 7 nights. For our only trip to Hawaii, would we miss seeing Maui? Also is 7 days enough time in Hawaii as we are traveling from the east coast.

3. Should we consider saving and going to Hawaii in 2006. That way we could afford 10 days at both resorts.

4. Any other options of places we should look at that would keep our total budget at $7000?

5. Also, is $100 per day for dinners for 2 a reasonable budget? Breakfasts are already covered in the package.

Sorry for all the questions, guys. Thanks for your patience and your help.

bonniebroad

Longtail, I would go with Kapalua and Gloria's, booking Gloria's myself! Your travel agent should not complain about your doing that, considering the commission she's getting on other things. The travel agents I've known will work with you. (As friends, not used them. It really is easy to do yourself, the whole thing, Longtail, if you might want to think about that.) I wouldn't give up both islands. They're a great combo! Good luck, happy planning!

Travelermebe

Might I suggest that you consider staying in a condo rather than a resort. There are very nice condos on both the north and south shore of Kauai. On the south shore, I particularly like Kiahuna Plantation. I'm sure fodorites could suggest some others.

iamq

travelmebe suggestion for a condo is a good one. You can stay at a really nice condo on either island for around $300.00. Whaler's Cove in Poipu is a first class place and is a pretty good value through www.kauairentals.com.
Fodorites are do-it-yourself types so I am going to suggest that you try to see what kind of rates you can get on you own. My guess is that you will be able to do better than what you agent is saying. If you become a starwood preferred member you can save 35%. Good luck.

iamq

longtail,
Just checked starwood. Got a spg rate 35% off for 5 nights at Princeville July 2005 for $387.00 a night ocean view. 5 nights at Kapalua Bay for $358.00 a night ocean view. If your not that interested in ocean view, you could save more. Hope this helps.
-Bill

travelinwifey

Longtail, there is a better deal for 6 nights at the KB hotel on Luxurylink.com. 6 nights ocean view and breakfast for $1800 or so tax included. A lot of savings with this package which may leave extra $$ or nights for the other islands. You cannot use a travel agent for this but it us your vacation

longtail

Thanks for the advice. I checked out Whaler's Cove and it's quite nice. It's about the same price wise as Gloria's B&B which would be a nice alternative to the high end resorts.

Regarding Starwood - Can you receive the discount without having previously earned Starwood Points?

Luxury Link is a great idea. $1800 for 6 nights is an amazing deal for the same type of room (vs $2400 for 5 nights). That would be doable.

As a last option, is there another condo in Maui as nice as Whaler's Cove that is close to the ocean of ocean front? Any preferences?

iamq

longtail,
To answer your last question: Makena Surf, or Kaanapali Ali'i are all high end and equally nice. Makena Surf is the one that is the most isolated. Kaanapli Ali'i is the middle of the action in Kaanapali. Have never seen it , but a poster here recently raved about the Polo Beach Club in Wailea.
-Bill