The Westin Ka'Anapali Ocean Resort Villas North

I’ll be checking out in less than 24 hours and am left with very mixed feelings about this hotel. As I write this I keep feeling worse. The good: The concierge team (Kelly was my primary contact) was exceptional. We even needed a last minute cancellation on an excursion and they got it taken care of for us. Really great work from them. The room was nice enough. Nothing luxurious but it was clean with a good size bathroom and kitchenette. It was quiet and we had a nice view from our garden suite. It was cleaned often enough too. The pool and fire pit were well maintained and made for a great nightly visit. The Starbucks/gift shop was nicely stocked. Not ABC quality, but better than a gas station. The bad: there is only one dining option at the hotel, and even that was only available two days we stayed. The restaurant/bar at the pool (only option) is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That means the only choice for food is to leave the resort. This was disappointing to learn once we sat at the pool. The only way to eat is to go to the next tower, order food, and bring it back to your own chair. Honestly, a delivery option would have been a nice solution if they were struggling to staff. The fine dining (or mid-dining?) option was closed the entire stay for “renovations.” The ugly: There is no option for a late checkout, and the checkout is at 10:00am. I’m not an avid traveler, but I can’t think of a single hotel I’ve stayed at in my lifetime where the checkout wasn’t 10:30 or 11:00. Anyway, it’s their “policy” and they make no exceptions. I was told (by the manager) that it’s an “ownership hotel” which I guess means something? That wasn’t explained - just that we could use the lounge while we wait for our 4:00 flight. By the end of my stay I will have spent nearly $3,000 for five nights at this resort (parking is not included of course) and the manager is unable to find a way for us to stay in our room until noon. This is a dealbreaker for me and I won’t be returning to any Westin property for any future travel. A nice stay was ruined because of a “policy” that defies logic. Did I mention that check-in is 4:00? The room will sit vacant until then - and a pair of guests will be sitting in the lobby waiting for their flight.

HONEST Review** Beautiful experience at this Resort! If you are looking for a comfortable, spacious room with an at-home feel and full kitchenette options and a great on-the-beach option, look no further! ! I provide honest reviews as someone from the middle-class (black heterosexual couple) who only stays in 4 star hotels (however planning this trip in less than a month we decided here and so glad that we did). SERVICE: Great service! Everyone was welcoming, helpful and available when needed. We missed an entire night due to a cancelled flight and they worked with us. Check in was easy, even though busy at time of checkin. ROOM: We booked the "Islandview Studio Premium Villa" and loved it! From the moment we booked until after we left, we enjoyed our stay. The room was spacious and beautiful, clean, practical. You can cook in the units as well as do your laundry there, they even included laundry soap- incredible and we used a couple times during our stay. We loved the large jet tub as well and the provided soap/shampoo/conditioner. The bed was very comfortable, as were the linens. The patio was beautiful and our room overlooked the children's pool but you could still still the ocean and palm trees. It was always quiet. Wifi always worked. AMENITIES/GROUNDS: Great amenities, pools (adults & kids in separate sides/areas), whirlpool, snorkeling, fitness center, cultural center, activities & shows like hula dancing, craft fairs, etc and the Spa! We loved the on-site restaurant "Pailolo Grill & Bar" and ate there almost daily. While we came during the very busy season (Feb/March), things were crowded but still fun. They also have a full service on-site market store with all the basic, like a Target Express. The only thing that could use improvement is the hallway walls in some areas have been dinged/scratches and could use some paint. Otherwise, beautiful! LOCATION: Absolute perfection. Close enough to everything but far away for a peaceful escape. Also, they have the best beach area along Lahaina. PARKING: Always available and ample parking. Overall- highly recommend and absolutely enjoyed our stay. We loved our stay and hope to come again in the future. We do NOT understand the negative reviews.

Overall, I had a great trip to this resort. It is well maintained. Beautiful beach. This is one of the nicest resorts where I have stayed in recent years. Staff are generally quite friendly, courteous, and helpful. There is a shop on site if you forgot anything, but you will of course pay hotel prices. It is true with the other reviews say, parking can be a bit tight, but if you’re willing to ride around a bit, or Park on the ground level, you will find a spot. If there is one area of criticism I would say it is housekeeping. Staff were friendly and they tried, but there was a little bit of a lack of coordination, some details missed, and things of that nature. If you are looking for the four seasons, that is not this property. If you are looking for a beautiful resort with multiple pools, amenities, amazing views, and beach access, this resort should work just fine for you.