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kohalasunset

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Everything posted by kohalasunset

  1. Jools1006, great deal on Maui! I would guess your Mom would be happier with Kauai. And, Kauai is a good place to consider LoneStar's 'attractive alternative' options. Higher end hotels are very expensive and what you save on accommodations could buy some other lifetime experience--maybe Air Kauai helicopter tour that takes in Waimea Canyon and Jurassic Park Falls. ($$$$). But hey, how else do you celebrate 60? Alternately there is a movie tour that sounds like fun and takes in many places where films were shot. Shopping will be good in Wailea. Sounds like you are flying into Honolulu. If so, why not a night in Waikiki at the Moana? Or at least afternoon tea there. It's any easy walk down to the Royal Hawaiian, too. And you won't find a nicer place for sunset cocktails than House Without A Key at the Halekulani. Of course, you could skip all of this, but why? LoneStar, I couldn't agree more with your assessment of Kona. But I'm not a fan of Lahaina either! It's the sunsets on the BI that are amazing, and driving along the coast in a convertible at sunset is something else. Mauna Kea is another world, too, at sunset. Hope your mother has the best time ever and you make some wonderful memories!!
  2. I don't know if anyone has addressed this, but I read (somewhere!) that PL will sell at cost, and sometimes below. This would make sense if a property is being offered for the first time in a competitive market to help it gain immediate exposure. Of course there could be other reasons they would do this, if it was/is true. Would welcome any thoughts on this!
  3. Thenewbie, thanks! Those numbers are amazingly low. Wasn't sure anyone would reply. It's a fun idea. Who wouldn't want a $40 resort!!
  4. Charles, glad you enjoyed your stay! The Prince is very popular and you got a great price. During peak seasons it sells out. I wasn't able to get a room last winter on PL at the last minute, which makes a good case for bidding when you have firm plans.
  5. Has anyone ever been accepted on a very low bid? Thought occurred to me (and maybe others) that you might get 'lucky' once in a while. Airlines sometimes have incredible fares and some very fortunate people get fantastic deals. They usually go on message boards after the fare has been pulled, of course. Just a thought. If some hotels load prices on a daily basis, is there a chance you could be the one who lands the deal?!
  6. My first thought is Diamond Resort. Take a look at it online, and see if you agree.
  7. Tigerpup, if you're still looking, Prince is available on Hotwire for 169. It is 189 on Expedia, so a bid of 140 should win there, but you risk an upgrade to Outrigger Reef. Marriott is 229, (221 Hotwire), so there is availability--160 might win there--should not have to go over 180. Good luck with the bidding--I was looking for something next month and thought I would add this info here.
  8. I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but I thought I would post it here. The Superferry is a new twist on interisland travel--looks great to me! http://www.hawaiisuperferry.com/default.html
  9. Waikiki Parc is renovating. The cafe is closed and a Nobu restaurant is opening in December. This will make the Parc a true 'boutique hotel' in my opinion. There is ongoing renovation around Lewers Street that you are probably aware of (Outrigger Waikiki Beach Walk project --numerous changes there including a famous 'Tower' that sounds condo hotel). More development at Ko Olina, too. In Waikiki, mainland chain restaurants will be replacing local eateries. Cheesecake Factory is very successful, and I read a California Pizza Kitchen is also going in somewhere. On Maui, Kapalua Bay Hotel is being torn down, and incredibly expensive timeshares are being sold there in the neighbood of 500,000. Luxury homes 4-7M. (You can probably find some references to that). Also I think there is a proposal for more condos or other properties in Wailea area. On Kauai, there is construction on the South Shore for residential housing. And Princeville will be renovating and is slated to become a St. Regis. Lots of construction on BI as well. As you know, plans and proposals change for many reasons, but I think the above is accurate for now. (!) There are some travel bargains to be had right before renovations or property sales, which is what we are all looking for here!! This is a great place to exchange information. I do a lot of reading and it seems pointless not to share. Cheers!
  10. Saw an interesting article about Starwood renovations and thought this was the best place to post. In essence, there is a proposed plan to renovate and build that will turn the 4 properties into 6. Demolition is expected in 18 months and includes tearing down parts of Princess Kaiulani and even the Diamond Wing of Moana Surfrider. If that happens, they are considering a new tower at PK and a new hotel in place of the Diamond wing (200-250 rooms ). Room renovations are ongoing at Sheraton Waikiki and will include historic sections of Moana and Royal Hawaiian. Royal should be more of a luxury class afterwards. There might be more rebranding with some properties, and PK might include a timeshare. I should add that there has been proposed expansion on the North Shore as well that would include up to 5 properties with around 3000-3500 rooms if memory serves. There is a lot of opposition to that locally, but approval was given some 20 years ago when economy and traffic were very different on the North Shore. LoneStar, not surprised you started this thread! :)
  11. LoneStar, I think we have demonstrated that PL has identified the same need you pointed out--reasonable resort rates for Hawaii. I don't dispute the renovated properties deserve the upgrade to resort status. It was a creative solution by PL to capture more market and make Hawaii more affordable for more people. The win at Outrigger Reef was 125 and Sheraton Keauhou was 140. These rates are well below most other resorts, and come close to the 100-135 prices you reported for previous years! Still there is an increased demand for higher end properties, as demonstrated by numerous renovations. Maui far outpaces the other islands in average room rates, and you either pay the price, or go elsewhere. PL has been able to provide rooms here as well, though the rates will have to go above the 200 range at times due to seasonal demand. I suppose you have to decide whether it is worth paying. For me the answer is yes. I want the best price I can get, but I still want to go to Maui. Somehow I will offset the cost before I go! You made a compelling case for 'attractive alternatives', but a less convincing one for Mexico as an alternative to Hawaii. Beautiful as the Sea of Cortez may be, it's not Hawaii. You can have a wonderful time, but not an Aloha kind of time. Enjoyed the discussion--glad we're on the same team!! FWIW--I noticed PL does have 5* category but I didn't see any hotel offerings in their retail inventory for Hawaii--so far! Feel free to have the last word here--it's your topic!!
  12. Buttonfly, don't know if you're still looking, but Hotwire appears to have the Prince for 171. Check it out. If you think that's it, you should book right away, as offerings come and go quickly on Hotwire. If you want to bid on PL, you might be successful at 10-20% less. Be advised it looks like you could get an upgrade to Outrigger Reef in you bid 4* N now. Good luck! Prince is 189 on Expedia and Outrigger Reef is 155 also on Expedia. There is a lot of availability on Expedia in general--Sheraton Waikiki at 209, HHV at 229, etc. There should be a lot on PL as well, just a matter of amount and luck. I think you might be successful at 140 for the Prince. Again, good luck if you bid!
  13. I'm pretty sure Sheraton Kauai has gone from 3* to resort. And if I read king maul's post about Outrigger Reef correctly, it too has gone from 3* to resort. Also on BI the Sheraton Keauhou is now a resort--don't know it's previous status or availability, but it too has undergone renovations. Just looks like a trend to me. Oh and now more and more hotels are adding the ubiquitous "and spa"--as if Hawaii itself was an insufficient reason to travel. The Whaler on Maui is listed in PL retail as resort, though I can't imagine they would offer it as opaque along with the other resort properties in Kaanapali. Personally, I find the PL definition of resort fascinating. Wonder what keeps Outrigger Waikiki a 4*? And can a renovation at Outrigger Keauhou change its status? A lot to consider. I agree Marriott Waikoloa should reappear as resort if it is available on PL. As for room costs, Maui has dropped to an average 205 now against a high of 288 over peak summer. Seems to me if trends continue, next summer will see averages over 300 at which point 200 will look very attractive from PL. Just an opinion. I like to keep tabs on the market, too!! Maybe PL will go to 5* ratings or Luxury to indicate more upscale resorts. The market in Hawaii is changing, that's for sure!
  14. I decided to extend a stay and was willing to accept the hotel rate for the convenience. Then they wanted to move me to another room, and since they could not meet the PL rate, I went online and bid for one night only. I figured if I had to move anyway, why not save the difference?! Interesting thing at the time, I had my confirmation from PL before they had the reservation, so I (cheerfully) went to the front desk with the information. Always glad to help! Oh yeah--it was referred to as "the internet"!
  15. King Maul, sounds like another renovated 3* being upgraded to resort level on PL. Unexpected, but you're on the beach! Were you trying for Hawaii Prince? I don't know if there are renovations ongoing, but you might call the hotel and find out about that. Hope you enjoy your stay! Thanks for sharing the info, I was thinking of 4*N for next month.
  16. LoneStar, you have some great ideas for budget travel! Priceline seems to be meeting the challenge of affordable resorts by upgrading renovated 3* properties to resort status. What that will do to its current (dare I say higher end resorts?) remains to be seen. It will make bidding more of a challenge, especially for unwanted upgrades from 4* to resort. I think 200+ is going to be the new norm during high seasons. Lots of properties have been sold and with renovations, room costs are bound to soar. In the past, I have seen great deals on packages through PL, so that could be an option. B&Bs are a good alternative, but they account for about 1% of rooms. My experience is that a cottage or separate facilities are a much better choice. On the down side, you often have to pay well in advance, and refunds are subject to re-booking by the property. Houses are great, but there are also cleaning fees and security deposits to consider (sometimes thousands of dollars). Along with high demand, there seems to be a change in managerial positions. It must generate more revenue to keep prices higher in the current climate. I think we are all used to the idea that a hotel would rather get less on PL or Hotwire than let a room go unfilled. That may no longer be the case. Anyway, I hope someone else will add to the discussion!!
  17. I have read this hotel will be closing next winter (delayed a few times). Also read it will become a St. Regis. Enjoy your stay! Don't expect it will be available on PL after that.
  18. Turkey Buzzard, you got a great price! Mauna Kea is the most expensive of the Prince Resorts in Hawaii. I don't think it has been available through PL before. Rack rates start around $390, but there are better deals low season. $175 compares well to the other PL hotels in Kamuela and I don't think you would have been successful on a lower bid, but of course someone should try if they are bidding in the area. I agree with thereuare that last minute does not mean best price--it could, but I think it would depend on a hotel dumping something like 50 rooms due to a cancellation. That does happen, but from what I have read, prices are usually standard for high and low seasons respectively. (feel free to disagree!). From what I have seen, it is good to bid as soon as you have firm plans, in case hotels sell out. That can happen over holidays and peak travel time. I hope you have a great vacation, and enjoy some beautiful...kohala sunsets!!
  19. No need to be sorry! Is it just one night? And it seems that the 100 price is the main issue? If you have a car--you can go to any of the great beaches--Hapuna is wonderful. I saw some great rates for Outrigger Keauhou searching around. Tripadvisor will help you with making a choice if you haven't checked it out, please do--it will help with PL bidding if you decide to go that route. If you can stretch your budget the Sheraton Keauhou which is Kona resort might be a good option. Doesn't help that Kohala Coast has a well-deserved reputation as the 'Platinum Coast'. Hope someone experienced with other star ratings will help out! Travelocity"]Travelocity is a good place to compare various properties. Hotwire will show what's available as an opaque purchase (similar to PL in that you find out the name after you purchase/bid). Most often PL will be lower than Hotwire, but sometimes it's best to buy on Hotwire if you see a great deal--offers can vanish and then you're too late!
  20. Hi, Nixun. I'm new to this board, so posting for the first time. Can't help with lower star ratings, but I am familiar with some resorts and previous 4*. Your travel dates make a difference with price--high season will be a lot more expensive than offseason. So far I haven't seen Marriott reported as resort but expect it will be upgraded if available to PL. Your bids seem too low for resort in any season, sorry to say. Recent win reported at Kona was 140--might go for less offseason. If you specify travel dates I'm sure someone can help. Good luck with your plans.
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