All hype, nothing remarkable
Written: Apr 09 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: close to shopping, restaurants,nice rooms
Cons: attitude of staff, no laundry, weak beach, bad pool
The Bottom Line: Glad we did it because now we know not to do it again. Go to the Alii, it is 10 times better and less expensive.
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| jayjoans's Full Review: The Whaler On Kaanapali Beach |
We took the family (6 of us) and stayed at the Kaanapali Alii and were absolutely thrilled with the Alii. We decided to extend our stay since we were having such a great time, but the Alii was closing down our building for redecorating so we could not stay there. The AAA agent I talked to got us an oceanfront 2br at the Whaler, just a few properties down the beach. We were excited about oceanfront, since the Alii was a VERY good oceanview. We had to be out of the Alii by 10, but they allowed us use of a courtesy room with showers and couches until we could check into the Whaler at 4.
The Whaler front desk had an attitude when I asked about early check in, I just ASKED and they clucked and thought I was being unreasonable. We did get in a little early, about 3 and at first we were super-duper impressed with the room, very hoity-toity. The balconies are gigantic, enough room to serve meals for 6 on, we were on a corner, so two sides of the unit was large verandas. Even though it was big and nice, soon the differences became apparent and we missed the Alii. First, no laundry facilities in the room, one washer and dryer per floor for $2.50 in quarters. That meant either worrying about your stuff or wasting time waiting near the room to get your laundry. Secondly, the bathrooms were VERY nice, but poorly planned. No water pressure, low shower heads, the shower sprayed ON the shower door so you had to get in the shower and turn on the cold water and wait for it to warm up, since opening the door after you turned on the shower would hose out the whole bathroom. Third, a very european and nice kitchen that was tiny and galley style. Meaning anybody in the kitchen was removed from any activity, view or accessibility until they emerged from the cave. Fourth, even paying $650 a night for the room they get you for $7 parking, just doesn't seem right to me. Fifth, the towel nazi at the pool really ruined the visit for us. Sama was his name and in past life was the gestapo king. When my wife hesitated when asked our room number, he smirked and asked her if she was "sure" she was staying at the Whaler. The Alii would give you 10 towels if you asked, and didn't even ask if you stayed there, and they were better towels! Sama (my 14 yr old called him Osama) would then flip through a card file and quiz you on your last name and make you sign for a towel! unbelievable. We really felt unwelcome by the staff, as if there is an asterisk by your name stating you're a tourist and not an owner. When I went to check out there was a $150 charge on the account for an unreturned towel! Believe me that was straightened out very loudly in the lobby, they even buckled on the $7 parking. Fifth, the beach in front of the Whaler is weak, very steep and not as nice as the Alii. Sixth, no chairs or loungers on the beach to use for guests, sit on a towel, that's all you get. Sixth, the pool sucks, it is sunken down so that you can't even see the beach from it because of a large hedge (to keep the riff-raff from eyeballing a towel) Seventh, after all that the kids wanted to go back to the Alii, even they could sense a different kind of feeling there. I think it is more for the older set than for families.
The great things were that we could see whales from the balcony, turtles in the surf and beautiful sunsets. All of those provided by mother nature, not one by the Whaler.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
jayjoans
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Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 0 members
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