Marriott Resort...Maui or Kauai?
 

I plan to spend one week in Kauai and one week in Maui next April. I will rent a condo on one island and stay at either the Maui Marriott Resort (Lahaina) or the Kauai Marriott Resort (Lihue). I only have enough "rewards" points to stay free at either Marriott for one week only. Has anyone stayed at or visited BOTH properties? I believe both have nice pools and are on the beach. I have a 9-year-old son who likes to swim. Which of the two resorts is nicer? (bigger pool, nicer views, nicer rooms, more to do in the area). Also, while I'm at it, any suggestions for a condo on either isle? Price is a minor factor. Prefer laundry facilities in unit and nice pool or close to ocean. Kitchen preferred. It should sleep 3 (sofa bed ok for son). Thanks for any input [email protected]

if i'm not mistaken, there is a second Marriott on Maui, that would be the choice for me...makena beach!

I agree with the above poster...the best Marriott is the one in Wailea (near Makeena). I believe it used to be an Outrigger or Aston. The one on Kaanapali (Lahaina) is also nice, but it is on a very busy beach and is more suitable for people who want to be right smack in the action...

Hi there,
I wouldn't recommend the Marriott in Lihue. It faces an industrial area so the view is spoiled. Plus, Lihue isn't that pretty. I much prefer the Poipu area in Kauai. If I were you, I would stay at the Marriott Wailea - it's a very beautiful area of the island and very nice. If you can't stay there, stay at the Lahaina Mariott Maui over the Lihue Marriott Kauai. For condos in Poipu, Kauai,the Poipu Kapili is absolutely wonderful. It is right next to Sheraton and has beautiful views and condos. We stayed in a 2 bedroom prime oceanfront. It has two stories, two bedrooms and a sofa bed downstairs. You can't go wrong - the condos are impeccably maintained and furnished, the pool is nice, and it has laundry facilities and a kitchen. You can walk next door to the Sheraton to dine or hang out at the wonderful beach. You can't go wrong at the Poipu Kapili. The Poipu area is beautiful and gets a lot of sun, as opposed to the north side. Have a great time!

Thanks for the great tips on Marriott resorts and the condo info in Poipu. I will follow your suggestions.

There is a new Marriott timeshare being built on Kauai in the Poipu area. It is on the same beautiful stretch of beach as the Sheraton. I stayed at the Kiahuna Plantation a few years back and it id the neighboring property to the site of this new Marriott. I am pretty sure most of the construction will be complete by the time you want to go. I know I saw it on the Marriott web site not to long ago, but I do not remember the name. It is absolutly a different resort than the Marriott in Lihue. It looked like it had a great pool, nice new condo type and hotel room accomodations, a deli type store and restaurants on site, plus again fronting a gorgeous beach. Just a thought.

http://www.marriott.com/dpp/Property...rshaCode=LIHWI
website to the new Marriott on Kauai, however it will still be under construction until July 2004!! :(

it looks nice!

I'd stay at the Wailea one.

Andrew what do you mean by Makeena...I may be having a brain lapse here but I can't find that in the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook.

And actually update to my last comment on this, I have heard good things about the Marriott in Lihue.

I am likely to stay at Marriott in Wailea for second week, using points. For first week, I am inclined to stay at the new Marriott in Poipu under construction, through summer 2004. It is a new timeshare with rooms for rent, and with construction going on, the rates for a 2-BR suite is discounted to about $299.00 a day (incl. $30.00 daily credit in their on-site market). Since I own a Marriott timeshare already, they will discount the price further by 25%. I expect the construction noise will be minimal at that stage of the project. The photos look great. Thanks again everyone. By the way, anyone want to buy my timeshare at Marriott's BeachPlace Towers in Florida? [email protected]

crazyladybug

Makena is on Maui, just past Wailea. Sorry for the confusion.

I have reservations next month at the Marriott Waiohai Beach Club. I will post here to let you know what I find! I have heard the majority of the outside work is done and that it is mainly work on one buildings interior. I chose it because I was redeeming reward points and my husband procrastinated and some of my first choices were gone! :)

Mary2go...thanks, in advance for the report on Marriott Waiohai. [email protected]

I had to reply since in the last couple of years we have stayed at the:

Kauai Lihue Marriott (1 bdrm timeshare)
Ko Olina Marriott (hotel not timeshare)
Maui Kaanapali Beach (1 bdrm timeshare)
Renaissance Hotel in Wailea

In September we are staying at the new Waiohai Marriott in Poipu. We have either used points or traded our Desert Springs timeshares. If I were taking a 9-year-old with me I would choose the Maui Marriott in Kaanapali over the Maui Marriott in Wailea. The one in Wailea is an old looking resort. Really in need of a facelift. It was right next to the Renaissance Hotel and we passed it daily on our walks. The Marriott in Kaanapali is perfect for families. The pool area is spectacular. In Kauai I'm not sure which I would choose. The Marriott in Lihue is very nice and there is lots to do with kids. The beach is not the best, really just a harbor with a small sandy beach area. The rooms were in need of refurbishment, (which I think was completed). I will let you know my thoughts when we return the end of September from the new Poipu Marriott.

If you ever plan a couple only trip the Renaissance was very romantic and more couples oriented. The beach right in front was great for snorkling. We saw lots of fish and two sea turtles!

Hope this helps.

Lisa

Lisa...enjoy your trip. Thanks for the information.

The other marriott in Kauai is Waiohai Beach Club. They all have 2 bedrooms, kitchen etc. We're going there in April. The facilities are beautiful.

Hi, I just returned from both Maui and Kauai and stayed at the Maui Marriott and the Kauai Marriot (Lihue) each in a 1 BR timeshare villa. (We also drove down to the outrigger on Maui in Wailea just to compare, since we were considering staying there and I'm soooo glad that we chose the Maui Marriott instead. The rooms were drab and the hotel did seem "older" as a previous writer mentioned. Also the pool does not compare). The Maui Marriott was lovely w/ a great location and a fantastic pool (my husband said the pool was a 9-year old boy's dream) w/ caves and waterfalls and slides. The Kauai Marriott also has a great pool - it's very large w/ animal foundtains spitting water everywhere and they rent animal (dolphin, alligator, sharks) floats for the kids, but no waterfalls or slides. The beach, however, in my opinion has more activities for the kids and is wider than the beach at the Maui Marriott (there was hardly a beach at all in front 3 weeks ago). There are sailfish and surboards at the Kauai. Also, have you considered renting a 1 or 2 BR villa at one of these resorts to earn future marriott points. (If you're an owner they give you a 25% discount anyway)

got back 2 weeks ago from maui marriott in kaanapali with our 3 boys. this is the place to be since your son likes swimming. fantastic pool area, slide,waterfalls . we sat near the pool and the kids ran back and forth between boogie boarding in the ocean and swimming in the pool. checked out the outrigger in wailea and the kids were glad we changed our reservations. the pools were definitely older and smaller. its a much quieter area. also, the outrigger is currently in the process of being sold

We have stayed at the Maui Marriott Kaanapli, the Renaissance Wailea, the Kauai Marriott and the Waiohai (Poipu), with a 13 yr old boy. (We are Marriott timeshare owners too). Can't speak for the new Wailea Marriott, though we love the Wailea area.

My thoughts:
First, do you want a kitchen facility? That will make a difference. The hotel rooms will probably have a mini fridge. Kaui Marriott timeshare has a microwave and bar fridge, as does the Marriott Kaanapali timeshare.

If activites are important,the best pool with slides and activities is Kaanapali. The Kauai Marriott has a beautiful large pool and grounds, but there is no slide and not so many activities.

We just stayed at Waiohai in July, it is not yet complete and there is a beach right there, an okay pool but the activities are not coordinated yet.

Based on our experience, I would recommend the Kaanapili Marriott with a 9 year old son! But they are all great resorts. Aloha.

We just returned from the Marriott Waiohai in Poipu. We loved the property. I'd have to say this is one of the best timeshare units we have ever stayed in! After staying at both places in Kauai, I would choose the Waiohai with a 9 year old. The beach is so much better. The resort is great for families and the units are wonderful, lots of space and privacy. Ask for an ocean view room. I just posted a more detailed description of the rooms on another post titled "Kauai Hyatt vs the Marriott Waiohai Beach Club vs the Marriott Resort Beach club near airport".

Whichever you choose you can't help but have a great time! Hawaii is so magical.

Lisa

Point of info: Just returned from a week at the new Marriott at the KoOlina Beach Club Condo on Oahu (just finished in January 2003) This totally new timeshare is on one of four beautiful lagoons on the West Coast. The condo was full and there were rarely people on the beach or pool. This is the first of four tower to be built and a new Ritz Carlton Hotel is planned at one of the Lagoons next to the JW marriott Ihilani Hotel. Oahu has just approved funding for a new aquarium between the KoOlina and it's new Marina, and a new 15,000 seat amphitheater is planned near there. So if you're interested in seeing this resort before it gets crowded go now. We took a tour of the resort and received 15,000 Marriott Reward points for doing so.