Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas

Recently I was invited to spend a few days at the new Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas on Maui, Starwood Vacation Ownership's first property in Hawaii. For those not familiar with vacation ownership properties, take a look at our related feature "Starwood Vacation Ownership in Hawaii - A New and Better Approach to an Old Concept."

As you drive up to the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas you are greeted by a friendly bellman who quickly learns your name and directs you to the front desk where your check-in is handled expeditiously. You are then escorted to your villa where your luggage is courteously placed on luggage stands and layout of the villa is explained to you.

In other words, you'd never know that you're at a vacation rental resort and not a first class resort hotel like any of the other Starwood properties in Hawaii. If anything, perhaps because most guests stay for a week at a time or because only 184 of what will eventually be 503 villas are currently completed, the hospitality staff throughout the resort is the most personal and friendly of any resort staff I have encountered in my travels in Hawaii.

Everyone seems to learn you name, takes a moment to greet you and makes sure everything is going well or simply takes a moment to share a bit of aloha with you.

Any preconceived notion that you'll receive any less service or attention than at a resort hotel is immediately wiped from your mind and you can set your mind to exploring the beauty of the resort and the numerous amenities it has to offer.

The resort is located on 14 oceanfront acres of North Kaanapali Beach, just a short drive from the Kaanapali Beach Resort area which is easily accessed by courtesy shuttle.

Each of the spacious and stylishly furnished villas offer Westin standards such as the Heavenly Bed, a separate whirlpool tub, walk-in shower, private lanai, fully equipped kitchen as well as washer and dryer. The larger unit of each 1400 square foot two-bedroom lockoff villa also includes a dining area, full kitchen, and separate living and master bedroom areas. Each half of the two-bedroom lockoff villa is available separately as either a studio premium villa (smaller half) or a one-bedroom premium villa (larger half).

While primarily a vacation ownership resort, a number of villas are available for guests on a daily rate basis ranging from $550.00 - $1100.00.

The resort has a spacious lobby with free wireless Internet access, outdoor grilling areas, a number of ocean water sports activities, a state-of-the-art Westin Workout facility, game room/arcade, guest lounge and large tropical pool with waterslide.

The grounds themselves are beautifully landscaped with tropical foliage, koi ponds and sitting areas.

In addition to what I've already mentioned, each villa offers a queen-size sleeper sofa in the living room, and microwave, refrigerator, icemaker, dishwasher, toaster, blender and dinnerware in each kitchen. Color TV, DVD and Boss stereo along with separate data ports are in each villa. High speed Internet access is planned for 2005.

The Ocean Pool Bar & Grill offers a breakfast buffet, lunch, daily drink and happy hours as well as weeknight dinner specials - all reasonably priced with superb food. (Try the island fish and chips for lunch.) Our group enjoyed a dinner featuring a selection of the chef's favorite creations and each was great. Live Hawaiian music is featured on the weekends. The Starwood "kids under 12 eat free program" is applicable.

The Pu’ukoli’i General Store near the lobby offers fresh baked goods each morning, deli sandwiches, salads and side dishes. Fresh meats and island fish are available for grilling or in-villa cooking. Homemade pizzas are a specialty and available for carry-out.

For fitness enthusiasts the resort offers their Sunset View Spa, steam room, and sauna in addition to the fitness center.

Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the ocean activities, pool, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts.

Starwood has definitely done something right here. They have taken the old concept of timeshare and, as Emeril Lagasse would say, "kicked it up a notch" - or more.

Hawaii has a large number of repeat visitors and for them, and especially those with families or lots of friends, vacation ownership is an option that has to be considered. As a pure investment, vacation ownership in the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas appears to be a no-brainer.

The property itself is as good and in many ways superior to any other resort property on Maui. Granted, at present new buildings are under construction, but the work is virtually invisible and inaudible when you are in the resort itself.

The grounds are spacious and with just a little under half of the villas completed, it's easy to find a nice secluded spot. My best guess is that you'll never feel too crowded here even when the resort is fully occupied.

As I mentioned before the staff is top notch. I've never met any better from the bellmen, front desk staff, poolside and restaurant staff to the resort's excellent management team.