Maui and Kauai Advice Needed
 

Has anyone else heard of the following special offer from the Westin Maui -- $698 for 2 for 5 nights, $185 Avis car rental certificate, and $75 certificate for resort restaurants, shopping or spa. The rooms are terrace level (meaning not special, I guess) and we are supposed to respond within 15 days to make the reservation. (Hotel stay may take place within 18 months of purchase; purchase is nonrefundable.) My husband, 5-year-old son and I would like to see Maui sometime next year. This would be our first visit, and we're eager to see what Maui has to offer -- especially beaches! We'd also like to visit Kauai for five days, too. Any suggestions, advice? (Unfortunately, we do not have unlimited funds for our Hawaii vacation, so the really posh places will probably be out for us.) Thanks in advance!

This is an offer to get you in there so that you will view their new timeshare villa's. We did this tour and it is very high pressure. We happened to be there anyway and they promised us a free night if we did this. We were almost sorry that we did except for the fact that they credited our Starwood account with a bunch of free nights for doing this. The food at this resort is quite pricey, but you can go to Whalers Village. The terrace rooms are in the back of the hotel overlooking the parking lot. It's a nice hotel but always packed with a ton of people who get this offer in the mail. Starwood has a reputation of really lousy service, so if it is really busy there don't expect much. We paid full price last time we were there and the place was packed full of people who got these offers. For that price you really can't go wrong but just don't expect too much and keep your guard up at the timeshare presentation. These Villas are VERY pricey and are not even built yet.

I've also stayed at the Westin. Our room was ocean view and high up but that was about the only plus. We stayed in the old tower and the rooms/halls needed updating which I've learned they've done. The pool is nice, but very crowded. Get there early! Don't expect a lot of privacy. There are also kids everywhere which may be good since you have one. Don't eat there; I agree that it's pricey. The beach is excellent; one of the better on the island, but the tides can be dangerous. Have fun!

Thanks for the advice! I think we'll look into something quieter. I don't want to spend any time at a time share presentation. Yikes!

Hi Martha. I got a similar offer from the Marriott. I got to choose from two places on Oahu, One on Maui or one on Kauai. I specifically asked if a timeshare presentation was required and they said this wasn't a timeshare offer. The timeshare offer must be specifically stated on the offer materials. I accepted the offer and was required to put down $198 with the balance due at the time I make my actual reservation. Part of the Maui and Kauai Marriotts are timeshare. Part of each still has hotel accomodations.<BR><BR>Is the Westin a timeshare property? I don't think so.

I never understand what people are talking about when they say "high pressure timeshare presentation". It is not like these people put a gun to your head. <BR><BR>They are trying to sell you something. You say no, simple as that and collect the beni. It is not like they will hound you after the presentation. The only thing I find uncomfortable about these presentations is if they ask how much you spend on vacations or make. <BR><BR>I find this intrusive but I am very upfront about not wanting to talk about this and they usually leave it alone unless they are young.<BR>

Let me tell you why we saw it as high pressure. We were told it was an upscale, no pressure "presentation". We were asked many personal questions such as if we intended to have children, what our financial situation was and many others that made us sqirm after the first 15 minutes. I guess the children question was to try and upsell us, which they did. They told us we could have an incredible 2 weeks every year for only...$78,000.00 per year and the maintenance fees were astronomical. He kept going on and on until finaly after an hour and a half we flatly told him again that we were only on a fact finding mission. We asked him to sign our certificate for our free night. He told us to call him back at 4:00 PM because it also required a managers sig. and he was not around. When we called back at four he again asked us if we were going to buy. We were very angry at this point, told him no and he was saying things such as I can't beleive you are not going to do this. Do you know what you are missing out on? He started going into another presentation so we told him to have our cert. ready for us at the front desk or we would go to his boss. We are on vacation in Hawaii and this is what we got. Suzie, they ARE selling timeshare villa's. They are being built down by the Embassy Suites on the last stretch of Kaanapali Beach. (as they put it) Thanks for calling me a liar. We were also told by a staff member that the hotel was so full because of these certificate holders. We would go for a walk at night and notice all the terrace rooms lit up but a lot of the rest of the hotel was pretty much empty. (this was soon after 9/11)

Wow Kelli, sorry that you thought I was calling you a liar, I certainly wasn't. I merely posed the question "Is the Westin a timeshare property?" with my answer, which was, "I don't think so" This left it completely open to others who may have more info. Apparently according to you the current Westin is not a timeshare property therefore making my statement correct. Your clarification will certainly give Martha the needed info she needs. If they are building timeshare villas by the Embassy it's not on the hotel stretch where the current Westin is along Kaanapali Beach near the Hyatt. I'm sorry you had that bad experience. I too would never want to experience this and I'd never want to sign on for a stay when a timeshare presentation was required. The cerificate I got for the Marriott was not associated with a timeshare presentation. I believe that when they send you info on free or reduced nights they must say upfront whether a timeshare presentation will be required.

I have never had an experience where someone did not fork over the benefit after presentation. The management company of your presentation would never have approved of such a tactic.<BR><BR>We had a free week at a Marriott last year, beautiful grounds new accomodations. On Kauai a dinner at the HBR. If you are staying at the hotel I would immediately inform the front desk. I think that this was just one errant salesman.<BR><BR>I also would never walk away without going to the front desk ect... But again I have never encountered a weirdo like this. False advertising if they don't honor their offer.

PS Kelli when they ask you those personal questions they are trying to get some power established. When you give them a balance sheet of your life ie.. where you think your money is going in ten years you are giving them room to manipulate you. They think it is a measure of your trust. You are also showing them how open you are blah blah blah. <BR><BR>If you know from the outset you are not going to bite MAKE UP THE ANSWERS. It is easier than the resistance game than at the end. I NEED TO SPEAK TO MY LAWYER OR ACCOUNTANT before this purchase. <BR><BR>I know people that have gotten a number of timeshare freebes. Another friend stayed in NH last summer from a freeby.<BR>Of course I don't go looking for these presentations but if I am staying somewhere and this is an obtion. I GO if anything you are giving someone practise on their pitch and believe me people are not banging down the doors to buy timeshares.

We have since found out that this man was fired for his high pressure tactics. We were told that he workes for another timeshare in the area where he could come and go as he pleased, but when he found out that he did not run the show and he had to put in many more hours at the Westin than at the other timeshare he complained and was let go. It's funny that he did do all these things that the last poster said. We would not divulge any information to him and this made him angry. We did tell the supervisor what happened and I feel that this is why they gave us so many Starwood points for free nights. We have since gotten away from Starwood because they did not treat us well for all the business we gave them, but that's another story for another time. I saw the posting a week or so ago about Starwood Preferred program lacking and had to agree with everything everyone said and more.

I don't have information about this travel special, but I did want to recommend the books "Maui Revealed" and "Kauai Revealed" if you're planning on making the trip. They both include extensive information on accomodations, among other things, and I found them to be right on the money with their advice (if they say to stay away from a place, be sure to stay away).