Moana Surfrider vs. Sheraton Waikiki: which is best for teens?
Jan 20th, 2008, 08:31 AM
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Moana Surfrider vs. Sheraton Waikiki: which is best for teens?
Hi everyone,
We're returning to to Oahu in August and are considering these 2 properties.
We stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach in '04 and our kids (soon to be 17 and 13) LOVED the "fun, lively atmosphere" of the pool and beach areas at the Outrigger.
We are considering staying at the Moana Surfrider or Waikiki Sheraton this time around, as we like trying different hotels for return visits.
Can anyone compare these hotels for overall "teen friendliness", especially around the pool / beach areas?
Is one property better than the other for views, # of lounge chairs, shady areas, easy access to the beach, poolside snackbar, nightly music / entertainment, or teen-oriented activities??
I love the idea of staying in the historic MS with it's Banyan Tree Courtyard, but does it have a more subdued feel? We don't want a frat party atmosphere, of course... just a fun place with a lot of things going on.
I do know the Royal Hawaiian will be under renovation while we're there... not sure if that should impact our decision (with the Sheraton Waikiki being next door).
I know many people like and will probably recommend the Hilton Hawaiian Village... that's not totally out of consideration. We stayed there years ago (before kids), but really like the central location of MS and SW.
Thanks for your help.
Carole
We're returning to to Oahu in August and are considering these 2 properties.
We stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach in '04 and our kids (soon to be 17 and 13) LOVED the "fun, lively atmosphere" of the pool and beach areas at the Outrigger.
We are considering staying at the Moana Surfrider or Waikiki Sheraton this time around, as we like trying different hotels for return visits.
Can anyone compare these hotels for overall "teen friendliness", especially around the pool / beach areas?
Is one property better than the other for views, # of lounge chairs, shady areas, easy access to the beach, poolside snackbar, nightly music / entertainment, or teen-oriented activities??
I love the idea of staying in the historic MS with it's Banyan Tree Courtyard, but does it have a more subdued feel? We don't want a frat party atmosphere, of course... just a fun place with a lot of things going on.
I do know the Royal Hawaiian will be under renovation while we're there... not sure if that should impact our decision (with the Sheraton Waikiki being next door).
I know many people like and will probably recommend the Hilton Hawaiian Village... that's not totally out of consideration. We stayed there years ago (before kids), but really like the central location of MS and SW.
Thanks for your help.
Carole
Jan 20th, 2008, 11:44 AM
#2
I've not stayed there but the 'Sand Bar' beach-side at the Sheraton Waikiki is one of my favorites for sunset cocktails. I'm guessing that hotel would feel less "stuffy" to your teenagers than the old Moana.
Jan 20th, 2008, 02:09 PM
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Stayed at the Moana Surf last Jan without our kids. Would not recommend with kids, they will be bored there, it is a beautiful old hotel and great to walk around from, but there weren't many kids there, especially around the pool. We loved it for that reason, left the kids at home!!
Jan 23rd, 2008, 05:40 AM
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The beach is much better at the Moana than at the Sheraton, which has a very narrow strip of sand...sometimes almost no sand. The Sheraton feels more like a convention hotel to me. My teenagers liked the Moana just fine.
Jan 23rd, 2008, 06:17 AM
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Thanks Barbara - I was hoping to hear an opposing answer as well.
Good to know about the beach... that's important too. I was trying to judge the quality of the beach at the Sheraton but can't tell much about it from the pictures I've seen.
Carole
Good to know about the beach... that's important too. I was trying to judge the quality of the beach at the Sheraton but can't tell much about it from the pictures I've seen.
Carole
Jan 23rd, 2008, 07:02 AM
#8
True but no big deal about the beach imo. Yes it's narrow there, so you just walk one direction or the other to hang out. I much prefer the beach 'behind' either Fort de Russey park or Queen Kapiolani park instead, at either end of Waikiki. That mid-stretch (by your hotel) is pretty narrow and the most crowded.
Jan 23rd, 2008, 09:33 AM
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Our AAA rep. advised the Surfrider for 4 (2 girls and 2 boys) all 18 year old graduates...
The had a great time..rooms and beach were "awesome"
The found a small grocery store a few blocks away and got cereals for breakfast and "lunch" stuff--saved money. !!!! Must have used the money they saved for souvenirs as they had a "baggage weight overage"cost one of them $50--
Ah youth--
The had a great time..rooms and beach were "awesome"
The found a small grocery store a few blocks away and got cereals for breakfast and "lunch" stuff--saved money. !!!! Must have used the money they saved for souvenirs as they had a "baggage weight overage"cost one of them $50--
Ah youth--
Jan 23rd, 2008, 06:05 PM
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Hopefully, this links shows the beach at the Sheraton. The other thing I don't like is that the building shades the beach much of the day. I prefer to stay in a hotel where I can walk right out to the beach. Last visit I was at the Marriott Waikiki. Didn't like lugging my body and beach gear across the street and down the block.
http://wizardpub.com/oahu/orsheratonwaikiki.html
http://wizardpub.com/oahu/orsheratonwaikiki.html
Jan 23rd, 2008, 07:00 PM
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Thanks traveler24 for the additional information. I was hoping our kids could have a good time at the Moana Surfrider....
We stayed at a beachfront hotel out of town on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands last summer. There were NO other teens there. The MS must have more excitement factor for teens than what they experienced on our last vacation! I'm trying to make sure they have a really good time this year.
Barbara, you know... I use the wizardpub website (and books) all the time... now why I didn't think to look at their aerial views for the quality of the various hotel beach areas, I have no idea. Thanks for the reminder.
Hmmm....
We stayed at a beachfront hotel out of town on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands last summer. There were NO other teens there. The MS must have more excitement factor for teens than what they experienced on our last vacation! I'm trying to make sure they have a really good time this year.
Barbara, you know... I use the wizardpub website (and books) all the time... now why I didn't think to look at their aerial views for the quality of the various hotel beach areas, I have no idea. Thanks for the reminder.
Hmmm....
Jan 23rd, 2008, 07:47 PM
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For teens I'd go with Sheraton Waikiki. There is more action going on at the Sheraton ("fun, lively atmosphere") and what's nice is nearby is the new Waikiki Beach Walk.
http://www.waikikibeachwalk.com/
Moana is beautiful, but definitely much more subdued.
http://www.waikikibeachwalk.com/
Moana is beautiful, but definitely much more subdued.
Jan 24th, 2008, 06:59 AM
#13
Teens will love Waikiki, I'm guessing. The thing is there you don't have to count on your hotel to provide the entertainment. Just get out to the beach, walk up and down, and you can figure out where their favorite places to hang around will be, look for others their own age group, whether at your own hotel or simply out on the public beach.
Jan 24th, 2008, 02:21 PM
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Yes, my kids do love Waikiki... and you're correct, Suze, the hotel is not at all the most important thing. But it is still nice to have a hotel you like to return to at the end of the day. We'll be ultimately happy wherever we stay... just to be there. Can't wait (but unfortunately have several months to go)!
Jun 27th, 2010, 07:17 PM
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Hi everybody,
Any new recommendations between these 2 properties?
I posted this in '08 when we had Aloha Airlines tickets... the year they went out of business. We were reimbursed for our airfare and didn't end up going that year as we could never find decent airfare prices again. We are, however, going in about 1 month (5 nights each, Oahu and Maui).
We currently have reservations (using Starwood points) at both properties because we are still having trouble deciding. Our kids are now 19 and 15. The adults would select the Moana, but we're still intrigued by the pool at the Sheraton (for the kids). The Royal Hawaiian would probably be our top choice as RH shares the pool with the Sheraton, but a stay there requires a lot more Starwood points.
Can anyone help us with the final decision for this year? After leaving Oahu we'll be at the Westin Maui, FYI.
Thank you!
Carole
Any new recommendations between these 2 properties?
I posted this in '08 when we had Aloha Airlines tickets... the year they went out of business. We were reimbursed for our airfare and didn't end up going that year as we could never find decent airfare prices again. We are, however, going in about 1 month (5 nights each, Oahu and Maui).
We currently have reservations (using Starwood points) at both properties because we are still having trouble deciding. Our kids are now 19 and 15. The adults would select the Moana, but we're still intrigued by the pool at the Sheraton (for the kids). The Royal Hawaiian would probably be our top choice as RH shares the pool with the Sheraton, but a stay there requires a lot more Starwood points.
Can anyone help us with the final decision for this year? After leaving Oahu we'll be at the Westin Maui, FYI.
Thank you!
Carole
Jun 27th, 2010, 09:21 PM
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The Moana Surfrider has been renovated and love the beach in front and the Beach Bar/Banyan tree is such a great place to have drinks.
There is a Starwood deal right now buy 4 nights get the 5th night free and that is reflected in the points, so , the Royal Hawaiian, might work for you..next door to the RH too.
Since the kids aren't really kids, I would go for the Moana.
Check out the Starwood website.
We just cashed in and paid I forget what the $ amount per point is.
Expedia has the Hilton Hawaiian Village for $159 a night which is a great deal!
We'll be in O'aha in September and love going back home.
Westin Maui is awesome and easy walk to Hula Grill and Lealani's.
There is a Starwood deal right now buy 4 nights get the 5th night free and that is reflected in the points, so , the Royal Hawaiian, might work for you..next door to the RH too.
Since the kids aren't really kids, I would go for the Moana.
Check out the Starwood website.
We just cashed in and paid I forget what the $ amount per point is.
Expedia has the Hilton Hawaiian Village for $159 a night which is a great deal!
We'll be in O'aha in September and love going back home.
Westin Maui is awesome and easy walk to Hula Grill and Lealani's.
Jun 27th, 2010, 09:48 PM
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Thanks, ksucat.
I like the beach in front of the Moana too. We really are leaning toward that hotel. Also, we are doing the pay (points) 4 nights, 5th night free deal on both islands.
$159 is a good deal for the HHV... my husband and I stayed there before having kids once. The Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach has that rate too (my kids loved it there when we were there in 2004). We can also do SPG "cash and points" for $150 per night @ the Royal Hawaiian... still contemplating that one, although free is the best of option for us at the moment.
Glad you have positive comments on the Westin Maui. We're staying there for the pool and proximity to Whaler's Village (stayed at Marriott's Maui Ocean Club last time... hoping we will like the Westin even better).
Carole
I like the beach in front of the Moana too. We really are leaning toward that hotel. Also, we are doing the pay (points) 4 nights, 5th night free deal on both islands.
$159 is a good deal for the HHV... my husband and I stayed there before having kids once. The Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach has that rate too (my kids loved it there when we were there in 2004). We can also do SPG "cash and points" for $150 per night @ the Royal Hawaiian... still contemplating that one, although free is the best of option for us at the moment.
Glad you have positive comments on the Westin Maui. We're staying there for the pool and proximity to Whaler's Village (stayed at Marriott's Maui Ocean Club last time... hoping we will like the Westin even better).
Carole
Jun 27th, 2010, 10:01 PM
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aloha Carole,
I saw that the RH is $300 on expedia.
How many points with the $150 at RH?
Moana works out to 12k a night..lovely Grande Dame.
We love the Westin and have had only great times in the pool and the ocean..we pay for the cheap rooms and always get upgraded to a nice ocean suite, which is always a nice thing.
Love to walk to Whaler's for drinks with feet in the sand at Hula Grill.
Have a great time!
Make sure you go to Plantation house at the Kapalua golf course for the best breakfast in town and super cheap too!
No wait and incredible views.
Sansei for happy hour sushi.
I saw that the RH is $300 on expedia.
How many points with the $150 at RH?
Moana works out to 12k a night..lovely Grande Dame.
We love the Westin and have had only great times in the pool and the ocean..we pay for the cheap rooms and always get upgraded to a nice ocean suite, which is always a nice thing.
Love to walk to Whaler's for drinks with feet in the sand at Hula Grill.
Have a great time!
Make sure you go to Plantation house at the Kapalua golf course for the best breakfast in town and super cheap too!
No wait and incredible views.
Sansei for happy hour sushi.
Jun 27th, 2010, 10:28 PM
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Thanks, again, ksucat.
The RH cash and points is $150 / 8K points per night. Otherwise, for 5 nights it is 20K per night (5th night free).
At the Moana we want to ensure we're not going to be facing the street with the 12K point rooms (we're only SPG gold), so we have a 14.5k per night (5th night free) reservation for an ocean view room in the historic wing. Hoping to get an upgrade to a larger room.
At the Sheraton, 14.5K per night gets us an ocean front 640 sq. ft. room.
At the Westin Maui we have a 12K point room, hoping for an upgrade.
We definitely will eat at Sansei one night between 5:30 and 6 for the 25% off. I'll make sure to put Plantation House on the list... didn't know it was super cheap. Thanks for the tip!
Carole
The RH cash and points is $150 / 8K points per night. Otherwise, for 5 nights it is 20K per night (5th night free).
At the Moana we want to ensure we're not going to be facing the street with the 12K point rooms (we're only SPG gold), so we have a 14.5k per night (5th night free) reservation for an ocean view room in the historic wing. Hoping to get an upgrade to a larger room.
At the Sheraton, 14.5K per night gets us an ocean front 640 sq. ft. room.
At the Westin Maui we have a 12K point room, hoping for an upgrade.
We definitely will eat at Sansei one night between 5:30 and 6 for the 25% off. I'll make sure to put Plantation House on the list... didn't know it was super cheap. Thanks for the tip!
Carole
