How do you get a good ocean view room at the Cliffs in Princeville?
 

Hello - My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon for next June and it looks like the Cliffs are just what we are looking for. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to get one of the ocean view rooms? From the photos of the resort it looks like there are two buildings that would have better views then others.
Thanks!

Personally I have had the best luck in getting exactly the room I want by dealing directly with the hotel. Get someone on the phone who is friendly and knowledgeable. If the person you're talking to isn't helpful hang up and call at a different time and get someone else who is!

By dealing directly with the hotel you can ask detailed questions about the views, buildings, whether rooms are near elevators, details that often a travel agent won't know, and the internet is the worst way to get the room you want, because it doesn't answer any questions at all!

I planned our recent family trip to Italy independently, and I e-mailed the hotels directly (with the time difference and the language problems it's easier to e-mail Italy than to call on the phone.) I got a correspondence going and they answered all my questions and I got exactly the rooms I wanted...I wanted rooms that are quiet at night but with a nice view in the daytime, and that's exactly what I got!

good luck. I'd say either find a really good travel agent, who is willing to ask those questions about the view for you, or else do it yourself. don't use the internet because complaints I see on-line about people who didn't get what they wanted usually booked though the internet. If you dont' care what kind of room you get then the internet would be okay to use.

Agree with Melissa.

In order to insure I get the room I want, I pay for it and have the hotel reservationist write DO NOT MOVE on my reservation.

I also call back serveral times to make sure the notation is there.

Also, the hotel reservationist probably knows which room is best.

Don't wait. Reserve now as June is peak honeymoon time and the best rooms go first.

One more thought. It is very useful to have a good travel agent, and here are some tips on finding one.

I tried different travel agents, including ones at AAA, until I found one I really like. she's never pushy but very knowledgeable. she finds out what I like and tries to match me up with something suitable. I found out she's actually the top salesperson at her branch, and I can see why. She's really good and doesn't NEED to be pushy! She's busy all the time, and always has a smile. She's very patient.

One thing I can tell you is if a travel agent is pushing you, that's probably because they are not making enough sales. Time to leave fast!

Anyway she always asks specific questions when she calls for me like, what is a partial view at a certain hotel? She knows which airlines are having problems with cancelling a lot of flights for example.

trb:

Aloha from the north shore of Kaua`i...

Since the units at The Cliffs are each individually owned, you'll be renting either from a VRBO ad, or from a vacation rental firm. Online, these folks usually offer photos -- be sure to look closely, and read their description of the view, carefully. :-)

With regard that particular property, you're right about the views -- one building is mountain/garden only. And in checking the sites of a few rental companies, I saw that the price differential could be a big clue. No view seems to run about $130/day; oceanview is about $175/day and up (this was for the 1-bedroom units).

auntiemaria, even though each individual unit at The Cliffs is individually owned, Castle Resorts is the onsite property management company and it is run exactly like a hotel.

Being in the hotel business, I know someone who worked there a while back. Trb doesn't have to go through a condo rental agency or VRBO however she may get a better deal with either of those.

The downside would be lack of regular hotel amenities like daily maid service and linens.

GoTravel:

Mahalo for that info -- it was news to me. Soooooooo hard to keep track of which agency is managing which complex here anymore! :">

The only reason I knew that was because the resort I was the DoSM of worked the same way. Our units were individually owned but we were the onsite property management company.

I miss the hotel biz!

I totally recommend Cliffs 4-207. Stayed there last year, fresh, new, ac, Kauai Vacation Rentals is their management company. Also listed at vrbo.com. You have chosen your destination well! Happy honeymoon!

Thanks everyone for your great advice. :)