Huge disappointment
Written: Oct 05 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Rooms available when every place else fully booked. Self park is still available
Cons: Doesn't live up to resort expectations. Poor value for the price
The Bottom Line: Avoid the Wailea Marriott unless you absolutely must stay there
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| g_dubya's Full Review: Wailea Marriott, an Outrigger Resort |
My wife and I just returned from a quick "long weekend" in Maui. We wanted to go the deluxe route this trip because we've both been working hard, so we stayed at the Four Seasons in Wailea. Even though it was the "low season", the hotel was fully booked for the second half of our trip, so I called around and the only hotel in Wailea with rooms available for the last two nights we needed was the Marriott Wailea. That should have been the indication right away I wasn't looking at first class accommodations
Even though I booked a deluxe ocean view room, when I arrived I found that ocean view meant I could stand at the end of my lanai (balcony or patio) and get a glimpse of the ocean. I spent the extra $75 each night for a room where we could see the ocean from inside the room. In addition to the $400 per night rate (Marriott Rewards special rate), there was also a daily $20 for "resort fee" plus all the occupancy taxes, etc. The check in receptionist was extremely nice and helpful
The grounds themselves look OK - at first. Then when you look close, you see it's a lot like Las Vegas. Superficially nice but cheap looking and tacky when you get up close. The path to the rooms looked more like what I would see in a $79 per night airport motel that in a $500 a night resort. This was one of the first hotels built in the Wailea area, and it's clear that the definition of "high end" has significantly changed over the past 30+ years.
The rooms themselves look OK - about what you would expect from a mid-tier mass market hotel chain. We've stayed at most of the other resort hotels in the area, and they are all significantly nicer than the Wailea Marriott. The mini-refrigerator buzzed loudly all night long, and the TV remote sometimes worked. Other than those few issues, the room was OK. It was a basic place to sleep. If you're expecting the lap of luxury and plan to spend much time enjoying the rooms (which was recently renovated and upgraded), I suggest you look somewhere else.
The staff were around the grounds most of the day. A few were even helpful and friendly when we asked them something. But a few were more or less useless, and when we asked for help with luggage, were told they were all too busy at the time. So a five minute walk later, we got the luggage to our room.
The location is OK - not great, but OK. The hotel is on the Wailea beach, which is a very nice beach, and very close to the Shops at Wailea. If you're planning a trip to Maui and want to spend time shopping, it's very convenient. And unlike most of the other resorts in the area, they still have self park available in addition to valet.
Bottom Line
If you MUST stay in a resort hotel in Wailea, price is an issue and every other hotel in the area is booked, the Wailea Marriott should be your option of last resort. If you're looking for a special place on the ocean, there are much nicer places to stay that offer either much nicer amenities or a better price for comparable accommodations. Next time, we'll either stay at a different resort (Four Seasons, Fairmont Kea Lani or Grand Wailea) or get an oceanfront condo in Wailea, Makena or Kihei
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
g_dubya
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Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 1 member
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